Sawyer Free Library will raise steel beam signed by community into place on February 9
It has been just four months since the Sawyer Free Librarybroke ground on its historic renovation, expansion, and modernization project, and at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 9, the Library will celebrate the project’s next significant milestone, the placement of the highest steel beam at a topping off ceremony. The long-standing construction tradition of a beam topping will mark the completion of the structural phase of this historic project.
The ceremony will feature remarks from local elected officials and library representatives, to be followed by the exciting moment of the last steel beam of the newly expanded 2025 Sawyer Free structure being put into place by a crane. In keeping with tradition, the beam will be adorned with an evergreen tree on one end and an American flag joined by the City of Gloucester’s on the other. Due to limited space on the site, the public is welcome to witness the historic moment outside the safety fencing.
This momentous day will also pay tribute to the incredible community that the Sawyer Free Library has the great honor of serving. Over the past week, the commemorative 11-foot steel beam was signed by over 400 people from throughout Gloucester and beyond, making them a permanent part of this transformative project. Participants of all ages joyfully joined together to leave their mark on the symbolic steel beam, expressing their support, sharing personal messages, and commemorating loved ones, making it a beautiful representation of the community’s collective spirit and deep appreciation for its beloved public Library.
As we reach this exciting milestone for the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, we celebrate not just the physical structure taking shape but also the collective vision and dedication of our Gloucester community,” said Sawyer Free Library Board of Trustees President Mern Sibley.
“The topping of this beam symbolizes the culmination of the tireless effort and shared commitment of so many, including the countless volunteers, elected and city officials, generous donors, talented creative partners, dedicated Library staff, and our incredible patrons,” added Sibley. “Reaching this exciting milestone has been a tremendous team effort, and as construction progresses, I would especially like to recognize the outstanding work of our partner, W.T. Rich Construction, and our subcontractors in bringing us closer each day to the grand opening of the reimagined 2025 Sawyer Free Library.”
“W.T. Rich is proud to celebrate this construction milestone for the Sawyer Free Library project. We are honored to be a part of a project that is so important to the Gloucester community. We have had a great working relationship with the City and our construction partners, and we look forward to continuing that collaboration to turnover a beautiful, newly renovated and expanded Library in the spring of 2025,” said Jonathan Rich, Chief Executive Officer of W.T. Rich Company.
The 2025 Sawyer Free Library capital campaign is continuing during construction to raise $11M towards the $29M goal. To date, it has approximately $10.3 million in grants secured from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Project (MPLCP) and Green Library Incentives. In addition, the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a Commonwealth of Massachusetts program administered through a collaborative arrangement between MassDevelopment and the Mass Cultural Council, has provided substantial funding for the project.
The Library is also immensely grateful for the tremendous engagement and investment at every level from all parts of the community committed to realizing the 2025 Sawyer Free Library. The project has received transformational gifts from individual and corporate donors, including room-naming contributions from the Institution for Savings, Bank Gloucester, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Gorton’s, and Sudbay Motors.
There are still naming opportunities available for donors interested in leaving their legacy, honoring a family member, or aligning their company’s mission and values while supporting the Library, Gloucester, and the Cape Ann community. To learn more about investing in the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, please visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
The comprehensive renovation, modernization, and expansion of Gloucester’s public Library officially broke ground this past September. The project, which remains on schedule and budget, will take approximately eighteen months and is expected to be opened to the public in the summer of 2025.
When its doors open, the 2025 Sawyer Free Library will exemplify what a 21st-century public library can and should be in terms of architecture, sustainability, accessibility, use of natural resources and light, wayfinding, lines of sight, air quality, and public safety. The 2025 Sawyer Free Library project will preserve the original exterior, housing an entirely redesigned interior, and will also double the size of the existing Library’s footprint with a 14,000-square-foot addition.
The 2025 Sawyer Free Library will offer current and emerging public technology, diverse collections, engaging programs, and new dedicated spaces for collaboration, learning, and relaxation. It will feature a digital learning lab, a 100-seat community room with state-of-the-science media presentation equipment, a local history research center, a dedicated teen room, a beautiful expanded children’s room with an early learning center for toddlers, study rooms for individual and group study, a 16-seat conference room, and much more. With its modern and sustainable design, the Library will provide an inspiring environment for library patrons, staff, the community, and beyond.
W.T. Rich Company of Beverly, MA, is leading the construction of the 2025 Sawyer Free Library. The comprehensive project was designed by a team composed of Oudens Ello Architecture and Dore + Whittier Architecture, Construction Management Firm W.T. Rich, and Library project leaders, along with the vital input of the citizens of Gloucester.
The Sawyer Free Library is temporarily located at 21 Main Street and online 24/7 during construction. The Library remains committed to providing a dynamic and enriching environment for all. For more information about the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, please visit us in person at 21 Main Street, online at sawyerfreelibrary.org, or 978-325-5500.
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For the fourth year in a row, Project Elm is gifting
• tight climat
FREE EIm Trees to local property owners on Cape Ann.
WANT A TREE?
If you’d like to plant a free disease-resistant tree(s) on your property, please reach out. We have the costs covered. We also have a skilled volunteer team ready to help plant trees on the optimal spot on your property.
