Month: January 2024

What an amazing day to be out there with a camera! The storm misery was well worth yesterday’s beauty and wonders of nature.

JANUARY 8, 2024 ~ SAWYER FREE LIBRARY

The Sawyer Free Library is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Lisa Ryan, who is returning to the Library as the new Assistant Director, and the promotion of Annalise Nakoneczny to the position of Young Adult Librarian.

Library Director Jenny Benedict expressed excitement about the appointments, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Lisa back to the Sawyer Free Library in her new role as Assistant Director. Her past contributions, extensive experience, and life-long connection to the Gloucester community make her an ideal fit for this position. Additionally, we are thrilled to see Annalise take on the role of Young Adult Librarian. Her passion for serving our community and her innovative approach to library services will undoubtedly enrich the experiences of our young adult patrons.”  

Benedict also added, “Lisa and Annalise are an incredible addition to our talented and dedicated team, who each day continue the important work of elevating the Library’s impact on our community, especially with an eye toward all that the 2025 Sawyer Free Library will bring.”

Lisa Ryan, a familiar face to the Sawyer Free Library, rejoins the staff as the Assistant Director. The Gloucester native’s connection to the Library is deep-rooted, having previously worked at the Library for close to fourteen years, serving as the Information Service Librarian, Assistant Children’s Librarian, and Assistant Librarian. Her wealth of experience, and comprehensive understanding of the community’s needs make her an invaluable asset to the Library’s leadership team. Before rejoining Sawyer Free Library, Lisa spent seven years as the Head of Reference at the Beverly Public Library, where she further honed her skills in library management, program development, and community engagement. She has her Master of Library and Information Science from Simmons College and Bachelor of Science from American International College.

In her new position, Lisa will advance the Library’s public services for adults, teens and children. Her responsibilities include overseeing library operations, implementing innovative programming and educational initiatives, and enhancing the public’s experience.

In addition, the Library is pleased to announce the promotion of Annalise Nakoneczny to the crucial role of Young Adult Librarian. In her previous role as the Library Public Technology Assistant, Annalise demonstrated exceptional skills in facilitating learning that bridged technology and library resources. Her commitment to fostering a welcoming environment and her creative approach to engaging learners set her apart. Annalise’s promotion to the position of Young Adult Librarian reflects her dedication and the Library’s commitment to recognizing and nurturing talent within its team.

In her new role, Annalise will coordinate youth-focused initiatives, curate an engaging collection of young adult literature, and develop exciting programs that cater to the diverse interests of our community’s youth. She will work closely with local schools, community organizations, and, most importantly, Gloucester’s young people to create a welcoming space that promotes literacy, critical thinking, and personal growth. Annalise received her Master’s in Library Science from the University of Kentucky and her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Gordon College. 

The Sawyer Free Library invites the community to welcome Lisa Ryan and congratulate Annalise Nakoneczny on their new roles. The Library, temporarily located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester and online 24/7, remains committed to providing a dynamic and enriching environment for all and looks forward to officially opening its newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space in the Fall of 2025. For details on the 2025 Sawyer Free Library and the many ways to support this historic project, please visit sawyerfree2025.org.

Go with the Floe…

The Delisis recently posted that their new signage had gone up on Mount Pleasant St in Rockport at the site of the former Red Skiff. The sign looks sharp! We look forward to their opening! We miss the family from the former Capt Hooks here in Gloucester and wish them the best in their new venture. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

Hunkered Down…

The winners of the Pigeon Cove Circle Calendar Lottery are:

Wendy Woodbury, Craig Morrill, Alexandra Johnson, Elana Brink, Paula Ouellette, Mary Lattof,  Karen Crowley, John Anthony D’Antonio, Amy Randazzo, Tanya and Chris Hoffman, Andrew Marques, Kathy Hart, Melissa Cox, Cindy Rich, Cindy Juncker, Robin Carlo, Bob Condon, Judith Harris, Alli Borowski, Sue Panzer, Kristina Martin, Ruth George, Mary Walsh, Joann Denning, Peter Haskell, George Bajoras, Craig Johnson, Jennifer Clark, Connie Condon

Congratulations to everyone and thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and helped us to raise funds for the Pigeon Cove Circle Building Fund!

📸 Look at this post on Facebook click the image to listen

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/27352m7YFH6ghrMq/

From the children’s parasol parade to the midnight ball drop, Rockport New Year’s Eve 2023 was a spectacle of color, imagination, performance artistry and enthusiastic audiences.   Rockport was filled with nearly 2,000 happy revelers, not just from Cape Ann, but from across the country and beyond (Canada and Germany!), who helped ring in the New Year with gusto.   It was a BIG celebration that did our small town proud!   

 

Rockport New Year’s Eve (RNYE) extends gratitude to everyone who helped make our 2023 year end celebration a rousing success. As a small nonprofit organization, we rely on our dedicated team of volunteers — more than 100 in all – to accomplish all that needs to be done to set up and run an event of this scale; and on the generous support of our sponsors who help keep it affordable for all who attend.

Special Thanks to:

• Town of Rockport   Administration, Library, Police and Fire Departments, School Department, and Department of Public Works
• Gold, Silver & Bronze Sponsors:  Cape Ann Savings Bank, Mass Cultural Council, Institution for Savings, Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Jerry Hausman, Addison Choate, Applied Materials Corp., The Cove at Rockport, Daily Printing, and Fleur Cuisine Harborside
• Entertainment Venues: Brackett’s Restaurant, Fish Shack Restaurant, First Congregational Church of Rockport, Rockport Art Association & Museum, Rockport Music, Spiran Lodge #98, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, and Unitarian Universalist Society Rockport (UUSR)
• Local Button sellers in Rockport: Art of David Arsenault, Bean & Leaf Cafe, John Tarr Store, Paper Mermaid, Smith Hardware, Tuck’s Candy and Gifts, Walgreens, Whale’s Jaw Café; and in Gloucester:  Building Center, Common Crow, Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Home Town Ace
• And to all of our other generous donors and supporters

JANUARY 3, 2024 ~ GLOUCESTER MARINE GENOMICS INSTITUTE

The GMGI Science Hour returns for the first talk of 2024, featuring the fascinating work of Revive & Restore, a wildlife conservation organization whose mission is to enhance biodiversity through the genetic rescue of endangered and extinct species.

Ryan Phelan, the organization’s co-founder and Executive Director, joins us on Thursday, January 18th to discuss her work with the world’s leading molecular biologists, conservation biologists, and conservation organizations. Together, they envision and develop pioneering projects that apply cutting-edge biotechnologies to seemingly intractable conservation challenges. Challenges such as:

 Genetic diversity loss
 Invasive species
 Coral bleaching
 Climate change

You can register for Ryan’s talk, “Bringing Biotech to Wildlife Conservation” at the link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_rT1OYkCvRMWgvAcmzbpjjQ

As always, the GMGI Science Hour is free and open to anyone who’s interested! Please feel free to share the registration link.

Have questions? Please reach out to Maggie Costello at maggie.costello@gmgi.org