Good Morning Gloucester

Getting Busy…

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

Treat yourself today with some of your favorites at Surfside!

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

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➡️ 16” pizzas HALF PRICE

Perfect day for pizza, lobster, or both 😏

Excludes gluten free
Specials not available for online orderingy

Join us for a fun afternoon!

Learn more about Team Fishing for a Cure here: https://give.hdsa.org/fundraiser/6923915

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!

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!

 LEARN MORE

GLOUCESTER, MA – Today the City of Gloucester, together with Biomimicry New England, launched the 400 Trees “Gloucester Cooling Corridors” initiative. 

Mayor Paul Lundberg was joined by arborists, educators, and community members as the City and local nonprofit spoke about kicking off their project to expand the City’s tree canopy and deepen nature-based learning opportunities for youth. The event was moderated by Peter Lawrence, the Executive Director of Biomimicry New England. 

The 400 Trees team highlighted the planting of 50 new trees in the downtown area, which is part of their $97,000 investment in urban forestry that was supported by a State grant as well as community sponsorship. The initiative is designed to enhance climate resilience, improve neighborhood livability, and create greener public spaces throughout the city.

Erin Anastasia-Murphy, Program Director of 400 Trees, outlined the scope and impact of the program, while Education Director Victoria Fortune shared details on a robust lineup of seasonal, nature-based learning opportunities for local elementary and middle school students, including the expansion of “Dirt Club,” an outdoor education program launching at four elementary schools this year.

“The 400 Trees ‘Gloucester Cooling Corridors’ initiative reflects our city’s commitment to building a healthier future.” Said Mayor Lundberg. “By expanding our tree canopy and investing in nature-based education, we are not only improving our neighborhoods today, but also empowering the next generation to be stewards of Gloucester’s environment.”

“We are extremely fortunate to be expanding our tree planting and education programs because of our incredible team of staff, volunteers and partners, supported by a growing group of very generous sponsors.” Said Director Lawrence.

The event concluded with a ceremonial planting of a tree on City Hall grounds led by Tree Director and Arborist Jack Montgomery and Chris Wood, Owner of Heirloom Tree & Shrub Care, LLC.  

—
Mayor Paul Lundberg
City of Gloucester

When it’s deck season and your joint is mobbed with people ordering frozen drinks and weird cocktails. Please for the love of god give your patrons an option off to the side. Bring back the beer cart. Oh there’s 15 deep at the bar waiting for drinks? I’ll just go to the beer cart and grab a beer or a High Noon. No problem easy peasy. Because guess what? I’m not waiting in a line 15 deep and those are liquor sales your joint is missing out on if you don’t give them the easy option.

Turner Seafoods Fish and Chips

4 Smith St Gloucester Ma

Winter’s Toll…

Why choose just one… when you can have it ALL? 😍

🍕 Pizza Deal:

Buy any 18” pizza at regular price & get an 18” cheese pizza for just $5!

(excludes gluten free)

🦞 Bonus Special:

$17.99 + tax Lobster Roll served with chips & pickles

🍦 Sweet Treat:

Half OFF ALL Ice Cream from 3–9 PM!

Perfect time to try some of our specialty & NEW flavors

**Specials do not apply to online orders

April 21, 2026 ~ sam ~

Kids eat free at Minglewood Harborside During Vacation Week.

We joined Mayor Lundberg and Peter Lawrence (Executive Director of Biomimicry New England) and others yesterday morning at City Hall to launch the 400 Trees Cooling Corridors Initiative kickoff. This initiative is an extension of the Gloucester 400 Trees project aiming to plant trees in and around Gloucester especially downtown. In addition, the program partners with the Cape Ann Garden Club and offers learning opportunities for school children through school and YMCA programs; as well as Tree Talks such as the upcoming May 14 event at the Sawyer Free Library featuring Lisa Giersbach. Partners in this include Heirloom Tree & Shrub Care. Speakers at this event included Mayor Lundberg, Peter Lawrence, Erin Anastasia-Murphy, Victoria Fortune, Chris Wood and Jack Montgomery. The program is actively seeking volunteers. If you are interested in more information or to volunteer check out this link: https://www.400treesma.org/ Happy Earth Day!