Bid now on Deb Clarke’s Madonna and Child buoy – Only two days until the auction event!

Madonna and Child buoy by Debbie Clarke
Madonna and Child buoy by Debbie Clarke

After much painstaking work and a couple set backs, you may have already seen Deb Clarke’s buoy on the blog yesterday! It came out AWESOME and today you have the chance to bid on it in case you can’t make it to Art Haven’s big buoy auction event on Friday night…

All the buoys from this year’s lobster trap tree will be auctioned off THIS Friday, the 27th at Cruiseport Gloucester, including the ones featured here. But you can put your bids in now to get your name in the hat. Again, the details:

-If you like a buoy you see, bidding starts at $20, and you can just bid in the comments section below the post, HOWEVER

-Your bid doesn’t become official until you send Art Haven an email (arthaveninfo@gmail.com) saying you’re serious and letting us know how to get in contact with you.

-Finally, if you’re the highest bidder on the blog, that makes your bid the starting bid at the auction. We’ll be in touch about your max bid if you can’t make it to the auction.

If you’ve got any questions, leave ’em in the comments section. Also, check out the artist buoys on Art Haven’s Facebook page and tell us if there are particular buoys you’d like to see go up here. And remember, your money is helping more kids on Cape Ann have access to crazy fun art activities 🙂  Happy bidding!

Dave Sag’s Blues Party to Host Willie ” Loco” Alexander

Thursday – 9:00 to 12:00 

 

Dave says,

Well, it’s a dog eats dog world, and the first bite counts, so let’s welcome back our very own homegrown hero, Mr. Willie “Loco” Alexander, the Godfather of Punk. Yes, yes , take pride in the Atlas who holds up the entire rock ‘n roll world with his withering arms! This guy has done it all! We’re so glad he’s back with us for another dive bombing mission into the primordial soup of blues, Fats Domino, L’il Richard and his own unique brand of intestinal rock.
He’s bringin’ his boy, Mr. Billy Loosigian with him. Not only a member of Willie’s current band, but a mainstay in the Boston scene for over 100 years, Billy’s glitar practically invented the whole Boston music industry, playing with such luminous bands as The Joneses and The Nervous Eaters, to name a few. Watch out, girls, the guy is handsome and fancy-free!
Beating the skins and all odds will be that cranially polished Mr. Steevee Chaggaris, master of guffaws and Hadacol® spokesmodel. Of course, Mr. Greg T. and myself will provide all A.C. current. So, c’mon in for an artificially disinhibiting libation and watch your socks rot off. If your I.Q. is room temperature; leave it home.Free admission to the first 100 folks who show up with a safety pin through his nose!

 

http://www.therhumbline.com/

http://www.williealexander.com/

Breaking News: The Gloucester Tri May Be Coming Back If CK Has Anything To Do With It!!!

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Dear 2009 Gloucester Triathlon participant,
You are the first to hear some exciting news!  We have been contacted by Mayor Carolyn Kirk to bring BACK the Gloucester Triathlon. Thanks to YOU, we had a wildly successful 2009 Gloucester Triathlon. We are thrilled to stage the event again in one of favorite race venues. 

We hope to have as soon as possible final approval from the City Council and other various department heads for a September race date (after Labor Day weekend).

IMPORTANT – to show your support for this event and to join our 2012 email list please gohere.  If you are a Facebook user follow the race here.

Here is Mayor Kirk’s letter of support for the 2012 Gloucester Triathlon.
SPREAD THE WORD – the triathlon is coming back!!

Bill Burnett

Streamline Events, LLC

www.gloucestertri.com

Thanks Deane Gyllenhaal for the heads up!

Squirrel with urban camo

A sample of Gloucester downtown wildlife.  He blends right into the asphalt.  If he’s not careful with the traffic on Main Street, that will be more than an optical illusion.

