here it is:

“The Church of St. John the Evangelist will host the 7^th annual St. John’s Block Party on Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10, in downtown Rochester.  This non-profit, community event is open to folks of all ages and is packed with music, entertainment, food, friends and fellowship. 

The Block Party festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 9.  Four bands will rock the main stage, including the Friday night headliner the Gear Daddies with Martin Zellar.  Opening for the Gear Daddies is a returning favorite, Trampled by Turtles.  Friday evening gets started with Nathan Miller and the Unstoppable Co. followed by The Irresistibles Sweet Soul Show featuring Mick Sterling.

On Saturday, July 10, gates open at noon, with the traditional two-stage format from years past.  Headlining on Saturday is the Chicago-based Freddy Jones Band.  Filling out Saturday’s lineup will be Solid Gold, Retribution Gospel Choir, Romantica, Roma di Luna, Belfast Cowboys (a Van Morrison tribute band), Unknown Prophets, The Idle Hands, and Rogue Valley.

New this year is a Battle of the Bands contest, which will take place on the main stage from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.  Five bands will compete for the coveted grand prize: a full day of recording at the legendary Pachyderm Recording Studio in Cannon Falls, Minn. (www.pachydermstudio.com).

Family entertainment will take place Saturday afternoon from noon to 4 p.m.  Two stages will have family-oriented entertainment, including music by singer/songwriter Hans Mayer; music by Wiggle, Jiggle, Jam; ethnic dance by the Happy Hips; as well as magicians, face painting, balloon animals and more.  Admission is free for children under the age of 12 with a paid adult.

Tickets will be available at a reduced price of just $20 each for Friday or Saturday (or $35 for both days) from Saturday, June 5, through Friday, July 2.  Tickets the week of the event and at the gate will be sold for $25 each or $45 for both days.  Children under the age of 12 receive free admission with a paid adult.

More than 400 volunteers from the Church of St. John help to make the St. John’s Block Party a reality — all in support of the mission to be a welcoming and hospitable community.  Proceeds totaling more than $11,000 from last July’s successful community event have been distributed to 12 organizations throughout Rochester.  In the six years of St. John’s Block Party history, more than $80,000 has been donated to organizations in need. 

For more information, contact the Church of St. John at 507-288-7372, or check out the St. John’s Block Party Web site (www.sjblockparty.org).”

Here’s an email, apparently meant for the Rochester Magazine in New York:

“Regarding your reporting on the Pallet Express fire on Lyell Avenue in Rochester, I wanted to see if you might be interested in speaking with the former CEO of one of the world’s largest wood pallet companies.  Bob Moore, who is currently CEO of a plastic pallet company, would be happy to speak with you about the fire safety concerns with wood pallets, why they post such risks and what can be done to make them safer. 

I will give you a call to discuss.

Regards,

Jim”

That slam poem sounded a lot better with my beatboxing to back it up. Maybe I’ll put an audio file on the blog. 

Anyhoo.

I’ll be one of the judges for the Slam Poetry Contest at the Art Center tomorrow night (April 2). They’re still looking for poets. Here’s the info: