Splish Splash…

April 24, 2025 ~ chasnaz

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents Charles Tompkins and son Gregory Tompkins in concert on Saturday evening, May 17th. Charles Tompkins (organ and piano) and Gregory Tompkins (violin) will perform in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. They are a dynamic and talented father and son duo who have performed in venues such as Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, Harvard Memorial Church in Cambridge, MA, and at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC.

Dr. Charles Boyd Tompkins is the Distinguished University Organist and Professor of Music Emeritus at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina, where as a member of the music faculty he taught organ, harpsichord, church music, and music theory from 1986 until his retirement in December 2022. He currently serves as the accompanist for the University’s outstanding choral ensembles (the Furman Singers, Furman Chamber Choir, and Belle Voci Women’s Chorale), directs Furman’s Hartness Organ Recital Series, and plays for academic convocations and weddings. Charles was central to the commission of a Fisk concert organ, completed in 2003, for the Charles E. Daniel Memorial Chapel.

Gregory Tompkins is a versatile violinist who regularly performs in solo, chamber and orchestral settings throughout the United States. Gregory is a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, and serves as principal second violin Opera Theater of Connecticut and Orchestra New England. He is a member of the faculty of Gateway Community College and the Hopkins School in New Haven, CT.

The Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church is located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets (GPS 50 Middle Street) where parking is available on the green. An elevator is available from the side door at 10 Church Street.  Admission for the event is $30 General, $10 Students (all ages), under 12 free.  For advance ticket purchases and more information please visit:  www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Charles Tompkins and Son live in Concert May 17th at 7:30pm

🎉Today’s Specials🎉
🍕Buy any 18” Pizza get an 18” Cheese for $5
🍕Buy any 16” Pizza get a 16” Cheese for $5
🍕Half Off Large Pizzas
🍕 Half Off Calzones
🍔 $4.99 cheeseburgers w/ Chips & Pickles
🦞$17.99+tax Lobster Roll w/Chips & Pickles

excludes gluten free

Gloucester, MA – Fri, April 27, 2025— Cape Ann residents have a new tool to simplify—and dramatically reduce the cost of—vacation-rental bookings. Kate Swanson, long-time software engineer and Gloucester resident has announced the public launch of Haven (www.bookwithhaven.com), a platform that lets rental owners create a fully featured, custom booking website in minutes—no tech skills required and no hefty marketplace fees.

“So many Gloucester hosts rely on repeat guests—families who come every summer, visiting sailors, festivalgoers. Paying 15-20 percent to a big OTA every single year just doesn’t make sense,” said Swanson. “Haven gives owners a direct, professional way to say, ‘Book right here next year, same place, lower price.’”

Key Features

• 10 Minute Site Builder – Enter your address, details, photos, rates; Haven generates a mobile-friendly booking site instantly.
• Secure Payments – Deposits directly to your bank of choice, no more checks in the mail or awkward Venmo requests
• Compatible with Airbnb – Hosts with or without an Airbnb account can use Haven.  Calendars keep bookings in sync between platforms.
• Local Support – Gloucester-based onboarding help for owners who’d like hands-on set-up.

Keeping Dollars on Cape Ann

According to Massachusetts DOR data, Gloucester hosts paid well over a million dollars in OTA fees last year. “If even half of that stayed with small property owners, it would be reinvested right here—on local contractors, restaurants, and shops,” Swanson noted.

About Haven

Founded in 2025, Haven combines user-first design with PCI-compliant payment rails to put booking control back in the hands of independent hosts. The company’s mission is to help communities retain vacation-rental revenue, foster repeat visitation, and reduce reliance on high-fee marketplaces by making direct booking a possibility for every rental owner.

As I expect you know, whale watching is a favorite pasttime of mine so I have been anxiously awaiting the re-opening of our wonderful Cape Ann Whale Watch (Main St) and 7 Seas Whale Watch (Rogers St). While I was waiting for the season to open again, I challenged myself to putting together this mini Lego style model of a humpback whale. I purchased it at Pauline’s Gifts on Essex Ave (also now open for the season). There were over 400 teeny tiny pieces (about 75 leftover at the end of the project). It challenged my patience as you can see here. But I finished it in time to treat myself to a spring whale watch.

The IDRC will be launching the race boats this Saturday April 26th @ 9AM.  Meet us at 28 Gee Ave in Gloucester to help load the boats on trailers and transport to the Heritage Center Harbor Loop.  3 boats to launch.  Should only take an hour or so, and we will be ready for the season.  We will need one more trailer and a few hands to make light work of moving the dories.  Let us know if you can make it, or if you have a truck/trailer available that morning.

