“A Decade in Gloucester” with local author Laura Plummer at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday evening March 20 at 5:30 p.m. for an engaging evening with award-winning local writer and poet Laura Plummer as she discusses her debut chapbook, A Decade in Gloucester: Reflections on History and Home. Through heartfelt poetry and prose, Plummer explores the unexpected discovery of her Finnish ancestors’ deep ties to Gloucester—connections she uncovered after moving to the city in 2014.

This beautifully crafted collection offers a unique perspective on Gloucester’s history and its profound influence on Plummer’s sense of place and belonging. Through her writing, she paints a rich literary portrait of the seafaring city that captured her heart.

All are invited. No registration is required for this event. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Russ Smith Scholarship: Now Accepting Applications

~ michaeldekoster

The Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee is now accepting applications for the next round of the Russ Smith Scholarship. This scholarship is given to Cape Ann youth with the goal of advancing their Maritime career. Application is open until March 31st and can be found at MaritimeGloucester.org/sf-scholarship. Individuals must upload a letter explaining the applicant’s need and outlining plans for a future career in maritime fields or service. While strong preference will be given to those continuing a career at Maritime Academies or Maritime institutions of higher learning, all youth looking for a maritime career of any kind are encouraged to apply. 

The Scholarship Committee does from time to time make awards to organizations that support getting locals young people on the water and active in maritime activities. Individual scholarships start at $500 and organizational scholarships start at $1,000. 

Scholarship awards will be announced April 11 at the annual Gloucester Schooner Festival Kickoff Event and Fundraiser at the Gloucester House & Blue Collar Lobster.​​​  

Requests for additional information can be made by emailing info@maritimegloucester.org.

Boston Light with Lighthouse Keeper Sally Snowman at SFL on Thursday evening

~ Sawyer Free Library

Guiding Light: The Legacy of Boston Light with Keeper Sally Snowman

📅 Thursday, March 13
🕠 5:30 – 6:30 PM
📍 Sawyer Free Librarya, 21 Main Street, Gloucester

Join the Sawyer Free Free Library for a captivating evening with Sally Snowman, the Keeper of Boston Light, as she shares the rich history and personal stories of America’s first established light station. Since 1716, Boston Light has illuminated the way for mariners entering Boston Harbor, and as the last manned Coast Guard Light Station in the country, it holds a unique place in maritime history.

As the 70th and final keeper, Sally Snowman has spent over two decades maintaining this historic beacon. In this engaging presentation, she will recount her experiences as a 21st-century lighthouse keeper, offering insights from her co-authored books and sharing stunning images from Boston Light’s 307-year history.

🔹 Registration required at sawyerfreelibrary.org
🔹 Questions? Contact lsvensson@sawyerfreelibrary.org

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from Sally Snowman, Ph.D., educator, author, and historian, as she prepares to retire and close a remarkable chapter in maritime history.

For Veggie Gardeners: Square-Foot Gardening Workshop

~ backyardgrowersgloucester

🥕 In this workshop, the Backyard Growers team will introduce you to the Square-Foot Gardening Method, which helps veggie gardeners make the most of often limited growing space to grow the most food possible for a household. We’ll show you how to do this by using gridded square-feet instead of rows.

🍅 You’ll work with us to create your own custom vegetable garden plan for the season.

💚 This is an interactive workshop. All are welcome!

Purchase tickets or reserve your spot

🎟️ Tickets are free for Backyard Growers Program participants (e.g. those who grow food with us in our Community Garden, Backyard Garden, or GrowBag Garden Programs.) Tickets are $20 for the general public. Proceeds from our spring gardening workshops are essential to support our work throughout the year connecting communities with equitable access to the resources, knowledge, and space to grow their own food.

🎉 THANK YOU for supporting our work and being part of our community!

March 21st Bach Birthday Concert

~ chasnaz

This concert, performed by Heinrich Christensen on the 1893 Hutchings/Fisk pipe organ with the Jubilate Chamber Choir directed by Mary Jodice, is the fifth in a series celebrating the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was born on March 21st, 1685, and is considered the greatest composer of all time. This musical offering for the Cape Ann community is made possible through the generosity of H. Woody Brock.
The concert features selections from Clavier-Übung III, sometimes referred to as the German Organ Mass, a collection of compositions for organ published in 1739, based upon Lutheran chorales (harmonized hymn tunes), which will be sung a cappella by the Choir. The collection of pieces is considered Bach’s most significant and extensive work for the organ, containing some of his most musically complex and technically demanding compositions for the instrument. It opens with the majestic Prelude in E-flat and concludes with a monumental triple Fugue known as the “St. Anne,” depicting the Trinity in a glorious combination on the “organo pleno,” pulling out all the stops! Organist Heinrich Christensen is the Music Director of King’s Chapel, Boston.
The concert will be held on Friday, March 21st 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 $35 General, $5 Students (all ages), under 12 free. An elevator is available from the side door at 10 Church Street. For more advance ticket purchases and more information please visit: http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Family Bingo at the Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of FAMILY BINGO at the Sawyer Free Library on Monday, March 10 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Whether you’re a bingo pro or a first-time player, we want you to join us for an afternoon of friendly competition, great prizes, and maybe even some bingo puns! Bring the whole family and see if you can be the lucky winner.

