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The Jim Dowd Fund at the Gloucester Education Foundation

~ Emily Siegel

So many were touched by the beautiful piece Bo Abrams wrote last week in memory of Gloucester’s beloved Jim Dowd and his brother, Johnny. In it, she shares what a difference mentors and caring adults made in Jim’s life, and how painful it was for him that they were missing from Johnny’s:

Jim talked a lot about all the people who mentored him along the way from the time he was about 12. It wasn’t any one person. But it was one person at time, one interest at a time, one program at a time, that helped him survive to get to the next thing. Someone to give a nudge to stick with it when something was hard. Someone to suggest a book or a program. Someone to talk about colleges or vocations or hopes and dreams.

Johnny never had that. Jim hated that.

Bo goes on the explain that here in Gloucester, the Gloucester Education Foundation is a key resource that helps hook kids into their passions and interests, and connect them to the supports they need:

Which leads me to Gloucester Education Foundation. They are the reason there is a band program and a hundred other programs that make sure practically every kid has something they can connect to in school. And they’re adding more. GEF is starting a mentor program at the high school in conjunction with Wellspring. And they just helped GHS get a grant to bring in an administrator in the vocational program. They are also beginning a student advisory group so students can have a say in GEF leadership which offers a stipend, because you can’t do internships for free if you have to make money.

In the five days since Bo shared this post and created a fundraiser for the new Jim Dowd Fund at GEF, Jim’s family and friends have raised over $15,000 to support mentoring and student leadership opportunities for Gloucester students. This is a testament to how loved Jim and Johnny were, how beautifully (and honestly) Bo wrote about them, and the insightful way she connected their divergent paths to the work GEF has done – and can do more of – to support students. 

We’re looking to grow this fund even more, so that we can help the Gloucester schools provide new opportunities to excite and engage our kids, to connect them with a caring adult or help them discover their voice. Consider a contribution to GEF in memory of Jim and Johnny, and in support of Gloucester students like both of them.

Jason Andree Joins The Open Door Board of Directors

~ todtheopendoor
Jason Andree is the newest member of The Open Door Board of Directors.  (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door) 

GLOUCESTER – The Open Door Board of Directors welcomes a new member this winter with significant leadership and management experience in the healthcare sector.  

Addison Gilbert Hospital Vice President Jason Andree, of Peabody, attended his first meeting as a member of the Board of Directors on Nov. 16. Andree has served as Vice President at Addison Gilbert since April, and is the Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance and Patient Safety Manager of the Northeast Hospital Corporation – Beth Israel Lahey Health, a role he has held since 2014. His experience includes clinical pharmacy internships, a post-doctoral fellowship, and various leadership positions. He has advanced training and experience in medication safety, patient safety, risk management quality improvement, and Lean methods. 

Andree says he was attracted to the Board position because of the common goals of the hospital and The Open Door. 

“There is a clear connection between healthcare and feeding people,” Andree said. “Looking at the services The Open Door has offered over the last several years, there’s a natural alignment with some of the services we offer at Addison Gilbert Hospital and Beth Israel Lahey Health. Serving on the Board I can be that connection between the hospital, The Open Door, and the community.” 

“Jason brings a combination of experience in healthcare and a strong background in risk management to the organization at a critical time,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “The Open Door alleviates the impact of hunger at the intersection of community and healthcare by providing nutritional support and good food for better health outcomes. We welcome his insight as we navigate safely and strategically to address food security as a social determinate of health through our connections, capacity, culture, and communications.” 

Andree is additionally an adjunct professor of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Healthcare Business. He holds a doctorate degree in Pharmacy from Northeastern University. 

He is also the Board Chair of the Fundraising Committee for Families for Depression Awareness, a Waltham based nonprofit, and is a member of both the American College of Health Care Executives and the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Medical Errors.  

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 2020, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 9,681 unduplicated people from 4,703 households through the distribution of 2.46 million pounds of food, amounting to 2.05 million meals. 

Requests for food assistance during this pandemic year were up 27 percent. 

For more information, visit FOODPANTRY.org. 

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Dr. Iain Kerr of Gloucester’s Ocean Alliance joins the December GMGI Science Hour!

~ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

Photo credit: Ocean Alliance

Interested in learning more about Ocean Alliance, the SnotBot, their innovative whale research and ocean conservation efforts? Don’t miss Dr. Iain Kerr, Ocean Alliance CEO, as he joins the GMGI Science Hour on Thursday, December 9th at 7:30pm. Dr. Kerr’s talk is free and available to anyone who is interested. You can click here to register.

Check out our short preview of his talk with our Science Hour Warm Up. You can also see past Science Hour videos on our website.

Be sure to sign up for our mailing list or reach out to Ashley Destino at ashley.destino@gmgi.org to stay up to date on future Science Hour talks. The new season begins on January 20th!

Curative Launches Walk-In COVID-19 Testing Site on Emerson Avenue

~ todtheopendoor

GLOUCESTER – A no-cost to patients, walk-in COVID-19 testing site opened its doors in Gloucester this week. Curative, a next-generation healthcare delivery company with a mission to end the COVID-19 pandemic, will operate the new site, making it easier than ever for local people to get tested for COVID-19 through the holiday season and after.


“Curative is proud to be partnering with The Open Door and be a crucial resource for the community during this pandemic,” said Fred Turner, CEO and co-founder of Curative. “Curative’s goal is to make testing more accessible with our easy, convenient testing site open to all. We offer a simple testing option with results delivered directly 1-2 days upon receipt at our labs and at no out-of-pocket cost to patients.”


Located at 26 Emerson Ave., Gloucester MA, in the annex of The Open Door campus, the new, temporary site is being operated by Curative and will be available through the end of February 2022. The Curative testing site will open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Insurance companies will be billed for testing, and those without insurance will be provided testing at no cost. Walk-ins are welcome.

Click here to register in advance to reduce wait time.

The site first opened on Tuesday, Nov. 30.


“We are proud to be partnering with Curative so that COVID-19 testing will be more convenient and accessible for people on Cape Ann,” The Open Door President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “The pandemic has demonstrated time and time again how crucial collaborations like this can be. COVID-19 has had devastating effects on food insecurity, and we hope this will be a key resource for our community in keeping case counts low this winter.”


Those seeking COVID-19 testing are urged to follow signage placed on site to locate the annex, as visitors are currently limited at The Open Door and will not be able to access the testing location through either The Open Door front desk entrance, administrative offices, Food Pantry or warehouses.


When facing The Open Door campus from Emerson Avenue, the annex is accessible on the left, through the glass door at the front of 26 Emerson Avenue, located under an awning. Those seeking testing are asked to park along Emerson Avenue and the lane on the left side of the building.


Masks are required on site at The Open Door campus.


For additional information on all of Curative’s offerings, including other testing sites in Massachusetts and nationwide, visit curative.com now.


About Curative


Curative is a leader in on-demand public health service programs and infrastructure development, with a current focus on COVID-19 testing sites of all sizes. Curative partners with communities to strengthen public health services with turn-key programs, easy-to-access experiences, and scalable infrastructure, keeping people everywhere safe, healthy, and informed. Co-founded by CEO Fred Turner and powered by a team of world-leading doctors, scientists, engineers, and health industry experts, Curative began focusing on COVID-19 testing in early March 2020 upon realizing the urgent need to scale COVID-19 test production in the United States. With a network of over 16,000 sites across over 40 states and three CLIA-certified, high-complexity laboratories, Curative and its managed medical entities have provided over 26 million COVID-19 tests and over 2 million COVID-19 vaccines. Beyond COVID-19, Curative is using its unique healthcare delivery network to bring access to the highest quality healthcare services to every American. For more details on Curative, please visit curative.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.


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 2020, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 9,681 unduplicated people from 4,703 households through the distribution of 2.46 million pounds of food, amounting to 2.05 million meals.


Requests for food assistance during the last pandemic year were up 27 percent.


For more information, visit FOODPANTRY.org.


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2021 Middle Street Walk Program Saturday, December 11, 2021

~ middlestwalk

10—Noon… Sawyer Free Library ….  Children’s Room – Children’s Nature Craft                                   Join children’s services and make some crafts inspired by nature as we celebrate the Middle Street  Walk.

