Year: 2012

Results Of The Christmas Tree Poll For Our Jewish Readers

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

A couple of days ago we posted this poll-

I’m curious amongst our Jew buddies here on GMG, Do you freak out when you see Christmas Trees lit up on town squares or are those just the extremists Jews in the community raising a stink?

Personally I’m more pissed off that we’re gonna have to listen to Christmas muzak starting any day now all the way through January and at “those neighbors who leave their Christmas lights up past Easter”, but then again I’m not Jewish.

I just read the first of the obligatory annual “Jewish townfolk are pissed off because someone put lights on a Christmas tree” story in the newspaper and it struck me as being a bit early for that.

I’d like to know where the middle of the road Jews stand on this issue. Thanks in advance for your comments below.

Here are the results through two days-

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and the comments-

  • lise breen – 15 hours ago

    I feel strongly that we should keep any overt religious symbol such as the ten commandments, creches and menorahs out of government buildings and public spaces. But, in contradiction, we do like to watch the Rockport pageant on Main St. with its donkey and girls wrapped in sheets and boys with fake beards and squawky loudspeaker recitation of the nativity event.

    I so enjoy the trees and the colored lights. Despite their name, they don’t signify Christianity to me. The lobster trap tree is fun especially since children decorate the buoys.

    I would prefer not to be bombarded with recorded religious music in commercial establishments. I enjoy religious music of many denominations in their appropriate sacred spaces or in my own home. Silent Night is gorgeous and best heard sung by local carolers on the street corners during a chilly, snowy Ladies Night.

    We are lapsed members of the Give Me More denomination with worship of its Santa Claus deity and elve disciples in store sanctuaries. It seems to be a rite of passage for those with children that is not easily avoided. We have had great times reading the Night Before Christmas and leaving carrots for the reindeer before a piney tree with colored lights with hokey music and giving holiday hugs and eating Christmas cookies.
    It’s complicated.

  • Natalie Simon – 17 hours ago

    I agree wholeheartedly with Ms. Weinstein. Amen!

  • Ellen Bevins – yesterday

    I find the Christmas/holiday season with all the lights on the trees very uplifting. It does not offend me. I love that the lights are left on throughout the year.

  • Mark Godfried – yesterday

    A jew for 77 years, who has always seen Xmas as a wonderful expression of faith for Christians and acknowledges that historical Jesus existed and bettered mankind. For any of us to do otherwise is disengenuous! Would you not heed Martin Luther Kings words because you are not afro-american! Creches, menorahs, trees, and what-have-you are all welcome! And Joey, you’re right! Let the music start after Thanksgiving!

  • EPK – yesterday

    It doesn’t bother me as long as you don’t bother me about my religion. Live and let live.

  • Jenny Bernstein Rangan – yesterday

    I love Christmas trees, I love Christmas lights, I love giving and receiving Christmas presents. I have a tree and a menorah. Any opportunity to celebrate. The tradition is older than the religion it is associated with and I see it as part of an impulse in the dark of winter to create warmth and joy, connection and sacredness with light.

  • Miriam Weinstein – yesterday

    The Supreme Court has been inconsistent about the constitutionality of this, but as a member of a minority, it always feels hurtful and offensive. Saying that a tree is not a religious symbol is disingenuous. And no, I don’t want a menorah displayed next to the creche.
    The best protection is a separation of church and state.

    • Being Papa and Nonnie and loving it

    Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

    Ms. Maddie went horse back riding, Happy Owen with his Bubble machine from Toodeloos and Cole and Avery with their balls also from Toodeloos.

    This slideshow requires JavaScript.

    What You See When You NightSUP

    Posted on by God's Morning

    http://web.mail.comcast.net/service/home/~/IMG_2647.MOV?auth=co&loc=en_US&id=477396&part=2

    This is a daytime video Tyler from Cape Ann SUP took by the Boulevard yesterday.  In the NightSUP photos below of Evelyn Howe and your’s truly, although you can’t see it in these photos taken by Violet Gray, we were encompassed by thousands of little fish which actually leaped up onto our boards and feet trying to escape the gang of stripers that were hunting them.  Pretty amazing to experience the drama of ocean life up close and personal like that, especially in the dark.  The fish seemed to be telling each other to “go into the Light”.   It was particularly bizarre paddling through a thick stew of live fish, hearing and feeling them beating against your board and paddle, and having to keep pushing them off the board so they could either swim free and live or end up dinner for a striper.  It is getting late this season for people to try this for the first time, but if you have done SUP and haven’t done a NightSUP, you owe it to yourself to experience it.  It is a trip.  The air is getting chilly, but the water is still warm.

