Year: 2018

North Shore Mother Visiting Partnership (NS MVP)

~ Gloucester Health Department

Facebook photo

The North Shore Mother Visiting Partnership is made up of Public Health Nurses from five communities, Beverly, Gloucester, Hamilton, Newburyport and Peabody, who offer a universal one-time supportive home visit to mothers/caregivers and their babies up to one year.

All visits are free and confidential and there are no eligibility requirements for a visit.

Each home visit will include a free Baby Box filled with goodies and community resources.

To schedule a visit, text or call the Public Health Nurse in your town listed below:

Beverly, Teresa Kirsch, 978-380-8203

Gloucester, Kelley Hiland, 978-559-1784

Hamilton, Christine Lee, 978-290-9618

Newburyport, Pam Palombo, 978-835-1521

Peabody, Chassea Robinson, 978-490-7091

8th Annual Rotary Polar Plunge to Make Polio History

~ trixy546

Freezin’ for a Reason:
The Rotary Club of Gloucester
Hosts the 8th Annual Polar Plunge to Make Polio History

The Gloucester Rotary Club will again host clubs from Rotary District 7930 (eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire) for the 8th annual Polar Plunge on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Long Beach in Gloucester. The event is part of Rotary International’s ongoing campaign to eradicate polio in our lifetime. Several hundred people are expected to plunge into the cold waters off Cape Ann this year. Last year, over 300 people braved the icy waters, raising more than $120,000. Since the first Rotary Polar Plunge in 2011, Massachusetts Rotarians have raised over a half-million dollars with this event.

Since 1985, Polio has been the signature cause for Rotary International as it has teamed up with partners including The Global Poverty Project, The Global Eradication Initiative, The World Health Organization, and UNICEF. Since that time, more than a billion dollars have been raised among Rotary clubs worldwide and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. When Rotary International took on the battle against this disease, more than 350,000 people spanning 125 countries were suffering from polio. Today, there are three countries awaiting eradication – Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2016, there were 37 wild polio cases reported; in 2017, there were 20 cases reported. More information on Rotary’s #EndPolioNow campaign can be found at www.EndPolio.org.

This year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has again pledged a 2:1 match for every dollar Rotarians and friends raise toward eradication efforts. A 60-cents donation can make the difference in changing a person’s life. Please support Gloucester Rotarians as they brave the icy waters to help eradicate polio in our lifetime. The goal for the plunge is $125,000. Supporters can text “polio” to 71777 or visit www.GloucesterRotary.org to make a donation. Help Rotarians lead the way to eradicate this dreaded disease!

For more information on how the Rotary Club of Gloucester serves the local and global community, visit www.GloucesterRotary.org or www.facebook.com/RotaryGloucesterMA.

The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

SeniorCare Annual Celebrate Spring Breakfast

~ trixy546

Former Valentine’s Day Event becomes a Spring Celebration!

SeniorCare Inc. will hold its annual Celebrate Spring Breakfast to benefit Meals on Wheels on Friday, March 16, 2018, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Gloucester House, located 63 Rogers Street in downtown Gloucester. Tickets are $12 per person and include a buffet breakfast. Breakfast sponsorships are available at a variety of levels. Formerly the SeniorCare Valentines Breakfast, proceeds from the breakfast will benefit SeniorCare’s Meals on Wheels program.

SeniorCare Inc.’s Meals on Wheels program brings a daily meal right to the door of homebound elders, Monday through Friday. Menus are designed by nutrition experts to meet the needs of older adults and are prepared by a professional caterer.  In addition, homebound elders have a daily interaction with the delivery team—sometimes their only human contact that day.  SeniorCare currently delivers Meals on Wheels to more than 550 elders each day.  Annually, this means 136,216 home-delivered meals and 39,250 meals served at dining sites in Beverly, Gloucester, Essex, Manchester, Rockport, Ipswich, Hamilton, Topsfield, and Wenham.

Sponsorship opportunities for the breakfast are available. For information about the breakfast or to become a sponsor, contact Paula Curley at 978-281-1750 x-560 or paula.curley@seniorcareinc.org.

Tickets available online.

Backyard Growers Presents: Fermentation Workshop

~ backyardgrowersgloucester

Cropped Ferment

Join Backyard Growers as we partner with Pigeon Cove Ferments at our two-part fermentation workshop learning all about the benefits of fermentation!

Part 1 will be held at Backyard Growers where we will learn more about lacto-fermentation and the benefits of incorporating fermented food into our diets. All ages welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: this workshop will be at Backyard Growers’ office: 271 Main St, Gloucester, MA 01930

Part 2 will be held at Pigeon Cove Ferments kitchen where participants are fully engaged in the sauerkraut making process and will leave with their own jar of homemade kraut. All ages welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: this workshop will be at Pigeon Cove’s kitchen: 10 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA, 01930

If you have any questions, contact: community@backyardgrowers.org or 978-281-0480

Hope to see you there!

