Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Martin writes-
Brandon Gunnoe from Channel 7 just interviewed me about the basking shark video.  He said the piece should air on the 10:00 news (Channel 56) and/or the 11:00 news (Channel 7).

North Shore Pride Invites the Community to Join in
Standing Proud Together

Full Week of Educational, Cultural and Community Events Mark Fourth Annual LGBT and Allied Pride Celebration this June

The fourth annual North Shore Pride Parade and Festival will take place Saturday, June 20, 2015, in Salem, MA. The theme of this year’s celebration, voted on by members of the community, is Standing Proud Together.

New this year is a week long calendar of educational, cultural and community events leading up to the parade and festival, including a free “lunch and learn” on Monday, June 15, focused on how to make cities and towns more welcoming for LGBT people.

“The mission of North Shore Pride has always been to create unity in our community,” said president and founder Hope Watt-Bucci. “I’m proud to be expanding our educational mission this year by providing an opportunity for local officials and members of the public to hear from dedicated advocates like Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and Mason Dunn of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition about steps we can all take to make our North Shore cities and towns more unified and welcoming for all.”

“With a full week of events including a movie night, interfaith service and more, there’s something for everyone to participate in,” Watt-Bucci added, “It takes every one of us to make change in our communities, and this year we truly are standing proud together.”

The Grand Marshal of the 2015 North Shore Pride Parade is OUTVETS, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the contributions and sacrifices of LGBTQ Veterans, active service members, and their families. OUTVETS made history earlier this year as the first LGBT organization to officially march openly in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

This year’s entertainment lineup at the festival on the Salem Common includes headliners XELLE (pronounced “XL”).  XELLE’s original, high energy songs sound like a delicious mix of Katy Perry, ABBA and The Spice Girls, and they’ve headlined pride festivals in Chicago, San Francisco, New York and more.

XELLE promotes a strong message of self-acceptance and empowerment. They released the song Red Flag as a powerful human rights anthem, in conjunction with the #iRaiseARedFlag online protest to inspire everyone who cares about equality to make their views known and raise their voice against oppression.

Also in our lineup: Adrienne Mack Davis as part of her world tour, local favorites, The DeJas, Rolla, Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket, Sarah & The Wild Versatile, Jenn Lombari and Lucky United.

North Shore Pride is a 100% volunteer run non-profit organization. The annual North Shore Pride Parade, Festival and year-round community events are made possible by the work of countless volunteers, individual donations and the support of community sponsors.

A full calendar of 2015 North Shore Pride events follows below. Complete details, including how to register to march in the parade, be a vendor at the festival, sponsor or volunteer, can be found at www.northshorepride.org.

North Shore Pride Events, June 15 – 20, 2015

Monday, June 15, 11:30 a.m. – Free public Lunch & Learn at The Cabot in Beverly: Making Our Cities and Towns More Welcoming for LGBT people. Panelists include: Mayor Kim Driscoll, City of Salem; Representative Paul Tucker, 7th Essex District; Paul Miller, One Gordon; Mason Dunn, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. Sponsored by Montserrat College of Art. Lunch provided by Gulu Gulu/Flying Saucer of Salem.

Wednesday, June 17, 7 p.m. – North Shore Pride Movie Night at the Salem Theater. Presenting the documentary The Case Against 8, with a reception to follow. $5 donation at the door.

Thursday, June 18, 7:30 p.m. – North Shore Pride sponsors the June 18^th performance of The Normal Heart at the Salem Theater. Tickets available through Salem Theater.

Friday, June 19, 7 p.m. – Interfaith Pride Service at Tabernacle Congregational Church in Salem. Participating clergy include: the Reverend Joseph Amico, the Reverend Tara Olsen-Allen, Rabbi Mark Newton, Father Silvestre Romero and Wiccan Priestess Helen Cymbala. A reception will follow the service.

Saturday, June 20, 12 p.m. – The fourth annual North Shore Pride Parade will kick off in front of the Salem Post Office on Margin Street, travel down Derby and New Derby Streets to Hawthorne Boulevard, ending at the Salem Common. This year’s parade Grand Marshal is OUTVETS.

Saturday, June 20, 1 p.m. – The fourth annual North Shore Pride Festival will run from 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., with a full schedule of live music including headliners XELLE. Non-profit, community, business, food and arts and crafts vendors will once again be on hand. The full entertainment line up is available at www.northshorepride.org. The festival is free for all to attend and is a family friendly event.

Saturday, June 20, 5 p.m. – The official North Shore Pride After Party will take place outside at Murphy’s Pub on Derby Street in Salem, with entertainment from DJ Andrea. 21+, $5 suggested donation at the door.

The mission of North Shore Pride, Inc. is to promote the general welfare, and enhance the social life of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of the North Shore, and to promote the acceptance of the members of this community by the broader North Shore community. To carry out these purposes, the organization engages in activities designed to promote greater understanding of LGBT issues, educates the members of the LGBT community on issues of importance to them and engages in fundraising activities, partnering with individuals and organizations, in furtherance of its stated purpose.

