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Dan Connell, Author Talk and Book Signing at the Sawyer Free Library on 9/23 at 6pm

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library is pleased to welcome local author, Dan Connell for an author talk and book signing on Thursday, September 23 from 6-7pm at the Library, located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester.

The author will be discussing his book, Against All Odds, which has just been re-released with a new update and a reappraisal. First published in 1993, Against All Odds: A Chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution  is a firsthand account of Eritrea’s 30-year fight for independence from Ethiopia.  Copies of the new edition of his book will be available.

The East Gloucester resident, Dan Connell, a former journalist and aid professional, has reported on Eritrea for five decades for numerous print and broadcast media. He is a two-time MacArthur Foundation grantee, the author of five books on Eritrea, including Against All Odds: A Chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution (1997); Rethinking Revolution (2002); and a two-volume Collected Articles on the Eritrean Revolution (2003, 2004). His reports and commentary have been carried by the BBC, Voice of America, AP, Reuters, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, Le Monde, Foreign Affairs, The Nation and others, and he has consulted for numerous aid agencies and human rights organizations. He is currently a lecturer in journalism and African politics at Simmons College, Boston.

This program is co-hosted by the Global Book Forum and the Gloucester Lyceum.

Click here to Register

Author Dan Connell

Against All Odds is a firsthand account of Eritrea’s 30\-year struggle for independence from Ethiopia, which it won in 1991 with little outside support after defeating successive U.S.\- and Soviet\-backed regimes and overcoming drought and famine while working to unify and reform the society from which it derived its strength. A 1997 Afterword captures the optimism generated by these achievements. But a New Reappraisal recounts its slide into despotism after renewed conflict with Ethiopia and the dark years of isolation and repression that followed, the hopes raised by a 2018 peace pact and then dashed by another round of war. It concludes with reflections on how to break this cycle and begin the democratic transition for which so many fought and died.

The GMGI Science Hour Returns on 9/23 – register now!

~ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

After a brief summer hiatus, we are excited to announce the return of the virtual GMGI Science Hour series with a fantastic talk from Dr. Steve Palumbi!

Dr. Palumbi is a professor of Biology at Stanford’s Hopkin’s Marine Station in California, and will be joining us on Thursday, September 23rd to talk about his fascinating research on coral reefs – and what can be done to help protect them from climate change.

You can click here to register or visit our website to read more about what you can expect from Dr. Palumbi’s talk.

The GMGI Science Hour is free and open to all! Visit our website to learn more, and to see the full list of speakers for the upcoming season.

https://gmgi.org/news/gmgi-news-and-announcements/gmgi-news/the-science-hour-with-stephen-palumbi-phd-a-warm-up/

$25K Game Tickets & 50/50 Raffle are Available Now at The Chamber!

~ Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

The 25K Game Tickets & 50/50 Raffle Tickets are available at the Chamber. You can’t win if your not in the Game, so while you’re on Cape Ann stop by the Chamber get a 25K ticket, because you never know when you will win big. $25K Game Tickets: $100 50/50 Raffle Tickets: Body Length: $20 | Arm Length: $10 Grand Prize: $10,000 Second Prize: $5,000 Third Prize: $2,500 Fourth Prize (6): $1,000 Fifth Prize (3) $500

RSVP Required, and seating is limited for this event. Please call the Chamber at (978) 283-1601 for more information.

Friends of the Sawyer Free Library Annual Art Auction

~ Sawyer Free Library

Have you checked out the Friends of Sawyer Annual Art Auction yet?

If not, come by soon to the Library’s Matz Gallery to preview and bid on the incredible art before the online auction begins on Friday, October 1 and runs through Tuesday, October 5 on www.sawyerfreelibrary.org.

The benefit auction features over 50 exceptional quality works, including paintings, drawings, and mixed media, all generously donated by established and emerging artists throughout the Cape Ann community including Coco Berman, Ray Crane, David Curtis, Carol Loiacono, Peter Tysver, Jeff Weaver, and so many others.

The bidding book available through September 30 in the Matz Gallery. The highest September bids will be the beginning bid for the online auction October 1-5.

All proceeds from this annual event benefit the Sawyer Free Library. The funds support a variety of special programs offered throughout the year for children, teens, and adults along with museum passes made available to the community, and many other Library requests.  

The Friends of the Sawyer Free Library are very grateful for the talented and generous artists who offer their art, time, and talent year after year to make this library fundraiser a success.

So don’t miss it! Come and join the fun! Enjoy the art, bid for those pieces you love and support the support the Sawyer Free Library! It is a Win Win for everyone!

To learn more about the Annual Art Auction, the Friends of the Sawyer Free Library, and how to become involved, please visit: www.sawyerfreelibrary.org.

“Chess in the Amphitheater” at the Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Chess is more popular now than ever! Are you looking to learn the basics of the game, for a partner to play, a challenge, a new move? Then you’re in luck! Kicking off this Saturday, September 18, the SAWYER FREE LIBRARY is hosting CHESS IN THE AMPHITHEATER, a new weekly program from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm each Saturday through October.  All ages and abilities are welcome!

