Lifestyle

Rockport goings on


Published: January 1, 2009

Events listed here are open to the public and sponsored by nonprofit groups unless otherwise noted. Press releases may be sent to Goings on, Gloucester Daily Times, 36 Whittemore St., Gloucester, MA 01930, sent via e-mail to gdt@gloucestertimes.com or faxed to 978-281-5748. Items can also be dropped off at the police station. Please include a contact person's name and telephone number and send at least two weeks prior to the event. The editorial department will do its best to run the announcement at least once prior to the event. Due to the volume of goings on listings received by the paper, listings are alternated once they run and the same listings are not printed every day.

Rockport Athletics

The Friends of Rockport Athletics will meet Tuesday, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m., in the Rockport High School teachers' lounge. All are welcome. Call 978-546-7681.

Democratic Committee

The Rockport Democratic Town Committee will meet Saturday, Jan. 10, 10:30 a.m., in the Brenner Room, Rockport Public Library.

Recovery programs

A variety of recovery programs meet weekly in Rockport.

Sunday — Alcoholics Anonymous "Women in Recovery," 2 to 3 p.m., First Congregational Church, School Street.

Monday — Alcoholics Anonymous at Rockport Baptist Church, noon to 1 p.m., speaker followed by discussion. Alcoholics Anonymous open meeting, 7:30 to 9 p.m. St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 24 Broadway.

Tuesday — Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, School Street.

Wednesday — Al-Anon group, 7:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Rockport, 2 High St., for friends and relatives of people with alcoholism.

Thursday — Alcoholics Anonymous closed book meeting, noon to 1 p.m., Rockport Baptist Church, 2 High St. Alcoholics Anonymous "Men in Recovery" men's speaker discussion meeting, 7:30 p.m., United Methodist Church.

Friday — Alcoholics Anonymous, noon to 1 p.m., Rockport Baptist Church, 2 High St., speaker followed by discussion.

Saturday — Alcoholics Anonymous, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., First Congregational Church.

Library story hour

The Rockport Public Library's preschool story hour, for children ages 3 to 5, will meet Tuesdays at 10 a.m., in the Brenner Friend Room, beginning in January. Doors will open at 9:45 a.m. for story hour participants only. The 45-minute sessions will feature stories and a short film. Linda Teahen will be the reader for the first program on Jan. 6. The Junior Department will be open for children to check out books after the story time.

Rotary Club

The Rockport Rotary Club meets Thursdays at noon at the Emerson Inn by the Sea.

Thrift shop

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport Thrift Shop, 4 Cleaves St., offers a buy one, get four free sale every Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rockport Room

The Rockport Room at Rockport Public Library is open Mondays from 1 to 8 p.m. Volunteers assist patrons who are searching for information about local history and genealogy.

Science demonstrations

The Cape Ann Science Alliance (CASA) will host science demonstrations Saturday, Jan. 10, 3 p.m., at Rockport Public Library. Mariah Dunn, recent recipient of the Girl Scout's highest award, The Gold Award, will demonstrate various hands-on science activities that she developed as part of the science camp for girls she ran this past summer. Anybody 10 years of age or older is welcome to this participatory event. CASA is a community organization that fosters scientific curiosity, opportunity, synergy, and discovery throughout Cape Ann. Contact Bill Waller at waller@cove.com for more information.

Piano concert

Rockport Music, presenter of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, will host a performance by pianist Gilles Vonsattel Saturday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m., First Congregational Church of Rockport, 12 School St. Tickets start at $21. For more information, call 978-546-7391 or visit www.rockportmusic.org.

History museum

The Sandy Bay Historical Society museum on King Street is open Mondays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., for research. Cost is $5 for nonmembers, free for members. Tours of the museum are also offered.

New book group

The Rockport Public Library and Rockport Music will launch a new reading group for the musically curious Sunday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m., at the library. The guest for the first meeting will be piano technician Christine Lovgren. The group is open to the public. Stephanie Woolf will lead the discussion of "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier" by Thad Carhart. The book tells the story of an American writer living in Paris and his experiences in a small, out-of-the-way piano shop. Copies are available at the main desk.

Rental, mortgage aid

Action Inc. has rental and mortgage assistance money available from Rockport's Community Preservation Act to help families and individuals who are facing financial hardships in keeping their housing. Call Stella at 978-283-7874, ext. 115, to check eligibility status.

Community Schools

The Rockport Community Schools program is offering the following courses:

Introduction to Beading meets Tuesdays for six weeks, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning Jan. 6. Cost is $100, plus materials. Instructor is Elizabeth Reed.

