June 1, 2022

Duck, Duck, House, Essex | ©Louise Welch

LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots, and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQ Americans. In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBT Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marks the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBT Americans.

Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

Beauport tells the story of a gay man in the early twentieth century: celebrated interior designer Henry Davis Sleeper. Tour the house to learn about Sleeper’s family and friends, and hear readings from books and letters written by Sleeper and his social circle. Discover the challenges facing historians interpreting LGBTQ+ history.

Monday, June 6 at The Emerson Inn: Honoring Marc & Ross Brackett, Brothers' Brew Café

Wednesday, June 8 at Lobsta Land Restaurant: Honoring Corey Grammas, Lobsta Land Restaurant

Thursday June 9 at The Windward Grille: Honoring Arlene Taliadoros, Arlene Taliadoros Photography

Monday, June 13 at the American Legion: Honoring James Brown, Coldwell Banker Realty

Tuesday, June 14 at Fox Creek Tavern: Honoring Chris Bevilacqua, Ipswich Family YMCA

May was a BIG month for the Chamber and our greater Cape Ann community. We held five networking / social events, beginning with our Spring Tourism Mixer in early May at the Vista in Gloucester. This included a Ribbon Cutting for their new tent which looks amazing. From there it was onto a fantastic gathering with stunning views and more than 100 members at the Emerson Inn in Rockport. We held two fun Next Gen / Young Professional events with two newer members, Lanes Coven Theatre Co. and Appleton Farms. And of course our virtual monthly Coffee and Connections which is always impactful and fun. In addition, we had perfect weather for our 33rd Annual Education Fundraiser at Bass Rock Golf, with a record 124 golfers.

As we enter the all-important summer season, it is obvious the Cape Ann tourism community is stronger, more resilient, more innovative, and more diverse than ever – and we saw that clearly in the May 20 meeting of the Greater Cape Ann Tourism Council. Our spirit of innovation was reflected in a review of the Winter Birding Season activities we launch earlier this year. We spoke about the success of the final presentation in the Winter Birding Speaker Series – a well-attended event at the Emerson Inn on April 30. Many agreed that the success of this year’s expanded activities was an important part – together with other new and returning efforts this winter – in helping to extend the tourism season, a key objective of the Tourism Council.

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Council held its regular monthly meeting on May 10. At their meeting, the Council continued their conversations about worker shortages and housing. The May meeting also included a Chamber update on the Cape Ann Works job matching, transportation and employer support initiative, community updates from Council members, and a summary report presented by Olivia on recent community meetings that she had attended.

GCACC CEO Ken Riehl is joined by Chamber Board President Caitlin Pszenny to review the months of May and June, highlighting the many events, including Business After Hours, Next Gen Mixers, and the annual Golf Tournament, plus an update on the Chamber publications.

We are pleased to let you know that all of our 2022 Chamber Publications are here!

Over 250,000 pieces of the Greater Cape Ann Guide & Directory, Greater Cape Ann Map and Rockport Map are being widely distributed around greater Cape Ann, the North Shore, into Boston, north to the Maria Miles Visitor Center and as far South as Delaware on the Amtrack line.

All members who joined before the end of March 2022 have a business listing in the Greater Cape Ann Guide & Directory. For the first time ever, we included Ipswich in our publications, adding them to the map, and to dedicated pages in the guide.

We will also be making the delivery rounds to our advertisers and invite you to pick-up as many as you would like at our Chamber office on Harbor Loop

The City of Gloucester, in partnership with the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce a retail signage improvement grant program. Approximately 18 businesses will be awarded a grant of up to $5,000 to improve their storefront signage, awning, and/or sign-related lighting. The purpose of the program is to improve the visual quality of the city's retail business districts and to enhance the business districts as a place to visit, shop, and work. 

Attention beer and ale lovers! True North Ale Company is hosting the next mixer presented by the Businesswomen's Committee on the first Thursday in June. Join us for an evening of networking and award-winning craft beer. Seasonal hard seltzer will also be served.

Registration is open so please reserve your spot today. All proceeds are donated to the Carolyn M. O'Connor Scholarship Fund. Learn more about the Businesswomen's Committee.

Join the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce to welcome Joli to the North Shore, and celebrate the opening her year-round working studio and gallery in Rockport.

Join the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce at the grand opening of Googans Galley, a new café serving up a variety of quality breakfast and lunch offerings, coffee, desserts, pantry items plus other merchandise and services year-round.

Enjoy complimentary appetizers and lively conversation with Chamber affiliates, Endicott College, and Misselwood staff. Cash bar. Parking available at the Peter Frates Hall lot directly across the street.

Join us for the largest business networking event of the season with five chambers participating and up to 300 business people.

Greater Cape Ann Chamber

Greater Beverly Chamber

Greater Lynn Area Chamber

Merrimack Valley Chamber

Salem Chamber

Amesbury Chamber

This will be the first major networking event at one of the region’s premier destinations – Crane Castle. Join us as we mix and mingle in royal style and learn about their greatly expanded programming.

Please register in advance if you plan to attend.

It was a beautiful day at the first annual WellFest, a Greater Cape Ann Community Wellness Fair. Held at the Cape Ann YMCA’s outdoor turf area, event attendees enjoyed the sunshine, music, raffle prizes, puppies, and the region’s broad range of health and wellness services. The Chamber’s Health & Wellness Group hopes to make WellFest an annual event to be enjoyed by our community for years to come.

