Gloucester MA

12/29 CAPE ANN BIG BAND and JAMBALAYA HORNS, NEW YEAR’S CONCERT!

~ chasnaz

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation proudly presents the Cape Ann Big
Band with the Jambalaya Horns, plus guest vocalists Katy Geraghty and
Rhiannon Hurst, in a festive New Year’s Concert. The concert is on Sunday
December 29th at 5:00pm in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on
the green at the corner of Church and Middle Streets. Admission: $30 General,
$10 Students (all ages), Under 12 free. Tickets at the door and online with more
info at: www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Since 2010, the Cape Ann Big Band, conducted by Carlos Menezes, has connected
with local musicians of all ages and backgrounds to inspire, challenge, and
educate. Inspired by the sounds of Jazz, Swing, New Orleans’ street bands, Soul,
and Rock n’ Roll, the Band prides itself in a repertoire without horizons. The
Jambalaya Horns provide added punch, with added Funk, Soul, and Brassy
Second-Lines. They will make you feel like you’re in New Orleans!
This is a great opportunity for the whole family to enjoy the sounds of two of our
community’s most amazing bands and to celebrate the coming New Year in our
historic 1806 Meetinghouse!

Side entrance at 10 Church Street provides a lift/elevator for those who are challenged by stairs. Street parking as well as parking on the green is also available.

Sawyer Free Library Receives $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant for new Digital Learning Lab

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a $50,000 Hometown Grant from T-Mobile. This generous grant will support the creation of the Digital Learning Lab, a cornerstone of the 2025 Sawyer Free Library transformation. The future focused space is designed to bridge the digital divide and equip the community with essential 21st-century skills.

The community is invited to join the celebration during the Middle Street Walk festivities. A ceremonial check presentation will be held on Saturday, December 14, at 12:00 p.m. in Kyrouz Auditorium immediately following The Cape Ann Big Band’s performance. All are welcome to attend!

T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant program is part of the company’s commitment to investing up to $25 million by 2026 in small towns and territories across America. These grants aim to create lasting impacts by supporting community-focused projects like Gloucester’s Digital Learning Lab.

Thanks to T-Mobile ‘s investment in Gloucester, the Sawyer Free Library is poised to continue serving as a beacon of learning and empowerment, ensuring all members of our community have access to the tools they need to succeed in our rapidly evolving world. The Library’s new Digital Learning Lab will offer:

  • Two audio recording studios
  • Four digital media creation, digitization, and collaborative workstations
  • A 12-seat classroom with an interactive teaching display

Spanning 800 square feet located on the ground floor, the Lab will be fully accessible, climate-controlled, and equipped with high-speed broadband internet and advanced technology. It is designed to support a wide range of users, from workforce development participants to budding entrepreneurs and independent innovators.

As part of the larger 2025 Sawyer Free Library renovation and expansion project, the Digital Learning Lab underscores the Library’s commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive learning environment for Gloucester’s residents.

Come one and come all this Saturday at City Hall at 12 noon and help us thank T-Mobile for their tremendous support of our incredible city!

Inspiring Author Talk on Writing with Wayne Soini at the Sawyer Free Library 

~ Sawyer Free Library

On Saturday, December 14 from 11am to 12 pm the Sawyer Free Library on Main Street will welcome local author and historian Wayne Soini.  He will share invaluable tips and recommend trusted resources to help you refine and publish your own book. Whether you’re dreaming of crafting fiction or nonfiction, this session will provide the guidance and motivation you need to get started this winter!

During his talk, Soini will explore Laurie Gwen Shapiro’s first published work, “The Ghost”—written when she was just a second grader—as a relatable example to inspire your writing journey. A Q&A session will follow, giving you the chance to ask questions and delve deeper into the writing and publishing process.

About Wayne Soini: A passionate historian, Soini holds a Master’s degree in History from UMass Boston. He is the author of two historical novels, Nixon in Love and Germany Surrenders! (2015), and coauthored Judge Fuchs and the Boston Braves (1998). His other works include Gloucester’s Sea Serpent (2010) and Porter’s Secret: Fitz John Porter’s Monument Decoded (2011).

No registration is required—just come ready to be inspired to the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in Gloucester. Visit sawyerfreelibrary.org for more information.

Don’t miss the Sawyer Free Library during Downtown Gloucester Ladies Day this Thursday

~ Sawyer Free Library

It is Downtown Gloucester LADIES’ DAY this Thursday, December 5th! And for all those ladies out and about be sure to stop by the Sawyer Free Library located as 21 Main Street between 4-6pm!

The first 20 visitors (ladies) will receive a wine glass charm, and a holiday romance novel or cozy holiday mystery!  We can’t wait to see you! If you have questions, please call 979-325-5500.

Family Author Talk with Mark Parisi!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Come to the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, November 21 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm for an engaging evening with award-winning cartoonist, author, and Gloucester native Mark Parisi.

Mark will share insights into his creative process, discussing his new book The Truth About 5th Grade, his Marty Pants middle-grade series, and his long-running Off the Mark comic panel. The event will also feature a live drawing demonstration by Mark himself. 

Be sure to register for this fun family event at sawyerfreelibrary.org! Questions? 978-325-5500.