My name is Lin Chandler and I am the owner of 222 Arts & Wellness Center
at 222 Eastern Ave. in Gloucester.
I am so excited to spend the evening with all of you this Thursday, May
21st. I am writing to let you know a little bit about us over at 222
Arts & Wellness Center, in the event that you were “on the fence” as to
whether this evening is what you really need. I say “YES IT IS!” and let
me explain why.  We are a caring, nurturing community of lightworkers.
We are privileged to have a wide variety of clients with different lives
and avocations, but they all have one thing in common. They are
wondering, “Am I the best person that I am supposed to be, and is my
life the very best it can be?”
We’re all different – maybe meditation will help some of you tune in,
where others may need crystals and singing bowls. Maybe breathing
exercises and songs will help you.
This Thursday, please come and safely experience some of these
therapeutic practices to see what supports you the best. Because your
higher source energy also has a plan for you and knows what is the very
best for you, we are more than happy to use cards, pendulums, crystals,
essential oils, etc., to get those very important questions answered for
you.
Come enjoy this peaceful evening of spiritual tapas with us. Sample
therapeutic practices that interest you. I promise you will be uplifted,
confident and more joyful when the evening is done. Amazing sharing,
caring spirit community, great food, friends, a walking labyrinth,
bonfire and even some songs…it doesn’t get any better than this!
The event is $30.00.
SPACE IS LIMITED AND FILLING UP! YOU MUST RSVP TO THIS EVENT!
Thank you!

Race Overview
The second annual Rocky Neck 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by the Rocky Neck Art Colony to benefit Gloucester’s Rocky Neck Cultural District and the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck Building Fund, takes place on Sunday, May 17, 2015 and for the first time this year includes a Team Challenge.  The USATF-sanctioned race will take off from the Causeway on Rocky Neck and return by way of Gloucester’s ocean-rimmed Back Shore to finish on Rocky Neck, where participants will be treated to a celebratory post-Race brunch and awards ceremony at The Studio Restaurant and Deck, overlooking picturesque Smith Cove on Gloucester Harbor.  Individuals and teams—runners and walkers of all ages—are welcome.  But everyone is urged to sign up soon, as participation in this year’s Race will be capped at 400.

The Rocky Neck 5K &Team Challenge will be a community ‘happening’ which benefits a neighborhood-based, volunteer organization committed to preserving Rocky Neck’s unique arts and maritime cultural heritage.  And, it will be an event offering lots of FUN for lots of people!  Nearly anyone can run or walk this event. Beginners can get a taste of what exercise and outdoor enjoyment bring. Experienced runners can sharpen their times on a forgiving course. Any kind of group will find it especially rewarding to compete as a team and/or with family and friends.

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson St., will serve as Race headquarters, where packet pickup will take place on the morning of the Race.  Parking will be along the streets and in designated public and private lots on and around Rocky Neck, where volunteers will be positioned to assist visitors in locating a spot. There will be space available in Rocky Neck Park along the Causeway for individuals and teams to meet up and warm up before the Race.

More info here

Info From S.D. Kelly
FILM: (look for GMG goddess Kim Smith’s clip!) The Red Shed Film Fest at the Rockport Public Library

DANCE: The T-Wharf tent featuring the Rockport Dance Academy and Fight or Flight Aerial Theatre.

MUSIC: The Dock Square tent features the Mari Martin Band, Pesky J. Nixon and Glass Onion. The Shalin Liu features a FREE community concert and an Instrument Petting Zoo.

WORDS: The School Street Tent: Magnetic Poetry Slam, Words Interactive, Words Before Dinner: the Poetry of Cape Ann.

ART: motif 2015 is a show featuring fresh, new work curated by Bob & Jill Armstrong of Iartcolony Gallery in Rockport. Artists from Cape Ann, Boston and beyond have re-imagined the Motif in everything from sculpture to paintings to video installations. A gallery walk will also be part of the festival.

COMMUNITY: Rockport Elementary School 3rd Grade Art Show, the M1D 5k & Fun Run to benefit Rockport Public Schools, Thacher Island Committee, Sandy Bay Yacht Club, Rockport Cub Scouts, Millbrook Meadow Committee, Addison Gilbert, SISU Fitness and more!

FOOD: Top Dog will have a food booth at the School Street Tent, Blue Lobster Grille and That Nutty Redhead will be set up in Dock Square, the New Year’s Rockport Eve Food Booth will be in Harvey Park.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES: Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest with prizes sponsored by The Ice Cream Store, painting, sketching, a Story Walk and Make-a-Book craft sponsored by the Rockport Public Library and much more!

Print out this handy Schedule of Events and bring it with you to Motif No.1 Day. The CATA trolley Park ‘n’ Ride will be running all day. Follow us on Twitter @rockportfest to stay up on the festival haps (do people still say that?) #M1D #rockportrocks www.rockportartfestivals.com