Month: September 2013

City Of Gloucester Police Chief Len Campanello Reflects on His First Year and Looks Forward To the Next With The Good Morning Gloucester Readership

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

Just thought I would drop a note to your readers as my first year as Chief of Police comes to an end. It has gone by very fast and first and foremost, I want to thank the City Administration, the officers and staff of the Gloucester Police Department, and most of all the residents of Gloucester for their assistance, guidance, and support throughout the year. Whether it was a hurricane, a super storm, an earthquake, flooding or any crisis we faced, the support has been tremendous and I truly appreciate it.

We have accomplished a lot in the past year. We have addressed some of the major issues that the Police Department faced and have worked diligently at forming collaborations with the community in as many ways possible. We have also started to change to a philosophy of what we are calling “alternative policing” in keeping with the needs and desires of the community. Alternative policing entertains the notion that the police have many options, not simply arrest, in dealing with situations and we need to develop as many partnerships as possible with the community in order to take advantage of all of them. From an in-house perspective, we’ve made some changes, both tangible and philosophical, that should bode well in the future. These include changes in our command structure, accountability, policy and procedure, training, Records Management, and IT support. While the list of all changes is probably too long for me to write down here, I welcome any discussions your readers would like to have with me regarding any issues, or changes that are being made.

Coming up, we have our second Citizens Police Academy gearing up for October 15 and I’d invite your readers to apply. It will be twice a week for four weeks and encompass just about everything we do on a daily basis (we include tours of Middleton Jail as well as Ride-Alongs and an opportunity to fire our service weapons). This is a great way for police and residents to interacts in a positive atmosphere. Please call the station and ask for Lt. John McCarthy for more info. We will also unveil our SAFEWATCH program, designed to assist in interactions between the police and those who may have a mental issue which would otherwise make an encounter with police inflammatory. SAFEWATCH also assists in returning those who would have a propensity to wander back to their safe environment. We are partnering with Cape Ann NAMI ( National Association of Mental Illness) on this. We are excited to be at the forefront of building positive relations with this segment of the population, and their families who often live with fear that something may happen to their loved ones. We will be addressing drug issues in very noticeable ways, with the ideas of Alternative Policing in mind. Coupling with my previously mentioned strategy of zero tolerance for drug dealers, help for drug users, and cooperation with the community, we have forged a strong partnership with Healthy Gloucester Collaborative and are working regionally with communities such as Danvers and Beverly to share ideas and blanket this problem so that we address the issue from all angles. Another first for Gloucester.

On a daily basis, we continue to work on quality of life issues and plans for addressing issues with animal control, neighborhood disturbances, and concerns surrounding our reservoirs and quarries. Over the winter months we will be developing strategy with the DPW and Environmental Engineering to help solve some of these QoL issues.

Joey, thank you for all your support this past year and for providing me with an outlet to reach so many in Gloucester, and a very heartfelt thanks to your readers, whose engagement of their community makes my job so much more fulfilling. I’m very honored to be here and look forward to serving you in the coming year. I encourage your readers to contact me at anytime with questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Lenny

Leonard Campanello

Chief of Police

City of Gloucester, MA

Last Chance! Chamber Draws $10,000 Winner In Just 4 Days!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

image

Only 50 Tickets Left for the $25,000 Game presented by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.

The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce’s 33rd Annual $25,000 Game is now underway with the winning tickets to be drawn this Thursday, October 3 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at The Gloucester House, 63 Rogers Street.  This event, co-chaired by Bill Scott of Scott Energy and Tony Taliadoros of Tony Tally Auto Sales, Inc., is a celebration where $25,000 in cash, a 50/50 raffle, live music and door prizes will be awarded!

Tickets are $100 and are available for sale now at the Chamber office at 33 Commercial Street in Gloucester. Don’t miss out! Get yours today! Each ticket admits two participants to the event however; you do not have to be present to win! 

Cash Prizes:        1st Prize – $10,000
2nd Prize – $5,000
3rd Prize – $2,500
4th Prize – $1,000 each with 6 lucky winners chosen
5th Prize – $500 each with 3 lucky winners chosen

Total: $25,000

With only 500 tickets sold, don’t miss out on the best odds in town! If you would like to find out more about the event or to get your ticket, please visit www.capeannchamber.com or call the Chamber office at 978-283-1601.

Manchester Essex Vs. Georgetown Friday night

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Lowell Peabody submits-

The Manchester Essex Hornets took on traditional Thanksgiving Day opponent Georgetown in a regular season game Friday night in Manchester. The Hornets came away with a strong 28-12 win and moved to 2-1 on the season (1-0 Cape Ann League) Below #12Captain and Senior Chris Dumont is caught by a Georgetown player in a touchdown saving grab. The Hornet defense swarms the Georgetown runner and holds them to a small gain. After a 36 yard touchdown run, Sophomore Chris Carr (#29) carries the ball in for a two point conversion. Junior Craig Carter Quarterback (#10) gets great pass protection and #52 (take my word for it) shows #7 what it takes to get ready for the program.

