January 9, 2024

Get ready for the first Business After Hours of 2024!

Make this your year to network and meet other Chamber Members. Join us at Vita Bella Ristorante for our first Business After Hours of 2024 on Thursday, January 18 from 5 - 7 PM. Light appetizers will be served and a cash bar will be available. And remember to bring your business card for a door prize raffle! Register Today

Help Us Welcome 2024 Board President Karen Ristuben,

and Thank 2023 Board President Loran Caputo

Annual Celebration Scheduled for Friday, January 26

Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport | 5 - 9 PM

Tickets Now on Sale

You are cordially invited to join us in celebrating 2024 Board President Karen Ristuben, Essex County Community Foundation & 2023 Board President Loran Caputo, Cape Ann Motor Inn

Join us as we welcome our incoming 2024 President and Board of Directors as the 2024 theme of Creativity, Culture & Commerce: Stronger Together is introduced. Our goal this year is to inspire new synergies between greater Cape Ann's arts, culture, and business communities.

This unique Annual Celebration represents the visual and performing arts - music, painting, drama, poetry, and dance - from all our five communities. 

Visit our website to learn more about the live performance and to purchase tickets.

Ticket Options

$100 per person for Program, Reception & Live Performances

$45 per Adult for Live Performances only

$20 per Youth (under 18) for Live Performances only

Download Invitation

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO FORMAL SIT DOWN DINNER. HEAVY APPETIZERS WILL BE SERVED.

Free Seminar featuring Bridge Educational Engineering CEO, Courtney Joly-Lowdermilk, on Thursday, February 8 from 8:30 - 9:30 AM.

Join us via Zoom for an empowering event focused on building workplaces that foster positive vocational health and business outcomes. Individual worker health is inextricably linked to organizational productivity and health. This program offers practical tools, frameworks, and resources to meaningfully improve individual occupational health for workers of all experiences and expertise. Join to explore and practice skills and supports to strengthen yourself and your workforce. Registration is Required

Do you have a news story to share? If so, send it to us by Monday of each week and we will try to include in our Tuesday Business Soundings!

Please email news stories and press releases to cindy@capeannchamber.com

$100 Limited Time Introductory Offer for Individual Artists, Musicians & Creatives

Our local arts, culture, and creative communities are central to the health, well-being, vibrancy, and economy of greater Cape Ann. To support the creative sector and encourage greater inclusion, the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is offering a discounted membership rate for Individual Artists, Musicians, and Creatives who join from now through December 31, 2024!

Did You Know that as a Chamber Member, You Can Post Your Deals and Special Promotions to Our Website?

Simply, Login to the Member Information Center using your Member ID and password, and Click “Shop Our Members” under Shortcuts in the left column. Then click on the blue “Add Shop Our Member” button. After you fill in your information, click the “Submit for Approval” button at the bottom. Click here to see what a sample Promotion Looks like!

View Video

Campbell Funeral Home in Ipswich - Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting

On January 4, the Campbell Funeral Home in Ipswich hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate their Grand Opening after 6 months of extensive renovations on the historic building.

Learn more about the Campbell Funeral Home in Ipswich |

Gloucester’s Community Preservation Committee holds its Annual Public Information Hearing

The City of Gloucester has scheduled the annual Public Information Hearing for the Community Preservation Committee. The Public is invited to come and ask questions and/or learn about CPC funding and how these funds may be used. CPC funds are available for Open Space and Outdoor Recreation, Historic Preservation, and Community Housing. Come learn how these funds can help your organization.

The meeting will take place on Monday, January 22, 2024, 6pm, on Zoom.  More information can be found online at the City’s website. | Download Full Press Release

Rockport librarian hailed for creatively teaching STEAM

(From Gloucester Daily Times) Many young people in Rockport already think highly of Rockport Public Library’s Youth Services librarian. But the library’s Emily Souza also recently claimed the attention of the MIT Media Lab for her efforts in making the learning of STEAM fun for students. STEAM uses science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics to guide student inquiry, dialogue and critical thinking. The MIT Media Lab has invited Souza to be one of its “Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX) Creative Learning Ambassadors.” Read Full Article

Gloucester Timeline Launch & Gloucester 400 Stories Project Relocation

A final event for Gloucester 400+ with their Partner, Sawyer Free Library (SFL), is the launch of SFL’s Gloucester Timeline: An Interactive History and the relocation of the digital Gloucester 400 Stories Project to the library. The launch and relocation event will feature story-tellers from the community, an interactive Gloucester trivia game, and a demo of the Library’s new interactive research tool. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, January 31 from 6:30 - 8 PM at the Beauport Hotel. Read Full Press Release

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Aims to Combat Elder Isolation

(From Ipswich Local News) Doing its part to tackle the “mental health epidemic in America,” Ipswich-Rowley Rotary has come up with a novel way to help. They will sit down with older adults and have a cup of coffee. With some help from state Rep. Kristin Kassner, the program was launched at Rotary’s weekly meeting last Thursday in the Village Pancake House.

Aptly named, Coffee with a Rotarian, the program will first see Rotary team with the Ipswich Council on Aging. If successful, organizers hope to branch into Rowley and serve as a model for other communities. Read Full Article

Free throw Championship for Manchester-Essex Youth Ages 9 -14

(From Gloucester Daily Times) The Masconomo Council 1232 Knights of Columbus is sponsoring the free contest to be held Sunday, Jan. 21, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. in the gym at Manchester Memorial Elementary School, 43 Lincoln St. It is open to all boys and girls who are residents of Manchester and Essex or students in the Manchester Essex Regional School District, who are 9 to 14 years old as of Jan. 1. Learn More | Download Entry Form

The Panorama Film Festival recently returned to Salem for its second year

The Panorama Film Festival recently returned to Salem for its second year - and for the first time ever - at the Peabody Essex Museum! The celebration of Trans and Queer filmmakers kicked off on Friday, December 29th in the PEM atrium with a sold-out red carpet reception. See Full Press Release with Images & Video

Cape Ann Animal Aid Pet of the Week

Jovie is a 3-year-old spayed terrier-pit bull mix who loves to play and run. She is as sweet as they get and will run right up to you for some attention. Jovie will ask you to throw her toy so she can go chase it and repeat the cycle. She is pretty laid-back and not a huge barker. Jovie would love a home with a nice yard to run around and play with toys and a cozy doggy bed to call her own. If you think Jovie would make a good addition to your family, visit www.capeannanimalaid.org for more information about her and all the other animals waiting for homes

Amanda Armstrong Group has an Opening for an Administrative Assistant

Marketing Coordinator needed at Egan Law Center

Pathways for Children is seeking a Family Partner-Family Resource Center, EEC Toddler Teacher and a Transportation Assistant Manager

A Research Associate – Fisheries Molecular Biology/Genomics is needed at GMGI.

We extend a big thank you to our supporting sponsors.

If you are interested in promoting with the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and sponsoring this newsletter, please contact Steve Buckley at steve@capeannchamber.com