Year: 2012

Full Moon From Emerson Point–Photo Tony H, The "SinginSarge"

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Yo Joey,

   Took this one last night down at Emerson Point, thought you’d get a kick out of it. Stay well and Happy Easter

                                                                           Tony H the "SinginSarge"

GEDC1370

Below The Waxing Gibbous Moon

Posted on by Marty Luster

Below the Waxing Gibbous Moon

 

At twilight I was watching the waxing

gibbous moon when a plane appeared to fly

high above that bulging disk. It happened quickly,

and it left no contrails, so I missed the plane

when I clicked the shutter to capture the scene.

 

I don’t know where that plane came from or where

it was going –  perhaps on a great circle to Europe.

Nor do I know if anyone on board looked out

their windows and noticed our tiny Cape Ann

nearly six miles below and if anyone wondered

 

if there were people down there looking up at them,

or, if they did, could they imagine who we are

and could they see our backshore, our beaches,

our city with its shops, piers, boats and fishermen,

our granite bed, our salt marshes, our grand

 

tidal river and our artists and performers,

our craftspeople and caregivers and youngsters

who breathe nearly four hundred years of Gloucester

history. Could they imagine the surf’s sound

at night, the feel of a cool sea breeze during the

 

dog days of August and the magic of Autumn’s

golden light and spring’s seductive and subtle color?

I wish them safe travels and a hardy adventure and

I hope they remember passing over tiny Cape Ann,

and all that we are, far below the waxing gibbous moon.

 

Marty Luster

THREE TEENS, A STEEPLE, HIGH IDEALS, AND THE POWER OF YES!

Posted on by God's Morning

Seth Perkins and Sam Cunningham are gifted, talented, brilliant stand-up comedians  with a genius and magic all their own.  Their friends, the Campers from the years of Art Harbor Camp, the cHicKeN cOupe troupe, most of the 
Theater Pie Workshops troupes, all know this.  There was a time when Seth Perkins was Legend in Residence at the St. Ann School. 

When the idea of putting their talent on the stage and calling it a SHOW was asked of them as a request for help, they gave a resounding, no hesitancy answer, YES!  And they brought on their friend William Gleckner– who was actually right beside them with an expression on his face of real concern for what Seth and Sam had just set into motion– and  made William  producer and called the show William Gleckner presents SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.  

The show was billed as a Benefit for The Unitarian-Universalist Society  of Rockport’s  SAVE THE STEEPLE FUND.  Jennifer Ober the music director and administrator of the UU, also a YES person, took on the project with vim and vigor and excitement and jumped into the work of organization, support, logistics, on and on.  Local Artists at the school and from the Rockport Community and the UUSR itself also responded YES with enthusiasm to providing back-up entertainment to The Featured Stars, Seth Perkins and Sam Cunningham, Producer, William Gleckner, MC’d in the good company of Beethoven, Seth and Sam’s Music Side-Kick, and Mr. Benjamin Franklin who was on board to speak for The Steeple because of its historical importance to the community of Rockport.

THE Audience, Artists/Performers, UU Members all gathered and a Show was about to begin.  A Show that was only happening because three innovative young men have the talent, and Gut and Heart Inspiration and ZEAL to make things happen and say YES and open up possibility and set the magic energy in motion.
No one can do what Seth and Sam can do.  So if not for Seth, and Sam, and William this would never have happened.

Support rallied and it was a magnificent show.  It was hoped that maybe $800. could be raised as a special gift to the UU from the Theater Pie Workshops who have their home at the UU because the UU takes care of so many in our community in so many different ways.  No one saw this fund raiser as any kind of an answer to the very serious and immediate Steeple Dilemma.  To get the Steeple reinforced and stabilized which also includes a study for the full renovation work that will span many years the lump sum amount needed before work could be started was $7,000.

Just before intermission, Rev.Susan, Pastor of the UU stepped forward to announce that an anonymous Matching Challenge Grant had just been given to the Unitarian-Universalist Church for $3, 500.  The door to possibility that Seth, Sam, and Will opened with YES was receiving an abundance no one would have thought remotely possible.

Seth Sam, and Will had Saved The Steeple.  They set the energy in motion and the energy chose to work as energy can and will if it is positive.

It is a wonderful story.

