Photo Cat Ryan

The Little River Stream Naturalization and Restoration  Project is moving toward completion. Started in August of this year, the project, located on the westerly side of Essex Avenue where it crosses over an inlet to the Little River, will remove the remains of a decaying concrete fish ladder and an unused water treatment lagoon installed in 1969.

The fish ladder was intended to assist alewife, smelt and other species to reach Lily Pond, their historic spawning ground. However, over the years the decay of the concrete ladder had become more of a hindrance than a help. The project will restore the natural flow of the stream, eliminate the related unused lagoon and provide a more natural upstream route for  spawning fish. Reduction in future operational and maintenance expenses for the system is expected.

The City of Gloucester  partnered with the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the development and implementation of the project.

CALL FOR ENTRIES
“For the Birds”

A multi-media, juried exhibition and fundraiser inspired by everything Avian

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) invites New England artists to submit work to “For the Birds” a six-week exhibition at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. A portion of all sales will be donated to support Mass Audubon’s mission “to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife”.

• Juror: Amy T Montague, Director, Museum of American Bird Art at Mass Audubon
• Exhibition Dates: January 28-March 6, 2016
• Gallery Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 12:00-4:00 PM
• Opening Reception: Sunday, January 31, 2:00-4:00 PM

The Call: The RNAC seeks traditional, decorative and expressive works of art and craft inspired by everything avian including paintings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, decoys, birdhouses, jewelry, cards and more.

About the Juror: Amy Montague is the director of the Museum of American Bird Art at Mass Audubon, the only museum dedicated to art inspired by the beauty, science and wonder of birds. In her 23 years at Mass Audubon, Amy has stewarded and grown the organization’s broad and eclectic art collection, which embraces fine art, folk art, sporting art, illustration and more. She has curated more than 30 exhibitions exploring the intersection of art and nature, focusing on artists as varied as John James Audubon and Andy Warhol. She has twice been a juror for the internationally renowned Birds in Art exhibition at the Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin.

Continue reading “Rocky Neck Art Colony CALL FOR ENTRIES “For the Birds”” →

Find me at http://www.ardizzoniphotography.com

Hi Joey, something’s been brewing since last spring and I am so excited to share this happy announcement.

Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library, Rockport Public Library, Manchester-By-The-Sea Public Library, and TOHP Burnham Library Essex are pleased to announce and launch a yearlong innovative community reading program in 2016 CAPE ANN READS. The libraries are coordinating with several regional organizations including Cape Ann Museum (CAM), Cape Ann Art Haven, Cape Ann YMCA, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Local Cultural Councils, area schools, cultural districts,  Pathways for Children, and First R Foundation. 

Throughout 2016 the four Cape Ann public libraries will coordinate special events PLUS administer a contest for original picture book submissions.

One new book. Four communities. Everyone reads.

The 2016 Public Call for the first ever Cape Ann Creates for CAPE ANN READS children’s picture book contest will be open to Cape Ann residents, all ages, students attending school on Cape Ann, and people who work on Cape Ann.  People can collaborate, too. Look for the announcement for the application and guidelines coming in the New Year. The Cape Ann Museum (CAM) is hosting the CAPE ANN READS kickoff event for the yearlong collaborative initiative on Saturday, January 30, 2016. Staff from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art will be at CAM to lead a series of picture book-themed workshops for adults and children throughout that day.

New logos were created for CAPE ANN READS by young artists with Kyra Moyer and staff at Cape Ann Art Haven’s Teen Artist Guild (TAG) art center, working with Kate LaChance from the Cape Ann Museum.

Hire these HIVE/TAG kids—but wait until after this week. This week it’s all Cape Ann Art Haven buoy painting for the lobster trap tree at the art center.

For more information about CAPE ANN READS contact Deborah Kelsey, Director, Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library, (978)281-9763 x23, kelsey@sawyerfreelibrary.org.  The 3 other Library Directors are:  Deborah French, Library Director, Essex, MA; Sarah Collins, Library Director, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA; and Cindy Grove, Library Director, Rockport, MA.

‘Waiting for the storm to pass.’ Seems a bit of an analogy for what’s happening in the world today. I have seen amazing storms come down the Annisquam River toward Ipswich Bay. This summer I was at Lobstaland and lucky to catch this storm coming up the river and over the marsh. Last Sunday I was at Lobstaland for their final night of the 2015 season. Looking forward to next year’s menu, along with great views of the marsh. Louisa May Alcott said – “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”     Karen 

Rockport Writer debuts her new Novel.

Betty Ann St.Germain, a long time resident of Rockport, has published her debut novel entitled Sabbatical. It is the story of a middle aged college professor from Boston who must travel to Ireland to settle her mother’s estate and learns that things are much different than she ever expected. After discovering a letter that her mother wrote to her before her death, she is forced to reexamine everything as more shocking truths about her family and her home life are brought to light. Soon, a simple sabbatical paves the way for life-changing adventures and for the very first time in her life, experiences true mindfulness and joy.

St.Germain said she started the book 11 years ago while taking a writing course at Rockport High School. Her teacher encouraged and inspired her to write the book. St. Germain’s many trips to Ireland enriched her knowledge of the people, landscapes and culture which added greatly to the book’s development.

St.Germain spends her time writing in the seaside village of Rockport, Massachusetts. An Irish-American author, she is inspired by her family heritage- and the subtle and not-so-subtle messages passed down through generations. Sabbatical is her debut novel.

The author is scheduled to do a reading at Toad Hall Bookstore on Thursday, January 14 at 3pm.

Autographed copies of the book are available on her web site www.sabbaticalthenovel.com also at Toad Hall Books in Rockport or on-line at Amazon.com and it is also available in Kindle edition.

Next 8-week ALI 1 Session Starts Jan. 4th!
For more information, please call us at (978) 281-3558 x322.

SeniorCare Hosts Free Medicare Counseling

SeniorCare now hosts free SHINE counseling sessions for Medicare members and prospective members. SHINE Counselors offer free, unbiased information about the many choices to be made when enrolling or re-enrolling in Medicare. Anyone interested in reserving a 45-minute session should contact 978-281-1750 (TTY 978-282-1836). All counseling sessions are held at SeniorCare’s offices at 49 Blackburn Center in Gloucester, MA.

SHINE, Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone, provides free health insurance information, counseling, and assistance to Massachusetts residents with Medicare and their caregivers. SHINE is administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in coordination with local agencies.

SeniorCare, a Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point, with offices in Beverly and Gloucester, is a regional consumer-centered organization that provides and coordinates services to elders and others, enabling them to live independently at home or in a setting of their choice while remaining part of the community. SeniorCare can be reached at 978-281-1750 or 1-866-927-1050 (TTY 978-282-1836). SeniorCare is also a federally designated Area Agency on Aging, providing services such as Meals on Wheels and Community Dining Sites. SeniorCare’s service area includes: Beverly, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.