Tickets are now available to the annual Gloucester Rotary Comedy Night, featuring Carolyn Plummer, Jim Colliton, Jimmy Cash, and Boston’s Dave Rattigan on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Cruiseport Gloucester. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.
Don’t miss this evening of fun and laughter! Tickets are $30 each and are available from Ruth Pino (ruth@ruthpino.com, 978-764-6710). Proceeds from the show will be used to support Gloucester Rotary’s local and international projects.
The Rotary Club of Gloucester MA will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Stage Fort Park, located on Hough Avenue in Gloucester, MA. This popular event takes place concurrently with the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, which is sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is held in Stage Fort Park on Saturday-Sunday, August 19-20, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. A special free parking area is available for Pancake Breakfast attendees.
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $9 per person, $5 for children six and under, and are available in advance online at www.gloucesterrotary.org, from any Gloucester Rotarian or at the following Gloucester locations: Bank Gloucester, 160 Main Street, Gloucester, MA Cape Ann Savings Bank, 109 Main Street, Gloucester, MA
Tickets will also be available on the morning of the breakfast.
Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast will benefit local and international projects of the Gloucester Rotary Club.
The Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club presents: Build a Wire TreeWorkshop this Friday, July 28 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street.
Flex your creativity with this nature-based art activity with Local Sculptor & Wire Artist Ryan Kelley. Ryan has used over 35 miles of wire to create his detailed wire-art, and has many miles still to come. In this 2-hour art class Ryan will share his wealth of knowledge and teach our young scientists to follow their own passions and create as well. This program is suitable for 4th-8th graders.
The Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club is supported by federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The YGSC is a monthly club for 4th through 8th graders that introduces them to Gloucester Community members with careers across a variety of STEM fields.
This Thursday, July 27 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the Sawyer Free Librarywill be presenting an author-talk with June Vail, Professor Emerita in the Department of Theater and Dance at Bowdoin College, about her book Folly Cove Sketches: Remembering Virginia Lee Burton.
Vail’s new memoir paints a warm, honest portrait of her great-aunt, Virginia Lee Burton, Author and illustrator of beloved mid-century children’s books. Burton’s beloved books, including Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel and Caldecott-winner The Little House, continue to delight generations of parents, children, and librarians. Offering intimate glimpses into Burton’s wide-ranging artistic projects and everyday life, Vail vividly recounts how living with her great-aunt Jinnee in the Folly Cove, Massachusetts, community broadened her teenage perspectives and inspired some unexpected life choices.
An open Q and A will follow Vail’s informal, illustrated talk. Books will be available for sale and signing following the presentation. The event will take place at the Sawyer Free Library’s downtown location at 21 Main Street in Gloucester.
Backyard Growers is a Gloucester-based 501(C)3 nonprofit organization with a commitment to cultivating healthy, connected, resilient communities by empowering people to grow their own food.
Clean out your closet and donate seamlessly at the pop-up clothing drive this weekend at Second Glance!
THIS WEEKEND ONLY: no appointments will be needed to make a clothing ONLY donation during business hours.
WHEN: Saturday, July 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 23 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Second Glance, thrift store of The Open Door at 2 Pond Road, Gloucester MA
WHAT: Second Glance will be accepting donations of clean, gently worn, unripped clothing.
Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing for all seasons will be accepted.
Donations at Second Glance help generate revenue for hunger-relief programs of The Open Door, which serves 1 in 6 Gloucester residents.
In 2022, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 8,486 people from 4,872 households through the distribution of 1.78 million pounds of food.
Donations of clothes at Second Glance also offer a more sustainable, environmentally friendlier way to give old threads a second life. In 2022, the store recycled more than 87 tons of materials.
The Sawyer Free Library is excited to be presenting a series of local authors reading and sharing insight into colorful historical happenings of Gloucester this summer at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. All events are in person and open to the public. The series kicks off this Saturday, July 22 with local author and historian Wayne Soini.
