The fog rolled in yesterday morning and the scenes from the boulevard were pretty spectacular, especially the flags. I also caught the Tuna Hunter coming in and out of the fog bank. Have a happy 4th!
Phase 3 in Reopening Plan Begins Monday July 6!
Gov. Baker announced that most of Massachusetts will move into Phase 3 of the reopening plan starting Monday July 6. Boston is excepted, but those allowed to loosen restrictions and/or restart include gyms, tour buses at half capacity, casinos, fitness centers, museums and cultural venues (all with capacity and distancing restrictions in place as well). None of this loosens our personal mask wearing and social distancing guidelines! We must stay alert. Importantly, phase 3 will not allow bars and and nightclubs to open yet.
Boston Globe coverage can be found at this link. The Massachusetts state website also provides information here.
Here are some snapshots from yesterday’s (July 2 2020) daily update. It was disappointing to see the number of deaths shoot up a bit after the dramatic ZERO day recently so we know we need to keep our guard up even as we are stepping forward. For myself, I cannot wait to get back to my microfilm research at the library!


Land Rover Peabody Tour Pics: Tonno
We had so much fun on our day with the new Land Rover Defender.
If you are interested in the vehicle contact Land Rover Peabody for more info-
Contact Cidalia here
or Warren Waugh here
#RoverPeabody is home to the most remarkable group of off-road enthusiasts & a full line of #Rover services! Proud Member of
Auto Group 978-535-9200
WWW.ROVERPEABODY.COM/









OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, JULY 5TH 12:00 – 1:30PM
34 ROCK BROOK WAY, BOXFORD, MA 01921
OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, July 5th 12:00 – 1:30pm
Although appointments are not necessary, you can call Charleen McCarthy 978-729-1239 or email charleen.mccarthy@evrealestate.com to schedule a time slot.
4 B E D S , 6.5 B A T H S , 7956 S Q . F T .
O F F E R E D A T $ 1, 4 9 5, 0 0…
Let’s make this backyard Oasis yours so you can enjoy your next July 4th BBQ here.
Set on three acres of rolling lawns and woodland in Boxford, this striking brick colonial offers the finest in modern luxury and country living. The elegant and expansive 8,000 s.f. residence has abundant space to suit growing families, home-based businesses, or multi-generational living alike. Two luxurious master suites, one on the first floor and one on the second. Two additional bedroom suites plus a…
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I Recommend Extreme Truck and Auto Repair 100% For Your Auto Repair Needs

Sean Nolan and his team are the most reliable, honest car repair guys I’ve ever dealt with. There are other good shops but I’ve never received the kind of boutique level service I’ve got at Extreme. if you’re having problems trust me on this one, go see Sean.
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930


Light Up The Night Event This Weekend!
The luminArtz Facebook page announces the following scheduled for this weekend (July 3 and 4th)! It sounds like an awesome event, especially since we can’t have fireworks this year…….
Friday and Saturday Night starting at 9:15 luminArtz and Communications, Ink will “Light Up The Night” for a celebration of Independence Day, 4th of July celebration by projecting on the paint factory on Gloucester Harbor. This beautiful display of oceanography with images of fireworks will make this holiday very special and memorable. Ocean Alliance, our partner, has been a gracious host allowing luminArtz and Communications, Ink to transform this iconic building into a work of art for the whole community to experience. We hope you will tell all your friends to wear a mask if you’re viewing from the boulevard or the I4C2 location in Downtown Gloucester. We hope to instill pride in all who live in this great community of Cape Ann. Tune in live here on our Facebook and HAPPY 4th!
Image borrowed from luminArtz Facebook page.

Twilight Over Eastern Point Lighthouse From Gary Dubinsky

Pretty Flowers on Shore Road

Marvelous Dinner at The Studio
We had a wonderful dinner at The Studio on Rocky Neck last night. Lovely evening, half price food, seeing friends, staying masked and distant….it was a great experience. The menu has new and returning items for you to select from. My baked haddock with lobster bisque was absolutely perfect! Jim had the lobster rolls and there was none left to share. I highly recommend you check it out. I don’t know how long the half price food special will last. Call or check their Facebook page for updates.




