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Amid a historic surge in book challenges in schools and public libraries across the state, some lawmakers are hoping to codify protections to prevent books from being removed from public spaces, even when parents believe they are dangerous or age-inappropriate. Sen. Julian Cyr of Truro and Rep. John Moran of Boston filed a bill that would prevent book removal "due to personal or political views" in municipal and school libraries, by giving the sole power to librarians to determine what can be on the shelves.
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Tues. Jan 16
10:00am
Weds. Jan. 17
Metacomet Board of Directors Meeting
10:30am
7:00pm
Franklin Cultural Council Meeting
7:30pm
Thurs. Jan. 18
Senior Coffee Hour w/ State & Local Officials
8:30am
Town Council Office Hours at the Sr. Center
8:30am
Charles River Pollution Control District Meeting
3:00pm
Housing and Economic Development Subcommittee
5:00pm
7:30pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
The first voting in this year's presidential race, Gov. Maura Healey's first State of the State address, and a peek inside the governor's next annual budget bill highlight a holiday-shortened week as the pace picks up on Beacon Hill. The House and Senate were each in session this week approving major bills, and lawmakers plan to gather Wednesday night in the House chamber to hear the governor talk about her agenda at a time when the state's spending appetite suddenly has to shrink to live within downwardly revised revenue projections. Lawmakers for three months have sat on Healey's sweeping plan to tackle the state's serious housing problems, but it is finally set for a public hearing Thursday. Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll late next week will also address municipal officials at a meeting where governors often tip their hand on highlights of the annual budget bills that they must serve up each January. After years of bulging surpluses that triggered massive tax rebates, top state officials this week said they expect no or negligible tax revenue growth for the foreseeable future, a declaration that is reshaping the 2024 legislative session in myriad ways. Not only does this new fiscal landscape call into question the state's ability to sustain the major investments and spending increases it made over the last several years, but it also creates a dynamic where lawmakers won't be able to fund all of their new spending plans unless they decide to raise taxes in a measurable way or start drawing from the more than $8 billion that's stashed away in the state's rainy day fund - an idea that Healey budget chief Matt Gorzkowicz threw cold water on this week. The governor wants to start using $250 million in annual interest revenue from the rainy day fund to attract federal infrastructure funds, but her team is also ready to raid the $700 million remaining in another reserve fund to keep up with the state's skyrocketing emergency shelter costs. And Healey is already going after new revenue, as her $375 million in spending cuts announced this week were paired with plans to come up with a whopping $625 million in new non-tax revenue to plug budget holes. The state will need those funds just to limp along given the new budgetary math. According to Executive Office of Administration and Finance numbers that factor in the state's new surtax on wealthy households, the state collected $39.2 billion in fiscal 2023, will collect $40.4 billion in fiscal 2024, and is projected to college $41.5 billion in tax revenue in the fiscal 2025 budget cycle, planning for which will consume the next several months.
