All Pawtucket All The Time

A Celebration of Theater, Dance, Music, New Media and Visual Arts. Premieres, Special Events, Artist Residencies and Free Exhibits

September 25 – November 13, 2010

PROVIDENCE, RI – FirstWorks announced it seventh season lineup today for the FirstWorks Festival 2010. The festival will draw artists from around the globe for a celebration of theater, dance, music, new media and visual arts centered in downtown Providence. A complete schedule of performances and tickets are now available at first-works.org.

This year’s festival kicks off on September 25^th at Providence Performing Arts Center with a mesmerizing mash-up of vintage comics and dance as Pilobolus – the Cirque du Soleil of the dance world – collides with Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman. The festival culminates on November 13^th at the VMA Arts & Cultural Center with an electrifying performance by Sweet Honey In The Rock® featuring the New England premiere of “Indaba”, a musical dialogue between youth and elders that unites the first women of song with the Junior Providence Singers.

The Festival will span seven weeks and include innovative art and sound from new media artists in PIXILERATIONS [v.7], the New Media Fringe Festival @ FirstWorks, cutting-edge drama, direct from Ireland; and a vibrant 12-piece orchestra from New York City who will take salsa back to the street. Tickets are on sale now at first-works.org.

“This year’s FirstWorks festival unites the artistic talents of our city with the talents of exceptional artists and creators from the world’s stage,” said Kathleen Pletcher, Executive Artistic Director, FirstWorks. “Incredible new partnerships with the VMA Arts & Cultural Center, Culture Ireland, and the Taiwan Cultural Council have propelled the FirstWorks Festival to new heights in 2010. See, hear, feel, move, share—this is a festival that connects audiences to experience of the art of what’s new.”

About FirstWorks

FirstWorks connects art with audiences year-round through the exceptional vitality of artists’ first appearances, children’s first experiences with performance and the premiering of new works. FirstWorks was launched in 2004 as a vehicle to build community, reach underserved audiences, and present extraordinary arts programs that elevate Providence’s national profile. In the six years since, FirstWorks has produced ten groundbreaking arts festivals, attracted over 74,000 participants, and engaged more than 100 nonprofit community organizations and schools.

Pawtucket- Wednesday’s Noon Matinee at the Pawtucket Public Library (13 Summer St.) on Wednesday August 4th features  an official selection of the 2010 CANNES film festival.

 ”Reuven’s garage is a family-run business in the heart of the Israeli seaside town Jaffa. The employees include Reuven’s beautiful daughter Mali, his belligerent son Meir, a Palestinian mechanic Hassan, and his son Toufik. Unbeknownst to the others, Mali and Toufik have been in love for years, and she is now pregnant with his child. Fearing the reactions of their parents the two lovers plan to elope. However, tension builds between Toufik and the outwardly prejudiced Meir, boiling over to a shocking event that will change everyone’s lives.” Hebrew with English subtitles. 105 min.

Garlic and Moonshine and Anne’s Cordial may sound like new summer-time drink specials, but they are actually two up-and-coming acts on the New England contemporary folk circuit who are bringing an electric show to the Local 121 Speakeasy on August 4.

The Providence-based Anne’s Cordial plays a musical cocktail of folk, blues and retro songs with enchanting three-part vocal harmonies and unique instrumentation: guitar, harp, keyboard and rums. They have been described as everything from “chamber folk” to “neo-classical.”

The energetic Boston-based trio Garlic and Moonshine brews up a unique sound combining musical influences from earthy folk to ethereal Indian classical, psychedelic improvisations to Baroque compositions, old school funk to contemporary bluegrass.

Upcoming performances for Anne’s Cordial include the 2010 Pawtucket Arts Festival and the Singing Out Against Hunger Festival. Garlic and Moonshine recently released their debut album In Waves and tour frequently around New England

J. Scott Oberacker Joins RIIFF Staff To Serve as Educational Outreach Director at FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival

Photograph by Jonathan Beller

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – J. Scott Oberacker has recently joined FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), as their Educational Outreach Director, where he works to develop and maintain the festivals’ educational outreach programs as well as aids in the selection and adjudication of the festival’s films.

He holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has worked as a film scholar and teacher for many years.

His writing on film has appeared in a number of scholarly journals and he is currently co-editing a book on the television series, Friday Night Lights.

Most recently, Scott has been teaching film and media courses at Roger Williams University in Bristol, CT, where he also helped to coordinate the Roving Eye Film Festival, in conjunction with RIIFF.

