A place where non-profit Cape Ann organizations can post press releases directly and then those press releases will be reposted to http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com . This is not an advertising space for businesses, fitness or wellness organizations, or music listings.
The web address will be http://www.capeanncommunity.com
To have your community organization news posted here, contact Joey C who will grant access for you to post directly.
Tickets for the third annual Thrift the Runway Fashion Show by The Open Door and its thrift store, Second Glance, are on sale now.
Thrift the Runway takes place Sunday, September 13 at The Cut, 155 Main Street, Gloucester.
Get tickets: https://thecutlive.com/pages/events/thrift-the-runway
Part fashion show, part community celebration, and all for a good cause, Thrift the Runway raises funds to support local hunger relief efforts while showcasing the creativity and generosity of our community.
Held during both Hunger Action Month and New York Fashion Week, Thrift the Runway proves that great style can make a real difference.
Every outfit featured in the show is created using clothing and accessories donated to Second Glance. This year’s event will feature more than 100 looks styled entirely from thrifted finds, modeled by volunteers from across the community.
“Thrift the Runway is a reminder of what this community makes possible when we come together,” said Julie LaFontaine, President & CEO of The Open Door. “Every donated jacket, dress or pair of shoes that crosses the stage began as an act of generosity that will help bring good food to local people and families. It reflects the heart of The Open Door’s mission.”
The event comes at a critical moment for local hunger-relief. Demand for food assistance continues to grow, with The Open Door seeing a 36% increase in requests for help last year following significant increases in the years before.
What makes Thrift the Runway unique is that nearly everything involved in the production has been donated by members of the community.
“Everything you see on stage, from the clothing to the stage décor, was donated to Second Glance by someone in our community,” said Susan Zwart, Director of Thrift Operations. “That is what makes Thrift the Runway so special. It’s made possible by a community that understands our mission and is excited to join in.”
For Kayla Mayo, who leads the fashion and styling efforts for the event, the show represents the perfect blend of sustainability and service.
“The whole show feels like magic to me”, said Kayla Mayo, The Open Door Thrift the Runway Fashion Lead. “We have volunteer models wearing entirely thrifted outfits walking across the stage in a fashion show to feed people. It’s a beautiful intersection of service and sustainability that is so central to Second Glance and The Open Door.”
A special highlight of this year’s event will be a finale featuring original upcycled looks created by students and alumni from Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Designers Asia Kepka, Sabra George, Prachi Mahurkar, and Sylvie Djian transformed clothing, fabric, and jewelry sourced from Second Glance into streetwear-inspired designs created exclusively for the show.
“I can’t imagine a better cause to put my creativity into than feeding people and The Open Door does just that. There were times in my life when I went to bed hungry,” said Asia Kepka, who led the group of MassArt designers and also volunteered in the first two Thrift the Runway shows to style and design. “Each time I participate in designing and styling for the show, I learn something new and I feel like I’m part of a unique community.”
This year’s lineup of volunteer models includes a number of recognizable community leaders, including:
When you attend Thrift the Runway, you’re not just enjoying a fun night out. You’re helping ensure that local individuals and families have access to the food they need while celebrating the creativity, sustainability, and generosity that make our community so special. Learn more: FOODPANTRY.org
Please join us on Thursday, September 24th, as we welcome Mandë Holford, Ph.D., for our annual Byrnes Lecture!
Dr. Holford will highlight how venomous marine animals are inspiring the next generation of scientific and medical breakthroughs, and how these discoveries are changing the way we think about the connection between people and the natural world.
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Doors for this event open at 5:30pm, with the lecture beginning promptly at 6:00pm
Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, MA
Click here link in our bio for more information and to register! This is a free event.
This is GMGI’s Annual Byrnes Lecture, honoring longtime GMGI and community supporter John Byrnes. As a resident of Cape Ann for over 20 years, he was an integral part of the community, providing advice and generous philanthropic support to GMGI and many other organizations.
Don’t miss the annual Gloucester Rotary Comedy Night, featuring Paul Gilligan, Kelly MacFarland, Dan Donahue, and Dave Rattigan on Thursday, Sept 3, 2026, at Cruiseport Gloucester, located at 6 Rowe Square on Gloucester’s harborfront. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.
Don’t miss this evening of fun and laughter! Tickets are $35 each. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit local and international programs of the Gloucester Rotary. For information, contact Mark Vadala (978-490-0939).
(This event always sells out!!)
Wellspring House is pleased to announce two additions to its Board of Directors: Leo Zerilli of Gloucester, MA, who rejoins the board following his return to the North Shore, and Luke McCabe, Vice President, Senior Business Banking Relationship Manager at Bank of America.