Saturday, July 22, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wayne Soini to present “An Unsuitable Lecture: Thoreau, Walden, and the Gloucester Lyceum” – An unnamed critic for the Gloucester Telegraph declared that Henry D. Thoreau’s lecture was “unique” before he took umbrage and condemned it as “not exactly suitable for a Gloucester audience.” 175 years ago, in December 1848, Thoreau auditioned his upcoming book, Walden, before an audience of Gloucester folks at the Gloucester Lyceum (today, the Legion Hall).
Wayne Soini, a local author, through the lens of Thoreau’s controversial performance in Gloucester of “Economy,” which evolved into Chapter One of his classic book, will share more about the man Henry D. Thoreau and the writing (and rewriting) of Walden.
Thursday, July 27, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., June Vail, Folly Cove Sketches: Remembering Virginia Lee– An author-talk with June Vail, Professor Emerita in the Department of Theater and Dance at Bowdoin College, about her book Folly Cove Sketches: Remembering Virginia Lee Burton. Vail’s new memoir paints a warm, honest portrait of her great-aunt, Virginia Lee Burton, Author and illustrator of beloved mid-century children’s books. Burton’s beloved books, including Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel and Caldecott-winner The Little House, continue to delight generations of parents, children, and librarians. Offering intimate glimpses into Burton’s wide-ranging artistic projects and everyday life, Vail vividly recounts how living with her great-aunt Jinnee in the Folly Cove, Massachusetts, community broadened her teenage perspectives and inspired some unexpected life choices. An open Q and A will follow Vail’s informal, illustrated talk. Books will be available for sale and signing following the presentation.
Thursday, August 3, 5:30 to 6:30 pm, Dan Fuller, Gloucester Gale: The True Story of the Swordfishing Schooner Dorcas– In “Gloucester Gale,” Dan Fuller tells the true story of Captain Joseph Silveira and the swordfishing schooner “Dorcas” during the August Gale of 1924. In this vivid narrative about men battling against a raging force of nature during the bygone age of wooden ships and harpoons, he reconstructs the events of that hurricane and the schooner “Dorcas,” the impact on the rest of the fleet out at Georges Bank, and their loved ones back in Gloucester. Dan is a direct descendant of Captain Silveira, and this story has been part of his family’s folklore for generations. Dan has always been captivated by the sea and is an avid sport fisherman. He currently splits his time seasonally between Cape Cod Bay and Tampa Bay. Books will be available for sale and signing following the presentation.
Thursday, August 24, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Ellen Levy: The Saturday Evening Girls in Gloucester–Author Ellen Levy will relay the story of a Boston library group that created magnificent Arts and Crafts pottery at the turn of the last century. Supported by their benefactor, Helen Storrow, the immigrant girls vacationed at Wingaersheek Beach. In a lively presentation, Ellen will share the stories she gathered while researching for her series of historical fiction books taking place in the 1910s in Massachusetts.
For more information on the Sawyer Free Library’s Author Talks and the complete schedule of summer happenings at the Library, please visit www.sawyerfreelibrary.org, call 978-325-5500, or 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. As always, all events are free and open to the public.
Win TWO (2) High Roller tickets to our special event: “Rat Pack & Blackjack: A Night of Music & Casino Games” on Saturday, July 22nd!
Each ticket includes premier seating for the Rat Pack performance and 25 chips for play at the After-Party Casino on the tented, oceanside lawn. We’ll have an open bar,passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, & vegas-themed game. Don’t miss your chance to be a High Roller!
Chances are $10 each and represent one bid in the raffle. A winner will be picked with a computer-generated randomizer on the Hammond Castle Museum Facebook page on Tuesday, July 18th at 1:00 pm. Winner will be contacted by the phone number and email address provided when purchasing the raffle tickets. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter this raffle. Raffle ends at 11:59pm on Sunday, July 16th.
The Rat Pack & Blackjack: A Night of Music and Casino Games is generously sponsored by Building Center.