THE FLICKERS’ BACKSTORY & MISSION:

The mission of the Flickers, the Newport Film Society & Arts Collaborative – now in its 29th year – has been to serve as a creative partner in the arts by uniting various media and arts disciplines that nurture the artistic process and support a vital part of our community. This includes multi-disciplinary art presentations; artistic and cultural activities; performance festivals; video and television productions; audio recordings and broadcasts; educational outreach programs; and the FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF).

ABOUT RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

The FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), has secured its place in the global community as the portal for the best in international independent cinema, earning the respect of domestic and foreign filmmakers, filmgoers and trend watchers. This confluence of art and commerce brought together world-class celebrities, award-winning filmmakers, new talent and audience members in record numbers last year. Ranked as one of the top 12 Festivals in the United States, RIIFF is also a qualifying festival for the Short Film Academy Award through its affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. There are 65 film festivals worldwide which share this distinction and RIIFF is the only festival in New England. The next Festival will take place August 10-15, 2010. For more information about the festival, please visit www.rifilmfest.org

RI Native To Screen Documentary Film at Rhode Island International Film Festival

Rhode Island -  August 12, 2010

Barrington, RI native Tessa Moran is scheduled to screen her latest documentary film Keeping the Kibbutz at the Rhode Island International Film Festival on August 12 at 6m at the Brown/RISD Hillel. Tessa co-directed the film with Ben Crosbie.

The 54 minute film, which will have its East Coast Premiere at RIIFF, chronicles the changing Israeli kibbutz through the eyes of some of its most devoted members. While some members faced heartbreak, others found new opportunities, and the kibbutz marched toward an inevitable end. A story about nostalgia, the effects of communal living and the hope for what lies ahead, Keeping the Kibbutz captures the lingering ghost of a movement now celebrating its 100th anniversary.  “The film does a sumptuous job of evoking… nostalgia without lapsing into sentimentality”, writes University of Victoria professor and blogger David Leach.

Moran, who is a 2002 graduate of Barrington High School moved to Washington, DC to study at Georgetown University and has remained in the nation’s capitol ever since, working as a writer and documentary filmmaker through her small company Eidolon Films. Keeping the Kibbutz is Eidolon’s first feature and is a result of collaboration with her partner Ben Crosbie, born on the very kibbutz documented in the film. Moran and Crosbie will be present at the screening for filmmaker Q&A.

Stills and a trailer are available at www.keepingthekibbutz.com

AG Candidate Announces Plan to Fight Practice of Campaign Contributions for Government Contracts

Pawtucket, RI – As Attorney General Candidate Peter Kilmartin continues his fight against “pay-to-play,” he announced today his plan to fight against the corrupt practice when elected.

“Enough is enough. Corruption has proven that it never sleeps in Rhode Island and it can no longer be tolerated,” said Kilmartin. “As Attorney General, I will lead the charge against corruption by cracking down on practices like ‘pay-to-play’ and will use all of the powers endowed to the office to aggressively prosecute those that violate the public trust.” 

Rhode Island does not currently have tough restrictions on political contributions by a contracting entity with the government to officeholders who award contracts. In order to remedy this, Peter Kilmartin led the charge by fighting for passage of a bill aimed at combating “pay-to-play” (H.7386). As Attorney General, Kilmartin will continue to push legislators to pass an even stronger law cracking down on “pay-to-play.”

Kilmartin’s Plan as Attorney General  to Combat “Pay-to-Play” includes: 

• All no-bid and competitive-bid government contracts will be subject to tough “pay-to-play” restrictions, as well as state and local officials ultimately responsible for awarding the contract or appointing administrators who award the contract. 
• Board members, officers, managers and individuals who hold at least 5 percent ownership interest, as well as their spouses and dependent children age 18 or older of the contracting entity will be subject to “pay-to-play” restrictions.
• Covered individuals in the contracting entity may not make contributions from the day the proposal is submitted and the aggregate limit for the contracting entity is one year after dissemination of the contract. PACs affiliated with the contracting entity also fall within rules regarding a contracting entity.
• Violation of a contracting entity will result in contract cancellation, suspension for one year from submitting a proposal for a competitive-bid contract or entering into a no-bid contract, as well as payment of an amount equal to the value of the contribution to the state no more than thirty days after notice of the violation from the board of elections.
• A candidate receiving contributions in violation of the law from a contracting entity must forfeit the amount of the contribution to the state no more than thirty days after notice of the violation from the board of elections. 

This announcement comes on the heels of an opinion issued by the United State Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Connecticut in which they upheld significant portions of Connecticut’s law aimed at fighting against “pay-to-play.” Specifically, the Court upheld the state’s strict prohibition against contractors from contributing to the campaigns of candidates.

Nine states – Connecticut, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, and the Federal Government – currently have such restrictions.