SECOND ANNUAL GLOUCESTER MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY CELEBRATION

~ chasnaz

MLKPoster2018

WHAT: AN AFTERNOON OF PRESENTATIONS ON THE MLK HOLIDAY hosted by the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

WHEN: MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018, 2:00-5:30pm

WHERE: The historic 1806 Gloucester Meetinghouse (home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church) on Meetinghouse Green at the corner of Middle and Church Street.  Accessible side entrance at 10 Church Street.  Parking on the Green or next door at St. John’s Church.

PROGRAM:

Mary Ellen Lepionka, Cape Ann Algonquians’ fate after European colonization

Lise Breen, history of black leaders of the Abolitionist Movement

GWC Fish Tales, first-hand stories from refugees about the promise of America

Reverend Janet Parsons, accountability and where do we go from here?

Mayor Sefatia Romeo-Theken, commentary on cultural diversity

Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering his final Christmas Sermon on interconnectedness

Closing, tolling of the Meetinghouse Paul Revere bell for freedom

WHAT’S SPECIAL?  A rare opportunity to gather in community to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, learn about historical and present-day persons of color with diverse identities, initiatives to study the history of slavery on Cape Ann as well as the black leaders of the Abolitionist Movement and rededicate ourselves to the American creed that all persons are created equal.  This is the 50th anniversary of the tragic assassination of Dr. King, whose message on non-violence, opposition to war, drive to lift people of any ethnicity, country of origin or racial background out of poverty, and belief in the care of our natural environment is as relevant today as it was in the 60’s.

COST:  FREE with voluntary donations, all welcome.  Refreshments will be available.

MORE INFORMATION:  www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION:  The mission of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is to preserve the 1806 landmark building, Gloucester’s last-surviving historic Meetinghouse, as a civic hub, entertainment venue and community action center.

RELATED MORNING EVENT:  The Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport holds its annual Peace March commemorating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. in which members and friends gather at 9:30 am for sign making, followed by a march through downtown Rockport at 10:00 am, and gather after the march for hot cider and goodies, followed by a short worship service.  For more information see:  http://rockportuu.org/

Mayoral Memo: Snow Emergency Updates & Flood Assistance Exploration

~ Chris Sicuranza

1/8/2018 – Last week’s snowstorm and accompanying storm surge was an unfortunate act of nature that resulted in widespread damage throughout Gloucester. This City, like others, requires that residents remove their cars from public streets prior to any storm or snow emergency for safety reasons.

For decades, recognizing that many residents do not have private off street parking, the City has offered off-street parking on public property much like we did last week at Gloucester High School. These offers were strictly optional and residents were free to make other arrangements.

Having said that, my administration recognizes that many are in need of assistance as a result of the damage caused by last week’s storm—specifically those who lost their cars due to the flooding of the High School parking lot. As a result, we will be taking the following actions:

• We have contacted the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and are working with them as they collect public damage information from all of the communities impacted in order to determine whether to request a presidential disaster declaration. While the probability of meeting the threshold for state or federal monetary reimbursement are low, a presidential declaration is necessary to lend direct assistance to the private sector;

• The City is willing to work with those who do not have comprehensive insurance to make arrangements for towing, storage and/or disposal of damaged cars; and

• My administration has reached out to several local/regional car dealerships and they have expressed a willingness to work with those negatively affected by last week’s flooding. Their name and contact information is as follows:

o Sudbay Family Automotive
– Kevin Barkhouse, Sales Manager
– 978-283-4730

o Lyon-Waugh Auto Group
– Warren Waugh, Owner/General Manager
– 978-532-8312

o Michaud Auto Group
– Kevin Michaud, Owner, or Zach Michaud, CEO
– 978-774-4040

o Village Auto Group
– Emilio LoCilento, General Sales Manager
– 978-624-4461

We will keep everyone updated as we find out more information, but please contact your insurance company and work with your Councilors and the Mayor’s Office to see how we can best assist.

Thank you,
Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken

Jalapenos Fundraiser for Cape Ann Animal Aid

~ capeannanimalaid01930

Poster_JalapenosJoin Cape Ann Animal Aid at Jalapeno’s Authentic Mexican Food Restaurant on Thursday, January 25, 2018 from 4pm to Close (dine in or take out). Enjoy a delicious meal for a great cause! The restaurant will be generously donating 10% of all sales to help dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens in need!

To view a menu please visit http://www.jalapenosgloucester.com/

Invite your friends! Share the event! Let’s pack the house in honor of the animals! ♥ Thank you!