Unbelievable.
The first post was December 29th 2007. The Feed (For those of you who subscribe and get GMG through email at the end of the night) was created January 19th 2008.
Sharon was the second contributor and is second in command. She is the only other person who has access to approving comments and has full control of the blog in the event that I got in a horrible accident and died. Her first post came on January 2nd, 2009 a year after the blog began Since then she has done 1067 posts.
That first year I didn’t blog with the frequency I do now. There was several posts a day but not the hourly schedule of a post an hour every hour from 6AM-7PM with the occasional midnight post thrown in. In the entire 3 year run there have only been 13 days that went without a post the last being April 15th 2008. Days since December 29th 2007 without a post- Jan 24, 28th 2008 February 7, 8 ,9 , 10 and 11th 2008, March 3, 7, and 12th 2008 and April 6, 13 and 15th, 2008.
Every day since there has been at least one post and most days in the last two years there have been an around 14 posts per day.
We added Mike Lindberg February 21, 2009 and Mike contributed 168 posts. Then came Laurie Lufkin in June of ‘09 who has 110 posts- mostly of her recipes or asking folks to vote for one of her cooking contests that she’s entered. Laurie also ran both GMG Holiday Cookie Contests.
Paul Morrison from Rockport started posting in November of ‘09 and brings his unique sense of humor to his posts as well as in the comment section. Paul Morrison created the GMG Wikipedia Page. Always adding valuable insight to relevant posts. Post count- 131
Next came Thom Falzarano in December of ‘09 and David Cox. Thom mainly posts Gloucester Sporting events with an occasional stunning landscape or community event thrown in. Thom has 150 posts under his belt.
Paulie (Walnuts) Frontiero joined the team in January of 2010. Paulie likes to bust my chops but I know he’s someone I can count on and consider a good friend. In fact I consider all of our contributors friends. Otherwise they wouldn’t have posting privileges. Paulie’s post count is 429. Sharon, Paulie, Joanne Silva and newcomer E.J. are the most consistent contributors. filling their respective 9:00AM, 10:AM, 12:00PM and 3:00PM timeslots 99% of the time. Debbie Clarke often puts in posts under Paulie’s account. She has done many art demonstrations and along with Paulie got the Sketchbook project off the ground.
Alicia Pensarosa first posted in January 2010 and often graces us with her killer cell phone pics. I first met Alicia and her mate Mike at Janice Lufkin Shea’s Cormorant Shop during the first year of the blog when Alicia and Mike were on a day trip to Gloucester and she recognized me from the pages of GMG. A year or so later her and Mike bought a place in Gloucester and joined the team. Post count- 53
Manny Simoes- February 2010 who is a community event whore (a good thing) who has no fear and is not afraid to knock on doors and stick his camera in anyone’s grill to bring the best of the community to our viewership. Manny despite being blind does great work with his interviews and video work and is a huge asset to the team. Post count- 182
Joanne Silva first post May 2010 covers the Gloucester music scene like no other. She consistently fills her noon time slot with the latest local music acts. I can’t emphasize enough how much I appreciate the contributors who stick to their time slots because I feel a personal responsibility to our viewership that every time they check in every hour on the hour they will see something new. When I can count on the posts being placed in their proper time slots ahead of time it allows me to fill in the rest of the schedule with posts to make sure every hour is covered. Post count 217
Beth Swan June 2010 has the 2:00PM slot and is responsible for designing the official GMG logo. Beth also created the GMG Facebook Page She has currently been on hiatus with a pregnancy but we look forward to the birth of her baby and return to the blog. Post count 142
Mart Luster also June 2010 another GMG fan who I met through his son a GMG FOB from NY. Marty had come up for a weekend visit October before last and we met up at The Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center for the International Dory Race Committee dory raffle. That one night(the first night ever) in Gloucester was enough for Marty as he returned to New York and told his long time love that they were packing up and moving to Gloucester. Post count 69
Patrick Ryan is my G-Town Poser buddy who loves everything about Gloucester and shares a childish sense of humor with me and a passion for gadgets. He started his GMG tenure in September and was responsible for putting the Sunny D and Rum night at Dog Bar together. He tells me he’s going to bring the thunder and put up some really quality posts in anticipation of his next round of contract negotiations. Post count 33
Sarah Kelly- November 2101 I met doing an interview to pimp the Rockport Harvest festival. Being duly impressed with her organizational skills, her blogging and design prowess on her blog The Roving Home, and in the know about happenings in Rockport I brought her in as a fantastic representative of Rockport to complement and perhaps balance out the whacky Paul Morrison. Post count- 15
E.J. Khan/Lefavour- EJ first contacted me about wanting to advertise her Dogtown calendar. I told her that I wanted to give Sharon’s Calendars the much deserved space on the blog as respect for all she does on the blog and didn’t want to hurt her calendar sales. E.J. wrote back that she understood and would like to be a contributor to GMG. I didn’t know anything about E.J. but told her to compose a few test posts and I’d see if it was something we could use. Within a couple of hours she had emailed me 5 or so quality posts of her “Did you know” series and then the next time I checked my email there was another 5 sitting there. She had good stuff and was willing to learn the system. In about three days I knew she’d fit right in and now has 9 posts under her name and about another 9 that I posted for her.
