On Saturday, June 19 2021, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will celebrate Juneteenth as an official holiday, for the first time. The North Shore Juneteenth Association Inc. defines Juneteenth as an American Holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, which is the date that enslaved Black people of Galveston, Texas learned that President Abraham Lincoln had freed enslaved people in rebel states two and a half years earlier. This was the last group of enslaved Black people to learn of their freedom! Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and is a day to reflect on how far we have come and how we will continue to move forward. Juneteenth is a day to focus on the complexity of the Black American experience. Please click here to learn more.

A Cape Ann Gift Check is a wonderful addition to pair with a Father's Day gift. Over 250 businesses participate in our program including Maplewood Car Wash, Blackbear Barbershop, Essex Seafood, Manchester Athletic Club, Roy Moore's Fish Shack, and more! The Cape Ann Gift Check program encourages our community to shop locally and keeps our dollars on Cape Ann. Now, more than ever, it is important to support local businesses.

The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is partnering with member Gloucester Bio, regarding a new advertising opportunity on their Smart Hand Sanitizer Station. The Smart Sanitizer Station is currently featured in the Chamber Office and Visitor Center, which sees thousands of visitors a year. The station can be custom wrapped with your business logo or advertisement. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact olivia@capeannchamber.com. Participation is limited to 4 businesses and the cost is $200.

Every year the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce publishes three premier publications. The Cape Ann Guide & Directory and the Rockport and Cape Ann Visitor Maps. We are delighted to announce that we have just received our 2021 editions and they look fantastic! We are now distributing them, and they are also available at the Chamber for pick-up. We hope you enjoy this year’s publications as much as we enjoyed making them. It is our honor to promote you as our members and to promote our Cape Ann community through these three pieces, and every day at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. 

Thursday, June 17 | 10 - 11 AM

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Council and Rockport Division will host an in-person Rockport Board of Selectmen candidates forum at the Rockport Inn & Suites. The public is invited but due to limited seating capacity (30 attendees) pre-registration is requested.

Friday, June 18 | 6 - 11 PM

The Law Office of Meredith A. Fine is opening a second location in Ipswich. The Chamber is excited to help celebrate this new venture and career milestone and invite you to celebrate with us! Light refreshments will be served.

Friday, June 25 | 5 - 6:30 PM

Join us at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts in Rockport, for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating Windhover & Gloucester Stage's Summer 2021 collaboration and newly expanded outdoor stage. The ribbon cutting will take place at 5:45 PM. To RSVP, please email boxoffice@gloucesterstage.com

Wednesday, June 30 | 6 - 7 PM

The return of our beloved in-person Business After Hours events are back! Our first in-person networking event will be in beautiful downtown Rockport, at Rockport Music's Shalin Liu Performance Art Center. Join us for a fun night of networking, and to learn about Rockport Music's reopening plans, their upcoming programming and events, and more!

This week’s # MyLocalMA business spotlight is Manchester Historical Museum. Founded in 1886 The Manchester Historical Museum serves the entire community through the preservation of irreplaceable town records and artifacts, as well as its research capability and commitment to education. The Manchester Historical Museum moved into its headquarters, the Trask House, in 1925. Their mission is to encourage, maintain and foster an interest in historical matters pertaining to the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, and to establish and maintain within the town a library and museum to collect and preserve objects which illustrate the history of the town.

Enjoy a special rate at the Beauport Hotel that includes breakfast for two at 1606 Restaurant & Bar, with dining available on the oceanfront deck or hotel lounge. A portion of booking proceeds will go to Gloucester High School SAGA - Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Group

The Gloucester Education Foundation (GEF) has made a gift of $7,500 to the GHS class of 2021 to support the production costs of Senior Award Night, Senior Prom and Graduation. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the schools this year, opportunities for students to fundraise were limited. GEF's gift will enable every member of the Class of 2021 to attend prom for free.

Voting for Northshore Magazine’s BONS Best Home Awards is now open. Voting ends August 1, 2021. Good luck to all of our members that are nominated!

Specially priced at $40 and $150, you can purchase a limited edition, high-relief antique bronze commemorative medal in Gloucester at The Brass Money and Harbor Loop Gifts located at the Bulding Center. These medals make the perfect gift for Father's Day!

Rally Against Elder Abuse

June 15 | Noon - 3 PM

Wednesday, June 16 | 5 PM

The Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage) is proud to continue their “Redefining Heritage” series with the next installment, Interwoven Interactions. This talk will explore the complexities of the relationships and ways of knowing that Indigenous peoples of the northeast bring to our interactions with each other and the world, from both a historical and contemporary context.

Thursdays, June 17-June 24|10 AM-Noon

The Savvy Caregiver Training is a free six-week program for family and friends who are active caregivers, caring for those living with Alzheimer's or related dementias. Become an expert in caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.

North Shore Teen Mental Health Day

Saturday, June 19 | Noon - 3 PM

Sunday, June 20 | Noon - 4 PM

Monday, June 21 | 9 - 10 AM

In honor of the summer solstice, Hammond Castle welcomes Julie Ann Thompson for a morning of guided meditation to release old tensions and contemplate new growth. Half of the hour will be a guided meditation, and half the hour will be a motivational discussion. Tickets are $15 per person.

Monday, June 21 | 6 - 9 PM

Join Lyon-Waugh Auto Group for their DRIVE TO REMEMBER rally benefiting the Alzheimer's Association. Participants will rally through Cape Ann and end at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester.

Spend the longest day of the year enjoying the beautiful waterfront while raising money for the Alzheimer's Association.

Wednesdays June 23 - July 28 | 8 - 9 AM

Is there a better way to start a summer morning than yoga by a castle on the ocean? Hammond Castle Museum is hosting Tree Top Yoga for a six class series from June 23 to July 28. The cost for the six week series is $120. Space is limited, so be sure to register directly at treetopyoga.com

June 24 - July 11 | 10 AM - 5 PM

A show of works by North Shore Arts Associations' Artist Member, Jim Murphy. The works will be presented in the Hallway Gallery of NSAA. Sunday hours are Noon - 4PM.

Saturday, June 26 | 10 AM

The Cape Ann Museum invites the public to participate in reading abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech What to the Slave is the Fourth of July. Organized under the auspices of Mass Humanities, the event is designed to bring people from all walks of life together to read Douglass’ work and reflect on how themes addressed in the speech still resonate with Americans more than 150 years after they were written.

Do you have interest and/or experience in shooting video for broadcast and social media? 1623 Studios, Cape Ann’s Community Media Center, is looking to expand its roster of camera operators to cover community events, municipal meetings, and 1623 original programs.

Are you driven by results and have proven experience meeting sales goals? Do you want to translate this experience into helping the YMCA engage more members? This may be the job for you!

Yella is a globally inspired, locally created modern eatery offering elevated Mediterranean cuisine that remains true to the hearty traditions of regional cooking. Apply to work on the water today!

High end residential contractor seeking skilled carpenter for work in Boston and surrounding suburbs. Ability to lead and motivate others. Interact professionally with project manager, colleagues and clients.

Cape Ann's Marina Resort, Mile Marker One & Cape Ann Marine Sales & Service are Looking to Hire Multiple Positions

Beauport Hospitality Group is Hiring Multiple Positions

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