April 5, 2022

Paint Factory, Gloucester | Spring is in the Air (Adobe Stock)

The Fishermen’s Memorial, also known as “The Man at The Wheel,” was commissioned as part of the celebration of Gloucester’s 300th anniversary in 1923. The base of the statue was placed at the site that year, and contained a time capsule with 47 items representing Gloucester history and culture in 1923. The actual statue was not completed until 1925. Sculpted by artist Leonard Craske and modeled after a local fisherman, the monument was unveiled in 1925 in honor of Gloucester’s 300th anniversary. The video footage from University of South Carolina shows the unveiling of the statue, attended by former mayor and original Chamber Director, William J. MacInnis.

Chamber President Caitlin Pszenny graced the cover of the Spring 2022 issue of Cape Ann Magazine. As the youngest president in Chamber history, Caitlin embodies the tagline "100 Years Young" as she begins her quest to foster connections with young professionals in the greater Cape Ann area.

CEO Ken Riehl was also interviewed for the article, which provides a background on the Chamber and an overview of services provided.

Welcome to April! March was an extra busy month with two major events happening: our 100th Annual Celebration at the Beauport Hotel and the Irish Sweepstakes at the Mansion at the Hellenic Center. Both events were sell outs and we thank all who joined us. With April comes the finalization and printing of our Greater Cape Ann Guide and our Cape Ann and Rockport maps, plus we are gearing up for our annual membership drive.

With spring at our doorstep, the Greater Cape Ann Tourism Council used its March monthly meeting to turn its attention toward the warmer months of the year after a very successful winter season.

The majority of the meeting was dedicated to spring and summer plans and new developments on the business front. We learned of the 2022 return of many events and activities impacted by the pandemic and talked about new restaurants, improvement at area accommodations, and visitor-based businesses establishing a presence on Cape Ann – all taking place this spring, summer and fall.

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Council held its regular monthly meeting on March 8 , with members attending in person and via Zoom. At their meeting, the Council continued their conversations about expanding the inventory and availability of affordable housing as a key to future economic prosperity for our region.

April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM).

This year, the Greater Cape Ann Chamber’s Health Wellness Committee is joining the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) to highlight the important role individuals can play in their communities to help reduce health disparities and improve the health of racial and ethnic minorities and American Indian/Alaska Natives.

GCACC CEO Ken Riehl is joined by Chamber Board President Caitlin Pszenny and Olivia Perez-O’Dess, Director of Community Relations at GCACC. Tune in as they chat about the events from March, including the Economic Outlook Breakfast, Annual Celebration and Irish Sweepstakes, plus what is upcoming in April!

Did you know that the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its semi-annual Membership Drive during the month of May?

This is a great opportunity for our members to help promote the benefits you receive from being a Chamber member with non-member businesses.

And make sure that you are taking full advantage of your membership benefits too!

BankGloucester

The Chamber and BankGloucester Ipswich Branch invite you join them for our Business After Hours Event! Stay for the whole two hours or just stop by for a quick visit.

Occurring on the first Thursday of the month at 9am, the Greater Cape Ann Chamber hosts Coffee & Connections, a virtual networking event. We will continue holding these via zoom so that anyone may join us from anywhere. Meet new people, expand your business connections and stay in touch with friends and colleagues.

Join the women of the Chamber for a fun evening of networking and cocktails at the Crow's Nest in Gloucester!

Organized in 1986, the Businesswomen's group is committed to the growth of greater Cape Ann business and the professional development of the Chamber’s female members.

$20 for non-members | $10 for members

Cape Ann COSMOS is opening a new office in downtown Gloucester in the historic Blackburn Building. COSMOS will now have a central location with a professional presence and be more connected to the area’s cultural activities. Chris Munkholm founded Cape Ann COSMOS after the frustration of learning about concerts and exhibitions – after they closed. And thus began a little newsletter that found a reporting niche while discovering a vibrant, regional cultural scene. We hope that you can join us in celebrating Cape Ann COSMOS's new office.

The Rockport Division of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce will hold the 30th annual Rockport Community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16 at 2 PM. The event is for the children of the town - preschoolers through grade one – and will take place at Millbrook Meadow, Beach Street, Rockport.

Pre-schoolers will be grouped in one section and kindergarteners and first graders in another. In addition to assorted candies, chocolates and small prizes, the hunt will feature four golden eggs to be redeemed for larger prizes. The Easter Bunny is also expected to make an appearance. Children should bring a basket and arrive early – the hunt will begin promptly at 2.

This event will not be your traditional health and wellness fair. We will showcase the greater Cape Ann region’s broad range of health and wellness services.