The Mount Washington Hotel

Joey edit-
Here it is back in 2002 from almost the same exact perspective.  Man I miss that car.-
DSC00365The Mount Washington Hotel, 1903 N.L. Stebbins/©Fredrik D. Bodin
In 1900, wealthy Pennsylvania industrialist Joseph Stickney began construction of the Mount Washington Hotel, located in Bretton Woods, NH. Two hundred and fifty Italian artisans were hired to build the steel-framed Spanish Renaissance structure. When finished in 1902, the hotel accommodated 600 guests, with a staff of 350. It had its own railroad station, post office, electric power plant, telephone system, and 6,400 acres for golf and recreation. Look closely between the two flagged towers, and you’ll see the electrified banner: MOUNT WASHINGTON. The photograph also shows the 1903 Glidden Automobile Tour, organized by the fledgling American Automobile Association. The purpose of the tour was to foster public acceptance of the automobile and draw attention to the primitive road system, which was unpaved, unmapped, and suitable only for horse travel. This was one of the first motorized endurance races.
Early Glidden Tour
Today the grand hotel thrives as the year-round Omni Mount Washington Resort. It’s a National Historic Landmark featuring a 25,000 square foot spa, two four-diamond dining rooms, and a renovated speakeasy: the Cave. In 1902, hotelier Joseph Stickney successfully charged $10 per night "in season" – twice the going rate at the time. You can book a room at the Mount Washington tonight for $199.
Fred

Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Maime’s Kitchen Glosta Coffee Roll Bra From Cliff McCarthy

coffee roll bra

Hi Joey,

After viewing the post showing  one of Laura Jacobs nautical-themed bras,

I got to thinking about one of your past posts.

STRAIGHT SEXY ! You wrote about a coffee roll.

Hummm, maybe Joey has something here.

So, Hot off the Grill I present the Glosta Coffee Roll Bra.

Much more comfortable than any lobster/crab shell bra.

Enjoy your breakfast,

   Cliff McCarthy

Aftermath

Isn’t Niles Pond gorgeous? The above photo I posted on Sunday; the pond looks especially pristine and sparkly in the snow and ice.

The following day GMG follower and Eastern Point resident Daniel D. wrote to say “It does look beautiful, and as a Resident of Eastern Point, I love when others can share in the beauty of our neighborhood. Unfortunately, the picture for today should be all the cans, boxes, and trash left behind by these people when they finished skating that day, all glaringly standing out as the snow melts in that exact spot… Hopefully they read this comment and then quickly come and clean it up before the ice melts this week and it all sinks to the bottom of our lovely pond. I’m Just Saying….”

Hey guys—it looked as though you were having a great time, but then had to leave very suddenly—with trash, half a dozen pucks, and even a shovel left behind. Perhaps there was an emergency—whatever the case—could someone who was playing hockey at Niles on Sunday please come and clean up the mess. I picked up much, of what I could reach, but the embankment is muddy and slippery and you will need tall waders to reach the plastic bottles and shovel. Thank you for your consideration.

As Daniel D. correctly stated, all the trash is going to sink to the bottom. Many species of waterfowl dive for vegetable matter and the seeds, stems, roots, and bulbs of submerged aquatic plants. They can easily became entangled in trash. The last shot of the bird’s nest is meant to symbolize the pond’s fragility.

Clip of the stunning Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) at 3 minutes 45 seconds.

Valentine Cards by Isabel Natti

Kathy Chapman writes-

Valentine Cards printed from Isabel Natti’s linoleums are now featured at The Sarah Elizabeth Shop (open on weekends, by chance or appointment)….

They plan on carrying on the tradition of blockprinted fabric inspired by the work of the Folly Cove Designers. Artist Julia Garrison (of Lanesville) is working the historic Acorn Press.

image

5 Whistlestop Mall, Rockport

Website – http://www.sarah-elizabeth-shop.com/

For more info email Julia: garrisonjulia2@gmail.com

Photo: http://www.kathychapman.com

Community Stuff Wednesday

O’Maley Middle School Wind Turbine Dedication January 25th

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TWO FILMMAKERS VISITING CAPE ANN THIS WEEK

Cinema also marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day with special screening

Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main Street in Gloucester continues its "Film Festival That Never Ends" programming with two filmmaker events in the coming week.

On Tuesday, January 31, director Ron Wyman visits with his film, "Agadez: The Music And The Rebellion." In it, Wyman depicts without romanticizing or sentimentalizing the lives of the Tuareg, an ancient Saharan nomadic tribe who, since the 12th century, have linked North Africa and West Africa, guiding their camel caravans across the desert, spreading art and music from Egypt to Mali. He spotlights one remarkable young musician, Omara “Bombino” Moctar, whose story of exile and return is typical for his generation. Wyman will answer questions after the film. Tickets are $9.50 adults, $8.00 students & seniors (60+) and $6.50 for Members.

Ron Wyman’s website is www.ZeroGravityFilms.com. He can be reached at rw@zerogravityfilms, and at (603) 498-4039.

