Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

This festive event features over 50 local vendors selling holiday gifts. Stock up on cookies at the Cookie Walk, bid on great Silent Auction items, pick up great gifts at the Scholastic Book Fair, and enjoy a tasty breakfast or lunch at the Winthrop Café.

Children will delight in doing their own holiday shopping with the help of friendly elves. All gifts in this Children’s Secret Shop cost $5 or less.

And, of course, Santa will be on site!

Adults: $2.00 Children/ Seniors: $1.00

Please join us for our 5^th annual Christmas Concert sponsored by the North Shore Christian Men’s Choir featuring the Light House Brass Quintet of Rockport. The free concert will be held at 2:30 PM on Saturday, December 20 at the First Baptist Church, 4 High Street in Rockport. Refreshments will follow.

Cape Ann Artisans 1st Ever Holiday Group Show and Sale

In 2013, the Cape Ann Artisans were invited to show their work together for the first time at the Cape Ann Museum.  The opening and exhibit was one of the most popular ever to be held at the Museum.   Building on that success, the Artisans will go “on the road” again for a first time ever combined Holiday Show.  This time, the destination is Rockport at the Rockport Art Association.

As an extension of the popular “Shop Rockport’s” special evening planned by the merchants for Friday December 5^th, the Artisans will display and sell their wares in the heart of the Rockport Cultural District on Friday evening and continue through Saturday.

“This is a wonderful collaboration between the RAA and Cape Ann Artisans to bring together our audiences and expand gift giving of hand-made artist works in our community,” says Carol Linsky Executive Director of the RAA,  “in fact, many of the artisans represented in this show are also juried artist members of the RAA.”

The majority of Artisans will participate in the show, but not all.  Those whose works are challenging to move around invite the public to contact their individual studios for a visit. 

With winter upon us, the Artisans hope that by moving under one roof, they can make “shopping local” even more convenient for Cape Ann art lovers. 

What you will see: Unique works by 18 Artisans in a variety of media including glass jewelry, sea glass accessories, colagraphs, pottery, painting, photographs, and hand painted silk, stone sculpture, weaving, mosaics, and more! You will also enjoy RAA’s Masterpieces in Miniature small works show.

Details:

• December 5^th 4-9PM, December 6^th 10-3 PM

• Admission is free; snacks provided

• Rockport Art Association, 12 Main Street, Rockport, MA. 

• For further information contact Pam Stratton, Cape Ann Artisans President pamstratton@verizon.net  or 978-546-7582.

Cape Ann Artisans in RAA Show:

Cynthia Curtis, Terry Del Percio-Piemonte, Mike Foley, Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, Elizabeth Harty, David Montgomery

Camilla  MacFadyen, Anni Melancon, Erin O’Sullivan, David Piemonte, Scott Place, Pam Stratton, Ruth Worrall, Beth Williams

Sara Wright, Judy Wright

Sticky Fingers At The DogBar

Hi Joey,  Christina from Sticky Fingers debuted her desserts Monday at the DogBar to rave reviews and empty bowls.  Mary Barker

During the Middle Street Walk on December 13, the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, 10 Church Street, will host a costumed reading of Jay DiPrima’s new play “Mingling of Souls from Sorrow to Joy,” based on the lives and writings of Rev. John Murray and Judith Sargent Murray.
The production features the playwright as John and Kimberlee Cloutier-Blazzard as Judith. Showtime is 1 p.m. and a donation of $5 is suggested.
After the half-hour performance, walk with the actors to the Sargent House Museum. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Gloucester Local Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Famous local cartoonist’s new book- Makes a great Christmas gift

Hi Joey, One of our long time customers came in today and told me about his new book that is on sale on Amazon. Called Pat’s Pa. Phil Bissell is the local Rockport resident that created the famous Pat the Patriot for the New England Patriots. He is not one to self promote so I thought I would take it upon myself. I didn’t know if you’ve ever featured him on Good Morning Gloucester but he is a local celebrity. He will be interviewed soon on WBZ by Steve Burton. I’ll try and send the link to his book anyway. Love your blog.

Thanks Kendra at Double Exposure

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3APhil%20Bissell

Fair offerings

Sheila Maguire submits-

We have starfish, we have signs, we have fish, we have oars! And we have many more interesting items at this years Trinity Church Fair on the corner of Middle and School Streets this Saturday, December 8th. from 9 – 2 PM.