About Peter Kilmartin
Peter Kilmartin served as Pawtucket police officer for nearly 24 years, rising to the rank captain and officer in charge of prosecution. Currently, he is an attorney, college professor, state representative and Candidate for Attorney General. For more information, please visit www.peterkilmartin.com.

THEATRE BY THE SEA’S

THE FABULOUS FABLE FACTORY

MATUNUCK, RI – Theatre By The Sea owner and producer Bill Hanney, Producing Artistic Director Amiee Turner and Managing Producer Joel Kipper are proud to continue Theatre By The Sea’s 2010 Children’s Festival with The Fabulous Fable Factory presented by Ocean State Theatre Company on Friday, July 30, 2010. 

Monroe wanders into a seemingly abandoned factory and accidentally trips a lever, which activates the living factory of fable makers. The factory has been idle for over 2,000 years, because it has been missing the most important part – the “Moral Maker.” Join Monroe and the fable factory characters as some of Aesop’s best known fables including The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Lion and the Mouse, and The Tortoise and the Hare come to life in this magical production.

Managing Producer Joel Kipper, who appeared as George M. Cohan in Theatre By The Sea’s critically acclaimed production of George M! (2008) and will appear later this season in The Full Monty will direct the popular children’s play. The cast includes Ocean State Theatre Company’s 2010 acting interns, Jake Bridges, Donovan James Carey, Meghan Glogower, Amanda LaMotte, Evan Price, Emmett Louise Smith, who have appeared in this season’s productions of A Chorus Line, Hello, Dolly!, and Little Shop of Horrors. They will be joined by Box Office Manager Ayla Ocasio, House Manager Mike Daniels, and Master Carpenter Jacob Womack, who all will be making their Theatre by The Sea stage debuts.

After the performance, families can enjoy cold drinks, pizza and cookies, which will be available for purchase at the gazebo.

The Fabulous Fable Factory will be presented on Friday, July 30, 2010 at 10:00 am and 12:00 noon. The theatre is located at 364 Cards Pond Road, Matunuck, RI. Single tickets are $10.00 each with packages of three shows or more for $8.00 per ticket. Discount rates are available for groups of 20 or more by calling (401) 782-3800 x18. Tickets are on sale at the box office Mon-Sat from 10:00 am-4:00 pm, online 24-hours-a-day at www.theatrebythesea.com and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 782-TKTS (8587).

Introduce your child to the magic of live theatre this summer at Theatre By The Sea!

 The Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Pawtucket, RI    

Festival Chairmen: Tasos Doukas Co-Chairmen Stasy Susset and John  Zervas Baking Co-Chairmen:  Vikki Kizirian — 401-434-8156 - 

Church of the Assumption Celebrates its 83rd Annual Festival

 Travel to a Greek Village This Summer – right here in Rhode Island! A Greek Village Festival in our own back yard. 

Addressing the present economy and the rising cost of airfares, on the weekend of August 20, 21, 22, 2010, the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church offers you an alternative to travel abroad.

We invite you to join us as we transform our parish grounds into a ‘virtual Greek Village’ – and invite EVERYONE to join in our glendi (Greek Village Festival).

Guests will be greeted by our life-size Evzone, and then guided to the Festival grounds through a parade of flags, where each booth will carry the ‘flavor’ of the beautiful Greek Villages and Islands. Our Village is complete with an in-door/out-door Agora (marketplace).

This is a time when the parish showcases their Greek Heritage, Culture, and our Greek Orthodoxy as we commemorate the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Our menu is Mediterranean Greek, rich with ‘village’ foods and all of the favorite Greek dishes for you to savor.

Join the fun and flavor of the Greek Village glendi right here in Pawtucket, minutes away from your home.

Specifics:

•  The Church of the Assumption, Pawtucket, RI, will hold its 83rdAnnual Grecian Festival.

•  Located at:  Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church Grounds

97 Walcott Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 02860

•  Dates/Times:  Friday, August 20 – 5 PM to 10 PM

Saturday, August 21 – noon to 10 PM

 & Sunday, August 22, Noon to 9 PM 

•  Rain or shine, under the tents. Admission is free and open to the public.

•  Ample parking in the area. Free shuttle bus service available at the easy-access parking lot on Roosevelt Ave. across from Pawtucket City Hall.

                      Rain or Shine, all under the Tents. Free and open to the public featuring:

• Greek Food & Pastries: Traditional Dancing & Dance Demonstrations, live music, Church tours and more. Special ‘kids’ activities are planned. A Festival of family fun!

• Agora: Our Greek Indoor/Outdoor Marketplace will again be brimming with Greek imported merchandise – jewelry, giftware, religious items, scarves, hats, perfumes, and other interesting items that we will ‘sail into port.’

