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WELLSPRING HOUSE dedicated a vibrant, handcrafted bench on the grounds of its headquarters at 302 Essex Avenue in Gloucester, marking more than thirty years of partnership with BROOKWOOD SCHOOL in Manchester. The bench, a whimsical, colorful work of functional art designed by artist Claudia Paraschiv and built by The Cornerstone Creative, was inspired by student artwork created during the 2024 celebration of the partnership’s 30th anniversary. It was officially unveiled during Brookwood’s annual first-grade spring planting visit last Wednesday, when students and families gathered at Wellspring to tend gardens, connect with the community, and carry forward a tradition that has shaped young lives for a generation.
The bench is dedicated in honor of three Brookwood educators, whose vision and dedication built the partnership from the ground up: Sarah Dawe, Pam Hawes, and Jeff Wilfahrt. Over more than three decades, they wove Wellspring’s values into the fabric of first-grade learning, crafting year-long curricula, organizing meaningful visits, and nurturing in hundreds of young students the understanding that small acts of generosity can bring great joy.
Wellspring’s mission is to inspire families and adults on the North Shore to achieve employment and financial security through stable housing, education, job training, and career readiness. Across the region, too many parents and young adults are doing everything right and still struggling to get ahead – facing rising housing costs, grocery bills, childcare needs, and constant financial uncertainty. Wellspring meets that reality with coordinated, compassionate support. The new bench, installed overlooking the wildflower garden that Brookwood’s young gardeners have helped cultivate season after season, reflects that same spirit: a space that is genuinely welcoming and restorative for every person who visits – families seeking stability, students arriving to take High Schol Equivalency exams, and individuals working to build more secure futures.
“Wellspring House is deeply grateful for this enduring partnership with Brookwood School,” shared Melissa Dimond, Wellspring’s President and Executive Director. “For more than thirty years, Brookwood’s students have brought their creativity, generosity, and care to everything they do here – tending our gardens, contributing to our community, and helping make this a place where people feel truly welcome. This bench is a celebration of that spirit, and a reminder of what is possible when a community decides to show up for one another.”
The Wellspring House–Brookwood School partnership is one of the longest-running community service collaborations on the North Shore, and one of the most hands-on. For more than twenty years, Brookwood’s first-grade classes have visited Wellspring each spring and fall to plant bulbs and flowers, cultivating the wildflower beds that now frame the new bench. Beyond the gardens, students have decorated holiday stockings for children in Wellspring’s family shelter, assembled “leaving baskets” for individuals transitioning into stable housing, and donated toys, art supplies, and holiday meals, each act of generosity carefully shaped by teachers into something children could carry with them long after first grade ended.
“For more than thirty years, Wellspring House has helped our students understand that service is not something separate from learning — it is learning. Generations of Brookwood students have arrived at Wellspring to plant, create, give, and connect, but they have also left with something lasting themselves: empathy, perspective, and a deeper understanding of community. We are profoundly grateful for this enduring partnership and for all that Wellspring has given to our students and families over the years,” said Jon Bartlett, Head of Schools, Brookwood School.
The bench was designed by Claudia Paraschiv of Studioful Design in Salem, MA, a woman-owned social enterprise rooted in participatory design, the belief that the most meaningful spaces are shaped by the people who will inhabit them, making it a natural fit for a project born directly from the imaginations of Brookwood’s students. Through a hands-on workshop, students were invited to draw and share memories of Wellspring House and reflect on what gives them a feeling of home. “The result was the creation of four symbols: a house for Wellspring’s mission, a tulip for the bulbs the children planted, a butterfly for the pollinators, and a heart for love and community,” Claudia shared.
The bench was brought to life by The Cornerstone Creative, a Gloucester-based nonprofit that uses woodworking and craftsmanship as a vehicle for youth mentorship. That both collaborators work at the intersection of making and community is no coincidence: it reflects exactly the values that have defined the Wellspring–Brookwood partnership for thirty years.
Wellspring House fosters and enhances its grounds with a wild mix of trees and perennials, creating colorful, inviting spaces to rest, relax, and restore. The new bench is the newest expression of that commitment – a place to sit, to breathe, and to feel, however briefly, that the world is a generous place.