Dunkin’ donuts dunked plastic straws

Rockport Music presents a Virtual Music Series—Concert View

Rockport Music announces launch of Concert View* virtual series tomorrow, July 2, at 7 pm with a new performance by the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet at the Shalin Liu Performance Center. The series includes a range of artists like renowned cello-piano duo David Finckel and Wu Han, the incomparable bass-baritone Davóne Tines, the spectacular pianist George Li, and more. Dates subject to change.
CONCERT VIEW SERIES
Weekly Virtual Music Series
Fridays at 7 PM (except Parker Quartet on Thursday)
July 2: Parker Quartet
July 10: Stephen Prutsman, piano (artist from home)
July 17: George Li, piano
July 24: Chee-Yun, violin & Henry Kramer, piano
July 31: Grisha Goryachev, guitar
August 7: Davóne Tines, bass-baritone (artist from home)
August 14: Rum Runners String Band
August 21: Mari Martin & the Lucky Boys
August 28: David Finckel, cello & Wu Han, piano
The series will be free to viewers and shared via Facebook, Youtube and Rockport Music’s website. For a full listing and program details, please visit rockportmusic.org or https://rockportmusic.org/concert-window-virtual-series/.

Website: rockportmusic.org | 978.546.7391
*Please note adjustment in series name.
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American Legion Post #98 / Rockport Fundraiser

https://www.facebook.com/leslie.heffron.9
Judith Murray | Sargent House featured in NEW Massachusetts vacation trail #WomenTrailblazers #GloucesterMA #VisitMA

See the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (Mott) July 2020 update below! Look for two FREE and easy business listing ideas, the 2019 Annual Report with all its visitor data, Covid-19 and its impact on the tourism sector, and Gloucester news that Judith Sargent Murray | Sargent House museum will be featured on the Regional Council Historic Women Trailblazers site! Gloucester boasts many women ground breakers.

from MOTT July 2020:

This month, Massachusetts moves from Phase Two to Phase Three of the Commonwealth’s four-phase plan to Reopen Massachusetts. You can stay up to date on the latest Massachusetts news by checking the COVID-19 links below. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or comments.
On behalf of all of us here at MOTT, thank you to the Massachusetts’ travel and tourism community for its resolve, optimism, and creativity as we move forward to brighter days ahead.
Sincerely,
Keiko Matsudo Orrall
Executive Director
Massachusetts Reopening News
- Beginning July 1, the Baker-Polito Administration has new quarantine guidelines for visitors coming to Massachusetts from seven neighboring states, including NY, NJ, CT, ME, NH, RI & VT. See details here.
- MOTT’s website, www.massvacation.com, now has FAQs for visitors coming to Massachusetts.
- On June 28, the Commonwealth embarked on Phase II, Step 2 of the Reopening Massachusetts plan. Find information on when businesses can reopen here.
- Indoor dining is now permitted. For full restaurant guidance, click here.
- State House officials announced additional administrative tax relief measures for local businesses impacted by COVID-19, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. This tax relief includes postponing the collection of regular sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes for small businesses normally due from March through August, so that they will instead be due in September.
International Update
UK journalist, Abigail King, who had previously been hosted on an international FAM trip to Massachusetts, has written a blog on Nantucket, which was shortlisted for The Visit USA 2020 Media Awards. We are so happy to share that Abigail King won in the category of Blogger/Vlogger of the Year Award, with the submission of her beautiful Nantucket article from her visit; Fast forward to 3:41 to hear the award announcement by Visit USA! A sincere thank you to all in Massachusetts who hosted and made Abigail King’s experience in Massachusetts a memorable one. Read Abigail’s piece on Nantucket here.
Industry News