    E.J. Lefavour

    Captains Courageous and Trails and Sails this Weekend on Rocky Neck

    Posted on by God's Morning

     

     

     

     

    2012 schedule captains courageous

    Make sure you come by Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery for poetry readings by Gwendolyn Carr at 10:00 and Author Talk by Anita Sanchez on “The Invasion of Sandy Bay” at noon.  Also come for Mug Ups during Trails and Sails this weekend and next.

    E.J. Lefavour

    www.khanstudiointernational.com

    It’s music, food & festivals in Gloucester this weekend

    Posted on by Vickie & Peter

    Continuing with my interest in starting the weekend on Thursday, I’ll be at the Y Taste of Cape Ann to benefit the Y’s teen, camp and childcare initiatives.  Get tickets here or just go to the Cruiseport at 6pm for food & drink from some of Cape Ann’s best restaurants, along with live music, cooking demonstrations, raffles, door prizes and more.

    John wants to see the Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest (he loves We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions) at Cape Ann Community Cinema that starts at 7:30pm followed by a live set by the all-female Queen Tribute band Gunpowder Gelatine.  We’ll try to get to both.

    Nine great choices for tomorrow (Friday).  See Friday’s live music lineup here.

    Saturday is family festival day with the Captains Courageous Festival featuring live music at Gloucester’s UU Church and the Lanesville Music Festival starting at 1:30pm with two of my favorites, Pete Lindberg at 5:30 and Bill Gleason at 7:30, then becoming a HUGE dance party at 8:30 featuring the great KBMG with special guest J.B. Amero.  WOW!  See the full festival music lineup here.  And look at their cool poster below:
    Click for Lanesville Music Festival lineup

    On Sunday, Celtic music fans can catch our friend Michael O’Leary TWICE in one day, on the Lannon & at the Dog Bar.  See Sunday’s live music schedule here.

    All in all over 50 artists performing this weekend — and it’s not even summer any more!  Get the complete schedule for all the live music in Gloucester and Cape Ann here.

    Community Photos 9/20/12

    Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

    Thacher Island From Andrew “Cowboy” McCloy

    Blogworthy?
    Took it from the deck of my vessell the Ripple II.
    Hope you are well, Joe. Ricky lives on!
    Cheers!
    Andy "Cowboy" McCloy

    Twin Lights2

    Jerry Amante asks-

    Saw this fishing boat off the coast of maine (Rockland),
    Looked like it was vacuuming up something, know what?
    Crabs? Mussels? Seaweed?
    -Jerry

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    Can’t get enough of Cape Ann From Ann Kennedy

    I’m going to have a camera-free day…sometime before we leave.  Until then, here is Rockport Harbor and the view from the Headlands in the very early a.m.  So much to see and do, so little time!

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    Slug or What??? From Sally Plows

    Encountered on my morning walk in Manchester. About 7" long…

    A slug in a leopard cape??

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    Joey,Here are two more Ten Pound Island and the hatchery taken in the 1950’s.  Pass on to Bill Hubbard’s comments.

    Regarding this post from Bill Hubbard-

    Ten Pound Island From Bill Hubbard

    Paul St Germain

    009 cg aerial 1950 2010 cg aerial 1950

    Paulie Nicastro Special At Fort Square Cafe

    Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

    2012-09-18 08.35.18

    #Boom!

    Three poached eggs on top of thick cut ham on top of grilled english muffin with an order of hash browns.

    Killer baby.

    Community Stuff 9/19/12

    Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

    Hi Joey,

    I hope this email finds you well.  A Gloucester friend on mine recently introduced me to Good Morning Gloucester and suggested I email you.

    I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of the North Shore. We mergered with the Cape Ann chapter last year and service the Northshore from Rockport to Saugus.  We are hosting our 2nd Annual Hoof it Habitat 5K run, 1 mile walk along the beautiful back-shore of Gloucester (Atlantic Road)on Septemeber 30th.

    I would appreciate it if you can help me spread the word on GMG if possible.

    Below is information about the race, current projects and attached, please see the race brochure.

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    RACE Information

    Online Registration: Hoof It for Habitat 5K

    Mail in Registration: See attachment

    Where: Good Harbor Beach, Thatcher Road, Gloucester, MA

    When: Sunday, September 30, 2012

    Time: Registration: 8:30 am

    Race Start: 9:30 am

    Fees: $20 pre-registration fee or $25 day of race

    T-Shirts guaranteed to all who register by Sept 22.

