Month: September 2022

Lines…

It’s that time of year when it’s all about apples, pumpkins, cider and wine (of course) so it seems logical to make a stop at Russell Orchards in Ipswich. They are currently in full apple picking swing. Our daughter had never been apple picking (clearly there were gaps in her education) and Russell Orchards is a great spot to start! It’s very kid-friendly with farm animals and special treats inside the store. It’s also driver friendly as I noticed some outlets for electric vehicles. We took full advantage of the pumpkin displays, store treats and apple trees. I suggest you consider doing the same!

What: Apply for Artist Membership at North Shore Arts Association
Where: North Shore Arts Association, 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930
When: October 1 & 2, 2022
Images: 1 attached 

NORTH SHORE ARTS ASSOCIATION CALL TO ARTISTS; YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO APPLY! Submission deadline for New Artist Membership is October 1 & 2, 2022. For membership information and an application please visit: Becoming a Member at NSAA.   

North Shore Arts Association is located at 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information about becoming a Juried Artist Member please call (978) 283-1857 or email arts@nsarts.org. Visiting hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM and Sundays 12 – 4 PM.   

With the supernatural as the setting, Tony Award Nominated Playwright LUCAS HNATH ‘ssuspenseful play is an immersive exploration of the fragile boundary between our world and the one just beyond

 Performances September 30 – October 23 at Gloucester Stage’s historic theater 

Gloucester Stage Company will close out its powerful 2022 season with the haunting production of THE THIN PLACE. Directed by Dee Dee Batteast, part ghost story, part dissection of “truth,” the play builds a never-ending loop between your head and your sixth sense and satisfies the cravings of both. With insight and relentless curiosity, the Tony Award-nominated playwright Lucas Hnath‘s play transforms the theater into an intimate séance, crafting an unnerving testament to the power of the mind, which has a mind of its own.

The suspenseful ghost story probes the profoundly human need for connection as it follows the burgeoning relationship between two women. Linda communicates professionally with the dead, who are still here, just in a different part of here, in the “thin place” and Hilda is a keen observer who’s seeking answers. Through their conversations, THE THIN PLACE explores the living world, the worlds beyond, and the fragile boundary between them.

Making their Gloucester Stage debuts, Cynthia Beckert and Siobhán Carroll lead the small cast as Linda, the veteran medium, and Hilda, who is grappling with a strange loss. Accomplished actors Joshua Wolf Coleman and Bren McElroy also star in this quietly chilling story which crackles with spiritual vulnerability. And yet at the same time, the enthralling story plays with perceptions of reality and the omnipresence of death. 

THE THIN PLACE will run from September 30 through October 23. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Tickets are now on sale and available at GloucesterStage.com.

The production is made possible with support from The Beauport Hospitality Group. The 2022 Season at Gloucester Stage has been made possible by the Shubert Foundation and the Applied Materials Foundation.

On a Fall Day…

Artist Reception: Friday, Oct. 14 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Seven Suns Gallery, 48 Bearskin Neck, Rockport, MA 01966

Matthew Billey has been a traditional wooden boat builder for the last 25 years. He has a special interest in Scandinavian designs and construction methods. Matt built and lives aboard his 27’ Danish Cutter, Jette. She appears frequently as the main subject matter in his artwork. His expertise in designing, building and sailing wooden sailboats lends a discerning eye when portraying them accurately in their element.

His 7 year old daughter, Naomi, was a major influence in getting him started as a painter. Since the Spring of 2022, he has made several works based on his interest in metaphysics, global ascension, astrology, perception beyond the ordinary five senses and spirituality. He merges that interest with his passion for landscapes and boats. Matt’s latest body of work, The “Red Sun” series, showcases 7 tall vertical paintings; all acrylic on wood and all fantastical in nature.

The “Red Sun” series and others of Matt’s paintings will be featured as a Fall Event at Loren Doucette Studio at Seven Suns Gallery from Oct. 7 – Nov. 25th. The guest artist reception will be Friday, Oct. 14 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm and is free and open to the public. Seven Suns Gallery is located at 48 Bearskin Neck in Rockport, Ma. and is open 7 days a week from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.

GLOUCESTER 一 Chief Edward G. Conley is pleased to announce that the Gloucester Police Department has been awarded $35,000 in grant funding to improve road safety.

The $35,000 grant funds were made available by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and allocated by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR). This funding will be used to support the Municipal Road Safety Program, which assists in developing enforcement strategies to reduce roadway crashes, injuries, fatalities, and associated economic losses in Massachusetts.

Gloucester Police Department will use the funding to staff overtime shifts dedicated to motor vehicle safety, and traffic enforcement initiatives including, impaired driving, texting and driving, speeding, and pedestrian crosswalk and cyclist safety.

Additionally, funding will be used to purchase bike helmets that will be available for residents free of charge.

“Road safety is extremely important and I would like to thank the Baker-Polito Administration for awarded us with this funding,” said Chief Conley. “We are committed to keeping our community safe and this funding allows us to do. We would like to remind community members to stay alert and avoid distractions while driving.”

Residents who would like to receive a bike helmet are encouraged to contact the Community Impact Unit at 978-325-5470.

About the FFY 2023 Municipal Road Safety (MRS) Grant Program

The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) allocated $5,000,000 in FFY 2023 grant funding to municipal police departments within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The grants are designed to provide substantial flexibility in addressing local traffic safety issues, allowing funding beyond enforcement to include equipment options and developing novel traffic safety programs.

Our daughter is visiting with our toddler grandson so it seemed like a good time for our first visit to Stone Zoo. It’s a relatively short ride (maybe 45 minutes) to this lovely little oasis in Stoneham. I’d had the impression that it was a smaller zoo than Franklin Park, so I guess I had lowered my expectations, but we were very charmed by the layout, the atmosphere and the animals. We recently visited the Seattle Zoo and this was much much better. I think the flamingos were my favorites!

Our daughter is a zoo educator in Erie PA so her insights come from deeper zoo knowledge than I have. She commented that she was especially impressed with how the well designed exhibits blend into and reflect the environment so seamlessly. There are Lego displays throughout the zoo which were partly built by children and they are VERY inspiring! It’s a great little way to spend part of a day so if you haven’t been, consider a visit.