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2023
HOROWITZ ON 4: Evan Horowitz of the Center for State Policy Analysis talks with Jon Keller about Gov. Healey's budget cuts and the state of the state economy. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
WU ON 5: Boston Mayor Wu is the guest on "On The Record," followed by a roundtable with analysts Rob Gray and Mary Anne Marsh. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
WALK FOR HOSTAGES: Marking the 100th day of Israelis being held hostage in Gaza following Hamas's Oct. 7 attack, Harvard Chabad holds an event for community members to walk a one-mile loop. The event, which also includes a speaking program, is supported by multiple organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, AJC New England, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Consulate General of Israel to New England, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, and Israeli American Council New England. (Sunday, 11:15 a.m., Harvard Chabad, 38 Banks St., Cambridge)
NEW BEDFORD MLK DAY: New Bedford hosts its annual community program for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Mayor Mitchell gives remarks. Sandra Gatlin Whitley, senior pastor at Bethel A.M.E. Church in New Bedford, gives the keynote address. (Sunday, 2 p.m., International Church of the Nazarene, 278 Pleasant St., New Bedford)
Monday, Jan. 15, 2023
MLK COMMUNITY BREAKFAST: Quinsigamond Community College holds its 39th annual community breakfast honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Vincent Rougeau, president of the College of the Holy Cross, delivers the keynote. Doors open at 7 a.m. The event is open to the public; tickets cost $25. (Monday, 8 a.m., Plourde Recreation Center at Assumption University, 500 Salisbury St., Worcester | More Info)
BOSTON MLK BREAKFAST: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast Committee hosts its 54th annual breakfast. The theme this year is "Keeping the Promise of Democracy." Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of history, race, and public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, is the keynote speaker. The event will also be livestreamed.(Monday, 9 a.m., Boston Convention and Exhibition Center | Register)
BELMONT MLK BREAKFAST: Belmont holds its 30th annual community breakfast honoring Martin Luther King Jr. The virtual event is sponsored by the Belmont Human Rights Commission. Danielle Johnson, founder and CEO of Spark FM Online, gives the keynote address. Middlesex DA Ryan attends. (Monday, 9 a.m. | Register)
BOSTON, BU MLK CELEBRATION: Boston and Boston University hold a celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Speakers include Mayor Wu and Kenneth Freeman, BU's interim president. A keynote conversation features Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, a professor at Northwestern University's Department of African-American Studies. "At Boston University, we take immense pride in Martin Luther King, Jr. as an esteemed alumnus, and we are honored to safeguard a collection of his influential papers," Freeman said. "Our profound connection to Dr. King serves as a source of pride and inspiration. It is a poignant reminder to continue tirelessly combating discrimination and poverty." (Monday, 12 p.m., George Sherman Union at Boston University, 775 Commonwealth Ave., Boston | Livestream
AMHERST MLK READING: Amherst celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day by inviting community members to participate in reading one of King's lectures, "The Quest for Peace and Justice." (Monday, 1 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst)
DEMS TALK IN IOWA: Illinois Gov. Pritzker, Minnesota Sen. Smith and Biden-Harris 2024 National Advisory Board Co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg host a press conference in Des Moines, Iowa to speak about the 2024 election ahead of the Iowa caucus. (Monday, 2:30 p.m. Central Time, Des Moines, Iowa | Press RSVP to receive location)
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2023
AUGUSTUS IN BROCKTON: Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Edward Augustus and Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan co-host a discussion on housing. The Massachusetts Economic Development Council says it's the first event of the year focused on the Healey administration's housing priorities. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Shaw's Center, 1 Feinberg Way, Brockton)
MASS MARKETING PARTNERSHIP: Massachusetts Marketing Partnership Board meets. Agenda includes a welcome from Economic Development Secretary Hao and a presentation from Michael Bobbitt of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 1 Ashburton Place, Suite 2101 | Agenda and Zoom)
HOUSE, SENATE MEET: House and Senate return from a long holiday weekend with informal sessions. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers | House Livestream | Senate Livestream)
VETERANS' HOMES COUNCIL: Veterans' Homes Council meets virtually. Agenda includes a presentation about the HERO Act, which Gov. Healey filed in November to expand access to behavioral treatment and benefits for disabled veterans, launch a pilot program for IVF reimbursement for LGBTQ+ couples, and boost support for businesses that hire veterans. Mike Lazo, superintendent of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, and Robert Engell, acting superintendent of the Chelsea Soldiers' Home, also discuss their annual reports. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. |Agenda and Livestream)
