Join Us for Coffee & Connections Virtual Networking Event

We recently hosted our first monthly Coffee & Connections event, formerly known as our Zoom Informational Sessions. April - June. Many members participated, sharing their stories and connecting to other members. As Cape Ann continues to adapt to this Phase 3 normal, we look forward to getting together monthly, hearing how you are doing, helping to connect you to other members, and working together to weather this pandemic and emerge even stronger.

Every October the Cape Ann Chamber hosts the premiere giveaway night on Cape Ann: The $25,000 Game. This year, the event will be hosted on Facebook Live but there will still be plenty of opportunities to win big - these are the best odds on Cape Ann!

All tickets, including our 50/50 raffle are available at the Chamber- get yours today! Tickets to enter the $25k game are $100 each, and include the opportunity to win a door prize.

Two Bottles of Wine

Cape Ann Glass Tumblers

Monopoly Deluxe Classic Edition

Each year, the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce hosts a fundraising auction to benefit a cause that is important to us all- the prosperity of Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport. This year our focus in on the pandemic and we will be giving a portion of our proceeds back to businesses most impacted. This is a special opportunity to promote your business and support our mission by making a donation or choosing to sponsor this annual event. We hope you will join us in our efforts to support the Cape Ann community.

We’d like to express our gratitude to our Presenting Partner, Engel & Völkers - By The Sea for their partnership in this event.

Last Chance to Vote for BankGloucester's Banking for the Community Program

BankGloucester has donated over $200,000 to local community organizations through this program alone. This year, the Bank will donate a total of $25,000 to 21 organizations. Recipients are determined by the number of votes cast, so vote now! Voting ends at 5pm on Wednesday, September 30 2020.

Click Here to Vote for Your Favorite Community Organizations

SeniorCare needs volunteers for their Meals on Wheels Program and their Medical Transportation Program. Help our community by delivering noon-time meals to elders who live in your community and by driving elders to and from their out-of-town essential medical appointments. COVID Safety Protocols are in place and training is provided. Please contact SeniorCare to learn about how you can sign up and get started. Email: RSVP@Seniorcareinc.org, or call Theresa at 978-281-1750 x568.

The YAR Conference Planning Committee has announced Pathways for Children as their new partner for the Youth at Risk (YAR) conference. This event is the region’s only annual all-day conference for professionals who work with at-risk youth. The mission of YAR is to support communities of professionals serving children, youth and families, and to provide them with affordable continuing education, collaborative networking and self-care opportunities.

Gloucester High School recently received a grant to partner with Project Adventure for expanded mental health and social-emotional support. The project comes at a time when schools around the country are struggling to meet the mental health needs of their students. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the need for support even more critical.

Care Dimensions HomeMD program, which provides personalized, in-home primary care service for patients 65 years and older who have trouble leaving their homes, has doubled its service area to cover 45 communities north of Boston. New patients are being accepted to the practice and seen at home by a physician or nurse practitioner for all primary care needs. HomeMD is part of Care Dimensions’ continuum of home care services, but patients do not have to be on its palliative care or hospice services

Cape Ann Foodie Tours is offering a Taste Gloucester Tour that takes visitors to six food stops highlighting restaurants and culinary experiences. The tours last 2.5-3 hours and covers about a mile of Downtown Gloucester. Stops include Topside Grill, Cafe Sicilia, Virgilio's Bakery, Cape Ann Brew Pub, and more. Cape Ann Foodie Tours has a five star rating on Tripadvisor, don't miss your chance to taste Gloucester.

Visit Red Thread, a website that provides helpful information for you to successfully set up your home office for ergonomic advantage.

Lisa Bonneville, Chamber Board Member and owner of Bonneville Design recommends Red Thread as an excellent resource to help other businesses set up their home offices for ergonomic advantage.

This Fall season don't forget to stop by Lexington Ave. in Magnolia. Participating businesses are offering special Fall savings including everything from health & wellness to home decor and arts & culture. Magnolia is a must see this Fall season!

Participating Businesses:

Arts Abound | Hammond Castle |Beauport Hearing Care |All Purpose Flowers | Shackteau Interiors

Don't forget to order your fresh food and local wares at the Magnolia Community Virtual Farmers Market.

