Tax Free Weekend coming

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

The Massachusetts sales tax holiday is back in August. Here’s what to know.

 

Remember it is the 2019 Waterfront Festival this weekend at Stage Fort Park.

Gloucester Waterfront Festival

Name: Gloucester Waterfront Festival
Date: August 17, 2019 – August 18, 2019
Website: http://www.capeannchamber.com
Event Description:
Over 200 booths featuring juried artists and craftsmen from throughout the U.S. will display their unique creations. Live music and delicious food including a Lobster Bake! Family style entertainment free through the day.
Hours are 10am to 6pm each day. Friendly pets on leashes are welcome. Free Admission. (Fee to Park)
On Saturday enjoy a Lobster Bake put on by Ipswich ClamBake, along with beer by Ipswich Ale!
Lobster Bake, $25:

  • Steamed Lobster with drawn butter
  • Steamed Corn on the Cobb
  • Fresh home-made cole slaw
  • Chilled Watermelon Slice

Add one half pound steamed clams with broth and butter, $30.
A La Carte:

  • Lobster with butter:  $21
  • One pound Steamed Clams with broth and butter:  $12

39th Annual Gloucester Waterfront Festival
Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, Massachusetts
August 17 & 18, 2019 Schedule of Events
Saturday, August 17
7:30am to 11am Rotary Club’s Pancake Breakfast
9am to 6pm Festival Opens: Arts, Crafts, Food Booths & Kids Area
9am to 11am Jazz in the Air – Food Court Stage
11am to 3pm Alter Ego – Food Court Stage
3pm to 6pm Two Weeks from Everywhere – Food Court Stage 1pm to 4pm Performance Art – Roaming the Festival
12pm to 6pm Cape Ann Chamber Lobster Bake and Craft Beer Truck Fund Raiser
Sunday, August 18
9am to 5pm Festival Opens: Arts, Crafts, Food Booths & Kids Area
9am to 12pm Jazz in the Air – Food Court Stage
11am to 4pm North Shore Old Car Club over 100 antique/vintage autos 12pm to 5pm Funbucket Band – Food Court Stage 1pm to 4pm Performance Art – Roaming the Festival
• Numerous Artisans will be demonstrating their and craft.
• Dozens of Specialty Food booths will offer samples including herbal dips, jams, jellies, sauces, mustards, maple, honey, oils, vinegars, fudge and much more. • A wide variety of International Foods will be available including traditional American fare, wraps and panini’s, Ice cream, kabobs and seafood. • Several non-profit Agencies will be participating. • Designated Children’s Area with bounce castle, giant inflatable’s, make your-own-craft and more. • Please be sure to visit our Sponsors who help make this wonderful event possible: Engle&Völkers by the Sea, BMW of Peabody, Atlantic Fish and The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

Everybody loves a deal.

And if there’s ever a prime opportunity to scoop one up in Massachusetts — maybe for that new couch or television you’ve been eyeing — that moment is coming soon.

For one weekend in August, the state’s sales tax holiday returns, giving shoppers a chance to make some big-ticket purchases without fretting over the Commonwealth’s usual 6.25 percent cut of the bill.

Here’s everything to know about the two-day, tax-free affair, including when it is and how you can use it.

When is the tax holiday?

This year’s holiday is set for Aug. 17 and 18.

Tomorrow: Sagit Zilberman Song & Dance Around the Planet at Sawyer Children’s

Posted on by Catherine

Reminder! Song & Dance Around the Planet with Sagit Zilberman at Sawyer Free Library part of summer 2019 Universe of Stories special programs

Wedneday August 14th at 10AM

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Healing Navajo Flute Performances by Jonah Littlesunday on Cape Ann and North of Boston

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Karen Pischke BSN, RN's avatarCape Ann Wellness

“Prayer and Love. Nothing and no one is above that. Love is the most powerful thing in the universe.  Add prayer, you create magic.”  — Jonah Littlesunday                                      

Native American flautist, Jonah Littlesunday was nominated in 2017 for three categories at the Native American Music Awards (NAMMYs): Flautist of the Year, Best Male Artist, Record of the Year (for the multi-artist compilation ‘One World Many Voices’). Jonah gained international recognition when he performed ‘Expressions of Love’ at Senator John McCain’s funeral.

