Celebrate the warm weather this weekend by gathering up your family and friends to attend the first annual WellFest, A Greater Cape Ann Community Wellness Fair. You can expect a diverse range of vendors in the health and wellness sector along with live entertainment courtesy of DJ Mark, and a special menu at Bliss Bites Cafe. The event will take place outside, at the Glen T. MacLeod Cape Ann YMCA’s outdoor turf area. Soak up the sunshine and head to WellFest this Sunday, May 15 from 11am – 2pm!
Donate food without having to leave your front yard this weekend through Stamp Out Hunger!
If you live in Gloucester, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, or Rockport, you can help put food on the table for people in your community by leaving a bag of food donations by your mailbox on the morning of SATURDAY MAY 14. Donations will be transported to The Open Door by your local letter carrier.
Stamp Out Hunger is an annual Food Drive organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers.
Most needed items include: coffee, condiments, cooking oil, peanut butter, and tuna.
Please, no glass containers!
“Stamp Out Hunger is a unique opportunity for members of the community to make a food donation, without having to leave their front yard. It’s traditionally a hugely successful food drive for us, and it’s all possible because our local letter carriers are willing to go the extra mile to put food on the table for others,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “We’re deeply thankful to partner with them on this event and for their dedication to alleviating the impact of hunger locally.”
The Open Door is also seeking volunteers to sort donations on Saturday, and those interested in volunteering may email volunteer@foodpantry.org.
“This is the largest single day food drive in the United States,” said Bruce Johnson, a retired Gloucester letter carrier who continues to help coordinate NALC Branch 25’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Cape Ann. “The timing is crucial because food pantries can face shortages in the spring and summer months after a long winter, and most school programs are not available in the summer. It’s a good time to fill the shelves at the food pantries.”
If you live outside the above communities, contact your local post office to learn if they are participating in Stamp Out Hunger.
More information about The Open Door is available at FOODPANTRY.org.
Tuesday, May 10 at the Manchester Community Center. Doors open at 6:30, auction starts at 7pm. We have many items, perennials, hanging baskets, gift certificates, garden paraphernalia. There’s something for everyone. Don’t miss it.
The Sawyer Free Library is kicking off a new author series, Books on Tap, a night of books, bites, and brew, with award-winning local writer BILLY BAKER on Thursday, May 12 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Minglewood Harborside in Gloucester.
This first of many fun and engaging evenings of conversations with local authors, sponsored by the Library, is free and open to the public. Appetizers will be provided for attendees, and drinks and food will be available for purchase.
Boston Globe writer Billy Baker is the author of the hilarious, moving memoir We Need to Hang Out: A Memoir of Making Friends, which the New York Times called: “An entertaining mix of social science, memoir, and humor…” Joining Baker for the event will be his friend Kevin Phoenix, owner of Community Fitness Cape Ann. The two will discuss Billy’s book, what it’s like trying to balance work and family life, and the importance of friendship as we age. The audience will be encouraged to join in on the spirited conversation.
Billy Baker is a staff writer for The Boston Globe, where he writes narrative features and humorous columns. A native of South Boston, he is a graduate of Boston Latin School, Tulane University, and the Columbia Journalism School. Baker has received the Deborah Howell Award for Writing Excellence from the American Society of News Editors and was a member of the Globe team awarded the Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings. Billy resides on Cape Ann in Essex with his family.
Sawyer Free Library’s first “Books and Tap” will be held in the event room at Minglewood Harborside, located at 25 Rogers Street in Gloucester. Registration not required. For more information visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5553.
Learn how to grow your own fresh food in containers. This training is perfect for gardeners working with a small or unusual growing space – e.g. a driveway, porch, or sideyard. Program Manager Jess Reid will walk participants through how to plan, care for, and harvest from their vegetable container garden, with a special focus on growing in Backyard Growers’ GrowBags.
May 18, 6-7pm on Zoom
FREE admission to Backyard Growers Program Participants (e.g. 2022 Community Garden, Backyard Garden & GrowBag Garden) as well as Backyard Growers Community Consulting Clients
$15 General Admission
Proceeds support Backyard Growers‘ work empowering people to grow their own food in schools, backyards, community gardens, and GrowBags.
The Sawyer Free Library is pleased to host Dementia Friends this Saturday, May 7 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. for a presentation on five key messages about dementia and the small things everyone can do to make a difference for people living with dementia.
Dementia Friends is a global movement changing how people think, act, and talk about dementia. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia.
This important presentation is a part of the Sawyer Free Library’s ongoing series on dementia: Of Sound Mind. It will take place on the Main Floor of the Library located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester. Registration is not required. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.
The Whoo(pie) Wagon is making the rounds to the Gloucester Public Schools this week for Teacher Appreciation Week!
On behalf of The Gloucester Education Foundation, the Gloucester PTOs, and community:
“THANK YOU teachers and staff!”
The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce’s Health and Wellness Group is proud to announce their first annual WellFest, a Greater Cape Ann Community Wellness Fair on Sunday, May 15 from 11am to 2pm at the Glen T. MacLeod Cape Ann YMCA. WellFest is an event that will showcase the Cape Ann region’s broad range of health and wellness services. From yoga and massage to general health resources and youth development, this event will provide something for people of all ages. In collaboration with WellFest, the Red Cross will be conducting a blood drive from 10am to 3pm.
The event is free, open to people of all ages, and will be easily accessible. Mark your calendars, and gather up your friends and family for a beautiful Spring Sunday at WellFest! A Greater Cape Ann Community Wellness Fair. To learn more about WellFest visit capeannchamber.com.
The Sawyer Free Library wants to thank the community for helping to make GloCon’22 a HUGE SUCCESS! Fun was had by all! From overflowing workshops with local comic artist Mark Parisi, Art Haven, Graphic Novelists Leela Corman and Cathy J. Johnson to scavenger hunting for Pokemon and playing Mario Kart on the big screen to the exciting appearance of all things Star Wars and so much more – it was a day to remember!
Glo Con ’22 was an all-ages, all day event celebrating comics and graphic novels as art, literature and pop culture, and showcasing the library’s graphic novel and comic book collections.
Everyone should stay tuned as we can’t wait to do it again next year! Until then, be sure to visit, sawyfreelibrary.com to learn more about all the great programming and events taking place at the Library each and every week!
Cape Ann Community 