Some great cultural events tomorrow with Gloucester ties.

May 18 – NEW BEDFORD

Governor Baker heads back to New Bedford for the reopening of the Seamen’s Bethel and Mariner’s Home. They’ll announce the 10th anniversary of the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund.

Mayor Romeo Theken shares this MCC news update

May 18 – METHUEN

Essex Heritage is hosting their Annual Spring Meeting on Thursday, May 18, from 8 – 10 AM, at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall. “The agenda will include updates on current initiatives, the announcement of the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant recipients, and more!”  They are always kind to Gloucester and the Great Organ at the music hall is amazing.

May 18 – WORCESTER

The 2017 Massachusetts Smart Growth annual Conference is taking place in the DCU Center, Worcester, for the second year in a row.

I want this conference to come to Beauport Hotel next year.

Gin Wallace from Beverly’s Arts District will be participating in one of the breakout session panels. Can’t get to Worcester? LIVE STREAMING the morning plenary session on the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MASmartGrowth/

Morning Plenary. “Development in your Community: Are we asking the right questions” The Bottom Line: Local Fiscal Impact, Smart Growth and Regional Sustainability

• Governor Karyn Polito
• Chris Zimmerman, Vice President of Economic Development, Smart Growth America
• Julian Agyeman, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University and author, Just Sustainabilities & Sharing Cities
• Mary Skelton Roberts, Senior Program Officer, Barr Foundation

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

• The Future Is Speeding Toward Us: Planning for Autonomous Vehicles
• Balancing Downtown Development and Neighborhood Investment
• Greening the City
• One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Effective Strategies for Suburbs and Towns
• New Directions for Transit-Oriented Development
• Advanced Placemaking: New Approaches to Place Management
• The Elephant in the Room: Long-Term Change and Community Resilience
• Preserving tomorrow: History and Renovation
• Age-Friendly Communities: We Are Generations
• Getting to “Yes In My Backyard”: How to Build Consensus and When to Fight

Also featuring a Networking Lunch, a Placemaking Hangout/Exhibit, and a “Meet the Experts” session at the end of the day!

See Smartgrowth America Dangerous by Design 2016 report for MA state ranking