On Saturday, February 4 at 5:00pm, director Zach Levy visits with his film, "Strongman," a cinema veritĂ© documentary about Stanless Steel, the self-proclaimed ‘Strongest Man in the World at Bending Steel and Metal.’ Told with the kind of intimacy that can only be achieved with years of filming, the film follows the dreams and heartbreaking humanity of Stanless Steel — the only man alive who can bend a penny with his fingers — as he struggles to gain control of a world that seems constantly out of his grasp. Roger Ebert proclaimed it one of the best films of the year.

Levy will answer questions after the film. Tickets are $9.50 adults, $8.00 students & seniors (60+) and $6.50 for Members.

On Sunday, February 5 across the street at The Annie at 1 Washington Street, Levy will conduct a "Documentary 101" workshop, an intensive, 6-hour instruction in all aspects of non-fiction filmmaking, including selecting a subject and storytelling style, basic interviewing technique and ways to get your finished film seen. The cost of the workshop is $99.00, and seats can be reserved at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

On Thursday, January 26 at 7:30pm, the Cinema, in conjunction with Temple Ahavat Achim of Gloucester, will present the acclaimed documentary "Inside Hana’s Suitcase." The film is a story of power and hope, wrapped in the mystery ofg a young girl’s suitcase that came from the Auschwitz Museum. Tickets are $9.50 adults, $8.00 students & seniors (60+) and $6.50 for Members.

Another special film event this week is the premiere of "Joffrey: Mavericks Of American Dance." The debut documentary explores the vanguard Chicago dance troupe, and will be shown with a live, post-film Q&A via satellite. Tickets are $9.50 adults, $8.00 students & seniors (60+) and $6.50 for Members.

For more information, including trailers, visit the Cinema’s website at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

It was the summer of 63 In Gloucester- Cousin Elisa In Detroit explains

The Christmas before last was the last one we had my Dad with us for the holiday.  With his Alzheimer disease he had been slipping pretty badly but could carry on a conversation to a degree.  it was just before that Christmas that a box arrived from Detroit with my father Libby Ciaramitaro’s Navy Uniform in it.

You may recall this post from back then if you’ve been with the blog-

My Dad’s Navy Uniform 50 Years Later Shipped From Detroit

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Joey C

About three months ago I got a phone call from my dad’s first cousin Joe from Detroit (yet another Joe Ciaramitaro).  Joe follows the blog daily and tells me he knows more about what is going on in Gloucester due to GMG than he does in his own town in Michigan.  This is something that I hear from Friends of the Blog all over the country.  Joe tells me he feels as if he could walk down the street and know everyone in town.

Anyway, cousin Joe’s mom, my dad’s aunt had his Navy uniform hanging in her closet for almost 50 years. I’m not sure how the uniform found it’s way to Michigan, perhap[s cousin Joe will write in the comment section and explain the story better than I can.

My dad was stationed in Key West- tough gig, huh?  He was aboard the USS Saufley and from what he tells me part of his tour included circling Cuba during The bay of Pigs aboard the Saufley.

Well Joe shipped a box with his Navy uniform and sailors cap directly to my house where we stashed it away so we could wrap it and have my dad open it for Christmas.

The uniform wouldn’t have even fit me but nephew BJ tried it on while everyone sat around stunned.

It was a great surprise and made this Christmas super special.

Thanks Cousin Joe.


I got an email today from my Dad’s first Cousin Elisa explaining how my Dad’s Navy Uniform ended up in Detroit and about how she spent her days in Gloucester back in the summer of 1963.

Elisa writes-

I am elisa. My mother angela {angelina} was your grandfather (captain joe’s) sister. Your dad is my 1st cousin. I spent a whole summer in gloucester one year when cousin angie ciaramitaro and nick taormina were getting married. Summer of 1963.

I left michigan when school let out in the middle of may and didn’t return home till the 2nd week of september. I spent a lot of time with aunt felicia your grandmother and uncle joe (Captain Joe). I remember packing yarn and needles and walking to cressey’s beach to meet up with her sister anne and other ladies and they would knit sweaters,hats,and booties for who ever was having a baby.

At lunch time we would walk up the hill home and make lunch and drive it to the dock so your father, uncle charlie and grandfather could eat.

It was that summer your dad gave me his navy uniforms. One white and one blue. I have 2 younger brothers ~ joe and carlo. Joe would wear your dad’s unifom and go dressed as a real sailor on halloween.  My mom passed dec of 09 and going through the closets we found what I thought was my dad’s navy uniform and when joe looked inside it had your dads name on it.  Hope you got it ok.  Maybe it might spark a memory for your dad. 