We also have contributions from the up for anything Donna Ardizzoni who emails me her posts and Ed Collard who I can always count on to go cover a story if I can’t get away from the dock(even if his camera is pointed at the ground or he is taking pictures when he thinks he is taking videos and vice-verse).
David Cox is responsible for some fantastic sports and community photography which I post for him and I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy his mentoring and companionship.
Greg Bover sends in his quotes of the week and Tina Ketchopolos sends in the Cape Ann Animal Aid Adopt a Pet of The Week for which we are very grateful.
We have to acknowledge Frank Ciolino and Chuck Shewbridge for always helping out with the printing the GMG stickers and being all around great guys.
It’s been an incredibly fulfilling ride. The different series such as the Gloucester at Dawn, Beautiful Industry, The Fiesta, The Block Parties, The Dory Races, Sharon’s Where’s Zat?,the Contests, the Flowerbox Competitions, The Cookie Contests, The Food Pictures, The Promotion of All The Great Businesses and Events at The Chamber of Commerce, The Sidewalk Bazaar, The Home and Garden Show,the High School Athletics, the Breaking News stories, The Funny Stories From The Dock, the Producing of over 1700 videos, The GMG Flickr Group, Joanne’s GMG Music Calendar, the Food Map, The Free WiFi Map, Paul Morrison’s compilation of the GMG Wikipedia Page, Beth Swan’s creation of The GMG Facebook Fan Page,Paulie Frontiero’s Art Rocks Series, The GMG Sticker Represent! series,The Survivor Scoops, The Amazing Race Scoops, The Around The World In a Day Scoop, The Glamour UK shoot, The Insider Photos of The Grown Ups Set, and The Sandra Bullock Movie, The Russo Family Fundraiser, The GMG Man vs Food Series, The Gloucester Guerilla Art Projects,and so much more.
I’ve been honored by the Senate and Congress for the work on GMG and received and Action Inc Outreach award.
But let me tell you all something from the bottom of my heart.
The number one thing that I cherish about this thing called Good Morning Gloucester is the relationships and opportunities to create friendships with so many quality people and that is worth more than awards, more than money.
Friendships, love, passion for creating and an outlet to express it all. What more could a man ask for?
Thank you all, for without you there is no GMG. It would have just been a guy banging away on his computer with no one responding, no one reading and no one else contributing.
Would you just look at what we’ve created- TOGETHER.
love you guys
the boss-post count 9993
Feel free to leave a comment in the comment section below about how you discovered GMG or what it means to you.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Ok, I first met Joey Officially when he called me to see if I could print T-shirts for the
Matteo Russo fundraiser after the Patriot went down. I met him once before at a Schooner Festival but only to get a sticker and reluctantly have my picture taken. I also sent in some photos and videos before I became an Author. I’m not a social person but meeting Joey, Sharon, Debbie and the others has helped me enjoy Gloucester and Inspirer me to keep goin on this GMG thing. I don’t know how long I can last here. But it’s been Fun! Even after a few deadline and Joey editing some of my Post Meltdowns. I still don’t know why I haven’t been given total control over GMG yet. There must be a good reason. I’ll have to ask Joey. 🙂
Great Job Everyone!
