North Shore Sports Desk with Dom Nicastro

October 26th marks the 30th anniversary of the first intersex protest, which took place in Boston in 1996. Thirty years later, Salem will mark the anniversary with its first official Intersex Awareness Day flag raising, bringing together community members, advocates, local officials, and intersex leaders for a day centered on visibility, education, and community. “Visibility matters, and education is an important part of building a community where everyone is able to live openly and authentically,” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo. “As we mark 30 years since the first intersex protest in Boston, I am proud that Salem is hosting its first Intersex Awareness Day flag raising. This is an opportunity to learn from intersex leaders and community members, recognize the history of this movement, and reaffirm Salem’s commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive city for all.”

Cinema Salem

The day will begin at Cinema Salem, where community members are invited to arrive at 10:45am for a special screening of Common as Red Hair written and directed by Robbie Robertson and executive produced by Kimberly Zieselamn, starring Wally Kurth and Kassie Depavia. This is a 15-minute short drama film released in 2023 that explores the experiences of an intersex individual and her family. The City of Salem is grateful to partner with Cinema Salem to host this film screening.

The screening will begin at approximately 11:05am and end around 11:20am. Immediately following the film, attendees will participate in a short March of Visibility from Cinema Salem to Salem City Hall, carrying intersex flags and walking together in recognition of Intersex Awareness Day.

Salem City Hall

The community will gather at Salem City Hall at approximately 11:40am for a speaking program and flag raising ceremony. The program will feature remarks from community members, local officials, and intersex advocates including international Human Rights Advocate Kimberly Zieselman, the first openly intersex person to work in the federal government, who served during the Biden Administration, and Erika Lorshbough, Executive Director of interAct, an intersex-led legal advocacy organization.

“interACT is so grateful to the City of Salem for the opportunity to take part in its Intersex Awareness Day celebrations!” said Erika, “Thirty years ago, intersex people and our allies gathered in Boston for the first-ever public demonstration calling for our fundamental rights to dignity and bodily autonomy. Salem officials are working hard to publicly recognize those essential rights and celebrate intersex people as valued community members – and these efforts make a difference.”

The program will recognize the history of the intersex rights movement, highlight the importance of visibility and education, and celebrate the intersex community. Following the speaking program, the City’s intersex flags will be raised in recognition of Intersex Awareness Day. The ceremony will conclude with a group photograph in front of Salem City Hall. The Salem Public Library will host an Intersex Resource Table featuring educational materials on intersex identity, along with pins, buttons, flags, and other resources to help community members learn more about the intersex community and its history.

Intersex Awareness Presentation and Lunch

Following the flag raising ceremony, the City of Salem will host a free educational presentation from 12:15pm to 1:15pm in the Salem City Council Chambers. The presentation will be led by Erika Lorshbough, Director of interAct, and will provide an introduction to intersex identity and the history of the intersex rights movement. The presentation is free and open to the public, though an RSVP is recommended. Community members interested in attending are encouraged to email Michael Corley at mcorley@salem.com to confirm attendance.

The City of Salem is pleased to partner with interAct, an intersex-led legal advocacy organization, in bringing this programming to the community. The organization works to advance the human rights of intersex people and support intersex youth and adults in living authentically and with dignity

Intersex Awareness Day is observed annually on October 26th and commemorates the first known intersex protest in Boston in 1996. This year marks 30 years of intersex visibility and advocacy, providing an opportunity to reflect on the movement’s history while continuing to build greater understanding and acceptance of intersex people.

All Intersex Awareness Day events hosted by the City of Salem are free and open to the public. Community members of all backgrounds are welcome to attend.

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SALEM – More than 2,700 witches descended on Salem Maritime National Historical Park, turning the historic waterfront into a sea of pointed hats and black capes. Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo welcomed the costumed crowd, who gathered for a commemorative aerial photograph and drone video capturing the magic of the occasion.

“On behalf of the City, I want to extend my thanks to everyone who turned out for this historic moment and all of the City staff and partners who helped make it possible! Not only did we set a record as part of Salem 400+, but this event also helped to raise funds for HAWC to support their work helping victims of domestic abuse. Hopefully, many of the thousands of visitors and locals who came to the wharf for the photo also took some time to enjoy the shops, restaurants, and sites on Salem’s remarkable waterfront,” said Salem’s Mayor Dominick Pangallo.

Destination Salem’s Executive Director, Ashley Judge, noted: “We counted every attendee visible in a high-resolution drone photo taken at the peak moment: 2,561 people. Allowing for those blocked from view by the fire ladder, trees, and the crowd itself, we estimate about 2,700 attendees, plus a few dogs in hats. And Assistant Director of Salem Main Streets, Elise Towle Snow, wore a Medusa hat with nine little hats on it, and we only counted her as one. For science.”

