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Biden to Highlight ‘Dignity of American Workers’ at Labor Day Events

Biden to Highlight ‘Dignity of American Workers’ at Labor Day Events

U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling Monday to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to take part in celebrations for the annual Labor Day holiday.

The White House said Biden will use speeches in both Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to highlight the “dignity of American workers.”

Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is joining Biden for the events.

The president on Sunday expressed his support for a California state measure that would give agricultural workers expanded ways to vote in union elections.

“Government should work to remove — not erect — barriers to workers organizing. But ultimately workers must make the choice whether to organize a union,” Biden said.

California’s legislature has approved the bill, which would let workers cast union ballots by mail. But California Governor Gavin Newsom has opposed the measure in its current form, with a spokesperson citing concerns about the system being untested and lacking necessary steps to protect election integrity.

Monday’s holiday honoring workers in the United States was first celebrated in 1894, and it includes parades and other events in cities across the country.

Labor Day also represents an unofficial end to summer with a last busy long weekend for travelers and many children set to begin their school year.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press.

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Indian Railways launches events to highlight historical importance of trains and stations

Indian Railways launches events to highlight historical importance of trains and stations

Showcasing the role and importance of railways in the freedom struggle, Indian Railways will organise cultural shows, programmes, photo exhibitions and several other events at various stations across the country.

As many as 75 stations have been identified for the week-long programme, which is also a part of the 75th year of Independence celebrations.

According to an official release, “Nukkad Natak” (street plays), movie shows, photo exhibitions, and light and sound shows among other events, will be organised at the stations and on the last day, family members of freedom fighters will share freedom stories.

Also, under the programme, a total of 27 trains will be flagged off by the freedom fighter’s families from the originating stations. These trains will be decorated and also display information about their role in the freedom movement.

“We aim to spread values and glories of freedom struggle among the youth, who will be India’s future,” the chairman and CEO of Railway Board, Vinay Kumar Tripathi said on Monday at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi while inaugurating the event named  ‘Azadi Ki Rail Gadi aur Stations’.

Several programmes, shows and events have been organised by various governments, organisation, bodies and others, throughout the year, to celebrate the diamond jubilee of India’s Independence.

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Kamloops-grown to highlight Farm2Chefs culinary event later this month

Kamloops-grown to highlight Farm2Chefs culinary event later this month

This year’s event will feature 26 participants, including local restaurants and caterers, as well as beverage makers and more.

“The idea is they try to use something seasonally appropriate that they buy from the farmer’s market or from a local supplier or purveyor,” Summers says. “[They] make a little one-, two-bite snack, basically, and everyone just kind of hangs out and has a good time.”

Nicole Mackie, Chef at Salty Fig Catering and Owner of The Cure Culinary Provisions is one of the chefs making culinary magic for the event. She joined Farm2Chefs during the pandemic and says she’s looking forward to her first grazing event

“Just being able to celebrate all the business we have in town,” Mackie says. “How hard everyone has worked over the last couple of years especially, and to be able to celebrate food with the people that we love.”

Every year, Farm2Chefs picks a local cause to donate the funds they raise during the grazing event. This year, the grant will help support the PIT Stop Program at the Kamloops United Church.

“Farm2Chefs, being a food-oriented organization, to support [PIT Stop] just goes hand-in-hand,” PIT Stop Program Coordinator Tomas Bijok tells CFJC Today. “We are so grateful to them for this money that goes to support our program so we can buy amazing food to serve to our guests, week-to-week.”

And once the food has been chewed and it’s time to clean up, Friendly Composting will be there to take away all the food waste from this year’s event.

“It was just a really neat opportunity to think about one-off events and how we can have a really, really huge impact with and change the narrative,” Katie Forsyth, co-founder and CEO of Friendly Composting says. “This is an event that’s been around for many years, and it’s cool to see it going that green-friendly route.”

With a little more than two weeks remaining before the event, Summers suggests that if you want to go, you’d better grab your tickets soon.

“Usually, we have quite a few tickets leading up to the final week of the event, but we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty,” Summers says. “I encourage people, if they want to, go on to Eventbrite with Farm2Chefs and get their tickets right away.”

