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Looking for A Place to Watch
the Fire Works
-- Jerry Uht Park: Friday.
Music and fireworks; music starts at 8 p.m. Adults, $5;
children 16 and younger, free.
-- Waldameer Park & Water World: Friday and Saturday, late
evening, free.
-- Lawrence Park: Saturday, dusk, on Main Street downtown.
Follows a daylong celebration including a parade, concerts.
-- Conneaut Lake Park: Saturday, 10 p.m. Free.
-- Canadohta Lake: Saturday, 10 p.m. Free. Rain date is July
5.
-- Oil City: Saturday, 10 p.m. Justus Park, Free.
-- Vernon Township: Sunday 4 at 10 p.m. The Movies at
Meadville, Route 19. Free.
BABYLON SAINTS TO PERFORM AT THE DOCKSIDER IN ERIE, PA ON
SAT., JULY 17!
Babylon Saints will be performing at the Docksider in Erie,
PA on Sat., July 17 at 9 pm with Erie locals, The Blue
Gorillas opening. This show is a
stop on the SoCal quartet's first national tour! They start
off rocking venues up and down California's Golden Coast,
then head east in June and July, playing gigs all the way to
Pennsylvania and back again in support of their self-titled
debut release with Citation Records.
Fronted by Matt Gerovac, born in Pittsburgh, on
vocals/guitar, the music's socially-conscious message has
been reaching radio audiences everywhere from Oregon to
Minneapolis, and Puerto Rico to the UK and, OF COURSE, ERIE.
"It's really interesting to learn of all the different
places people are hearing and responding to our music. Of
course, we want to reach out to everyone we can, one person
at a time. It's exciting to know we're getting such a
positive response even outside the U.S.! We hadn't expected
that so soon," says singer/guitartist, Matt Gerovac.
The Saints' Reggae/Soul sound can be attributed to the
band's wide-ranging backgrounds and influences. Gerovac
spent his childhood in St. Thomas, USVI listening to the
Reggae basslines bumping from car stereos, rattling the
window panes of his grade school classrooms. Steel pan
player, Joseph "Panhead" Peck, spent time playing in the pan
orchestras in Trinidad. Bassist, Tyler Drake, caught the
Reggae bug growing up in the SoCal surf culture, while
drummer, Brandon Petersen, sharpened his skills playing
Latin and African rhythms as a member of his high school
drumline.
The soulful groove of the music is pulled together by a
positive message.
Matt explains: "I'm not going to get on a soapbox when it
comes to my lyrics. Most of it has to do with feeling free
and celebrating life,even during tough times. In my opinion,
if people focus on being grateful for what they do have,
they won't be so concerned with what they don't."
Docksider
1015 State Street
Erie, PA 16501-1803
GLBT Community Marches in 4th of July Parade
For the 5th year, we will have
a GLBT contingent in the Millcreek 4th of July Parade.
PLEASE NOTE! The parade takes place on SATURDAY, JULY 3.
(Basically, they didn't want to conflict with Sunday church
services, so they moved it back a day.) This is next
Saturday, so we have less than a week to pull this together.
For the first time ever, we will be marching as our own
group, so we need to get as many folks there as possible!
The name that I sent in to the organizers was the Erie GLBT
Community. The crowds and organizers have been very pleasant
and supportive since we started. We can have vehicles, but
you will need to let me know ASAP if you are bringing one. I
will be checking in at the registration table for the event
Saturday morning between 8 and 9 AM. The parade actually
steps off at 9:45 AM.
So, why is this important for our community? As important as
it is to have events within the community, consider that
there are always new people moving to the area, or coming
out. If someone doesn't already know about the community.
The parade proceeds from 12th and Marshall to the Erie
Airport, about a mile or so. It is usually over about noon
or so, so you are not looking at a huge investment of time.
But the difference that it can make to someone is
potentially immense!
Hope to see you there! On the day of the event, you can get
me at my cell phone at (814) 746-9281 or my work cell of
(814) 490-8672. Please help your community be visible! We
need each and every one of us!
Just to share a personal story about why doing this
important:
Two years ago, we were starting off to march, and I saw 2
women who looked like they might be a couple standing in the
crowd. As I walked by, I watched one of them mouth "thank
you" which was a complete and total day-brightener. It
really made me feel that those of us who took just a few
hours to walk down the street actually touched the lives of
others. It is sometimes easy to forget that many of us may
take for granted that community is easy to find. It is
harder for many people than we think. So, if you have
enjoyed a group or business, or maybe you had a good time at
the picnic or march/rally, remember that there is a very
simple, but very powerful, way to give back. All that you
have to do is spend a few hours, Not much in time, but that
might mean that a young person coming out finds that there
are resources here, or someone who moved here or just coming
out finds friends and community.