Families with children of all ages are welcome, but this program is best enjoyed by children 5 and up. All children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Space is limited, please register at sawyerfreelibrary.org to save your spot!

Please note that registration priority will be given to families who have not previously attended Family Bingo. So if you missed out last time, make sure to register now!

The event will take place at the Sawyer Free Library located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Please reach out to tbalsan@sawyerfreelibrary.org with any questions or call 978-325-5500.

Join Us on Saturday Night for a Venetian-Themed Masquerade!

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Join us this Saturday night for an extraordinary evening of exquisite cuisine by Missy Sallah of Glouester’s Sugar Magnolias, an open bar with beer, wine, prosecco & a signature cocktail. We’ll have dazzling live entertainment, including a fire spinner, a ballerina on pointe, a contortionist & more by Cape Ann’s Seaside Circus! We’ll also feature a string quartet by the Firebird Pops Orchestra and a DJ for dancing!

Only masks are required – costumes are optional. No mask? No problem; we’ll have some available for purchase in the Museum Shop.

Tickets are almost sold out. Don’t miss your chance to attend this enchanting Masquerade!

Reserve your spot at the party at: https://bit.ly/BallofDreams25.

Cozy Up with Knitting & Crochet for Teens & Tweens on Monday, Feb 24

~ Sawyer Free Library

When: Monday, February 24, 4:00–5:30 PM Where: Sawyer Free Library

Beat the winter chill by creating something soft and huggable! Whether you’re new to knitting and crochet or an experienced crafter, the Sawyer Free Library wants to invite local teens and tweens (students in grades 6-12, ages 11 -19) join Young Adult Librarian Annalise for a relaxing afternoon of learning basic stitches and exploring fun project ideas. The repetitive nature of these crafts is known to reduce stress—so come unwind, try something new, and leave with a skill you can enjoy all year long.

   •   Materials Provided: Yarn, knitting needles, and crochet hooks

   •   Feel Free to Bring: Your own yarn, needles, hooks, or work-in-progress

   •   Questions? Email Annalise at anakoneczny@sawyerfreelibrary.org

Registration required at SawyerFreeLibrary.org. We can’t wait to see what you’ll create!

Sawyer Free Library Presents “Nature’s Voices” A Three-Part Literary Arts En Plein Air Writing Series 

~ Sawyer Free Library

Award winning local author JoeAnn Hart to kick off series on Saturday, Feb 23

The Sawyer Free Library, in collaboration with Gloucester’s Writing Center, is thrilled to announce “Nature’s Voices,” a three-part writing workshop that invites participants to step away from everyday demands and reconnect with the natural world. Much like the French Impressionists who painted en plein air, the program invites participants to venture outside to observe shifting light, gentle breezes, and the soothing sounds of nature—only this time, capturing the scene on the page.

Led by professional writers, each session begins with a 30-minute guided walk to gather impressions and inspiration, followed by 90 minutes of writing indoors. Whether you’re a seasoned creator or new to writing, these sessions promise fresh perspectives, a deeper connection to nature, and invigorating creative exercises.

All sessions are free (ages 18+), rain or shine, and registration is required for each at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Dress for comfort and the elements, and bring your own rain gear if needed. Pens, notebooks, and an open mind are encouraged!

WORKSHOP 1:  It Was a Dark & Stormy Night: The Natural World in Fiction with JoeAnn Hart

Sunday, February 23 | 2:00–4:00 PM at Gloucester Writers Center, 126 East Main Street, Gloucester

Award-winning local author JoeAnn Hart will guide participants in exploring how nature’s drama can add depth and tension to fiction. JoeAnn’s acclaimed works—such as her recently released novel Arroyo Circle (Green Writers Press), prize-winning environmental fiction collection Highwire Act & Other Tales of Survival, the crime memoir Stamford ’76: A True Story of Murder, Corruption, Race, and Feminism in the 1970s, as well as Float, a dark comedy about plastics, and Addled, a social satire. Widely published, her short fiction and essays have appeared in Slate.com, Orion, The Hopper, Prairie Schooner, Terrain.org, and many others. Her work explores the relationship between humans, their environments, and the more-than-human world. REGISTER HERE

WORKSHOP 2: Rocks, Trees, and Me: Exploring the Self through Ecopoetry with Rachel Dillon

Saturday, March 1 | 1:00–3:00 PM at Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street, Gloucester

Local writer Rachel Dillon, Managing Editor of Ploughshares and author of a chapbook on Gloucester’s Dogtown, will lead this hands-on workshop focused on ecopoetry. Drawing on poets from Dante Alighieri to Emily Dickinson to Donika Kelly, participants will engage with the landscape to discover new ways of expressing their personal and environmental connections. REGISTER HERE

WORKSHOP 3: Immersion, Observation, Reflection: Communicating Sense of Place through Essay

Saturday, April 5 | 2:00–4:00 PM at Gloucester Writers Center, 126 East Main Street, Gloucester

Photographer and essayist Mark Thayer offers a final session on crafting essays that illuminate the natural world. Through immersive observation and reflection, participants will learn to convey a vivid sense of place and personal insight into the environment around them. REGISTER HERE

For more information or to register for any of these workshops, please visit the Sawyer Free Library in person or online at sawyerfreelibrary.org, or contact Meg O’Neill at 978-325-5562 or moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org.