GLOUCESTER – On Wednesday, August 21, the Gloucester Health Department closed Plum Cove, Cressy’s, and Half Moon beaches due to enterococci exceedances. The department also kept Good Harbor Creek closed following a second day of enterococci exceedances. The beaches will remain closed until both single test result and/or geomean levels return to normal levels.
Over 37 marine beaches, 21 from Boston and the North Shore, have closed this week because of enterococci exceedance due in part to the churn created by Hurricane Ernesto’s strong currents in combination with astronomical high tides.
The Department will test each day and send the test samples to a Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved laboratory who will test and report the results to the State and the Gloucester Board of Health. The beaches will reopen once normal thresholds have been met.
Beach visitors are advised not to swim at these beaches until reopened because of the risk of illness. Exposure to enterococci can cause urinary tract infections, wound infections, upper respiratory and intra-abdominal illness, and other serious health conditions. Beach goers should respect all posted signage regarding beach closures.
The Cape Ann Symphony recently announced that Rockport’s Wendy Betts, longtime Director of the CAS Chorus will retire and her daughter multi-talented musician Brittany Betts will take over as Choral Director for the CAS Chorus.
‘’We are thrilled to have Brittany Betts join us as the new Director of the Cape Ann Symphony Chorus. She is a fabulous musician and will do an amazing job conducting the chorus. We will be collaborating with her and the wonderful singers of the chorus at the Holiday Pops concerts, and are really looking forward to it!”
–Yoichi Udagawa, Cape Ann Symphony Music Dir & Conductor
Brittany Betts will make her debut with the CAS Chorus during the CAS annual Holiday Pops Concert on November 30 and December 1.
Message from Brittany Betts
“I am honored to be carrying on the tradition of choral excellence with the Cape Ann Symphony Chorus that my mom, Wendy Betts, so beautifully crafted for 16 years, ” says Brittany Betts, “I believe music has the ability to bring people together for good and, together with Maestro Udagawa and the symphony, the chorus and I will help bring our community together with beauty, skill and fun. The Symphony continues to grow and expand their skillfulness, and so it stands, at this new time for the chorus, we should do the same. In order to fulfill this growth, we will be changing things up a bit and holding auditions a week before rehearsals begin in order to build a smaller chorus of about 40 singers. We are hoping some of our local high school students might like to participate too! I also want to share that I am thrilled that Priscilla Walter, pianist extraordinaire, has agreed to be the chorus accompanist this year! She is an excellent musician who has been sharing her musical gifts on Cape Ann for years and we are blessed to have her with us once again.”
Brittany Betts
Cape Ann Symphony Chorus Auditions
Cape Ann Symphony Chorus Auditions will be held on Saturday September 7 from 10 am -Noon and Wednesday September 12 from 6 pm – 8 pm. If you are interested in auditioning, please contact Brittany Betts atbrittanybetts@gmail.com
CAS Chorus Rehearsals will be Wednesdays September 18-November 20 from 7 pm – 9 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lanesville along with 2 rehearsals with the orchestra during the week of the concerts. The Cape Ann Symphony 2024 Holiday Pops Concerts are:
Saturday, November 30, 2024: 2:00 PM Dolan Performing Arts Center, Ipswich High School. Ipswich, MA
Saturday, November 30, 2024: 7:30 PM Manchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Sunday, December 1, 2024: 2:00 PM Manchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
The Cape Ann Symphony launched The Cape Ann Symphony Chorus under the directions of Wendy Betts at the 2005 Holiday Pops Concert. . The group has performed with the Cape Ann Symphony at Holiday Pops Concerts in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 2013, 2014. 2015, 2016. 2017, 2018, 2019,2021 and 2022. “I am excited to share that Maestro Udagawa and I have put together a fun Holiday POPS program for 2024, ” continues Betts, “The chorus will be presenting five beautiful and fun pieces to reflect the holiday and winter season – filled with traditional favorites and new to us pieces. You can expect to tap your feet to a medley of broadway Christmas tunes, and to feel cozy and reflective as the choir sings a tender lullaby about winter and time passing by. We will then honor our Jewish and Christian friends’ traditions with a medley of Hanukkah pieces which you will end up wanting to sing along to, and a stunningly beautiful favorite of the classical choral realm, John Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music”. And we will top it all off with a rousing gospel piece, “Rejoice! How Great Our Joy” which reflects the jubilance of the Christian Christmas tradition. You will want to stand and clap for sure (and we want you to do so)! Now, don’t worry, we will be inviting the audience to join their voices as one big choir on the sing-a-long as has been a long favored tradition at the Holiday Pops Concerts. So grab your ticket, do your vocal warm-ups and let’s celebrate the season TOGETHER this November!”