Rules of Entry: Purchasing Raffle Entries: There are two methods of entering the Raffle: (1) in person in the Museum Shop and (2) online at bit.ly/RaffleRatPackBlackjack. Entry, regardless of the method, is void outside of Massachusetts and where prohibited by law, rule, or regulation. Eligibility: You must be 21 years of age or older to enter. The following persons are NOT ELIGIBLE to participate in the raffle or to win the prize: employees, officers, directors, shareholders, members, agents, and consultants of the Hammond Castle Museum. Raffle Tickets are non-deductible and no portion of the Raffle ticket price may be deducted as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes. The raffle prize may not be exchanged for a cash payout of any value.
Join us every Wednesday morning in July & August for Bubbles & Books on our seaside lawn.
Doors open at 10 am. Stories start at 10:15 am. Feel free to bring a blanket for your little one to cuddle with while we enjoy Storytime on the ocean-facing lawn. Don’t forget the sunscreen! We’ll have thousands of bubbles, coloring, snacks and music too! We encourage little ones to dress up in their favorite crown, gown or anything else that makes them happy!
We recommend arriving at 15 minutes early to allow enough time for the walk from the parking lot down to the museum, then for the check in process and the walk to the lawn. There are many steps. Please note, strollers are not permitted in the museum.
We recommend arriving at 15 minutes early to allow enough time for the walk from the parking lot down to the museum, then for the check in process and the walk to the lawn. There are many steps. Please note, strollers are not permitted in the museum.
This ticket grants you access to the Bubbles & Books program which will be held on the ocean-facing lawn. If you wish to tour the museum at the conclusion of this program, ticket holders may purchase Self-Guided Tour tickets in the Museum Shop at a 20% discount.
Library to celebrate the launch of author’s newest book “Clara Poole and the Long Way Round”
The Sawyer Free Library is excited to welcome author Taylor Tyng to speak about his new book for middle-grade readers (ages 8-12), Clara Poole and the Long Way Round, on Friday, July 21 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The free event will be at the Sawyer Free Library located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Register HERE.
Join us as we celebrate Tyng’s latest book for young readers. Mr. Lemoncello meets the Amazing Race, in this quirky high-octane balloon-racing middle-grade around-the-world adventure. Gorgeous prose and winning characters combine in this quirky, often-hilarious, sometimes heart-breaking, and thoroughly captivating middle-grade adventure series starter from an incredible new talent.
The Bookstore of Gloucester will be selling books at the event; Tyng will be signing books after the talk and Q&A. If you cannot be there in person, you can pre order a book to be signed by the author by calling the store at 978-281-1548.
ABOUT THE BOOK
“With plenty of heart and charm, Tyng’s fast-paced debut conjures excitement via a high-octane premise that’s tempered by laugh-out-loud humor and populated by idiosyncratic characters.” – Publisher’s Weekly
When an unintended flight over Michigan in her class science project—a lawn chair held aloft by balloons—brings her instant celebrity, Clara Poole is invited to be the spokesperson for a round-the-world adventure race. But when her overprotective father refuses, Clara forges his signature in a moment of defiance and runs away to Paris to take her place in the skies. If only she’d read the fine print first.
Partnered with a veteran aeronaut who wants nothing to do with her, Clara faces down ten treacherous stages in a race around the world—capturing flags in the perilous mountains of Nepal, being a guest of honor at a maybe-wedding in the Saharan desert, flying through rings of fire in Hong Kong—all while learning the ropes alongside a colorful cast of international competitors.
But there are more dangers ahead. Someone is trying to sabotage the competition. And surviving this race means Clara must come to terms with the tragedy that set her fleeing to the skies in the first place and accept that forgiving herself isn’t a process she has to undertake alone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Taylor Tyng has worked as a designer, animator, film editor, and software CEO. At 45, he started writing children’s novels, something Taylor never considered as a lifelong dyslexic. Now, all he wishes is that he began to sooner as he finds endless joy in writing for middle-grade readers, who are no longer children but not quite adults. His debut YA book was Sprout. Taylor lives in Massachusetts with his family.
The event is free and open to the public at the Sawyer Free Library, located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Register HERE. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
