By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent

While foreclosures continued to rise across the state in the month of April - with completed foreclosures increasing by double-digits for the seventh consecutive month - the city of Beverly saw two less than the same time last year.

Beverly saw only one completed foreclosure in April, according to data released by the Warren Group, a New England-based publishing and real estate data-gathering company. The singular deed last month is two less than took place in April of 2011. Six foreclosure petitions were filed for Beverly in April, down from eight at the same time a year ago.

The numbers reflect an opposite change from the rest of the Commonwealth, as statewide petitions rose 47 percent from April of last year, and deeds increased 19 percent from 598 to 714.

"Foreclosure activity was so low last year that we're inevitably seeing a rise in foreclosures across the state," Cory S. Hopkins, editorial director of The Warren Group, said in a statement. "It's necessary for a wave of foreclosures to work through the system this year, but it shouldn't cause panic. In order to return to a healthier market, the backlog of distressed properties needs to be cleared from banks' books."

There was one more foreclosure auction in Beverly than last April, a total of seven for the month.

In terms of year-to-date statistics, the city is largely following the unfortunate trend that the rest of Bay State has been, with foreclosure petitions increasing from 17 to 21 (a 23.53 percent increase), and foreclosure auctions increasing from 15 to 28 (86.67 percent).

But while completed foreclosures in Massachusetts have increased by 30.5 percent from last year, Beverly has seen a 50 percent drop to this point in the year, from 10 to five.

By Kathy McCabe, Globe Staff

Greg Shea's favorite day at the Seaport Cafe in Salem was "Sunday Funday," when local musicians would gather for an afternoon jam session.

Sax and guitar, bongos and harmonica sounds brought a  hip vibe to Derby Street, where Shea opened the cafe in May, 2010. 

            

The outgoing Shea thrived amid the buzz of cool music that drew a regular crowd for Sunday Funday. "I came here once just to see what was going on," said Henley Douglas Jr. (right), a tenor sax player from Salem. "Greg said. 'Come down and play,' So I did."

Shea's dream of jazzing up Salem ended suddenly on Feb. 4, when he was found dead in his Beverly home. He was 48, and left his wife, Cindy, with whom he ran the restaurant, and two daughters,  Alyson, a college freshman, and Natalie, a junior at Beverly High School.

His too-short life was celebrated on May 27 with "Sunday Funday - Greg Fest," a six hour jam session  held the day before he would have turned 49.

A mix of friends and music fans filled the cafe on a warm, sunny day. Some wore a baseball cap in honor of Shea, who often sported a Red Sox cap. 

Shea worked in financial services in Boston, before leaving to pursue a long-held dream of running a restaurant. He opened Seaport Cafe at Pickering Wharf,  just steps from Friendship, the historic schooner that welcomes visitors from around the world.

A Beverly native, Shea was at home in Salem, too. His late father, James Shea, was the editor of The Salem News in the 1970s, a period when the city's tourist trade took flight. 

At GregFest, guests paid $20 for buffet.  Salem restaurants donated gift certificates for raffle prizes. A silent auction featured an autographed Bruins jersey and a bike donated by Salem Cycle. Proceeds were donated to the Greg Shea Education Fund, set up to help his two daughters, at People's United Bank on Cabot Street in Beverly. 

          

"Greg helped restore the music scene in Salem," said Douglas, who played his tenor sax at Greg Fest. "We all miss him." 

           

Left to right: Steve Peabody, Chris Fitz and J. Place.

By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent

The fourth annual Salem Arts Festival kicks off on Friday, June 1 and thousands are expected to attend the three-day art and music extravaganza.

The event, coordinated by Salem Main Streets and organized mostly through volunteer work, will feature over 80 artists - most of whom live, work and perform locally - as well as hands-on creative arts activities, a juried street fair, and a human chess board, among other highlights. A statue of figureheads known as The Ladies of Salem will be officially unveiled to the public, and winners of the art box contest - in which local artists competed for the chance to decorate one of the citywide utility boxes - will be announced.

"We try to promote all the arts, which is a little different than other festivals, so everything from theater, to dance performances, to standard painting and photography," said Salem Main Streets Director Jennifer Bell. "And we try to have art-making activities for all ages.