See you this Saturday!!

Link to purchase here- https://gloucesterapparel.square.site/product/50-spf-don-t-feed-the-locals-hoodie/74?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false

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Ephemera…

We’re back from our break and open this weekend from 8 – 11 am or sell out at 1 Whistlestop Mall in Rockport. 😊

Bagel of the week: Hot Stuff – Jalapeño Cheddar 🌶️🌶️🌶️🧀🧀🧀

bagels #schmears #capeann #Rockport #Gloucester #Essex #manchesterbythesea #goodmorninggloucester

THE 19th

ANNUAL

TEXAS HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT

Saturday, April 26TH

Who wants a chance at winning a new Yeti Hopper M20 Backpack Cooler filled with summer essentials and scratch tickets! Prize is worth over $500!!!

$10 per entry or 3 for $25! Proceeds will go to Team Smitty and their efforts to help support local families dealing with cancer or similar hardships.

Venmo can be sent to Meagan Marrone @Meagan-Marrone (Venmo picture attached, please include name and phone number-Venmo is private, only she will see it) or cash to Dan Smith, Chip Smith, Jim Smith, or Steve Smith.

Winner will be drawn on Friday, April 25th, the day before the 19^th Annual Team Smitty Texas Hold’Em Tournament at the St. Peter’s Club (details on the flyer).

 

About Team Smitty and our tournament:

 

Team Smitty is a group of people comprised of Mike Smith’s family, friends, and people that Mike had touched over the years.  Our goal is to make sure that Mike’s memory and spirit lives on.  We are also dedicated to helping others in the same way that our community helped Mike, and all of us, during his times of struggle.

 

Mike was born in Gloucester, one of 7 children.  He grew up in Gloucester, graduated from Gloucester High School in 1987 and became a Gloucester Fire Fighter.  Mike first battled cancer when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2000 at the age of 31.  After a year of radiation and chemo, he was declared in remission.  He went back to work at the fire station and continued to appreciate life and all its precious aspects.

 

Ten years later, in March 2012, Mike was diagnosed with cancer for a 2^ndtime. Mike faced many obstacles and challenges throughout his 4 month journey.  It was during this time that Mike, and all of us, witnessed the Cape Ann community offer so much kindness, support and generosity.  We will be forever grateful for the outpouring of love, emotional support, and the generous donations from those around us.  Despite his courageous fight, Mike lost this battle with cancer; he passed peacefully at Mass General Hospital on Saturday, July 7th 2012.

 

Ironically, before Mike was diagnosed for the first time, he formed Team Red Barron for the Relay For Life as a tribute to his beloved friend Chucky Pratt, who had passed of cancer years prior.  He also started an annual Texas Hold’Em Tournament to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.  Mike ran this tournament until his passing in 2012.

 

Since Mike’s passing, Team Smitty has carried on the tradition that Mike started in what has now become the Team Smitty Texas Hold’Em Tourney.  The tournament is a fun night that brings friends together, new and old, for a few laughs and a chance to share in Mike’s memory, while raising money to assist those in need.  Team Smitty now allocates many of the funds raised to assist people in our community who are going through their own fight with this horrible disease or other family hardships.  

 

We were blessed to have such a great support system during our time of need.  In continuing the work Mike started, and in appreciation for all that was given to Mike and our family during his battle, we wish to be there in support of others in the community in their time of need. 

🎉Today’s Specials🎉
🍕Buy any 18” Pizza get an 18” Cheese for $5
🍕Buy any 16” Pizza get a 16” Cheese for $5
🍕Half Off Large Pizzas
🍕 Half Off Calzones
🍔 $4.99 cheeseburgers w/ Chips & Pickles

excludes gluten free

We finally got ourselves to the Manchester Historical Association (Union St Manchester) for the Spring Art Show. This weekend is the last weekend for the show so try to get over there if you can. The show features many of the local artists you enjoy including our very own Donna Ardizzoni. It’s free and open today Friday 10-3 and Saturday 11-4. Get there before it’s gone!

All the happy tears for Will Campbell 🥹 @Patriots

📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/y0V1WeAdwW

— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2025

Link to purchase here- https://gloucesterapparel.square.site/product/50-spf-don-t-feed-the-locals-hoodie/74?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false