Participating vendors offer a wide variety of products and services including: farm produce, sex coaching, puppy therapy, woodworking, hearing care, mental wellness, massage, accessible at-home living, and more. There will be something for all ages! In addition, the American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive throughout the event.

Don’t miss this opportunity to sponsor this large community event.

Thank you to our sponsors:

The net proceeds of this event fund the Chamber’s extensive work with the greater Cape Ann high schools and Essex Tech and education non-profits. The programming includes: monthly collaboration with all schools and education non-profits, DECA support, intern and mentorships, annual Cape Ann Career & Collage Fair and several scholarships. In addition to the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, the Chamber awards four scholarships named in honor of past leaders: Mike Costello, Sylvester (Red) Deering, Rudy Macchi, and Patricia Roy D’Alelio.

Thank you to all of you who bid on our remaining Cape Ann License Plate Auction. We sold 11 plates, as low as #7 and as high as #100, all while raising over $17,000 for the community!

Did you miss your chance to support the Foundation? You can still make a difference by making a donation on their website. Learn more by visiting https://lovecapeann.com/about-the-foundation/

$10,000: Vicki Hyde

$2,500: Dennis Silva & Dan Cavalla

$1,000: Jason Moses, Rick Wadsworth, Beverly Low, Maribeth Linskey, and Mary Foote-Hill

$500: Jamie Kelley, Kurt Gross, Jennifer Rollins, Amy Lage, and Connor McCarthy

50/50 Raffle: ($1,940): Jim Brown ($970 split)

Lucky Loser: ($100): Crow’s Nest Girls

Thank you to all who supported this fundraising endeavor by purchasing a ticket! And special thanks to emcees Caitlin Pszenny and Kory Curcuru, our own "Vanna White", Loran Caputo, and Andrew Nicastro with Streamography for livestreaming the event!

Thank you to our sponsors: Anthony & Dodge P.C., SeniorCare Inc., Seashore Comfort Solutions, McWalter Volunteer Insurance Agency

Over 150 members and friends of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce celebrated turning 100 years young at the Beauport Hotel on March 10.

We showered Susan Gould-Coviello with thanks as our outgoing board president and celebrated Caitlin Pszenny as she stepped into her role as the youngest board president in Chamber history. A working mother of Cape Ann Lanes and Laneside Pub and Brewery, her family was also present to share this great experience with her.

As we look to the future, we celebrate all that we have accomplished together as a strong community.

Gloucester Police Department's Community Impact Unit is proud to partner with Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospital and The Yearley Foundation to offer Teach to Reach. Teach to Reach is a community opportunity for receiving the Massachusetts CARC approved Recovery Coach Academy Part 1 and 2 through the Gloucester Community Impact Unit. Trainees will receive the full 60-hour educational requirement in order to work as a recovery coach.

Application closing date is April 15.

Leaders of nonprofit organizations in Gloucester will reflect on how the pandemic continues to affect their work to create social change. Panelists will be joined by Suffolk University Global & Cultural Communications Students.

Lunch and conversation with Seham Awad, local cook and Syrian refugee, immediately following panel discussion. Ticket price includes the panel discussion and buffet lunch

Alzheimer's and other dementias cause memory, thinking, and behavior changes that interfere with daily living. Learn about common warning signs of Alzheimer's and what symptoms to look for in yourself and others, as well as tips for approaching someone who is experiencing changes in their memory, the benefit of early detection and diagnosis, and more.

Through the power of song, Boston Children’s Chorus singers send an urgent message: we’ve got the whole world in our hands. What can we do to ensure that our planet, our fragile ecosystems, and our diverse global communities continue to survive and thrive? How can we dismantle the structures of inequity that hurt our society and our climate? Join the Concert Choir for In Our Hands as they lift their voices and call awareness to the climate emergency.

Join Ipswich Museum’s Dow Curator, Stephanie Gaskins, for a private viewing of a new exhibition at the museum marking 100 years since Dow’s death and featuring never-before-seen paintings, prints and photographs from our collection. This tour will also feature a walking component to view some locations in town related to Dow’s career as one of Ipswich’s most prolific and celebrated painters.

Puppets and music at a seaside castle can only mean it’s Hammond Castle Museum’s Day of Puppetry! Bring your little ones (and not so little ones) down to the Hammond Castle Museum for a day of puppet antics, laughter and musical numbers aplenty with the Vaudeville Puppets!

Discover Gloucester invites you to its first in-person Mug-Up on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 5:30-7:30 PM at Jalapenos.

More information to follow!

