Atwood Does Prybot Justice

Two Men and the Sea

Written by Heather Atwood on April 5th, 2011

I was on my way to Harvard to hear a talk by Barton Seaver, a chef who is considered an expert on ocean sustainability, and is now a fellow National Geographic and the Blue Ocean Institute, when I stopped at Starbucks for a coffee, opened my ipad to The Gloucester Times, and read that local lobsterman Peter Prybot had died.

It’s still even hard for me to write those words. I can’t say I was friends with Peter, but every day I saw his blue fishing boat bobbing in the waters at the end of our rocks, Peter fishing or pulling lobster traps. Sunday mornings around 9:30 or 10:00, I would pass the window and see his uncovered blue boat alone in the bay. There’s Peter, I would think, and, truly, it felt like confirmation that the earth was still spinning on its axis. Inevitably, someone in the house, my husband or one of my daughters, would say, “Peter Prybot’s out there.” There was something nice about the alliteration of his name, and if you knew him, there was something just nice about Peter. He had a youthful, handsome build – he could easily pass for twenty years younger – keen blue eyes, and a wide dimpled smile. He was a sort of fisherman’s version of Dudley Doright, but with a dignified DownEast softness to his accent.

Click here for the post-
http://blogs.gloucestertimes.com/foodforthought/2011/04/05/two-men-and-the-sea/

Donna’s One Hour At A Time Gang Getting Contagious

Please join the Gloucester Clean City Initiative and the One Hour at a Time Gang April 23rd for a citywide clean up and concert!

Celebrate and Be Celebrated this
Earth Day!

It has been a long winter and now that the snow has finally melted, it is time to give the City we love a good Spring Cleaning! So here is your chance!! We are asking folks to turn out for a citywide clean up on Saturday, April 23rd. And after you are done cleaning, you are invited to an Earth Day Concert featuring Chelsea Berry and friends at the Cape Ann Brewery from 6 to 8 pm!

Interested participants (all ages welcome!) should plan to meet at Stage Fort Park Visitors Center Saturday morning starting at 9 am until noon to pick up gloves and City provided yellow trash and clear recycling bags. A limited number of pick sticks will be available so volunteers are encouraged to use their own tools if they want. The clean up will take place rain or shine. The Clean City Initiative will be focusing on Stage Fort Park from 9 to noon, the One Hour at a Time Gang will be working downtown, but the clean up is citywide and participants are encouraged to choose a public area in Gloucester they would like to see cleaned up. We are also asking different groups to reach out to their members and pick a problem area to clean that day. We will also have a list of suggested sites on hand, if folks need ideas.

The Concert!!
Berry Green Earth Day Concert April 23rd from 6 – 8 at The Brewery
Chelsea (Berry) will be doing an Earth Day Concert at The Brewery (from 6 to 8 pm) that night along with Pete Lindberg and Jake Pardee. Anyone can go, not just volunteers, but it is hoped that volunteers go and be celebrated for their work. All ages are welcome!

To sign up or for questions about the event, contact: Sharon Byrne Kishida at skishida@beverlyma.gov or 978 605 2409 / 978 317 9701.

Thanks to the City of Gloucester for providing the trash bags and trash collection, Hiltz Waste Disposal, the Gloucester Clean City Initiative, the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, the One Hour at a Time Gang and to the MassDEP for their help in coordination of the event.

http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com do you get it?

USCG BOAT MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH CWO2 LUIS MUNOZ VIDEO

You are cordially invited to attend US Coast Guard Station Gloucester’s Boating Safety Day.  This multi-partnered community event kicks off National Safe Boating Week on Saturday, May 21st, from 9am to 3pm and will take place at USCG Station Gloucester.  Our boating safety partners involved in this event include Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Coast Guard Auxiliary, US Power Squadron, State of Massachusetts Marine Environmental Protection, commercial fishing safety representatives and many others. The goal of this community event is to put all aspects of boating safety back in the public eye as we approach our spring and summer boating season.  We will showcase an assortment of search and rescue demonstrations, structured boating /paddling safety and Boating Under the Influence (BUI) forums, flare demonstrations, commercial fishing vessel safety, tours of Station Gloucester and vessels, as well as various informational booths.

Did You Know? (Cape Ann Farmers Market)

That You can show your support for the Cape Ann Farmers Market by turning out for their Dinner & Movie Fundraiser at Cape Ann Community Cinema, April 10th from 4:00 – 7:00 pm?  Details on flyer above, or visit http://www.capeannfarmersmarket.org/.

The Cape Ann Farmers Market Promotes local agriculture and small-scale production, helps boost the Cape Ann economy, and forges community ties to propel Cape Ann into a more sustainable future.

The Cape Ann Farmers’ Market provides consumers with fresh, nutrient rich food produced with environmentally benign methods and delivered with a smaller carbon footprint. Buying from local producers keeps food dollars in the local economy. Cape Ann Farmers’ Market includes music, work by local artists, educational booths, children’s activities, and cooking demonstrations that create a festive community-building atmosphere. The Cape Ann Farmers’ Market is a huge success, attracting at least 1,200 visitors per market.  They reach out to provide fresh, nutritious food for the entire community, regardless of income. Through The Food Project, they accept Women, Infants and Children (WIC) coupons, Seniors’ Farmers Market Nutrition Coupons, and Food Stamps.