10—1PM … Sawyer Free Library…    Saunders House   ….    15-minute Tours of the WPA Murals          Lisa Mehlin, professional Conservator, will be leading 15-minute tours of the Saunders House murals. She will speak to both their history and the techniques she is using to restore them. Must register on Library website

10 – 2PM …. Trinity Church …   Outside on church lawn…   Pop Up Church Fair                                    Cookies, jams, shell wreaths, jewelry, and other crafts will be sold

10-3 PM … Cape Ann Thrift Shop (Trinity Church) ……. Stocked for the Season

10—5PM … Sawyer Free Library… Mezzanine …. Gingerbread House Contest

10—5PM … Sawyer Free Library …   Photo Exhibit Gloucester: Then and Now.                             Archival photographs from Sawyer Free Library and Cape Ann Museum are juxtaposed with current photos of identical spots on Middle Street. Come see what has changed and what remains the same.

10 -5 PM … Cape Ann Museum ….  Museum free to the public

10:30—12:30… Sawyer Free Library ….  Steve Lacey Jazz Guitarist

Steve will be playing jazz standards from the early 20th century to accompany the historic exhibits at Middle Street Walk.

10:30– 2:30 AM …. Cape Ann Museum ….  Folly Cove Designer-Stained Glass Project at CAM Studio

11-4 PM … UU Church …  Inside the Main Entrance ….   Free Hot Beverages

11:45 – 1:00PM …Watch for members of the Cape Ann Big Band Caroling

Noon … UU Church ….   Building Tour

Noon …. Sawyer Free Library… Mezzanine   ….  Gingerbread House Contest Winners announced

Noon – 1PM— Temple Ahavat Achim ….      Hanukkah Talk

Noon—1PM… Sawyer Free Library… Friend Room   ….   Visit with Curious Creatures                         Join Curious Creatures as they introduce us to live animal friends! Learn about the natural world as Curious Creatures shares fascinating facts about animals and guides us as we meet them up close and personal. Fun and educational family event!

Noon – 2:00 PM …   Sawyer Free Library … Main Entrance ….     Visit with Santa

Noon – 2:00 PM – CATA…  Trolley rides with Cape Ann Museum Docents on Middle Street.            Meet on Warren Street in front of City Hall

Noon—4 PM … Cape Ann Museum ….  1804 Captain Elias Davis House open and decorated for the season

1PM . . .. St. John’ Church ……   Children sing sounds of the season

1:30—2:30PM …. Cape Ann Museum …. Susanna Natti reading her mother’s book, “The Magic Christmas Tree”

2PM … UU Church ….   Building Tour

2 – 2:30PM … Trinity Church … Outside on Church Lawn    –    Join a lively Christmas Carol sing-along

3:00 – 4:30PM – Cape Ann Museum ….   Teen Block Printing Workshop

3PM … UU Church ….   Building Tour

4:30—6:00PM— Art Haven   …  Open House

4:30 PM – Police Station Plaza….  Lobster Pot Tree Lighting

Sawyer Free Library presents “Trout on the Edge: with Peter Johnsen” 

~ Sawyer Free Library

Sawyer Free Library will present “Trout on the Edge: with Peter Johnson” on Saturday, December 4 from 2- 4:00pm on the Library’s Main Floor. Open to the public. Registration is not required.

Peter Johnsen will share details about his explorations around the world documenting the biological diversity of salmon fish as well as the diversity of the people connected to these fish. The Trout on the Edge project documents salmon species that are at the edge of extinction and explores what salmon diversity means to humans and how lessons learned from these species applies to conservation of all biological diversity in general. 

Registration is not required, however masks are for all attending. For more details, go to: sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Shop for a cause at Backyard Growers’ Online Holiday Pop-Up Shop!

~ backyardgrowersgloucester

Gloucester-based nonprofit Backyard Growers’ holiday pop-up shop is OPEN for the season! The online-only shop is chock full of unique garden-themed gifts that will bring festive fun to family and friends all year round. Proceeds support Backyard Growers’ school, backyard, and community garden programs. Discover the perfect gift to prepare garden-lovers for another great season. All items come “ready-to-give” in a craft paper gift bag and are available for pick-up at 103R Maplewood Ave.

Visit www.backyardgrowers.org to shop. Find the perfect gift for the gardener in your life and help Backyard Growers connect kids, seniors, and families to fresh, healthy produce through backyard, community, and school gardens.