A Timely Talk: Art and politics are strange bedfellows. The first is in the realm of the spiritual, the magical and unconscious. We want art to move us, help us find transcendence and peace in a troubled world. Politics is in the realm of governing, and is about power. At its best, its goals are humane and generous. Susan believes art and politics do not cross, but art has a role in society’s ability to deal with dark times. What is that role?

Join us for a festive spring evening of food, friends and celebration of community to benefit Pathways for Children.

Honoring the inaugural recipients of the Sue Todd Service Award, presented for tenure and tenacity in support of Pathways for Children

Tickets: $100

Table of 10: $1,000

In an effort to bridge relationships between youth and law enforcement, Project Adventure is excited to present its first annual Amazing Race -

a teambuilding competition designed to take law enforcement and youth teams through a series of low and high challenge course activities. Members of the various Greater Cape Ann police departments are participating. Children and teens from Grade 6 to 12 are invited to participate.

Sponsorships also are available.

Pay-what-you-can tickets are now available for purchase.

Join The Open Door by supporting the Empty Bowl TO GO II, a fun-filled tradition that brings together the community, our partners, and local artists so that no one's bowl is left empty in 2022! Appointments will be required and available to be scheduled when tickets are purchased.

Come one, come all to the BlackBizBall and Awards Ceremony, a fantastic opportunity for those who want to do more business with people of color and for those who want to increase racial equity by welcoming Black people to Gloucester. Twenty-eight Black business owners and leaders will be honored.

The event is planned to be meaningful, productive, and fun. Proceeds will provide startup funding for the Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Academy for high-risk youth ages 13-24 in the Boston area. Individual tickets are $175 or a pair for $300. Sponsorships and tables of 8 are also available.

Posting an event on our community calendar is a great way to gain exposure and promote your business's upcoming events. Take advantage of this FREE member benefit and post yours today by logging into your account!

*Contact Sam at sam@capeannchamber.com if you need assistance

Are you a boutique, an art gallery, an event venue or are you just looking to take your business's virtual accessibility to the next level? Virtual Tours aren't just for real estate! As a Greater Cape Ann Chamber member, book a virtual tour with VRtical Media and get an hour of post-production ($100 value) towards your first virtual tour.

Sign your contract between March 1 and May 31 and receive special rates on entertainment, photography, and photo booths for your next corporate outing. Misselwood has reached out to two of our vendors and they have agreed to give our clients special rates on a variety of services to enhance your event. PLUS all corporate outings that book a hosted open bar will receive the option to have a featured cocktail for one hour during the event at no additional charge.

Slide Into Spring Savings with 3 Ways To SAVE!

It’s Spring! Time to enhance your curb appeal & save money on energy bills with new windows, siding, roofing and doors. Whether you have an old leaky Roof, drafty Windows, ugly Siding or inefficient Doors.

The Board of Directors of the Cape Ann Community Foundation (CACF) announced today that they are now accepting proposals for the Foundation’s sixth annual round of grants. CACF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization established in 2015 by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce to award grants funded by sales of the Cape Ann License Plate and direct donations. CACF will make grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 for projects that advance the Foundation’s mission to support non-profit, educational and economic infrastructure initiatives that improve and enrich quality of life for the residents of Cape Ann. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional business practices. With high unemployment rates and steep competition for top talent, candidates have the upper hand- it's a jobseeker's market. Now more than ever, how you recruit is just as important as who you recruit. The tried-and-true methods don't work anymore. Multiple interviews, skill assessments, and low salary offers are a thing of the past. So then the question becomes, how do we successfully recruit and retain the right employees? Upon completing this workshop, you will discover how thinking outside the box can attract new and diverse talent to help your organization thrive.

The Spring workshop will highlight visual merchandising key elements. Discussing transitional merchandising with a focus on spring displays. Lunch will be served.

Submit photos to Jenna's Google Folder for the opportunity to have your business highlighted during the workshop.

This free workshop is hosted by the Cape Ann Regional Grant team.

Secretary Kennealy, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development . will provide an update of the Housing and Economic Development Priorities of the Baker-Polito Administration. The event of free of charge but registration is required to attend. Sponsored by the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development.

LEAP is now recruiting employers and community members! Be a “Career Mentor” and virtually advise a youth/young adult summer intern in a six-week project-based remote learning experience.

Governor Baker announced a new grant program for Massachusetts businesses that hire and retain new workers. The grant is a flat rate of $4,000 per new hire, up to $400,000 per business (100 workers). This grant program runs from March 23, 2022, until December 31, 2022, or until the funding runs out. We urge interested employers to learn the full rules of the program and how to apply.

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