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Trick Or Treat At Hammond Castle Museum on October 27th

~ Hammond Castle Museum

What better place to trick or treat than at an old seaside castle? We have everything you need to ignite your child’s imagination: a drawbridge, spiral staircase, and a Great Hall
We will have spooky music, multiple trick or treat stations inside the castle and bubbles, snacks, spooky stories and a craft at the 13th Century arches. You bring the scary costumes.

Timed Trick or Treat sessions will last approximately 15 minutes with five treat stations set up within the Castle starting on our drawbridge and leading into the Great Hall. The program will conclude with bubbles, a craft, spooky stories and snacks outside at the Arches.

*This ticket grants you access to the Trick Or Treat event. At the time of this event, the Museum will be closed to tours. If you wish to tour Hammond Castle Museum on the day of the ticketed event, Self-Guided Tour tickets may be purchased in the Museum Shop at a 20% discount. Last tours begin at 2pm. Proof of purchase of the Trick or Treat event will be required.

All proceeds from this program will support the restoration and preservation of the 13th century, French cloister archways which are located at the front of the museum. Reservations available at: bit.ly/3g5ZqBv

Join the Gloucester 400+ for a Musical Medley Fundraiser!

~ g400+events

Everybody likes to get a little Madhouse, but no one has a better time than the eight piece powerhouse rythm and blues band led by Singer Songwriter John Keegan. Put on your dancing shoes and head to Blue Collar Lobster for a light hearted night of cocktails and dancing with the band and special guests. Funds from the evening’s festivities will directly support free, public programming across the city and throughout 2023!

Doors open at 7:00pm. Music starts at 7:30pm.

Event will include a cash bar. Please note this event is 21+ and IDs will be checked at the door.

The mission of Gloucester 400+ is to commemorate, celebrate and learn about Gloucester’s cultural, social, ethnic and economic diversity

The year 2023 marks 400 years in the history of America’s oldest seaport recognizing its settlement by English colonizers in 1623. The theme of the quadricentennial, “Our People, Our Stories”, focuses on commemorating Gloucester’s history through the stories of those who lived here: Indigenous peoples, English colonists, free Blacks, enslaved Africans, and the many waves of immigrants who built this city from past to present. The anniversary seeks to be a truthful telling of the complex story of the place we now call Gloucester.

Only a Few Tickets Remaining! Don’t Miss Out on Your Chance to Win up to $10,000 – Buy Your Ticket Today!

~ Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

Call us at 978-283-1601 or come by the Gloucester Chamber office to buy your tickets today! Cost is $100 per ticket.

Official drawing is Thursday, October 20 from 5 to 7 PM at the Gloucester Elks.

$25K Game tickets are available for purchase at the Chamber office. There are 12 chances to win with a total of $25,000 being given away. Cost is $100 per ticket, with a limit of 500 tickets being sold. 

  •  Grand Prize: $10,000
  •  Second Prize: $5,000
  •  Third Prize: $2,500
  •  Fourth Prize (6): $1,000
  •  Fifth Prize (3): $500

In addition, 50/50 Raffle tickets are also available for purchase. A Body Length is $20 and an Arm Length is $10.

Reservations are required to attend the official $25K drawing. Please Email michelle@capeannchamber.com to Reserve Your Seat Now!

Now Showing at the Little Art Cinema: HOLD ME TIGHT

~ littleartcinema

Oct 7th, 8th & 9th @ 6:00
Oct 12th @ 7:00

In Hold Me Tight, Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread, Bergman Island) gives another riveting performance as Clarisse, a woman on the run from her family for reasons that aren’t immediately clear. Widely renowned as one of France’s great contemporary actors but less well-known in North America for his equally impressive work behind the camera, Mathieu Amalric’s sixth feature as director is his most ambitious to date. This virtuosic, daringly fluid portrait of a woman in crisis alternates between Clarisse’s adventures on the road and scenes of her abandoned husband Marc (Arieh Worthalter) as he struggles to take care of their children at home. Amalric’s film keeps viewers uncertain as to the reality of what they’re seeing until the final moments of this moving, unpredictable, and richly rewarding family drama.

