Teens and tweens, start your weekend off with a fancy flair! Join the Sawyer Free Library on Friday, February 7 from 3:00 to 4:15 pm for an afternoon of collage-making and cheese and cookie pairings from The Cave.
All materials will be provided. No registration is required, so stop by with a friend. Grades 6-12 (ages 11-19) welcome. Questions? Email Annalise at anakoneczny@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
”Curcuru’s docuseries, “Timeline: Cape Ann”, produced for 1623 Studios, focuses on the history,culture and heritage of Cape Ann. This event will present eight of Curcuru’s shorter videos,telling the story of Cape Ann’s unique history in jewel-like form, from the “first boss-lady,”Abigail Trask of Manchester-by-the-sea to Rockport’s long celebrated but little understood“Paper House,” actually a much more complicated tale than just a house of newspaper. Curcuru will be guiding the audience with his exciting style of storytelling. The films will be shown on a big screen, in collaboration with the Cape Ann Community Cinema, in the Meetinghouse. This will be a highly entertaining celebration of Cape Ann’s quirky, singular history.
The film showing will be held on Saturday, February 15th at 7:30pm in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets (GPS 50 Middle Street). Parking is available on the green. The admission for the event is $20 General, $5 Students (all ages), under 12 free. An elevator is available from the side door at 10 Church Street. For more information please visit: www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org
Event Highlights: Fire Spinner, Contortionist, Juggler, Stiltwalker, Roving Harpist, String Quartet, DJ & Dancing
Catering by: Gloucester’s Missy Sallah of Sugar Magnolias
Open Bar: Serving Beer, Wine, Prosecco & Signature Cocktail.
Masked in mystery and draped in decadence, this unforgettable masquerade ball promises an evening of magic, intrigue, and timeless elegance. Step back in time to 15th-century Venice, where the Renaissance ignited a flourishing of art, beauty, and imagination. Originally an exclusive affair for the elite, masquerade balls grew in popularity across Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, defying societal norms by uniting rich and poor in shared celebration.
Join us at Hammond Castle Museum for an extraordinary evening of colorful costumes, captivating music, exquisite cuisine, and dazzling live entertainment. From 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, immerse yourself in the grandeur and enchantment of The Masquerade Ball of Dreams. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by the thrilling spectacle of a fire spinner, lighting your way across the drawbridge and into the Castle. Inside the Great Hall, a string quartet by the Firebird Pops Orchestra will fill the air with the timeless sounds of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Mozart, and Beethoven, setting the perfect ambiance.
Throughout the evening, a roving harpist will serenade you with Italian classics as you explore the Castle’s galleries and secret passageways. Indulge in elegant hors d’oeuvres and decadent desserts, featuring both passed and stationary selections designed by Missy Sallah of Gloucester’s Sugar Magnolias. An open bar will offer beer, wine, Prosecco, and a signature cocktail crafted especially for the night. As you mingle and dance to the DJ, captivating performers, including a juggler, contortionist, and stiltwalker, will enchant and dazzle, ensuring every moment is filled with wonder and excitement.
What to Wear? The centerpiece of your outfit will undoubtedly be a stunning mask! Masks have long been a vital part of the Venetian Carnival. Whether you wish to embody the spirit of a jester, a wizard, or a sophisticated noble, your mask offers endless possibilities for self-expression. For nearly a thousand years, the Venetian Carnival has granted individuals the rare chance to conceal their identity, gender, and social class. The mask becomes a powerful tool for liberation, allowing freedom to be yourself and engage as you please. Immerse yourself in a lavish world where masks grant you the ultimate freedom to express creativity and even challenge the status quo without fear. Beyond disguise, the mask and costume embody personal artistry and unique expression.
Join us and embrace the mesmerizing costumes & opulent atmosphere that will transport you back in time.
The Sawyer Free Library will welcome Kristin Czarnecki, Executive Director of the Rockport Art Association & Museum, on Thursday, February 6 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, for a special evening as she reads from her new memoir, Encounters with Inscriptions. The event will be at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
When Kristin lost both her parents within nine months, she sought solace in books—but not just any books. In Encounters with Inscriptions (Legacy Book Press, October 2024), she reflects on the volumes her parents had inscribed and gifted her over the years, an array spanning novels, short stories, poetry, nature writing, cultural criticism, and even a cookbook. As Kristin revisits each cherished title, she explores her grief, the complexities of childhood and family, and the rewards of a life spent reading. She recalls falling in love with poetry, contemplates how the Troubles in Northern Ireland shaped her adolescence, reflects on the legacy of her mother’s feminism, and comes to know her father better through an author he loved. Ultimately, these pages reveal how the power of literature can inspire, confound, soothe, and surprise us.
Kristin Czarnecki is also the author of a memoir, The First Kristin: The Story of a Naming, and a chapbook, Sliced. Her creative nonfiction, poetry, literary criticism, and book reviews have appeared in numerous publications. Kristin holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati and was an English professor for many years at Georgetown College. From 2015 to 2020, she served as President of the International Virginia Woolf Society and remains on the Virginia Woolf Miscellany editorial board. She lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
This event will be moderated by Heather Atwood, an artist, a home cook, and a writer/producer who also lives here in Cape Ann. Additionally, The Bookstore of Gloucester will be on-site during the event to sell copies of Kristin’s books.
