Gloucester’s Summer Block Parties have become a Cape Ann Classic, and the Cape Ann Chamber is excited to be presenting three Block Parties this summer in partnership with the City of Gloucester. The first one will be Saturday, July 16th. From 6 PM 10 PM on Main Street, party-goers will enjoy al fresco dining, live outdoor entertainment, free children’s activities, and street performers for a fun night on the town. The Block Parties offer local shopping, food and non-stop fun!

Visit gloucesterblockparty.com for a schedule of performers! You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

The Gloucester Harbormaster office through the leadership of Thomas “TJ” Ciarametaro has announced the launch of a new Facebook page for updated news and announcements about our waters. Great to see our new department head hitting the ground (or is it water?) running.

Please ‘like’ the page seen here: https://www.facebook.com/Gloucesterharbormaster/

(Official link – click here) An ad hoc community gathering has been established for Thursday, July 7 from 6PM to 8PM at the Kyrouz Auditorium for citizens to gather and report their collective concerns around public safety, especially with regard to appropriate protocols to needles. This is not an official city hall sanctioned event, but representatives from various departments (including administration, Mayor’s office, Health, DPW, Law Enforcement, etc.) have been invited to better clarify updates, inform the public of opportunities and create a cohesive plan for short term and long term action.

SeniorCare Inc. will host its Seventh Annual Sunset Cruise Fundraiser, an evening cruise aboard Cape Ann Whale Watch’s Hurricane II, on Thursday, July 14, 2016. The evening includes a light box dinner, dancing and entertainment by DJ Tracey Sousa, raffle and door prizes. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased by contacting SeniorCare at 978-281-1750 or online at www.seniorcareinc.org. Sponsor opportunities are available.

For more information about the Sunset Cruise and SeniorCare’s programs, contact Paula Curley at 978-281-1750 or paula.curley@seniorcareinc.org.

About SeniorCare

SeniorCare Inc. serves an area that represents more than 27,000 residents aged 60 and over.  We provide services to adults with disabilities and elders in nine communities. Established in 1972, SeniorCare has approximately 100 employees and nearly 400 volunteers. The volunteers and staff work to fulfill its mission as a consumer-centered organization which provides and coordinates services to elders and others. This allows them to live independently at home or in a setting of their choice, while remaining part of their community.

July 6 – July 20

There’s something for everyone at the Annisquam Village Church’s seventh annual online auction! Shop 300 unique treasures donated by local businesses, artists, and patrons—this year’s highlights include a sailboat, original works of art, vacation escapes, and generous gift certificates from many local stores, restaurants, and services. Bidding closes at 9:00 p.m. July 20. Register and bid at www.biddingforgood.com/avc . Your bid will help raise funds to support the Church’s local and international work, including The Open Door Food Pantry, Family Promise North Shore/Boston, Action Inc., Grace Center, Heifer International, and Haiti Projects.The auction is managed through BiddingforGood.com

bannerAVC Auction 2016 Flyer 11×14

This month, CATA is starting a new service for senior and disabled customers in Rockport and Gloucester.  Each Wednesday, CATA will pick up at the Rockport and Gloucester Senior Centers in the morning, travel to a different shopping location off Cape Ann, and then return to town in early afternoon.  The list of shopping locations is included in the attached flyer.

The cost is $5 round trip.  For additional information, please call 978-283-7916.

Happy Shopping Rockport Gloucester Mall bus Flyer – REVISED SUMMER 2016

The speaker for the Friday July 8 GAAC meeting will be astronomer Phil Orbanes, with the “Deep Sky Name Game,” a fun examination of all those deep-sky object names that can’t help but leave us baffled. The Running Man nebula, the Flame nebula, the Eagle nebula — look closely; do you see a running man, or an eagle in there someplace? Maybe a flaming eagle? What were astronomers thinking? How on Earth did they come up with those names?

Nebulae of every stripe are some of the most spectacular and colorful objects in the universe, but there is very often no obvious resemblance between names and appearances. Phil may or may not be able to explain some of these choices to us, but we’ll have fun watching him try. Come along on a tour of some puzzling examples of stunning nebulae that will leave you scratching your heads in wonder.

The Gloucester Area Astronomy Club meets at the Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street, at 8:00 pm on the second Friday of the month. There is plenty of free parking, and there is no cost. All are welcome. For more info on the club and its activities please see our website, at http://gaac.us, and our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/GAACpage Follow us on twitter, @GAACster.

Keep your fingers crossed for good weather for the very next evening, July 9th, our second Halibut Point State Park Star Party of the 2016 season. This one will be full of planets and moons from dusk to 10:00-ish, next to the Visitor Center. There is no cost. Please park in the paved lot and walk up to the Visitor Center.