Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Unwind Luxury.Vegan.Beauty. is finally able to celebrate their Grand Reopening! They have brought many exciting changes to Unwind over this last year, and have even more to share with you! Join the Chamber for an official ribbon cutting at 4pm followed by an open house 5-7pm with food, drinks, swag bags and more! Grab your favorite people and celebrate with their team.

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.

Winter Birding Speaker Series 

Every season has great birds in Rockport. We will begin the day with a tour a Halibut Point State Park to see what birds are there. It is not unusual to see over two dozen species in an hour's walk.

We will return to the Emerson Inn for a presentation where we will focus on the change of seasons, from the wonderful winter birds on the ocean, to the spring migrants coming to refuel for their trip farther north or to stay and nest.

This event will showcase the Cape Ann region's broad range of health and wellness services. From yoga and massage to general health screenings and resources, this event will provide something for people of all ages! The event will also include a Blood Drive with the Red Cross.

Thank you to our sponsors: Addison Gilbert Hospital, Beauport Hearing Care

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

Business After Hours events are a great way to meet your fellow chamber members and learn about their businesses. Guests are always welcome so please feel free to bring non-chamber members to show them what the Greater Cape Ann Chamber is all about!

Please register in advance if you plan to attend.

Join us by playing in and / or sponsoring this fun and impactful event at the beautiful Bass Rocks Golf Club; with food on the course and a buffet dinner afterwards, prizes, raffles and give-aways – this is much more than a round of golf. The event supports the Chamber’s extensive work with the greater Cape Ann high schools, Essex Tech and education non-profits. Our programming includes: monthly collaboration on DECA support, intern and mentorships, social emotional learning needs, annual greater Cape Ann Career & Collage Fair and several scholarships.

Cape Ann Works is a program for employers and student-employees from Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Essex, Hamilton, and Ipswich, including:

- A New Website for employers to share job opportunities and connect with potential Cape Ann employees

- Cape Ann Student-Worker Program

- International Student-Worker Program

- Transportation Resources and Support

- Cape Ann Works Perks Program

The Greater Cape Ann Chamber is seeking weekday and weekend volunteers for both the Gloucester and Rockport visitor centers . If you or someone you know if looking to connect with and give back to the community, please get in touch with Becca Campbell at 978-283-1601 or becca@capeannchamber.com.

As Executive Director, Stuart will be responsible for the overall management of Schooner Adventure, working together with the Board of Directors to further their mission. He is charged with leading efforts to position Adventure as a focal point for education focused on themes of fisheries, maritime history, and the ocean environment. Building off of Schooner Adventure’s successes, he will drive program development and growth, enhance community awareness of Adventure’s programs, and activities, and develop diversified revenue streams.

The Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum (EHSSM) announced the appointment of Katherine “KD” Montgomery to the role of Executive Director. Montgomery becomes the first woman to lead EHSSM and assumes the role at a vital juncture as the Museum prepares to expand its educational offerings and host a Smithsonian traveling exhibition this fall.

“KD brings a perfect blend of non-profit management, regional history, maritime science, and shipbuilding experience to her new role at EHSSM,” said Dr. David Driscoll, Board President. “We look forward to watching the organization continue to bloom and thrive under her capable leadership.”

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 once pay-what-you-can ticket sales go live on April 1 at FOODPANTRY.org. Drive-thru event occurs on May 7, 2022 from 4-6 p.m.

Join Backyard Growers for this virtual workshop to learn how to plan your own vegetable garden according to what you like to eat, the space you have for growing, and the amount of time you have to spend tending to it. In this training, attendees will be introduced to the square-foot gardening method to help you make the most of your garden this year.

Set twelve years before the epic His Dark Materials trilogy, this gripping adaptation revisits Philip Pullman’s fantastical world in which waters are rising and storms are brewing. Eighteen years after his ground-breaking production of His Dark Materials at the National Theatre, director Nicholas Hytner returns to Pullman’s parallel universe. Broadcast direct from London’s Bridge Theatre.

Art by Bex! Local Cape Ann Handywoman, Rebecca Bex Borden,' is trying her hands at a new thing - oil painting on canvas! Her art is currently being displayed at Cape Ann Giclee, and her show runs though April 14.