The Unitarian-Universalist Society and Church in a statement from member Heidi Wakeman to the congreagation said….
 
Young people need to be acknowledged and celebrated for their ideas,hard work,accomplishments, and generosity.  Will, Sam, and Seth took on a project, and saw it through from start to finish.”Save the Steeple” began as a gesture of thanks to the UUSR for accommodating the Chicken Coupe Troupe Productions,    with which Will & Sam have been affiliated for many years. No one expected this effort would net such lofty results.  Additional thanks go to Jennifer Ober, Music Director & Administrator of the church for all of her behind the scenes knowledge and coordination.
 
On behalf of the UUSR, I say a hearty, “Huzzah! Thank you! Hip, hip, hooray!”
 
Donations may be made to the Steeple Fund, payable as such, and sent to The Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport, MA 01966

Cherry Blossom Time

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and Happy Cherry Blossom Time! I hope you are having a joyous spring!

Native to Japan, the Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) is cultivated extensively and is also found growing wild on plains and mountains countrywide. For more than ten centuries, and continuing with no less enthusiasm today, cherry blossom time has been cause for joyful celebration that is deeply integrated in the Japanese culture.

When cherry blossoms begin to fall heavily, the flurry of blossoms is called “cherry snowstorm.” The following is a traditional Japanese song that has been passed down for generations.

Sakura

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms

As far as you can see.

Across yayoi skies

Is it mist? Is it clouds?

Ah, the fragrance!

Let us go, Let us go and see!

To see a cherry blossom snowstorm:

In the Japanese language the cherry is called “sakura,” which is generally believed to be a corruption of the word “sukuya” (blooming). Poets and artists strive to express the loveliness of its flowers in words and artistry. Called the flower of flowers, when the Japanese use the word “hane” (flower) it has come to mean sakura, and no other flower. Since the Heian period “hanami” has referred to cherry blossom viewing; the term was used to describe cherry blossom parties in the Tale of Gengi. Aristocrats wrote poetry and sang songs under the flowering trees for celebratory flower viewing parties. The custom soon spread to the samurai society and by the Edo period, hanami was celebrated by all people.

From ancient times, during early spring planting rituals, falling blossoms symbolized a bounteous crop of rice. Beginning with the Heian period (794–1185), when the imperial courtiers of Kyoto held power, the preference for graceful beauty and the appreciation of cherry blossoms for beauty’s sake began to evolve. The way in which cherry petals fall at the height of their beauty, before they have withered and become unsightly, and the transience of their brief period of blooming, assumed symbolism in Buddhism and the samurai warrior code.

The delicacy and transience of the cherry blossom have poignant and poetic appeal, providing themes for songs and poems since the earliest times. The motif of the five petal cherry blossoms is used extensively for decorative arts designs, including kimonos, works in enamel, pottery, and lacquer ware. Cherry tree wood is valued for its tight grain and is a lustrous reddish brown when polished. The wood is used to make furniture, trays, seals, checkerboards, and woodblocks for producing color wood block prints.

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Continue reading “Cherry Blossom Time” →

As I was cooking a Turkey

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

The Turkey Hostage Rescue Team tried to infiltrate my secured and well defended place of detention, unfortunately they failed…  Yum

April 8, 2012Turkey

Gloucester Webcam of The Day- 7 Seas Whale Watch

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

This Webcam and more can be found at www.gloucesterwebcam.com

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Visit The 7 Seas Whale Watch Website Here

This www.gloucesterwebcam.com local webcam portal project was an idea I had last year to have as many webcams streaming from local businesses or organizations as possible which highlight the incredible vistas that we as people that live and work here get to enjoy each and every day.

The idea was to have the organization install the webcam, have them embed the webcam feed on their own websites as well and have a link to each business website on the Gloucester webcam portal website to showcase their business as well.

Tim Blakeley from Gloucester Bytes provided the initial installation at ridiculously cheap cost because he believed in the project.

Community Stuff Sunday

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Comedian Mel Simons will be at the Rockport Senior Center, 58 Broadway on Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. for an evening ofComedy & Music.

Sponsors of the event are the Rockport Council on Aging and Den Mar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. The cost is $5.00 which includes complimentary dessert and coffee served between 6 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

Pre-reservations only by contacting Diane Bertolino at 978-546-2573.

