Month: September 2023

Main Street Meet Up

~ Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

A Gloucester Women-Owned Business Tour – Walk, Shop, Network, Win

Put on your power-walking shoes and prepare to explore some of Gloucester’s finest Women-Owned businesses, right here on Main (and adjacent) streets! After picking up your Passport and Raffle Tickets at Shore Nutrition, visit the list of participating Women-Owned Businesses, get your Passport stamped and enter raffle drawings at each location. Three additional Grand Prize Drawings will be held at Oliver’s Harbor at 7 PM.

Register and purchase your Passport & Raffle Tickets today for just $25 at bit.ly/Main-Street-Meet-Up. (You may also purchase at Shore Nutrition on the day of the event.) Anyone may participate!

Shops will be open from 3 to 7 PM for all Passport holders, with on-street networking, owners waiting to meet YOU, and a chance to win a raffle prize in every store!

Main Street Meet-Up is a great way to learn more about and support women-owned businesses. Presented by the Businesswomen’s Committee of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds benefit the Carolyn M O’Connor Scholarship Fund.

Participating Women-Owned Businesses

  • Animal Krackers
  • Bishco
  • Bravo
  • Brit Barry Design
  • Café Sicilia
  • Cape Ann Olive Oil Co.
  • Castaways Vintage Café
  • Chloe Leigh Designs
  • Design of Mine
  • Detali  Upcycled Design
  • EVOLVE SKIN
  • Fireflies Boutique
  • goodlinens studio
  • Jess Churchill Photography
  • Local Colors
  • Made with Luve
  • Meat and Sweet Foods
  • Nelson’s
  • Oliver’s Harbor Café
  • Pastaio
  • Phoenix Nest
  • Pop Gallery
  • Sage Floral Studio
  • Sample This
  • Shop-Loro
  • Shore Nutrition
  • Source Bakery
  • Temple of Enora
  • The Bookstore of Gloucester
  • The Cave
  • Unwind Luxury Vegan Beauty 

Gloucester Cemeteries: a Rededication, a Tour, and Time to Explore

~ cmaney27

Gloucester Cemeteries: a Rededication, a Tour, and Time to Explore

On Saturday, September 16th  (Rain date September 17th) join us to observe the rededication of a cemetery, attend a walking tour of American Revolutionary Veterans, and spend time exploring two cemeteries. For more information and registration go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gloucester-cemeteries-a-rededication-a-tour-and-time-to-explore-tickets-709469240597

 9:45AM-11:00AM: Observe the commemoration and rededication of Clark’s Cemetery by the Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) who are the ceremonial uniformed military component of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War ( suvcw.org). A gun salute will be part of the ceremony.

11:15AM – 12:15PM: Attend a walking tour led by the knowledgeable guide, David Nunes, who will share fascinating narratives and tales about the American Revolutionary Veterans buried in First Parish Burial Ground.

12:15PM-1:30PM: Time to explore both cemeteries at your own pace. There will be cemetery maps and self-guided handouts to help you appreciate the historic gravestones, discover possible ancestors, view intricate carvings, see an underground tomb, and walk the peaceful surroundings of these cemeteries. Members of the 400+ Burial Grounds and Cemeteries Committee will be available to assist you and answer questions as you reflect on the lives lived and the legacies left behind. For more information and registration go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gloucester-cemeteries-a-rededication-a-tour-and-time-to-explore-tickets-709469240597

Sawyer Free Library to Host Book Sale of Arthur Ryan’s Collection September 21 to 23

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library is thrilled to announce a remarkable opportunity for book enthusiasts, art aficionados, and community members to delve into the literary and artistic world of Arthur Ryan, the celebrated film executive, art collector, and philanthropist. Born in Gloucester and returning to his beloved hometown after retirement, Arthur Ryan’s philanthropic legacy continues to flourish through the Arthur F Ryan Foundation. From September 21 to 23, Sawyer Free Library will host a Book Sale featuring the extensive collection of over 2,000 titles Mr. Ryan generously donated to benefit Gloucester’s public library.

Mr. Ryan’s passion for reading and his remarkable book collection, consisting primarily of mint-condition hardbacks related to art and art history, bestselling fiction, English mysteries, and business, is a treasure trove for book enthusiasts and scholars alike.

The Book Sale is scheduled to take place from September 21 to 23rd. The event will kick off on Thursday, September 21, with an exclusive preview for booksellers and Friends of the Sawyer Free Library from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This preview event offers a unique chance for avid collectors and supporters to get a first look at the collection. On Friday, September 22, the Book Sale will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., followed by a final opportunity on Saturday, September 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The sale will take place at the Sawyer Free Library, located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester on its ground floor. Visitors are to use the parking lot door off School Street to enter the ground floor where the sale will be held.

