Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

In the early spring, The Whale Center of New England announced it was closing its doors.  Since then, some people have stepped forward and taken over for resigning board members to keep it going.  To be honest, we’ve had a hard time letting the people know we’re operational again and could really use some help with volunteers.  If you could go to the Whale Center of New England’s facebook page and share the link that says we’re looking for volunteers, I would really appreciate it.  You are pretty much the go to guy for what’s around town and I’d be very grateful if you could help out.

Thanks again!

Maren Olson

Former intern of the Whale Center, now board member and believe it or not, commercial lobsterman 🙂

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Rockport, Massachusetts — The Rockport Rotary Club has a new tradition, the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence.  This will be held in Dock Square, Rockport, at 10:00am on July 4th by the Rotary’s official 2012 Town Crier.

The town of Rockport is in its second year of a new tradition. The town has always been known for its’ impressive list of Fourth of July celebrations. Now there is an additional one to add to the Firemen’s Parade and bonfire. It will be a reading of the document that is considered to be the announcement of the birth of the United States of America; the Declaration of Independence. This document, detailing the colonies grievances with the King of England and his government and declaring these colonies now a free nation of United States, will be read to the assembled citizens of Rockport on July 4^th, at 10:00 am in Dock Square. A number of those assembled will be in period costumes and will lead the cheers much like when the document was read to the residents of Sandy Bay Parish in 1776. Copies of the Declaration will be available for those who wish to read along.

The Rotary Club of Rockport is sponsoring this act of civic pride. It is hoped that by doing so, the true meaning of one of the most important American holidays can be fostered and preserved. Please join us for the second annual reading of the document that started it all.

Rockport Rotary Club Reading Of The Declaration Of Independence VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Cynthia Curtis Pottery

Now accepting registrations for the next session:
July 2 – August 25
 

Monday kid’s class with Margie Malley: 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday adult class with Cynthia: 9:00-12:00
Wednesday adult class with Susan Hershey: 6:00– 9:00
Thursday adult class with Cynthia: 6:00-9:00
Friday adult class with Anni Melancon: 9:00-12:00

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

Cynthia Curtis Pottery
80 Pigeon Hill Street, Rockport, www.cynthiacurtispottery.com

The possibility Alliance

On Tuesday, July 26 Ethan Hughes will be presenting his story about the Bicycling Super Heroes and the Possibility Alliance at the Sawyer Free Library from 6:30 PM to 8:PM  in the Friend Room (the bottom floor of the library).
The presentation will be free and open to all ages. Ten years ago a group of forty bicycle riders crossed the country from Seattle to Gloucester dressed as Superheroes doing random acts of kindness and service. The self created superheroes include Compashman, the Golden Rule, Love Ninja, Beatidude, Huggernaught, and Wander Woman.
Ethan Hughes, a Gloucester native ended the ride in Gloucester after a four month 5,500 mile odyssey  which led them to find missing lost white water rafters, building a handicapped ramp at a women’s shelter, growing organic food for inner city homeless families and moving baseball bleachers  in a small mid west town to name a few of the deeds.
Our final good deed  was painting a mural at Wellspring in Gloucester. Ten years later,there are now 700 superheroes in the organization, including a 110 acre headquarters in La Plata, Missouri. The group has crossed 26 states and 6 countries helping out wherever there is a need.
We also sent 45 superheroes to assist in the  clean up after Hurricane Katrina.
    The 110 acre  service and simplicity center known as The Possibility Alliance hosts over 1500 people a year from all over the world and sends hundreds of volunteers to the inner city, in nursing homes, public schools, and other organizations working towards  a healthy society and world. At superhero H. Q. we grow our own organic food, travel by bicycle and horse and build our own homes by hand, and thrive without the use of electricity and petroleum.
( Our super powers come in handy)
We want to see a world where people live out their heart’s callings and wildest dreams.
The presentation will talk about these projects and provide concrete tools for manifesting your vision.
Please come and enjoy a night of laughter, inspiration and possibility.
Optional: Bring your superhero cape.
"With  life as short as a half-taken breath, don’t plan anything but love"    ______ Rumi
*The Gloucester Times did a front page article about the Superhero ride ten years ago. The above is a brief update of what has transpired since that article.
If you would like more information please call 978-879-4909.  We have also appeared in Reader’s Digest, Mother Earth News, N.P.R., and other Media. You can find out more online if you google The Possibility Alliance.
Thank you for your time and energy.  It is an honor to share this journey with my home town!
Sincerely, Ethan Hughes

Chamber makes Group Insurance Rates For Small Business Available To Members

Long-awaited discounts for small businesses are here. The Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE) recently introduced the Chamber Health Coop, a group purchasing program that makes health insurance more affordable for businesses with 1 to 50 full-time employees.

Any small business that belongs to one of the more than 60 participating Chambers of Commerce and other business associations is eligible to join the Chamber Health Coop. The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is among this first wave of organizations to make the program available to its members.

Our members can save hundreds or thousands of dollars a year on their health insurance from Fallon Community Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Health New England, which are each discounting several of their plans. Fallon and Harvard Pilgrim are trimming rates by 3 percent, and Health New England by 5 percent. Business with a maximum of 50 employees who work 30 or more hours a week can now enroll for coverage beginning as soon August.

“The Commonwealth is pleased to support the new Chamber Health Coop through MACCE," said Governor Deval Patrick.  "Small businesses are vital to our continued economic success here in the Commonwealth and we need more innovative programs like the coop to reduce the high costs of health care that inhibit growth and development."

“Chambers have fought for years to lower the cost of health insurance. We are pleased that Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray, and Speaker DeLeo share this aim and helped pave the way for group purchasing cooperatives,” said MACCE President Tom O’Rourke. “The Chamber Health Coop will give businesses one more tool they can use to lower the cost of insurance for themselves and their employees.”

In addition to offering savings on health insurance plans, the Chamber Health Coop provides wellness programs to help employees live healthier lives that in turn may help keep premium costs at bay. The health and wellness offering is free for all covered employees and their families.

The Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives represents the 100+ Chambers of Commerce in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MACCE’s mission is to be an accessible and valuable resource to the chamber professionals serving our state’s communities. MACCE provides a wide-range of resources and opportunities for all chamber professionals and their member businesses.

To learn more, visit www.ChamberHealthCoop.com or contact your certified insurance broker.