Rick Terselic submits-
Hi Joey: There was a significant amount of friction between the folks
on Pavilion Beach during the Greasy Pole competitions this weekend.
I’m of the old school that says standing room only! The sitters were
not only taking up more than their share of beach, they were yelling
(cursing at times) at anyone who was blocking their view. From what I
witnessed each afternoon it could have easily resulted in a rumble
many times over. How about setting up a poll and let’s see what the
GMG Community thinks about this issue? Viva!! Rick Terselic
I’m not sure there should even be a debate about this. If it’s standing room only it’s standing room only during the Greasy Pole and Seine boat races. Obviously if you have some old folks that can’t stand up you move to the side for them but people really can’t expect the whole beach to part for them o have direct sight lines to the pole if everyone else is standing up. that’s just plain ridiculous.
But we’ll poll it anyway and leave your comments below in the comment section.
Good Morning Gloucester 
my opinion, we are so lucky we live here…
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We encountered a very nasty group of sitters. Who sits at Greasy Pole? At high tied???? Selfish and angry folk. Buzz killahs
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I had one particularly nasty woman sitter who got right in my face, yelling and screaming.
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This is a public safety issue, and the best way for the issue to be resolved is thru the GPD. I’m sorry this happened to you, GMG contributors, FOBs, and the public. I’m guessing that beach chairs on the sand will be prohibited in the future for these events. If I were a visitor on the beach, and someone screamed in my face, I’d never come back. We’re better than that Gloucester.
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I didn’t vote for either choice. I think that people in chairs who display a handicapped placard should be helped to move to the front of the crowd if the tide is going out. If the tide is coming in, they should also be assisted in moving their chairs back. Otherwise, stand up from your chair to see the action, just like at concerts, Fenway Park, the Garden, and for the Pats. Nobody owns a clear sightline to the event because they brought a beach chair. That’s crazy! A similar situation existed at the Horribles Parade, where people would set up their chairs or park their trucks days in advance along the parade route. Thanks to the GPD for stopping that. Rick Terselic’s post may motivate our new Police Chief to address this situation.
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Pavilion Beach Event Sitting Rule – Sitters must keep their feet in the water at all times.
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Yes Manny, you are so right!
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I thought the sitters on the beach were ridiculous and not locals. I got down front with my child and was told “I’ve been here for an hour and you’re going to stand there.” Told them yes and stood there.” Dead high tide and you only had 20 or so feet from water to parking lot. I didn’t see one familiar face actually sitting on their butts tying to watch the events. Our little secret is secret no more. Going to get even tighter next time there is such a high tide and the hotel is running.
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lets be considerate of others, no room for sitters
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My family also experienced this problem…ppl swearing and yelling at us for.being in there way while they were sitting….it got me so angry…..also ppl yelling bc our children were playing and getting in th e way sorry its a beach bring children on the beach and they will play….seriously I was loosing my last nerve….my husband has walked the greasy pole for the past 12 years and we will watch on the beach and my children will play as they anxiously wait and watch……..my vote standing unless elderly, handicapped, or pregnant
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Right on Brieana. My sentiments exactly. I have no doubt that this will change. Who needs this stress on a public beach. Mayor Kirk will decide and the Chief of Police Campanello will take care of this. Gloucester is better than this.
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I have been standing to watch the events my whole life. However, this year I needed to bring a chair due to illness. I knew before I got there that my view would be blocked by standers. My solution was to stand up for the walkers I wanted to see and sit when I got tired. For all those people standing in front of me, it’s their right. I just took a picture of their backsides. LOL. The view from my seat.
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Sorry to hear about our illness Novia. Your solution is an excellent one.
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Take one vote off of the pro-sitter response and add it to the standers — I accidentally hit the wrong response! This situation is directly opposite my belief and experience that Gloucester has the friendliest, most helpful people anywhere.
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For over many years since the saine boat races ( Mid 30’s) and greasy pole was erected ( except two years got knocked down after Hurricane and Vertical mast erected on sand in front of Mighty Mac Building ) people have stood (or seated on walls & rocks ). During a high tide luck to fit on the beach. I agree if handicapped, accommodate these people; but the rest STAND UP AND SHUT UP!
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Joey – can you put this on CAO, too? I saw a number of sitters giving people grief at Saturday’s GP. Ridiculous!
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Cathy doesn’t like me spamming cap with GMG posts so I try to respect her wishes as its her board
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Another reason I avoid the masses, to many people with no class or the ability to function around other people. Any more than 10 people and I’m out. Society has gone right down the shitter.
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I don’t really like signs, but I think one should be erected for the Greasy Pole events that states Standing Room Only, per order of the GDP, with exceptions for the handicapped. We saw a ton of near fist fights over standing/sitting on all three days–men and women both. The sitters were definitely not local, but it will give Gloucester a reputation for rudeness because other out of towners won’t understand that the selfish, angry types are not local. If there was a temporary sign posted, everyone could point to that and say simply these are the rules during a crowded event.
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Wow, I’ve never witnessed that behavior down there but I’ve heard about it from enough people that I guess it’s a “thing”
Damn that stinks
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Thom remarked that Sunday’s crowd was the biggest crowd he had ever seen on Pavilion Beach.
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Thank you Joey & GMG for this forum, and everyone else for participating in this discussion. We’ll all agree that bad publicity & personal injury (resulting from a beach fight over this issue) is the last thing we’d want associated with The Pole on the major news networks; so I’d hope that all the above suggestions be carefully considered by city leaders, police, and Fiesta planners — including explaining the standing only policy (except for those who suffer disabilities, of course) repeatedly by the event announcer. Fame can bring unexpected problems but I believe with some thought & preparation this one is manageable. Viva!!
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