Year: 2011

Employees, staff and volunteers at Addison Gilbert Hospital will be assisting the Cape Ann Military Family Support Group in collecting items to be sent to our Cape Ann soldiers in time for the holidays.

Containers are marked inside the main entrance of Addison Gilbert Hospital in the Fisher Lobby for items being collected.  The collection will take place through November 28th.

The following items are being requested: Candy Canes miniature matchbox cars

Assorted snacks:  Beef jerky, beef sausage logs, slim Jim’s individual cookie , cheese and cracker packs dried fruits and fruit, pudding and applesauce cups packaged dried fruits, seeds, nuts and raisins peanut butter and individual cereals boxes, Pop-tarts

Breakfast bars, granola and health bars Pretzels and Pringle’s canned chips Canned items should have the pull tabbed tops:

Pasta Dinners and bowl type meals

Soups Ready to eat  and packet soups

Canned tuna,chicken, salmon pull top cans only

individual packets of condiments: mustard, catsup, relish, Mayonnaise, B-B-Q sauce, single serve salad dressings, jelly and jams.

Powdered drinks: Crystal Light lemonade mixes,

Kool-Aid,  teas, coffee, cocoa, milk

Assorted candy and gum

Small games, playing cards, Uno, Sorry, puzzles, crossword books and travel size board games.

Mark Parisi, award winning syndicated cartoonist and creator of off the mark cartoons was born and raised in Gloucester, MA.  His Parents, Fran and Nick along with his broth Nick and wife Linn still reside in Gloucester.   His daily cartoon, off the mark, appears in the Gloucester Times.  Mark Parisi will be in town to sign his 2012 page-a-day off the mark calendar at The Weathervane at 153 Main Street in Gloucester during the Ladies Night Out Shopping Event in Gloucester starting at 6 pm on December 1, 2011.  We hope to see you you there.

Gaines writes-

Fishermen’s ‘catch share’ letter sparks furor

Facilitated by officers of influential industry groups — including members of the Gloucester-based Northeast Seafood Coalition — the letter signed by the 109 fishermen, roughly a quarter of the current New England groundfishing fleet, included 15 from Cape Ann and asserted that elected officials, while responding to minority calls "amplified in the media," have put their businesses at risk with "a series of increasingly dangerous proposals."

These include accumulation caps, setting aside community quota, putting limits on trading catch shares across vessel and gear-type categories, according to leaders of the seafood coalition, which, since its 2002 founding, has grown to become the largest industry umbrella in New England.

Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk said she was surprised by "many of the names on the letter supporting catch shares."

"The catch share system is collapsing," said Lang in a telephone interview. "What would motivate the fishermen to write the letter saying catch shares are fine with us?"

Click here for the entire article

Back in 2009 I started to keep a collection the articles about the Hyper-Consolidation of our fleet in a thread on Cape Ann Online

It seems all those predictions made back then have been dead on.

Video Produced by Erika Street Two years ago. Ann Malloy, Frank Rose, Scott Memhard, Beanie Nicastro and Yours truly are interviewed for this documentary about the effects of Fishing Industry Consolidation on the City of Gloucester.
http://blip.tv/file/3722238

The annual Gloucester Holiday Parade, a Gloucester tradition for many years, will take place on Sunday, November 27^th at 3:00 PM. Volunteers will line up parade participants at the State Fish Pier on Parker Street at 2:00 PM and will guide them through downtown Gloucester and on to Kent Circle for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The parade is also the official welcoming of Santa Claus to Gloucester for the holiday season. At Kent Circle, children will have the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap – a great photo opportunity for parents. And – as in the past – while folks are at Kent Circle, they are invited to sign holiday cards that will be sent to our troops overseas.

This year, the Downtown Gloucester Holiday Parade Committee is pleased to announce that Amvets Post 32 will be participating in this year’s Parade in partnership with the United States Marine Corp’s annual "Toys 4 Tots" drive. Look for the big pink elephant and Santa and his elves. Bring an unwrapped toy to the Parade or look for the drop off points around Cape Ann listed on Facebook. There will also be a drop off spot at Kent Circle during the Tree Lighting Ceremony.

This year’s Kent Circle Tree Lighting ceremony will feature festive music by the North Shore Bell Ringers as well as popcorn and hot chocolate provided by Lobsta Land and Ringo Tarr. This great community event is enjoyed by all ages. Along with the Parade, the tree celebrates Gloucester’s close ties to Shelburne, Nova Scotia that each year provides a tree to be lit.

Further Information/Contact Information

Rain Date: December 4th

If you are interested in participating in the parade with a Christmas float, team of walkers or musical group, contact 978-281-1227 or weather.vane@verizon.net. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please send it in care of the Gloucester Fund, 153 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Please note on memo line "Santa Claus Parade".

Any questions on the Toys for Tots drive can be addressed to Victor Anido at 978-879-7562.

Donations are being sought this year to replace many of the tree lights damaged by storms last year.

Donations can be made to the Kent Circle Christmas Light Committee, 18 Timberview Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. If you have any questions or would like to be part of the ceremony, contact Ringo Tarr at 978-283-2923

Hi joe. it was good to get out of the house and see you today. We puchased a memorial bench for paul #3 today. it wil be on the boulevard near the fishermans statue overlooking the harbor and greasy pole. it will be in place before xmas or just after the first of the year. our big thanks go out to Newly elected Melissa Cox for connecting us with Mark Cole of the DPW. SHE’S THE BOMB! hOPEFULLY WE’LL HAVE A BIG CELEBRATION WITH COFFEE AND HOT CHOCOLATE WHEN IT’S INSTALLED. SEE YOU ALL THERE! WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED! YOU CAN POST THIS IF YOU WANT TAKE CARE, PAUL

http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com

On September 18, 1892, long after Dogtown had ceased to exist as a community, James Merry died in Dogtown.  He had a 3-year-old bull that he had previously successfully wrestled to the ground on a few occasions.  He decided to try it again.  This time the bull was having no part of it.  The first marker shows where James Merry was first attacked by his bull.  The second marker, a short distance away heading toward Dogtown Road, is where James Merry died of his injuries. 

E.J. Lefavour

Hi Joey,
Could you let people know that The Open Door Food Pantry and North Shore 104.9 are teaming up for its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive at the Gloucester Crossing Market Basket on Saturday, November 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.? Items most needed are fresh potatoes, apples, carrots, or cereal, tuna, peanut butter, and juice. People can download a list of most needed items or get more information at www.foodpantry.org.
Thank you for helping spread the word!