The Gloucester Rotary will hold its annual Polar Plunge on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 11am at the Cape Ann Motor Inn on Long Beach, located at 33 Rockport Road in Gloucester. The event is part of Rotary International’s ongoing campaign to eradicate Polio in our lifetime. Dozens of Rotarians, Interact students (formerly known as Junior Rotarians), and friends of Rotary from throughout eastern Massachusetts are expected to plunge into the cold waters off Cape Ann. Since 2010, thousands of individuals and businesses have supported this event, and almost one million dollars has been raised for #EndPolioNow.

The eradication of Polio has been Rotary International’s signature cause since 1988. The organization has teamed up with partners including The Global Poverty Project, The Global Eradication Initiative, The World Health Organization, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 1988, more than a billion dollars have been raised among Rotary clubs worldwide and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. When Rotary International took on the battle against this disease, more than 350,000 people spanning 125 countries were impacted by Polio each year. Today there are two countries left where Polio has not been eradicated—Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2021, there were only five reported cases of wild Polio virus, down from 140 in 2020. Rotary International has committed to raising fifty million dollars in 2022, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match each dollar raised with an additional $2 donation.

Anyone wishing to support the 2022 Gloucester Rotary Polar Plunge may make a donation to the #EndPolioNow campaign online at www.gloucesterrotary.org. Information about participating in the Polar Plunge can also be found on the website.

More information about the Gloucester Rotary is available online at www.gloucesterrotary.org and www.facebook.com/RotaryGloucesterMA. To learn more about the history of Polio and the current status of #EndPolioNow, please visit www.endpolio.org.

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.

 Join us at Burnham’s Field to pick up free vegetable seeds. Bring any extras you have to trade with other gardeners.

 We are grateful to Ace Rockport, Corliss Brothers Garden Center & Nursery, and Johnny’s Selected Seeds for their generous donation of seeds to our community.

 Author Kari Percival will be signing her book, “How to Say Hello to a Worm.” In this illustrated children’s book, say “hello” to worms, dirt, peas, and more in this gentle how-to guide for connecting with nature. The beautiful simplicity of a garden is depicted through digital woodcut illustrations and engaging nonfiction text presented as a series of sweet questions and gentle replies. Pre-order your copy for pickup at the event in our Online Shop.

 We’ll also be celebrating Opening Day of Burnham’s Field Community Garden!

LEAP for Education is running a FREE 2022 Summer Internship Program for Gloucester Teens!

Work virtually or in person on a project 9 hours per week July 11 – August 18 with a mentor/company where you will gain important workplace skills

Start to build a resume for college and future endeavors – examples of internships include; assistant teaching a Pathways for Children; assisting with youth art classes at Art Haven; project assistance at Gloucester Education Foundation; teen council/community representative for local nonprofits, teller positions at BankGloucester, internships at Appleton Farms, and many more

Receive GHS credit and a salary or $500 stipend

Attend regularly scheduled workplace skills workshops on topics such as job interviewing, searching for college/post high school options, stress management, financial literacy, and resume writing

For more information, to set up an interview to discuss your interests, or to register, please email JoAnn Leavitt, Program Coordinator, at jleavitt@leap4ed.org

Application link: https://leap4ed.org/gloucester-internship-form/

MAKE GREAT USE OF YOUR TIME THIS SUMMER! APPLY NOW! ALSO, THIS IS AN 11 HOUR PER WEEK COMMITMENT, SO YOU WILL STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO HOLD ANOTHER SUMMER JOB, OR DO OTHER SUMMER ACTIVITIES!

MANCHESTER– Preschool and fourth grade students at Manchester Memorial Elementary School recently teamed up to put their creative talents to use, and painted bowls for The Open Door Empty Bowl To Go 2.0 fundraiser. 

The annual fundraiser will be held as a drive-thru for the second time this year due to the pandemic. 

“There’s a special sense of community that comes from joining together and using your creativity to help someone else,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “The bowls serve as a reminder that somewhere, someone’s bowl is empty, but with a paintbrush, a little imagination, and a desire to help, you can support a fundraiser that puts fresh, healthy food in the hands of your neighbors.” 