After a short introduction to heraldry from the Museum curator, your little aristocrats will get the chance to design their very own coat of arms on a shield using symbols and colors that represent each of them individually. Following that will be a chance for little ones to learn about, see firsthand-and touch-actual chain mail armor, cloth arming caps, and even a wooden training sword! Tickets are $10 per adult and $15 per child. We do ask that only one adult accompany each group of children. Tickets reservations are required in advance

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!

Crocker Snow will discuss his book Muskeget, followed by his film Unintended Consequences: Protected Seals of Muskeget and Cape Waters.

A little-known island between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Muskeget is awash in natural wonders. Author/journalist Crocker Snow has been visiting uninhabited Muskeget, 9 miles east of Chappaquidick, to hike, hunt, fish, clam, paint, and experience its uniqueness for seventy years.

Join us on the Saturday of Earth Day weekend to help us clean up, improve and beautify our own little corner of the planet at Appleton Farms. From 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, we will have a number of different activities for volunteers, including tree planting, mulching, garden tending or planting, and trail cleanup or maintenance.

Groups are welcome and encouraged to attend. All ages and levels of skill or experience are also welcome. All you need to bring is your enthusiasm and energy!

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.

The Sawyer Free Library’s first-ever Comic-Con will be on Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester. It is an all-ages event celebrating comics and graphic novels, as art, as literature, and as a part of pop culture – bringing together fans, young and old, and creators for a jam-packed day of special guests, workshops with comic book authors and artists, live programs, fandom games, crafts and activities, photo ops with characters, exciting surprises, and much more. Attendees are also encouraged to wear costumes.

Includes several special sessions that require registration to participate.

In a partnership, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation and Temple Ahavat Achim of Gloucester present a Yom HaShoah program, marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, on Sunday, May 1, at 3:00 p.m. at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, Middle and Church Streets, Gloucester.

The program features the world premiere of a specially composed work for strings, piano, clarinet, and vocalists, The Grip of Evil: The Endurance of Hope, by American composer and lyricist Leslie Steinweiss, commissioned for the occasion by Temple Ahavat Achim with the support of sponsoring donors.

Join Gloucester 400+ for an enthralling presentation and dialogue with Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm.

ENJOY 15% OFF EVERYTHING SALE! APRIL 10-17th. 4 Market St., Ipswich. Shop for Easter, Mother’s Day, Graduations, Weddings, Showers and all occasions. ON SALE: ALL Jewelry, Clothing & Gifts in the shop and online at betsyfrostdesign.com. Use Promo Code: HAPPYSPRING.

See their latest eblast: https://bit.ly/35WXaYC

Slide Into Spring Savings with 3 Ways To SAVE!

- Up To 20% Off Roofing, Siding, Windows & Doors!

- NO Interest, NO Money Down, NO Payments Financing Up To 24 Months!

- Free $100 Gas Gift Card with every purchase!

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.

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.

Local Sales, Discounts & Promotions

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.

Small businesses across the Commonwealth have been severely impacted by COVID-19. The North Shore Region has been particularly impacted because small businesses dominate the entire region. In fact, when it comes to the North Shore businesses, at least 84% rely on fewer than 20 employees and 37% have 4 or less employees. This second phase of the COVID-19 Business Impact Survey is needed to continue to provide relevant information to policymakers, businesses, and others who are making decisions that also impact our region. If you own or lead a North Shore business or non-profit, please help our efforts by completing our COVID-19 Business Impact Survey - Phase 2.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, MassHire Career Centers and Workforce Boards, and the Commonwealth Corporation are joining forces to present a series of workforce and upskilling “road shows” this spring. These regional events will seek to provide important information on how employers can access state resources, as well as serve as an opportunity for the business community to engage with state workforce officials.

Event details are still in the works. We have been asked to share this information with Chamber members and all employers in the Greater Cape Ann region. If you are interested in attending a session in our region, please fill out this brief form.

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.

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.

Discover Gloucester Seeks an Executive Director

Marine Retail Store and Parts Manager needed at Cape Ann Marine Sales & Service

SeniorCare is seeking a part-time Meals on Wheels Driver

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