• Greek Cuisine: Dine on authentic Greek cuisine such as roasted Leg of Lamb, Baked Lamb Shank (Greek Osso Bocco), Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Tiropeta, Gyros, Souvlaki, Tiropetes, Pasticio, Spanakopetes or Moussaka

• Greek Pastries: Indulge! Choose from an array of Greek pastries baked by the ladies of the Philoptochos Society including Kourambiedes, Finikia, Kouloulakia and Baklava

•  Kafenio (Café): Enjoy aromatic Greek Coffee accompanied by Paximadia (biscotti), Village Yogurt-Honey-Almond Delight, and our specialty, Baklava Cheesecake. Sip a glass of  Ouzo, Mavrodaphne, Metaxa or Mastiha

• Cooking/Baking with Fillo Demonstration: Ladies from the parish will demonstrate the techniques of baking with fillo.  Learn the secrets of Greek Baklava, Kataife, Spanakopeta               

• He flies: Watch our dancers, dressed as Greek Warriors, as they fly through the air (Senior Troupe). Performances by the Greek Pride dance troupe performing traditional and modern Greek dances, all in full ethnic costumes representing the various regions of Greece, its Villages, Island & Mountain regions. (Friday, 7 p m (‘Taverna’ performance) -Saturday and Sunday 4 p m (Junior Troup)  & 7 p m (Senior Troup)

• Dance! Join us as we dance traditional Greek dances to the live rhythm of the Bouzouki

Annual Raffle – The Island of Crete and the City of Athens

Win a 10-day trip for 2 to the island of Crete and the city of Athens . Includes round trip airfare from Boston, lodging and most meals. (Donation, $20 per ticket.)

The parish invites all to an afternoon of (delicious) family fun at our Greek Village Festival glendi right here in Pawtucket! 

-For information call the parish office at 401-725-3127.

-Directions:  Exit 29 off Rt. 95 north (to School St.) or south (to Broadway). Follow the signs. 

Our Greek Village Festival is a partner to the Pawtucket Arts Festival.

          Is summer your season to read a good mystery or thriller or perhaps you enjoy these fast paced novels year round?  If so, Weaver Library, 41 Grove Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island, has the program for you!  We proudly announce that crime novelist Gerry Boyle visits the library on Monday, August 2, 2010 at 7PM to discuss his most recent novel Damaged Goods, the ninth book in the acclaimed Jack McMorrow series. 

           Gerry Boyle was born in Chicago, but grew up in Rhode Island.   A graduate of Warwick’s Pilgrim High School, Gerry credits a favorite English teacher for stoking his interest in writing.  Gerry began writing stories while a student at Maine’s Colby College, and after several jobs took him elsewhere, he returned to Maine, made Maine his home and the setting for his fiction

Join me in welcoming Gerry Boyle home to Rhode Island. Take a look at a synopsis and the terrific reviews for Damaged Goods on www.gerryboyle.com. You can also read Gerry’s blog at the site, but most importantly, don’t miss this chance to meet the author whom Robert Parker called “the genuine article.”

This program is free and open to all. Books will be available for purchase and signing.    Contact Joyce May at 434-2453 or eplibraryjoyce@yahoo.com for more information.

Kilmartin Has an Unmatched Record of Fighting for Rhode Island Jobs and Rate Payers

Pawtucket, RI –Regarding an announcement by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island eliminating more than 100 jobs, Attorney General Candidate Peter Kilmartin made the following statement:

“Enough is enough. It is wrong that on the heels of receiving approval for a nearly 10 percent rate-hike increase, non-profit Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island announced that it is going to eliminate more than 100 jobs as a cost cutting measure. We cannot let health insurance companies in our state that are given special tax breaks from government jack up rates and cut Rhode Island jobs.”

“Fighting for Rhode Island jobs and cracking down on the health insurance industry is not new for me. When Bank of America and Fleet Bank merged in 2004, I led the charge against Bank of America and helped ensure that the employees of Rhode Island Fleet Bank kept their jobs when the two companies merged.”

“In taking on the health insurance industry on behalf of consumers, I successfully fought for a law requiring health insurance companies become subject to public scrutiny before drastically raising their rates, as well as a law ensuring that insurance providers pay for reconstructive surgeries following mastectomies to treat breast cancer.”

“As Attorney General, I will continue to protect Rhode Islanders from companies who put profits ahead of people. In addition, I will be a watchdog over health insurance companies and use the powers of the office to aggressively fight for consumers and against rate hikes.”  

About Peter F. Kilmartin
Peter F. Kilmartin served as Pawtucket police officer for nearly 24 years, rising to the rank of prosecutor and captain. Currently, he is an attorney, college professor, state representative, and Candidate for Attorney General. For more information, please visit www.peterkilmartin.com.