By Times Staff
March 27, 2008 06:14 am We've seen the early change to daylight-saving time, Easter has come and gone, and the Red Sox have already played two regular-season games — granted half a world away. This weekend comes a surefire local sign that spring has arrived — and even, in some ways, is starting to bloom. It's the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce's third annual Home & Garden Show, which runs Saturday and Sunday at Gloucester High School and seems destined to once again live up to its billing as the region's "springtime extravaganza." Hundreds of fresh ideas for the home will be on display at the show, which features more than 90 exhibitors over roughly 25,000 square feet of display area. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day — and features a series of special guests and presentations in addition to the displays by the vendors. "Ask the Handyman" Peter Hotton will be on hand both days to answer the toughest home project questions. David Epstein from "Growing Wisdom" will speak on Saturday at 1 p.m., and Carol Stocker, a gardening columnist, will be on hand for a presentation on Sunday at 1 p.m. Admission to the show is $5, with children under 12 admitted free. For a $1-off coupon, visit www.capeannchamber.com/homegarden or call 978-283-1601. Not all of the special exhibits and presentations will be inside the high school field house. Approaching the entrance to Gloucester High School, visitors to the show will be greeted by a Trophy Garden. Each of the eight trophies recognizes the accomplishments of an organization on Cape Ann that contributes to public life. The trophies have been fabricated by the Gloucester High School carpentry shop from full-sized sheets of plywood donated by the Building Center. Art students have added decoration. Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce member Martin Ray conceived the exhibit as a welcome to the show and a tribute to creative forces in the community. Along with Wolf Hill Garden Center, he has developed a landscape setting for the trophies and his granite sculptures. The eight areas of civic involvement and organizations are as follows: Community — the YMCA, Government — GHS Political Asylum Club, Sports — Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association, the Arts — Rockport Art Association, Housing — Wellspring, Education — Gloucester Education Foundation, Environment — Essex County Greenbelt Association, and Business — Chamber of Commerce. Presented by the chamber, the event is sponsored by a number of local businesses, with The Curtain Shop as a lead sponsor. Several exhibitors are giving away prizes to customers throughout the show. Crackerjacks, for example, will give a box of their favorite treat to the first 100 customers who stop by its booth. And several exhibitors will have drawings in their booths. The Cape Ann Savings Bank will have a 23-inch LDC television, and Century 21 will present Celtics tickets to the winner of its raffle. The show's media sponsor — the Gloucester Daily Times — will raffle a six-week advertising package valued at $775, and will have circulation promotions. The Times also produced Cape Ann Home & Garden magazine, which features the guide to the show itself.
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