Good Morning Gloucester

Couldn’t help but notice this beauty docked at the Paint Factory.

Beach parking this weekend in Gloucester will be open to the public at Stage Fort Park and residents plus a limited number of non residents at Good Harbor Beach and Wingaersheek.  Parking rates and sticker policies remain in effect, though 2019 Gloucester beach stickers will be honored only through the end of July.

Parking restrictions for the upcoming weekends will be announced on the prior Wednesday. Updates will also be posted on Gloucester Beaches. 

Quiet fog at Good Harbor recently:

Another encouraging sign is that the Gloucester Visitors Center at Stage Fort Park is set to reopen this week. This follows reconstruction of the porch/deck that was recently completed. Boy, it’s gorgeous! Wonderful job. Take a walk up there just to admire the view! Center open Thursday through Monday 9-3. Stop by and say hi to the volunteers. Safety protocols in place right alongside local information. Special shout out to Carol Mondello for her efforts to get the place ready and safe for use!!

The MIAA Board of Directors votes unanimously that Fall sports, those approved for participation by DESE, EEA & local school district, will start no earlier than Sept. 14, 2020 with preseason tryouts/practices. Additional guidance from DESE & EEA should be available in early Aug.

Quarry Dance Nine Takes Center Stage:

With our world, our lives and the performing arts as we knew them drastically altered for all of us in unprecedented ways, Windhover is moving forward with the creative impulse which uplifts us.  The arts in this time of crisis, gives us hope, elevates our spirits and helps transcend the difficulties facing us now.

With that idea in mind, we at Windhover have found a way to bring a new and original QUARRY DANCE NINE to all of those who want to experience the art of dance from the comfort of your own home! Here is what is happening:

Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre, the innovative NYC based company which has performed the Quarry Dances for the past eight years, is in residence at Windhover this month bringing two dancers at a time here. Dušan, the choreographer, is currently creating a new and original quarry dance specifically designed for film. Three stunning private quarries on Cape Ann, with the generosity of their respective owners, have been selected to be where the Quarry Dance Nine takes place.  Dušan is busy creating a new work at these three quarries this week. Each section of the dance at each of the three quarries will be filmed by Boston based videographer Anders Johnson, then edited into one dance.  The film will be streamed in mid-to-late August, complete with original music by jazz musician and multi-instrumentalist Russ Gershon.

This video version of the quarry dance lends a new and different perspective to this art form. As an audience member, you will be able to hover over the cliffs, immerse yourself in the quarry waters, and have that bird’s-eye view that the camera can provide.  Duets and solos on these quarry walls and waters are the building blocks of Quarry Dance Nine, as the dancers perform while being safely social distanced. It is a new and original work, and the excitement of performing outdoors is a gift to be shared with you, our audience.

During this time of crisis, the arts have been sadly affected, but my hope is to have Windhover provide a safe refuge for artists of all kinds to be able to create new and original work. Quarry Dance Nine is the first of these endeavors, and more will come. The film of Quarry Dance Nine will have a specific release date in August to be  announced soon.

If you are able to donate to Windhover Performing Arts Center to help support the dancers, musician and filmmaker of  Quarry Dance Nine, please go to the Windhover website here  www.windhover.org and use the DONATE button which links to Paypal. Or alternatively you can send a donation to Windhover, P.O Box 2249. Rockport, Ma. 01966.  Windhover is a 501©3 ORGANIZATION AND ALL DONATIONS ARE FULLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

Thank you for your support. It is greatly appreciated.

We also want to thank Harvard Pilgrim Health Care for their support of Quarry Dance Nine, as well as the Rockport and Gloucester Cultural Councils.

Lisa Hahnz

Executive Director, Lisa Hahn

Windhover Performing Arts Center
PO Box 2249, Rockport, Ma. 01966       phone:  978-546-3611

windhover@verizon.net

An update from the City of Gloucester website:

CITY HALL REOPENING TUESDAY JULY 21:  Gloucester City Hall and the City Hall Annex will reopen to the public on Tuesday, July 21, after closing to the public in March due to COVID-19. Residents are encouraged to continue to conduct city business online where possible or to call ahead for an appointment. Due to staggered staff schedules and limited office occupancy, wait times may be significantly increased for in-person services. Depending on volume, socially distanced queuing may be required outside of the building. Walk-ins are welcome, but those with appointments will be given priority. All visitors will need to check in upon arrival and provide their name, phone number and the department they are visiting. If needed, this information will be used for contact tracing efforts. Visitors will also be asked to use hand sanitizer before proceeding to a department for service.

Additional notifications regarding 2020 beach stickers and Vote by Mail also listed there, so check them out.  Small steps moving forward. Keep up the good work with masks and distancing.