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Riders Republic, Skull & Bones Will Have In-Game Events to Highlight Climate Issues

Riders Republic, Skull & Bones Will Have In-Game Events to Highlight Climate Issues
Riders Republic PS5 PS4 PlayStation

Ubisoft has announced that in-game events in both Riders Republic and Skull & Bones will be used to highlight real-world environmental issues.

Beginning in late 2022, the first live event will take place in Riders Republic and deal with forest fires.

There will be no warning (to simulate the immediacy of forest fires), the sky will change to an ominous shade of orange, and players will need to team up in order to save endangered sequoia trees from the blaze.

Certain areas of the map will become inaccessible, and you will be able to pinpoint the location of each conflagration by the smoke on the horizon.

You can read our full thoughts on Riders Republic in our review.

Skull & Bones, meanwhile, will have an event focusing on the consequences of overfishing. While we don’t have a firm release date for the long-in-development title, we should hear more soon, and it is rumoured to be released in October.

What do you think of Ubisoft’s idea of adding live events to highlight these issues? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Music, Fireworks Highlight Host Of Local Fourth Of July Events

Music, Fireworks Highlight Host Of Local Fourth Of July Events

Fireworks are pictured from Bemus Point during a previous Fourth of July celebration. Several events are planned across the county.
Submitted photos

Area Fourth of July events are back with a bang this year.

With events largely curtailed the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the calendar is full this year with festivities and fireworks shows. The following is a list of events that center around Fourth of July gatherings across Chautauqua County.

CHERRY CREEK

The Cherry Creek Business and Community Association Inc. will hold its annual Independence Day celebration Saturday at the ballpark on Main Street. Events will include rides, food, vendors, and a beer and wine tent. A chicken barbecue sponsored by the Cherry Creek Volunteer Fire Department will take place in the pavilion beginning at 2 p.m., the same time a pie contest will begin under the tent.

Between 2 to 4 p.m., a classic car, truck and motorcycle cruise-in will be held. The Kokomo Time Band also will perform.

Fireworks are pictured from Bemus Point during a previous Fourth of July celebration. Several events are planned across the county.
Submitted photos

At 4 p.m., lineup for the parade down Main Street begins on Southside Avenue. The parade commences at 5 p.m.

Music by Midroom Drifters begins at 7 p.m. in the pavilion and will conclude at 10 p.m. with the beginning of the fireworks shows. Winners of the basket and item raffles will be announced at 8 p.m.

DUNKIRK

A three-day Fourth of July celebration in Dunkirk will include a slate of events, starting with the eighth annual Marauder Trotter 5k run/walk at 9 a.m. Saturday at Wright Park. At the park there also will be a community driving scavenger hunt beginning at 1 p.m.

There will be live music Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Memorial Park along with refreshments and vendors.

Events are capped off with a fireworks show at dusk.

BEMUS POINT

The Bemus Point Business Association will again host a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Sunday from the barges in Bemus Bay. A portion of Lakeside Drive, near the intersection of Lakeside and Main, will be closed around 9 p.m.

“This portion of the road will be closed for the duration of the fireworks show,” the Bemus Point Business Association said. “We encourage visitors to bring their chairs to this area to enjoy the display.”

The fireworks show also will be visible from the village park and can enjoyed from boats and docks around the Bemus Bay.

“We would like to thank our generous community members, business sponsors and event partners for their donations,” the association said. “We couldn’t put on such an amazing show without their support.”

SILVER CREEK

Silver Creek’s Independence Day celebration will take place at the lake front area with live music by the Kokomo Time Band from 6 to 9 p.m. and a fireworks display at dusk Sunday, the day before the holiday.

The village said it will host music in the park from 6 to 9 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: July 12, July 26, Aug. 9, Aug. 23. Food vendors will be at each event.

To coincide with the music, there also will be car cruise-ins July 12 and Aug. 9.

MAYVILLE

For the first time since 2019, Mayville will host a full day of Fourth of July events, including a parade with more than 100 groups registered to march.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and run until around noon. It will start at the courthouse on North Erie Street and continue on Route 394 to Chautauqua Lake. Routes 430 and 394 will be closed beginning at 9 a.m.

