Ann Fisk, one of Rockport's most respected and admired civic activists, died peacefully in her home Oct. 8 just weeks after her 80th birthday after a year-long battle with multiple myeloma. During her funeral last Saturday, friends and family enjoyed telling stories about Fisk's life and her impact on the town. She was remembered by many as a caring, energetic, passionate and creative woman with a wonderful sense of humor.
Cameron Smith, the man who "moderated" that portion of the funeral in the church parish hall, was inspired by the experience and immediately resolved to help people share those stories with an even larger audience through a special memorial Web site.
With permission from Fisk's daughter, Miranda, Smith set up an e-mail address that allows anyone to submit "Ann Stories" and related photos. Smith will then post those memories to a tribute Web site.
"Many people told amusing and touching stories about Ann and how she affected their lives," Smith said. "She (lived) a long and brilliant life as an artist and Cape Ann influence for good."
Smith urges those with stories or relevant pictures to send them via e-mail to annfiskstories@gmail.com. The e-mail address will be available for submissions until about mid-December, he added.
The stories and pictures will then be transferred to the Web site — http://sites.google.com/site/annfiskstories.
Quick hits
The Friends of Rockport Athletics Holiday Card fundraiser is in full swing.
With over 28 chances to win cash prizes between $50 and $200, the cards are popular stocking stuffers and fun for those "hard to buy for people," FRA member Michelle Elwell said.
Cards cost $10 each and can be purchased from any athlete or FRA member.
For more information, call Marita Brundage at 978-546-3830, Sue MacMillin at 978-546-6666 or Elwell at 978-546-3157. All proceeds benefit the athletes of the Rockport Public School system.
The Rockport Garden Club will hold its annual meeting on Monday at 11:30 a.m. in the Community House. The annual meeting will be followed by a tea with hostesses April Hiscock and Mary Francis.
Jan Richenberg of Pettengill Farm will speak at the event; she has worked at the Salisbury farm for several years and uses her experience and creativity to lead workshops in floral decorating, particularly during the holiday season. Richenberg will present many Christmas ideas to the club.
Momentum is building for the Rockport Chamber of Commerce's Auction 2009. The annual goods and services auction, catered by Classic Cooks Catering, will be held at Rockport Golf Club on Friday, Nov. 6. The silent auction and a special wine tasting from Seabreeze Liquors will begin at 5:30 p.m. Live auction action, with auctioneer Frank Kaminski, starts at 7:15 p.m.
The auction committee, chaired by Sue Lovasco and Christine Marek, has been working diligently for the past several months to plan and prepare for Auction 2009. Early items include original paintings and prints by area artists, antique, hand-woven Oriental carpets, whale watching excursions and river cruises, a South Africa photo safari, and a deluxe weekend for two at the historic Taj Boston Hotel. New items are arriving daily and donations are welcome. For a list of all auction items go to www.rockportusa.com/auction2009.
Anyone wishing to reserve tickets, donate a good or service, or make a financial contribution in support of Auction 2009 is invited to contact the Chamber at 978-546-6575 or 978-283-1601.
Music hall news
According to Rockport Music Building Committee member John Sparks, the public can now view the progress being made at the Shalin Liu Performance Center construction site from the comforts of their own home.
Images of the site are now streaming to the public through a webcam on the Rockport Music Web site at www.rcmf.org. When the home page comes up, just click on the bar in the list to the left reading Shalin Liu Performance Center; once there, the image should appear within seconds in the blank rectangle at the center of the screen. Under the rectangle is the bar reading "Download Construction Updates," clicking this bar will bring the latest available weekly construction bulletin up on the screen.
Rockport Music has also announced its 2009-2010 Series with three concerts slated for the fall, winter, and spring. Featured performers are the Jupiter String Quartet tomorrow, the Triton Brass Quintet on Dec. 5, and jazz vocalist Rachael Price, March 13. These events lead up to the June 2010 opening of the Shalin Liu Performance Center, designed by the renowned team of project architect Alan Joslin and acoustician R. Lawrence Kirkegaard. This intimate, 325-seat hall will be an important addition to the cultural life of Cape Ann and the entire New England region.
Tomorrow's program includes Haydn's "Quartet in F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5"; Beethoven's "Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 127"; and Osvoldo Golijov's "Yiddishbbuk", based on a collection of apocryphal psalms.
Before tomorrow's show, at 3p.m., Joslin will take Rockport Music ticket holders and patrons on a behind-the-scenes visit of the construction site. The tour will be about the "framing" of the center, which will show patrons the site's views of the ocean. Different tours will precede the other concerts.
Although tomorrow's show is sold-out, returned tickets may be available. They will go on sale at 4 p.m. for the 5 p.m. show.
Tickets to the individual concerts range from $23 to $40 for adults; seniors, $22 to $39. Tickets for students (ages 19-25) are available for $10. A concert series subscription is also available,
Youths age 18 and younger may attend free of charge, though capacity is limited. Individual tickets and subscriptions may be purchased online at www.rockportmusic.org, by phone Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 978-546-7391; or in person at the Rockport Music office at 21 Broadway.
Rockport Ramblings is compiled each week by reporter Jonathan L'Ecuyer. If you have an item for Ramblings, call L'Ecuyer at 978-283-7000, ext. 3451, or e-mail jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
