Month: April 2024

Family Fun at The Cut this Sunday afternoon with live music, beach games, and summer vibes

~ Sawyer Free Library

“Making Waves For the 2025 Sawyer Free ”

Come shake off the last of winter and soak up the warmth of community spirit at this free family-friendly event featuring a performance by “Moonraker” and “Dis n’ Dat Reggae Band”

Get ready to make a splash as Sawyer Free Library invites you to a community-wide celebration, “Making a Splash for the 2025 Sawyer Free,“ at The Cut. Dive into the fun THIS Sunday, April 28, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and usher in summer early with an afternoon of live music, beach games, and summer vibes for all ages. 

Headlining the afternoon festivities will be a performance by Gloucester’s very own Mayor’s band “MOONRAKER,” featuring Amy Prichard on lead vocals and guitar, Adam Quinn on drums, Missy Sponagle lending her vocal talents, Nate Kidder on lead guitar, Mayor Greg Verga on bass, and a special guest appearance by Millie Manning from “Millie and the Half Nelsons” on vocals and keyboard.

Adding to the summertime vibe, local reggae sensation the “Dis n’ Dat band will kick off the party, setting the stage for an afternoon filled with family-friendly beach games, prizes, auction, raffle, and other surprises. Plus, expect insightful remarks about the 2025 Sawyer Free Library.

Family friendly celebration free and open to all, although donations welcomed to 2025 Sawyer Free Library  In addition, anyone staying for dinner after the festivities, The Cut will donate 10% of their bill to the 2025 Sawyer Free Library! 

 RSVP HERE to let us know you are coming!  It is going to be a great time! 

Auction Highlights :

•2 Red Sox Tickets vs Toronto Blue Jays Monday, June 24 at 7:10 pm (Value: $400)  Seats just above Red Sox Dugout – Donated by Caruso and McGovern Construction Co.

•Yeti Roadie Cooler with Beach Gear– Ace Hardware/Red Lantern/ Applied Materials

•Winning Solutions Family Chess Game with Surfside Pizza and Ice Cream

Raffle Highlights: 

• Family Sail – The Schooner Thomas E. Lannon ( $99 value)

• Cape Ann Lanes ($150 Gift Card)

• Family Dinner Causeway Gift Certificate ($150.00)

• Gloucester Maritime for a Museum + Family Annual Membership  ($150 Value)

• Mark Adrian Shoes Gift Certificate 

All proceeds benefit the 2025 Sawyer Free Library 

The Inaugural Byrnes Lecture: Sequencing the Sea @ Gloucester Stage

~ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

Please help us celebrate GMGI’s Inaugural Byrnes Lecture, in memory of longtime GMGI and community supporter John Byrnes.

The oceans are home to an amazing diversity of life that sustains this planet, shapes climate and weather, and provides food and life-saving discoveries. But our oceans are under increasing threat from the impacts of pollution, habitat loss, overharvesting, and climate change.

Join us on Thursday, May 9th at 6pm at Gloucester Stage for an evening featuring Donald G. Comb Science Director Dr. Andrea Bodnar on how GMGI’s work is vital to preserving biodiversity, promoting healthy oceans, and enabling endless discoveries that impact humankind.

Click here or see the image below for details. This event is free and open to the public! Registration required.

Questions? Please reach out to Maggie Costello at maggie.costello@gmgi.org.

Eventbrite link: Click here to register

Gloucester Zine Fest presented by Sawyer Free Library this Saturday, April 27 from 11am-3pm

~ Sawyer Free Library

A day of artistic expression and community fun!

Free and fun for all ages taking place at 20 and 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester!

Gloucester Zine Fest presented by the Sawyer Free Library is taking place this Saturday, April 27, from 11 am to 3 pm at both 20 and 21 Main Street in Gloucester, MA. The festival, in celebration of the Library’s new zine collection, zine- making, and zine culture, promises a day filled with artistic expression, community engagement, and fun for all ages. It is free and open to everyone to attend and enjoy with free giveaways for the first 200 attendees. 

Attendees can look forward to a vibrant and engaging lineup of hands-on activities and workshops for all ages, including inspiring speakers and live music with a special performance by Gloucester Student Band, with the highlight being the Zine Marketplace at 20 Main Street. Participants of all ages can also unleash their creativity by crafting their own zine with local community partners Cape Ann Art Haven and Cape Ann Museum. And what’s a festival without some delicious treats? Attendees can indulge in some Holy Cow Ice Cream while immersing themselves in the world of zines. 

See the full schedule below or visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

The Sawyer Free Library would like to thank 20 Main Street, LLC, for the generous use of their space.

If you’re asking, “what’s a zine?” that’s ok. Zines are small-batch, DIY publications that provide a powerful platform of expression for underrepresented perspectives and voices. 

Gloucester Zine Fest is free and open to all. Learn more at sawyerfreelibrary.org

The Gloucester Student Arts Festival returns on Saturday, May 18th

~ gloucestereducationfoundation

The Gloucester Education Foundation and Gloucester Public Schools are thrilled to bring back the Gloucester Student Arts Festival for its 14th year, a daylong celebration of the arts in the Gloucester Public Schools!

