On August 31, the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy will open its doors for the Class of 2021 to begin the innovative, life sciences workforce training at Blackburn Center. and is still accepting applications for the few remaining openings. The entering class will mark the 5th anniversary of the transformational, vocational program.

“At GMGI, we are all about science so we will be taking more than just the prescribed precautions,” said Christine Bolzan, GMGI Executive Director. “This will be a safe and productive environment — 81% of enrolled students graduate and 86% of them have gone either on to careers in life sciences or to study science in college.” The Academy team has created a comprehensive plan that prioritizes the health and safety of students and staff and allows for a continuation of the Academy’s tradition of excellence in hands-on, laboratory career training.

Donning PPE has long been an Academy practice, and additional requirements will include careful social distancing, rotating breaks and lunch schedules, cleaning regimens, and a revised academic calendar to account for potential disruptions due to illness. Students and staff will engage in daily health monitoring before entering the facility. Equipment has been purchased to allow for lectures to be recorded, and both classroom and laboratory settings have been reconfigured to create the safest possible environment.

“The practical curriculum cannot be taught remotely as the great benefit of this experience is its hands-on nature and guidance from our teaching staff. We needed to develop a plan that would allow that to continue, and it will take commitment, vigilance and honesty within our Academy community to make this work amid a global pandemic. We are excited to move forward and welcome another cohort of young adults to pursue careers as laboratory technicians,” explained Dr. John Doyle, Education Director.

The Gloucester Biotechnology Academy is currently accepting applications for the Fall of 2020 and more information can be found online: https://gmgi.org/education/apply/

The Cape Ann Chamber has been working with the city, Action Inc., Wellspring and others to develop a Cape Ann jobs listing of Youth-Friendly Jobs – Open to All: see the link here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dXKfEj0JfUBKrg0zB91eEcpJhl8U5Mq4d_mhwvuR2rU/edit#gid=0

July 2020

Manchester-Essex Rotary Club “Run for the Roses” Raffle

Manchester-Essex Rotary Club announces its “Run for the Roses” raffle which features three grand prizes, 1^st place is $7500, 2^nd place is $1500 and 3^rd place is $1000. Only 300 tickets have been printed which makes the odds one to one hundred to win one of the three cash prizes. Tickets are $100 each. Contact a M-E Rotarian to purchase a ticket. (Mike Storella at m.storella@comcast.net, 781-710-2475 or Chris Shea at cknsshea@aol.com, 508-843-4979). The drawing will be held September 5, on a live Facebook event.

This year the pandemic forced us to cancel our major fundraising events, the Kentucky Derby Auction and the Red, White and Blue Pancake Breakfast. These two events help us raise approximately $30,000 half of which goes directly to $10,000 in scholarships in May. The other $20,000 is distributed to local organizations such as Open Door, Beverly Boot Straps, Action, Wellspring House, Cape Ann Symphony, civic enhancements such as the Essex Memorial Park and various other charitable needs. We ask your help to make this raffle a successful fundraiser in a time of greater need due to the pandemic. Take a chance and do some good in the community.

We continue to invite guests to our weekly meetings, now via Zoom. Contact President Sean Zahn for the link to our meetings and see if Rotary is for you. We are a group of local residents and business people who are dedicated to giving back to our community and supporting international relief. Our motto is “Service above Self.” We look forward to meeting you.

 

Seniors are invited this summer to participate in the Massachusetts Farmers Market Nutrition Program– hosted by SeniorCare Inc. and your local Council on Aging. Due to COVID-19, instead of issuing Farmers Market Coupons, Seniors will be provided with bags filled with a variety of fresh produce from local farms. Eligible seniors will receive two bags of fresh produce each valued at $12.50. The first bag will be distributed during the months of July or August. A second bag will be distributed in August or September approximately 14-30 days from receipt of the first bag for a total value of $25.00 in fresh produce.

To be eligible, participants must be 60 years of age or older and have a monthly income below $1,968.00 for one (1) person and $2,658.00 for two (2) people.

To register or for more information contact your local Council on Aging. (click here for list of participating Councils on Aging) Participation is limited and based on a first-come, first-served basis, per person.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.

To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov

SeniorCare Inc. is an equal opportunity provider.

Join us on Thursday, July 9th for the final GMGI Science Hour of the season: “GFP: Lighting Up Life” with Nobel Prize winner Martin Chalfie.

In 2008, Dr. Chalfie was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry with co-recipients Osamu Shimomura and Roger Tsien for the discovery and development of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). His demonstration of the GFP gene’s capability as a biological marker revolutionized the biological sciences and contributed to major advances in genetics, cell biology, and neurobiology, and to a better understanding of cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_972Cd7nZQDG0wxx_LkWDtg?fbclid=IwAR1iC_eqfJ2E9pNKMIxkZrl3FkoOc4-aYd0AY7wUhWCndueYh2x7LNd_Rc8

It is with much sadness that we announce the cancellation of the 36^th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival. Maritime Gloucester and the Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee worked diligently to create alternative options and try to keep this signature celebration going, but the realities of the pandemic and growing concerns for participants and spectators made this a necessary and timely decision.

The Gloucester Schooner Festival is one of Cape Ann’s most beloved cultural events. This gathering of schooners, hosted by Maritime Gloucester, is made possible by the volunteer efforts of over 30 people and local organizations who serve as committee members, as well as the many sponsors and donors who fund the event. Raising money and planning for this weekend is a year-long process and we do not take cancelling it lightly!  We had held out hope that there would be a window of opportunity by Labor Day, but it is time to make the call.

“No one is more disappointed than Maritime Gloucester, the Committee, and the Schooners to not be able to offer the Festival this year,” states Michael De Koster, Executive Director of Maritime Gloucester. “While it is a difficult decision to make, we all know that this is the right call and needs to be done sooner rather than later. For the sake of our volunteers, organizers, sponsors, visiting schooners, crews, and city officials, the time to cancel has to be now.”

This year’s Festival would have commemorated the 100^th Anniversary of the International Fisherman’s Cup race. “Maritime Gloucester had planned a summer-long series of exhibits, visiting vessels, and programs that would have culminating in one of the best Schooner Festivals to ever grace Cape Ann,” added De Koster. “But the pandemic has changed those plans. We need to make sacrifices and smart decisions now so that we all can return to school, work, and promote the general health of our community.”

Maritime Gloucester is looking forward. The 37^th Annual Festival planning has started.  “Without the revenues and sponsorships from this year’s events, we will need to work twice as hard to raise funds for next year’s celebration,” states De Koster. “Although we are cancelling our event, we cannot cancel the cultural importance and love of this Festival throughout the community.”

Maritime Gloucester plans to celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the International Fisherman’s Cup race by repackaging this year’s cancelled exhibits and programs into a series of events, virtual programs, and lectures throughout the coming year, leading up to a great 101^st Anniversary and 37^th Annual Festival in 2021.

We thank ALL of the wonderful sponsors, donors, volunteers, City officials and workers, and the Cape Ann community for their efforts and support!

Michael De Koster, Executive Director, Maritime Gloucester

Daisy Nell Collinson, Chair, Maritime Gloucester Schooner Committee