Author speaks at library
HARRISBURG, N.C. — Lesbian author Paula Martinac will speak about her novel, “The Ada Decades,” at the Harrisburg Public Library, 201 Sims Pkwy., on June 18 at 4 p.m.
The book recants the lives of two southern women — Ada Shook, a librarian, and Cam Lively, a teacher — who fall in love in the 1950s. The book is initially set during the period when school integration comes to Charlotte, N.C. The book continues its narrative over seven decades with 11 interconnected stories where Ada witnesses racism, religious conflict and gay survival networks.
Martinac was the 1990 Lambda Literary Award winner in Fiction. She has published three nonfiction books on lesbian and gay culture and politics as well as numerous articles, essays, and short stories. Also a playwright, her works have had productions with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Company, Manhattan Theatre Source, the Pittsburgh New Works Festival, No Name Players, and others. Martinac teaches creative writing to undergraduates at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a writing coach with the Authors Lab of the Charlotte Center for the Literary Arts. She is originally from Pittsburg, Pa. She and her wife Katie Hogan live in Charlotte.
info: cabarruscounty.us/location/library-harrisburg-branch. paulamartinac.com.
Chamber expo slated
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte LGBT Chamber of Commerce will hold its Pride in Business Expo, “We Mean Business,” on June 26, 2-7 p.m., at the Le Meridien, 555 South McDowell St.
The 2018 Best of Show award will be presented during the expo to the organization with the highest cumulative score based on innovation, originality, content, substance and presentation. Chamber members will serve as judges. All exhibitors are automatically entered. The winner will receive a half-priced booth and gift basket.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Booths for members are $75 and for-profit $125. Login to the member portal to view special pricing options. Those for non-members are $125/non-profit and $175/for-profit and are available for purchase online at bit.ly/2GWGw8S. Deadline is June 1 for reservations via events@clgbtcc.org with business name and whether or not companies will participate in the raffle. Full details are available online.
Sponsorships are available at four levels: presenting, $7,500; rainbow, $2,500; swag bag, $1,250 (with logo and information printed on the bag and placement of items in it at no charge); and break-out sessions, $1,000. Details are available online.
info: clgbtcc.org.
Carolina Voices slates season finale
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Voices’ 18-member ensemble Impromptu will present its “Creative A Cappella” season finale concert on June 23, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., at Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St.
The ensemble will present out-of-the-ordinary songs and fresh, new takes on popular songs in an all a cappella format. “Creative A Cappella” will feature “Fast Car” (heart-breaking arrangement of Tracy Chapman’s song); “Home” (an intimate take on this Phillip Phillips anthem); and “Honeybee” (a whimsical, imaginative new song) by Steam Powered Giraffe, among others.
“This program has been so much fun to put together,” said director John Quillin. “We’ve selected songs that will enthrall the audience, and leave them with a sense of awe at what the human voice can do.
“We use no instruments, but we do have an amazing beat boxer. If you’ve never heard what a real vocal percussionist can do, you’re in for a jaw-dropping experience,” Quillin continued.
Tickets are $20/regular, $18/senior and $15/student and are available online at bit.ly/2GUGFtG.
info: carolinavoices.org.
Band passes baton
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Pride Band has a new artistic director, Dr. John Ross, and an assistant director, Cameron Elliott. The baton was passed to Ross by M. David Wallace in May.
A potluck was held to honor Wallace on May 20, the culmination of a week’s worth of celebration of music and more.
Wallace served the band since 2012.
info: charlotteprideband.org.
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Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBTQ issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBTQ rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.