Year: 2011

“My life is like a stroll on the beach…as near to the edge as I can go.”

–Thoreau

Greg Bover’s Quote of The Week Is On Vacation.  He sends this instead-

SV Linnet represents from The Basin on the New  Meadows River in Maine. See the sticker on the dodger? We’re waiting out the storm.  So far so good.

Joey’s response-

I’m squinting real hard but I don’t see no sticka.  Of course it would probably help if I knew what the dodger was.

Anyone who canned or made Sista Felicia’s Sun-Dried Tomatoes yesterday I would live to see your finished product.  Send in a pic and I’ll post it.

Joey, you are too funny with those storm tracking lines!!!!!

Here’s my prep. Let’s hope we all survive this storm without harm.

XXOO, Kathy

Kathy Chapman
Photography and Graphic Design
174 East Main Street #1
East Gloucester, MA 01930
Web portfolio: http://www.kathychapman.com

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.