The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents Miranda Aisling in concert on April 5th in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church
Local interdisciplinary artist Miranda Aisling (ash-lean) will perform a folk concert at the Gloucester Meetinghouse on Saturday, April 5th at 7:30pm. Aisling will be joined by musicians Matt Lefebvre on bass and Phil Benjamin on guitar, adding rich layers to her evocative folk sound.
Aisling’s original folk songs blend frank vulnerability with insightful social commentary. A classically trained pianist who shifted from Bach to the Indigo Girls, she brings the lively spirit of a folk festival to her performances, engaging audiences with a mix of sung and spoken storytelling.
Since moving to Gloucester in 2019, Aisling has performed to enthusiastic full houses at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center, the Manship Artists Retreat, and MAGMA (Movement Arts, Gloucester, MA). As a member of the Treehouse Charlatans, she has performed at the Lanesville Music Festival, the Cape Ann Museum, and Art in the Barn.
The Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church is 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 advance ticket purchases and more information please visit: www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org
ABOUT THE GMF: The mission of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, as a civic hub, entertainment venue and community gathering center. The GMF is a 501(c)(3) corporation modeled on a similar nonprofit that preserves Boston’s famous Old North Church.
Four Libraries to host Community-Wide Celebration of Earth Day
As the world gets ready to celebrate Earth Day 2025, Cape Ann’s public libraries are joining forces to inspire environmental action and education. This year, four public libraries of Cape Ann—Gloucester,Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex – are proud to present bestselling author Sy Montgomery and renowned wildlife illustrator Matt Patterson for a special event exploring the wonders of turtles and the natural world.
On Saturday, April 19, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, the libraries will welcome Montgomery and Patterson to the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA, for an engaging discussion of their acclaimed book, Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell. The event will feature a 60-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute Q&A session. Attendees can submit questions in advance through their library’s website.
This free event offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from two of the most passionate voices in nature writing and wildlife illustration. Tickets are available online through each participating library’s website—space is limited.
“A library is a portal not just to our own world, but to worlds unknown–worlds that have never been–worlds of imagination. A library holds the keys to every kingdom. And just think: all of us can step through this magical door right in our own neighborhood! For me, the library is an entryway, a refuge, a space rocket. Libraries show us we can dream anything, do anything, be anything. They are more essential today than ever before,” shares author Sy Montgomery about the importance of public libraries.
Cape Ann’s libraries are thrilled to bring this Earth Day program to the community as part of their ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental education. Montgomery and Patterson will share their experiences working with injured turtles, discuss their creative collaboration, and inspire audiences to see the world—and its wildlife—through a fresh, more compassionate lens.
As coastal communities, Cape Ann’s libraries recognize the critical importance of protecting the environment for future generations. With this special event, the libraries hope to encourage people of all ages to deepen their connection to nature and take meaningful action. In addition, each Cape Ann library will offer a variety of Earth Day programs throughout March and April, encouraging individuals of all ages to take meaningful steps to protect our environment – because every day is Earth Day.
Sy Montgomery is an internationally acclaimed author and naturalist, celebrated for her remarkable ability to bring the lives of animals and their ecosystems to readers of all ages. She has written over 30 books, including the National Book Award finalist The Soul of an Octopus, and has traveled the world researching rare and extraordinary creatures. Her latest work, Of Time and Turtles, explores the resilience and wonder of these ancient beings while offering profound insights into the mysteries of time itself.
Matt Patterson is an award-winning wildlife illustrator whose detailed, captivating artwork brings the beauty of nature to life. His illustrations in The Book of Turtles, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Award recipient, showcase the stunning diversity of turtles and highlight their crucial role in ecosystems worldwide.
The community is invited to celebrate Earth Day with an unforgettable conversation about wildlife, conservation, and the timeless lessons turtles can teach us. This special program is made possible through the collaborative efforts of Cape Ann’s public libraries —Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex – and their shared commitment to fostering a love of nature, literature, and lifelong learning.
For those interested, Susie’s Stories in Rockport will be offering to purchase signed copies of Sy Montgomery’s book Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell through their website.
