This year’s sing will be held at MAGMA – Movement Arts Gloucester, MA – located on the top of Brown’s Mall. Everyone is welcome. Come and sing!
Gloucester Snow Emergency & Parking Ban Declared Effective Tonight (3/12) at 10PM to Weds (3/14) at 6AM
Snow Emergency/Parking Ban Declared Tonight Mon. 10PM(3/12) to Weds. 6AM (3/14)
City Offices & Schools Closed Tues. (3/13)
WEATHER EMERGENCY UPDATE
Massachusetts will be impacted by a significant storm tonight into Tuesday evening with the potential for blizzard-like conditions and snowfall rates of 1-3” per hour. This storm could bring significant snowfall and strong coastal high winds with potential for power outages. Snow is expected to begin tonight and continue into Tuesday evening across much of Massachusetts. National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of Massachusetts, and a High Wind Watch for Cape Ann, the eastern coastline, southern Bristol and Plymouth counties, and the Cape and Islands.
PARKING BAN
Effective at 10 PM tonight, Monday, March 12, the city has declared a snow emergency and parking ban on all city streets due to expected significant snowfall and powerful wind gusts. Additionally, Gloucester schools & offices will be closed tomorrow and trash collection will be delayed one day.
We recommend that all citizens shelter at home and avoid all travel during the storm. Poor road conditions are expected across Tuesday and emergency teams need all streets clear to allow effective service. Gloucester will enforce an emergency parking ban across all city streets until 6 AM Wednesday, March 14th (unless updated otherwise). This parking ban means all vehicles are banned from parking on city streets. Residents may park in all municipal and school parking lots, but please be aware that citizens are solely responsible for any weather related liability at public parking lots.
Please use caution across this storm and call 911 for any emergencies.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
If you are in danger, CALL 911 FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE or call Gloucester Police Department at (978) 283-1212. Please note the following social services in the City will be open this weekend during the storm and frigid cold.
- Action Inc. will be open all day Tuesday and Weds until 11 AM (978) 282-1000
In the event that you lose power or heat over the weekend, the City encourages residents to shelter in place, stay with a family/neighbor who has heat and contact the Gloucester Police Department immediately for any concerns about staying safe or warm. The police can assist you in finding a place to go with power and will be working with American Red Cross of Massachusetts to assist residents in need.
POWER OUTAGES
National Grid has been reporting power outages in different areas across the North Shore, including Gloucester. If any outages do occur in your area, it is imperative that they be reported via the National Grid Customer Service or Outage Reporting phone lines as listed below. Every outage phone call that we receive is logged into our outage tracking system and better enables us to pinpoint the location of the issue. The sooner National Grid can identify the location of the issue, the quicker a response can be sent.
REMINDERS/ SAFETY INFORMATION (via MEMA)
- All residents and businesses are reminded that they are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks adjacent to their property.
- Please make every effort to shovel out hydrants at or near your homes, and please check on your elderly and disabled.
- Your cooperation during this snow emergency/parking ban is necessary for efficient and safe snow removal efforts, but please use the following links from state agencies for more insights:
- Safety and preparedness tips for extreme cold: http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/extreme-cold-safety-tips
- Winter storm preparedness and safety information: http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/winter-storm-safety-tips
- Power outage preparedness and safety information: http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/power-outage-safety-tips
- Flood safety tips: http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/flood-safety-tips
- Winter safety tips for pets: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/winter-pet-safety-tips
Updates will be forthcoming as the storm progresses. Please check the City of Gloucester website and social media for further updates at www.gloucester-ma.gov.
Thank you for your assistance and stay safe during this snow emergency. ~Chris
SeniorCare’s “Valentine” Breakfast this Friday (March 16)
Former Valentine’s Day Event is now a Spring Celebration!
SeniorCare Inc. will hold its annual Fundraiser Breakfast at The Gloucester House this Friday, March 16, 2018, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $12 per person and include a buffet breakfast. Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit SeniorCare’s Meals on Wheels program. Tickets to the breakfast can be purchased online at www.seniorcareinc.org or at the door on March 16.
Sawyer Free Library Events 3/12-3/17
CAFM’s 10th Annual Dinner & a Movie Fundraiser
Get your tickets for our annual fundraiser now!
https://www.capeannfarmersmarket.org/events/2018/4/19/dinner-a-movie
**Fundraiser membership special – get your ticket AND a discounted membership with perks at local businesses**
Volunteer Mentor Training
Riverdale Rockets Softball FUNdraiser
LET’S BOWL!!!!
Date: March 25, 2018
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Cape Ann Lanes (53 Gloucester Ave, Gloucester MA. 01930. Phone 978-283-9753)
This FUNdraiser will support the Riverdale Rockets Softball program & its’ athletes!