"Our goal really is to make the arts accessible to people and have them able to attend free concerts of fantastic quality, everything from jazz music to solo acoustical, to belly dancing...and to let people experience all the different types of local art."

Favorite acts from years past, including the Northeast Belly Dance Association - which has performed at the festival every year - and local musical acts The Paul Madore Chorale, Heather Maloney Band and Machine 475 will perform. For the first time, the festival will also include a small street fair where artists can sell their work, rather than just display it as in years past.

"It's a great connection with the broader community," Bell said. "We really try to support the local talent and showcase the local talent, and there's really going to be a lot going on for people."

The weekend kicks off with an opening reception at 5 p.m. on Friday at Old Town Hall in Derby Square. The reception will feature refreshments and an exhibition of work from 20 different artists, as well as music by Brian Rolland - a solo guitarist specializing in Jazz, Latin and Brazilian music - acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter Brad Byrd, and The Paul Madore Chorale.

"I think it's really a good lineup, and I think it has a good variety for people," Bell said.

Over 30 acts and events are scheduled throughout the weekend, and will culminate with a festival wrap-up party at the Gulu Gulu Café on Sunday night at 6 p.m. Art-making activities will take place all weekend on Artists' Row.

A full schedule of can be found here. In the event of rain, performances on Saturday and Sunday will take place upstairs at Old Town Hall. For more information on Salem Main Streets and the Salem Arts Festival visit salemartsfestival.com.

By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent

Governor Deval Patrick is scheduled to visit the Cummings Center in Beverly Thursday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its second major solar panel installation tomorrow afternoon.

The governor - accompanied by Richard Sullivan, the secretary of energy and environmental affairs for the Commonwealth, and Mark Sylvia, commissioner of the department of energy resources - plans to see some of the Cummings Center's life sciences clients, and give a brief talk about building "green" communities and developing the industry of life sciences in Massachusetts.

The Patrick administration has campaigned to push Massachusetts to the forefront of green living, and Cummings Properties has demonstrated a clear backing of the administration's goals through initiatives such as using rain and well water for irrigation, and holding free electronic waste recycling days at its many facilities.

In the words of spokeswoman Vanessa Russo, the commercial real estate giant is "making a really concerted effort to make a big impact about going green."

The Cummings Center in Beverly is home to two solar arrays, installed last year that, according to Russo, produce more than 600 kilowatts of energy. The new installation will add an additional 366 kilowatts.

When all is done, the Cummings Center hopes to have enough solar panels to harness about 1.5 megawatts of power, which will produce 2 million kilowatts of electricity per year.

"The equivalent of that is enough to power 212 typical Massachusetts homes," Russo said.

The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. on the top floor of the West Garage, and the governor's talk - which is open to the public - is tentatively scheduled for 4:15. Attendees should check in at Cummings Center Gatehouse upon arrival for directions, and free parking is available on the lower floors of the West Garage.

The following was submitted by Emily O'Brien, marketing and communications director for YMCA of the North Shore:

With over 45,000 Y members, everyone knows about the YMCA of the North Shore. Many people know the Y for health and fitness. Some understand the Y for child care. Others learn to swim at the Y. This month, the Y celebrates another important part of its mission: to help neighbors in need access essential Y programs and services.

The Y accomplishes this mission through fundraising efforts like the "Y For All" annual campaign. This year, over 59 local "Champions" have lent their name and story to help the Y raise needed funds. These special advocates and donors certainly understand that the Y is a charitable, nonprofit organization that does important work to strengthen our communities.

The YMCA of the North Shore's 2012 "Champions" include State Representatives Brian Dempsey (Haverhill) and Jerry Parisella (Beverly); local community activists John and Ruth Kapnis (Salem), Priscilla Douglas (Beverly), Dennis Heenan (Salem), and Marion Frost (Ipswich); and business leaders Mary Spittle (Gloucester) and Jim Nye (Marblehead). These special individuals, along with 350 Y volunteers, have a goal of raising $850,000 for the "Y For All" annual campaign that supports the Y's financial assistance fund.

This year, the YMCA of the North Shore will award over $2.5 million in Y programs to 9,500 kids, adults and families in need. One out of every five people in the Y needs partial financial assistance in order to participate. In its 150-year history, the Y has helped deserving people access needed child care, summer camp, affordable housing and other essential Y programs. It's through the support of thousands of donors and this year's "Champions" that the Y's mission of serving all is possible.

