MARCH 17, 2025 ~ SAWYER FREE LIBRARY

Join local authors Robert Fitzgibbons and Wayne Soini at the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, March 27 at 5:30 pm for a riveting discussion on their book, Murder in Rockport, Massachusetts: Terror in a Small Town, which sheds new light on two chilling unsolved murders that shook the small seaside town in the 1930s.

On May 21, 1932, Finnish tailor Arthur Oker was brutally murdered in his shop in Rockport, sending shockwaves through the community. Just over a year later, on Halloween night in 1933, Swedish immigrant and fellow churchgoer Augusta Johnson was slain in her home, deepening the town’s fear and sparking an exhaustive investigation. Authorities searched every house, interviewed 2,500 households, and even enlisted the help of a mystic—yet the crimes remained unsolved.

Through newly uncovered state police archives, Fitzgibbons and Soini reveal long-lost details about the murders, the extensive efforts to solve them, and a surprising suspect who emerged decades later.

Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. For more information, contact jtravers@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Winner gets their choice of one of my Gloucester Apparel Quarter Zips. Second Place gets their choice of Gloucester Apparel Cap

http://Join my 2025 CBS Sports Men’s Tournament Bracket group! Brackets are back and I’ve started a pool for the Men’s Tournament, GMG March Madness , on CBS Sports. Join now before the tournament starts so we can compete all of March Madness! https://picks.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/bracket/pools/kbxw63b2geztmmjwgi4dm===?pool-join-key=6m6y5pewnpl07inx1nekjn8c5mom4czt&ttag=BPM25_and_cbsinvm

From yesterday’s podcast which you can view here

🍗🥓

Cut. Da. Check.

Hi Joey ,

We saw this amazing and beautiful exhibition  at the Cape Ann Museum Green on 13 Poplar Street right off Grant Circle this morning .

The exhibition ends on March 30 . Don’t miss it !

Alice Gardner 

March 14, 2025 by Angel Wings Wellness

Studies have shown individuals with broken bones that have taken CBD experience faster stitching and mending of a fracture as compared to individuals not taking CBD. Bone growth is thought to be one of the potential benefits of this supplement . Ongoing research is being conducted to determine if CBD can contribute to overall improved bone health, which may lead to quicker healing of broken bones and a reduction in the symptomatic side effects associated with Osteoporosis.

I myself experienced this phenomena when I broke my arm and took extra CBD in all forms in the first 8 weeks of the recovery healing and both my Dr and my Physical therapist noticed that I was ahead of the healing process approximately 2 weeks compared to someone with the same injury.

Angel Wings Wellness 12 Rogers Street Gloucester Friday Saturday 11-4 or call 978-985-4592 for an appointment.

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Nature’s Voices Writing Workshop: Communicating Sense of Place through Essay

March 14, 2025 ~ Sawyer Free Library

On Saturday, April 5 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., the Sawyer Free Library, in collaboration with the Gloucester Writers Center, is hosting the final session of Nature’s Voices, a three-part writing workshop designed to help participants step away from daily demands and reconnect with the natural world.

Led by photographer and essayist Mark Thayer, Immersion, Observation, Reflection: Communicating Sense of Place through Essay will guide participants in crafting essays that capture the beauty, complexity, and personal resonance of the environment around them.

Participants will meet at the Gloucester Writers Center located at 126 East Main Street. The session begins with a 30-minute guided outdoor walk, where participants will engage in mindful observation, gathering impressions and inspiration from nature. The group will then return indoors for a 90-minute writing session, with prompts from Mark designed to spark creativity and deepen one’s sense of place. Whether you’re an experienced writer or just beginning, this workshop offers a fresh perspective and invigorating creative exercises.

This free session is open to adults (18+), rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring rain gear if necessary. Pens, notebooks, and an open mind are encouraged!

Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Limited space available. For questions, contact Meg O’Neill at 978-325-5562 or moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

At approximately 8:23 p.m. Friday, March 14, first responders received a call about a fire at Market Basket, 101 Gloucester Crossing Road. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered two separate fires: one in the stockroom, another inside the cardboard compactor. The fires were knocked down by 9 p.m.

The store is now open after passing multiple Health Department and Building Department inspections. It was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected overnight, and any impacted food and packaging has been discarded.

“I am grateful to our capable Fire Department and mutual aid partners for their efficient work last night to bring down this fire. Ensuring our residents have access to safe and quality food remains a top priority, especially given the recent news in our community. I am relieved that the store has quickly met the Health Department’s requirements and is back open,” said Mayor Greg Verga. “I have full confidence in our public safety officials, and I’m grateful that no one was hurt during the incident.”

An investigation into the fire continues, with assistance provided by Gloucester Police and the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office

Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department is battling a two-alarm fire at a local supermarket.

At approximately 8:23 p.m. Friday, March 14, fire crews received a call about a fire at Market Basket, 101 Gloucester Crossing Road.

As of 9 p.m. Friday, the fire has been knocked down, but the Gloucester Fire Department and its mutual aid partners request that people avoid the area as operations continue.

The Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office will be involved in the investigation.

No further details are available at present.