Thank you to The Emerson Inn for hosting a fantastic Business After Hours event in mid-May. Members from all five greater Cape Ann communities attended, enjoyed the beautiful view, shared delicious appetizers, and made new connections.

Two door prizes were also donated by The Emerson Inn:

- $100 gift certificate to The Emerson Inn and an Emerson Inn scented-candle from the Rockport Candle Company, won by Harry Korslund

- Emerson Inn Beach bag with baseball cap, sunglasses and Friends of Rockport Cookbook, won by Jesse DeBenedictis

It was a perfect day for golf at Bass Rocks Golf Club on Monday, May 23. Over 120 players plus volunteers were in attendance for the Shotgun start at 1 p.m., followed by a delicious meal and awards ceremony. Thank you to Bass Rocks Golf Club for helping to put on another fabulous golf event.

1st Gross (57): Ron Benjamin, Chris McCarthy, Brian Murphy, Brandon Pratt

1st Net (45): Steve Barbieri, Frank Hawks, Jill Montoni, Tim O'Brien

2nd Net (52): Joe DiRocco, Mike Howard, Kyle Milan, Steve Milan

3rd Net (55): Kevin Balboni, Devlyn Brackett, Tom Curry, Sean McAndrews

To see all games winners, raffle winners, 50/50 winner, and who got a hole in one on the 17th hole, check out our blog post!

Next Gen, Cape Ann's Young Professionals Group, hosted two events in May, with two of our newer members - Lanes Coven Theater Co. and Appleton Farms. The first was the Spring Mixer at Short & Main with free admission to Lanes Coven Theater Co.'s production of Harold Pinter's "The Dumb Waiter." The second was the Next Gen Fireside Mixer at Appleton Farms in Ipswich. Our Next Gen group would love to have you join!

BankGloucester has made a charitable donation of $250,000 to Sawyer Free 2025 (visit sawyerfree2025.org), a newly launched philanthropic capital campaign to fund a comprehensive renovation, modernization and expansion of Gloucester’s public library building. A powerful demonstration of the institution's longtime corporate citizenship and social-mindedness, BankGloucester’s gift underscores the company’s goal of raising standards of living and advancing quality of life in the communities it serves.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has posted RFR FAC119 for Maintenance Repair and Operations Retail Products & Supplies to replace statewide contract FAC105 effective 8/1/2022. This bid is not for Big Box stores but for retail businesses. If you are interested please contact Bill Funk of William J Funk Procurement Consulting Services.

Have you stopped exploring and sharing your feelings with your partner? Would you like to learn a few tools for feeling more connected to, and seen by, each other? Nothing opens the heart faster than vulnerability, appreciation and gratitude.

Needy Meds introduces you to Good Shepherd Pharmacy - a non-profit, membership-based pharmacy dedicated to making medication accessible and affordable to all. In just 25 minutes you'll learn who they are, the services they offer, and how to become a member.

As part of her mission of preserving and promoting this heritage, Adventure offers free sails to descendants of men who worked, sailed, and fished on board any Gloucester schooner. This year these Descendants’ Sails are scheduled for Thursday, June 2 at 5 PM, Sunday, July 17 at 11 AM and Wednesday August 17, at 4:30 PM. To confirm descendant status and receive information about how to book a spot, the number to call is 978-281-8079.

When crisis explodes during a seemingly ordinary day at the Manhattan publishing office, ambition trumps compassion as a group of editorial assistants turn catastrophe into personal gain. The stakes for who gets to tell their own story are higher than ever. Gloria will delight you with it’s biting wit even in its most cynical moments of darkness and shocking truth. The critically acclaimed Pulitzer Prize finalist play, Gloria was written by the MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant recipient Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and is directed by Bryn Boice.

Two of the most beloved singer-songwriters from the vibrant 70’s New England folk-rock scene join forces for a rousing night celebrating their immense catalog of songs. Veteran folk-rocker Jonathan Edwards has forged a vibrant troubadour career based around his undeniable melodic gifts and a generously vibrant performance style. Pousette-Dart's sound has involved into a singer-songwriter bluesy- folk aesthetic.

Join Author Sy Montgomery, Captain Heath, and Crew aboard the Lannon on June 4th for a book reading public sail from 10:30 to Noon. All ages welcome.

"From New York Times bestselling author, Sy Montgomery, comes the beautifully illustrated true story of our very own seagull friend, "Polly", and our captain, Heath, who became friends over the course of the last seven years."

Greenbelt – Essex County’s Land Trust’s 33rd annual Art in the Barn event returns in-person. One of the North Shore’s premier, juried art shows, Art in the Barn showcases the work of more than 130 local artists. Throughout the Cox Reservation, the barns are filled with paintings, ceramics, jewelry, sculptures and more. A silent auction will feature select pieces by Daphne Borden and Donald MacLachlan. Friday evening will feature music, Butter UR Biscuit food truck, and True North Ales. This festive evening is open to the public! Admission and parking are free.

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 [email protected] if you need assistance

Continuing Hot Deals:

Please check the Business Resources Category in Chamber Blog for Business Resources available to the Cape Ann region! 

Two job openings at Windhover Performing Arts Center: Production Crew and Box Office Manager

If you are interested in promoting with the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and sponsoring this newsletter, please contact Ken Riehl at [email protected]