All proceeds from the Book Sale will be directed to the Sawyer Free 2025 campaign. The 2025 Sawyer Free Library will officially break ground with a community celebration on September 29 at 3pm. The project will take approximately eighteen months to complete. 

The project to renovate and expand the Sawyer Free Library is a once in 50-year opportunity to secure the future of this vital public institution. When doors open at the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, the building will exemplify what a 21st-century public library can and should be.  The Sawyer Free 2025 campaign is grateful for the tremendous engagement and investment at every level from all parts of the community but we still need your help.  To learn how you can be a part of making the new Sawyer Free Library a reality, visit www.2025SawyerFree.org.

For more information about the Book Sale and other related events, please visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org or contact 978-325-5500. 

2nd Annual Blackburn Brew Fest

~ Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

Experience one of the best views on Cape Ann with a cold beer in your hand on Saturday, September 16 at the 2nd Annual Blackburn Brew Fest at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester MA. Join us to sample hundreds of beers, ciders, and meads brewed by close to 30 Commonwealth breweries. Also featuring two live bands – Over the Bridge and Soul Rebel Project – and 7 food trucks. There is only one session on Saturday, September 16th, 2023 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. $50 in advance tickets or $60 at the door. $10 designated driver ticket available. This is strictly a 21+ event. No children (including infants) or pets allowed. Please visit https://blackburnbrewfest.com for tickets. Presented by the Next Gen Young Professionals Group of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce to benefit the Cape Ann Community Foundation.

This Week at the Little Art Cinema

~ littleartcinema

The Furies: September 6 & 7 @ 7:00

Scarlet: September 8 & 10 @ 7:00, September 9 @ 3:00

This week our Anthony Mann series continues with The Furies! In 1870s New Mexico Territory, megalomaniacal widowed ranch owner T. C. Jeffords (Walter Huston, in his final role) butts heads with his firebrand of a daughter, Vance (Barbara Stanwyck), over her dowry, choice of husband, and, finally, ownership of the land itself. Sophisticated in its view of frontier settlement and ablaze with searing domestic drama, The Furies is an often-overlooked treasure of American filmmaking, boasting Oscar–nominated cinematography and vivid supporting turns from Judith Anderson, Wendell Corey, and Gilbert Roland.

We also have Scarlet, Pietro Marcello’s follow up to Martin Eden. Shortly after World War I, veteran Raphaël returns home from the frontlines a widower and father to an infant daughter. Raised in rural Normandy, the child Juliette grows into a headstrong young woman who dreams of greater possibilities. She seeks refuge in the nearby woods, where she meets a witch who promises scarlet sails will one day take her away from her village. Reckoning with her future and swept away by a rakish young pilot (Louis Garrel) who literally falls from the sky, Juliette never stops believing in the witch’s prophecy. Tracing Juliette’s journey throughout the 20 years of great invention between the world wars, Scarlet delicately weaves together music and fantasy, history and folklore, realist drama and ethereal romance, to craft a timeless story of a young woman’s emancipation.

You can also find the rest of our showtimes at www.littleartrockport.com!

Congressman Moulton Nominates Sawyer Free Library and Cape Ann Museum for Prestigious National Medal of Museum and Library Services

~ Sawyer Free Library

Salem, Mass. – In honor of the Gloucester 400, Congressman Seth Moulton is proud to nominate two Gloucester cultural institutions, the Sawyer Free Library and the Cape Ann Museum, for the prestigious 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. This award, presented annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is the nation’s highest honor for institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. 

“As we celebrate the Gloucester 400, I’m thrilled to be able to nominate two of the city’s impactful and inspiring institutions for this national honor. Both the Sawyer Free Library and the Cape Ann Museum inform, educate, engage, and connect our community every day in immeasurable ways. This recognition is very well-deserved,” said Congressman Moulton. 

“Above all, this nomination is a validation of Sawyer Free Library staff, who make a deep impact on our community every day,” said Sawyer Free Library Director Jenny Benedict. “In recent years, our Library has responded to the unprecedented challenges of our time by fostering belonging and leading by example with our holistic approach to sustainability. To be recognized nationally for our achievement through this nomination is an absolute honor.”

 “We are incredibly honored to receive this nomination from Congressman Moulton,” said Cape Ann Museum Director Oliver Barker. “We are proud to be able to contribute and be a part of such a vibrant and special community like Cape Ann.”