The festival will feature indoor exhibits of student work at City Hall and the Cape Ann Museum, and an outdoor block party on Warren Street and in the CAM Courtyard with performances, live music, art-making workshops, and food trucks. Visual and performing arts from grades Pre-K-12 will be showcased, with the goal of every student in Gloucester represented in at least one way. All 3rd, 5th and 8th graders will also have work on display at the Cape Ann Museum, and GHS seniors will be highlighted in a curated show at City Hall, with an opening reception on Friday 5/17. A closing concert by Dis n Dat, a band selected by GHS students, will take place from 3-4pm in the CAM Courtyard.

This all-ages event will be a destination for families, community members, artists, and visitors. Join us for a day of joyful creativity and art! Visit http://www.thinkthebest.org/news1/artsfest24 for details. Final schedule will be posted 5/1/24.

Step Right Up: The Open Door to Hold Showstopper Empty Bowl Circus, Auction 

~ todtheopendoor
Mussels, a welded-bronze sculpture by Chris Williams available for bid through The Open Door Empty Bowl Artists’ Bowls Online auction.  
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door) 

Tickets are available NOW for The Open Door’s annual Empty Bowl fundraiser! This year’s Empty Bowl Circus brings a one-of-a-kind circus-themed marvel to Cruiseport next week, all in the name of raising funds to connect local people to good, healthy food this summer. 

WHEN: Wednesday, April 24 from 4-8 p.m.  

WHERE: Cruiseport Gloucester 

6 Rowe Square, Gloucester MA 01930 

CLICK HERE for tickets. Proceeds support summer hunger-relief programs of The Open Door!

WHAT: A circus-themed fundraiser to remember, proceeds from The Open Door Empty Bowl Circus will support the nonprofit’s summer food resource programs including Summer Meals for Kids and Mobile Market.  

The Open Door has partnered with Seaside Circus Cape Ann to feature circus performers at the event. Attendees will walk through the doors at Cruiseport and be transported to a colorful spectacle featuring skilled performers, and vibrant displays of bowls hand-painted by community members.  

Last year, The Open Door met a 30% increase in requests for food assistance. In 2023, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 9,836 people from 4,952 households through the distribution of 1.98 million pounds of food. 

Participants on Wednesday, April 24 will choose a hand-painted bowl, and take home soup and bread to-go from a local restaurant, caterer, or The Open Door kitchen. Cookies, fruit, and water will also be available to-go. 

Online Artists’ Bowls Auction 

An online auction featuring bowls painted by local artists is also live at 32auctions.com/EmptyBowl2024 through Sunday, May 5 at midnight. The auction is held in conjunction with the Empty Bowl event each year to raise funds for The Open Door’s summer hunger-relief programs.  

Local artists who donated bowls to the auction this year include Chris Williams, David Montgomery, Captain Sam Nigro, Betty Lou Schlemm, Jeff Weaver, Ted Bidwell, Mary Salerno, James Watson, Kevin Ellis, Nina Testaverde Goodick, Barbe Ennis, Anni Melançon, David Archibald, Gina Russo, Marty Morgan, Miranda Thomas, Tom Howlett, Pat Baker, Leon Doucette and Melissa Cooper, Danette English, Suze Collinson, Susan J. Schrader, Sandy Shaw, John Early, Marilyn Swift, Mari Bergeron, Scott Tubby, Deb Schradieck, Bill Stevens, Sara Collins, Ronald Pouliot, Karen Ellis, Natalie Daley, Pauline Bresnahan, Hannah Morris, Ann Ziergiebel, Mi Robertson, Sinikka Nogelo, Jayn Gardner, Peter Sinard, Mary Lee, Miranda Aisling, Evelyn Stewart, Britta Magnuson, Mayor Greg Verga, and State Sen. Bruce Tarr. 

For more information visit FOODPANTRY.org.  

The Incoming Tide by David Montgomery. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
Jonah Crab by Jeff Weaver. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door) 
Fish by Miranda Thomas. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
 
Schooners by James Watson. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door) 

The Value of Trees to Our Health and Our City: presentation by Peter Lawrence of ‘400 TREES’

~ Sawyer Free Library

THURSDAY, APRIL 18 from 5:30 -6:30 pm at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street

In celebration of Earth Month, please join PETER LAWRENCE of 400 TREES for a presentation on the benefits of trees in our beautiful city at the SAWYER FREE LIBRARY at 21 Main Street on Thursday, April 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

In addition to enhancing the attractiveness of a city, trees provide essential services to its residents, including producing oxygen, removing carbon dioxide, and cooling our city by providing shade, among other benefits to our local ecosystem. Which trees provide the greatest benefits? What is the impact of a street without trees on a city and its residents? Peter Lawrence will also discuss the work done by 400 Trees Gloucester and the City to plant and maintain trees. What are the existing and future educational opportunities about trees, and what is our plan to create a permanent tree organization in the city?

400 Trees is a sustainability program that combines natural history, environmental stewardship, experiential education, and community participation to create a living legacy for generations to come. It is a collaborative project of Gloucester 400+ and Biomimicry New England, with support from the City of Gloucester Departments of Public Works and Health.