    Prizes and raffles for runners.

    Current Projects

    Hoof It for Habitat 5K helps raise money for the local North Shore chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

    Race funds raised will support our four (4) current projects:

    (1) Completing the final 4 of 8 town homes on Park Street,Peabody (October 2012 move in date)

    (2) Renovation of single family home on Chase Street, Beverly (completed in Aug 2012)

    (3) Renovation of 3 family home on Grover Street, Lynn for Veterans’ families (start in November)

    (4) New construction of 2 town homes on Mill Street,Danvers (start in October)

    We are taking homeowner applications now for the Lynn and Danvers projects.  If you know anyone who might be interested in purchasing a home or volunteering to help build, please direct them to Habitat for Humanity – North Shore.

    Thank you.  I appreciate your time and help.

    Kind regards, Joanne McMath

    Free Skin Cancer Clinic at Addison Gilbert Hospital

    A free skin cancer clinic will be held at the Addison Gilbert  Hospital, 298 Washington Street, Gloucester on Wednesday, October 24 from

    2 – 3:30 p.m.  The clinic will be conducted by dermatologist Gary S. Rogers, M.D.  The clinic will be held in the Gorton’s Specialty and Cancer Care Center, located on the fourth floor of the Addison Gilbert Hospital.  To schedule an appointment, please call the Health Connection at 1-888-253-0800.

    Those individuals who are concerned about a mole or other skin abnormality are welcome to attend the clinic. This is not a dermatology clinic and surgical procedures will not be performed.  The clinic’s purpose will be to determine whether any treatment is necessary.  This screening is not in place of your yearly physical or appointment with your dermatologist. 

    Gloucester MA Harbor Timelapse 9/18/12

    Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

    Music it’s Been so Long By The Twees. 720P sped up 16times fast. filmed with the Kodak ZX3 Waterproof Camera $81.89 on Amazon on sale from $140

    I’d buy the $40 used one if this one got lost overboard in a heartbeat.  Great cheap camera you can beat the hell out of and not worry about.  Especially great is the 720p or 1080p video recording capabilities for this price.

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    City of Gloucester Tourism Commission Radio Advertising Campaign

    Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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    Dear Gloucester Businesses,                                                                            

    The Gloucester Tourism Commission has entered into a contract with WBOQ radio, a.k.a. North Shore 104.9 FM, to promote the City, our Downtown and all that Gloucester has to offer, with multiple daily radio spots during the fall and holiday seasons.  Some of you may have heard them as they started last week.  Listen to last week’s spot here.

    The intent is to draw visitors during the off season.  The beginning and end of each spot is the same and there is time reserved in the middle to plug upcoming City events.  You’ll notice in last week’s spot there was a plug for the Block Party in the middle.

    If you would wish to purchase your own ad for your own business while the city campaign is being run, here is the contact information.

    To discuss radio ads (a very simple process) and rates please contact:

    Aurelia Nelson

    North Shore 104.9   Phone: 978-927-1049 extension 14 or 
    Email: aurelia@northshore1049.com
    The more people that advertise, the more Gloucester gets promoted!

    The City’s Campaign runs from now until October 21 then will start up again for the holiday season November 22- December 20.

    Sincerely,

    The Gloucester Tourism Commission

    Mendy Garron and Family Represent! In Sao Miguel, Azores

    Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

    Hi Joey,
    My family and I recently returned from a fabulous trip to Sao Miguel, Azores.  Attached is a picture of Jim and Odin representing near Lomba de Sao Pedro (meaning the Hill of Saint Peter), which we thought was appropriate for the Gloucester followers!  I have included a few more pictures of the beautiful scenery.  It is an absolutely amazing place!
    All the best,
    Mendy Garron 

    Lexington Avenue in Magnolia

    Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

    The Magnolia Historical Society asked me to take some photos of a building that was being renovated.  The new Landlord, J. Stratton Moore,of Manchester, MA, graciously allowed me to take some photos.  As the workers were taking down sheet rock, they found these amazing sites that had been covered up over the years.  Also what was found was a hidden safe in the wall.

    http://www.flickr.com//photos/61616434@N08/sets/72157631543144184/show/

    Information will be available for viewing once the MHS has established the Magnolia Historical Museum and Cultural Center at the Blynman School.

    Hodgson, Kennard & Co.
    Magnolia, MA c. 1890-1940’s
    Edgar Hodson and H. Arthur Wood Kennard. Advertised in the 1920’s as jewelers and silversmiths; they retailed many silver items made by others.