Spirit of Massachusetts
The Regional Tourism Councils (RTC) have created a new micro website to promote Massachusetts as a great place to visit when the time is right. See details here.
Sales Tax Holiday
Massachusetts’ annual Sales Tax Holiday the weekend of August 30-31 offers a good opportunity to support Main Street businesses and the local economy. See FAQs about the Sales Tax Holiday.
State Campgrounds
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation has opened state campgrounds beginning July 1. See details here.
The 2020 Big E Cancelled
The Eastern States Exposition announced that due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s BIG E Fair has been cancelled. Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2021 BIG E Fair: September 17-October 3, 2021, and keep up with the latest from The Big E here.
Massachusetts Celebrates Women Trailblazers
MOTT’s Historic Women Trailblazers digital page celebrates the achievement of women in the Commonwealth. Stay tuned for the release of our digital booklet on the Historic Women Trailblazer’s page in August.
Massport News
Construction work at Logan International Airport this summer will affect traffic patterns at the airport, especially around Terminal B. See details here.
Call for Brochures
Our friends at Simon/Lee Premium Outlets in Lee, MA, invite you to send them one box of brochures or visitor guides for display at their information centers. There is no storage or stocking fee so please send your printed tourism information to: Carolyn Edwards, Area General Manager, Simon/Lee Premium Outlets, 17 Premium Outlets Blvd., Lee, MA 01238. If you would like more information, please contact Carolyn Edwards.
50 Great Things to do Under $50
MOTT’s ’50 Under $50’ special deals page is consistently ranked as one of our Top 5 visited web pages each month. To list a special deal offered by your organization, the offer must be valid for a two-month duration and the admission of $50 must cover: two adults only and/or two adults with two children age 12 and under.
We are currently accepting ’50 Under $50’ offers for August/September/October. Please send your submissions to: Phyllis M. Cahaly.
FREE means FREE!
With so many amazing free things to do in Massachusetts, we created a FREE category listing in our online calendar of events at massvacation.com.
Now, you can add your organization’s cost-free events to MOTT’s year-round calendars. Just click on ‘submit your listing’ on the bottom of the homepage, and follow the prompts.
COVID-19 Resources & News
- For the most up-to-date information on Massachusetts, visit the COVID-19 daily update at mass.gov/covid19-updates
- U.S. Travel COVID-19 Travel Industry Research
- U.S. Travel Industry Guidance for Promoting the Health and Safety of All Travelers
- U.S. Travel CARES Act Relief Resources
- For ongoing perspective on Massachusetts initiatives visit Massitsallhere.com
- For Small Business Administration (SBA) information on Economic Injury Disaster Loan
- Meeting Professionals International Coronavirus Resources
- Webinar Series |Skift
- Weekly Education & Research Video Series | Destination Analysts
- COVID-19 Webinar | Expedia Group Media Solutions
- Webinar series| TravMedia
- Webinar series| Sojourn
- Webinar series| TrekkSoft
By the Numbers
- In calendar year 2019, International visitors to Massachusetts totaled 2.5 million, which was down slightly from 2018.
- Overseas volume to Massachusetts was just under 1.8 million. The top five origin countries were: China (269 k), United Kingdom (247 k), Germany (104 k), Brazil (102 k), and France (101 k). Canadian visitation to Massachusetts has historically been just under 700,000 with the majority of visitors coming from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
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The 2019 Annual Report has been published.
Gloucester Smiles-1479
A Day With The 2020 Land Rover Defender Courtesy Land Rover Peabody @LRPeabody
Thank you to Warren Waugh, Cidalia Schwartz and The Lyon-Waugh Auto group for loaning this gorgeous piece of machinery to us to put through the paces.
Check out the video where we talk about some of the awesome unique features on the new Land Rover Defender:
We covered some of the unique features on the newly released vehicle and hit up some of our favorite local spots- starting out at Caffe Sicilia In Gloucester, Beverly Farms representing with a stop at Engel and Volkers, Manchester we stopped in at Bravo By the Sea, Essex at Great Marsh Brewing, Pauline’s Gifts, a quick stop at the Fisherman’s Memorial Statue and finishing up at Tonno Gloucester!
This is the rare vehicle that exudes both brawn and refined elegance. Equally comfortable in the back country as it is in the urban jungle.
We opted for the urban jungle experience and bopped around to some of our favorite spots that were offering outdoor dining.
What a day! What a vehicle!
If you are interested in the vehicle contact Land Rover Peabody for more info-
Contact Cidalia here
or Warren Waugh here
#RoverPeabody is home to the most remarkable group of off-road enthusiasts & a full line of #Rover services! Proud Member of
Auto Group 978-535-9200
www.roverpeabody.com/
Kite Flying on the Boulevard
Angel Wings Wellness-Take care of your Endocannabinoid system and it will take care of you!
Our bodies consist of many unique physiologic systems whose sole purpose is to maintain an internal balance called homeostasis. We know the pancreas releases insulin to balance glucose levels between the bloodstream and cells. The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormone, which regulates vital bodily functions related to metabolism, body temperature and much more. Simply put, our bodies are working constantly to stay balanced in response to our external environment.
In the quest to understand how THC causes its well-known intoxicating effects, scientists discovered that we have yet another regulatory physiologic system, called the endocannabinoid system or ECS, whose role is to maintain homeostasis of the messages sent between our cells. Further research has shown that sickness, inflammation, and injury will trigger the ECS to take action, working to reset our internal environment back to homeostasis. This system has been described as being protective and necessary for life. What if we could target this system…
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Sawyer Free Library Announces New Library Director
The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library‘s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Library Director. Following an extensive national search, Janet (Jenny) Benedict, MLIS, MA, BJ, will succeed Deborah Kelsey, who is retiring. Ms. Benedict will officially join the Library on Monday, July 6.
Ms. Benedict comes to Sawyer Free Library with diverse work experiences over nearly 25 years, including most recently nine years as the Library Director and CEO of the West Vancouver Memorial Library in British Columbia, where she left a legacy of innovation and cultural excellence.
“I am honored to be joining the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library at this time in its history. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead an organization that is so vitally important to the community it serves. It’s a privilege to build on an established foundation of excellence and plan for the…
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A WALK ON THE BOULEVARD NEVER GETS OLD





There was a dead swan on the beach in Swampscott today.
Photo from Dianne


