Good Morning Gloucester

It’s not a song; it’s not a book title….it’s how the birds seemed to line up for us a few days ago on our ride around town. Egrets, herons and unknown small ones all lined up in pairs for the camera on a lovely sunny day. The egrets were checking out the other egrets on Jones Salt Marsh and the herons seemed to be waiting out high tide coming in on the back shore. Probably part of the blessings of fall migration.

When people gave more than one answer I went with teh first one for their vote:

Join the chat – www.facebook.com/Joey GMG

If you subscribe to the GloucesterCast Podcast it will be emailed to you so if you miss it you can still access it through the free email! Link to subscribe here

We will be doing a live drawing for a prize during the podcast so tune in to win!!!!

This app is free and it is a real eye opener as far as what I could potentially blow a ton of calories eating when I could be eating lots of other things throughout the day.

It links with smartwatches, cell phones and it has a ridiculous amount of food options when you go to enter what you’re eating.

I’ve lost 5.4 pounds in 10 days thanks to the accountability and awareness of the foods I’m putting into my body. For me, snacking out of boredom is my number one weight gain fail. Using this app it keeps me on track!

Hey there! You’ve been invited by a friend to join them on Lose It!!

A note from  Joey C:

“I love this app because it helps me stay on track with my goals. Use this link for a free week of Lose It! Premium, and let’s do this together!”

These red rowboats were beautifully posed down near the Long Wharf Landing though they drifted just enough to make it seem they were signaling by Morse Code. Dash, dot, dot, dash. It feels like the beginning of a Dr. Seuss tale: Four Red Rowboats Sitting in the Water……

Contact @charlesfinearts to come take a peek! This grouping of work was almost all created in the last 6 months and focuses on Gloucester’s docks, sea and sky…

Suppertime….

Wellspring Awarded 10-year Cummings Grant

Gloucester nonprofit shares in $20 million in funding 

Gloucester, October 7, 2020 – Wellspring has been awarded just over $300,000 in funding to be spread over 10 years, thanks to the Cummings Foundation’s $20 Million Grant program. One of 30 organizations in Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk counties to receive this long-term commitment, Wellspring is poised to double-down on its purpose to inspire families and individuals on the North Shore to achieve employment and financial security through stable housing, education, job training and career readiness.  

Wellspring recognizes that communities on the North Shore face some of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Wellspring’s continuum of connected educational opportunities makes it possible for program participants to navigate long-term plans, with the support of dedicated staff. From High School Equivalency Testing (HiSET), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), college preparatory courses, specialized job training in health care, to one-to-one career advising and mentoring, Wellspring takes a whole person approach. Staff members ask the question, “What do you want for your future?” and also,“What will stand in the way of you getting there?” Wellspring helps students – who range in age from 17 to 55 – to navigate the barriers of transportation, childcare, internet access, computer equipment, and other details, now more critical than ever during the time of COVID-19, to ensure long-term participation and success.   

In the words of Medelyn G., a Wellspring student and mother of two who has participated in academic courses and career advising since 2017, “Wellspring gave me so much support. They were there to listen to me. It’s taken a long time but I’m only 4 classes away from my degree! I’m almost there and I couldn’t have done it without Wellspring.” In December, Medelyn will graduate from Salem State University with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. 

Being awarded funds from the Cummings $20 Million Grant Program marks the second time Cummings Foundation has supported Wellspring’s emphasis on career pathways. In 2017, Wellspring received a similar grant to strengthen its partnerships with North Shore Community College and launch a program known as WERC (Wellspring Education Resource Collaborative) within Gloucester High School. Each year, Wellspring provides coaching to more than 50 GHS seniors and/or recent high school graduates across Cape Ann to help them make viable plans for post-secondary education, job training, and employment. 

“The North Shore is so fortunate to have nonprofits like Wellspring that are listening to the community and working to meet its needs,” said Cummings Foundation grants manager Christina Berthelsen. “By providing a full decade of support, we hope to alleviate some of the constant fundraising burden, enabling nonprofit staff to spend more time actually providing services.” 

In September 2020, Wellspring and other peer non-profit organizations contending for extended funding made presentations via Zoom to a panel of Cummings Foundation volunteers. These community volunteers selected 19 of the 30 grant winners. The other 11 recipients had been determined in June by Foundation team members. Wellspring’s presentation team of program directors, along with Medelyn G., gave a comprehensive snapshot of Wellspring’s unique and critical role in local Cape Ann and North Shore communities. In the words of Melissa Dimond, President and Executive Director, “Wellspring is designed to serve local residents and families over the long term, to help them fulfil their individual aspirations and needs to become financially secure. We like to say that ‘there is no expiration date’. As long as someone is actively working on their future goals, Wellspring is here for them”. Wellspring supports more than 400 young adult and adult students every year who are striving towards future academic and career goals. 

The complete list of Cummings Foundation grant winners is publicly available atwww.CummingsFoundation.org.