My brothers and I were born in san pedro california (1947~1952) . In the late summer of 52 we moved cross country to gloucester where my mom had her brother joe and a sister mary.  My dad had his brother captain carlo and his sister rose. My mom and dad are both ciaramitaro’s cousins. My mothers parents as you know are carlo ciaramitaro and gerolama brancelone.  My dad’s parents were giuseppe ciaramitaro and elisa tocco.  Carlo and elisa are buried at mt olivet cemetary in detroit.  Gerolema is burried there in gloucester the same one your grandfather is at. I visit the site every time I come to gloucester.     

Me I am totally computer challenged.  I don’t own a computer but I got a smart phone for xmas and am hand pecking on that. I’m loving the goodmorning gloucester web site.  You and your crew are doing a remarkable job for your community.  When I finally semi retire I’ll come down with cousin agostina (she was born there moved here with her mom~mary when her dad died in 1957). We talk about it all the time.  Give my love to everyone especially your mom, dad if he is in a memory mode and angela. 
            Cousin elisa


Thank you for this cousin Elisa.  Dad doesn’t have memory mode moments enough to take this in but I’ll go see him and tell him anyway at the nursing home. 

Did You Know? (Public Access Catwalk)

I love finding public access walkways.  If you don’t know about this one, it is behind Anna Hyatt Huntington’s old studio where she sculpted the famous Joan of Arc statue in 1915, just after you cross the Goose Cove Bridge heading toward Lanesville.

E.J. Lefavour

New Birding Strategy: One Bird at aTime

Last week I was all pumped about my new strategy for learning the birds of Cape Ann. I would keep track of all the birds I could see sitting in one spot on Andrews Point for a year. Epic fail, at least for now. As Greg Bover pointed out to me Sunday over breakfast, there are more birds on Cape Ann in the winter than in the summer. And the fact these little feathered dip-shits change plumage if they are juvenile, one year, two year, adult, mating, molting, dating but not mating and it seemed hopeless. Just my one tiny viewing spot and the common eider, harlequin duck, scoters, maybe buffleheads got me so confused the one female mallard was throwing me off. I might get them straight for ten minutes then forget who was who the next day without my Sibley bird guide in hand.

So, new strategy: One bird at a time until I can identify and relate to that species with my eyes closed. This favors my scientist, beat the small OCD details to death, approach. (Joey calls this my inability to respond to a simple question with a simple answer.) Since I don’t have a long camera lens I can also rely on the kindness of strangers who have good bird blogs.  First up, Harlequin Duck, the premier, cute, winter resident common enough so that all ages of bird can be seen at the same time and the confusion between the juveniles, the one year olds and the female can be sorted out.  I will also stick in “fun facts” that might not be common knowledge but stuff that helps me remember who is who.

Harlequin Duck. Hilke Breder writes a great bird blog One Jackdaw Birding and by clicking the name you go to the post of her Friday the 13th visit this month to Andrews Point. She shot plenty of great photos of the harlequin:

Three males and is that a female or a juvenile male? Answer that in the comments. The one trick to at least keeping scoters, buffleheads and some others that are mingling in out of the picture is that the harlequin always has that one circular dab of white paint behind the eye and the bill stays small.

I sat there for a half hour trying to keep track of a small group of four females and six males. To me it looked like they were very interested in mating. One male would bug the hell out of one female, chasing it relentlessly. But then after giving up, she would follow him! Reading about them, these birds are just being very social (teases) on the winter feeding grounds this time of year. It looked like I was viewing an elementary school playground with hormones on simmer.  Some groping but second base was off limits. (Only over the sweater.)

Fun Facts: Some harlequins have been known to live for 17 years. These data seem very haphazard so the lifespan could be longer for a healthy adult who knows to exit stage right if an eagle shows up. (Eagles eat them, nom nom, crunchy duck.)

Genus Species name: Histrionicus histrionicus  The harlequin common name comes from the Italian jester whose face was painted black and white. After watching them for a while I can see how they were given these weird names. They seem to be goofing on each other with great histrionics.

Mostly monogamous and while they might not go for open marriage like Newt they do seem to follow the “love the one your with” if the old man doesn’t make it back to the same Canadian stream to mate in the summer.