To register, go to the calendar page of sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited. Questions, 978-325-5500.
On Tuesday, February 4, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., the Sawyer Free Library will host a presentation and discussion about Planning for Medicare led by a representative of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
This informative presentation is geared toward individuals approaching medicare eligibility and for the community who may still be working and looking to transition.
Topics covered include health insurance information outside of employer-sponsored coverage, such as an explanation of Medicare, the Medicare enrollment timeline, Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans and programs available to early retirees, and COBRA.
No registration required. For questions or more information, please email: moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.
For Immediate Release (January 27, 2024) Gloucester, MA – – The Sawyer Free Library has been awarded a $27,700 grant from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, through its Operating Grants for Organizations Program that provides multi-year, unrestricted operating grants to nonprofit organizations that enrich Massachusetts’ cultural life. This funding recognizes the Library’s commitment to high-quality cultural and educational resources and activities in the arts, humanities and sciences.
“Our Cape Ann residents deserve outstanding opportunities, and that’s exactly what the newly renovated and modernized state-of-the-art Sawyer Free Library will provide – for free to all,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “This grant from the Mass Cultural Council is a crucial investment in our community, ensuring the Library remains a beacon of equal access and lifelong learning.”
“As the daughter of a school librarian, public libraries hold a special place in my heart,” said State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester). “The Sawyer Free Library fosters a love of reading, inspires learning, and cultivates connections among all the residents of Cape Ann. I am grateful to the Mass Cultural Council for their support at this exciting moment as the Library expands its resources, programs, and services to reach new audiences and build a lasting community.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Mass Cultural Council for recognizing the Sawyer Free Library’s public value,” said Mern Sibley, President of the Sawyer Free Library Board of Trustees. “For nearly 200 years, we have enriched lives, fostered creativity, and built connections. As we move into our newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space, this grant will help us broaden our reach, enhance our services, and continue building a brighter future for Gloucester.”
As the largest free public space in Gloucester, the Sawyer Free Library draws over 275,000 in-person and online visitors annually. Guided by its mission to cultivate community connections, power imaginations, inspire learning, and provide an inclusive, welcoming space for all, it hosts hundreds of free public programs each year. With a newly renovated and modernized building, the Library looks to increase monthly programs by 25% and community-focused events by 50%.
For Fiscal Year 2025, the Mass Cultural Council has adopted a $34 million spending plan, enabling the agency to award at least 2,500 grants totaling approximately $38 million to the Commonwealth’s creative and cultural sector. These funds primarily come from the Council’s $26.7 million state budget appropriation and support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Through initiatives such as the Mass Cultural Facilities Fund in partnership with MassDevelopment, the Council’s unrestricted organizational support grants help cultural organizations innovate, take on new challenges, and expand access for underserved audiences—improving quality of life, creating economic opportunity, and fostering greater cultural participation across Massachusetts.
Mass Cultural Council funds reach every community in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to advance the Commonwealth’s creative and cultural sector by celebrating traditions and talents, championing its collective needs, and equitably investing public resources.
# # #
How many different kinds of Hawks, Owls, and Eagles do you think frequent Cape Ann during the year? Join the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, January 30 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm to find out!
Using interactive maps, photos, and more, David Williams‘ presentation will take a season by season approach to examine the more than 20 hawks, owls, and eagles that frequent our area. Some of these Raptors are common nesters in our area, some are Winter visitors, and some are rarities that cause excitement. Tips on identifying these birds of prey will be shared as well as how to respectfully find and view these special birds.
The event will take place at the Sawyer Free Library located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. All are welcome. Registration is requested at SawyerFreeLibrary.org For questions email jwilkins@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.
Calling all tweens and teens—it’s your time to shine! Join the Sawyer Free Library at the Cape Ann YMCA on Wednesday, January 29, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm for an afternoon of snacks, mini-games, and friendly competition. We’ll test your skills and smarts, and you could walk away with prizes—so be sure to bring your A-game and a friend! No registration is required, and all materials will be provided. This event is open to anyone in grades 6–12 (ages 11–19). For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500. Don’t let the winter blues slow you down—come get active, have fun, and win big!
Gloucester’s favorite day of play returns! Mark your calendars now, or be prepared for your kids to be really annoyed with you :). Follow the Gloucester Education Foundation’s social media and website for updates, activity schedules, swag previews, and more!
Kick off 2025 with strategies to boost focus, productivity, and efficiency at home and work. On Thursday, January 23, 5:30 to 6:30 pm join Gloucester resident and innovator Shawn Gerard at 21 Main Street to learn how to leverage your energy and develop a structured planning approach.
The start of a new year is a great time to focus on our goals for the coming months. We often get too busy to enjoy our life, though. In this session, you’ll explore how to find your focus, accomplish your goals, and create free time to charge your batteries.
All are welcome. Registration required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.
Cape Ann Community 