Month: July 2026

GEF Welcomes New Board Members and Development Manager

~ gloucestereducationfoundation

The Gloucester Education Foundation (GEF) has welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors and hired a Development Manager as the organization enters its third decade of expanding opportunities for Gloucester students.

Joining the GEF Board as of July 1 are Jeremy McKeen, Sara Seber, and Norah Wylie. Laura Irwin joined the staff in May as Development Manager.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeremy, Sara, Norah, and Laura to GEF,” said Executive Director Emily Siegel. “Each brings deep experience, strong community connections, and a genuine commitment to public education. Their leadership will be especially valuable as GEF continues supporting innovative programs across the Gloucester Public Schools while advancing the transformational O’Maley Courtyard project.”

Jeremy is a longtime English teacher, writer, and father of three children in the Gloucester Public Schools. He recently completed a term on the Gloucester School Committee and has been involved in community organizations and traditions including the Horribles Parade Committee. During his 25-year career in education, he has served as a coach, union representative, chess club advisor, class advisor, and writing instructor. He is also a published author, editor, and columnist.

Sara is a real estate advisor with Engel & Völkers By the Sea and lives in Lanesville with her daughter, a Plum Cove Elementary School student. Her background includes nonprofit development, event and project management, and community organizing. She has worked with organizations including Backyard Growers, Massachusetts Farm to School, the Cape Ann YMCA, and the Sawyer Free Library. She brings to GEF a strong network of local relationships and a passion for building connections among families and community organizations.

Norah is a retired attorney with decades of experience in education law and public education advocacy. Her career included representing children and families in special education and disability accommodation matters, working on school safety and education issues as an assistant attorney general, and serving for 20 years as Associate Dean for Students at Boston College Law School. She previously served on the Newton School Committee, the Newton Schools Foundation board, and local PTO leadership. She moved to Gloucester full-time four years ago, after owning a home here for 17 years.

As GEF’s new Development Manager, Laura brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor relations, grant management, and philanthropic operations. Her previous roles include positions with the Essex County Community Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, FamilyAid Boston, and the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education. At GEF, Laura will help lead annual fundraising, donor stewardship, prospect development, and fundraising systems while supporting the organization’s $3 million capital campaign to renovate the O’Maley Middle School courtyard.

GEF also extends its deep gratitude to outgoing board member Matt Beach, whose term ended on June 30. A longtime supporter of the organization, Matt has been a thoughtful advocate for Gloucester students and helped strengthen GEF’s relationship with Applied Materials, a major supporter of GEF and STEM opportunities for Gloucester students. We look forward to continued collaboration with him in the future!

Learn more about our team here!

A Wonderful Surprise for Wellspring House from the Cummings Foundation

~ Wellspring House

Wellspring House received a wonderful surprise earlier this week – a $50,000 unrestricted gift from the Cummings Foundation through its “Making a Difference Dollars” program which recognizes grantee organizations for exceptional community impact.

The nomination came from longtime Foundation volunteers who visited Wellspring this spring to learn about the organization’s new digital literacy program, embedded in our ESOL classes. In its first year, the program provided 111 computers and 70 internet hotspots to students at no cost – because English proficiency and technology skills together open the door to economic mobility. The volunteers were so moved by what they saw and so attuned to the financial challenges a program like this can face, that they recommended Wellspring for this additional support, presenting the award to President and Executive Director Melissa Dimond on July 13.

Cummings Foundation Site Volunteers Barbara Layne and Betsy Harper presenting Wellspring House’s President Melissa Dimond a check for $50K for its work throughout the North Shore

What struck them most, they shared, was Wellspring’s deep commitment to meeting each person where they are and helping them find their own financial footing, whatever challenges stand in the way.

“This was a wonderful and very generous surprise,” said Dimond. “We are very grateful to the Cummings Foundation for their ongoing support and belief in our work.”

The gift builds on the Foundation’s generous, multi-year investment in Wellspring in support of helping families and individuals achieve financial stability. The Cummings Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Greater Boston and beyond, and its continued partnership recognizes Wellspring’s impact throughout the community.

Because the Cummings Foundation’s Make a Difference Dollars are unrestricted, Wellspring can make strategic decisions, respond to emerging barriers, and sustain innovations like the digital literacy program. With the Cummings Foundation’s continued partnership, Wellspring will expand access to education, job training, and career pathways, helping more North Shore families achieve the financial security they deserve.

To learn more about Wellspring’s programs — or to join the Cummings Foundation in supporting this work — visit wellspringhouse.org

“Christmas in July” to benefit Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund

~ Wellspring House

Forget waiting until December – The Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund is getting into the holiday spirit this summer! Action Inc., Pathways for Children, and Wellspring House are thrilled to announce Christmas in July, a fun, festive summer fundraising campaign to make sure every child on Cape Ann receives something special this holiday season. Think ugly sweaters optional, generosity required.

While the days are long and the beaches are busy, Cape Ann’s nonprofit community is already thinking about the 1,400 children across Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Essex, and Ipswich who deserve a magical holiday season – no matter what their family’s budget looks like. With the cost of housing, groceries, and daily essentials continuing to stretch family budgets thin, getting a head start now means more toys, more books, more pajamas, and more smiles come December.