Introduction to Polymer Clay meets Thursdays for eight weeks, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning Jan. 8. Cost is $125, plus materials. Instructor is Elizabeth Reed.

Drawing and Painting meets Tuesdays for eight weeks, 7 to 9 p.m., beginning Feb. 24. Cost is $180, plus materials. Instructor is Joy Dai Buell.

Fiction Writing Workshop meets Wednesdays for six weeks, 7 to 9 p.m., beginning Feb. 11. Cost is $72. Instructor is Scott Elledge.

Toning to Tunes meets Mondays and Wednesdays for 10 weeks, 3:20 to 4 p.m., beginning Jan. 7. Cost is $40 for the first 10 sessions. Instructor is Linda Rowell.

Fitness Class meets Mondays and Wednesdays for six weeks, beginning Jan. 5. Cost for six weeks (12 sessions) is $60, $48 for seniors 60 and over. Instructor is Marsha Whelan.

Zumba Class meets Thursdays for six weeks, beginning Jan. 8. Cost is $60. Instructor is Calandra Salo.

Yoga meets Thursdays for eight weeks, 4:45 to 6 p.m., beginning Jan. 8. Cost is $96. Instructor is Janet Green Garrison.

Preregistration and prepayment for all classes is required. Registration forms are available in the Rockport Public Library and all school offices. Call Gini at 978-546-1204.

Homebuyer workshop

The Gloucester Housing Authority, 259 Washington St., will offer a four-night workshop for first-time homebuyers Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 19, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Local guest speakers will talk about legal issues, when to contact a realtor, what is affordable, financing, down payment grants, avoiding foreclosure, credit reports, credit scores, insurance, home inspections and more. Class size is limited. Cost is $49. Preregistration required; call Kathy Erkkila at 978-281-4770, ext. 110, or stop by the office. There is a discount for early registration. Full attendance will earn the certificate for MassHousing, MHP loans and most lotteries. Preference is given to low-income households in Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex and Ipswich. The program is cosponsored by TD Banknorth.

Boy Scout tree removal

Rockport Boy Scout Troop 20 is offering a Christmas tree pick up service. The troop will take trees and recycle them for use in local gardens. Tree pickup will take place Saturdays, Jan. 3 and 10, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trees must be free of ornaments, lights and tree stands. Trees should be put outside prior to the troop's arrival. A $4 donation will support the local Boy Scout troop. Residents may call 978-546-9501 to leave tree pickup information, such as name, address, telephone number and best day to pick up the tree, or e-mail the information to treepickup@verizon.net.

Fundraiser dinner

The Rockport High School DECA chapter will sponsor a spaghetti dinner Wednesday, Jan. 7, 5 to 7 p.m., at the Fish Shack restaurant, Dock Square. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children under 10. Tickets may be purchased by contacting a DECA member or e-mailing slarsen@rockport.k12.ma.us. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds will help defray some of the cost of the DECA state competition trip in March.

Wetlands bylaw regulations

The Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss and receive public comments on the Draft Rockport Wetlands Bylaw Regulations on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 7:40 p.m., in the Brenner Room, Rockport Public Library. A copy of the Draft Regulations may be viewed at the Rockport Public Library, the Town Clerk's Office and the conservation office during regular business hours, or online at www.town.Rockport.ma.us.

Spiran Lodge

Spiran Lodge 98 will meet Friday, Jan. 2, at 7:30 p.m. All members are welcome.

Meet the author

Author Andrew J. Bacevich will be the next speaker in the Meet the Author series on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2 p.m., at the Rockport Public Library. As a professor of history and international relations at Boston University and a retired U.S. Army colonel, Bacevich offers a unique historical perspective on American foreign policy since 1945 in "The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism." Due to limited seating, advance reservations are required; call 978-546-6934 to reserve free tickets. The snow date is Jan. 18. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Toad Hall Bookstore, and the Rockport Public Library. Visit www.rockportlibrary.org.

Library events

These groups will meet at Rockport Public Library:

Sunday Book Chat will meet Sunday, Jan. 18, 2 p.m., to discuss "Netherland" by Joseph O'Neill. Informal discussion of titles of interest to a general audience. New members welcome. Copies available at the main desk and Toad Hall Bookstore.

Contemporary Issues Book Group will meet Wednesday, Jan. 28, 3 p.m., to discuss "Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution and How It Can Renew America" by Thomas L. Friedman.

Library home delivery

Rockport Public Library offers outreach services for local residents who are homebound. The outreach librarian delivers regular, large-print and audio books as well as periodicals and videos. To arrange for outreach service, call 978-546-6934.