Cape Ann Plein Air (CAPA) celebrates the region’s unparalleled arts legacy as the birthplace of plein air, and supports its several hundred working artists and cultural organizations. 35 preeminent artists from around the country will be in Cape Ann from Oct 3 to 11, painting in all four beautiful communities. Everything culminates with two important Columbus Day weekend events: Reserve your tickets AND the night for the Cape Ann Plein Air Gala Awards Ceremony & Premiere Party, Saturday, October 9, from 5 to 10 PM, at Glen T. MacLeod Cape Ann YMCA, 7 Gloucester Crossing Road. And on Monday 125 artists of all abilities will gather to paint at Maritime Gloucester from 9 to 4. See the full schedule below.

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.

The highly anticipated $25K Game is back for 2021. There are 12 chances to win with prizes ranging from $10,000 to $500. Swing by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber to purchase your tickets today. 50/50 Raffle tickets are also available for purchase. This will be an in-person event at the Gloucester Elks, registration is required to attend.

The Cape Ann Regional Grant presents a workshop on Negotiating Skills & Difficult Conversations on Thursday, October 14 from 8:30 - 10 AM with business management expert Richard Weissman. Reacquaint yourself with negotiating and communication strategies that will have a positive impact on your bottom line. The meeting will take place in person at the Castle Manor Inn, 141 Essex Ave., Gloucester and on zoom. A complimentary breakfast will be provided. Register here or email anne@capeannchamber.com to learn more.

This year’s Businesswomen’s Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 14, at the Beauport Hotel. Karen Hanson, Licensed Partner, Engel & Völkers by the Sea will be our featured Speaker. Karen will talk about Resiliency- in good times and in tough times. Tickets are $35, tables of 10 are available for $350.

Join us for two dates in October for the City of Gloucester Candidate Forums. The events will feature the School Committee, Mayoral, Councilor-at-Large and Ward 2 candidates. The forums are presented by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Council. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities available for this event, please contact olivia@capeannchamber.com

Save the date - The Chamber’s biggest fundraiser! With over 200 attendees, the auction is one of the largest on the North Shore. This is a wonderful way to support the organization and help build a stronger Cape Ann region. With 100 Live and Silent items and many door prizes, you will not want to miss this terrific opportunity to celebrate our region and find those special gifts for you and your loved ones!

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the Love Cape Ann Auction. This is a great way to advertise and support the community. See the contracts here.

We are thrilled to announce that our 2022 advertising opportunities are now available. Take advantage of early bird 10% discounts on our display ads by signing up now to advertise in our publications. You can also increase your web presence by advertising on our three websites CapeAnnChamber.com, CapeAnnVacations.com and/or RockportUSA.com

The current editions of our publications are still being widely distributed and are available for pick-up at our office and visitor center.

Summer may be winding down but our visitor centers remain busy. A free benefit of membership is the ability to display your business's brochures, menus and rack cards in our visitor centers. We are currently running low on these promotional items after a busy summer. Please bring them by our office at 24 Harbor Loop, Gloucester or contact info@capeannchamber.com for pick-up.

We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. Please join us in celebrating the remainder of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage), a non-profit that manages and provides numerous programs preserving and enhancing Essex County’s historic, natural and cultural places, is excited to announce that they have been awarded a $50,000 grant from the African American Civil Rights grant program, through the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. This grant will be used to research and promote the African American experience in the Essex National Heritage Area.

The goal of the Gloucester Racial Justice team in issuing this survey is to gather the perspective of our BIPOC Gloucester community members and/or all that love and/or support them. We hope the results will help us to focus our attention on the areas where we can make the most impact. Thank you for your time.

Have you seen Essex's new Halloween residents? Take a drive around town and see the creativity of our residents and businesses! Some are truly SCAREcrows, others will put a smile on your face! The Friends of the COA will award a $50 gift certificate for the funniest, scariest, best character and best Essex theme.

Volunteers work about two hours in the late morning, picking up and delivering meals to older residents. This provides several benefits—the elder receives a nutritious meal (sometimes the main meal of their day), they get a quick visit from a friendly volunteer (sometimes the only person they see that day), and as the volunteer gets to know the elders on their route, the volunteer sometimes notices when the elder’s circumstances and/or status changes and can have SeniorCare check in with the elder to make sure everything is all right.

For more information contact the SeniorCare Nutrition Dept at 978-281-1750, M-F, 9 AM - 4 PM.

After a months-long application process, Communications, Ink received word that they are now certified as a women-owned business both locally and nationally for the Center for Women & Enterprise, the regional certifier for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

Communications, Ink is proud and excited to be amongst the women-led businesses that make a difference each and every day. They are grateful to all those who have helped us build our business and contribute to our ongoing success. Let them show you how we can help you create new opportunities and cost efficiencies, while strengthening your brand through innovation and creativity.

Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert have begun conducting their triennial Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The primary goal of the CHNA is to identify the priority health needs in the community, including various social, economic, and environmental factors that impact the ability to achieve optimal health and healthy equity, i.e. economic insecurity, transportation, access to care, housing insecurity, employment, economic development, education, etc. Please consider taking the survey below.

Cazeault Solar & Home is thankful to have won the Best of North Shore (BONS) People Choice award for the 3rd consecutive year. And this year they were awarded the Editors Choice Award.

“Winning this award for 3 consecutive years just blows me away. The team worked extremely hard despite so many obstacles pertaining to the pandemic. And to win the Editor’s Choice award as well, shows that BONS recognizes the superior work that the team provides”- Tim Sanborn, Managing Partner of Cazeault Solar & Home

Congratulations to Cazeault Solar for their outstanding work and dedicated team.

Each year BONS celebrates (and honors) the North Shore experts who create perfection for clients on their big day—from the best gowns and engagement rings to cakes and venues!

2022 BONS Wedding Readers' Choice voting runs until October 15, with the winners announced in our January/February 2022 issue. Cast you8r votes for your favorite wedding industry businesses!

Cape Ann Mass in Motion is launching the Walk the Loop, Circle the Cape 2021 Walking Challenge, and encourages community members age 65 and up to participate. The challenge is sponsored by Cape Ann Mass in Motion along with Cape Ann Seniors on the GO and SeniorCare, Inc., as well as the Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester and Essex Councils on Aging (COA). The challenge begins Sept. 1 and ends Oct. 31. To sign up, residents must call or make an in-person visit to their local COA. Participants will be provided with a free walking journal to track their progress. The journal includes helpful information about milestone badges, local walking options, safety tips, and walking health benefits. Residents can pick up a walking journal at their local COA, at the Chamber of Commerce, or request to have one sent to them by mail. Residents can access the walking journal online here.

Take a tour this fall and see if you can solve the real murder the game Clue is based on! A murder that involved the highest levels of government and those who pulled their strings. A murder that inspired Poe's Tell-Tale Heart. A murder that Nathaniel Hawthorne reported on in 1830 of the death of Captain Joseph White! Also, learn about the secret tunnels in town that were involved. Public and Private tours from Oct. 5th-Nov. 5th at 3 pm and 8 pm. Tour lasts 2hrs. Meets at the Custom House on Derby Street. Each ticket comes with suspect and weapon cards.

The Creature Feature is a two-part program that opens with a reading of “The Pet,” and spotlights a live adaptation of Hammond’s never-before-seen, three-act play, “The Termite Monster,” both of which are a part of Hammond’s collection of creative stories.

Journey's In Silk at The Cove Gallery

Six artists from Gloucester-based Ten Pound Studio honor Rocky Neck batik artist Judith Goetemann at The Cove Gallery in a new show called Journeys in Silk. The show runs from September 30 to October 31, Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 5 PM. The Artists Reception is on Saturday, October 2, 4 - 6 PM.

Beauport Cruiselines is cruising! Enjoy their upcoming North Shore Acappella Cruise, featuring full bar service, prime rib dinner and of course, the fabulous North Shore Acappella singers. Enjoy the tunes and delicious fare while taking in the ocean breeze and views of Gloucester Harbor & Cape Ann. This is a cruise you do not want to miss.

This fun and educational program is open to players of all levels, ages, and abilities. Weather permitting, those interested are welcome to gather in the Library’s Amphitheater anytime between 11 am and 1 pm to learn and play chess with the last games beginning at 12:45 pm. No reservations or advanced signup is needed.

The Cape Ann Artisans will host the 38th Annual Fall Tour for two days, Saturday and Sunday, October 9 & 10th.  This will be the third time that the Artisans have hosted the community and visitors in 2021 and each time the artisans have experienced a strong return to experiencing the arts in person.  The tour is self-guided and includes 14 unique studios and 15 Artisans covering a wide range of media including ceramic arts, painting, jewelry, mixed media, quilting, mosaics, weaving, and more!  For those new to the tour, the two-day period allows plenty of time to visit all or a selection of the studios, but an early start is always recommended to fully enjoy the day and take a break mid-day for lunch.

This year we are very excited to be back live and in person at the Annisquam Village Hall, 36 Leonard Street, Annisquam, MA, with the 37th Annual Annisquam Arts & Craft Show.

