March 9 Meeting of the Gloucester Area Astronomy Club: What’s Up Next at NASA

~ Michael Deneen

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This month’s GAAC meeting will feature club member Steve Kolaczkowski with a preview of NASA programs scheduled for the next couple of years.

Will we land on Europa or Enceladus? Sail the Methane seas of Titan? Go back to the moon? Add to all the hardware on Mars, revisit Jupiter or Saturn, send another spacecraft racing out to the stars with New Horizons and the Voyagers? Come to our Friday, March 9 meeting, 8:00 pm at the Lanesville Community Center and see what might be next!

We’ll have all the goodies you associate with a GAAC meeting, all the great conversation and of course a colorful, entertaining, informative presentation with Steve. You’ll always leave GAAC knowing something you didn’t know coming in — come early and get a good seat for this one.

We hope to see you next Friday!

The Gloucester Area Astronomy Club meets from 8:00pm to 9:30 on the second Friday of the month at the Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street in Lanesville. There is no cost, and all are welcome. Plenty of off-street parking. For more info on the club see the website, Facebook Page, or follow us on Twitter, @GAACster.

Flooding Alert: LONG DURATION COASTAL STORM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY BRINGS POWER OUTAGES Gloucester Emergency Alert

~ Chris Sicuranza

Gloucester Emergency Alert

LONG DURATION COASTAL STORM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY

(Issued 3/1/2018 6 PM) Tides will be astronomically high from Thursday night (3/1/2018) through all of Saturday (3/3/2018) with a coastal storm and storm surge increasing coastal flooding and property damage. Power outages, road closures, and other emergency incidents are expected in the next 24 to 48 hours and we strongly recommend all citizens to prepare accordingly.

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Additionally, we caution all citizens who are in low lying areas that are prone to flooding to be aware and prepare accordingly. Any home or business that was previously affected by recent storms and flooding should especially take caution.

Coastal properties facing East, NorthEast may be severely affected by the predicted storm surge and significant wave action.

Precautionary measures should be taken immediately to best prepare, including voluntary evacuation prior to the storm. All residents should avoid these areas, as well as avoiding driving through any flooded areas.

Strong winds may cause power outages and we are asking citizens to shelter in place. If your home is being flooded or if you are in danger, call 911 for immediate assistance. Emergency teams are prepared to assist anyone in need so call 911 right away.

Roads may be slick in areas, so we remind all to take caution if driving. Roadways most prone to splash-over at astronomically high tides will be at greatest risk of inundation.

Updates will be forthcoming and will be shared on the City of Gloucester website and social media pages so please visit http://www.gloucester-ma.gov. Thank you for your assistance and please use 911 for any flooding or emergency needs.

POWER OUTAGES

National Grid has been preparing for 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.

  • The Customer Service Line is: 1-800-322-3223
  • The Outage Reporting Line is: 1-800-465-1212

REMINDERS/ SAFETY INFORMATION

MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STATEMENT

Latest weather and emergency reports can be seen using the following links and resource lines:

Coming Up at Backyard Growers

~ backyardgrowersgloucester

Looking for a way to support Backyard Growers this winter? Join us on March 3rd as we partner with Treetop Yoga for a Karma class! Hope to see you then!

Yogi Veggies

Hoping for good luck in the 2018 growing season? Join us as we partner with Rose Baker Senior Center where we will be planting peas in biodegradable seedling kits during their St. Patrick’s Day party.

Rose Baker St. Patty Blurb

We are eager and excited to start planting seeds in the soil! Stop by our office on March 24th for a seed starting/seed swapping extravaganza. 11am-12 square foot training,12-3pm seed swapping, and 1pm seed starting demo. Contact community@backyardgrowers.org for more information.

Seed Swap 2018

 

Life’s So Sweet with a Sugar Maple in Your Yard

~ Dot Sieradzki

The March 13 meeting of the Seaside Garden Club presents Trish Wesley Umbrell of the Natick Community Organic Farm (http://www.natickfarm.org/) with a maple sugaring demonstration.

Trish will share tips on tree identification and use in home landscape, and share the rich history and traditions of New England maple sugaring. She will give a virtual tour of her local favorite sugar shack, and provide practical tips for making your own maple syrup. Maple syrup will be for sale at the meeting.

The program is sponsored by the Manchester Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Guests are welcome, free of charge.

The Seaside Garden Club meets at the Manchester Community Center, located at 40 Harbor Point, Manchester-by-the-Sea. Social time begins with light refreshments at 7:00 pm, followed by the program at 7:30 pm. Newcomers are welcome.

Gloucester Pride Stride Info Session

~ capeannanimalaid01930

Attention Cape Ann nonprofits, school, and community groups! Registration is now open for the 2018 Gloucester Pride Stride! Sign up your group so your supporters can officially join your team and raise money for your cause!

You are also invited to a free info session at The Open Door on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 from 6:30-7:30pm. Come learn how you can participate, raise funds, and engage your supporters. Plus, see tutorials on creating your team’s online fundraising page and tips and tricks from your peers! RSVP by March 1st to gloucesterpridestride@gmail.com

InfoSession_PS2018

Magnolia Cribbage League Spring Session

~ Dot Sieradzki

Magnolia Cribbage League starts its spring session on Wednesday March 7 at 6:30pm at J.D. Meyers Pub, 24 Lexington Ave, Magnolia. New players are welcome to join in this friendly game of cribbage. $40 covers 10 weeks of play plus a dinner and cash prizes.  If you cannot commit to a 10-week session then consider substituting for a regular player. Arrive at 6:30pm to sign up and learn more about the league. Call Andy Heinze at 508-596-3857 for more information.

Let the Youth Lead! – Open Forum for Youth Voices

~ Rose

FLYER 2On Thursday, March 1, “Let the Youth Lead – An Open Forum for Youth Voices” will be held for youth from across Cape Ann. The forum is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM and will meet in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church’s Community Room. The accessible entrance is at 10 Church Street.

 The goal is to provide a space where young people can meet and share their thoughts, feelings, questions and ideas regarding the recent wave of youth leadership and action happening across the country.

Participants will be encouraged to explore how they can effectively increase youth agency locally and beyond, in the short term and the long term.

The current conversation about gun laws and school safety is certainly one of the biggest topics right now, but the forum will not be limited to that subject.

Should interest arise in the upcoming March 24 March for Our Lives events – locally, in Boston or in DC – a breakout group will form to develop options to support participation.

The forum will be facilitated by Rose Sheehan, Gloucester Unitarian Universalist’s Education and Community Engagement Leader. Refreshments will be served.

Questions may be directed to Rose Sheehan at info@gloucesteruu.org.