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“Ask A Muslim Anything” with Robert Azzi at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

On Thursday, June 2 at 6:00pm, join Robert Azzi at the Sawyer Free Library, for a conversation about being a practicing Muslim in small-town New England. The Exeter-based photojournalist, who is an Arab-American Muslim, has put together the program called “Ask a Muslim Anything” that he hopes will help reduce misunderstandings between people of different faiths.  As a part of it, he visits area communities to provide space for open questions about his faith, offering one man’s perspective and experience. Is there a question you’ve always wondered about Islam but never had the opportunity to ask? This is your chance.

Ask a Muslim Anything: Thursday, June 2 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Sawyer Free Library located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester. The event is free and open to all to attend. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Winslow Homer: American Passage – an evening with curator and author William R. Cross at the Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library is pleased to welcome curator and local author William R. Cross for a discussion of his book Winslow Homer: American Passages on Thursday, May 26 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  

Cross’ newly published book Winslow Homer: American Passage is a definitive biography of the painter. It studies Homer in the context of how his life as an artist was shaped by the turbulent, dramatic political times he lived through, from the Panic of 1837 to the Civil War and Reconstruction. Filmmaker Ken Burns (The Civil War) comments that curator/author William Cross “has done an admirable job bringing to life this most American of painters. Finally, Winslow Homer’s brilliant work and fascinating life are united in one volume.” 

During this special presentation, Cross will discuss Homer and his art, illustrated with slides of images and photos collected from his research.  

William R. Cross is an independent scholar and a consultant to art and history museums. He served as the curator of Homer at the Beach: A Marine Painter’s Journey, 1869–1880, a nationally renowned 2019 exhibition at the Cape Ann Museum on the formation of Winslow Homer as a marine painter. Bill is a graduate of Yale College, magna cum laude, and received an MBA at Harvard Business School.  He and his wife live on Cape Ann. 

Winslow Homer: American Passage will be available for sale at The Bookstore of Gloucester, located at 61 East Main Street in Gloucester, for those interested in having it autographed at the event. 

This event is free and open to the public at the Sawyer Free Library, located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester. Registration is not required. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org. 

Dementia Communication: Using Art and Art History to Connect presentation with Siobhan McDonald 

~ Sawyer Free Library

 On Saturday, May 21 from 2:00 – 4:00pm, the Sawyer Free Library will be concluding its series Of Sound Mind with a presentation by artist, teacher, and author Siobhan McDonald.

Siobhan is passionate about helping seniors with memory loss to connect with loved ones and caregivers through conversation and sharing their personal stories. She will share how providing visual arts workshops to seniors with memory challenges inspired her interactive book designed for entertainment, understanding, comfort, and connection: Hilda’s Story: New Bedford, MA.

Get a nostalgic glimpse into the true-life story of Hilda, the child of immigrant parents, as she grows up during the years following World War II in a historic city on the coast of Massachusetts. Experience the decades through the wonder of invention and love of family.

Hilda’s Story: New Bedford, Massachusetts is meant to be shared, and your interaction with your listener can become as meaningful as the story itself. This Picture Book style hardcover (11″ x 8.5″ / 40 pp.) is a wonderful resource for families and caregivers but can also be offered for someone to enjoy at their own pace.

Caring for a senior who is dealing with dementia or other health issues can be challenging, but also joyful and rewarding. Come learn more about this important topic. The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org or call 978-325-5550.

May Veggie Seedling Sale

~ backyardgrowersgloucester

🍅 Our May Seedling Sale is now OPEN to the public! Visit our online shop for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and MORE, generously grown for our community by our friends at Cedar Rock Gardens. Shop here.

Proceeds from this sale support Backyard Growers’ programs empowering people to grow their own fresh food 🌿 THANK YOU for partnering with us in this work.

Some fine print…

🌱 The sale is open until Thursday, May 19; seedling pick-up is on Saturday May 21, 11am-2pm, at 103 Maplewood Ave, Gloucester. We will also have other growing supplies and any surplus vegetable seedlings available for purchase.

👉🏾 Seedlings marked FREE are reserved for our program participants, who also receive advanced access to our seedling sale to ensure they get the plants they need. Please do not order a FREE seedling if you did not receive a raised bed or GrowBag garden from us this year. Thank you for helping us support our program participants.

An Evening of Poetry at the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, May 19th

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join us for an Evening of Poetry at the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, May 19 from 6:00 – 7:00pm.

The Sawyer Free Library is partnering with The Bookstore of Gloucester to present a poetry reading with local poets Rebecca Hart Olander and Jennifer Martelli. The poets books will be available.

The event is free and open to the public. It will take place on the Main Floor of the Library located at 2 Dale Avenue. No reservations are needed. For more information visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

at the Sawyer Free Library

Film Screening of “Lives Well Lived” on Thursday, 5/19 at the Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

In collaboration with the Gloucester Senior Center, Sawyer Free Library is hosting a screening of the award winning documentary “Lives Well Lived” on Thursday, May 19 at 6:00 p.m. This event is part of a series of events being held in celebration of Older Americans Month.

In our society, the elderly are often overlooked. Lives Well Lived celebrates the incredible wit, wisdom, and life experiences of older adults living full and meaningful lives in their later years. Their stories are about perseverance, the human spirit, and staying positive during the great personal and historic challenges.

The stories told in this film will inspire people of every age to achieve the longevity of both health and spirit, and to realize that growing older can be a journey to be celebrated.

Screening to take place in the Friends Room of the Sawyer Free Library located at 2 Dale Avenue. No reservation required. For more information visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

WellFest is This Sunday! You Won’t Want To Miss It

~ oliviaperezodess

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!

This Weekend: Stamp Out Hunger Cape Ann & Ipswich!

~ todtheopendoor

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.