Category: Good Morning Gloucester

Last chance! Juni Van Dyke exhilarating and transcendent retrospective at the Barrington Art Center, Gordon College, is open until 7pm. 100 works spanning 30+ years by acclaimed American artist we’re lucky to know here on Cape Ann

Posted on by Catherine

Thru April 25, 2026 Juni Van Dyke retrospective, Space for Joy, curated by Wendy Murray

Barrington Center for the Arts Gordon College.

Free and open to the public until 7pm tonight and 9-7 tomorrow, Saturday April 25, 2026

And, yes, I repeat and hope there’s a way for a monumental singular work by Juni as a featured downtown mural on the Rose Baker Senior Center walls.

Last chance! Eric Pape 1920s original book illustrations on view at Hammond Castle

Posted on by Catherine

Closing soon and worth a visit!

Special temporary exhibition features a selection of original pen & ink drawings for 1920s classic reads editions for Arabian Nights, Hans Christian Andersen and more. The show coincides with school vacation week Saturday and Sunday, Apr 25 and 26, 2026. Hammond Castle is a fantastic option for a don’t miss worth the trip visit to share with family and friends of all ages and interests. It’s a sure fire guaranty everyone will find something that stops them in their tracks to wander and wonder. One could hear that all around us on this sunny spring day.

Eric Pape Fantasy Illustrations 2026 marks the 4th in a series of special temporary exhibitions at Hammond Castle in collaboration with Dr. Gregory Conn,

This iteration includes dozens of drawings on loan from the collection of American photographer, Bruce Haley, and several more from the collection of Conn, avid collector and philanthropist who has turned his Eric Pape passion to writing several books and is the go to authority.

Conn wrote a thorough and fond reintroduction to the once-esteemed Gilded Age artist for Illustration Magazine in 2016. While he explored several of Pape’s geographical inspirations—San Francisco, Paris, and Egypt—Gloucester wasn’t the focus. However, he did highlight the Hammond connection and the influential Cape Ann summer staple: the Pape School of Art, run by Eric and his first wife.

Dr. Conn reached out to GMG after seeing our posts about Tablet Rock, President Taft, and the connection between Eric Pape and Cawein in Gloucester [see You can bid on 1909 Taft presidential memorabilia created for Gloucester: Canterbury Pilgrims Pageant and historic house fundraiser at Stage Fort Park welcomed thousands!Sept. 6, 2018 here] Having delved into Pape’s oeuvre for decades, he certainly wouldn’t miss those!

The HarborWalk (2012) also ensured the correct attribution of Pape’s design for Tablet Rock: ..James R. Pringle was designated to write the inscription for the bronze plaque. The execution of the design was by Eric Pape. “The nautical scheme of decorative framework and embellishment was the composite suggestion” of various committees dating as far back as the 1880s.

It’s exciting to see this series come full circle, back to Cape Ann and Hammond Castle.

CITY OF GLOUCESTER HEALTH DEPARTMENT JOINS NOAA GARFO HEALTH & WELLNESS CLINIC

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

On Wednesday, April 22, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) hosted a Health and Wellness Clinic, bringing together federal and local partners to support community health. Gloucester Public Health Department Director Dominique Hurley and Public Health Nurse Cindy Juncker participated in the event, highlighting a range of programs and services available to Gloucester residents.

During the clinic, Hurley and Juncker provided important public health education on key issues affecting the community. They shared guidance on the increasing prevalence of Lyme disease linked to regional deer ticks, outlined how the department monitors emerging health concerns through local water quality data, and discussed ongoing challenges related to coastal water conditions that can impact both public beaches and seafood safety. They also reviewed food safety permitting requirements, including those needed for seasonal events such as summer picnics and cookouts.

In addition to education, the Public Health team delivered direct, hands-on support to attendees. Services included individualized blood pressure screenings, one-on-one health consultations, and distribution of free NARCAN kits and tick removal tools. These efforts reflect Gloucester’s continued commitment to equipping residents with the knowledge and resources they need to stay safe and healthy, particularly as the community heads into the warmer months.

—
Mayor Paul Lundberg
City of Gloucester

Surfside Subs TODAY’S DEALS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS 🔥Friday 4/24

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

🦞 Lobster Roll $17.99 + tax
Served with chips & pickles

🍕 Buy ANY 18” pizza
Get an 18” cheese pizza for just $5

🍕 16” pizzas are HALF PRICE

🦃 Turkey sandwiches & wraps
Served with chips & pickles – HALF PRICE

Excludes gluten free
Not valid on online orders

Salty’s Bagels SAT AND SUN 8 AM TO SELLOUT -1 WHISTLESTOP MALL, ROCKPORT

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

BAGEL OF THE WEEK:
🧀Asiago 🧀 – cheesy inside and out!