Click here to shop!

Pick-up only through December 23.

2nd ONLINE Love Cape Ann Fundraising AuctionNovember 19-26

~ Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

Did you miss our Love Greater Cape Ann Fundraising Auction last week? Well, we have great news! The fun continues today, November 19 and lasts until Friday, November 26 with our second online, virtual auction. The community of Greater Cape Ann has come together in support of this incredible place we all know and love. We have a fantastic assortment of restaurant cards, harbor tours, overnight stays on the water, art, and more! We hope you start your holiday shopping early by signing up today and begin placing your bids. Good luck and most importantly, have fun!Please use the instructions provided below to create an account and start bidding. If you participated in the silent auction portion of last Wednesday’s auction, please use the login credentials you previously created.

For Instructions on how to bide please visit: http://ow.ly/a4mA50GRUno

And to start bidding please visit: http://ow.ly/BiPR50GRUnl

PHOTO GALLERY: The Open Door Thanksgiving Food Drive and Holiday Basket Distribution

~ todtheopendoor

The Open Door held its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive at six locations on Saturday, Nov. 20: Market Basket (Gloucester), Stop & Shop (Gloucester), Shaw’s (Eastern Ave., Gloucester), Shaw’s (Ipswich), Crosby’s (Manchester), and Market Basket (Rowley). Donations will help keep local households fed through the holidays. An emphasis was placed on cereal donations, as cereal is an item always in high demand at The Open Door.

Community partners that volunteered at participating Thanksgiving Food Drive sites in addition to community volunteers included the Pingree School, We Are All in This Together Gloucester, the Ipswich YMCA, the Manchester-Essex Rotary Club and Gloucester Police Department.

While the Thanksgiving Food Drive was ongoing, The Open Door also distributed Holiday Baskets to local people at a drive-thru event on Emerson Avenue. Thanksgiving Holiday Baskets provide families with a turkey and all the fixings so that they can enjoy a holiday meal at home. Along with many individual volunteers, the TOAST team and Cape Ann Savings Bank team volunteered at the Holiday Basket distribution event, providing key support for the effort.

For more information, visit FOODPANTRY.org.

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Sawyer Free Library Kicks-Off Annual Appeal

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library has launched its 2021 Annual Appeal campaign,“Charting the Course.” Letters with appeal information are in the mail to over 1,500 Gloucester households. The goal is to raise $50,000 during this year-end campaign, which provides the Library with much-needed annual support. 

The Library relies on this yearly fundraising effort to provide a wide range of new collections and resources, technology, innovative programming, and critical services to respond to the changing needs of the Gloucester community.

Sawyer Free Library Annual Appeal

“The Sawyer Free Library’s mission is to be a place of learning, innovation, and creativity to support the community we serve. During this challenging time, we have learned that whether our Library services are delivered in a physical location or digitally, they’re not just “nice-to-haves” – these services are vital to our community,” said Mern Sibley, President of the Sawyer Free Library’s Board of Trustees. 

This year a record number of Sawyer Free Library users from near and far connected, learned, and experienced moments of comfort and joy, in-person and online. The Library offered hundreds of hours of responsive programming and learning opportunities for all ages. Strategic investments were made in the Sawyer Free’s digital device program, increasing the number of laptops, e-readers, tablets, and Wi-Fi hot spots available to patrons, especially those who needed connections for education and jobs. Its vast collection of e-books and audiobooks and online resources were also dramatically expanded.  Many new innovative and reimagined services emerge in response to the evolving landscape, including Digital Devices to Go, Job Seekers Resource Program, the Student Study Hall, Gloucester Connection, and more.

“Private support strengthens the Sawyer Free Library’s capacity to innovate and adapt to change, especially now as we move ahead and help our Gloucester community recover, rebuild and renew safely,” said Library Director Jenny Benedict. “Supporting the Annual Appeal makes the difference in helping job seekers, keeping kids on track for school success, assisting digital learners in finding their way in the online world, connecting newcomers and lifelong residents to current information about community services – and so much more.”

Donations to the Library’s Annual Appeal may be made by check to the Sawyer Free Library, Annual Appeal, P.O. Box 415, Gloucester, MA 01930, or online at www.sawyerfreelibrary.org.