If you don’t care about birds, keep scrolling…..we returned to the Parker River Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport recently for the first time in a while. I was hoping to see some birds and my wish was fulfilled. We watched a number of species (and learned what an Eastern Kingbird is) and a variety of behaviors on that beautiful spring day. It’s well worth the ride though there is an admission fee. We have a senior National Parks pass that we use for this and other adventures along the way (if you are eligible, it’s a no-brainer). For additional photos, please check out Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook link here. You might want to give it a follow!
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31 Graduates – 9 from Gloucester – Complete Intensive Program
Wellspring Housecelebrated the graduation of 31 adults from its Healthcare Office Support Training (HOST) program at a ceremony held at MGB Salem Hospital on Thursday morning. In a milestone first, 100% of enrolled students, across both the full-time day and part-time evening program, received their diplomas, the highest graduation rate for a class this size in program history. The results reflect a banner year for the program overall: over the past year, Wellspring achieved an 89% graduation rate across all HOST cohorts, the highest in a decade, with 85% of graduates securing new employment with higher wages within nine months of completing the program.
The graduates, North Shore adults committed to building better futures for themselves and their families, completed either Wellspring’s 15-week day program or 32-week evening job training program that prepares residents for careers in healthcare office support. As healthcare employers across Massachusetts continue to face significant staffing pressures, Wellspring’s HOST program is helping connect local residents to real career pathways in one of the region’s most in-demand sectors. Graduates have secured positions across a broad range of local employers, from community health centers to major hospital networks.
“Every person who received their certificate today demonstrated something extraordinary, not just completing a rigorous program, but choosing to invest in themselves and their futures while navigating the very real pressures of daily life on the North Shore. That takes courage. What we’ve built here, together with our partners at Salem Hospital and across the region, is proof that when the right support meets the right moment, incredible things happen,” said Melissa Dimond, President and Executive Director, Wellspring House.
A Program With Deep North Shore Roots
What began in 2002 as a single class at Salem Hospital has grown over more than two decades into a comprehensive workforce pipeline. Salem Hospital has been a cornerstone partner throughout, hosting and helping train participants in a model that works for both students and employers alike.
Today, Wellspring’s Job Training team serves 100 adult students and advises each year, with 658 HOST graduates placed in careers across the North Shore and beyond. Licensed as an Occupational Educational School by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, HOST also offers students the opportunity to earn college credits through an articulation agreement with North Shore Community College, providing a recognized credential and a pathway toward continued education.
“At Salem Hospital, we’re truly grateful for partnering with Wellspring and the HOST program. Programs like this not only strengthen the hospital but our entire community. They create opportunity and help create a workforce filled with compassionate people who want to make a difference in the lives of others,” saidKatherine E. Belategui, Nurse Director, Salem Hospital Neuroscience and Orthopedic.
Training That Goes Beyond the Classroom
A unique strength of the HOST program is the depth of its employer partnerships. Wellspring works closely with the Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Lahey health systems, Lynn Community Health Center, Cape Ann Medical Center, Pediatric Associates of Greater Salem, and others, who not only provide internship opportunities but often become direct hiring partners for graduates, allowing students to build professional networks, gain real-world experience, and transition into meaningful healthcare careers with confidence.
The HOST program’s success is further rooted in Wellspring’s integrated approach, combining workforce training and education programs with wraparound housing stability and support services that help participants overcome the barriers that often derail educational progress. For many graduates, the program represents the first realistic pathway to financial security in a region where a family of four must earn more than $121,000 a year just to cover basic needs.
“Our support does not end at graduation. We maintain a strong alumni network and continue helping graduates navigate career growth, continuing education, job transitions, and new opportunities long after they complete the program. Alumni become part of the Wellspring community, “saidMary Beth Tobin, Director of Job Training, Wellspring House.
Wellspring’s Broader Impact
HOST graduation is one milestone in a broader year of impact. Last year, Wellspring served more than 2,000 individuals and families across 20 North Shore cities and towns, with an emphasis on Lynn, Salem, Peabody, Beverly, and Gloucester, with more than 580 receiving intensive, individualized support tailored to their goals. 95% of families in Wellspring’s homelessness prevention program remained stably housed at the 12-month mark.
These outcomes are made possible by donors, partners, and advocates who believe that financial security should be within reach for every North Shore resident.