Cost is $20 per person for 3 strings & shoes (remember to bring socks)
Prizes will be awarded for TOP SCORING TEAM, HIGHEST SCORE & MOST GUTTER BALLS — Raffles will also be held
Sign-up as an individual or a team (teams consist of 4-6 bowlers)
To sign-up or if you have any questions, please contact Nicole Tucker https://www.facebook.com/events/423371291417245/or email nct1031@gmail.com
Upcoming Events at Backyard Growers
Backyard Growers is excited to join Rose Baker Senior Center for another awesome party! We’ll be there from 10am-12 with a fun seed planting activity; hope to see you there!
Join us on March 24th for our annual FREE SEED SWAP! Stop by our office anytime between 12-3PM to swap seeds, connect with other gardeners, and learn more about indoor seed starting. Want to be trained in our square foot gardening method? Join us beforehand at 10AM. Call 978-281-0480 for more details.
The Power of Play Festival is Coming Up!
Gloucester Education Foundation is proud to host our third annual Power of Play Festival!
What: The Power of Play Festival: a day of play for ALL AGES. 
When: Sunday, March 18, 2018 11am-2pm
Where: Gloucester High School Field House, 32 Leslie O. Johnson Road, Gloucester
Who: Gloucester families and kids. Admission $5 per family at the door.
Gloucester Education Foundation’s Power of Play Festival will feature fun family activities like: an obstacle course, art projects, lego building challenges, hula-hooping, games, music, dance, fort-building, goop-making, sand and water play, and LOTS more.
This year, each K-8 student who attends the Power of Play will receive a “homework 
pass” good for replacing one school homework assignment with some at-home playtime. All Gloucester Public Schools, K-8 will honor the pass.
Play promotes creativity and innovation, and helps kids develop skills that are a foundation for life-long success, including critical thinking, communication, problem solving, and collaboration.
Hosted by Gloucester Education Foundation and Sponsored by Cape Ann Savings Bank and Cape Ann Savings Trust & Financial Services Department
Gloucester Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization made up of parents, teachers and community volunteers. We drive innovation in the Gloucester Public Schools, supporting programs ranging from music and theater; to literacy and art; to technology, 
math and science.
Cape Ann Community Foundation Announces Grant Opportunity
The Board of Directors of the Cape Ann Community Foundation (CACF) recently announced that they are inviting proposals for the Foundation’s
second annual round of grants. CACF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable
organization established in 2015 by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce to manage funds and award grants from the proceeds from the Cape Ann License Plate. CACF will make grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 for projects that support the Foundation’s mission to improve the economy and overall quality of life for the residents of Cape Ann in the following areas:
• Regional promotion: projects that support and enhance the quality of life for the Cape Ann region and the communities of Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport; and promote Cape Ann as a desirable place to live, work, recreate and vacation.
• Economic Development: projects that expand employment opportunities and enhance the economic vitality of Cape Ann, including but not limited to projects that facilitate the start-up of new enterprises or the expansion of existing enterprises on Cape Ann.
• Training and Education: projects that support the training and education of the current and future Cape Ann workforce, including entrepreneurial training, to help Cape Ann residents succeed and thrive in the 21st century economy. Eligible applicants include religious, educational, scientific and cultural institutions; poverty relief agencies; and in general any organization that qualifies as a 501(c) (3) charity and is based in or providing services to the Cape Ann community. Local governments and their subdivisions in the
communities of Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport are also eligible to apply for CACF grants.
In their first-ever grant cycle last year the Cape Ann Community Foundation received 25 proposals and made awards to three Cape Ann area non-profit organizations: Action, Inc., Backyard Growers and Cape Ann Farmers Market.
“My fellow Board members and I encourage all Cape Ann area non-profits and municipalities with eligible projects to submit proposals for this funding cycle,” said CACF Board President Ruth Pino. “And remember, any Massachusetts resident can buy the Cape Ann License Plate. We need more
Cape Ann plates on the road to ensure funding for worthy initiatives in the future,” Pino added.
Grant guidelines and application forms are now available online at capeanncommunityfoundation.org, and they may also be picked up at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce at 33 Commercial Street, Gloucester. The deadline for grant applications is May 1, 2018. For further information call the Chamber at (978) 283-1601 or email Peter Webber at peter@capeannchamber.com.
If you don’t have one of these amazing plates yet, CLICK HERE to order your plate online in minutes. Your plate will be mailed right to your door! Show your support for Cape Ann. Your plate will help to make Cape Ann an even better place to live, work and play – proceeds directly support our community. Anyone in with a car registered in MA can get one!
Cape Ann Community 