This event is open to all to attend. No registration required. For more information visit, SawyerFreeLibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Throughout the month of April, the Sawyer Free Library is presenting a diverse lineup of events and initiatives designed to promote environmental awareness and stewardship. From educational workshops to reading challenges, the Library endeavors to inspire and empower individuals to embrace sustainable living and make meaningful actions in their own lives to protect our environment. To learn more about the Library’s programming in celebration of Earth Month visit: Sawyer Free Library.org/sustainablity-month

Join Us For a New Presentation on Eric Pape by Local Historian Les Bartlett

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Friday, April 19th – 6pm
Monday, April 22nd – 2pm.

$25 per attendee.
Hammond Castle Museum Member benefits apply.
Attendees may explore the Gertrude Cawein At Hammond Castle Museum fine art exhibit and enjoy a self-guided tour of the Museum.

Step into the vibrant world of outdoor summer theatre on Cape Ann with our upcoming lecture, a perfect complement to the expanded art exhibit featuring the multitalented Eric Pape. Pape, the visionary behind the 1909 Outdoor Pageant at Stage Fort Park, not only set the stage but became a model for future productions in the region. His collaboration and close friendship with Percy MacKaye infused the pageant with artistic intention and grandeur, leaving a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Gloucester, Rockport, and Lanesville. Join us as local historian, Leslie Bartlett delves into the rich history and artistic legacy of Eric Pape, exploring how his innovative approach continues to inspire outdoor performances to this day. After the program, attendees may explore the Gertrude Cawein Eric Pape fine art exhibit and self-guided tours of the Museum.

Reserve Your Seats

Join Us Tomorrow!

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Reservations required.

Doors open: at 10:00 am. Timed Admission.
The last entrance is at 3:00 pm.

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, April 13th as we celebrate the start of our new season and our visionary founder, John Hays Hammond Jr, whose pioneering scientific achievements continue to shape modern technology! Born 136 years ago on April 13th, 1888, Hammond’s enduring influence transcends time, and we’re commemorating his extraordinary legacy.

As our special gift to you, enjoy:
-Free admission to see the breathtaking Great Hall and a limited number of smaller exhibit spaces during your timed admittance and discover the magic that inspired Hammond’s visionary creations.

-Enjoy free access to the “Gertrude Cawein At Hammond Castle Museum” fine art exhibit of nearly 60 works by Eric Pape.

Please note:
No admittance without advance registration. RSVP is required for us to manage attendance as capacity is limited. Not all rooms within the Museum will be open during this special event. Thank you for your understanding.

Book your visit here!

“Making a Splash for the 2025 Sawyer Free Library” at THE CUT on Sunday, April 28th!

~ Sawyer Free Library

A family-friendly afternoon of live music, beach games and summer vibes featuring Mayor Verga’s band “Moonraker” – all to celebrate the 2025 Sawyer Free Library!

Get ready to make a splash at this community-wide celebration for the 2025 Sawyer Free Library at The Cut at 177 Main Street in downtown Gloucester on Sunday, April 28 from 3:00 -5:00 p.m. Dive into the fun and usher in summer early with live music, beach games and summer vibes – for all ages!

Headlining the event will be “Moonraker,” Gloucester’s very own Mayor’s band featuring Amy Prichard on lead vocals and guitar, Adam Quinn on drums, Missy Sponagle lending her vocal talents, Nate Kidder on lead guitar, Mayor Greg Verga on bass, and a special guest appearance by Millie Manning from Millie and the Half Nelsons on vocals and keyboard.

Adding to the summertime vibe, local reggae sensation the “Dis n’ Dat band” will kick off the party, setting the stage for an afternoon filled with beach games, prizes, and other surprises. Plus, a sneak peek into the exciting developments ahead with the 2025 Sawyer Free Library!

The Library is grateful to The Cut for generously donating their space for this event. And for those who choose to have dinner after the festivities, The Cut will also donate 10% of your final bill to the 2025 Sawyer Free Library.

The family-friendly event is open to all ages; admission is free, but donations to the 2025 Sawyer Free Library are welcomed.  To register or for more details, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Grab a Spoon and Enjoy a Delicious Collaboration in celebration of Earth Month!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Grab a spoon and satisfy your sweet tooth. In case you haven’t seen, the Sawyer Free Library has partnered with Holy Cow Ice Cream Cafe to make Cocoa Berry Chip, a raspberry-infused chocolate ice cream loaded with chocolate chips! Award winning Holy Cow Ice Cream created a new flavor celebrating Earth Month in partnership with the Sawyer Free Library and Cape Ann Climate Coalition.

This delicious special chocolate and raspberry-flavored all-natural ice cream treat embodies the organizations’ commitment to environmental advocacy and the understanding that every day is earth day. A portion of sales of this limited time special flavor will support the Cape Ann Climate Coalition’s educational programs. This delicious ice cream be available in pints only at the Gloucester and Peabody locations, so get some while you can!

For more information visit, SawyerFreeLibrary.org