Look for Cape Ann Farmers Market at their new Location at Stage Fort Park, Thursdays 3:00-6:30 starting June 30th.  Farmers Markets cannot subsist on vendor fees alone.  To help offset the overhead costs and continue growing their community outreach programs, Cape Ann Farmers Market needs your support.

Thank You Freida For The Incredibly Thoughtful Gift

Freida from Again and Again Sailbags made me this beautiful GMG Logo messenger bag to carry my blogging gear (cameras, tripod,connectivity cables, GMG Stickers and more) Much thanks for the thoughtful gesture which blew me away.

Check Out The Again and Again on GMG Here

CAPE ANN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

CAPE ANN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to staff our receptionist desk and visitor center for the 2011 tourist season. A good candidate for this position would be someone who is organized, has knowledge of the Cape Ann area, has the ability to multi-task, and enjoys working with the public. Basic computer skills are needed. Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs and databases are not essential but desirable. We will train you.

Volunteers are provided with structure and support by CACC staff and are directly supervised by the office manager. If you are interested in finding out more about this exciting volunteer position please contact Susan Lucas at the Chamber office 978-283-1601 or susan@capeannchamber.com.

Jon and Carol Stack Send Their Best

Hi Joey,

My wife and I were in town last weekend but didn’t get a chance to stop around the dock to say hello. We had our grandson with us, and he keeps us pretty busy. Please let Paul know we hope his father is doing better, we were pretty sure that we knew where the Art Rock was going to end up, and my grandson was a little upset with me because he wanted to go in the pool at the Cape Ann Marina on Saturday night and I was glued to the laptop at 6:00PM. I noticed Pauls’ clue today and that’s where we had expected he was going to place it, oh well  maybe next time. I have attached a couple of photo’s of my grandson feeding the birds at Mass. Audubon’s Ipswich River site in Essex, one of our favorite things to do. Well keep up the good work we’ll be back this summer, our friends have persuaded us to come for a picnic.

Take care, Jon & Carol Stack from N.Y

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One Hour At A Time Gang April 9th

Good Morning all:

Hope all enjoyed the weather over the weekend..  I think our next couple of task should be Cressy and Half Moon beach.  They are pretty nasty with all the snow melting.  I know on April 23, 2011 big clean up for up there but as I looked around we really need to get some of the trash out of the bushes..

So…..

When:                  Saturday, April 9, 2011

Time:                   8:00- 9 am

Where:                 Stage Fort Park

Will bring bags and please do not forget your gloves…..

Take care all and thank you

Donna Ardizzoni

David Brooks Is Back From Costa Rica

Hi Everyone,

As most of you know I’m back from my trip to Costa Rica, I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to have been able to be a part of this trip. What an eye opener! We helped to renovate the elementary school and worked on fixing up and building two basketball courts. It was amazing at the appreciation we were shown by the young kids of the town. They were always smiling and wanting to help us with the projects. I’ll admit we pulled a Huck Fin a few times and made it look a lot more fun than it was… It was great to see you people taking care of their own facilities. I was amazed at the group of volunteers I worked side by side with. Weather they were on their spring break from college or taking a vacation form their Corporate America life they all had such an amazing heart to share with the community in Puerto Viejo. I was excited to work side be side with each and every one of them. Although it wasn’t till after the group had left that I truly realized how big and impact our projects had. I witnessed larger groups of kids elementary-high school anxious to play some basket ball on their new court. I also found out that the school was pulling double duty and teaching kids from 9-1 and they again from 1-5 every day the school was too small to hold all the kids wanting to learn all at once. I was given a tour by one of the 10 year old by named Tyler who first showed me where every relative in the town worked including his father who was a bus driver, then he gave me a tour of his neighborhood. The level of poverty was indescribable. He told me about how he is considered to be part of one of the wealthier families because his family all have jobs. He spoke english very well as his aunt who he lives with is from Colorado. I let him use my camera and he took some amazing pictures. You should have seen his face light up whenever he took a picture. He kept running up to me to show me every picture he took. It was amazing to have been able to share a few moments with him in my short time in Puerto Viejo.

The last day I was there I was at the bus station buying my ticket mid morning and a woman who I thought was standing in line kept looking at me, in addition to being pregnant she had two small children one in her arms and the other by her side. She looked as if she had been standing there all morning. I asked if she was in line. She said no, fumbled on her words a bit and in broken english said “a few coin to feed them” I saw her get teary eyed and as she tried holding back tears she spoke. I felt my heart turn inside out and immediately pulled out the left over Collones I had in my wallet despite budgeting out the rest of my trip so I didn’t have to exchange my money again. she kept on crying and through her sobs I heard a nearly inaudible thank you. I saw her walk with her children in her arms straight to nearest store as if there was not time to waste. This was so moving to me. It made me realize how lucky we are to have friends who we can turn to when we are in need. People who care for us, a community that cares for us. I want to thank all of you for being a part of this trip and I feel that through your support I was able to be a part of helping the people of Puerto Viejo. I hope you will enjoy the photos from my time there. And again thank you for supporting me as well as the projects that we were able to complete in Puerto Viejo. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=376978&id=774844011&l=b497a46216

God Bless, David Brooks

Here is the video we shot just before David Left explaining the journey he was about to embark on.