VETERANS, FEDERAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs host a public hearing on a dozen bills dealing with federal and overseas matters. Items on the agenda include resolutions calling for free and fair elections in Cambodia, a "Syrian War Crimes Tribunal" or ratification of a Constitutional amendment overturning the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-1 and Virtual | Agenda and Access Info)
CHILD CARE BILLS: Nonprofit organization Neighborhood Villages gives a virtual overview of the state budget and legislation focused on the early childhood education sector. (Tuesday, 2 p.m. | Register)
WOMEN'S RIGHTS TRAIL: Women's Rights History Trail Task Force convenes a meeting that was postponed from last week. The task force is working on an educational trail connecting locations around the state that played a role in the fight for women's rights. The chair is expected to make remarks on a task force extension, and offer an update on a statewide trail report. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Agenda and Access Info)
AAPI COMMISSION: Gary Yu is sworn into the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission by Auditor DiZoglio. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Room 230)
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Public Service accepts written testimony on seven bills with impacts on individual public sector employees or communities. Testimony is due by 5 p.m. Wednesday. (Tuesday, More Info)
POLICE APPLICATION DEADLINE: Deadline to apply for the 2024 Municipal Police Officer, MBTA Transit Police Officer and State Trooper exams, which is used to help fill vacancies. Applicants will pay a late fee after Tuesday, and no applicants will be accepted after Jan. 30. The exams are held in March. (Tuesday | More Info)
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2023
MUNICIPAL POLICE: Standards Subcommittee of the Municipal Police Training Committee meets. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., MPTC Headquarters, 42 Thomas Patten Drive, Randolph | Agenda and Livestream)
PRIM STEWARDSHIP: Pension Reserves Investment Management Board Stewardship and Sustainability Committee meets virtually. Treasurer Goldberg attends. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
RESTRICTIVE HOUSING: Restrictive Housing Oversight Committee meets virtually. The committee is tasked with overseeing policies and practices of restrictive housing at state and county correctional facilities; restrictive housing involves inmates being confined to a cell for at least 22 hours per day. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Livestream)
ELECTRIC SUPPLY BRIEFING: Elected officials hold a virtual media briefing to discuss their push to crack down on competitive electric suppliers, which sell electricity directly to residential customers. Regulators have been ramping up their campaign to effectively prohibit the companies from selling to non-commercial customers, arguing they regularly exploit patrons with little public benefit. Industry groups representing the companies instead contend they boost consumer choice and offer lower-cost options. Attendees at the briefing include Elizabeth Anderson, the chief of energy and the ratepayer advocacy division in Attorney General Campbell's office, Sen. Crighton, Boston environment chief Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Green Energy Consumers Alliance Executive Director Larry Chretien and Claire Kaufman, an energy and environment legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Markey. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., RSVP to agoldstein@ninetywest.com)
PAWS AND POLICY: Animal rights groups host a "Paws and Policy Information Day" to advocate for legislation aimed at protecting animals. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Nurses Hall)
PREVENTING FALSE CONFESSIONS: Lawmakers gather with criminal justice reform advocates for a legislative briefing on bills (H 3922, H 1756 / S 954) that would reform allowable interrogation techniques by police. Supporters say the measures will prevent false confessions. Attendees include Sen. DiDomenico, Reps. Sabadosa and Lipper-Garabedian, and representatives from the New England Innocence Project, Strategies for Youth, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, and the Innocence Project. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Room 222)
MASSDOT BOARD: MassDOT Board of Directors meets. Agenda includes discussion of concrete, the Beyond Mobility 2050 transportation plan, "rehabilitation" of Mount Auburn Street in Watertown, income surtax fund transfer to the MBTA, and appointment of a Capital Programs Committee member. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Transportation Building, 2nd floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | Livestream | Agenda)
IMMIGRATION CONSULTATIONS: Free immigration consultations are provided as part of a bimonthly initiative from the Boston Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement. Consultations are by phone and must be scheduled in advance by calling 617-635-2980 or emailing immigrantadvancement@boston.gov. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | More Info)