So, this July, we’re asking Cape Ann to do what it does best, show up for its neighbors, and have a great time while doing it.

About the Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund

The Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund is a collaboration between Action Inc., Pathways for Children, and Wellspring House, Inc. For Cape Ann families struggling to make ends meet with prices for daily needs at an all-time high, the Fund’s holiday toy drive provides much-needed relief and helps brighten the holiday season for local children. Over two days this December, nearly 700 parents and caregivers will take part in an in-store toy shopping experience, selecting age-appropriate gifts for more than 1,400 local children from toys donated by community members and gift cards purchased through donations. Volunteers throughout Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Essex, and Ipswich help sort donations, set up the holiday store, and serve as personal shoppers.

Get Out, Give Back: Benefit Events Across Cape Ann

A growing roster of Cape Ann restaurants, venues, and businesses are hosting Cape Ann Kids benefit events this July, with a percentage of proceeds going directly to the Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund. From dining out to special events, there are plenty of ways to get involved and make a difference. Confirmed participants include Machaca, Beauport Hotel, Gloucester House, Fox Creek Tavern, The Farm, and more. Participating partners span Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, and Ipswich. For the full updated list visit capeannkids.org.

Among the highlights, Christmas in July will take over the Birdseye Rooftop at Beauport Hotel on the evening of Saturday, July 25th for a festive evening of live music, décor, and sunset skies with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund. This 21+ event requires advance tickets.  Details and tickets are available HERE.

The Grand Finale: Concert on Meetinghouse Green

Christmas in July wraps up on Friday, July 31 at 6:00 PM with a magical evening concert as part of Music on Meetinghouse Green, presented by the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation. The night features a performance by Rhiannon Hurst & Friends, with Pathways for Children as the evening’s beneficiary, every dollar raised goes directly to the Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund. Everyone is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, friends, and holiday spirit. In July.

How to Spread the Joy

  • Get out and give back at a participating Cape Ann Kids benefit event this July
  • Join us for the July 31 concert on Meetinghouse Green in Gloucester
  • Donate online at capeannkids.org
  • Spread the word with friends, family, and fellow Cape Ann neighbors

Backyard Growcery farmers market opens July 8

~ backyardgrowersgloucester
Learn more

Stop by downtown Gloucester’s farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, brought to life by Backyard Growers every Wednesday from 2:30-6:30pm at Burnham’s Field in downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts.

The Backyard Growcery brings fresh, local food to our community while supporting small-scale farms and up-and-coming food businesses. Visit weekly to shop high-quality, local produce, eggs, and other fresh and prepared foods. Join free veggie gardening and arts workshops, connect with family & friends, and support a vibrant local food system right in your own backyard!

The Growcery accepts SNAP/EBT, WIC and Senior Farmers Market Coupons. SNAP users can visit the Backyard Growers table every week to receive extra cash to spend at the market through Market Mint, Backyard Growers’ $5 SNAP match.

Explore this season’s vendor list

To kick off the season, on July 8 we are welcoming:
🥖 Bonny Breads – delicious bread & baked goods
🥪 Between Sandwiches – incredible prepared foods
🔨 The Cornerstone Creative – youth-crafted wood creations
🥕 First Light Farm – fresh produce from Hamilton
🐣 Pleasant Valley Gardens: The Bonanno Family Farm – fresh produce & eggs from Methuen
🍕 Rhea Pizzeria Napoletana – artisanal pizza to pre-order online and enjoy at the market
🥤 Shore Sips – the North Shore’s only dirty soda company
🌱 SweetSoil Foods – dried herbs & spices, natural snacks, and cocktail enhances from local organic produce
🥨 The Woven Crust – a hyper-local sourdough cottage bakery
🍄‍🟫 Underground Mushroom Co – fresh mushrooms & mushroom grow kits

Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music by 2 Guys, 10 Strings.

Plus, Burnham’s Field Community Garden will be open for public tours.

See you at Burnham’s!

Gloucester Rotary Club Announces Photography Contest

~ trixy546

The Gloucester Rotary will publish a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2027 as a fundraiser.  All profits will go to the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.

The 2027 calendar theme will be The Seasons of Cape Ann.  In Order to publish a beautiful calendar, the Club is requesting high quality digital photos that reflect the amazing beauty of Cape Ann throughout the year.  As we will be featuring one photo per month, we need images from each season:  winter, spring, summer and fall.  Photographs from Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester will be accepted.    

Full contest rules and requirements are available online at gloucesterrotary.org.  All entries must be received by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026.

More information about the Rotary Club of Gloucester is available online at  https://gloucesterrotary.org/ and  https://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.

Essex Shipbuilding is making a 50th anniversary summer to remember

~ michaeldekoster

The Shipyard is pulling out all the stops to make sure you (and your kids, and your family) have a great summer. Their calendar is full of fun and unique experiences for all. I can’t remember a better line up if activities…

You absolutely have to visit this preserved historic site on the shores that launched over 4000 (and counting) ships for well over 350 (and counting) years. It doesn’t get more authentic than that!  Learn from the best in the shadows of giants and make your own history today. These are only some of the fun things happening in education. Check out the rest at

https://www.essexshipbuilding.org/