Did You Know? (Gloucester: A Community of Neighborhoods)

That Juni Van Dyke from the Rose Baker Senior Center (she’s been there 20 years) is working on an amazing quilting project called “Gloucester: A Community of Neighborhoods” banner project?  Fifteen neighborhoods have been identified so far to be included in this collaboration overseen by the senior citizens at the Rose Banker Senior Center under the direction of Juni Van Dyke.  The neighborhoods include West Gloucester, East Gloucester, Magnolia, Annisquam, Lanesville, Rocky Neck, the Waterfront, Briar Neck, Stage Fort Park, Riverdale, Bayview, Downtown (East Main Street, West Main Street, Rogers Street, and the Library neighborhood).  The project started in the Fall of 2010.  There is a core group of 18 seniors that meet on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and bring snacks to share with each other.  They love the project and it has created a great sense of camaraderie, support and sharing between the participants.  When completed, the banners will be hung at City Hall and auctioned as a fundraiser for the City Hall Restoration project and the Senior Center.

Pictured here are West Gloucester (created by Lois Stillman) and The Fort created by Pauline Dion and Gerri Lovasco – good friends who grew up on the fort. The photos really don’t do them justice; these quilts are incredibly detailed and beautifully made.  Rocky Neck is the next neighborhood banner that has been started and so far includes the paint factory, but additional input and collaboration is desired from the artists of Rocky Neck.  If you are interested in being involved in collaboration input on your neighborhood (particularly Rocky Neck, as that is the neighborhood currently being worked on), contact Juni at 978-526-7248, email junivandyke@yahoo.com. 

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com