“It’s great, both economically and also just to get back to that quality of life,” Mayville Mayor Ken Shearer said. “Having the parade back is a great feeling.”

This year’s parade theme is “America: Stronger together.”

“With COVID and everything, it was just one of those things that we want — America, stronger together,” said Beth Sacilowski, a member of the Chautauqua County July 4th Committee.

In 2020, there were no activities during the day at Lakeside Park. Last year, there were a handful of vendors, but it was still limited.

This year, everything in the park will return. Activities will include face painting, a petting zoo by Mike Morton of Clear Creek Carriages, live music, food, games and raffles. Sacilowski said they have some new vendors as well.

LAKEWOOD

The village’s Fourth of July Summerfest returns to full form Monday beginning with the annual Firecracker Run at 9 a.m. Registration will take place from 7-8:15 a.m. at the park.

From noon to 10 p.m., vendors will offer a variety of food, gifts and crafts on Chautauqua Avenue. Music by Smokehouse will be available at Richard O. Hartley Park from 6 to 10 p.m.

A fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m.

FINDLEY LAKE

A chicken barbecue will begin at noon Monday at the Findley Lake Fire Department. The annual duck race will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the water flume on the north end of the lake followed by a boat parade at 2 p.m.

A fireworks display will kick off at 10 p.m.


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Livestock events a key highlight during Frontier Days

Livestock events a key highlight during Frontier Days

Frontier Days is underway and its a busy day in the Bernie Kemick Show Ring just south of the Palliser Pavillion.

Livestock Chair Bryce Burnett says they’ll have a great lineup of animals in the ring again with today’s events

getting underway at 12 noon.

“It’s going to be the purebred cattle and then there’s an open showmanship competition after that. Then all the 4-H calves get weighed in, as well as the jackpot steer and jackpot heifers. Then at 7 o’clock Thursday June 30th its the jackpot heifer and jackpots steer show take place. So it’s exciting to get all these shows back going again this year.”

Its all happening in the Bernie Kemick Show Ring located just south of the Palliser Pavillion.

Burnett says the barns are full with lots of top quality animals as exhibitors are happy to be back at the show:

“We got 30 purebred cattle coming in, and we’ve got 15 steers and heifers in the jackpot events. Then for the 4-H cattle we’ve got just about 100 steers going to be entered in and close to 70 bred heifers and cow calf pairs. So we’ve got a real good bunch of cattle coming into the fair this year.”

The Purebred Show kicks things off Thursday at 12 noon, with the 4-H activities taking center stage Friday and Saturday. 

Burnett notes there’s a couple of new events in the livestock area that’s sure to attract a lot of attention this year.

A Registered Texas Longhorn Show is set for Friday at 2 with 18 animals taking part in the Pen show coming in from across Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The other new event is the Burnham 4-H Club’s Goat Show which takes place Saturday at 2 o’clock.

About 15 to 20 goats are expected to take part in the first time event with the animals being housed in Barn 6.

The weekend activities wrap up Saturday with the 4-H Steer Sale at 4 o’clock.

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Rain event, transit masking, STC wellness centre highlight Saskatoon city council | Globalnews.ca

Rain event, transit masking, STC wellness centre highlight Saskatoon city council  | Globalnews.ca

The response to last week’s rain event was a big topic at Saskatoon city council Monday afternoon.

“In the 24 hours from the beginning of the storm over 1,200 calls were recieved at the customer care centre, with 114 that required service,” said Angela Gardiner, general manager with Utilities and Environment.

Mayor Charlie Clarke said a lot of credit should be given to the city for the rain event response,

“It’s a moment worth celebrating for the city to be able to do that and I think lots of people I’ve talked to have said good on the city for that” said Mayor Clarke.

Councillor Bev Dubois put forward a motion seconded by councillor Donauer for an investigative device that could signal to drivers not to proceed under overpasses when water or snow gets to a dangerous depth.

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Councillor Loewen put forward a motion also seconded by councillor Donauer to receive information back and to be transparent about what is learned about our infrastructure.

The motions carried unanimously.

Read more:

Members of Saskatoon city council, police commissioners board further discuss drug decriminalization

Masking on city transit was another topic of discussion.