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Love you too and so happy to part of this great family..
Donna
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Me to Donna, if it were not for GMG I would not have finally met you building the lobster trap tree a few weeks ago then bumped into you out on Bearskin Neck shooting photos of the surf rolling into the Rockport Harbor Breakwater this afternoon. And you grabbed me before I blew off into the harbor!
Were we both thinking of shots that would look good for GMG? You bet we were.
ps. My lights are on! Thank you National Grid! My Santa is alight!
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I have enjoyed Joey’s posts even before he started GMG and was posting only on the capeannonline blog. When he started the GMG blog, I made it my home page – I used to be able to catch every post! Now, with so many authors, I don’t always get to see them all right away, but I try to catch up on the ones i miss as I enjoy reading them all. I love the sense of humor and creativity that you all have. I work at Sawyer Free Library and Joey has kept the library in the public eye, which is great PR! Beth also took a beautiful pic and story of the fountain. I really enjoy all of the posts; keep up the great work!! I consider myself one of your oldest (in more ways than one!) and loyal fans!! And thank you Frankie for the stickers- I’m hoping my neice in the Peace Corps in the Philippines will be sending us a photo soon!
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I don’t remember! Probably through the old wholesalelobsters.com website. Went down to the dock one day to buy some bugs, picked up one of the old school bumper stickers, and got my picture on the blog! Not in Gloucester anymore but not too far away and keep up with things here. God I miss it.
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I go here to see whats going on .
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Safe to say that Joey is a most “unforgettable character” and that GMG is the perfect reflection of a wondrous place.
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Add the Mass Waterfront Community Golden Cod Award to your list. Just made it up but so did that A-Hole from Newburyport with all the crap he had to say about Gloucester. Keep up the great work.
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Joey, GMG is a great place to be part of! I cherish the moments that I get to share and some of the sports photos I get to take! David is the reason how I got here! Thanks for letting me be part of this special place and seeing all of the great thing this place called GLOUCESTER has to offer. I am working on somethings more than sports for 2011!
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Wow, congrats! Thanks to everyone for all the content. I think I spend the most personal computing time reading the daily feeds. Me and my wife decided a couple yrs ago we would like to move to Gloucester or a nearby ocean town. With this site, we have learned so much about Gloucester and have made so many more day trips and have explored more than we ever knew existed in this beautiful city. For ex. Would never have found Lobster Cove if it wasn’t for one of Joey’s posts. We pretty much have our heart set on moving there with our daughter in the next yr or two. Its nice to know there is already a great community to be a part of. We finally met Joey on the last summer block Party along with Ed C. Hope to meet more of you shortly.
Best & Happy New Year!
– Rich Bean
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Thanks Joey. It’s been great being part of this growing family of contributors and readers. We all have a deep love for Gloucester- for better or worse! 🙂 There’s always something new popping up to keep us on our toes. GMG is unique…there’s nothing else like it! And if it ever started to get stale, Joey’d do something like jumping into the frigid ocean on New Year’s Day, and the next day he’d try to justify SHRINKAGE!!! Love you Joey! xxxooo
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Love you too kid! Let’s keep on killing it!
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When we moved to Ipswich, we asked around about buying lobsters down at the docks, and everybody said “Captain Joe’s!” When we showed up our first time there, we fell in love with Joey (who doesn’t?) and he mentioned the blog. We’ve been addicted ever since! Congrats on 3 fab years — and best wishes for 333 more!
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Thanks so much for GMG. When I was a kid my grandparents lived in Rockport and we visited as much as possible. Now I’m still going every chance I get, but I’m taking my grandkids to appreciate “my” beautiful Cape Ann. Thanks so much for all the info – it’s almost like being there!
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I start every day with coffee and GMG here in Florida. What a great way to keep up with happenings in Gloucester…my birthplace and favorite place on earth! I’ve been away over 30 years but thanks to you, sometimes it feels like I never left. Keep up the good work guys…and gals!