Wellspring House’s mission is to inspire families, adults, and young adults across the North Shore to achieve employment and financial security through stable housing, education, job training, and career readiness. This year, Wellspring served more than 2,000 individuals, including families, young adults, and adults, across more than 20 cities and towns on the North Shore.
“Luke and Leo join our board at an important moment for Wellspring House, as housing costs and financial pressure continue to rise for families across the North Shore and beyond,” said Joan Quinlan, Chair of the Wellspring House Board of Directors. “Luke and Leo bring exactly the kind of financial discipline, governance experience, and community commitment we need as we continue our work helping our neighbors build economic stability through stable housing, education, and employment – and a lasting foundation for self-sufficiency. We are thrilled to welcome them to the board.”
Leo Zerilli is an independent board leader with nearly 30 years of leadership experience in global wealth and investment management. He is the former President & CEO of Manulife Investment Management (Canada), where he held full P&L accountability across the firm’s investment, wealth management, and advisory businesses in Canada and the United States. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Investment Officer of the John Hancock Group of Funds.
Zerilli has extensive board experience across public, private, and nonprofit organizations in North America, Europe, and offshore jurisdictions, including service as Chair of Manulife Group of Funds (Canada) and as a director of John Hancock Investment Advisors. He is a seasoned audit committee chair and holds an NACD Directorship Certification, along with an MBA, magna cum laude, from Boston University and a BA from Colgate University.
Zerilli previously served on the Wellspring House Board from 2019 to 2022, before relocating for his role leading Manulife Investment Management in Canada. Having recently returned to Gloucester, Massachusetts, he is rejoining the board and resuming his commitment to the North Shore community.
“I am thrilled to rejoin the Board of Directors at Wellspring House after a few years away,” said Zerilli. “Wellspring’s mission to foster job training, education, skill development, and economic independence addresses a root cause of hardship and remains vital to the strength of our community. It is a privilege to return at this pivotal moment, and I look forward to working alongside such dedicated leaders to advance our shared goals.”
Wellspring’s board also welcomes Luke McCabe, Vice President, Senior Business Banking Relationship Manager at Bank of America, where he works with business owners across Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire to strengthen cash flow, support growth, and build long-term financial stability — coverage that spans much of the North Shore community Wellspring serves. He began his banking career in 2017 with J.P. Morgan in New York City before joining Bank of America’s Middle Market Regional Credit team as an underwriter in 2021. He holds the CFA designation.
Before entering financial services, McCabe served on active duty as an officer in a U.S. Army paratrooper unit, an experience that continues to shape his approach to leadership, teamwork, and service. He lives in Kensington, NH, with his wife and their two young sons.
“I am honored to join the Board of Wellspring House and look forward to supporting its mission,” said McCabe. “Wellspring House has built an incredible reputation for helping individuals and families achieve housing stability and long-term self-sufficiency, and I am excited to contribute to that important work.”
McCabe and Zerilli join Wellspring House’s Board of Directors as the organization continues its work providing housing, education, and stability to individuals and families throughout the North Shore.
Wellspring House is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, whose members serve staggered three-year terms and contribute their time, expertise, and professional skills to guide the organization’s reach across the region. Board members are drawn from Gloucester, Cape Ann, and the broader North Shore, reflecting Wellspring’s long-standing commitment to community-rooted governance.
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About Wellspring House:
For over 45 years, Wellspring House has been inspiring families, adults, and young adults throughout the North Shore to achieve employment and financial security through comprehensive, integrated programs in education, job training, career readiness, and housing stability. This year, Wellspring worked with more than 2,000 individuals across 20+ cities and towns, helping them build living-wage careers and safer, more secure futures.
To learn more about this critical, life-changing work or how to support it, visit wellspringhouse.org.
The SAVVY Caregiver is a free 6-week workshop is for caregivers of memory-impaired recipients, meets weekly and will help caregivers understand the impact of dementia, learn skills to manage daily life and communicate more effectively, and take care of themselves. To register, contact Abby Considine at 978-281-1750, ext. 581.
Taking care of a person living with Alzheimer’s or related dementia is specialized work. To do this work successfully, caregivers need special skills, knowledge, and a positive attitude that helps them care for themselves.
Savvy Caregiver Training will help you:
• Understand the impact of dementia on both you and the person you are caring for.
• Learn the skills you need to manage daily life.
• Take control and set goals.
• Communicate more effectively.
• Strengthen family resources.
• Feel better about your caregiving.
• Take care of you!
This workshop will take place on Thursdays, Sept 17-Oct 22, 2026, at the Essex Council on Aging. Participants should plan to attend all six sessions of the workshop. For information and to register, call Abby Considine at 978-281-1750 x-581.