What are they doing on Cape Ann? Harlequins are benthic divers. They dive down using their feet as propulsion and wings out to turn. On Cape Ann they are probably mostly diving down for small mussels but small crabs also get nailed. A scientist with a stopwatch: On average they dive for 26 seconds then pop to the surface for 15 seconds, rinse and repeat. (No, I did not time them, I read it at Cornell’s great website about North American birds.) One last fun fact: Harlequin Duck fossils have been found to be 4.8 million years old. These funny ducks have been here a lot longer than we have.

Check them out now before they all fly to Canada for mating in April. On the other end of Cape Ann right in front of the Gloucester Elks Lodge on the back shore you’ll find some pods along with quite a few other species to confuse you. But you’ll assuredly find a birder out there who will point them out to you. Serious birders are there to spot the elusive King Eider. Approach with caution. Birders also can be full of histrionics. Do you have that memorized yet? You’re welcome.

Capt.John A. Dahlmer 124′ dragger Superior

Hey, Joey,
This may be of interest to some of your older readers and to all my Cape Ann Dahlmer relatives.
The picture if of my grandfather’s (Capt.John A. Dahlmer) 124′ dragger Superior at the Gloucester Machine shop pier off Duncan Street ready for her first trip after 3 years Naval Service in 1945.  The other picture is grandfather on the deck of the Superior in 1932 after her launching as she was being fitted out in Glouceser.
Launched by Arthur D Story in 1932, The US Navy requisitioned her a few months after WWII in 1942.  She was attached to the North Atlantic Sea Defense Command and spent a year on anti-submarine patrol.  Then, she was used by the Navy to deliver gasoline, food and other supplies to allied weather stations on the coasts of Newfoundland and Greenland.  She did her war duty without payment and was returned to grandfather with a certificate of meritorious service during the war.  It’s taken me two years to pry the picture loose from the Navy and I’m still searching for a copy of the certificate.
Regards,
Bill Hubbard

Visit my artists website and Blog at:
http://bill-hubbard.artistwebsites.com

Capt.John A. Dahlmer on SuperiorSuperior,19450002

Help local musician, Brad Byrd, enjoy his success

012412
Rockport’s Brad Byrd has successfully convinced ABC TV to put his songs on their hit comedy Happy Endings, but he can’t DVR the show.  So if he is not home on Wednesday at 9:30pm he misses it.  Watch the video to see how you can help!

Plenty of good music tonight, check it out here.

Chow Down at Stone’s Pub Thursday January 26th to Support the Dog Park

Stone's pub

This Thursday,  January 26, 2012, Stones Pub will donate a portion of all food sales to the Gloucester Dog Park.

Have a great meal and help out the Gloucester Dog Park.

Stones Pub
242 Main Street
www.stonespub.com

 

Bruce Herman buoy honoring Joe Garland

Bruce Herman buoy honoring Joe Garland
Bruce Herman buoy honoring Joe Garland
Bruce Herman buoy honoring Joe Garland

Today’s buoy is a very special one painted by Gloucester painter Bruce Herman in honor of Joe Garland. Not much else to say about it other than thank you to Bruce for this beautiful piece of artwork!

This is the fifth in a series of buoys that are being auctioned off to benefit Art Haven. All the buoys from this year’s lobster trap tree will be auctioned off next Friday, the 27th at Cruiseport Gloucester, including the ones featured here. But you can put your bids in now to get your name in the hat. Again, the details:

-If you like a buoy you see, bidding starts at $20, and you can just bid in the comments section below the post, HOWEVER

-Your bid doesn’t become official until you send Art Haven an email (arthaveninfo@gmail.com) saying you’re serious and letting us know how to get in contact with you.

-Finally, if you’re the highest bidder on the blog, that makes your bid the starting bid at the auction. We’ll be in touch about your max bid if you can’t make it to the auction.

If you’ve got any questions, leave ’em in the comments section. Also, check out the artist buoys on Art Haven’s Facebook page and tell us if there are particular buoys you’d like to see go up here. And remember, your money is helping more kids on Cape Ann have access to crazy fun art activities 🙂  Happy bidding!

Tuesdays at Jalapenos


Hola everyone!
News flash… filling in tonight for J.B. (who was filling in for Dan King): FLY AMERO

This week’s line-up:
Fly Amero, Wolf Ginandes, David Brown & Dave Mattacks
The music, as always, promises be as hot as the Tamales… and as cool as the Margaritas!

WITH DEEPEST REGRETS:
Due to a prior engagement, Sewell Hayes will unfortunately be unable to attend.

Tuesday, January 24… 7 to 9pm
Jalapenos
86 Main Street
Gloucester, MA  01930-5710
978-283-8228