Designed by owner, Sue Wheeler and produced by Seaside Graphics, these high quality soft washed cotten hats are available in store at 21C Lexington Ave.

Wholesale and retail opportunities are available to Cape Ann Chamber members. Please contact Sue at artsaboundmagnolia@gmail.com for more information.

A flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Please call and make an appointment at one of the three Urgent Care Locations.

Lahey Health Urgent Care, Gloucester

305 Gloucester Crossing Road

Learn More

We welcome all businesses and community members to stop by the Chamber Office and pick up a free poster. The Gloucester Youth Leadership Council started the poster campaign to encourage Gloucester residents to take the mask mandate seriously. The Cape Ann Chamber salutes the Gloucester Youth Leadership Council's initiative to protect our residents, business owners, and visitors.

The last day to vote is October 15. Please show your support and vote for Cape Ann's wedding venues, attire, beauty services, catering, and more.

Backyard Growers 5th Annual Great Gloucester Growdown Virtual Fundraiser on September 29 

Learn More

Click Here for More Information and to Register

Over the years, the Annual Art Auction, a major fundraiser for the Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M), has become a highly anticipated event. This year’s Auction will be held live online via LiveAuctioneers. The Auction Preview Exhibition at the RAA&M is on view September 17 – October 3.

This October, Hammond Castle Museum will offer a room-to-room theater performance of The Horror of Abbadia Mare, an adaptation of five H.P. Lovecraft stories set within the Castle and adapted around Hammond Castle's founder, John Hays Hammond Junior.

Cape Ann Artisans 2020 Fall Open Studio, October 10 - 11

David Archibald | Cynthia Curtis | Jillian Demeri | Jacqueline Ganim DeFalco| Linda Hogan | Sinikka Nogelo | Scott Place & Erin O'Sullivan| Marcie Rae| Deb Schradieck |

Pam Stratton | Sara Wright

Learn More

Daily Museum Tours - Hammond Castle Museum

Candlelight and Spiritualism Tours - Hammond Castle Museum

Monthly Community Reiki Share - Manchester Community Center

Monday Morning Yoga Sessions - Missy Anzivino Yoga

Wake Up Spirit - Floating Lotus

Dashboard for September 28. The most recent daily Dashboard of Public Health Indicators continues to show mixed trends. The positive test rate (7-day weighted average) has remained below 2% since early July and since September 16 rose slightly to 0.9%, 17% above its lowest observed value (0.8%). The 3-day weighted average number of hospitalized patients has increased to 393, 30% above its lowest observed value (302), with 418 patients reported hospitalized on September 27.

Washington, D.C. – September 28. 150 Million COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits to be Distributed. On Monday President Trump announced plans to distribute 150 million coronavirus test kits to states and other jurisdictions beginning this week. The tests, developed by Abbot Laboratories and purchased by the federal government, give results in as little as 15 minutes and do not need to be processed through a laboratory. To read the New York Times account please click here. 

Restaurant Guidelines Revised. Effective Monday, September 28 the maximum number of patrons that may be seated together at restaurant tables has increased from 6 to 10.  Also, limited seating at restaurant bars is now permitted, as are laminated, reusable menus that are sanitized between each use.  For details on the new guidelines, please click here.

Travel Order List of Lower Risk States Updated. As of September 28, the list of COVID-19 lower risk states that are exempt from the Massachusetts Travel Order includes Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Vermont and Washington. (Oregon was removed from this list on September 26.)

For comprehensive COVID-19 information please visit the Chamber’s special Coronavirus page.

To view the most recent (September 24) weekly COVID-19 Command Center Situation Report from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), please click here.

For the most recent legislative and COVID-19 update from the office of State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante please click here.

For the latest COVID-19 news and information for Massachusetts, please visit www.mass.gov.

Did you have to take a rain check on a 2020 event? Misselwood Events at Endicott College is offering a rain check on their 2020 pricing.

CNAs, CHHAs, and Nursing Students - Aberdeen Home Care, Inc.

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