Don’t miss out on the fun!

Joey,

First off, thank you for the heads up about Wicked Tuna. I’m excited to show my wife a taste of home.

Secondly, my wife and I have been trying to launch a food truck. We found a 1973 vintage airstream trailer and have been converting it over for the last month. We’re trying to raise the last of the money, via kickstarter. We’ve got a lot of pledges, but we’re still shy of our 3500.00 goal. If we don’t reach it in 20 days, we don’t get any of the funds. e’re hoping to bring the truck up to the North Shore for the summer, and eventually open a restaurant in either Cape Ann thereabouts. (check out our menu, http://friartucks.me/menu/)

If there’s any way you could post a link to this on your blog, maybe we could get some more exposure and get to where we need to be. If not, I thank you anyways 🙂

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2050131639/firar-tucks-truck

Thanks again Joey, and keep up the FANTASTIC work!

Robb Muise

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Easter Sunday Broadcasting Live From Terassini Sicily, Gloucester and Detroit. Gloucester’s Gianni Gallo and ItalicaTV Bring Us “La Festa degli Schietti”

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Each year, on Easter weekend in Terrasini, Sicily, an ancient tradition dating back over 200 years ago is renewed: "La Festa degli Schietti" which celebrates all of the singles and unmarried of Terrasini; Also known as La Festa del’Albero” or The Feast of the Tree, its symbol and popular protagonist. Single men raise an orange tree decorated in traditional Sicilian garb and weighing over 100lbs . to demonstrate their strength to all the single ladies in town.
At dawn on Holy Saturday, in the citrus groves of Terrasini, the organizing committee of “Gli Schietti” begins the ritual of cutting the bitter orange tree, chosen in the months prior to the celebration. The tree is then decorated with colorful banners, and red handkerchiefs , "ciancianeddi", or the bells of the horses and "anieddi", little lambs made of marzipan.

In the early afternoon, the tree is loaded on a Sicilian cart andtriumphantly arrives in town, led by the carpenter who fits it for the lift.
 

At dawn, on Easter morning, Terrasini is awakened by fireworks reminding the community of the big day. The blessing of the tree by the pastor marks the official start of the joyous celebration; Traditional Sicilian carts accompanied by a marching band parade about the town and Sicilian folklore groups and, of course, music entertain in the Piazza. For the single men it is the ultimate test of strength and skill to lift the tree at the balcony of “la zita”, their betrothed.

Watch it live, Easter Sunday on www.italicatv.com !
LA FESTA
La Festa degli Schietti Each year, on Easter weekend in Terrasini, Sicily, an ancient tradition dating back over 200 years ago is renewed: “La Festa degli Schietti” or the Feast of the Tree, its symbol and popular protagonist.

Karen Pischke Represents! At the Cherry Blossom Festival In Japan

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hey Joey-
SAKURA is in full Bloom in Japan! A year ago my elderly mother wondered why
I had to go to Kyoto, Japan for Sakura (Cherry Blossom Festival,) since
‘D.C. has beautiful Cherry Blossoms.’ I told her, because D.C. does not have
my Reiki teacher, Inamoto Sensei. Despite the disaster      in Japan, we
felt it important to continue our trip as planned in support of the Japanese
people. And Hyakuten assured us- "Kyoto is safe. You should come." And so,
3/30/11 we flew. One year ago today was our first full day in Kyoto! It
felt(and still feels!) surreal to be there. While there I also represented
GMG! You can find photos from this journey on Facebook Pages- Dreamtime
Wellness, Komyo Reiki Kai/New England and Komyo Reiki Kai Boston. And now,
Hyakuten will be coming to Boston/New England for the 1st time this October!
Hope you get a chance to meet him! Enjoy the photos. Note: Before the trip
and upon my return, we have organized fund raisers for Japan for continued
support at our monthly Reiki Clinic and Meditation Events. The gentleman in
the picture at the food stand kept saying- "Sank you. Sank you vely much."
The Japanese people we met were most grateful we were there, and Japanese
people still need our support! Thanks Joe! For all that you do! It ‘ripples
out’ to many!!    Karen Pischke, Dreamtime Wellness
(www.dreamtimewellness.com.) 
Peace, love, and light,  Karen