CENSUS SUMMIT: U.S. Census Bureau hosts Day 1 of its virtual annual Census Open Innovation Summit. The day is focused on financial inclusion and economic growth. Jed Kolko, undersecretary for economic affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce, delivers the opening keynote. Other sessions deal with competition in the credit card market, improving access to capital for Indigenous communities, supporting business innovation in Puerto Rico, and venture funding. Richard Spinrad, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, gives the closing keynote. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | More Info)"LOCATION SHIELD" BRIEFING: Privacy and reproductive rights advocates host a briefing to discuss legislation banning companies from selling sensitive cellphone location data. Supporters say the bills (H 357 / S 148), which they dubbed the "Location Shield Act," would help protect patient privacy, safety and access to services like abortion. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Room 428)
HEALTH CONNECTOR WEBINAR: Massachusetts Health Connector holds a webinar about navigating the open enrollment period, which ends Jan. 23. The state's health insurance marketplace has seen record enrollment numbers amid the massive eligibility redetermination process underway for MassHealth members. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | Register)
WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY: Mass. Water Resources Authority Board of Directors meets. The agenda calls for discussion of an overview of MWRA's greenhouse gas inventory for 2022, a fiscal year 2024 budget update, and consideration of sending the proposed FY25 Capital Improvement Program to the MWRA Advisory Board. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., MWRA Chelsea Administration Building, 2nd Floor, Rooms 2C and D, 2 Griffin Way, Chelsea | More Info)
CLEAN WATER TRUST: Mass. Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees meets virtually. Treasurer Goldberg chairs. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Agenda and Access Info)
MONEY AND POLITICS: The New England Legal Foundation hosts a civic briefing on "Money, Politics, and the U.S. Constitution" as part of its Economic Liberty speaker series. Seven out of ten Americans believe democracy is threatened, and the number one reason (identified by 86 percent of Republicans and 86 percent of Democrats) is the "influence of money in politics," a release for the event says. Panelists will discuss whether the U.S. should regulate donations in campaigns and elections. Panelists include Jeff Clements, Brian Boyle and Julie Brogan of American Promise, Leo Sprecher of Bud Foods and John Wass of Profit Isle, Inc. (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., NELF Headquarters, 333 Washington St., Suite 850 Boston | RSVP to eminer@newenglandlegal.org for Zoom link)
TAXING C CORPORATIONS: Massachusetts Society of Enrolled Agents hosts a course focused on the taxation of C corporations and shareholders. It's offered in person and online; the in-person cost is higher due to dinner. The course will "discuss reasonable compensation, strategies for avoiding the double taxation of C Corporation taxable income, as well as discuss generally so-called advantages and disadvantages of a C Corporation over an S Corporation. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Waltham/Boston, 450 Totten Pond Road, Waltham | Register)
HOUSE: House gavels into an informal session. (Wednesday, 5:45 p.m., House Chamber)
JOINT SESSION ASSEMBLES: Legislature is scheduled to gavel into its joint session ahead of Gov. Healey's State of the Commonwealth speech. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., House Chamber)
STATE OF THE STATE: Gov. Healey delivers her first State of the Commonwealth address, a chance for the governor to attempt to set both the tone and agenda for Beacon Hill as it enters a crucial period of budgeting and lawmaking. A dimmed financial outlook and the ongoing emergency shelter crisis are forming a backdrop for her remarks. The state's financial health and the shelter crisis both figure to feature prominently in the governor's address, as well as the remainder of the Legislature's work this year. The speech will land between two big budget decisions: the governor's Jan. 8 budget cuts for fiscal 2024 and her fiscal 2025 budget plan due to the Legislature by Jan. 24. Healey this week gave a brief preview of other topics she'll talk about: "We want to also as well make historic investments in education and child care, which I think people have come to understand and see the business imperative in child care and finding a way to lower child care costs. So you're going to hear about that," Healey told the Mass. Society of CPAs. She added, "You're going to hear about a focus on basic infrastructure -- you know, roads, bridges, public transit." Elected and appointed officials from all levels of government typically attend the governor's speech and often mingle at a reception held in the governor's suite. Governor's speech is slated to begin at 7 p.m. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., House Chamber)
Thursday, Jan. 18, 2023
MASSPORT BOARD: Massport Board holds its monthly meeting. Agenda and access details are not yet announced. (Thursday, 9 a.m.)