With over 25 vendors- seven of them new to the show, and another eight Fine Artists juried in, we expect this to be the best show yet! Artists and Crafters from across Cape Ann and beyond will be showing their wares in Annisquam on Saturday and Sunday, October 9 & 10, 2021, 10am to 5pm both days.

Saturday’s Guest Host wine events are both a learning & tasting experience, as wine

specialist share their expertise - the sensory expectations for each wine - to max enjoyment.

In addition to joining Savour for Saturday Guest Host Wine Tastings, experience your personal

wine tech-tasting during each visit with our Digital Wine Machine. The occasion to sample up

to 20 wines, Tues. thru Sat., using the “The Machine” couldn’t be easier.

The Grammy-winning mandolin virtuoso is most known for his time as part of the folk pop trio Nickel Creek and leading the progressive bluegrass juggernaut Punch Brothers, as well as for being the host of NPR’s Live from Here. He will make his Rockport debut with a solo show touring behind his newest record, Laysongs.

Join the Life Sciences Consortium of the North Shore (LSCNS) to network with leading life science companies and learn about career opportunities.

LSCNS has convened a variety of life science companies ranging in size and technical discipline, all with offices north of Boston. Students will have the chance to learn about the attending companies from brief presentations, and then select virtual networking breakout rooms to speak with employers that interest them. In these breakout rooms, employers can connect with students regarding internship and job opportunities, and answer questions about their company. This is a free event for both employers and students.

Learn More

Schooner Adventure 95th Anniversary Raffle Drawing on October 16 

Schooner Adventure's Events Committee has assembled two amazing packages put together with generous donations from our partner non-profits and local businesses. Buy your chance to win either the Arts and Culture Package or the Great Outdoors Package. The Raffle drawing for the two packages will be held on October 16, the 95th anniversary of Adventure's maiden voyage to the fishing grounds exactly one month after her launch date. Everyone can participate! Please consider supporting Adventure with this FUNdraiser. It is because of you that Adventure continues to sail and share her legacy for the future. Here’s to another 95 years of Adventure!

The Trustees and the Vintage Sports Car Club of America have partnered for an exciting new event featuring pre-WWII cars competing in times races. Spectators may come for the day and enjoy live music, food trucks, a bootlegger’s garden and picnicking on the lawn! Cars will race in the morning and again in the afternoon with a midday lunch break when the autos will be on display. Designated viewing spots will allow spectators to safely watch the races

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in Massachusetts with the highest quality, no-cost, confidential business counseling, training and business research. We work with real people and real businesses. Our assistance helps people like you achieve real success, as it has for more than 30 years.

If you wish to schedule an appointment with a business advisor, please complete our online Request for Counseling form with the link below.

Greater Boston SCORE mentors from the local business community conduct a variety of free & low-cost, educational workshops that provide valuable information necessary for establishing and managing a successful business. A few upcoming webinars for small businesses are:

With supplemental Federal unemployment benefits coming to an end this week, many employees will be returning to the workforce in the coming weeks. MassHire, the state’s primary service agency for job seekers, is also a great resource for employers looking for support with recruiting and training employees. MassHire is now offering weekly Employer Resources Webinars every Thursday at 2 PM through September. To learn more about services that can help you hire new employees – including the state’s WorkShare Program

Employers can take advantage of employment and training resources such as help with recruitment and hiring, job matching with potential hires, workforce training grants, and tax credit programs. To find a Business Service Representative, call your local MassHire Career Center and ask for Business Services.

For a complete list is the state’s Career Centers please click here.

There is no cost to the business and no out of pocket cost to the recipient. Conley's Drug Store can offer either the Pfizer Vaccine (Ages 12+) or the Johnson&Johnson (Age 18+).

The GCACC serves the 4 Cape Ann communities, including Boxford, Ipswich, Hamilton, Middleton, Topsfield and Wenham. Vaccines are free to all Massachusetts residents age 12 and above. Identification and health insurance is not required. Walk-ins will be accepted while supplies last at each clinic.

Senior Care offers ongoing training, supportive supervision, great team relations and a sense of challenging, worthwhile work within the local communities they serve. This position is an important part of an Agency that has been in operation for over 45 years and is devoted to multiple programs supporting people’s ability to live in the setting of their choice as they age.

ABC Home Healthcare is a local, family-owned home care agency providing services to the Greater Boston, North Shore, Cape Ann and Merrimack Valley communities for over 15 years. Opportunities exist in all communities they serve!

Backyard Growers (BYG) is a grassroots community-based organization in Gloucester, MA. We are a small but mighty group of committed people who love what we do, and have fun while we work hard. As our Development Director, you are responsible for our vital revenue streams, which allow us to achieve our mission and maximize our impact in the community. You plan and organize fundraising activities, manage the development budget, and assemble team members to raise funds

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