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Thank You to Our 2024 Auction Committee!
Laurene Wessel of Community Credit Union, Jim Brown of James T. Brown Real Estate & Property Management, Karin Porter of Fish Shack Restaurant, Karen Ristuben.of Essex County Community Foundation
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CEO & President's Monthly Update
We hope you are enjoying the magic of fall around Greater Cape Ann. September proved to cap off a strong economic season in our region, particularly for the tourism sector. We will host our Summer Season in Review in partnership with Discover Gloucester at Gloucester Stage on November 12th. This event offers a chance to assess tourism’s economic impact, share economic trends, conduct roundtable discussions, and network with peers. Attendees can develop strategies for the future of our tourist industry. Read Full Report
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Tourism Council Monthly Report
The monthly meetings of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber’s Tourism Council always include a look back on the recent developments. While this was the case in our September 20 meeting, the focus was clearly on the future of our region’s visitor-based economy.
Even our reviews of past tourism experiences from this summer were learning opportunities, helping us see where we can build on successes and address challenges.Read Full Report
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Community Relations October Update
Fall is officially here and local businesses, school districts, and municipalities are all shifting gears to the shoulder season ahead of the busy holidays. Several events are planned in the area to celebrate community and inspire our youth including the Regional Cape Ann College and Career Fair at Ipswich High School on October 1st, the return of Harvest Fest in Rockport on October 19th and Essex Clam Fest on October 26th. Annual Town Meetings are scheduled for their respective communities with warrant articles posted on each town’s website. Download Full Update
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Did You Catch Episode #8 of Cape Ann Conversations featuring Muffy White of Muffy White Organizing & Styling?
Our next episode featuring Lily Narbonne of Lanes Coven Theater will be published on Thursday, October 3. An email with details will be sent when the podcast goes live, or for the quickest access, subscribe to Cape Ann Conversations using one of the podcast services above.
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39th Annual Essex ClamFest and Arts and Crafts Festival
Saturday, October 26 | 11 AM - 4 PM | Shepard Memorial Park
(Rain Location: Essex Elementary School)
Join us for the 39th Annual Essex ClamFest and Arts & Crafts Festival, from 11 am to 4 pm in Shepard Memorial Park in Essex. Come taste Cape Ann’s finest chowders from Noon to 1 pm and vote for your favorite! (Tasting only while supplies last!) Although the highlight of the day is the Chowder Tasting Competition, there is also a great variety of activities, including arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment and plenty of food vendors on-site! Click for More Details
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$25K Game Tickets Available for Purchase
The $25K Game tickets are in the house and ready for sale! There are 12 chances to win with a total of $25,000 being given away. Cost is $100 per ticket, with a limit of 500 tickets being sold.
The event will feature a Costume Contest again this year and will be live-streamed by Streamography for those unable to attend.
Tickets may be purchased online, by calling us at 978-283-1601, or visiting the Chamber office.
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2nd Annual Blackburn Brew Fest
Despite the threat of rain, the tried and true craft brew lovers descended on Stage Fort Park for an afternoon of local beers, live music, tasty treats, and games. Attendees came prepared in their wellies and raincoats and did not let a little sprinkle dampen their spirits!
Thank you to the Next Gen Young Professionals committee members and Chamber staff for months of work to pull the 2nd Annual Blackburn Brew Fest together. And again, thank you to all the sponsors whose support is very much appreciated. View Photos
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37th Annual Love Greater Cape Ann Fundraising Auction
We thank all who donated, attended, and sponsored our annual auction. We could not have done it without your support
Special thanks to Sassy Square Marketing for pulling together this year's auction video.
Click here to watch video now.
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Networking & Educational Events | |
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In Person Coffee & Connections
September 12
Nearly 40 members joined us for the return of our In-Person Coffee & Connections hosted at the Chamber office. We are very excited to continue this great morning networking event. Stay tuned for details!
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Business Sustainability Speaker Series
September 17
Energy Source & Mass Save for Small Business presented "Bright Ideas for Your Bottom Line:Energy Efficiency Made Easy" at Cake Ann. Stay tuned for the final part of the series in November, featuring Black Eart Compost.
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Business After Hours
The Residence at Riverbend
September 18
It was a great crowd that gathered on the newly refurnished patio at The Residence at Riverbend for the September Business After Hours. Our generous hosts created a delightful spread of appetizers and libations for members and guests to enjoy.
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Angelica's Seafood
September 13
32 Commercial St. Gloucester
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Haffner's &
Reverie 73
September 19
73 Essex Avenue, Gloucester
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Sought
September 30
11 Center St., Gloucester
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October Featured Advertiser | |
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Do You Want Your Business Featured in a Chamber Member Spotlight?
