Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Gloucester, MA—Sudbay Automotive has made a charitable donation of $100,000 to Sawyer Free 2025 (visit sawyerfree2025.org), a philanthropic capital campaign to fund a comprehensive renovation, modernization and expansion of Gloucester’s public library building. The donation is earmarked to cover the cost of a Teen Creation Space inside the library’s new addition. 

“We are very pleased to help with a project we know will serve the community and, especially, our youth for decades to come,” said Brad Sudbay, general manager. “We’re lucky to operate a business in such a great community and always appreciate the loyalty of our customers, which makes this possible. We know the Teen Creation Space will be a great addition to the library, and the project as a whole will add so much value and access to technology for the whole community.”

The Sawyer Free 2025 project will preserve the original exterior of Cape Ann’s oldest public library, which will house a fully redesigned interior, and will also double the size of the existing library’s footprint with a 15,000-square foot addition. Sudbay secured one of the multiple donor-naming opportunities available in support of the campaign, and it’s one that fills a large gap in Gloucester’s community fabric. Currently, no public indoor or outdoor space exists in Gloucester that is explicitly devoted to teenage use. Together with the library’s new Teen Room, the Teen Creation Space will deliver more than 2,000 square feet of public space for teenagers across Cape Ann and the North Shore.

“The library is committed to supporting teens as they grow into healthy adults during those years when they are becoming increasingly independent from their families, establishing their own identities and forming groups that set the stage for their adult life,” said Barry Weiner, a retired attorney and the campaign chair for Sawyer Free 2025. “Sudbay Automotive’s gift will directly benefit teens from the first day the new library opens by providing more and better opportunities for them to learn, grow and connect. When a local, multigenerational family business gives back to the people and places it serves, to me that demonstrates a corporate sensibility of which we can all be proud.”

The design principles of Sawyer Free 2025 are grounded in the human experience and an ambition to put people first. The newly renovated and expanded Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library will stand as a model for what a 21st century civic hub can and should be in terms of architecture, accessibility, sustainability, the use of natural resources and light, layouts, lines of sight, air quality and public safety. The end product will exponentially amplify the library’s ability to deliver critical services and outcomes not only for Gloucester, but for communities across Cape Ann and the North Shore as a place of equity, inclusion, connection, creation, compassion, renewal and advancement.

The Sawyer Free 2025 project’s total cost is $28 million, a sum that includes built-in inflation costs through the completion of the project in 2025. The Sawyer Library Foundation, the fundraising arm of the campaign, has already inspired more than $14.56 million in pledged donations and grant awards. The completion of the new facility—featuring a sound studio, a film studio, a digital tech lab and 110-seat community meeting space inside one of the most walkable destinations in the city—will result in a 25-percent increase in annual visitors, a 25-percent increase in the number of public programs offered each month by the library and a 50-percent increase in the number of programs hosted at the library by partner agencies.

The Sudbay Automotive Group has been a proud philanthropic force in the region since 1965. The Sawyer Free 2025 project has also received a pair of major five-figure donations in the past 30 days: A gift of $75,000 from the William & Betty Ellis Family Foundation and a $50,000 pledge from an anonymous donor.

PHOTO: Members of the Sudbay Automotive gather at Sawyer Free Library to mark the occasion of the dealership’s $100,000 contribution to the renovation and expansion of Cape Ann’s oldest public library (sawyerfree2025.org). (l to r) Sawyer Free 2025 Campaign Manager Sarah Oaks, Sawyer Library Foundation Steering Committee member Bill Cuff, Sawyer Free 2025 Campaign Chair Barry Weiner, Sudbay Automotive Owner Don Sudbay Jr., Sudbay Automotive Owner Dave Sudbay, Sudbay Automotive Owner Brad Sudbay and Sudbay Automotive Owner Tim Sullivan.

✓ How do I learn more or contact Sawyer Free 2025?

Visit sawyerfree2025.org

info@sawyerfree2025.org

media@sawyerfree2025.org

Call 978.225.0363 or 978.225.0915

Facebook: Sawyer Free 2025

Instagram: Sawyer Free 2025

YouTube: Sawyer Library Foundation 2025

✓ How Do I Give to Sawyer Free 2025?

