My father said "Son, we're lucky in this town
It's a beautiful place to be born
It just wraps its arms around you
Nobody crowds you, nobody goes it alone.
That flag flying over the courthouse
Means certain things are set in stone:
Who we are, what we'll do and what we won't."

-Bruce Springsteen, Long Walk Home

Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone!

Who's up for some good music? If you're game for classic summer tunes, Joe says you should head over to Deering Oaks every Tuesday of July to check out the Italian Heritage Center Band. The Band plays a diverse selection of music, including pop and show tunes, big band jazz, patriotic favorites, symphonic melodies and marches by American masters, and, naturally, Italian music. Each Tuesday at 7pm, Portlanders (and everyone else) can head on over to the Oaks to check out the band. Find out more about them at their website. Happy listening!

If you're reading this post, the odds are that you found out about Joe's Time/Temp blog on a social media website. On June 30th millions of people will be celebrating Social Media Day (link) around the world. Mashable created this event five years ago to celebrate how technology connects us universally and TideSmart Global, an experiential marketing and media firm in Falmouth, is bringing this event to Maine to show that this state is a part of the digital revolution, too. The event will bring together all types of industries and people (small business owners, non-profits, educators, marketers, students, etc.) from around Maine. Whether you have an expertise in social media or have never used it before, it will be an opportunity to learn something new and gain a better understanding about the global impact of social media. The guest speakers will be covering a range of topics from how to leverage social media for your business to the benefits of blogging.The event will feature have guest speakers, food trucks, Jason Spooner performing live, Shipyard beer, a live Twitter feed and Twitter contests, lawn games, free giveaways, and more! Plus, all the proceeds made on ticket sales will be donated to United Way of Greater Portland to benefit local charities. 

This year's event is already sold out (#popular), but be sure to check out next year's Social Media Day Maine, as it's sure to be even bigger and better!

Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's work here and here.

Who's up for some summer reading? Joe just might take a break from reading briefs and memos to pick up a book at the Friends of Portland Public Library Annual Book Sale. Friends of the Portland Public Library was created to further the Mission of the Portland Public Library and promote community engagement among Library patrons. Working in close partnership with the Library, the Friends organize an Annual Book Sale in which all proceeds benefit the Library. This year, The Friends of Portland Public Library are back with an even larger selection of books, records, CDs and DVDs for the 2014 book sale! The book sale will offer tens of thousands of books under $3, and other rare books and related items. The sale will take place in the Catherine McAuley High School Gymnasium located at 631 Stevens Avenue from Thursday, June 26 through Sunday, June 29. Find more about the event at its official website. Joe hopes the event is a great success. Read on, Portland.

Among the many tiles in the mosaic of Portland is the LGBT community. This week is a celebration of the strides they have made, both from a legal and social perspective. Pride Portland! is a celebration of Portland's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied community. The organization's goal is to bring people together to celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQA movement, remember its history, and raise awareness of the work that still needs to be done. Find more about this organization, including a schedule of upcoming events, at its website. Joe hopes the events are a great success!

Joe wants to send his condolences to the family and friends of Captain Michael C. Kucsma Jr. Mike dedicated his life to helping others, serving in both the Portland and Gorham Fire Departments. May he rest in peace.

Having been a personal injury attorney for almost 40 years, Joe has seen too many lives ruined by drinking and driving. To raise awareness about this important issue, Joe holds the Arrive Alive Creative Contest each year. Arrive Alive is open to graduating high school seniors throughout the state of Maine. Seniors may enter by submitting a creative project that sends a message to their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving and/or the dangers of distracted driving. Past entries have included essays, poems, paintings, public service announcements, videos, recorded songs, t-shirts, board games, drawings and more. First place winners receive a new laptop computer, second place winners receive a new iPad, and third place winners receive a new iPod. Everyone who enters the contest wins fun prizes from Joe.

 This year's contest is closed (congrats to all the winners!), but there's always next year. If you know a rising senior in Maine, be sure to direct them to the Arrive Alive website for more information. And remember, be safe and arrive alive.

Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's work here and here.

If you haven't checked out Portland's own Otto Pizza yet, then Joe says you're missing out! And if you have tasted one of their one-of-a-kind pies, Joe is sure it's one of your favorite spots in Portland. It's hard to believe, but it's been five years since Otto served its first slice at 576 Congress Street back in 2009. Since then, this local pizzeria has grown to 10 locations! To celebrate the occasion, Otto is hosting "Five Years of Otto: A Month-Long Celebration of Food, Music, and Community", with special events throughout the month for everyone to get involved. Turns out, Joe and Otto have something in common: they both love the Preble Street organization in Portland. As a part of their Time & Temp promotion, Otto is serving 50 pizzas to Preble Street's clients, who are fellow Mainers in need. Joe is happy to spread the word about both Otto and Preble Street and hopes that the 50 pizzas are thoroughly enjoyed. It's times like these when Joe loves being from Portland. Find more about Otto's 5-year celebration here, find more about Preble Street here.