First come, first served! Trees have gone quickly in past years so get in touch soon if you’d like a tree.
Location: The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA
Dates: February 16 – March 31
Opening Reception: Sunday, February 18, 4-6pm
Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday, Noon – 5 PM
Gloucester MA—
ROCKY NECK NOW 2024, the highly anticipated annual members show, once again opens the exhibition season at the Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC). This year, works by 79 artist members will be on display, giving a broad overview of RNAC members’ talents and passion. Rocky Neck Now is open to all members and offers each the opportunity to show one recent work. The exhibition showcases a wide range of artistic vision, with representational, abstract and expressive styles in all media.
The Artists
Adam Adkison, Suzanne Agostino, Meredith Anderson, Christine Barensfeld,
John Bassett, Anne Beinecke, Elizabeth Bish, Paula Borsetti,
Sheila Boss-Concannon, Jennifer K Brown, Mike Cangemi, Jeanne Carey, Betsy Carter, Donna Caselden, Matt Cegelis, Michele Champion, Yhanna Coffin, Anne Marie Crotty, Dianna Daly, Alev Danis, Marci Davis, Lesley Davison, Terry Del Percio, Beth Delforge, Maria Denjongpa, Robert Diebboll, Cheryl Dyment, Cindy Efinger, Barbe Ennis, Paige Farrell, Sue Funk, Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, Elizabeth Gauthier, Christine Gauthier-Kelley, Seth Goldfine, Nancy Gorman, John Grant, Karen Gross, Janet Grover, Olga Hayes, Leslie Heffron, Linda Henneman, Kata Hull, Nancy Jarvis, Linda Kauss, Ken King, Tobi Klein, Ira Levine, Juliet Lockwood, Lynn MacLaughlin, Laureen Maher, Jeffrey Marshall, Carmela Martin, Dawn McDonald, Vanessa Michalak, William Mitchell, Ed Mowrey, Brian Murphy, R. D. Murphy, Monica Pepicelli, Margaret Rack, Mary Rhinelander, Kathy Roberts, Judy Robinson-Cox, Tom Robinson-Cox, Patty Rosenblatt, Caleb Rulli, Thomas Rutigliano, Patricia Scialo, James Seavey, Mary Spitzer, Rosemary Sullivan, Marilyn Swift, Helen Tory, Juni Van Dyke, Grace Vasta, Anna Vojtech, Karen Watson, Christine Whalen-Waller
Special Events
The public is invited to celebrate the creativity of RNAC artists at the opening reception on Sunday, February 18 from 4 to 6 PM. View the art, meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments, drink and ever-lively conversation.
The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, nurtures excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and vibrant cultural events for its members and the public. On picturesque Rocky Neck in Gloucester, Massachusetts, RNAC operates three exhibition spaces, open to the public for free, The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street); The Salted Cod Arthouse (53 Rocky Neck Ave.), a partnership gallery and café; and Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Ave.), open seasonally in the former gallery of local artists Gordon and Judith Goetemann. Check the website, www.rockyneckartcolony.org, for hours, openings and special events. For more information, see the website or call 978-515-7004
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We know winter just started…but we’re already dreaming of summer camp! Get ready to have the best summer ever when you choose your adventure at Y camp. We can’t wait to see you at camp!
Need Flexible Pricing for camp?
Click here to apply or renew today!You must have an up-to-date approval for 2024 before enrolling in summer camp; we will not be able to honor income-based pricing retroactively.
We were very happy to be able to attend the Tequila Dinner at Machaca on Rogers St last night. This special ticketed event featured Volans and G4 tastings paired with a 5 course dinner. We were treated to some tequila education and advice, which we both sorely needed as we are not tequila fanciers at all. We enjoyed the food offerings especially the Gordita and the Shrimp Aguachile. The Tres Leche cake was outstanding.
The courses were served to a full house at a nice pace for conversation and food enjoyment. We were joined by Chris L., Jamie M, Nichole W., and Donna R. Luis, Joe and his staff did an outstanding job. I understand they are planning another for April. If you are the least bit intrigued, I recommend you consider it. We know nothing useful about tequila but now we do. It was easy to pace the tastings and I did not feel completely done in by the tequila. That kind of surprised me and might be useful for you to know. ** thanks to Nichole Wadsworth for the assist with the food photos***
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The Gloucester Historical Commission is seeking nominations for awards to be presented to individuals, organizations or groups in the following categories:
· Lifetime Achievement
· Restoration and Rehabilitation
· Local Preservation
· Archaeology
· Stewardship
· Adaptive Reuse
· Education and Outreach
· Preserving Gloucester History
These awards are designed to inspire others while recognizing contributions to Gloucester’s history and culture.
Please send your nominations with a brief description to Lillian Olmsted at lillian.olmsted@gmail.com no later than February 28, 2024.
The Historical Commission will review submissions and send an award confirmation letter to those who best represent the categories listed above. Awardees will participate in the awards ceremony with a short presentation of their project.
The ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024 between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM in the Granite Gallery Auditorium at Cape Ann Museum.
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Good Morning Gloucester 