Adding to the festivities, the MBTA and Keolis distributed witch hats to visitors arriving at the Salem train station, helping set the stage for a spellbinding day.

The celebration was part of another bustling October weekend in Witch City, with visitors exploring Salem’s historic waterfront, shops, restaurants, museums, and attractions.

Donations are being accepted to support Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) at https://hawcdv.org/ and learn more about Salem 400+ at https://salem400.org/.

Witch Hats on the Wharf was hosted by the City of Salem, Salem Maritime National Historical Park, and Destination Salem. Proceeds from the special-edition Salem 400+ witch hats sold by the City benefit Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC).

Photos and Drone Footage are available HERE. Drone footage provided by SemperDrone and Sperling Interactive. Photos courtesy of Destination Salem. 

About Salem Haunted Happenings
Salem Haunted Happenings began in 1982 as a weekend festival and has grown into a month-long celebration that draws visitors from around the world. Each October, the city welcomes families, couples, history buffs, and Halloween lovers for ghost tours, psychic readings, costume balls, haunted harbor cruises, and more. Salem’s modern Witch and Pagan communities also celebrate Samhain, sharing their traditions with locals and guests alike. As the Halloween Capital of the World, Salem offers something for everyone. For complete information, visit HauntedHappenings.org.

About Destination Salem
As the official destination marketing organization for the City of Salem, Destination Salem promotes Salem as one of the world’s most captivating destinations — a city where history, culture, and enchantment converge. Welcoming travelers from around the globe, Salem offers an authentic New England experience rich with American history, cultural discovery, exceptional dining, one-of-a-kind shopping, and year-round fun. For more information, visit Salem.org.

Image credit: Witches gather in Salem for the Salem 400+ celebration Witch Hats on the Wharf. Photo Credit Jay Reiss.

Lynnfield 26, Hamilton-Wenham 0

North Reading 16, Amesbury 6

St. John’s Prep 43, St. John’s Shrewsbury 20

BC High 22, Malden Catholic 10

KIPP 38, Minuteman 6

Everett 35, Lynn English 13

Malden 36, Lynn Classical 16

Danvers 35, Masconomet 0

Marblehead 28, Beverly 14

Gloucester 17, Swampscott 7

Salem 35, Saugus 6

St. Mary’s 36, Winthrop 6

Peabody 48, Waltham 12

Old Rochester 53, Bishop Fenwick 18

Rudy Nolasco, 42, is charged with fraudulently producing an identification document. He made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Oct. 13, 2026 and was released by the court on conditions.

According to charging documents, in November 2021 Nolasco allegedly arranged to sneak a Bluetooth earpiece into his Massachusetts Commercial Learners Permit examination, allowing co-conspirator, Frank Castro, to provide Nolasco with the answers to the exam. It is alleged that Nolasco had previously taken the examination and failed. During a meeting with an undercover agent wearing a recording device, Nolasco allegedly explained the scheme, including how to pay his co-conspirator and how the agent could cheat the commercial permit exam using a Bluetooth device.

Frank Castro was convicted of similar charges following a jury trial in January 2026. In May 2026, Castro was sentenced to time served (approximately 23 months in prison).

The charge of unlawfully producing an identification document provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

Leon Doucette (left) with Milton Avery’s Harbor at Night, 1932. The Phillips Collection.
The painting was on loan for the recent Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea exhibition that closed Sept. 27 and is moving onto the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. through January 2027.

GLOUCESTER — The Cape Ann Museum (CAM) is pleased to announce the promotion of Assistant Curator Leon Doucette to Curator of the Collections. A Gloucester native and acclaimed artist, Doucette has been a key member of CAM’s Curatorial Department since 2011, working alongside Henrietta Gates & Heaton Robertson Chief Curator Martha Oaks. In his new role, Doucette will oversee the management, interpretation, and ongoing development of the Museum’s permanent collection.

“Leon Doucette is an invaluable colleague and an extraordinary steward of Cape Ann’s stories,” said Museum Director Oliver Barker. “His deep knowledge of the Museum’s vast and growing collections—from paintings, photographs, textiles, drawings, and sculpture to maritime history and other significant artifacts—gives him a rare ability to see the connections among the people, places, objects, and stories that have shaped this community. His understanding of Cape Ann’s long history—from its granite industry and enduring fishing traditions to the generations of artists who have been drawn to Gloucester and the surrounding region—is matched by an exceptional artistic eye and an unrivaled commitment to preserving and sharing this place. Leon understands what makes Cape Ann singularly unique, and he brings that insight and passion to everything he does. We are thrilled that he will assume a larger role in curating and interpreting the Museum’s collection in support of our mission to preserve, illuminate, engage, and celebrate this remarkable community and the people and stories that make it home.”

Doucette holds a degree from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, where he studied art and art history. Influenced by late-19th century French ateliers, his formal training emphasized observational drawing, painting, lithography, and figure sculpture.

