Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Dear Joey,

The Friends of the Library is having a membership drive.  It would be great if you could mention it, or let us brag a little about what we do for everyone that uses the library.  Basically we use the membership dues and the Annual Book Sale income to do a whole bunch of “extra” things with a focus on things that make it better for the patrons.  I’ve listed some below and would be glad to talk to you if you have any questions.  Any publicity that might bring us new members would be great.  I’ll attach our form here (it’s at the library too) but people can join online just by going to the library website and the HOW DO I/JOIN THE FRIENDS section.  Thanks. 
Regards,
Carol Kelly
For the Board of the Friends
–Pain in the neck finding a space and paying at a meter just to drop a book off?  The Friends have bought (and it will finally be in place soon) a drop box which you can use from your car. 
–In a hurry and there’s a line at the desk?  The Friends are buying  self-checkout systems for both the Adult and Children’s Rooms. 
— No longer able to get to the library because of age or illness?  Outreach includes home delivery of books and weekly read-alouds and book groups in the nursing homes, staffed and supported by the Friends.
–Museums too expensive but you want to take your kids?  The Friends pay every year for lots of museum passes….the cost of ONE visit to a museum would equal the cost of membership for the year!

— And just because it’s nice….we supply munchies and drinks for the Corporators meeting and the December holiday celebration. 

— Scholarship for a Gloucester resident for whom the library has been important.

— Books too expensive?  The Annual Book Sales offers cheap books AND raises money so we can donate money for new purchases.

— And ….welcoming kits for the youngest library card holders, data input of  genealogy material — soon to be posted online, response to any program request from the staff and much, much more.

–Our new Director has already got exciting new ideas and she WANTS the Friends to be involved and needs their support.

Hello Joey,

For your consideration – would you mind adding this to GMG?  This is a group of young women artists whose work is at Earth’s Treasures on Bearskin Neck in Rockport.  They are having an end of summer gallery opening this Saturday at 6 PM.  Your help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Royce

And thank you for GMG – it’s great! 

~End of Summer~
Gallery Show

Save the date!
Saturday, August 30th
6 pm – 8 pm

Come celebrate the end of the Rockport summer season with us!
We’ve been working hard all year in our beautifully repainted space, and we’re looking forward to sharing our new art with you!  There will be work from several new artists, sparkling cider, and, of course, our fantastic company. 
Most importantly. . .there will be cheese.
~Amelia Leonards, Tessah Stanton, Laura Tejeda, Kate Tortland, Denise Walter~

The Gloucester Area Astronomy Club and Halibut Point State Park are hosting the final Star Party of the 2014 season on Friday September 5, from dusk to 10:30. If there are clouds we’ll try again on Saturday night. Come see close-up views of the moon, bright star clusters, planets and exploded stars in our telescopes. Park in the lot on Gott Avenue and walk up the hill to the Visitor Center. There’s no charge — it’s your sky too!

The Gloucester Area Astronomy Club meets on the second Friday of the month from 8:00-9:30 at the Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street, Lanesville. The public is warmly invited; no special knowledge or equipment is needed. More info on the club is available on our website at http://gaac.us or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/gaacpage. You can also follow us on Twitter, @gaactweet.

Art New England Cover Story:

http://artnewengland.com/ed_columns/out-of-bounds-2014/

Gloucester Times Cover Story:

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/lifestyles/article_31f05105-ef3c-5b7e-89bc-9ce5b84a0f6a.html

Artist response to a controversial element of the show:

This blog was posted on Facebook, as well as the artists blog – my response was:

Greg Lookerse – you are outstanding. An installation piece is meant to be provocative – stimulate thought – and invite a dialogue. This piece accomplished all objectives – it went from a still life form to a performance piece – and all who saw and know the story were moved – well done!  

http://www.greglookerse.com/news/?p=33

Hi Joey, Please post this notice for me, Virginia McKInnon

Gloucester Stroke Club meeting Wednesday, September 3rd 10:30 to 11:30 am

Addison Gilbert Hospital, Logan Room, 298 Washington St. Front door entrance.