Jonah is performing for the first time in New England, offering his riveting, soulful, healing music. Concerts and short performances will be offered North of Boston and on Cape Ann.

Schedule of Concerts:

  • Thursday, August 15.  6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Manchester Community Center. 40 Beach St. Manchester-by-the-sea, MA
  • Friday, August 16…

View original post 128 more words

Good Night Sun

Posted on by Pat D

A very interesting sunset developed last night at Plum Cove. Imagine the sounds of an enthusiastic slow pitch softball game in the background and you have yourself an All American sunset.

Join us every Wednesday and Thursday for our 1606 Live Music Series with local artists from 6-9PM

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hannah Fayne's avatarcapeanneats

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1606 Live Music Series
1606 Restaurant and Bar

Join us every Wednesday and Thursday for our 1606 Live Music Series with local artists from 6-9PM! With full bar bites & dinner menus available, 44 seat bar with lounge, couches, fireplace, and wide screen TV’s, 1606 is a great spot for all to enjoy local live music. There is no cover fee and we also offer complimentary self and valet parking.

Call (978) 282-0008

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The Great Rowing Adventure

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

tedessexshipbuildingorg's avatarCape Ann Community

Join us for the Great Rowing Adventure- the first collaborative rowing program with Lowell’s Boat Shop and the Essex Shipbuilding Museum! The program starts on Thursday, September 12, with a tour of Lowell’s Boat Shop. Then to Plum Island to board the rowing vessels, a Surf Dory built at Lowell’s and two Sharptown row boats built at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. From the Joppa Flats, we will wend our way through the marsh and creeks ending the first day at Steep Hill Beach on the Crane Estate; a delicious meal will be provided in the Pine Grove, where we will camp for the night.

Next morning,  we will get back into the boats to begin the magical journey through Fox Creek into Essex Bay stopping for lunch along the way. By afternoon we will be closing in on the end of our journey as we make our way up the…

View original post 36 more words

BLUE HERON – FIERCEST HUNTER OF THE FROG POND

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

In the span of about ten minutes, fifteen minutes tops, this Little Blue Heron ate a fish and three froglets (froglets are frogs that still have their tadpole tails).

Little Blue Heron eating froglet (note the frog’s tail).

According to Audubon and Cornell’s website, they are scarce breeders on Cape Ann, but I am not so sure about that. Although we are at the northern range of their breeding range, every year we see many first hatch year Little Blue Herons gathering at our local ponds along with other herons and egrets. They are definitely breeding on Cape Ann, despite maps that say otherwise.

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2018/10/02/admiring-the-rarely-seen-little-blue-calico-heron/

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2018/08/13/a-fine-froggy-lunch-for-a-little-blue-heron/

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2018/09/18/a-fine-froggy-dinner-for-a-little-blue-heron/

SNOWBERRY CLEARWINGS MATING ON SUNFLOWERS!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Reader DB sent in this terrific capture of a pair of Snowberry Clearwing Moths mating on her sunflowers.

Another name for the Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis) is Bumblebee Moth. Snowberry Clearwings are in the same family as Hummingbird Clearwing Moths (Hemaris thysbe). Snowberry Moths have yellow and black colors similar to Bumblebees while Hummingbird Clearwings, which are reddish brown and green, look more like Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

If you would like to attract clearwing moths to your garden, plant plenty of nectar-rich flowers that bloom in July especially. And even more importantly, plant the caterpillar food plants. The females deposit their eggs on honeysuckles, viburnums, blueberries, snowberry, and members of the rose family.

Another way to help clearwing moths is to NOT tidy up your garden in the fall. As is the case with so many species of Lepidoptera, and other insects, they overwinter in the leaf litter at the base of plants. Snowberry Clearwing Moths emerge in late spring and early summer from cocoons hidden in leaves.


Snowberry Clearwing Moth

HUNDREDS OF SQUID WASHED ASHORE AT LIGHTHOUSE BEACH IN ANNISQUAM

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Friends Bobbi and Pete Kovner sent in the snapshots from this morning. I didn’t go over to see because Bobbi reported back that the seagulls were eating the squid.

The photos show just a portion of the beach, there were actually much more.

Does anyone have an idea as to why there were so many squid at Lighthouse Beach. Thank you so much for writing if you do!