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Hi Joey,
I first started logging into GMG after I met your mother shopping and she asked me if I knew about GMG. The next day I signed on and have not missed a day!! Congratulations, may you have another 50. xx
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Thanks to Joey and all the folks posting stories, photos, and comments…helps me keep in touch with the goings-on in my hometown while I’m living in central Texas (Austin). Still manage to get home every summer for a week or so. Best summers of my life during the mid-1960s were spent surfing Good Harbor Beach morning and evening (back where there were two footbridges across the creek).
Happy New Year, all…
Donn LeVie Jr. (Gloucester51)
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GMG has allowed many people near and far to make a connection/reconnection with this beautiful city and become more involved with community events just by you and your crew making us aware. Your blog has become a part of many peoples daily lives…
Thanks to all of you… ♥
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Love gmg.. Thanks to all of you that make it happen every day!!! see ya in 2011.
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Joey, thanks for making me a part of the team! I love every minute of it. Now I have to get my post counts up there!
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Congrats to ALL!!! I was thrilled to discover GMG! It is my home away from home, and contact with all I cherish & miss about Glosta… the beauty, the folks, and the unique “everything”. It is how I start my day – 3000 miles away, and I am able to feel closer! Many thanx Joey AND the entire crew!!!! xxoo, H. A.
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Bravo to you! I remember when you were just getting started. How things have changed. Good for you!
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Wow, what a great recap of all the contributors! I really enjoyed reading about you all. Keep up the good work!
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I grew up in Gloucester but moved to FL in 1979. My dear high school pal, Beth Williams, turned me on to the blog and it is a great way to start my day with just positive things going on and about G-Town. The photos are awesome, makes me feel closer to home. I have passed on your good news to other people living far away. Keep up the great work. HAPPY NEW YEAR
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Wow! I knew GMG was an awesome phenomena the first time I read and then subscribed to it. I am so thrilled now to a part of it and this amazing community. Can’t wait to see what 2011 will bring for GMG. With Joey’s inspiring energy behind it, the sky’s the limit – and that is such a positive force for Cape Ann.
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Hi Joey,
Thanks for goodmorninggloucester, and the team that makes it all happen. I don’t read message boards, comments, blogs, etc. anymore (really bad for my head). GMG is the exception and I look forward to it every day. Reminds us all of this special city we call home.
Carolyn Kirk
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Do I have to behave now that I know that the Mayor actually reads this Rag?
I think…….NOT! 🙂
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Hell no she the coolest mayaa Glosta ever had!
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Thanks everyone for all the kind words. We still have lots of (fun) work to do and boundaries to push!
Buckle your chinstraps troopers, we’re gonna bust into 2011 with a bang and take no prisoners!
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WOW! this is just so awesome. so pleased to be associated and insist that ‘art rocks’ continue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDZy6-fMCw4
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Congradulations Joey. WOW 3 Years. You are amazing.Can’t wait to see what you have planned for the next 3 yrs! So proud to call you”My Brother.”This mile stone calls for a celebration don’t you think? You know I love to plan Parties!
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Nice Job Joey and Company,
We love the site for local news and events not mention the summer music listings.
I have watched the site grow and have enjoyed, keep up the good work (fun)
Amazing what Zen can do !
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Happy Anniversary GMG! Love this site. I read it almost everyday. Congratulations on three years. Hope there are many to follow!
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As an outsider (Texas), GMG lets me pretend I live by the sea, even if for a few minutes every day. I enjoy the blog and photos of the area, and of the ocean and vessels, so much and congratulate all of you, especially Joey C, on GMG’s success. I’m impressed with (and envious, too) of your sense of community and unity. And, Joey, your generosity of spirit in thanking your team publicly and at length is incredibly special. Best wishes for the New Year.
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You know Nancy, every time someone thanks me or congratulated me about the blog I tell them that I have a lot of help. It truly is a sum of the parts and I don’t just mean our incredible contributors. It’s just as much the people who write in comments and send in pictures and stories. A huge part of the success can be directly attributed to the inclusiveness as opposed to trying to contain people to only our contributors or our content. We celebrate the best of everything we see around us.
So thank you.
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