Visit wellspringhouse.org to learn more about the range of meaningful ways to engage directly with the North Shore community through Wellspring. From hands-on outdoor work to sharing professional expertise to supporting families during the holidays, each opportunity is well-organized, personally rewarding, and connected to the more than 2,000 individuals and families Wellspring serves each year throughout the North Shore and beyond.
Brookwood’s Lindsay Murphy, Sarah Dawe, Jane O’Connor, Jeff Wilfahrt and Pam Hawes with Wellspring’s Melissa Dimond
The Queens take over the Great Hall and present a high-energy, laugh-out-loud evening hosted by one of Boston’s most iconic Queens and featuring three of the region’s top drag performers!
The Gloucester Rotary Club is pleased to announce an exciting Casino Night Fundraiser on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square on Gloucester’s harborfront.
This lively evening will bring the thrill of a casino floor to Gloucester, featuring classic favorites including Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and Texas Hold ’Em Poker. Guests will enjoy an energetic atmosphere filled with friendly competition, entertainment, and community spirit—all while supporting the important work of the Gloucester Rotary Club.
Proceeds from Casino Night will help fund the club’s charitable initiatives, community service projects, and programs that make a meaningful impact both locally and beyond. Through events like this, the Gloucester Rotary continues its mission of “Service Above Self,” supporting causes that strengthen the Gloucester community.
Community members, local businesses, and visitors alike are invited to join in what promises to be a memorable evening of fun, philanthropy, and fellowship. Whether trying your luck at the tables or simply enjoying the atmosphere, every guest will be helping support important community work.
Tickets to the Casino Night are $75 each and include light snacks, a cash bar and $2000 in gaming funds. Tickets may be purchased at BankGloucester at 160 Main Street in downtown Gloucester or online at GloucesterRotary.org. For more information or sponsorship opportunities please contact Rick Doucette at 978-675-5443.
Wellspring House hosted its annual Celesong fundraising event on Friday evening, May 1, 2026, at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, raising over $250,000 in support of its housing, education, job training, and career readiness programs across the North Shore. Nearly 300 guests gathered for an unforgettable evening of music, storytelling, and community, set against a breathtaking sunset over Rockport Harbor.
The night featured a Nashville-style songwriters’ round with nationally acclaimed artists Darrell Scott, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Marcus Hummon – three Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees whose music and storytelling moved the audience throughout the evening. Billy Costa returned as emcee, bringing his signature energy to a live auction that included an exclusive Tim McGraw at Fenway Park package and a custom guitar signed by the night’s featured artists.
“Celesong is a magical night for a powerful purpose,” said Melissa Dimond, President and Executive Director of Wellspring House. “The generosity of this community, and the beauty of the evening, was a powerful reminder of what we are building together and why it matters. Every dollar raised helps ensure we can keep removing barriers and creating pathways to opportunity for the more than 2,000 people who turn to Wellspring each year.”
The funds raised at Celesong 2026 will directly support Wellspring’s work across the North Shore. Wellspring serves residents in 20 cities and towns, with an emphasis on Gloucester, Lynn, Salem, Peabody, and Beverly. Combining workforce development with wraparound housing and stabilization supports, Wellspring helps adults and young people navigate the challenges to completing training, securing viable employment, and earning wages that better align with the true cost of living. As housing, childcare, transportation, and other everyday expenses continue to outpace wages, Wellspring provides longer-term advising, coaching, and resource navigation designed to drive lasting economic mobility – because at Wellspring, every person has a story worth telling, and worth investing in.
“The Celesong event for Wellspring is a winning night for all of us – and the real winners are the families who receive much-needed assistance from the amazing work Wellspring does,” said featured artist Darrell Scott. “It is community helping community – good people helping good people.”
Wellspring House extends its deepest gratitude to the event’s sponsors, board members, volunteers, and guests whose generous support made the evening possible.
To learn more about Wellspring House or to make a gift in support of its work, visit wellspringhouse.org.
Darrell Scott, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Marcus Hummon perform at the Shalin Liu Performance Center during Wellspring House’s benefit Celesong 2026
Backyard Growers is on the hunt for a new Farmers Market Manager for the Backyard Growcery, downtown Gloucester’s farmers market managed by Backyard Growers. The Manager oversees the operations of the Growcery at Burnham’s Field from July 8 – September 30. This role ensures the market is welcoming, well-run, and impactful, with a variety of vendors and offerings.
