New York Times Bestselling Author of Ordinary Grace: Author Talk with William Kent Krueger on 4/27 at 8pm

The Sawyer Free Library invites you to a riveting hour online with New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger! Join us on Thursday, April 27 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. as he discusses his newest book in the Cork O’Connor series Fox Creek and his other works. 

This is a virtual event. Registration is required. Click HERE to register.

Fox Creek follows Cork O’Connor in a race against time to save his wife, a mysterious stranger, and an Ojibwe healer from bloodthirsty mercenaries. The ancient Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux has had a vision of his death. As he walks the Northwoods in solitude, he tries to prepare himself peacefully for the end of his long life. But peace is destined to elude him as hunters fill the woods seeking a woman named Dolores Morriseau, a stranger who had come to the healer for shelter and the gift of his wisdom. Meloux guides this stranger and his great niece, Cork O’Connor’s wife, to safety deep into the Boundary Waters, his home for more than a century. Meanwhile, in Aurora, Cork works feverishly to identify the hunters and the reason for their relentless pursuit, but he has little to go on. He knows only too well that with each passing hour time is running out. But his fiercest enemy in this deadly game of cat and mouse may well be his own deep self-doubt about his ability to save those he loves.

About the Author: Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. 

Ordinary Grace, his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. The companion novel, This Tender Land, was published in September 2019 and spent nearly six months on the New York Times bestseller list. His last nine novels were all New York Times bestsellers. He’s been married for nearly fifty years to a marvelous woman who is a retired attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.

This is a virtual event. Registration is required. Click HERE to register.

Questions? Contact: moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5562.

Hybrid Class: Yin Yoga for Gardeners

🌿 Join community gardener & yoga teacher Jasmine Epstein for this hybrid yin yoga class designed specifically for gardeners — including deep stretches and release for the neck, shoulders, and back.

📆 Friday, April 28, 4pm

📍 You can attend this class in-person at Backyard Growers HQ or online.

🎟 FREE for Backyard Growers program participants / $15 general admission. Proceeds support our work building healthy, connected, resilient communities by empowering people to grow their own food. Thanks to Jasmine for donating her time and talent by leading this class!

Broadway Review At Hammond Castle Museum

Fresh off a sold-out preview, Hello Friends brings their NEW Broadway review: “Once Upon a Time” to the Great Hall. Prepare yourself as their voices fill the Hall with beloved songs from Broadway shows such as Sunset Boulevard, Man of La Mancha, Legally Blonde, Shrek The Musical, Hadestown, Finding Neverland & more.


And in the second half, get ready for a modern-day retelling of the classic fairytale, Cinderella, with popular hits from the 50’s through today with music from artist such as Beyoncé, Black Eyed Peas, Dolly Parton, The Proclaimers and more!  They are sure to have us all laughing, toe-tapping, and singing right along with this family-friendly show!
 
Featuring the voices and antics of veteran North Shore performers: Bobby Kerrigan, Kelly Murphy, Thom Smoker, April Foley, Becky Pehner Ruccio, Crystal VanArdsdalen, Tom Edmonds, Andrew Hankinson and Sean Murphy.

Hammond Castle Museum Members enjoy discounted admission to this performance.

Shows begin at 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm. Parking is always free.

Tickets at: https://bit.ly/3eGXwqz

Swing into Spring: A Learn & Play Golf Event for Women

Join the Businesswomen of greater Cape Ann for the First Annual Swing into Spring Golf Event at the Ipswich Country Club. Start your morning with some general instruction and breakout sessions with the Country Club’s Golf Pros. After a short break for lunch & networking, we will take to the links and play 9 holes of “Best Ball.” A Continental breakfast and a box lunch are included with the fees.

This event is for all levels of players – from first timers to accomplished players. The Pros will be able to help each of us with new skills and techniques. Come for a great day with other women to learn a game that is so important for doing business on the course.

Learn more and register today at bit.ly/2023SwingintoSpring

Cost is $149 for Chamber members \ $169 for non-members.

Bowling Fun & Fundraiser at Cape Ann Lanes

Thanks to Cape Ann Lanes for hosting a family-friendly night of bowling, with proceeds supporting Backyard Growers‘ work empowering people to grow their own food.

Tickets to bowl are $25 per person. Your ticket will include three strings of bowling and shoe rentals. There will be a lot of great raffle prizes, and Cape Ann Lanes offers a fun arcade and in-house brew pub. It’s going to be an awesome night!

As our veggie gardeners know well, team work makes the dream work! Please consider recruiting a team to play at this fundraiser — just make sure all team members select the same lane at checkout.

Earth Day Celebration with Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus on Saturday, April 22nd!

Join the Sawyer Free Library in celebrating Earth Day with Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus! Together we will be planting, gardening, and learning about ways to protect the environment on Saturday, April 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

This interactive event will be held at 70 Middle Street, Trinity Church, which is located right behind the main library.

No registration is needed. Fun for families of children ages 3 and up.  

Questions? Contact: crosso@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-515-6349.


Open Playtime for Babies and Toddlers at SFL@21Main Street on Thursday Mornings

Starting this week, on Thursday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 am, the Sawer Free Library will be hosting Open Play at SFL@21MainStreet.

This unstructured open play for little ones and caregivers is an opportunity for social interaction and a nurturing way to introduce the very young to the library. Books and toys will be provided for caregivers to interact with their little ones and are best suited for ages 0-2. No registration needed.

Questions? Contact: jvitale@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5505.  

Springtime Literary Party at SFL@21 Main Street – Thursday evening, April 20th

Come and join us at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester for some springtime literary fun on Thursday, April 20th.

From 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. local harpist Moira Kelly will be sharing festive musical entertainment while refreshments are provided.

Then at 6:15 p.m. local Irish author Robert T. McMaster will be introducing his latest novel, Rose of Glenkerry: A County Wicklow Mystery via Zoom, the virtual presentation will be broadcasted at SFL@ 21 Main Street location for all to enjoy.

Though registration is not required, the first three to fill out a registration form HERE will receive a free copy of the book! 💐

Questions? Visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org.


Opening Tomorrow:

 Join us for one of the first fine art exhibits of the season with a very special exhibition of works by internationally acclaimed and collected Eric Pape (1870 -1938). 

The Eric Pape At Hammond Castle Museum exhibit  will consist of more than two dozen works by Pape, many of which have not been on public display in nearly a century.  At the time of the exhibit, it is expected to be the largest collection of Pape’s artworks on public display anywhere in the world.  The catalog of artwork is primarily on loan from the private collection of Dr. Gregory Conn, one of the world’s leading Pape experts and biographer.  On display will be examples of Pape’s work in various mediums including pencil, pen, watercolors, and oils. The catalog features the recently restored The Wireless Naval Battle of Gloucester Bay,  the only surviving mural by the famed artist.   Pape is perhaps most widely known throughout the Cape Ann community for his 1907 design of the *Tablet Rock Memorial* in Stage Fort Park commemorating the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1623.  

Hammond Castle Museum Members enjoy complimentary access to this exhibit. Reserve your tickets here!