Wednesday, July 18, 2012

TO OUR ROMulin FAMILY PLEASE, HYDRATE & LISTEN & ADHERE TO ALL WEATHER WARNINGS!!

Greeting to all our dear wonderful Community of artists's around the Globe.

It is hot out, I will just say a few things on this installment of my
"Infrequent Blog".

The first of which is our thanks to Peter Neuendorffer for a Fabulous feature at ROM on 7-9-12 and our many thanks for all of you that came out to play, listen and just be part of our ever growing Community of Artist's.


We are looking forward to an incredible shift in feature format with our upcoming Feature in the Fabulous Tony Toledo, (www.tonytoledo.com) If you have never heard Tony please bring out the kids and families as Tony is a most wonderful "Storyteller", as an official "Friend of the Roslindale Branch Library" I have asked them to spread the word of this upcoming feature. So hope to see you at ROM for Tony this coming Monday on 7-23-12. There is also so much going on in my wonderful hometown. I have added a link to our local Roslindale Village Main St organization to let you know about their current and ongoing program called, "Summer Stroll": (www.roslindale.net/summerstroll). 


Please take a look and partake of so much going on including the Saturday Farmers Market in Roslindale Square each Saturday until Oct. Many of our own very special ROM performers have had the music part of these Farmer's Markets. Very special, Roslindale Congregational Church has a table at the Farmers Market as well!!!


I do want to thank  Mike Delaney & Ken Porter along with Sam Bayer and David for a most wonderful show at the Harvest Cafe in Hudson Ma. 


Also if you happen to be heading to the wonderful Soule Homestead Summer Concert Series in Middleboro Ma. on Sat. 7-28-12 you also get to a chance to see the lovely Mike Delaney OPEN for our dear friend, the world traveling recent past feature of ROM Amy Petty!!!!
Keep your calendars nearby  as this coming Saturday both our ROMulin dear friends, Craig Sonnenfeld & Junko Ogawa will be performing at Jitters Coffeehouse in Southington, Ct. Please see their websites for all info. Also Junko will be Featuring at Don Whites Walnut St Cafe in Lynn on 7-29-12.


Also, a show NOT to miss at the Catbird Cafe this coming Friday 7-20-12 at the New England Wildlife Ctr. Please see website to the right for details but this will be a most special Feature of our dear Friend and ROMulin Mr. David Jackson with some very special friends you will NOT want to miss!


In Closing, I had the blessing of spending a great deal of time with our dear friend Stephen Salmon this past Sunday. It was a most inspiring and wonderful visit for the dear friend that sustained a significant Trauma to his head after a fall off a roof. Stephen is eager to get back on our ROM stage as well as continue working with us on the ROM Logo he began just a few months back. His daughter Erin that was so kind to join us at ROM last time is getting married this weekend and I am sending off all the greatest wishes of our entire Community of caring Artist's to both Stephen and his ongoing recovery and to Erin on her Marriage with her Dad by her side. 


I have also heard from Dawn Frost who is so thankful for all that took part on the wonderful day in Lynn Dedicated to her and her recovery! She too sends all her thanks and Love to our Community at ROM but also are entire Community of Caring Artist's & friends that we are so very blessed to be a part of. 


I am so totally honored and humbled that I am among this wonderful and caring group of Artist's which simply gives me so much joy in life and so very much honor to call each of you friend!!! 


All my Love for letting the light in when there are days that seem to have a shadow of darkness!   Love Neal :)))

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

HAPPY EVERYDAY & HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL OUR DEAR FRIENDS OF ROM :))

Welcome to my July 4th version of my ROM very Infrequent Blog for our ROMulin Community as well as all the Communities of Artist's that truly have come together for some very Family based Community Oriented events that needed some loving care over this past week. IT IS ONLY A COMMUNITY such as our Community of care lovers that could have pulled off what happened this past Sunday. 

 I would like to begin by mentioning 2 specific issues and make this a very brief Blog. Over the past several years our dear friend Dawn Frost has been battling very many medical battles and she does finally have a working diagnosis which is most COMPLICATED due to the fact that her Insurance does not cover the needed drug to treat this disease. 


THIS PAST SUNDAY,DON WHITE AND RUTHANN BALER HELPED PUT TOGETHER A WONDERFUL FUNDRAISER Concert/PARTY AT THE HOME OF JAZZ POET,Elizabeth McKim. Elizabeth graciously opened her beautiful Home/Loft in Lynn,Ma.to ALL in our music and spoken word artist's COMMUNITY in Tribute and Honor of Dawn Frost and her incredible spirit of getting better Everyday!!!! At this event many of our dear friends, came together to help raise awareness and funds for Dawn's upcoming financial as well as on going daily issues. I know with the out pouring of response in attendance as well as those that were not able to make it, your support is still needed by Dawn. If you wish to make a donation to Dawn for her medical & other continuing daily battles please send a donation of any size to:
Dawn Frost
13  Lenox St.
Beverly Ma. 01915


My heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you to that took a part in this event for Dawn and will continue to keep Dawn in the thought's. I also want to thank my dear friends, Don White & Ruthann Baler for making this event, a dream come true for Dawn. I Love you guys!!!!!!