If you would like to be considered, please let us know by filling in the Member Spotlight Request Form. These spotlight opportunities are open to all members, on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we receive your request form and confirm that you are a member in good standing, we will send you a profile questionnaire.
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Special New Member Advertising Section | |
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Do you have a news story or helpful resource to share? If so, send it to us by Monday of each week and we will try to include it in our Tuesday Business Soundings!
Please email news stories and press releases to cindy@capeannchamber.com
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Gloucester 400+ provides $20K boost to library's Timeline
(From Gloucester Daily Times) Gloucester 400+ and Gloucester Celebration Corp. on Thursday presented a $20,000 donation to the Sawyer Free 2025 Capital Campaign ahead of the co-sponsored event, “Gloucester 400 Storytellers: New Discoveries and Mysteries about Leonard Craske,” featuring a talk by Gloucester resident James F. Clark.
The gift will pay for the Gloucester Timeline touchscreen wall in the renovated library’s new Local History Research Center. The library on Dale Avenue is presently undergoing a $29 million renovation, expansion and modernization project. The project, started last September, is halfway completed and the library is set to open in 2025. Read Full Article
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Rosh Hashanah Celebrations Set for October 2 on the Boulevard
(From Ipswich Local News) The Cape Ann Jewish Community will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, beginning this year at sunset on Wednesday, October 2. It concludes after nightfall on Friday, October 4.
According to Rabbi Avremi Raichik, the community will use “public celebrations of the holiday to instill pride and confidence, pushing back against the fear of rising antisemitism.”
Rosh Hashanah is a time that Jews pray for a good year ahead for all of humanity, he said. Read Full Article
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Northeast Arc finishes construction on home for people with developmental disabilities, complex medical issues
(From Gloucester Daily Times) State representatives, Topsfield town officials, nurses, and staff at Northeast Arc gathered at 276 Rowley Bridge Road in Topsfield to celebrate the opening of a recently constructed home for individuals with developmental disabilities who also have medically complex issues.
With three residents already living there, the home has space for a total of four individuals with developmental disabilities, with 24/7 care from nurses and direct support professionals. The construction of this home allows for residents to live in a community setting surrounded by peers instead of a nursing home, or having to be cared for by their aging families.
Read Article in GDT | Read Article in Salem Evening News
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Essex River dredging to begin Oct. 11
(From Gloucester Daily Times) The Essex River, a federally managed waterway, will be dredged for the first time in about 37 years beginning in two weeks. The dredging will be performed from the channel entrance in Essex Bay down to the Essex Marina on Dodge Street. Tugs will be regularly traversing the river with large barges. The dredging will begin Friday, Oct. 11, and is expected to finish Jan. 31, according to Atlantic Coast Tug & Marine, the contractor chosen by the Army Corps of Engineers to do the job. Read Full Article
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Wing of Hope opens allowing Cape Ann Animal Aid to care for more pets
(From Gloucester Daily Times) Puppies and kittens up for adoption and Cape Ann Animal Aid officials, donors, trustees, volunteers, and city leaders were on hand Tuesday to mark a milestone for Cape Ann Animal Aid. They were celebrating the opening of the Wing of Hope, an addition to the existing approximately 12-year-old Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter, at 4 Paws Lane in Gloucester. The new wing features a veterinary recovery room, three new isolation housing rooms, a laundry on the first floor, an indoor play space and new adoption offices. Read Full Article
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The Operational Services Division (OSD) has released two bids reopening the current Statewide Contract TRD02 and TRD04, with bids due 11/26/2024 at 11:00 PM, covering the following services. | |
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TRD02 - Repair and Maintenance for:
• Asphalt Paving;
• Carpentry;
• Excavation;
• Masonry;
• Septic Services.
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TRD04 - Installation, Repair, and Maintenance for:
• Pump & Motor Services;
• Compressor Services;
• Roofing Services;
• Kitchen Exhaust Services;
• Decontamination Services;
• Cleaning & Janitorial Services;
• Building Component Cleaning Services;
• Building Site Clean Up & Biohazardeous Site Cleaning.
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Virtually Eliminate Credit Card Fees with i3 Commerce Technology
Learn More
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Get FREE Vending Machines For Your Business, School, or Health Facility.
Learn More
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Do you have a special offer or hot deal to offer to your fellow chamber members?
if so, you can post this to our website via the Member Portal. These special deals will automatically post to the Chamber Facebook, and will be featured here in Business Soundings.
Contact Becca for more details.
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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
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