Maritime fundraiser Tomorrow April 11

Maritime Gloucester is preparing for its 40th (40!) Schooner Festival this year and they need the help of the community by way of a fundraiser scheduled for tomorrow April 11 at the Gloucester House from 5:30-8:30. There will be raffles, entertainment and a light buffet. Did I mention FUN? I mean, GMG Jim and I will be there and hope to see you too. More info and tickets available at this link.

Are you ready? Acting classes start next week! 🎭

Sign up for a memorable April school vacation opportunity at Cape Ann YMCA!

Print and share the flyer or scan the code.

Interesting light after the eclipse

We walked Shore Road with our special glasses and watched the eclipse. It did not disappoint.  After the moon left the sun, the lighting was interesting.

 “Cape Ann Climate Coalition Interfaith Group” to host 3rd Annual Earth Day Gathering at Good Harbor Beach

On Saturday, April 20th at 2:00 p.m., the Cape Ann Climate Coalition Interfaith group welcomes the community to our 3rd Annual Earth Day Gathering at Good Harbor Beach.  The event begins with a beach-clean up.  At 3:00 p.m., Rev. Sue Koehler-Arsenault and members of the group will lead an interfaith ritual.

Inspired by Creation Justice Ministries, a national organization composed of 38 mainline churches, this event will call attention to the issue of plastics in our waterways and beaches.  It is co-sponsored by the Annisquam Village Church, First Congregational Church of Rockport,  First Parish Church Manchester, Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport. 

For more information, please call 978-281-0376.

One Hour at a Time Gang Saturday clean up

Hi peeps:

Hope all is well.  Let’s try this again.

Hope all is well with everyone.

When:                                   Saturday, April 13, 2024

Where:                                 Park at Good Harbor Beach:

Starting down Whitman, Eastern and Barn Lane.

Time:                                     9:00 – 10:00

I can bring the yellow bags.  Please bring gloves and if you have a trash picker please bring.

Thank you all and take care

Donna

 

Needed Color And Sunshine

I am not alone in feeling a little down in the dumps after the recent string of grey, cold, wet days. So I was very happy to see a sunny day with mild temps but I REALLY needed to feast my eyes on some COLOR. We stopped at Gordon Florist and Greenhouses in Ispwich and boy, was that a treat! Color exploding everywhere. Friendly staff, bright and healthy plants–you can’t go wrong.

Grab a Spoon and Enjoy a Delicious Collaboration in celebration of Earth Month!

 ~ SAWYER FREE LIBRARY

Grab a spoon and satisfy your sweet tooth. In case you haven’t seen, the Sawyer Free Library has partnered with Holy Cow Ice Cream Cafe to make Cocoa Berry Chip, a raspberry-infused chocolate ice cream loaded with chocolate chips! Award winning Holy Cow Ice Cream created a new flavor celebrating Earth Month in partnership with the Sawyer Free Library and Cape Ann Climate Coalition

This delicious special chocolate and raspberry-flavored all-natural ice cream treat embodies the organizations’ commitment to environmental advocacy and the understanding that every day is earth day. A portion of sales of this limited time special flavor will support the Cape Ann Climate Coalition’s educational programs. This delicious ice cream be available in pints only at the Gloucester and Peabody locations, so get some while you can!

For more information visit, SawyerFreeLibrary.org 

Not Just the Eclipse — pat morss

The solar eclipse, with 93% totality in Gloucester, claimed the most attention over the last week, but terrestrial life continued on.

You never know what will turn up on a walk – here, a diorama in a tree trunk hollow.
The short scallop season opened April 1st, with local and visiting boats out at all hours.
Shucking and bagging scallops off Eastern Point, as regulated, before landing the catch.
Anne-Lise’s straightforward preparation of this ultra-fresh seafood for dinner.
Speaking of dinner, the deer equally appreciate our fresh, budding spring greens.
And then, yesterday’s eclipse. This is 10% in, when the light starts to get strange.
I couldn’t find my dense gray filter, and the exposure system was overpowered.
So, I improvised with a hole punched in a sheet of paper, held over the telephoto lens.
Remember the pin-hole camera you made in science class? The effect isn’t bad.
Ghoulish afternoon daylight, as the moon reaches our maximum 93% coverage of the sun.

Lonely Surfer at Good Harbor Beach

On Friday it was very gray and misty at Good Harbor Beach.  Saw one surfer out on the waves.

Up and surfing

Wipe out

Event in the Gloucester Meetinghouse, April 13th, Navigating Health Care on Cape Ann

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FREE EVENT: NAVIGATING HEALTHCARE ON CAPE ANN

On Saturday afternoon, April 13th at 1:30pm the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation will host a symposium called Navigating Health Care on Cape Ann. The event is an interactive way for everyone in our community to learn more about how to access services in a variety of situations.