Also handicapped accessible from Fisher Lobby and elevator to First Floor.

Please note change in date, day and time. Stroke Survivors and Caretakers are

encouraged to attend. All are welcome. Virginia McKinnon will be retiring  after over

25 years of leading the group with the late Cynthia Asaro. New leader will be

Eileen Consentrino, Stroke Program Manager of Gloucester and Beverly Hospitals

All are welcome to attend. Refreshments.

For more information please call Eileen at 978-922-3000 x 2235

Fall Pottery Classes
Now accepting registrations for the next session:
September 8 – November 1
Come Get Muddy!
Monday adult class: 9:00 a.m. -12:00
Tuesday adult class: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday adult class: 9:00 a.m. -12:00
Wednesday kid’s class: 3:30 –5:00
Thursday adult class: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Friday adult class:  9:00 a.m. -12:00

All levels of experience – beginners always welcome!
Wheel-throwing ~ Hand Building ~ Glazing
Private lessons ~ Independent Study Program ~ Retail Gallery

Cynthia Curtis Pottery
80 Pigeon Hill Street, Rockport,  www.cynthiacurtispottery.com
To register, call 978 546 6186 or email:  info@cynthiacurtispottery.com

Schooner Festival Sunday-

Schedule of Events: Sunday, August, 31, 2014
10:30am-12:00 noon:  Parade of Sail
11:00am-1:30pm: Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light
1:00pm: Start of Mayor’s Race

3:00pm: Departure of the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle

6:00pm-8:00pm: Reception and Awards Ceremony 

Silver Season – 25th Anniversary of The Writer’s Block with John J. Ronan

Premier program to be taped at the Cape Ann Museum

Join Cape Ann TV and Gloucester resident John Ronan to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the award-winning series The Writer’s Block. The anniversary episode will consist of a panel discussion filmed in front of a live audience in the Cape Ann Museum Auditorium on Wednesday, September 3 at 1:30 p.m. This program is free and open to the public.

The Silver Season begins with a panel of distinguished visual and print media professionals talking about the roles of electronic media and print in American Culture. “PIXELS AND PRINT: The Word in an Electronic Age” will be hosted by Mr. Ronan. The panelists will be Ray Lamont, editor of the Gloucester Daily Times, former poet Laureate Rufus Collinson, Erich Archer, Executive Director of Cape Ann TV and a longtime television and film producer, and Sinikka Nogelo, a former Executive Director of Cape Ann TV and a distinguished artist. Daisy Nell and Captain Stan will provide music.

The Writer’s Block with John J. Ronan is one of the oldest, continuously-running public access shows in New England. In 2005, The Writer’s Block was awarded First Prize for an Educational Program Series by the New England Cable Television Association.

The Cape Ann Museum has been in existence since the 1870s, working to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of the area and to help keep it relevant to today’s audiences. More than 20,000 local, national, and international visitors come each year, and more than 9,000 adults, children, and families attend the Museum’s extensive program offerings annually.

Spanning 44,000 square feet, the major cultural institution on Boston’s North Shore also has two historic homes: The White-Ellery House (1710) and the Captain Elias Davis House (1804) as well as two sculpture parks in the heart of Gloucester’s Downtown.

Marriage Proposal During Last Thursday’s Harbor Loop Concert

Hey Joey! I was just on your website and I saw that you were covering the last harbor loop concert of the year last night! My fiancé proposed to on stage during the concert thanks to “What Time Is It, Mr Fox?” and I heard that it was being photographed and filmed for local news. I was wondering if you were one of the people covering it? Please let me know!
Jordan-Leigh
XOXO

Adult Education Classes at Wellspring House

Registration for FREE adult education classes at Wellspring House in Gloucester is happening now for our Fall Session. Classes begin Monday, September 15 and we have an information session at 302 Essex Avenue on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm or call ua to arrange an appointment and tour.

Wellspring House’s Adult Learning Initiative (ALI) provides 8 weeks of FREE classes in Computer Skills, Career Development, English and math for women and men interested in passing the high school equivalency test, returning to school or finding a career. 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 local transportation is available.