Gift Donations

A Great Gift for the Person who has Everything

Do you need a gift for that hard to buy for person, or the one who has no space for anything,
or just want to do something a bit less commercial?
Make a donation in their name to the Phyllis A Marine Association.
Follow the link below to our Online Store and purchase a gift donation.
You will be contacted shortly after to complete the details of your gift.
Cards may be mailed directly to the recipient or to you.
Shipments will begin December 10th.

Front of Card.
Photo taken by Board Member Mary A. Barker

Gift Donation

GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION LAUNCHES
“HONOR A TEACHER” INITIATIVE

The Gloucester Education Foundation (GEF) has launched a new program that allows parents and guardians of children in the Gloucester Public Schools to thank members of their children’s school community –while at the same time provide support to GEF for innovative offerings in all of Gloucester’s seven public elementary, middle and high schools.
Through GEF’s new “Honor a Teacher” program, individuals can make a donation to GEF in honor of their child’s teacher, learning specialist, school administrators, transportation and food service staff members, aides, or other individual in the school who is making a positive impact on their child’s education. Individuals will receive a letter of commendation notifying them of their designation as an honoree, which can also include a special message directly from the family making the honorary gift. 
    “Honor a Teacher is a tangible way for families to say ‘thank you’ to members of the school community who do so much to bring positive learning experiences to our community’s children,” said GEF President Maggie Rosa.  “It is a great way to recognize teachers around the holidays or at the end of the school year, when parents especially want to express their gratitude for good work on their children’s behalf.”

Funds raised though the Honor a Teacher program will support GEF-sponsored programs in the Gloucester District.  Some of these have included the after-school music program at the elementary and middle schools; funding for the Birdseye-Hammond Laboratory at the O’Maley Innovation Middle School for hands-on study of life science, engineering, mathematics and design; the robotics program at Gloucester High School; new programs utilizing 3-D printers at the High School and O’Maley; funding supplies and equipment in ceramics, digital photography and other arts-related programs, including the Districtwide Arts Festival; elementary school field studies; school theater programs at all of the schools; after-school educational programs, including collaboration with the District on two major 21st Century Community Learning Centers at the High School and O’Maley; the annual Summer Engineering Adventure at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Edgerton Center for middle school students; and many other programs in the arts, literacy and writing, science and technology.

    Those wishing more information about the Honor a Teacher program should contact GEF at (978) 282-5550 or go to GEF’s website at
http://gloucestereducationfoundation.org/honor-a-teacher/.

Linn Parisi submits-

Winners at the Discover Gloucester Holiday & Awards Party Fri. 12/5, Noon at The Gloucester House might possibly be a longtime Downtown shop owner; a creative video Blog; an outstanding cultural Museum; a certain 100 year old Resto; and/or a renaissance woman who shed colorful light on an iconic Gloucester manse! 

All local Tourism folks better attend Friday’s Party to find out who we- and you- will honor! 

$20 per person inclusive, payable at the door; cash bar.

RSVP now to Linn@DiscoverGloucester.com to enjoy a fabulous Luncheon Buffet, festivities & fun!

fyi: Joey and GMG received Discover Gloucester’s 1st ever Award years ago!

Thanks for all you and all the GMG posters do to draw visitors to Gloucester- and, Merry Christmas to all of you!

FREE Adult Education Classes at Wellspring House

 
Registration for FREE adult education classes at Wellspring House in Gloucester is happening now for our winter session.
ú    Classes run January 5th through  February 26th. 
ú    Information session at 302 Essex Avenue on Tuesday, December 30th from 9:30 am – 11:30 am or call us to arrange an appointment and tour.
 
Wellspring House’s Adult Learning Initiative (ALI) is FREE 8-week program that provides classes in Computer Skills, Career Development, English and math for adults interested in passing the high school equivalency test, returning to school, finding a career or a better paying job, and building confidence. Classes are 8:45 a.m. -12:30 p.m., Monday – Friday and study time is 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.
 
Please call the Recruitment & Enrollment Coordinator for more information at (978) 281-3558, ext. 304. Wellspring House is located at 302 Essex Ave., Gloucester, MA. 

FREE transportation is available on Cape Ann.