DIRECT CASH: Camp Harbor View and UpTogether host a discussion of the results of the two-year Direct Cash Program, a pilot program that provided participants with $583 per month for 24 months on an untracked and unconditional basis. "Families who received direct cash were more than twice as likely to meet household expenses every month, including medical, food, utilities, child care, transportation, and housing. Forty-five percent of families who received direct cash were able to save for an emergency, compared to 14 percent of those who did not," organizers said. "And the risk of psychological distress fell by 23 percent for families who took part in the two-year pilot program, compared to an increase of 17 percent among families who did not." The event will feature participant stories, results analysis and more. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Bruce C. Bolling Building, 2300 Washington St., Roxbury | Register)
TRUMP BALLOT HEARING: State Ballot Law Commission holds a pre-hearing conference in a challenge objecting to former President Trump's eligibility to appear on the Republican presidential primary and general election ballot. The panel currently has three members: retired Judge Francis T. Crimmins Jr., Joseph Eisenstadt and former Sen. Joe Boncore. Secretary of State Galvin's office notes "space is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis" and pool camera only. (Thursday, 10 a.m., One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Conference Room 3, Boston)
HOUSING BOND BILL HEARING: Three months after she filed it, Gov. Healey's five-year, $4.1 billion housing bond bill (H 4138) goes before lawmakers at a Housing Committee hearing. Healey has pitched the policy-packed legislation as vital to generate more housing and counteract a lack of affordable options suffocating many Bay Staters, and lawmakers so far this term have not given much indication how they will approach the situation. Some ideas Healey embraced in the bill, like giving cities and towns the option to implement local real estate transfer taxes to fund affordable housing, have failed to generate momentum in the Legislature in the past. Speaker Mariano tapped Westford Democrat James Arciero to co-chair the committee this session, while Senate President Spilka picked East Boston Sen Lydia Edwards as co-chair. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Gardner Auditorium | Agenda and Access Info)
IMMIGRATION & HEALTH INSURANCE: Health Care for All hosts an event to call on lawmakers to advance legislation (S 740) that would expand access to MassHealth coverage for individuals younger than 21 regardless of immigration status. Organizers say more than 30,000 children and young adults currently "cannot access the health care they need because of their immigration status." Attorney General Campbell attends. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Nurses Hall)
HOUSE: House plans an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)
SENATE DEMS CAUCUS: Senate Democrats hold a private caucus meeting. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate President's Office)
SENATE FORMAL: Senate convenes a formal session, though the formal business likely won't start right away, as Senate Democrats also scheduled a private caucus for the same hour across the hall. Likely on the docket for Thursday are measures dealing with cat declawing (S 190, redrafted as S 2552), "archaic" laws (S 2457, redraft S 2551), and real estate appraisals (S 2476, redraft S 2550). The trio of bills were polled out of Senate Ways and Means on Friday morning. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
CENSUS SUMMIT: Human-centered data is the theme of the second day of the U.S. Census Bureau's virtual annual Census Open Innovation Summit. Ron Jarmin, the bureau's deputy director and COO, gives the opening keynote; Robert Santos, the bureau's director, delivers the closing keynote. Other sessions deal with local leaders using and accessing human-centered data, improving data quality in Puerto Rico, and tribal data sovereignty. (Thursday, 12 p.m. | More Info)