Sawyer Free Library’ Weekly “Chess in the Amphitheater” begins 9/18

The weekly Saturday sessions will offer an opportunity for people to learn how to play chess including the fundamentals and tips for playing a better game. For more experienced chess players looking to play a match, there will be several boards and pieces with time clocks. All chess players will be paired with a partner who will challenge and engage them at their skill level. 

Chess in the Amphitheater will be led by Gloucester’s own Kim Genereux, an avid chess player herself and a passionate supporter of both amateur and professional level chess. 

This new program is open to players of all levels, ages and abilities. Weather permitting, those interested are welcome to gather in the Library’s Amphitheater anytime between 11 am and 1 pm to learn and play chess with the last games beginning at 12:45 pm. No reservations or advanced signup is needed.

For more information visit: sawyerfreelibrary.org

Help Backyard Growers pursue the expansion of Burnham’s Field Community Garden

~ backyardgrowersgloucester

It’s that time of year again! Normally, we would be gearing up to host our annual fundraiser, the Great Gloucester GrowDown.

First, the Bad News. We’ve made the tough decision to cancel this year’s GrowDown. We’ve been watching the spread of the Delta variant closely, and feel that this is the best choice for us and our community.

Now, the Good News. While we are not hosting a traditional in-person event, and we know people are pretty maxed out on all things virtual, you can still support our work and help us pursue the expansion of Burnham’s Field Community Garden with a $100 (un)GrowDown ticket purchase that gives you access to:

🌿 A chance to win an installed double-high 8’x4’ raised garden bed filled with Black Earth Compost OR 3 GrowBags, plus a planting plan by Backyard Growers’ founder and executive director, Lara Lepionka. We’re giving away 2!

🥕 The Raffle Fine Print: Garden bed/bags to be installed and delivered within 30 minute drive of Gloucester. Winners can transfer their garden prize to a local friend or family member.

🍅 An exclusive veggie-loving Spotify playlist curated specially for us by our great friend and Gang of Four’s Hugo Burnham

🥬 A video premiere honoring a year of resiliency to watch whenever and wherever you’d like

Join us for our Virtual ‘Auction’! We’re raising critical funds to help us pursue the expansion of Burnham’s Field Community Garden in downtown Gloucester in order to meet our community’s growing needs for fresh, healthy produce. And, we’re planning on additional programming and services to meet the increased demand. Thank you for sticking with us and for supporting our work and community as we continue to weather this storm together.

SmartChoice™ at The Open Door Modernizes Pantry Shopping

~ todtheopendoor

New Online Ordering System Returns Agency to Shoppers

GLOUCESTER — A new online ordering system at The Open Door has expanded choice more than ever before for client shoppers.

SmartChoice™ at The Open Door launched this June and allows clients to place a weekly grocery order that matches any special dietary needs they may have as well as their taste. Clients select from featured items, fruit and juices, vegetables, protein and dairy, ready-to-eat items, grains and cereal, baking, snacks, condiments, special dietary items, pet supplies, household supplies, health and hygiene products, baby food and supplies, and miscellaneous items.

Once clients sign into SmartChoice™ at The Open Door at FOODPANTRY.org/order, they can use the above menu to create their weekly grocery order. (Image Courtesy of
The Open Door)

“When people choose their own groceries, we know they’re getting the food they’ll eat and enjoy to thrive,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “We’re proud to have this new resource for our clients.”

Before the online ordering system became available, The Open Door provided bags of pre-selected groceries for clients starting in March 2020 in response to the pandemic. This was done through a Curbside, No-Contact model used at both the Gloucester and Ipswich food pantries, and protected the health and well-being of clients, volunteers, and staff alike while also expanding the nonprofit’s capacity to meet increased need. While the curbside model was necessary to feed more people, it left shoppers with less personal choice.

At the height of the pandemic, The Open Door met a 40% increase in need for food resources, and continues to meet ongoing need.

Today, clients are still picking-up their groceries at either site or receiving deliveries if they qualify for The Open Door grocery and meal delivery program. However, SmartChoice™ at The Open Door brings more choice to the table than ever before. It accounts for every item available in The Open Door’s inventory, working seamlessly in partnership with the warehouse. Grocery orders are managed by the Fulfillment Center, where staff and volunteers package grocery orders Monday through Friday.

Volunteer Laurie Fenton prepares a grocery order placed via SmartChoice™ at
The Open Door. (Image Courtesy of The Open Door)

Translation services are available over the phone in many languages. Those without internet access, with questions, or who prefer to place their order by phone are welcome to do so by calling 978-283-6776.   

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.

Programs of The Open Door include two food pantries (located in Gloucester and in Ipswich), 12 Mobile Markets, Community Meals, SNAP Application assistance and Advocacy, Medically Tailored Groceries, Nutrition Education, Therapy and Counseling, Food Rescue, Summer Meals for Kids, On Your Mark Job Training and Internships, Holiday Baskets, Senior Soup & Salad, (NEW) SmartChoice™ at The Open Door and (NEW) Grocery and Meal Delivery. Second Glance, the thrift store of The Open Door, provides revenue for the organization, referrals for people in need, and recycles textiles and other materials.

For more information, visit FOODPANTRY.org.  

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