Isn't that worth a few hours of your time? (And the parade
has totally been a fun and uplifting experience.)
So, please let me know if you can help us all out. Looking
forward to hearing from you. Thanks!
Yours,
Mike Mahler
1115 W 7th St, Erie PA 16502-1105
Phone: (814)456-9833
Email: info@eriegaynews.com
Erie Art Museum Press Conference
Please join Erie Art Museum for a Press Conference,
Wednesday, July 7 at 11:30 a.m., to announce the Blues &
Jazz Festival performance line-up, unveil the artwork with
artist Bryan Toy, and recognize the support of their
generous sponsors.
Brief remarks will be followed by Mid-Day Art Break, 12-1
p.m. on the steps of the Museum.
The Rainbow Gathering Set For This Week
By Rob
Taylor
There are
a ton of things to do in Erie in the next few days but, from
what I hear, the place to be is going to be is in Sheffield,
PA
 in the Allegheny National Forest for the 38th
Annual Rainbow Gathering.
Every summer since 1972, the Annual Rainbow Gatherings have
attracted tens of thousands of people to a different United
States National Forest. There a temporary city is created in
the wilderness, complete with kitchens, plumbing, medical
care, sanitation, and childcare. These Rainbow Gatherings
culminate with an elaborate and graceful silent prayer for
World Peace on the Fourth of July.
The Annual Rainbow Gatherings attract all different kinds of
people, all for different reasons and who come from all
different
 places.
All of the magic happens through the volunteer efforts of
individuals without any formal organization or leaders and
without anyone buying a ticket or being paid for their
labor.
I met a man on his way to the Rainbow Gathering. His name
was Space, he never did reveal his full name, and he did
nothing but speak about the times he attended the regional
gatherings. He said that the Rainbow Gathering are a time of
love, fellowship and fun. He bragged that he travelled from
Illinois to attend the local event. “I was going to make
sure I made it,” he said. “I met people all over who helped
me by providing me with gas to make the trip.”
The Rainbow Family of Living
Light, sometimes known as the "Rainbow Tribe", is an
international loose affiliation of individuals who have a
common goal of trying to achieve peace and love on Earth.
Those who participate in, or sympathize with, the activities
of this movement sometimes refer to the circle simply as the
"Family". The words: Rainbow Family in the longer title are
a reference to the families inclusiveness of all colors,
classes, races and creeds.
The use of the phrase: Living Light in the longer title is a
reference to "living lightly", or living with little mass or
impact on the environment. Here's another daffy-nition: A
rainbow gathering is called "rainbow" because it takes the
full spectrum of hue-manity to make it happen; it literally
'takes all kinds' ... IOW, many hands make light work. :^)
-or- Ya' know (the Rainbow) "it's made up of light". Living
Light that is.
Some rainbow family participants make the claim that the
family is the "largest non-organization of non-members in
the world". In addition to referring to itself as a
non-organization, the Rainbow Family of Living Light's
"non-members" also playfully call the movement a
"disorganization".
There are no official leaders, no formal structure, no
official spokespersons, and no membership. Instead, the
Rainbow Family forms community through passivly shared
"traditions" of love for the Earth and gatherings to pray
for peace. Most gatherings are loosely maintained by open,
free form counsels consisting of any "non-member" who wishes
to be part of a counsel. There is no formal organization or
leadership. It is felt by many to be contrary to the spirit
of the gatherings.
It is said that any one with a belly button may consider
themselves part of the rainbow family, and that even a belly
button is not really needed. We are welcome home as one
family.
Space added that unlike other
events of this kind the forest will be the same when the
people leave as it was when they arrived. “We make sure that
NOTHING gets destroyed,” he said. The events website echoes
the same sentiment, “Note to
newbees: Keep your gathering Karma clean (or at least
natural) by coming self sufficient with some to share,
picking up litter if you see it, dissappearing your campsite
and taking at least one bag of trash far far away with you
when you leave; please and thank you. Oh yeah, AND the real
fun at gatherings is helping out at least a couple of hours
a day! Do da Buddha.”
The Rainbow Gathering Festival is set to run from July 1st
through the 7th. There is NO admission charge –
they are just there looking to spread the message of love
and compassion and caring. For more info, check out
www.welcomehere.org
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