Responsbilities include:
🍅 on-site market logistics
🥕 managing vendor, customer & partner relationships
🥬 food access programming
🌽 marketing coordination
This role is seasonal and part-time.
As part of the Gloucester Education Foundation and Gloucester Public Schools’ 2026 “Spring into the Arts”, preschool and K-5 artwork is now on display at the Sawyer Free Library. The work will be up in the Matz Gallery and on the second floor through May 14, when the public is invited to a reception from 5-7pm at the library. On May 15, middle and high school work will go up in the Matz Gallery and be on display until May 29. Don’t miss this special exhibition of Gloucester student artists and their creativity, skill, and imagination! Kudos to GPS arts teachers and their partners for the spectacular work they have helped students create this school year.
Stock your garden with beautiful vegetable seedlings at Backyard Growers’ annual Community Seedling Sale. All seedlings are grown by our friends at Cedar Rock Gardens in West Gloucester. Proceeds support Backyard Growers’ work cultivating equitable access to the resources, space & knowledge people need to grow their own food in our community.
Plus, this year’s event will feature an early season pop-up Backyard Growcery, downtown Gloucester’s farmers market. In addition to seedlings, attendees can shop fresh, high-quality produce from local farmers, enjoy prepared foods and live music, join kids’ activities, enter exciting raffles, and celebrate growing food together in community.
Vendors include:
Milky Way Apothecary’s medicinal plants
Garden of Wings pollinator kits
Between Sandwiches
See you at Burnham’s!
Join us this week, through Friday afternoon, as we welcome school-aged children, ages 12 and under, for free with a reserved ticket.
Guests will also be able to view our fourth annual Eric Pape fine art exhibition at the Hammond Castle Museum, featuring a significant collection of pen and ink illustrations by Eric Pape (1870 to 1938).
Flexible Arrival Times for Self-Guided Tours: Experience Hammond Castle Museum at your own pace with our flexible arrival times for Self-Guided Tours! Your ticket grants you entry anytime within the Morning or Afternoon session times, based upon your selection, ensuring you can arrive stress-free and enjoy your visit to the fullest.
Morning Session: 9:00 am – 11:45 am
Afternoon Session: 11:45 am – 2:30 pm
Please note: the last entrance into the Museum is at 2:45 pm sharp. The Museum and Grounds close promptly at 3:30 pm. We recommend planning at least 60 minutes to explore the grounds and interior galleries of the Museum.
Evening program:
5:30 pm–6:00 pm Networking
6:00 pm–6:45 pm Presentation
6:50 pm–7:30 pm Exhibit Tours
Light refreshments will be served.
Join us for a special Presentation and Exhibition Preview introducing our two new Spring and Summer exhibitions: Inside the Faraday Cage: The Science of Things That Aren’t So and A Tale of Two Pianos.
Be among the first to experience these new installations ahead of their public opening. Curatorial Director John Leysath will present on Hammond’s 1951 Faraday cage experiments, while Assistant Curator Donovan Lafontaine offers an introduction to the piano exhibition.
Inside the Faraday Cage features a life-size, non-working replica of the experimental apparatus, inviting guests to step inside and explore Hammond’s investigations into ESP alongside physician and parapsychologist Andrija Puharich and psychic medium Eileen Garrett.
Museum Members and VIP guests enjoy complimentary admission.
A $15 fee applies to the general public. Reservations are required. Space is limited.
Starting a veggie garden for the very first time? Join us in this workshop to learn the basics to set you up for success.
Together, we’ll explore:
🥕 how to pick a location for your vegetable garden
🍅 what to sow directly in your garden vs what to plant as a seedling
🥬 how to handle seedlings
🍓 how to read a seed packet and plant seeds
🌽 how and when to water your garden
🥦 when to harvest and when to remove a plant
and more!
🎟️ Tickets are free for Backyard Growers Program Gardeners (e.g. those who grow food with us in our Community Garden, Backyard Garden, or GrowBag Garden Programs.)
🎟️ General admission tickets are $20. Proceeds from general admissions tickets to our spring gardening workshops are essential to support our work throughout the year connecting communities with equitable access to the resources, knowledge, and space to grow their own food.
If you are a SNAP EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare cardholder, you are eligible for a 50% discount on General Admission to our workshops, thanks to Massachusetts Card to Culture. Please use the following discount codes:
Cape Ann Community 