Approximately fifteen libraries and fifteen museums will be selected as finalists by IMLS. From these finalists, a minimum of three museums and three libraries will then be selected to receive National Medals. Medal recipients will be announced in Spring 2024. 


More information about the National Medal for Museum and Library Services can be found HERE.

Gloucester Area Astronomy Club Meeting, Friday Sept. 8 at 8:00 pm. It’s Planet Season!

~ Michael Deneen

We haven’t seen the usual summer planets in our evening skies yet this year, but Jupiter and Saturn rise earlier every night, and along with Uranus they’ll be visible during more convenient evening hours this fall. 

Accordingly, Friday’s GAAC meeting will feature three short informational talks, one each on Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. We’ll be treated to a history of the exploration of each planet, and learn some interesting, sometimes very weird facts about each one; we’ll review what we can see in a telescope, and what to look for. 

Come join us at the Lanesville Community Center at 8:00 pm on Friday 9/8, for all the usual goodies and fun conversation, and for a solar system primer just in time for the fall 2023 planet season. If skies permit we’ll have set up a few telescopes outside, and you’ll get to observe Saturn, always a fun experience, but one you’ll find more rewarding because of what you’ll have learned from our presenters. This will be a good night.

Doors open at 7:45. There’s plenty of free parking, never any dues or fees, and all are welcome. We hope to see you there.

Help The Open Door “Paint the Town Orange” this September for Hunger Awareness 

~ todtheopendoor

Each year, Hunger Action Month™ offers an opportunity for community to come together to address food insecurity in the cities and towns where we live, work, and play.

Hunger Action DAY will also be recognized on Friday, Sept. 15.

Locally, The Open Door has already seen a 28% increase in visits to its Food Pantries alone in 2023, and a 20% increase in people visiting its pantries. This means more people are getting their groceries from The Open Door, more often.

Want to help support local hunger-relief programs at The Open Door and raise hunger awareness this month? Learn more below about the opportunities available:

    • Volunteer with The Open Door! Packing groceries, delivering meals, sorting food or sorting donations at Second Glance, and corporate engagement opportunities are just a few of the many roles available to volunteers. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org/volunteer. 

    • Order a tasty “orange” treat at a local eatery. A handful of local restaurants have volunteered to help spread hunger awareness this month, including: 

      • 1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar will offer mango and blood orange sorbet, and a Naranja Nights cocktail.  QR codes for donations will also be available, and patrons may also round up their bill to support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door this September. 

      • Brother’s Brew (reopening Sept. 14) will offer a special Hunger Action Month™ donut. 

      • Cake Ann will offer special Hunger Action Month™ cupcakes. 

      • Duckworth’s Gloucester will provide a special Hunger Action Month™ menu item. 

      • Holy Cow will offer a Hunger Action Month™ ice-cream flavor starting on Hunger Action Day Friday Sept. 15 through the rest of the month at its Gloucester location. 

      • Seaport Grille will offer a pumpkin cheesecake and creamsicle margarita. QR codes for donations will also be available, and patrons may also round up their bill to support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door this September. 

      • Turtle Alley will offer chocolate bars with the word “LOVE” embossed on them, wrapped in cellophane with an orange ribbon.  

    • Shop at a special, orange-themed shopping event at Second Glance, Thrift Store of The Open Door on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Proceeds at the store support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door.  

    • Borrow a book from a special Hunger Action Month™ display at one of the following libraries: Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library, T.O.H.P. Burnham Library in Essex, Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, and Boxford Town Library. 

    • Wear orange. Join a handful of community groups who will be sporting orange this September to raise awareness, including the Gloucester City Council at their Tuesday, Sept. 12 meeting, Gloucester Police Department Community Impact Unit, CORE Peer Recovery & Resource Center, Beauport Hospitality Group staff, and Sudbay Automotive Group team members. 

    • See Gloucester City Hall and the Beauport Hotel lit up with orange lights. 

    • Commuters: keep an eye out on Rt. 128 for a special Hunger Action Month™ banner at Sudbay Automotive coming soon. 

Mayor Greg Verga will issue a proclamation naming September Hunger Action Month™ on Hunger Action Day Friday, Sept. 15. The Gloucester City Council will also issue a proclamation at its Tuesday, Sept. 12 meeting.

Learn more about Hunger Action Month™ at FOODPANTRY.org and THANK YOU!

About Hunger Action MonthHunger Action Month™ 

Hunger Action Month™ is an annual, nationwide campaign by the Feeding America network to raise awareness and encourage action to reduce food insecurity.