• Visit sawyerfree2025.org
• Text to donate: Text “325182” to 1-855-575-7888 and select an amount
• Checks: SF2025, 2 Dale Ave., Gloucester, 01930 (Checks payable to: “Sawyer Library Foundation”)
• Volunteer! Reach out if you want to pitch in at the library or with the capital campaign, either in person or virtually. Help your neighbors, serve your community and share your expertise. No matter what kind of volunteer work you do for us, you are contributing in invaluable ways.

Link here- www.thefrikitikiofgloucester.com

If you buy and shuck your lobsters its cheaper to eat a lobster roll than just about any sub in town. I love it. We are open every day at Captain Joe and Sons if you want to get your lobster fix in for the summer. 95 East Main Street. We open no later than 5 AM and we are here til the last boat comes in with their catch. You can check in with us at 978-283-1454

https://www.facebook.com/boatparadeoflights

I created this slideshow of prices which shows we have lower median rents than Lynn, Peabody and Beverly. I read a ton on Facebook about rent being outrageous in Gloucester as if it were a unique to Gloucester thing but it’s everywhere and Gloucester is a bargain compared to other places in our region.

Evan started having the first hint of symptoms during the Summer of 2021-Fall of 2021. He was diagnosed early 2022. He now has a team of doctors at the Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Mass General Hospital. Evan is now fully dependant on a walker to get around the house and quick errands and a wheelchair for longer outings. He describes his right hand as “basically useless” and his left hand and right leg is getting weaker. If you look closely at his arms you will most likely see the twitching (fasciculations) of his muscles. His legs are very stiff and he experiences clonus and spasticity regularly. Just today, I had to call the fire department as he fell getting out of bed and couldn’t bend his legs to get up. They got him up but it still took over TWO hours for his knees to finally bend.

Evan is now taking multiple medications to help slow the progression of this disease (and more to come). These medications are not cheap. For example, one medication he takes as an injection is $215 a month and not covered by insurance. He is also most likely going to need more equipment, such as motorized wheelchairs or scooters, a hospital or adjustable bed, hoyer lifts and more.

My work has been so supportive and organized this for Evan and I. We are so appreciative of this fundraiser and any help we receive. This is incredibly difficult to deal with and not the life we had imagined for us. If you’d like to donate a raffle or something, let me know and I will pass on the phone number (just didn’t want to post it publicly on here)

-Marie & Evan

Follow Gloucester Schooner Festival Here- https://www.instagram.com/schoonerfestival/

The 38th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival is days away! Are you ready? Plan your experience at www.gloucesterschoonerfestival.com
And your trip at
www.discovergloucester.com

https://www.facebook.com/CapeAnnWhaleWatch

From Cape Ann Whale Watch:

BOAT LIGHT PARADE & FIREWORKS CRUISE! Saturday September 3rd, departing at 7:30pm. Once again, we are the judges boat, which means we are your front row seat to the show! Tickets are $20 & cash only (pick up at our ticket office). DJ Tracey Sousa & a full cash bar. FUN FOR ALL AGES!

Photos from Jackie Bennett

Hi Joey,

on 8/29 @ 6:30pm we are hosting the Luminaries & Love display (Formerly known as the Gloucester Overdose Vigil) at the FlagPole area next to the Cut Bridge on the Boulevard. This is a night to remember community members we have lost to overdose / substance use and a chance to gather in support of the loved ones left behind. For the third year in a row we have moved away from anything that feels like a service and are just creating a beautiful space for people to linger & be together. Participants can walk the 800+ bag luminary display, make new bags, and draw giant chalk hearts on the sidewalk. We hope to Light The Boulevard with Love. City Hall will also be lit purple in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day & in Solidarity of the Luminaries & Love event.

We are asking for donations of canned goods to help weigh down the 800+ bags, The Open Door will be onsite and collected items will be donated to them at the end of the event. We have several community collection sites but so far donations have been low. Items can be dropped at Cape Ann Lanes, The Cape Ann YMCA and GPD, Lobby. Items can also be brought the night of. Any help spreading the word would be much appreciated. Thank you!

With appreciation – Kathy Day

another view…
photo :  trudy clemens

For More info- https://www.facebook.com/boatparadeoflights/