Brittany Betts brings with her a different approach to the choral world having primarily worked as a trumpeter, djembefola (someone who skillfully plays the djembe, a West African drum) collaborator, worship leader, jazz singer and composer. She performs with the David Whitney Orchestra, Riverside Renaissance Swing Band, Cantemus Chamber Chorus and the vocal trio, ONE. In 2023-2024, she served as Artist-in-Residence at First Church Congregational in Swampscott, composing sung liturgies and songs for their Advent and Lenten services. Ms. Betts traveled the country and abroad as a Glocal (local and global combined) Musician Educator and Worship Coordinator with the Global Mission Unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for 10 years. During that time she also served on the music staff of Visible Music College in Memphis, TN where she taught voice, music theory, rock bands, the World Music Ensemble and a guided improvisation class.
Cape Ann Symphony Chorus Auditions will be held on Saturday September 7th, from 10 am – Noon and Wednesday September 12 from 6 pm – 8 pm. If you are interested in auditioning, please contact Brittany Betts via email here: brittanybetts@gmail.com
The Cape Ann Symphony Holiday Pops Concerts are Saturday, November 30 at 2 pm at the Dolan Performing Arts Center at Ipswich High School on 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA; Saturday, November 30 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 1 at 2 pm at Manchester-Essex High School auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA . Single ticket prices are $50 for adults, $45 for senior citizens age 65 and above, $20 for Students of any age with a valid student id; $5 for youth 12 years old and under. For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit http://www.capeannsymphony.org.
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Gloucester firefighters work on an electrical fire Tuesday on Shore Road. (Courtesy Gloucester Fire Department)
Note: An earlier version of this release mistakenly said that the fire occurred on Wednesday, not Tuesday. GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department extinguished an electrical fire Tuesday on Shore Road. A 911 call at 2:54 p.m. reported a fire at 41 Shore Road. A preliminary investigation determined that a contractor working at the home next door did excavator work affecting underground electrical service at 41 Shore, resulting in a fire in the electrical panel. Two people were inside 41 Shore at the time of the incident. They safely evacuated their home with their pet, and no one was injured. They will be displaced temporarily, until repairs are completed at their home. Chief Smith praised his crews for reacting quickly and keeping the fire in check while waiting for National Grid to turn off power in the area. The fire affected the entire electrical system at 41 Shore, with the plumbing also affected during the incident. “Our crews worked swiftly to avoid a spread of the fire,” Chief Smith said. “Their work prevented the fire from becoming a larger incident.”
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I caught this cruise ship going past my window last night. I meant to look for it when I headed into town later at night, but forgot. I couldn’t see the name, but it seems larger that the ones that usually come into Gloucester. I hope they are all having a nice trip!
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Wednesday: NRBQ with The Goddesses on the stage. There are still some tickets available! NRBQ is kicking off their tour at The Cut with our very own Tony & Samantha Goddess! Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm. Genre: Rock, Pop. TRIVIA! – Come test your smarts with our new bar trivia series. Game starts at 7:30pm. It’s free to play, but we do suggest you make a reservation to secure a table. Trivia will be held EVERY Wednesday night in the restaurant. Thursday: The Gloucester Student Band with Reset Button on the stage. Doors at 5:30pm, show at 6pm. There are still some tickets available – seated and standing available. Come support the next generation of musicians from our city!! Friday: Jungle with William James – This is a FREE DJ Dance Party in the venue! Music from 9pm – midnight. Melodic Techno, Afro House and Prog House. Saturday: Boiler Room with DJ Vito – This is a FREE DJ Dance Party in the venue! Music from 9pm – midnight. House & Top 40. Sunday: Cracker – on the stage. This is a SOLD OUT SHOW. Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm. Vinyl Night in the restaurant. BYO records and we’ll spin them! 4pm – 10pm. This will be a recurring event every Sunday.
Good Morning Gloucester 