https://www.littleartrockport.com/ – 19 School Street, Rockport, MA

GMGI Updates from the Harbor: September 2022

~ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

GMGI Researchers Join OceanX for Young Explorers Program 

As part of GMGI’s ongoing partnership with OceanX, GMGI researchers Matt Harke, Ph.D. and Jennifer Polinski took part in the organization’s third Young Explorers Program (YEP). YEP was created by OceanX to provide college students and recent graduates traditionally underrepresented in marine science with the incredible opportunity to learn about and explore the ocean – all while aboard the state-of-the-art research vessel OceanXplorer. Click here to read the full article.

GMGI Adds New Board Member: Introducing Lauren Liss

GMGI is thrilled to announce the addition of Lauren Liss to the GMGI Board of Directors. Lauren is an attorney who focuses her practice on environmental law and policy as well as on real estate development. Lauren has deep public and private sector experience, having served in a variety of governmental roles, including as president and CEO of the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency. She previously served as commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and as general counsel and deputy secretary for Environmental Policy at the Executive Office of Transportation and Construction for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Additionally, she was senior environmental counsel for the Central Artery/Ted Williams Tunnel project.

Lauren has authored several articles, as well as participated in panels for numerous federal and state organizations. She has guest-lectured on environmental and transportation issues at Boston College Law School, Suffolk University Graduate Program and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Board of Directors at GMGI,” Liss said. “I’ve been hearing about the organization for years through several different circles and have been impressed with the impact GMGI has made in such a short time. I’m looking forward to using my experience to help GMGI grow a thriving science community here on Cape Ann.”

Cape Ann Savings Bank Invests in GMGI
CASB donates $150K to support Academy’s new“Big Waive” tuition structure

Cape Ann Savings Bank recently announced a $150K gift to Gloucester Marine Genomic Institute in support of their mission to address critical challenges facing our oceans, human health, and the environment through innovative scientific research and education. The donation marks one of the early commitments to GMGI’s soon-to-be-announced See Change Campaign.   Click here to read the full press release.

Growing our Talented Team

Desks and cubicle space once available for guests are no longer – GMGI is growing! Since April GMGI has hired five full time staff to join the research, education and administrative teams. 

Executive Director Chris Bolzan is thrilled with the trajectory of the organization. “GMGI’s growth has been steady, and it’s been consequential,” she said. “We are fortunate to have been able to attract and retain a team of incredibly talented individuals. It’s because of them we can achieve the success we’ve seen and envision continued growth ahead.”

Each of the new hires bring a unique energy and skillset to the organization:

Lisa Tobias joined the team in April as Director of Finance & Administration. Lisa oversees GMGI’s financial health, ensuring sustainability for GMGI’s continued growth. She is a driving force for DE&I. 

Laura Richane started this spring as the Academy’s first Director of Enrollment & Partnerships. She focuses on attracting young adults to our Academy training program, as well as connecting the Academy to industry partners. 

Kristin Lewis and Mel Drexler are the newest Teaching Assistant & Laboratory Technician’s to join the Academy team. They are responsible for engaging students in hands-on lectures in the lab and teaching industry-standard protocols. 

Reanna McAtee was recently hired full-time as a Laboratory Technician & Assistant Laboratory Manager after completing her Academy internship with GMGI. Reanna is assisting Postdoctoral Scientist Kate Castellano, Ph.D. with her work on studying healthy aging in the red sea urchin.

Click here to read more about all our talented staff. 

Interested in being part of our team? GMGI has MORE positions available! Check out our Careers page for more information. 

Summer STEM in Boston

Summer 2022 brought new developments to the Academy’s Summer STEM Enrichment programs. The “Mean Glow Green” curriculum was introduced, giving participating students the opportunity to grow and extract green fluorescent protein in the lab, learning about the growing field of biomanufacturing. 

