Day: March 20, 2025

SPRING!

GLOUCESTER — MATTHEW R. JOHNSON, 35, was charged with two counts each of burning personal property and attempting to burn a building for allegedly setting two separate fires at 101 Gloucester Crossing Road on the night of March 14….

MARCH 19, 2025 ~ SAWYER FREE LIBRARY

New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings

Calling all young poets and aspiring writers! The Sawyer Free Library is thrilled to launch the 2025 Poetry Without Paper contest, continuing its decades-long tradition of inspiring creativity in Gloucester’s youth. Running through April 30, 2025, the competition aligns with the culmination of National Poetry Month—an ideal time for young voices to share their poetry and perspectives. This year’s theme, New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings, invites students to reflect on fresh starts and new possibilities. The theme also echoes an exciting milestone for the Library itself as it prepares to reopen in September in a newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space.

Coordinated by Sawyer Free Library’s Children’s staff in collaboration with renowned poet and former Gloucester Poet Laureate John Ronan and Library Board member Dawn Sarrouf, this beloved annual competition provides a creative platform for students to showcase their talent in a supportive community of writers.

The contest welcomes submissions from children and teens living in Gloucester or attending its schools in three age groups: elementary, middle, and high school. While participants are encouraged to explore the theme “New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings,” poems on any topic are welcome. Poetry submissions may be enhanced with video, images, or music but should be 30 lines or fewer, original, and previously unpublished.

Winners will be selected from three age groups: high school, middle school, and elementary school. First-place winners in all categories will receive $150 Cape Ann gift certificates, second-place winners will receive $100 gift certificates, and third-place winners a $50 gift certificate with Honorable Mention winners presented with a poetry book. All winning poets will receive a certificate, be able to present their poems at an awards ceremony in June, and be invited to appear on an episode of 1623 Studio’s production, The Writer’s Block with John Ronan. Additionally, all winning entries will be on display at and published online by the Library.

Poems must be submitted through the Library website at SawyerFreeLibrary.org from March 1 to April 30. For more information, contact the Children’s Librarian at tbalsan@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Students do not need to be library cardholders to enter the contest, but for those interested, the Sawyer Free Library offers library cards for children of all ages. Starting from birth, anyone who resides or attends school in Gloucester can obtain a Library card for free by applying in person, online, or by mail. For more information, visit the Library at 21 Main Street, online at sawyerfreelibrary.org, or call 978-325-5551.

As spring is right upon our doorstep (at least according to the calendar), I have to admit defeat in my effort to get to each of the Serenitee restaurants over the winter. BUT we did get to stop at one of the newer ones on Railroad Ave in Rowley: Casey J’s. We stopped in for lunch and it was as pleasant as each of our Serenitee experiences has been. They feature BBQ and every table is equipped with its own paper towel roll! Jim ordered the Kitchen Sink and it was jam packed full of pulled pork, waffle fries, baked beans and much more. I had a delicious Reuben. The service was very friendly and efficient. We enjoyed our visit very much and were glad to widen our Serenitee repetoire just a little bit.