Community at the heart of the Swim for Life When Steven Roderick receives the David Asher Volunteer Award at Saturday’s Swim for Life, it will highlight the Provincetown community and the extensive network of volunteers who work to make this town the caring and compassionate place that it is. From the Rescue Squad to the Soup Kitchen, from the Kitchen Angels to Helping Our Women to the Portuguese Festival, the fabric of Provincetown is woven with a tradition of community service. Who runs the book sales we pleasantly stumble upon during the summer? Friends of the Library. Carnival? Women’s Week? Volunteers at your service. And our community has no boundaries. For those who participate in the Swim for Life and identify Provincetown as their spiritual home to those who reach out to the victims of Katrina, we understand the meaning of compassion and humanitarianism. This weekend thousands will participate in the Swim for Life, including 300 swimmers, 200 volunteers and 75 kayakers and boaters. Ten thousand plus individual pledges will be made to swimmers and kayakers from across the country - people investing in Provincetown and our heightened sense of community. Swimmer, kayakers, boaters and volunteers may still sign up to assist in this Provincetown tradition. The 18th Annual Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla begins with the 12th Annual Celebration of Life at the Meeting House on Friday evening at 8:00 pm, a free concert presented by John Thomas in association with the Swim for Life. Performers include: Jon Arterton, Peter Bez, Judy Brubaker, Peter Donnelly, Patricia Fitzpatrick, Alison Hyder, Scott Jordan, Roxanne Layton, James Mack, Phoebe Otis, Miss Richfield 1981, Suede, John Thomas, West End Wendy Wendell, Bobby Wetherbee and others. The public is invited to the Boatslip deck to greet the swimmers and join in the food and festivities. The Mermaid Brunch will be catered by Far Land Provisions, with music by Bart Weisman Jazz Group featuring Carol Wyeth, with awards and prizes presented, including the David Asher Volunteer Award to Steven Roderick. Artist Kaolin Davis has designed the medallions for the new Circle of Honor members. Prayer Ribbons will be available on Friday and Saturday for people to write the name of someone they have lost or someone they wish to honor. The ribbons provide a dynamic visual witness to the weekend events. The 2005 t-shirts, designed by Sally Brophy, will be available on Friday evening and Saturday. Beneficiaries of the Swim for Life include Helping Our Women, the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Outer Cape Health Services, Cape and Islands Gay Straight Youth Alliance and the Provincetown AIDS HIV History Project. Sponsors to date include the Provincetown Banner, Mike's Movies/Boston, Paul Mitchell, the Boatslip Resort, Far Land Provisions, The 1st World Outgames Montreal 2006, Provincetown Visitor Services Board and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Swim for Life is produced by the Provincetown Community Compact, Inc. Registration on September 10 for kayakers and safety boaters begins at 8:30 am at the Boatslip Resort beach, 161 Commercial Street, with swimmer registration on the deck at 9:30 am. Swimmers will be transported to Long Point for the 11:00 am start. For pledge forms and volunteer, Pool Splash at Surfside Hotel & Suites, or Provincetown Harbor Lights information, or to make a contribution, contact: thecompact@comcast.net, 508 487-1930, www.swim4life.org, or write, Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, P.O. Box 819, Provincetown, MA 02657. SWIM FOR LIFE SCHEDULE Low Tide: 10:17 FRIDAY, SEPT 9 2:00 pm Clinic for swimmers (optional). Questions, orientation; Boatslip Resort beach, 161 Commercial Street 8:00 pm Celebration of Life Concert, UU Meeting House, 236 Commercial Street; free, community invited SATURDAY, SEPT 10 SWIM FOR LIFE & PADDLER FLOTILLA 8:30 - 9:30 am Pool Splash registration, Surfside Hotel & Suites, 543 Commercial St. BOATSLIP RESORT, 161 Commercial Street 8:30-10:30 am Kayak/Paddler/Security Boat Registration, on the beach 9:30-10:30 am Swimmer Registration, on the deck 9:30-10:30 am Swimmer transport to Long Point from Flyer’s Boatyard, MacMillan and Fishermen’s Wharves, with Provincetown Trolley, Cee Jay and Viking Princess 11:00 am Swim begins from Long Point Light 11:30-1:30 pm Paddlers and Swimmers arrive to the cheering crowd, Boatslip deck and beach; public invited Noon-3:00 pm MERMAID BRUNCH & AWARDS, Boatslip deck; donation Food: Far Land Provisions Music: Bart Weisman Jazz Group with Carol Wyeth DUSK (8:30-?) Provincetown Harbor Lights, MacMillan Wharf SUNDAY, SEPT 11 Swim for Life Storm Date* Provincetown Schooner Regatta * If Swim is postponed to Sunday, registration and the Mermaid Brunch will be held as scheduled on Saturday. Friday Sept 8 8:00 PM Celebration of Life Concert @ Universalist Meeting House Saturday Sept 9 8:30 - 10:30 AM Kayak / Paddler Flotilla Registration @ Boatslip Resort 9:30 - 10:30 AM Swimmer Registration @ Boatslip Resort 11:00 AM Swim for Life Begins from Long Point 11:30 AM Public Greets Swimmers 12:00 - 3:00 PM Mermaid Brunch @ Boatslip Resort Sunday Sept 10 Starting at dusk Provincetown Harbor Lights at MacMillan Wharf