'WOMEN AND INVESTING' WORKSHOP: Massachusetts Women's Veterans Network holds a free hybrid workshop called "Women and Investing." It's part of a series for female service members and veterans. (Thursday, 3 p.m., 25 Porter Road, Littleton | Register)HANOVER - NATIONAL FIREWORKS SITE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection hold a public meeting to update the community on the status of the National Fireworks site in Hanover's Forge Industrial Park. "From 1907-1970 the site was used for research, development, manufacturing and testing of munitions and pyrotechnics for the U.S. government, as well as commercial manufacturing of civilian fireworks and other non-munitions related manufacturing," the EPA said. "Mercury, lead, organic solvents, propellants and explosives were used in the manufacturing operations and have contaminated the site." MassDEP is overseeing the cleanup. The meeting will cover the potential for the site to be listed on EPA’s National Priorities List and what that listing would mean for the site and towns of Hanover, Hanson, and Pembroke. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Hanson Middle School Auditorium, 111 Liberty St., Hanson | More Info)
MCCA BOARD: Massachusetts Convention Center Authority meets. Details not yet announced. (Thursday)
GAMING COMMISSION: Mass. Gaming Commission is expected to meet. The agenda will likely include an administrative update on cashless wagering, a report on the status of the lease for the commission's 101 Federal St. office space, discussion of a letter regarding legislative proposals, and more. (Thursday, More Info TBA)
VELIS ON MGH POD: Sen. Velis, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, is a guest on Mass General Bridgham's podcast, "Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple." The podcast discusses the youth mental health crisis and is hosted by Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins, both child and adolescent psychiatrists at MGH. (Thursday | Listen)
Friday, Jan. 19, 2023
MMA ANNUAL MEETING: Massachusetts Municipal Association holds its annual meeting and trade show. Gov. Healey speaks at the opening session at 9:30 a.m., when attendees will be looking for insights into the governor's budget plan and her approach to municipal aid. At last year's meeting, Healey said would fully fund the Student Opportunity Act, seek extra funding for migrant children in public schools, and create a working group to help develop the administration's new housing secretariat. Eddie Glaude Jr., a Princeton University professor and political commentator, delivers the opening keynote at 10:15 a.m. Melissa Hoffer attends the leadership lunch for women elected municipal officials at 12 p.m. (Friday, 8 a.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St., Boston | More Info)
MBTA FINANCE: MBTA's Audit and Finance Subcommittee meets virtually. (Friday, 9 a.m. | More Info)
CENSUS SUMMIT: Day 3 of the annual Census Open Innovation Summit features interactive workshops. Topics include initiatives completed through "The Opportunity Project" sprints, which are 12-week product development cycles. Participants must RSVP by 10 a.m. (Friday, 12 p.m., | More Info)
LIBRARY BOOK BANS - WRITTEN TESTIMONY: Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee accepts written testimony on a bill (H 4235) seeking to limit efforts to ban, remove or restrict access to potentially controversial library materials. (Friday, More Info)
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2023
MMA ANNUAL MEETING: The second day of the Massachusetts Municipal Association's annual meeting and trade show includes a keynote address from Gina McCarthy, former White House climate advisor, at 9:30 a.m. Sen. Warren, Sen Markey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll are slated to speak during the MMA's annual business meeting, which starts at 10:15 a.m. Members will be voting on two resolutions focused on the fiscal partnership between municipalities and the state, as well as supporting a local-state-federal partnership for addressing climate change. Sens. Warren and Markey are also expected to give remarks. (Saturday, Jan. 20, 8 a.m. Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St., Boston | More Info)
'GLOUCESTER'S SO SALTY': The third annual "Gloucester's So Salty" Festival will feature ice sculptures, cultural activities, and special offers and experiences at local businesses. The two-day festival is organized by Cape Ann Museum and is a partnership with Discover Gloucester and other community groups. "Gloucester is such a special place to visit year-round, with our gritty New England character in full form during the winter months," Tess McColgan, executive director of Discover Gloucester, said. "Gloucester's So Salty is a perfect way for folks to interact with our city's cultural history through the curated selected of ice sculptures and beyond – by visiting Cape Ann Museum and other cultural institutions, participating in crafts, enjoying performances from some of our many local artists, indulging in our delicious cuisine, exploring our working waterfront, and walking around our bustling downtown." (Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 20-21, 10 a.m. | More Info)