Gloucester Meetinghouse and Cape Ann Pride present Jessye DeSilva, June 14, 2026
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation and Cape Ann Pride proudly present sensational vocalist Jessye DeSilva and her band on Sunday, June 14, at 3:30pm in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church in celebration of Pride Month.Jessye DeSilva seamlessly blends theatrical pop elements with traditional folk and roots music to form her piano-driven alt-americana sound. Advance tickets (recommended) online with more info at: www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org
Jessye DeSilva infuses hope into songs about religious alienation, mental health struggles, and societal injustice to create a uniquely queer and unholy ruckus. Jessye’s newest album Glitter Up the Dark, produced by Aaron Lee Tasjan, is getting rave reviews. She writes about the album “Aaron and I came up with the idea to write an album that would center the idea of joy, in a broad sense…specifically, the joy of marginalized communities…joy is something you have to fight and work for. Standing strong in the sense of yourself…” Glitter up the Dark is an astonishing and nuanced meditation on community, memory, resistance and survival arriving at a necessary and vital time. To learn more about Jessye, visit: www.jessyedmusic.com
Reviewers give Jessye and her new album high marks:
“…razor sharp lyrics, paired frequently with an almost ethereal vocal…” American Songwriter
“Utterly tender hearted. Warm and sincere. At times, uncomfortably honest…” The Ark of Music
“…important and timely compositions about issues related to identity and empowerment” No Depression
Pride Celebration Concert info: general admission $20, students $5, under 12 free. Our historic Meetinghouse, the home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, is located at the corner of Middle and Church Streets (GPS 50 Middle Street). Parking is available on the green (enter between the granite pillars) and at other locations around the Historic District. The side entrance at 10 Church Street offers an elevator to the main level.
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The new signage on the parking kiosks should help a bit with the confusion we see every day on Main Street. This driver’s signage was recently seen outside our shop also. Not sure if it worked but it was worth a try I think.
ScreenshotScreenshot
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Feather & Wedge in Rockport is generously hosting a Rockport Farmers Market 2026 Kickoff and Fundraiser! Join us Saturday June 6th at F&W (5 Main st Rockport) for yummy appetizers made with ingredients from our vendors and a cash bar which will include a special drink the “Farmer’s Whim” cocktail which will change every week thru the market season using ingredients from our vendors!
Tickets are $35 there are two sessions 12:30-1:45 and 2:00-3:15.
Two adjacent sites: 44 & 54 Commercial Street, Gloucester
The public is invited into the Gloucester Harbor studio and gallery featuring Gordon Massman’s new works, all on scale for this artist who paints large! The studio is something to experience. Paintings hang from the ceilings, cover the high walls and stack around the circumference of the 4,000 sf studio.
The event will include fine catering, drinks, an unveiling of new piece, and special film. Free. Parking on site.
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Get ready for some seriously delicious deals today at Surfside!
🍕 Buy ANY 18″ Pizza & Get an 18″ Cheese Pizza for ONLY $5!
⭐ BONUS SPECIALS ⭐ 🍕 Buy ANY 16″ Pizza & Get a 16″ Cheese Pizza for ONLY $5 🦞 Lobster Roll served with Chips & Pickles – Just $19.99 + tax 🍕 ALL 16″ Pizzas HALF OFF
Whether you’re craving pizza night with the family or a fresh lobster roll by the beach, we’ve got your dinner covered!
*Excludes gluten-free crusts *Pizza specials cannot be combined *Excludes online order
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Please help save the Gloucester High School Cabinet Design Program! The cabinet design program at GHS is more than a class – it’s a pathway to careers, college, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and real-world success! The students learn woodworking and craftsmanship, CAD Design and Engineering principles, CNC programming and manufacturing technology, problem-solving, teamwork, employability skills, and industry-recognized skills that lead directly to careers! This program has inspired students and developed essential life-long, real-world skills for decades. It has given students a place to thrive and learn and grow. To lose such a valued and cherished program would be beyond a shame….it would be a giant disservice to a large, diverse, and important population of students. Please read the flyer below and help in any way that you can. Tuesday, June 9th. City Council Meeting. Show Up, Speak Out. Help Save the Cabinet Design Program.
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We noticed the Cargo building along Union St in Manchester was cordoned off so I stopped to look. There was a representative of the demolition company on hand to offer some details for the planned demolition in the next day or two. This allowed us to go back and check during the actual process. Manchester is experiencing main drag detours this week and last due to this project. I thought it was a genius move by the demolition comapny to have someone on hand to answer questions and provide details. As I understood it, traffic flow will be restored A sometime this week.
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GLOUCESTER, MA – The City of Gloucester is continuing implementation of its Community Wildfire Protection Plan through a new wildfire mitigation initiative led collaboratively by the Gloucester Fire Department and Department of Public Works.
The City recently received a $45,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to support five to six days of mechanical wildfire mitigation assistance focused on improving fire access roads throughout Gloucester.
Beginning Tuesday, May 26, the Gloucester Fire Department and DPW partnered with Mayer Tree Service to clear dead and dried vegetation, remove overgrowth encroaching on access roads, and improve accessibility for emergency response vehicles in areas identified as posing an extreme wildfire risk. This work is designed to ensure that fire apparatus can safely and efficiently access wooded and remote areas in the event of a wildfire emergency.
“These improvements are a critical step in reducing wildfire risk and strengthening emergency access throughout our community,” said Fire Chief Eric Smith. “By proactively addressing hazardous vegetation and improving fire access roads, we are helping protect residents, neighborhoods, and natural resources.”
The project is the first step in directly supporting the goals outlined in Gloucester’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which identifies strategies to reduce wildfire hazards, improve preparedness, and strengthen community resilience. The work is limited due to funding, so the City is actively pursuing additional funding opportunities to continue the process as well as other strategies from the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Residents may notice temporary work activity in targeted areas during the mitigation period. The City appreciates the public’s cooperation as crews complete this important safety work.
Good Morning Gloucester 