MERHS01MERHS02MERHS03MERHS04MERHS05

Your Dream and The Fog

Posted on by God's Morning

fog

These are segments of writings by Nanice Ellis, a spiritual teacher who for me anyway always gives the perfect teaching at the perfect time.  Her segment about fog arrived in my email the day before I encountered the fog bow.  I believe one or more of you dreamers out there might benefit from reading this.

“Your dreams and desires are not random or accidental.  They are specifically chosen just for you.

It might seem as if they originate in your own mind, but this is merely the means in which Life communicates to you.

Life is living consciousness that speaks to you through giving you a personal dream and the inspiration to fulfill that dream.  The dream which you are given is the spiritual blue print for your life.  You are not required to follow this blue print or fulfill the dream, but when you do, your happiness level is increased, and when you don’t, it feels as if something is missing.  Your dream is your purpose, or at the very least contains the seeds of your purpose.  When followed, the dream unfolds into the divine plan for your life, ultimately leading you to your Best Life Destiny

If you have a dream, you already have, or will acquire, everything that you need in order to fulfill that dream.

Think of your personal dream as part of the Great Puzzle for humanity.  As you fulfill your dream, you complete a piece of the puzzle.  Your completed puzzle piece joins with others who have also followed their dreams, and as the pieces come together, the Great Puzzle is completed.  This is the beginning of the New Earth; the collective dream of peace, harmony, freedom and abundance for every being on this planet.

You can be, do, or have anything that you desire. The key is clarifying what you desire and taking concrete steps to align with your dream. It means getting out of your own way, releasing fear, doubt and destructive emotional and mental habits. It means becoming the you who has already realized the dream. It means getting focused yet releasing control of the wheel so that the power of the Universe can assist you in every possible way.

Step 1 – Gain Clarity and Insight

Step 2 – Release personal blocks and dis-empowering beliefs

Step 3 – Align with your dream, desire or purpose
Step 4 – Take inspired action
Step 5 – Invoke the power of the Universe to work on your behalf

When your dream seems out of reach, don’t stop believing. Believe even more.”

”Often when we approach the realization of our dreams, there is great fog before the top of the mountain.  Many turn back upon reaching the fog, in disbelief that their dreams are near or even possible.

The fog is not the time to turn back and give up.  The fog is the time to recommit to your dream, and keep going.  Just because you can’t see the mountain top doesn’t mean it is not there.  Think about where fog resides …does it not hover just below the peak of the mountain?

How many turn back just because they believe circumstance or conditions?  Circumstances and conditions are not to be believed; they are lies, they are deceptive, they are designed by life to separate the real dreamers from the lazy.

What it takes to pass the fog is becoming the person who is already on top of the mountain,
looking down on the path that got him there, in reverence, respect and gratitude, for he knows that it was the path that molded him into the person he had to become in order to realize the dream.

The realization of the dream always comes with sacrifice – sacrifice of disbelief, doubt, self-criticism, ego, self pity, and ones past self.  No one makes it to the mountain top with any of these inner burdens.

The fog represents all that the dreamer has carried with him up to this point.  The fog seems heavy and impassable, but fog is just fog.  It is intangible.  Try to capture a jar of fog.  It is impossible.  There is nothing there, nothing to hold on to.

To make it to the top of the mountain, in dream realization, one must let go of everything that clouds his vision, and as he does, the clouds lift and the fog is gone.  Often one realizes that he is only steps from the top of the mountain.”

Can We Get The Gigantic Rubber Duck to Gloucester Harbor?

Posted on by Paul T Morrison & RD

You never know until you try. Rubber Duck and Homie want to see the giant Rubber Duck in Gloucester Harbor so they have set up a Facebook Page to collect “likes”. If we get a few thousand “likes” then maybe we try to convince the caretakers of the Rubber Duck that the next east coast visit should be in Gloucester. If you watch the Pirates and the Reds play the National League Wild Card game tomorrow night you might catch a glimpse of Giant Rubber Duck outside PNC Park in Pittsburgh. She will be there for the next several weeks.

Imagine this photo below is the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge. Now go and “like” the page. Tell your friends. We need thousands of likes before we can ask the Rubber Duck to make the trip.

rubber duckpitt

ZINNIAS!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Zinnia elegans ©Kim Smith 2013 copyZinnia elegans

We L-O-V-E zinnias, not only because they flower non-stop from late June through the first frost, but because they also attract myriad species of bees and butterflies to their tiny yellow center florets (disk flowers). The singles are best for attracting pollinators as it is easier for the butterflies and bees to find their way to the sweet nectar.

