Day: August 28, 2011

In spite of the news media’s warnings of Irene’s impending doom and destruction, a bunch of hearty, hardy souls ventured out this morning for Hurricane Mug Up at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery at Madfish Wharf on Rocky Neck.  It was a surprisingly large turnout considering that it was a rather nasty morning.  As always, Ed Collard was the first to arrive and help get things set up.  The Chamberlains, Coxs, Jacksons, Osborns and Ardizzonis were in the house.  Paul Morrison journeyed all the way over from Rockport with a batch of incredible lemon zucchini bread.  Peter and Joanne Souza ventured over from Schooner Adventure with some equally delicious zucchini bread.  Isabelle and Breanna Jackson brought a lovely tray of deviled eggs that they made with the help of their mom, Talitha.  Those girls will be contenders at next year’s Deviled Egg Competition.  Guest artist, Sinikka Nogela brought some fresh fruit, and Paul Frontiero brought some Vienna Fingers (yes, Joey there are still some left and I will keep them no longer than seven days for you).  Wendie Demuth stopped in with visiting friend, Chris White, a salmon and halibut fisherman from the West Coast.  Joey’s sister Felicia and niece Amanda showed up with homemade donuts and a huge batch of bista zugu (spaghetti and sauce with meatballs, potatoes and hardboiled eggs), so that all present could be well fed while continuing to track Hurricane Irene strike predictions and scud to safety before things got hairy.   Again, note to all proper Italian cooks out there, Felicia did not cook her delicious bista zugu in that crock pot; that was only used to keep it warm.  I’d never had bista zugu before in my life, and now I’ve had it twice in the past two weeks (Felicia’s and Paul Frontiero’s) – I must be doing something right!

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

As of 6:00 pm the Gloucester EOC was closed however all city departments are on call. The Department of Public Works Hot line for downed tree limbs, flooding, waste water emergencies and other storm related damages will remain open until 8:00 pm.( Please note the time change.) The storm hotline number is 978-281-9785. If you have any storm related issues after 8:00 pm, please call the police department on their businessline at 978-281-9751 or the Fire department at 978-281-9760. Again, for all emergencies, please call 911.

Please do not call 911 to report power outages, please call the National Grid power outage report line at 1-800-465-1212.

The Red Cross Shelter at the Salem High School on Highland Avenue will be open all night.

Please do not place your trash out tonight. There have been reports of trash bags being swept by the strong winds in several places in town. DPW advises us that normal trash pickup will resume tomorrow morning.

The beaches will be evaluated for Rip Tides tomorrow morning and signs will be posted if swimming is not allowed.

At this time there are approximately 20 sites being worked on by DPW and National Grid crewsinvolving fallen tree and downed wires. As of 6:00 Nationalgrid reports that there are under 400 Gloucester households without power, and they are evaluating the situation. There is currently no estimate as to when the power will be restored.

Thank you to all the city departments and CERT volunteers for all their work during this storm. This will be the final update for Hurricane Irene.

A hot line has been established to answer calls for downed tree limbs, flooding, waste water emergencies and other storm related damages. The storm hotline number is 978-281-9785. The Hotline will be staffed from 9 am to 9 pm on Sunday. In the after hours, the call will be transferred to the business line of the Gloucester Police Department.

Please do not call 911 to report power outages, please call the National Grid power outage report line at 1-800-465-1212.

For all emergencies, please call 911.

Please do not place your trash out today. There have been reports of trash bags being swept by the strong winds in several places in town. DPW advises us that normal trash pickup will resume tomorrow.

Emergency Operations Center is open and has been fully staffed since 9:00 am this morning with representatives from all of the city’s major departments as well as the Gloucester CERT team. All city functions are being monitored and resources are being deployed as necessary. We are experiencing some power outages and downed trees. Atlantic Road from Moorland to Grapevine has been closed due to the high tide. We ask that you limit movement around the city unless necessary, to allow the emergency crews to clear roadways and address downed trees and power lines.

If you see catch basins clogged with leaves or debris, if possible, please clear and please rake the debris downstream.

The Red Cross will be handling all sheltering at the Salem High School on Highland Avenue.

http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com

Joseph Flack Weiler will exhibit photographs of Gloucester’s Working Waterfront through October 1st at the Weiler Photo Gallery located at 77 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester. The Gallery is open on Saturdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Phone 978-281-6443 or visit http://www.WeilerPhotoGallery.com
for more information.

The black and white photographs, taken over the past 25 years, depict the maintenance of the fishing fleet at Rose’s Marine Service and the Gloucester Marine Railways.

Wheel Work at the Gloucester Marine Railways, 1991.

http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com

http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com