Academy instructors took the show on the road! Thanks to our partners at Lincoln Properties, Related Beal, and the South Boston Neighborhood House, John Doyle, Sadie Salazar, and Zach Dench packed up the necessary equipment and set up a temporary laboratory in the Mass Bay Credit Union in South Boston. An engaged group of middle and high school students extracted DNA, completed PCR protocols and learned how to properly analyze scientific results through GMGI’s Fish Fraud Forensics program. This was an exciting step forward as the Academy team works to expand access to the tremendous opportunities that exist in the Commonwealth’s thriving life science and biotech industries.

CST Nominates GMGI to Join 1% for the Planet 

This past month GMGI joined “1% for the Planet.” Only 3% of global philanthropy goes towards environmental causes and “1%” set out to change that. As an organization, they inspire business to donate 1% of their revenue to environmental nonprofits of their choosing. By creating a global network of partnerships, 1% for the Planet is increasing support for environmental solutions — and that is something we can get on board with!

By joining this initiative, GMGI hopes to increase awareness and support for our research initiatives, including biodiversity conservation, the promotion of sustainable fisheries, and uncovering new discoveries that impact human health.

Thank you to Cell Signaling Technologies who nominated us for this amazing global effort. As a loyal supporter and partner of GMGI, we thank CST for their generous commitment to our mission. If you know of (or are part of) a 1% for the Planet member organization, please consider GMGI!

Photos from the field

Did you catch these social media posts?

New England Aquarium visits GMGI

GMGI staff enjoy sail on Schooner Ardelle

GMGI hosts newly-appointed President of Emmanuel College

On August 16th, GMGI’s Discovery Series featured underwater photographer Andrew Martinez. Andrew was joined by GMGI researchers Jennifer Polinski and Matt Harke, Ph.D., as they shared the beauty of the Gulf of Maine through amazing underwater photographs as well as how genomic tools like eDNA and DNA sequencing can uncover biodiversity that cannot be seen with a lens.

Interested in attending future Discovery Series talks? Contact Maggie Costello for details.

Love Greater Cape Ann Silent Auction Now Open to All!

~ Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

The Silent Auction portion of the 35th Annual Love Greater Cape Ann Fundraising Auction is now open to ALL! Simply go to bit.ly/lovegca22 to register and start bidding! Bidding will be open until 6:55 PM on Thursday, September 29. You do not need to be at the Live Auction event to win Silent Auction items! Check out all the great Silent Auction items at bit.ly/lovegca22 – there are some sweet deals to be had! You can also set your maximum bid for any item to give yourself a better chance of coming out on top! Bid today!! Bid often!!

SAWYER FREE LIBRARY IS ON THE MOVE

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library (SFL) is on the move, although they are not going too far or for too long. 

The Sawyer Free Library’s 2 Dale Avenue location will close to the public at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 30.  The Library’s new temporary home will open at 8 a.m. on Monday, October 24 at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester, just a few blocks from the Library’s current location. 

During the three-week closing, library resources will be available online through the Library’s website http://www.sawyerfreelibrary.org. Due dates for physical materials that are checked out will be extended and not become overdue during the move. The Library’s outside book drops at the front entrance and in the parking lot of 2 Dale Avenue will remain open for materials to be returned.

“The Sawyer Free Library is an essential service that supports our residents to reach their full potential in manyaspects of their lives,” said Mern Sibley, President of the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library’s Board of Trustees. “This temporary location will ensure that our Gloucester community continues to have full access to the Library’s resources, including our dedicated staff, as we take another big step towards making the 2025 Sawyer Free Library a reality.”

The Library is moving in preparation for its upcoming historic renovation and expansion project. The temporary location will be in use throughout construction, which includes a renovation of the Sawyer Free’s 1976 main building at 2 Dale Avenue and an addition of 15,000 square feet toward School Street.  The construction is expected to be completed by early 2025. 

SFL will be working with professional relocation and moving services companies, National Library Relocations and Hiltz Moving and Storage, to move the library’s collections, furnishings, and equipment to the temporary location. The Saunders House will be used for library staff office space and onsite storage during the construction. 

