Month: November 2011

This holiday season there are so many reasons not to go to the mall.  With all the wonderful, unique shops we have on Main Street, and all the unique locally made creations available to Cape Ann residents and lovers, there is no reason to go across the bridge (unless you’re in Essex or Manchester in which case you have to cross the bridge to get here).  Some great, affordable holiday gift ideas include: Joey C.’s This is Gloucester DVD for $20 (which you can order through the blog here https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/order-a-gmg-dvd/); my new complete collection 2012 Dogtown and Babson Boulders calendar ($15), Gloucester’s Finest Kind Calendar (now $15 for the holidays) and Did You Know? Book (now $10 for the holidays), which you can order through my website at www.khanstudiointernational.com or buy at Dogtown Book Shop; a great, unique collection of creative gifts by local artisans at Presents; an incredible collection of beautiful original art, photography, jewelry, pottery, ornaments, cards, calendars and more at the Rocky Neck Art Colony Winter Show at 130 Main Street; beautiful contemporary handmade glass beads and jewelry by Beth Williams, 17 Pleasant Street; wonderful vintage photos and artwork at Fred Bodin Historic Photo; Toodeloos for the kids; Island Art & Hobby for your artsy and crafty family and friends, and so much more, including a plethora of great holiday fairs.  Save gas and yourself from the stress of crazy holiday shopping mobs and traffic at the mall, support local Gloucester businesses and artists, enjoy the holidays and shop locally.

E.J. Lefavour

This past weekend Cape Ann Youth Hockey and the city of Gloucester hosted over 400 hockey players and their families from Westmount, Quebec. There were sixteen games played over the course of the past three days by boys and girls ranging from 5 to 14 years of age at the newly remodeled Dorothy Talbot Rink.
The Cape Ann/ Westmount Friendship Tournament was started back in 1987 by Sal Grasso of Gloucester, Mike Deegan and Pete Wallace of Westmount when Sal paid for a bus out of his own pocket and took a crew of Gloucester kids 6 hours north to play some hockey. The trek was a huge success as most players billeted with host families and formed bonds that continue to this day. When Sal passed in 2006 the Tournament was aptly named The Sal Grasso Friendship Tournament.
I never did have the opportunity to meet Coach Sal but in speaking with some of his players I was told that he was a big man with a big burly voice that was only overshadowed by his big heart. I was told of numerous random acts of kindness. Like taking the entire team out for Chinese food after a game or when a player needed a new piece of equipment it somehow found its way into their bag. By all accounts Mr. Grasso was one of those remarkable people that if you are truly lucky, you will get to meet one in your lifetime.
As a testament of Mr. Grasso, Mr. Deegan and Mr. Wallace’s vision; this year’s tournament saw the sons and daughters of those first players compete against each other 24 years later.
Cape Ann Youth Hockey would like to thank all of this year’s host families for opening up their homes so our guest’s players whose parents could not attend, Mayor Kirk for allowing us the usage of City Hall to hold our banquet and show off our beautiful city, Jeanine Harris and Rosalie Nicastro for walking us through the steps to host at City hall, Mike Hale and Mark Cole for their work in adjusting the rink schedule, Cape Ann Figure Skating Club for allowing us to inconvenience them, all the local establishments for their generous food donations, Nicole Curcuru, Jenn Costanzo, Kristin Michel, Lisa and Mike English, Rob Anderson, Jamie Marshall and the countless others that donated their time in making this season’s tournament a spectacular event.
On Behalf of all of Cape Ann Youth Hockey Nation,
Thank You,
Pete Scola
President
CAYH

Judith Ring writes-

A Gloucester High School sophomore who has visual and learning problems had his computer taken from Gloucester High on Friday. The student is completely reliant on the computer to read and write and is, quite literally, lost without it. His parents are offering a reward, no questions asked. His mom, Karen Barth, has written the following appeal:

Our son’s HP laptop computer in a black computer bag was taken from Gloucester high school on Friday. Our son has visual and learning problems and his computer is loaded with special software. He is completely dependent on it for reading and writing. Without it he cannot do his school work. We are offering a $500 reward for the return of the computer or information leading to its return. No questions will be asked and we guarantee that no action will be taken against any student if the computer is safely returned to the school office.
Thanks for any help you can give us with this.
Please be in touch with Karen Barth at karenbarth@earthlink.net or call 917-575-2930

Thanks,

Judith Ring,

a loyal reader

Pavilion Beach in Fog

 

As the fog crept in off the ocean and descended on The Fort,

it was as if a curtain of cataracts had been drawn across my eyes,

blinding me to the familiar sights of Commercial Street and beyond;

limiting my vision to the nearby beach and shore.

 

What was in my sight stood bright and clear against the distant blur:

the rocks, sand, receding surf and, most of all, the ocean’s frothy edge,

like a highway on a GPS showing me the way from where I stood

to some unseen, mysterious distant destination.

 

Marty Luster

The Rocky Neck Art Colony’s Winter Show is wonderful and something you do not want to miss.  Here are a few shots of the show.  It will be going on through December 29th, with a meet the artists reception on December 3 from 5:00 to 8:00.  Stop in any time and see the great things coming out of Rocky Neck.  Open Daily at 130 Main Street, Gloucester.

E.J. Lefavour

 

And I thought Facebook Sucked!

I was one of a few who thought MYFACE AND SPACEBOOK was aWaste of “F’N” time!

 but since the loss of our first  Son, Brother, Grandson and all around friend “Paul #3”  I’ve had a change of heart. Facebook has been a  place to grieve with and stay in contact with all his friends from around New England and the World.

This has been  “my” contact with the world these last few weeks.

Never understood it before but Facebook is a great place to celebrate, keep in touch with current and old friends and mourn Friends and family.

I Apologize to all Facebook fans.

I’ll try to keep an open mind now on all these social media websites.

 

here’s a few links to our son Paul #3 FB Pages;

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Frontiero-Memorial-Page/173063512778766

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Frontiero-Memorial-Page/173063512778766#!/profile.php?id=100001262818497

Paul #3  is such a perfect soul. Not “was”  but is! Too everyone that knew him they were lucky Too. To those he did’nt check out his pages! you’ll be lucky too!

http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com