In 2021, The Open Door provided 1.83 million pounds of food to 8,516 people from 4,176 families. Empty Bowl To Go 2.0 supports programs of The Open Door including its Mobile Market and Summer Meals for Kids programs. Last year, the Mobile Market distributed 179,053 pounds of food to underserved neighborhoods, senior centers, housing authorities, and schools. The new Farmers Truck will provide further expansion of the Mobile Market program into additional locations with identified needs. In 2021, the Summer Meals for Kids program provided more than 30,000 meals to local children. 

Students at Manchester Memorial painted 25 bowls for the Empty Bowl To Go 2.0 event slated for May 7. 

“We just had a great time,” said Manchester Memorial Art Teacher Claudette Yutkins. “They were really happy to give something to help others.” 

Yutkins said students in particular enjoyed painting designs in the bottom of their bowls, to be enjoyed as a “surprise” when the user finishes their meal. One group of students painted a smiley face, for example. 

“It brought the whole project together,” Yutkins said. “They are trying to do something to make someone else happy—it was just cute.” 

Several area colleges and schools, community organizations, businesses, clubs and private groups have stepped up to paint bowls for the fundraiser, including: 

• Endicott College Students 
• Gordon College Students 
• The Academy at Penguin Hall 
• O’Maley Innovation Middle School 
• Manchester Memorial School 
• Pingree School 
• Shore Country Day School 
• Ipswich Rotary 
• Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce 
• Institution for Savings 
• 4H Rabbit and Cavy Club 
• Gloucester Elks 
• Happy Valley 
• First Congregational Church of Essex 
• Lisa Vincent Book Club 
• Island Garden Club 
• Members of the community 

Please note: All slots for painting bowls for the 2022 fundraiser have been filled. 

Additionally, many local artists, potters and public officials have painted bowls for the Empty Bowl Silent Auction, set to go online for the month of May. 

Empty Bowl To Go 2.0 will be held on Saturday, May 7 from 4-6 p.m. at The Open Door at 28 Emerson Ave. Appointments will be required and available to be scheduled once pay-what-you-can ticket sales go live on April 1 at FOODPANTRY.org.  

About The Open Door  

The mission of The Open Door is to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. We 
use practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in 
need, and to engage others in the work of building food security. 

Founded in 1978, The Open Door is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit and community food resource center for low-income residents of Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, Boxford, Rowley, Topsfield, and Wenham. In 2021, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 8,516 people from 4,176 households 
through the distribution of 1.83 million pounds of food. 

For more information, visit FOODPANTRY.org. 

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On Thursday, March 10 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., as a part of the series, Of Sound Mind, the Sawyer Free Library is presenting Dr. Andrew Budson, chief of cognitive and behavioral neurology at VA Boston Healthcare System and co-author of the book Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory.

Based on his award-winning book, Dr. Andrew Budson will explain how individuals can distinguish changes in memory due to Alzheimer’s versus normal aging, what medications, diets, and exercise regimes can help, and the best habits, strategies, and memory aids to use, in seven simple steps. He will also discuss his newest book, including how caregivers can manage issues with memory, language, vision, behavior, driving, incontinence, sleep, and more. 

Registration is not required. The event is free and open to all. It will take place on the Main Floor of the Sawyer Free Library located at 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester.

For more information visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Andrew E. Budson, M.D. is Chief of Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology, Associate Chief of Staff for Education, and Director of the Center for Translational Cognitive Neuroscience at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, Associate Director for Research at the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Professor of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, and Lecturer in Neurology at Harvard Medical School. He is also the Medical Director of the Boston Center for Memory, located in Newton, Massachusetts.

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GMGI welcomes Dr. Stephen Palumbi to our Scientific Advisory Board 
A native of Baltimore, Steve Palumbi has long been fascinated by how quickly the world around us changes. His research on the genetics of marine organisms focuses on basic evolutional questions, and on practical solutions to questions about how to preserve and protect the diverse life in the sea. Steve has lectured on human-induced evolutionary change, has used genetic detective work to identify whales, seahorses, rockfish, and sharks for sale in retail markets, and is developing genomic methods to help find ocean species resistant to climate change. His work on corals in the American Samoa and Palau has identified corals more resilient to heat stress, and his work at the Hopkins Marine Station focuses on how kelp, sea urchins, abalone, and mussels respond to environmental changes.