"This campaign is so important as far as assisting youth and adult members in accessing programming and membership at the Y," Heenan said. "Over the past 29 years, I have been able to see firsthand the people who benefit from the funds generated from these campaigns. Knowing that I was able to help people in need was important to me personally."

Mary Spittle, a local Cape Ann "Champion," described her experience as a valuable one. "I was of course satisfied with the results we've achieved so far. Our volunteers are serious and dedicated in achieving the goal we had set. They are inspiring! I participate because of my dedication to the Y and the wonderful things the Y does for the community."

"It takes the hard work and dedication of so many caring people to raise the needed funds so that all people can join the Y. Our 2012 champions are community leaders, parents, and business owners," said Jack Meany, CEO of the YMCA of the North Shore. "They all have one thing in common. They care about their neighbors and believe that the Y can help nurture the potential of children, improve our communities' health and well-being, and give back to support our neighbors. We thank them for their tireless efforts in helping the Y meet it's mission."

With two weeks left in the Y's community annual campaign, our volunteers are in the home stretch of fundraising. These 2012 "Champions" continue to raise funds to meet the Y's goal of $850,000, but need the community's help. To meet the Y's "Champions" and learn how you can help support the Y, contact Beth Francis at (978) 922-0990, or visit www.whataboutyou.org.

Friday, June 1

5 - 7 p.m. Salem Arts Festival Kick-off Reception - Open to the public, refreshments. Juried Exhibit of 20 artists' work. Location: Old Town Hall, Derby Square

5 p.m. Music by Brian Rolland in Old Town Hall (Solo guitar - Jazz/Latin/Brazilian)

6 p.m. Music by Brad Byrd in Old Town Hall (Solo Acoustic - Singer-Songwriter)

7 p.m. Music by The Paul Madore Chorale in Old Town Hall (Choral - Show Tunes, Classical, Folk Tunes)

8 p.m. Flamenco Dance by Jamie "La Damasquina" Belsito in Old Town Hall

8:30 p.m. Codify Dance Performance by Cecilia Raassina in Old Town Hall (Modern Dance)

Saturday, June 2

10 - 5 p.m. Juried Street Fair - select local artists work for sale on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall

11 - 5 p.m. Juried Art Show - Open to the public in Old Town Hall - Juried Exhibit

12 - 2 p.m. Collaborative Abstract Expressionism - interactive art making with James Eric Rogers next to Gulu Gulu in Lappin Park

12 p.m. Accidentally on Purpose - Improv Comedy, Old Town Hall 2nd Floor

Derby Square Stage:

1 p.m. Excerpt from the Odyssey - Dramatic recitation by Brandon Wieber

2 p.m. Baseball & Jazz: A Reading with Music - J.D. Scrimgeour, Aidan Scrimgeour

3 p.m. Avant Guardians - Ellen Hardy & Brendan O'Reilly

East India Fountain Stage:

11 a.m. Ben Rudnick and Friends (Acoustic Band)

12 p.m. Merrimack (Pop/Rock band)

1 p.m. The Saxyderms (Saxophone Ensemble)

1:45 p.m. Siren of the Circle (Hoopdance)

2 p.m. Man Alive! (Alt-Folk Ensemble)

3 p.m. Northeast Belly Dance Association (Belly Dancing)

4 p.m. Joe Pino Quintet (Jazz Quintet)

5:30 p.m. Machine 475 (Electronic Dance Band)

Front St. Coffeehouse:

6 - 10 p.m. System Soul (Electronic Music & DJ)

Sunday, June 3

11 - 3 p.m. Juried Art Show - Open to the public in Old Town Hall- Juried Exhibit

Derby Square:

12 p.m. Human Chess Game

East India Fountain Stage:

11 a.m. David Thorne Scott (Jazz/Pop - Singer/Songwriter/Pianist)

12 p.m. Kirsten & Dave (Acoustic Pop/Rock, Country, Folk, Blues)

1 p.m. Amber Blues (Rock)

2 p.m. Heather Maloney Band (Singer/Songwriter)

3 p.m. Big Blue Octopus (Jazz/Rock Band)

4 p.m. The Holdouts (Acoustic Duo)

Gulu-Gulu Café:

5 p.m. Neophyte Capsule (Sound/visual installation art by Glenn Church)

5:30 p.m. Intersection in Poetry & Music & Film Jennifer Jean, Sebastien Jean, & Joe Perry (Poetry, rock guitarist, film)

6 p.m. Salem Arts Festival Wrap-Up Party (Welcome all artists, volunteers & attendees)

By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent

North Shore Pride, a non-profit Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender advocacy group will hold its inaugural gay pride celebration and parade in Salem on June 30.

