Salem Raises Disability Pride Flag, Preps Family Field Day
SALEM — Salem marked its first annual Disability Pride Month with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall Thursday afternoon, while the city continues preparations for a free Family Field Day at Forest River Park this Sunday.
TOWN HALL
The City of Salem held its first annual Disability Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony Thursday at 4 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 93 Washington Street, according to the town's News Flash announcement. The ceremony was billed as a celebration of "identity," "resilience," and "creativity" within the disability community, and organizers said all residents were welcome to attend.
The city is also finalizing plans for the Salem 400+ Family Field Day, a free community event set for Sunday, July 12, at Forest River Park. The News Flash release describes field games, pool access, and a kickball tournament among the day's offerings, part of the city's ongoing Salem 400+ anniversary programming.
Residents also have until July 12 to vote for their favorite "Ladies of Salem" figureheads through the Beautification Committee, with the top six vote-getters to be featured on a float in the Salem 400+ Heritage Days Parade on August 1, per the town's announcement.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Salem's Heritage Days festivities continue to take shape ahead of the August 1 parade, with registration reportedly nearing capacity among community groups, according to the town's News Flash coverage.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Salem To Host Free Family Field Day At Forest River Park On Sunday" — Patch reports the Sunday event at Forest River Park will include games, kickball, free pool access for residents, and a fire spray zone, a story the town's News Flash also covered today (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem).
"Salem To Hold First Disability Pride Month Flag Raising At City Hall" — Patch's coverage of Thursday's ceremony echoes the city's own announcement of the event, noting it as Salem's first annual observance of Disability Pride Month (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem).
"Merry Mixers Deliver Salem Hospital Record $132K Gift For Pediatric Patient Care" — According to Patch, the volunteer fundraising group's gift is described as a record contribution that will support pediatric patients and families facing financial hardship (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem).
"Salem To Welcome 'Pride of Baltimore II' For Heritage Days Festival" — Patch reports the historic clipper ship will be open to visitors at Central Wharf from July 31 to August 2 as part of Salem Heritage Days (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem).
"North Shore Still In 'Critical Drought,' Spurring Water Restrictions" — Patch reports a hot, dry stretch is expected to deepen drought concerns across the region, prompting water restrictions across the North Shore (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem).
"Salem Resident Cashes $500K Lottery Ticket" — Per Patch, Salem resident Guy Babineau is one of two $500,000 instant-ticket winners recently cashed on the North Shore, with the winning ticket sold at a Witch City bar and grill (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem).
COMING UP
The Salem 400+ Family Field Day takes place Sunday, July 12, at Forest River Park, featuring field games, pool access, and a kickball tournament, per the town's News Flash.
Voting for the Beautification Committee's "Ladies of Salem" figureheads closes July 12, with winners to be featured in the August 1 Heritage Days Parade float, according to the city.