SCHMEARS OF THE WEEK:
Honey Rosemary
Hot Honey

PRE-ORDERING:
http://www.hotplate.com/saltysbagels (see link in bio)

Inn at Good Harbor Beach Now Taking Reservations

Posted on by Pat D

Sharing news from the Inn at Good Harbor Beach’s Facebook page. Opening soon on Salt Island Road. Taking reservations now. Check out this link: https://innatgoodharborbeach.com/

Honoring 36 Years of The Writer’s Block with John Ronan

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro


From the John Ronan Collection of the Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives.

GLOUCESTER, MA. (April 2026) — The public is warmly invited to a special program on Saturday May 2, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., celebrating 36 seasons of The Writer’s Block, hosted by John Ronan, and the gift of the program’s archives to the Cape Ann Museum.

Organized by the Cape Ann Museum, the event will take place at the Janet and William Ellery James Center at CAM Green, 13 Poplar Street, Gloucester. Admission is $5 for CAM Members and $10 for non-members. Advance reservations are required and may be made at capeannmuseum.org.  

The program will feature a panel of five past guests of The Writer’s Block, who will join Ronan in reflecting on the show’s legacy and its enduring connection to the Cape Ann literary community.

Since its debut in 1990, The Writer’s Block has welcomed more than 500 guest speakers, including poets, novelists, journalists, and writers of all genres, and occasionally other artists, with ties to greater Cape Ann. Widely recognized as one of the longest-running and most successful public access programs in the country, the series has played a vital role in documenting and celebrating the region’s literary voices. 

In 2025, John Ronan, producer and host of The Writer’s Block, gifted the program’s archives to the Cape Ann Museum. This significant donation ensures the preservation and public accessibility of the series, furthering and advancing the Museum’s commitment to collecting and sharing stories of contemporary Cape Ann.

John Ronan, 2026.

“John Ronan’s generous donation of The Writer’s Block film archives is crucial to the documentation of the diverse literary community of Cape Ann’” said Cassie Anderson, the museum’s Librarian and Archivist. “With over 500 guests, John has created an incredible research tool for anyone interested in the history of writing on Cape Ann. We are excited to share these materials with the public on our online catalog, Quartex.”

A poet, writer, filmmaker, teacher, and journalist, Ronan has been a central figure in Cape Ann’s literary life for decades. He is Professor Emeritus at North Shore Community College and served as the City of Gloucester’s Poet Laureate from 2008 to 2010. His work has been recognized with honors including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Ucross Fellowship, and a Bread Loaf Scholarship. He continues to write and publish poetry, most recently with the release of his latest collection, The Idea of Light, underscoring his ongoing commitment to the literary arts.

Dedicated to fostering a love of poetry in the community, Ronan founded a poetry scholarship at Gloucester High School as well as the city’s annual Poetry without Paper contest. Over the years, many distinguished poets have appeared on The Writer’s Block, including Vincent Ferrini, Rufus Collinson, Jay Featherstone, and Heidi Wakeman. Winners of the Poetry without Paper contest have also been featured on the program, reflecting Ronan’s dedication to nurturing emerging voices

Surfside Subs TODAY’S SPECIALS Thursday 4/23🔥

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Treat yourself today with some of your favorites at Surfside!

🦞 $17.99 Lobster Roll
Served with chips & pickles – fresh, loaded, and absolutely worth it.

🍕 Pizza Deals You Don’t Want to Miss:
➡️ Buy ANY 18” pizza & get an 18” cheese pizza for just $5
➡️ 16” pizzas HALF PRICE

Perfect day for pizza, lobster, or both 😏

Excludes gluten free
Specials not available for online orderingy

A Walk at Halibut Point State Park

Posted on by Nichole S.

It hopefully isn’t lost on anyone how blessed we are to live where we live! One of the possibly unsung heroes of our area is Halibut Point State Park. I took a beautiful walk there yesterday and look forward to going again.

Grand Opening Silver Bear Emporium

Posted on by Pat D

The new Silver Bear Emporium will hold its Grand Opening on Saturday April 25 from 10 am – 4 pm at 242 Main Street in Gloucester. It will be a multi vendor storefront located in a prime area of downtown. I encourage you to check it out and support local businesses. We wish you well!

$1 Million to Protect & Restore Biodiversity

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently awarded$1.1 million to 12 community-led projects that protect and restore biodiversity across Massachusetts. 

Through the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game’s (DFG) Community Biodiversity Grant Program, this will advance a wide range of impactful projects. Partners will build capacity for biodiversity monitoring, habitat stewardship, and restoration, pilot innovative biodiversity-friendly practices for buildings, create new pollinator gardens and urban forests, and expand education and awareness.

Congratulations to the awardees and thank you to all the applicants.

Stay tuned for future funding opportunities!

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