As a part of the temporary move, the Library’s Main Floor and Friend Room A/V equipment, valued at $60,000, will be loaned to the Rose Baker Senior Center for use in their Multi-Purpose Room and the Second Floor Meeting Room. The arrangement is an opportunity for the Library’s resources to continue to benefit the Gloucester community during the construction project. 

“This moment has been a longtime coming, and we are so grateful to the Gloucester community for their ongoing patience and overwhelming support of this historic project,” said Library Director Jenny Benedict.  “In the meantime, we want to encourage everyone to visit us at 2 Dale Avenue before the move starts on October 1st. People can take pictures of places that had special meaning to them or just sit and take it all in. We realize how much this Library has meant to so many over the years, but we also want people to know that this is not a farewell to the Sawyer Free Library, but rather, see you again very soon after you get that much-needed TLC.” 

Library hours at the temporary location will remain the same, open six days a week, with the Sawyer Free Library’s staff available to assist the public. The Library phone number and emails will not change and all information is listed on the website, sawyerfreelibrary.org. The centrally located space on Main Street is handicap accessible and offers on-street and public parking in the St. Peter’s Square lot. The Library’s parking lot located on School Street will also be available until construction begins and then will be closed through the project’s duration.

In its new temporary home, the Sawyer Free Library will offer select in-person services, curbside service, outreach programming, and an enhanced level of online services. The approximately 3,600 sq. ft. at 21 Main Street will accommodate library services for both children and adults, as well as the Library’s local history research resources and Wellspring House’s client intake center. The space will have public computers, printing and copying services, Wi-Fi access, and study tables. 

A large selection of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and music CDs will be available for all ages, including adult new releases, bestsellers, magazines and newspapers. Through the hold system, cardholders can request items from the Library’s full CD, DVD and audiobook collections. While the size of the space limits the quantity of books onsite, cardholders have access to thousands of titles from other NOBLE libraries that will be delivered to Gloucester.

SFL will continue to offer a robust schedule of programs for residents of all ages throughout the community onsite at 21 Main Street and many off-site locations in Gloucester’s public schools, preschools, community centers, municipal spaces, local cultural institutions, parks, and other outdoor spaces. It will also work with its many community partners to host collaborative programming. In addition, the Library will continue to utilize and enhance its remote and online virtual programs.

“As we find new ways of providing the same service in our temporary location, it will feel a bit different and take some getting used to, but we are bringing so much with us that it will also be a lot the same,” added Benedict. “We look forward to the day we move back into 2 Dale Avenue. The current library building has so many memories from what the community has created here. It’s exciting to think how people will build new memories in the 2025 Sawyer Free Library.”

When doors open at the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, the building will exemplify what a 21st-century public library can and should be in terms of architecture, sustainability, accessibility, use of natural resources and light, wayfinding, lines of sight, air quality, and public safety. The modernized and expanded Library will double in size with the addition. It will boast new community spaces, including a 110-seat community room with state-of-the-art science presentation technology, a dedicated room for teens, and a digital maker space with a sound recording studio and film editing suite. Additional features include a Library History Center, a quiet Reading Room, and a 16-seat Conference Room. 

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners recently approved the Sawyer Free Library’s $9 million provisional construction grant toward the estimated $28 million historic project. In October, the Gloucester City Council is expected to vote on a request for a city loan to provide the financing for the project, which will allow the City to receive the state grant. Gloucester’s Public Library is owned by the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, a nonprofit corporation, which will repay the series of short-term city loans through grants, corporate and individual donations. 

The Sawyer Free 2025 fundraising campaign has over $15 million in committed funds and continues to seek funding of large and small donations through individual and corporate donors, federal, state, and municipal government grants, and nonprofit foundations. The public is encouraged to learn more about the project by visiting sawyerfree2025.org.  The specifics of Sawyer Free Library’s move to the temporary location at 21 Main Street are available at sawyerfreelibrary.org.  

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