For the remainder of August, Cape Ann Animal Aid (CAAA) is joining NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters™ nationwide effort with a special promotion designed to help more deserving animals find loving homes!
Throughout the month, more than 30 adult, special-needs, and extended-stay animals at CAAA will be featured in a “Name Your Price” adoption promotion. For select animals, adopters can choose what they are able to pay for the adoption fee, and CAAA will honor it.
CAAA is going a step further by providing additional resources with select adoptions:
The “Name Your Price” animals represent just a portion of the pets currently available for adoption at Cape Ann Animal Aid. Each participating animal’s bio will include information about their eligibility for the promotion and any additional resources available with their adoption.
Interested adopters can visit capeannanimalaid.org to view the animals currently participating in the promotion and learn more about their individual needs and personalities.
Net proceeds will help support hunger-relief programs for local people.
GUITAR MONSTERS featuring Johnny A., Jon Butcher, and special guest Dave Amato, former longtime lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon, comes to The Cut LIVE in Gloucester, MA, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, for a special benefit concert supporting The Open Door and its mission of helping advocate on behalf of those in the community facing the impact of hunger.
Presented by Rockin’ 4 Vets, Guitar Monsters brings together three acclaimed guitarists for an unforgettable evening of rock, blues, and high-energy live performance. Grammy-nominated guitarist Jon Butcher, whose career spans Johanna Wild, Jon Butcher Axis, Barefoot Servants, and Experience Hendrix tours. Known for his dynamic stage presence, Butcher has shared stages with major acts including the J. Geils Band, Rush, Def Leppard, and the Scorpions
Joining him is Johnny A. is renowned for his distinctive style, solo recordings, and work with Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band). A Boston Music Hall of Fame inductee, he remains one of New England’s most respected musicians.
Special guest “Monster” Dave Amato spent more than three decades as the lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon. Throughout his career he has performed and recorded with artists including Rick Springfield, Cher, Richie Sambora, and Michael Bolton. Following REO Speedwagon’s retirement, he continues touring and performing nationwide; this summer with former Eagle guitarist, Don Felder.
More than a concert, net proceeds from Guitar Monsters will benefit The Open Door, a nonprofit local resource center whose mission is to alleviate the impact of hunger in the community. The level of services they provide to the local community is too grand in scale to be able to describe here, learn more at FOODPANTRY.org. Produced by Rockin’ 4 Vets/Alive & Kicking Productions, the event combines world-class musicianship with a commitment to helping veterans throughout New England.
Tickets are available now through Rockin’ 4 Vets at https://rockin4vets.com/tickets
OR through The Cut ticketing site at https://thecutlive.showare.com/orderticketsvenue.asp?p=424
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the show begins at 8:00 p.m. Early purchase is recommended as seating is limited.
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The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring back Rockport’s Harvest Fest, a cherished community event! We invite you to join us by the shore for a unique blend of fall festivities and coastal charm, where the crisp sea breeze meets the warmth of community spirit. Come enjoy Rockport’s local charm and bountiful harvest while you explore the scenic downtown and immerse yourself in festive seasonal activities. Whether you’re a longtime local or just visiting, this is the perfect way to experience the magic of autumn by the sea. So, grab your sweater and your loved ones, and join us for a day of seaside celebration!
This innovative, hands-on training program prepares young adults for professional careers as life sciences laboratory technicians in less than a year! Students spend six months of hands-on learning in a state-of-the-art teaching facility in Gloucester’s Blackburn Center, followed by a three-month paid co-op at a North Shore or Greater Boston biotech company.
Why apply to the Academy? Here are just a few reasons:
🔹 There’s no science experience needed; come as you are!
🔹 Free tuition for all students
🔹 Paid co-ops in a professional lab after only six months
🔹 Professional career skills curriculum
🔹 Hands-on training on industry-standard equipment
🔹 Small class size fosters one-on-one coaching
Did we mention free tuition?! Tuition and fees will be waived — in their entirety — for the Academy’s class of 2027. In addition, qualifying students can receive a stipend of $1,000 per month to help support their living expenses while training. GMGI is committed to providing STEM education opportunities to all, regardless of financial background.
Applications are still being accepted for the Class of 2027, which begins on August 31! The program is open to students ages 18-30 with a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Please visit the Apply page on the GMGI website for more information on the program, and to submit your application. Space is limited so don’t miss this amazing opportunity! Reach out to Laura Richane — laura.richane@gmgi.org — Director of Enrollment & Partnerships, with any questions or to request a tour
Cape Ann Community 