Saskatoon Fire delivered the June COVID-19 update, with the motion of the information be received being moved by councillor Jeffries and seconded by councillor Gersher.

The update recommended masking continue to be mandatory on transit on a month-to-month basis.

Councillor David Kirton motioned to make masks optional, and council agreed.

Councillors Gough, Loewen, and Gersher were the only one to oppose the move.

Council plans to re-visit mandatory masking on transit in the fall.

The STC Wellness Centre’s temporary location also stirred up a lot of talk at council.

Council looked at several different options for the STC to have outdoor space and decided moved a motion to use the sidewalk in front of the building.

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The option is temporary and will be revisited at the end of October.

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Saskatoon funding for housing support falls short

Council also brought up the residential speed limit review program, a program proposed by councillor Kirton several months ago.

The program would entail volunteers working with police to track speeders.

Council passed the motion, sending it to the Board of Police Comissioners for more information.

The board will report back with more information at a later date.

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Library Link: June events highlight Canada’s multiculturalism

Library Link: June events highlight Canada's multiculturalism

June is a busy month for celebrating important and commemorative days in Canada.

A simple Internet search reveals just how many of these days there are, and while each one is observed in some fashion throughout Alberta, they also reflect the larger scope of Canadian multiculturalism.

Canadians come from a wide range of races, religions, and nations, all of which makes for a diverse population, and many opportunities to celebrate.

To begin, June is recognized as National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize the long and rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.

In terms of Airdrie, the city is situated on the lands of Treaty 7 territory, the traditional lands of the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut’ina peoples, and on the homelands of the Métis Nation, Region 3.

June 21 is also National Indigenous Peoples Day, a date chosen to reflect the spiritual importance of the summer solstice to Indigenous people across Canada.

June 24 is Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, celebrated in Quebec and by French Canadians across the country, including here in Alberta. The day’s celebrations often include parades, fireworks, feasting, and music concerts.

June 27 is Canadian Multiculturism Day, a time to celebrate our country’s cultural diversity and to reaffirm our commitment to equity, inclusion, and mutual respect.

Speaking of multiculturalism, June is also a time when Italian, Filipino, and Portuguese communities showcase the invaluable contributions they have made to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of Canada.

Finally, June 1 marked the launch of Pride Month, which features a wide range of events that take place from June to September. Locally, Airdrie is hosting a Solidarity Walk on June 18, which will be followed by the Airdrie Pride Society’s Pride in the Park event at Nose Creek Regional Park.

Here at Airdrie Public Library (APL), we’ll be participating in one way or another in these celebrations through our collections, programs, and events. Watch for book displays celebrating these various important and commemorative days and look for us at Pride in the Park on June 18.

For more information on APL programs and events, visit www.airdriepubliclibrary.ca

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Earth Day events highlight planning ahead for environmental health (Environmental Factor, May 2022)

Earth Day events highlight planning ahead for environmental health (Environmental Factor, May 2022)

NIEHS Senior Medical Advisor Aubrey Miller, M.D., received the John P. Wyatt, M.D. Environment and Health Award on Earth Day, April 22, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the environment and health.

Miller also presented the keynote lecture at the John P. Wyatt, M.D. Environment and Health Symposium held at the University of Kentucky (UK). The event was hosted by the UK Center for the Environment and co-sponsored by the NIEHS-funded UK Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) and UK Superfund Research Center.

From left, Kelly Pennell, Erin Haynes, Aubrey Miller and Ellen Hahn Kelly Pennell, Ph.D., director, UK Superfund Research Center, Erin Haynes, Dr.PH., director, UK Center for the Environment, and Ellen Hahn, Ph.D., director, UK-CARES, present the John P. Wyatt, M.D. Award to Miller. (Photo courtesy of Ben Corwin / University of Kentucky)

“Thank you for this honor,” Miller said as he received the award. “I am truly humbled and appreciate this not only for myself but for the team of colleagues that I represent and work with at NIEHS.”

Resiliency in future disasters

Focused on climate-related disasters, Miller’s keynote lecture featured the challenges and opportunities surrounding the health impacts of climate change.