Sawyer Free Library Kicks off 2024 Annual Appeal

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Library’s 2024 Annual Appeal in support of the Sawyer Free 2025 Library Capital Campaign

The Sawyer Free Library has kicked off its 2024 Annual Appeal campaign, Our History to Tomorrow’s Possibilities: Transforming the Sawyer Free Library. With appeal letters reaching over 1,800 Gloucester households, the Library seeks community support to complete the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, a state-of-the-art facility where history meets innovation. All funds raised through the 2024 Annual Appeal will go directly to the Sawyer Free 2025 Library Capital Campaign, which has reached nearly 60% of its $29 million fundraising goal. Contributions will support the Library’s historic renovation, expansion, and modernization building project.

“The 2025 Sawyer Free Library will be more than just a building—it will stand as a beacon of knowledge, creativity, and connection. By supporting this transformative project, we are investing in our community’s future and creating an inclusive space where everyone can learn, grow, and thrive,” said Mern Sibley on behalf of the Library’s Board. “We need everyone’s help to make this vision a reality as we approach the finish line. Every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to opening the doors to our new 21st-century Library.”

Scheduled to open in Fall 2025, the new Sawyer Free Library will serve as a vital community resource, offering expanded spaces for children, teens, and adults, enhanced digital resources, and sustainable design. It will boast a range of modern amenities, including a larger children’s area, a teen room with creative spaces, a digital learning lab, a local history research center, quiet study rooms, a 100-seat community room, and more. This new facility will allow the Library to serve a broader, more diverse audience and increase its offerings of public programs.

As the Library reaches this milestone, it invites the greater community and beyond to support the 2024 Annual Appeal, ensuring that the Sawyer Free 2025 Library can fully realize its potential as a beacon of learning and connection. Donations can be made online at sawyerfreelibrary.org or by mailing a check to Sawyer Free Library, Annual Appeal, P.O. Box 415, Gloucester, MA 01930.

For additional information, and to donate to the Library’s Annual Appeal, please visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Author Talk at SFL with Virginia Pye: The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann – this Tuesday

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Sawyer Free Library on Tuesday, November 19, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm for an author talk with Virginia Pye on her latest novel, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann.

The event is taking place at the Library at 21 Main Street in Downtown Gloucester. The Bookstore of Gloucester will be onsite selling copies of her works.

About The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann:

Set in Gilded Age Boston, the novel follows Victoria Swann, a bestselling romance author, who defies her publisher to write from her own perspective, becoming a champion for women’s rights. As she loses her standing, she finds an ally in her young editor, discovering that both writing and reading can be powerful acts of defiance.

About Virginia Pye:

Virginia Pye is the award-winning author of four books, including Shelf Life of Happiness, which won the IPPY Gold Medal. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, and other publications. She has an MFA from Sarah Lawrence and teaches at GrubStreet in Boston.

For questions, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Creating a Marketing Plan: For the Creative Arts Entrepreneur

~ Sawyer Free Library

Discover how to effectively market your creative arts business with a tailored plan designed for you and your audience.

On Tuesday, November 12 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm – – Creative Arts Entrepreneurs – – are invited to the Sawyer Free Library to learn how to creating a marketing plan! This session will guide you toward sustainable actions and growth, whether you’re launching your business or looking to elevate it to the next level. Led by Leah Hancock, founder of Placid Marketing, this is the third session in the “Branding Your Own Creative Arts Business” series. 

Registration required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Questions? Contact: moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Sawyer Free Library Annual Meeting: Wed, 11/13

~ Sawyer Free Library

Please join us for the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library Corporation’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. It will be held at Gloucester Stage located at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. The annual meeting is open to the public, but only corporators can vote. Refreshments will be served.

The evening will allow the community to come together and celebrate the Library’s achievements, learn about its finances and engage with the Library’s board members and staff. There will also be an update on the 2025 Sawyer Free Library building project.

New members of the Library Corporation and Board of Trustees will be elected, and the Mary M. Weissblum Volunteer Award will be presented to Simon Paddock. Each year, the award is given by the Trustees to recognize and show appreciation for the Library’s outstanding volunteers who help to maintain and promote its services and programs. 

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PLANS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE LIBRARY

Refreshments will be served. No registration is required. Questions? Contact: 978-325-5500.

Gloucester Meetinghouse Symposium, Saturday, November 16th 2-4:00pm: “U.S. Democracy in Crisis. How did we get here and what can we do about it?”

~ chasnaz

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is proud to present author and journalist Colin Woodard speaking on the future of democracy. His book, “American Nations,” explains how our country’s regional, cultural and ideological differences can be largely explained by patterns set by early settlers, where they emigrated from, and what kind of societies they established.

Woodard will be referencing this work regarding the polarization we have experienced in the last ten years, the threat that holds to democracy, and the rise of groups trending towards authoritarianism. Following Woodard’s presentation, a panel of local educators and activists will join him, discussing ways that our republic, governed by the people, has been threatened and what can be done to preserve it.

● Kerry Herrmann, Rockport Middle School Civics and History Teacher.

● Steve Mott, Professor of Sociology at Massasoit Community College-Brockton Campus, MA.

● Michea McCaffrey, Co-Chair of the Gloucester Racial Justice Team, Gloucester Human Rights Committee Member, Activist

We invite the community to attend this free civic event in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, located on the green at the corner of Church & Middle Street (GPS 50 Middle Street). Event parking is available on the Green and also in the parking area behind Trinity Church. An accessible side entrance with an elevator is at 10 Church Street. Please join us for an incredibly relevant and important conversation, no matter what are the results of the current election.