Calling all young poets and aspiring writers! The Sawyer Free Libraryis thrilled to launch the 2025 Poetry Without Paper contest, continuing its decades-long tradition of inspiring creativity in Gloucester’s youth. Running through April 30, 2025, the competition aligns with the culmination of National Poetry Month—an ideal time for young voices to share their poetry and perspectives. This year’s theme, New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings, invites students to reflect on fresh starts and new possibilities. The theme also echoes an exciting milestone for the Library itself as it prepares to reopen in September in a newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space.
Coordinated by Sawyer Free Library’s Children’s staff in collaboration with renowned poet and former Gloucester Poet Laureate John Ronan and Library Board member Dawn Sarrouf, this beloved annual competition provides a creative platform for students to showcase their talent in a supportive community of writers.
The contest welcomes submissions from children and teens living in Gloucester or attending its schools in three age groups: elementary, middle, and high school. While participants are encouraged to explore the theme “New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings,” poems on any topic are welcome. Poetry submissions may be enhanced with video, images, or music but should be 30 lines or fewer, original, and previously unpublished.
Winners will be selected from three age groups: high school, middle school, and elementary school. First-place winners in all categories will receive $150 Cape Ann gift certificates, second-place winners will receive $100 gift certificates, and third-place winners a $50 gift certificate with Honorable Mention winners presented with a poetry book. All winning poets will receive a certificate, be able to present their poems at an awards ceremony in June, and be invited to appear on an episode of 1623 Studio’s production, The Writer’s Block with John Ronan. Additionally, all winning entries will be on display at and published online by the Library.
Poems must be submitted through the Library website at SawyerFreeLibrary.orgfrom March 1 to April 30. For more information, contact the Children’s Librarian at tbalsan@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Students do not need to be library cardholders to enter the contest, but for those interested, the Sawyer Free Library offers library cards for children of all ages. Starting from birth, anyone who resides or attends school in Gloucester can obtain a Library card for free by applying in person, online, or by mail. For more information, visit the Library at 21 Main Street, online at sawyerfreelibrary.org, or call 978-325-5551.
Join local authors Robert Fitzgibbons and Wayne Soini at the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, March 27 at 5:30 pm for a riveting discussion on their book, Murder in Rockport, Massachusetts: Terror in a Small Town, which sheds new light on two chilling unsolved murders that shook the small seaside town in the 1930s.
On May 21, 1932, Finnish tailor Arthur Oker was brutally murdered in his shop in Rockport, sending shockwaves through the community. Just over a year later, on Halloween night in 1933, Swedish immigrant and fellow churchgoer Augusta Johnson was slain in her home, deepening the town’s fear and sparking an exhaustive investigation. Authorities searched every house, interviewed 2,500 households, and even enlisted the help of a mystic—yet the crimes remained unsolved.
Through newly uncovered state police archives, Fitzgibbons and Soini reveal long-lost details about the murders, the extensive efforts to solve them, and a surprising suspect who emerged decades later.
Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.For more information,contact jtravers@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
On Saturday, April 5 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., the Sawyer Free Library, in collaboration with the Gloucester Writers Center, is hosting the final session of Nature’s Voices, a three-part writing workshop designed to help participants step away from daily demands and reconnect with the natural world.
Led by photographer and essayist Mark Thayer, Immersion, Observation, Reflection: Communicating Sense of Place through Essay will guide participants in crafting essays that capture the beauty, complexity, and personal resonance of the environment around them.
Participants will meet at the Gloucester Writers Center located at 126 East Main Street. The session begins with a 30-minute guided outdoor walk, where participants will engage in mindful observation, gathering impressions and inspiration from nature. The group will then return indoors for a 90-minute writing session, with prompts from Mark designed to spark creativity and deepen one’s sense of place. Whether you’re an experienced writer or just beginning, this workshop offers a fresh perspective and invigorating creative exercises.
This free session is open to adults (18+), rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring rain gear if necessary. Pens, notebooks, and an open mind are encouraged!
Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Limited space available. For questions, contact Meg O’Neill at 978-325-5562or moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 LibrarianAnnalise 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
Cape Ann Community 