The event, aimed at spreading awareness of LGBT issues, will be an all day celebration of equality under the tagline "unity in our community." Much like Boston Pride, the event will include guest speakers, live music from local bands, vendors on Salem Common, and city officials and guests from all over the North Shore.

The Hawthorne Hotel will also host an after-party free to the public at 5 p.m., and there will be a 10 a.m. public church service on the common prior to the parade.

"For our first event we've done quite well, we're very, very pleased," said Hope Watt-Bucci, president of North Shore Pride. "We've got a great group of volunteers, we have an amazing community."

North Shore Pride will honor state Representative Barney Frank for his work in Congress promoting equality and tolerance. Speakers will include Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Boston Herald sportswriter Steve Buckley and WCVB-TV anchor Randy Price.

Price has also been tagged as the Grand Marshall of the parade, which will begin at noon in front of the post office on Margin Street, follow a route along New Derby and Derby streets, up Hawthorne Boulevard, and culminate at the Salem Commons.

"It's a fairly long parade," Watt-Bucci said. "A short distance but a long parade."

The Salem City Council passed a resolution to designate June 30 as Gay Pride Day in Salem at its regular meeting last week.

"I am looking forward personally to a day down the road...when my own son, who will by that time be an adult, will be able to look back with his friends and his family and say 'what was all the fuss about back then,'" said Ward 5 Councillor Josh Turiel. "And just be able to look back and say 'what were they thinking in those days, when people actually had to fight to be equal, and they weren't just thought of as equal?'"

Watt-Bucci believes that the suburbs are behind the eight ball in terms of acceptance of the gay community when compared with major cities. She hopes that the event can help to prevent situations like that of Justin Goodwin, an openly gay Gloucester resident who committed suicide after being beaten and mocked outside of a bar in 2009.

"I thought it was a good time for us to start working on the suburbs on having some unity, and working together so that we can really get rid of discrimination," Watt-Bucci said. "I think we've done a really good job in the urban areas...we're still having issues here on the North Shore."

Interested vendors have until June 1 to register for a booth on the common. Registration forms for vendors, as well as a complete list of speakers and entertainers, can be found at northshorepride.org.

The following was submitted by Margo Steiner, assistant director of marketing and communications at Salem State University:

Campus MovieFest (CMF), the world's largest student film festival, announced that four films by Salem State University students will be screened at the organization's annual awards ceremony in Hollywood, June 21-23.

Campus MovieFest annually visits college campuses around the globe, providing equipment, training and technical support to all members of each campus community who want to create a five-minute movie in just one week, all for free. After CMF's visit to Salem State earlier this spring, a panel of campus judges decided the top Salem State University movies. A red carpet finale was held on campus to screen the students' work and announce the winning films.

The four winning films, along with over 200 others from schools across the globe, will screen at College MovieFest Hollywood in late June, where they will be judged by an industry panel of judges.

"We're thrilled by this year's competing films and Salem State University should be proud of its students' work," said David Roemer, co-founder of CMF.

The four Salem State films in contention include:

Enough About Love, created by The Storytellers Collective.

Nighty Night, created by True Hullabaloo.

Waltzing Matilda, created by The Slim Pickens.

Tomorrow, which is being recognized as a Golden Tripod Award finalist in the best actress category for Jenny Samuelson's performance.

Last year's CMF events welcomed guest presenters and workshop hosts including Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park), Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), John Cho (Star Trek), James Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek), Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games), Rob Corrdry (Children's Hospital), Alice Eve (The Raven), McG (This Means War), and more. This year's presenters have not yet been announced.

Past winners have walked away with over $2 million in prizes and seen their films on the big screen at CMF events nationwide, at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and on millions of smaller screens, including those on Virgin America flights and online.