As Many of you know, another dear friend to ROM and all around the Live Local music scene, Stephen Salmon took a fall off a latter, the date is escaping me for the moment. Being an EMT by career, I do know the extent to which Stephen sustained the traumatic brain injury he did get from this fall, a recovery was at best, a most difficult issue to even address. This "Miracle Man" has beaten all the odd's and not only is he out of the hospital but is in a Rehab and doing very well. His recovery will, as you may imagine take some time. I know I speak for all when I say our continued well wishes are coming your way Stephen and we will be awaiting your return to ROM as well as the many other venues, where you have graced the stages and that of course includes SAMW!!!


We were honored at ROM last Monday eve to have Erin Salmon, (Stephen's daughter), come all the way from Worcester simply to thank us ALL for the support and caring her Dad and she has already recd from our very same Art's Community that is able to care for more than 1 at a time, during times of great crisis. Erin gave us an uplifting progress report on Stephen and his condition. I will be giving you an address where Stephen can and is looking forward to thoughtful and meaningful cards, notes, games, blue prints you need drawn for upcoming projects etc. (Only kiddin on the last one), but you know Stephen, he'd likely do it.


I do have a personal request from Erin: Although Stephen can have visitors, Erin has asked me to forward this info to you. She does wish that  "ANYONE" wishing to go to see Stephen contact me first via my neal@roslindaleopenmike.org email address. This is to protect Stephen from being over-whelm while still in a delicate recovery condition. I thank you on behalf of Stephen & Erin for understanding and respecting this request and I will do my best to get back to you on the visit request ASAP!! Please do understand, Erin is working double shifts simply to try and keep up with her Dad's medical care in additional to his own self employment now with NO Funds coming in. I have offered to run a Fundraiser for Stephen as soon as I am asked but the family does have some other happier things upcoming and will likely be in early fall. I know there was an earlier bank site set up, but I must apologize, I cannot confirm the correct bank at this writing and will try and get more out to you ASAP!!!!
Cards et al may be send to Stephen at:


Stephen Salmon
C/O Fairlawn Rehab Ctr. Room 214 B
189 May St.
Worcester, Ma. 01602


Thanks to Jimmy Dorr for a most Fabulous feature at ROM on  6-25-12. 
WE did break all sorts of records on this night and I must also thank each and every one of you who joined us for being a part of the largest ever ROM board sign up crowd for a Feature. WE ALL go back a long way with Jimmy. Had it not been for the fact that several of you volunteered to play together as well as a few that choose not to play, the sign up roster for this one evening reached 54. There were only 3 people that did not show!!! As of this jotting, if you have signed up with me 3 times and not shown up, 3 strikes and you are out. 1 person of the 3 knows who they are, now they need to be at ROM to be signed up! I need to be fair to ALL and will.


Just a few more thank you's and a look forward. I do want to let you all know that King Yee, knowing of my Fundraising dreams for the Roslindale Congregational Church, donated a, 24 carat Gold dipped Rose, to raffle off at ROM on that very night. We sold the tix at a dollar a piece and made over 150 dollars from that wonderful gesture on King's part and King, I cannot thank you enough for ALL you do for ROM, the Church and your helping me with picking up to foods for the Roslindale Food Pantry Mon-Wed nites. From the bottom of my heart, thank you King. WE do have another upcoming Fundraiser for the Church so mark your calendars please!!! It will be a Sunday afternoon show on 9-23-12 starting a 2PM still early in the planning BUT, our shining stars for this event will be, Leslie Lee & Steve Gretz (www.leslieandsteve.com), They have an AWESOME NEW CD called "Whole other world". They will be opening for our wonderful Mill Town Boy himself
Mr. Michael Troy!!!!!(www.folkmichaeltroy.com) All door funds from this concert will go directly to Roslindale Congregational Church. This first series of Fundraisers are going directly toward the making of this most beautiful, Nationally Registered Historic building, Handicapped Accessible. Post our very first Fundraiser, the drawings and plans are already in the works!! I thank you all for coming last time and giving us this start and this time, come on down,. bring the kids, it is in the afternoon!!!! 
Due to the success we had last fundraiser,we will leave the door cost the same, WE simply ask you to donate as much as you can comfortably donate to this incredible cause. Both our Opening Act and our Feature have agreed that all we take at the door, will go directly to the church. Thanks so much you guys. Look for more specific info on this fundraiser as I get it. 


My Daughter Ariella has offered to do both day care, (at NO cost), (maybe a donation to the church), as well as face painting on other activities if you wish to bring and leave your child with her and several other girls she will have with her from Boston's own, Girls leadership Corps, headed by Erika Butler. It will be an awesome show!!


My thanks to my sister in law Barbie Boynton for allowing me to use her home as our offsite, ROMustorage facility as well as, she make all our ICE!!!
YEAH Barbie, could not do it without you!!! 
I will also like to thank my wife Rosemary for her behind the scenes help with ROM. She is so fast, you just may never see her.


Do we have a TREAT FOR YOU!!!!!! This coming ROMday 7-9-12, we will have as our Feature, Peter Neuendorffer!!!! This will also be Peter's latest CD Release Party the CD is called,"Group Therapy the Musical" For those of you that know Peter, we all know to expect the best that musical satire has to offer, as well as from the most serious to the light hearted. Come and join us for Peter's Feature. It will be a most memorable occasion. I promise to try and keep the room as cool as I can without blowing the circuit breakers, PROMISE!!!!!


All my best to you and your families, see all of the lights in the colors both tonight in the fireworks and during the day through you most wonderful Fireworks of your life


From both Mike and myself thanks for all your Support of ROM & for making already more than half of ROM-2012 a most incredible year that is so flying by we cannot keep up with it!!!


Happy 4th, All my Love, Always, Neal :)))