We all have friends or family members who are struggling with health problems, health care insurance, or getting medical appointments.  Knowing whom to call and understanding the available resources in our community can resolve many of these issues or prevent serious illness. A school age child with acute anxiety, an older friend living alone who suddenly feels tired and run-down, a friend who might have an addiction problem, a recent arrival who needs to change their insurance plan and find a primary care doctor—these are just some of the situations that will be addressed in the April 13 symposium.  Hearing news stories about hospital closures, crowded emergency rooms and nursing shortages can also cause worry or confusion.  The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation has invited representatives of the organizations providing health care to our community to make presentations and answer your questions.

Our speakers will include Paul Lundberg (Trustee, AGH/Beverly Hospitals), Dominique Hurley (Gloucester’s Director of Public Health), Margaret Brennan, MPH (President and CEO of North Shore Community Health – Gloucester Family Health Center), and Kimberly Perryman, MMHC, RN, NEA-BC (Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Beverly Hospital), followed by an audience Q&A session.

After a break for refreshments, the second half of the program will offer a panel discussion with real-world scenarios of health and medical care challenges that people often experience in our communities. The panel will be moderated by Dick Prouty, and will include Vivian Argento, MD (Geriatric Medicine), Jason Andree, PharmD (Vice President of Addison Gilbert Hospital), John Morris (President of Beauport Ambulance), Brian Orr, MD (Brian Orr Pediatrics), Amy Kamm, MSW (Director of Mental Health & Social-Emotional Learning in the Gloucester Public Schools) and Stacy Reilly, RN (Nurse Manager at Senior Care, Inc.).  This will be followed by an audience Q&A session facilitated by Karen Bell and Heather Atwood.

The historic Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, is located on the green at 50 Middle Street.  Note: the green is under renovation but our main entrance is open. Please seek parking on the street and in lots nearby. A side entrance with an elevator for persons with disabilities is located at 10 Church Street. The symposium is free and open to the public.  More info at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

________________________________________________

 

SPONSORS OF THE AUTUMN-WINTER-SPRING MEETINGHOUSE SERIES

GUARANTORS: H. Woody Brock and Scobie Ward

PLATINUM: J.J. & Jackie Bell, Karen Bell, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Linzee Coolidge
GOLD: John & Janis Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Susan Gray, Patricia Roach & Robert Martin, Andrew Spindler & Hiram Butler, Nancy Steele
SILVER: Beth Graham & William Schulz, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Institution for Savings, Charles Nazarian, Patricia Poore, Geoffrey Richon, Sandra & John Ronan
BRONZE: Anthony & Dodge CPA, Phillip Cutter
SPECIAL THANKS: Massachusetts Cultural Council, Essex County Community Foundation

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION

The mission of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation (a non-profit founded in 2015) is to preserve the historic building, completed in 1806 for the first Universalist Church in America, as a civic hub, family entertainment venue, and community gathering center.  For more information about the Foundation, a full schedule of upcoming concerts and events, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, please visit: www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

Joey, can you help get word out about two screenings of No Pretty Prayer that’ll happen this Saturday at the Legion?  One screening at 2p, the other at 7p.  Each will be followed by a Q&A. Cash bar at both screenings too.  Poster attached.  All ticket sales go to the Fiesta Committee.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online here.

Maybe I’ll see you there!

Thanks for your help!

Brandon Blatchford (of local Kicked Off The Bus fame) has just released his first original single, “Ocean Song,” through his side project, Brandon Blatchford & The Wannabe Teenagers.

Brandon Blatchford (of local Kicked Off The Bus fame) has just released his first original single, “Ocean Song,” through his side project, Brandon Blatchford & The Wannabe Teenagers. You can stream the new single on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/2yH7wfakuzI0qeAAqOQ0tK?si=75e6f57563aa4017 or on any other streaming music platforms.

The Wannabe Teenagers are composed of local musicians, Trevor Blank, Philip Corey, Joel Favazza, and Christian Palmisano. “Ocean Song” also features KOTB guitarist, Sam Pallazolla, as well as guest backup singers, Lila Barry and Giuseppe Favazza. Brandon continues to play at numerous local venues with Kicked Off The Bus and can be seen across Cape Ann throughout this upcoming spring and summer.

Katy and the Big Snow Free Family Concert! presented by Sawyer Free Library and Cape Ann Symphony at Trinity on Middle Street

Talk about a Read Aloud and then some!

Save the date: April 19, 2024

Location: Trinity 70 Middle St.

“Beloved story by Gloucester’s own Virginia Lee Burton read aloud by local actress Heidi Dallin, and set to music for this ensemble performance.”

News from Sawyer Free Library

Print and share the cheery flyer

Osprey Activity on Lobsta Land Nest

I was very excited to see some activity in the Osprey nest near Lobsta Land through the Osprey Cam provided by Essex Greenbelt (link here). If you follow the notes provided (scroll down for the latest additions), it seems the experts are unclear on which osprey this might be, but it’s very exciting to know they are starting to return to the nesting areas. Keep your eyes peeled! We should expect to see a couple sometime soon. These are screenshots from this morning.