In addition to hundreds of published scientific research papers on a wide variety of marine organisms, Steve has published several books for non-scientists and has appeared in many film and TV documentaries to share his fascination with the world’s oceans.

Steve holds a Ph.D. in Marine Ecology from the University of Washington and started his career as a Professor at the University of Hawaii before moving to a Professorship at Harvard University. He then joined the faculty of Stanford University and is now the Jane and Marshall Steel Jr. Professor of Marine Sciences and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. Steve is a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, a member of the National Academy of Science, and a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation. 

“Steve is a world-renowned marine biologist and leader in the field of marine genomics, and we are thrilled to have him as a member of our Scientific Advisory Board,” said Andrea Bodnar, Donald G. Comb Science Director.

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Academy Students Interview for Internships

The internship process for the Class of 2022 has been like no other in the Academy’s six-year history. Academy students began their internship journeys by participating in (virtual) mock interviews on January 13th. On the day of these interviews, 20 individuals representing 11 local biotech companies provided our students critical practice and feedback.

“The mock interviews were really good practice and helped me feel more prepared for the real interviews. Mentors from the mock interviews gave feedback on what I should focus on in terms of my interests and what questions the interviewers might ask,” an Academy student explained. Real interviews with employers began the week of January 20th.

Students are benefitting from an unprecedented 26 companies offering 41 internship positions. In just six years, the demand for Academy students has far outpaced the supply.

“Part of the demand this year due to our new biomanufacturing curriculum and the additional skills it gives our students. These skills are in high demand right now,” said Education Director John Doyle. 

In the second semester students learn how to insert DNA necessary to create green fluorescent protein (GFP) into bacteria. The bacteria are then grown into high density in a fermenter, producing equally high concentrations of GFP inside the bacteria. In the image shown above, a student learns how to successfully operate a homogenizer, an instrument used to break open bacterial cells and release the GFP, which is glowing after being exposed to a UV light source. 

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Stefan Abramo and Barbe Ennis-Abramo are donors and passionate volunteers at GMGI — Stefan lending his time and experience as an Academy volunteer and Barbe as a GMGI committee member. A rich life of professional and personal experiences has taken them around the world (and continues to do so), but it is here in Gloucester they now call home…  Click here to read more. 

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GMGI Science Hours

Unable to attend one of our recent Science Hours? Click the links below to watch!

This is not Planet Earth: Recent findings from our work on the physiological and biochemical adaptations to life in the deep sea with Dr. Peter Girguis, Harvard University

Living with White Sharks with Dr. Greg Skomal, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

LEAP for Education is running a FREE 2022 Summer Internship Program for Gloucester Teens!

Work virtually or in person on a project 9 hours per week July 11 – August 18 with a mentor/company where you will gain important workplace skills

Start to build a resume for college and future endeavors – examples of internships include; assistant teaching a Pathways for Children; assisting with youth art classes at Art Haven; project assistance at Gloucester Education Foundation; teen council/community representative for local nonprofits, teller positions at BankGloucester, internships at Appleton Farms, and many more

Receive GHS credit and a salary or $500 stipend

Attend regularly scheduled workplace skills workshops on topics such as job interviewing, searching for college/post high school options, stress management, financial literacy, and resume writing

For more information, to set up an interview to discuss your interests, or to register, please email JoAnn Leavitt, Program Coordinator, at jleavitt@leap4ed.org

Application link: https://leap4ed.org/gloucester-internship-form/

MAKE GREAT USE OF YOUR TIME THIS SUMMER! APPLY NOW! ALSO, THIS IS AN 11 HOUR PER WEEK COMMITMENT, SO YOU WILL STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO HOLD ANOTHER SUMMER JOB, OR DO OTHER SUMMER ACTIVITIES!

In this online workshop, Backyard Growers will guide you through the process of starting your own vegetable seeds indoors, including a materials list, dos and don’ts, and a live Q&A.

FREE for Backyard Growers Program participants (e.g. Community Garden, Backyard Garden, GrowBag Garden Programs)

$15 general admission

Reserve your spot or purchase tickets: https://bit.ly/SeedStartingMarch8

After registering, attendees will receive a link to join the workshop on Zoom.

Proceeds support Backyard Growers‘ community and school garden programs.