Upon returning to Gloucester in 2011, Doucette joined CAM as a Curatorial Assistant. His passion for local history quickly allowed him to forge meaningful connections between the Museum’s holdings and the cultural heritage of the surrounding area.

Since then, as the Museum grew, Doucette’s curatorial responsibilities expanded. Working closely with Oaks, he developed a deep understanding of Cape Ann’s multifaceted history and gained an ever-greater appreciation for the richness and breadth of the Museum’s collections, and for its capacity to illuminate the lives and experiences of the people who have called the area home.

“It has been immensely rewarding to watch Leon assume vital leadership in shaping our major exhibitions, including those on Edward Hopper, Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko,” Oaks said. “CAM is extraordinarily fortunate to have him step into the role of Curator of the Collections, bringing his knowledge, vision, and dedication to our institution.” Oaks announced her retirement earlier this year, and the Museum’s leadership is currently conducting a national search for her successor as Chief Curator.

In 2021, Doucette was appointed the Museum’s Assistant Curator, continuing a deep commitment to research, interpretation, and storytelling for the Museum and the broader community. Colleagues and visitors alike appreciate his ability to ground historical narratives in contemporary experiences, helping audiences see themselves in the stories of the past.

Working closely with the rest of the Museum’s collections team and guest curators, Doucette has taken a leadership role in interpreting, arranging and installing CAM’s exhibitions over the past 15 years including milestone exhibitions John Sloan: Gloucester Days (2015), Drawn from Nature & on Stone: The Lithographs of Fitz Henry Lane (2018), Homer at the Beach: A Marine Painter’s Journey (2019), Edward Hopper & Cape Ann: Illuminating an American Landscape (2023), and most recently Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea (2026). In conjunction with Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea (2026), Doucette assisted with organizing A Concentric Circle, an exhibition highlighting contemporary artists who lived and worked on Cape Ann during the same period. Watch Leon discuss the exhibition here.

As a longstanding member of the Museum’s Collections Committee, Doucette has guided strategic growth of the Museum’s collections and, in recent years, has helped lead the development of CAM’s Contemporary Art Subcommittee.

In addition to his curatorial work, Doucette is an active civic contributor and practicing artist. He previously served on the City of Gloucester’s Historical Commission, and as a juror for the North Shore Arts Association, Marblehead Arts Association, and Cape Ann Plein Air. His paintings and drawings have received prominent recognition, including gold medals from the Guild of Boston Artists and the Rockport Art Association & Museum as well as First Place in the Portrait Society of America’s International Portrait Competition. He has also led drawing workshops at the Museum, teaching students observational drawing while working from CAM’s sculpture collection right in the galleries.

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The Cape Ann Museum, founded in 1875, exists to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of the region and to keep it relevant to today’s audiences. Spanning 44,000 square feet, the Museum’s Downtown campus is a major cultural institution on Boston’s North Shore, welcoming thousands of local, national, and international visitors annually to its exhibitions, programs, and community-led events. In addition to fine art, the Museum’s collections include decorative art, textiles, artifacts from the fisheries and granite industries, four historic structures, a Library & Archives, and a sculpture garden in the heart of downtown Gloucester.

The Cape Ann Museum’s Downtown campus is located at 27 Pleasant Street in Gloucester and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. General Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for Cape Ann residents and seniors. Youth (under 18), students with ID, and Museum members are free. Cape Ann residents receive free general admission on the second Saturday of each month. 

The Cape Ann Museum Green (CAM Green), the Museum’s campus off Grant Circle and Route 128 in Gloucester, is home to the 12,000-square-foot Janet & William Ellery James Center, built in 2020. The center includes a flexible exhibition and community programming space designed to reach broader audiences with new exhibits and public programs. CAM Green, which served as the Museum’s base of operations during the renovations, features three historic structures—the White-Ellery House (1710), the Babson-Alling House (c. 1740), and an adjacent barn (c. 1740)—as well as a Contemporary Art Wetu (2023–2024) and a Mush8n (mi-shoon) (2023), an Eastern Woodlands boat. CAM Green is closed for the season and will reopen in spring 2027.

More information can be found on capeannmuseum.org or please call (978)283-0455 x110.

Pentucket/Georgetown 35, Newburyport 25

Hamilton-Wenham 14, Manchester-Essex 8

North Reading 28, Triton/Ipswich 0

Bishop Fenwick 55, Cardinal Spellman 22

St. John’s Prep 43, BC High 6

Swampscott 36, Greater Lawrence 18

Lynn Tech 35, Lowell Catholic 6

Lynn Classical 40, Medford 7

Malden 45, Chelsea 0

Everett 35, Revere 27

St. Mary’s 40, Marblehead 14

Haverhill 52, Concord, NH 32

Masconomet 21, Peabody 20

Danvers 38, Beverly 0

Gloucester 28m, Salem 17

Withrop 47, Saugus 6