Miller talked about the December 2021 tornadoes that devasted the western Kentucky community of Mayfield and explained how his work is rooted in planning for such disasters by collecting and sharing evidence-based best practices.

The NIEHS Disaster Research Response (DR2) program features a portal of resources for researchers and first responders. The DR2 Centers and Grantees Network, which stretches across the U.S. to Canada and in Japan, aids in developing portal contents. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) asked Miller to replicate the DR2 Portal(https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/dr2/) for NIH’s COVID-19 research response.

NIEHS grantee Natasha DeJarnett, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Louisville, moderated a panel session on climate change and public health at the symposium.

“This panel shared such powerful storytelling and imagery that has really brought to life the climate impacts that we’re experiencing,” DeJarnett said. “Overarching themes include threats to physical and mental health, but through it all, what I’ve heard echoing is our resilience.”

Earth Day starts at home

Just as Miller plans for climate-related disasters, the NIEHS Environmental Awareness and Advisory Committee encourages use of blue-sky days by conserving and converting energy (see sidebar) and building sustainable native habitats. Two Earth Day seminars highlighted the actions that begin at home to create a healthier Earth in the years to come.

Kerri Hartung and Paul Johnson Kerri Hartung, NIEHS sustainability coordinator, and Paul Johnson, NIEHS Environmental Protection and Stewardship Programs manager, hosted the dual Earth Day events. (Photos courtesy of Steve McCaw / NIEHS)

Native plants and natural ecosystems were the focus of the first seminar held April 19, which featured naturalist Pete Schubert with the NC Invasive Plant Council and New Hope Audubon Society, a retired engineer from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Growing native plants can improve the habitat quality of your home, and removing non-native plants can be just as imperative, Schubert said, describing some non-native, invasive plants as malignancies. The definitions and warnings he offered are as follows.

  • Natives are plants that grow locally before Europeans came to the new world. Native plants are considered ecosystem food.
  • Non-natives are those that have been introduced from somewhere else purposefully or by accident. Non-native plants are considered ecosystem pollution.
  • Invasives are non-native plants that spread uncontrollably far beyond where initially planted. Invasive plants can harm ecosystems, disrupt food webs, and are considered malignant ecosystem pollution.

Removing non-native plants, stopping invasive plants, and adding native plants are important steps in maintaining bird-friendly habitats, which are critical to the ecosystem, according to Schubert. The National Wildlife Federation’s plant finder database is searchable by zip code so gardeners can search for plants native to their area.

Habitats welcoming to caterpillars are important because birds need caterpillars to survive, he added. The North Carolina Native Plant Society offers a searchable native butterfly database.

Increasing the number of native plants on the NIEHS campus around Discovery Lake and identifying plants at nurseries that have been sprayed with pesticides were among the topics discussed by seminar attendees following Schubert’s talk.

(Jennifer Harker, Ph.D., is a technical writer-editor in the NIEHS Office of Communications and Public Liaison.)


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Bus rapid transit events seek to highlight planned system features

Bus rapid transit events seek to highlight planned system features

ROCHESTER – Plans for Rochester’s bus rapid transit system will be highlighted during a series of upcoming events.

The system, known as Link Rapid Transit, involves a planned 2.8-mile along portions of Second Street Southwest, Second Street Southeast and Third Avenue Southeast, with seven dedicated stations.

The planned city and Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency events will provide basic project information, focusing on the unique benefits expected with the planned high-frequency, high-amenity system expected to start operations as early as 2026.

These are the upcoming events:

  • An open house at 5 p.m. April 12 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 810 Third Ave. SE, will feature a brief presentation with a question-and-answer session. Rochester Public Works Department staff will also be on hand to share information regarding Ninth Street reconstruction happening this summer.
  • A walking tour of the southeast station area will be conducted at 5 p.m. April 19 at Riverside Elementary School, 506 Fifth Ave. SE. The tour will depart at 5:15 p.m. and include the location of the proposed east end of the route.
  • A bus tour of the planned route will be held at 5 p.m. April 26, starting at the city-county Government Center, 201 Fourth St. SE. The rolling tour will depart by RPT bus at 5:15 p.m. and follow the entire length of the route.