Like all members of the Asteraceae (Aster Family), zinnias are comprised of two types of flowers; the center florets are called disk flowers and the outer petals are called ray flowers.

The wildflower zinnia that grows in the deserts of Mexico and southwestern United States, from which most hybrids developed, is a simple daisy-like flowerhead with pinkish purple ray flowers and yellow disk flowers.

Zinnia elegans

An old fashioned common name for zinnias is Youth-on-Age because they continue to produce new flowers as the older blossoms are expiring.

Gran Prix of Gloucester

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin
As a first time spectator, I was very impressed. Professionally run and organized. The racers are dedicated to what they do.
As a first time spectator, I was very impressed. Professionally run and organized. The racers are dedicated to what they do.
It was amazing to that these men and women compete, although I was only there for the last race. This guy is was totally engaged with the curve and the course.
It was amazing to that these men and women compete, although I was only there for the last race. This guy is was totally engaged with the curve and the course.
This "Cross" is dusty and great event. Our harbor is in the background. Part of the course is to dismount and run your bikes up four or five steps, and then mount up and speed on. What fun!
This “Cross” is dusty and great event. Our harbor is in the background. Part of the course is to dismount and run your bikes up four or five steps, and then mount up and speed on. What fun!
This huge rock has a bronze tablet recognizing Gloucester's first settlement here in 1623. It's a great spot to go and picnic, and view any activity below. I bet these are mostly locals up there. We love this event.
This huge rock has a bronze tablet recognizing Gloucester’s first settlement here in 1623. It’s a great spot to go and picnic, and view any activity below. I bet these are mostly locals up there. We love this event.
The finish. The winner was Jeremy Powers of the our Berkshire's Easthampton, Massachusetts. If you think this is a "local race," guess again. It's a USA and World class event. Big bicycling and clothing companies are behind it, and the competitors come from all over the country and the world to compete in these races.
The finish. The winner was Jeremy Powers of the our Berkshire’s Easthampton, Massachusetts. If you think this is a “local race,” guess again. It’s a USA and World class event. Big bicycling and clothing companies are behind it, and the competitors come from all over the country and the world to compete in these races.
This is Jeremy Powers, 1st place winner. He was surrounded by cameras from various biking media, and of course I barged in. Jeremy was friendly and graceful. He is winner of Cyclo-Cross World Championships in Louisville. Good luck to you all, men and women cyclists, and we hope to see you next year in Gloucester.
This is Jeremy Powers, 1st place winner. He was surrounded by cameras from various biking media, and of course I barged in. Jeremy was friendly and graceful. He is winner of Cyclo-Cross World Championships in Louisville. Good luck to you all, men and women cyclists, and we hope to see you next year in Gloucester.

Community Photos 9/30/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
Mr. Lincoln is to show scale…

very small gifts Winking smile

photo-9

Sailing Past The Boston Skyline, photo by Anthony Marks

Sailing past The Boston Skyline

Busy weekend at the Gloucester Marine Railway from Mary Barker

Hi Joey,

Friday was a busy at at Gloucester  Marine Railway.
The Roseway is up on the rails.  Her crew are busy taking down her rigging in preparation for her masts being pulled on Monday morning (for inspection).
The Phyllis A is minus a few boards right now as she continues to be rehab’s.
I was able to capture some shotsof the Liberty Star as she was being lifted out.
You can see the Roseway’s crew up in the rigging beyond the Liberty Star in the last shot.
How nice to see 5 wooden boats (the Adventure and Highlander Sea as well) at the GMR.

Janet Rice submits-

Hi Joey-

I work for Annabelles PetCare in Gloucester. So, of course, I noticed how the dogs were enjoying the Cyclocross Races at Stage Fort Park just as much as their humans were!

Best-Janet

DSC04091DSC04127DSC04131DSC04138

Joey,

Took this today, it was just gorgeous from Rocky Neck today! Hope you will share. 🙂

Sue Ann Pearson

Sailboat at E Point

Hi Joey

Don’t know if you have room for a couple of shots I took this morning at Rust Island with my new Sony NEX-5 camera.  Great features.

Thanks for the tip. 

Sandy Chadwick

Annisquam River at Sunrise 9/29/13Annisquam Rive and Buoy No. 30 Sunrise 9/29/13

Community Stuff 9/29/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey,

The Gloucester Education Foundation awarded the Gloucester Public School District $143,000 for programs for the 2013-2014 school year as part of GEF’s Fall funding cycle. 

GEF Check Presentation

Pictured from left to right are Dr. RIchard Safier, GPSD Superintendent; Christina Raimo, GEF Executive Director; Maggie Rosa, GEF President; and Jonathan Pope, Gloucester School Committee Chairman.

September 26, 2013…Gloucester, Mass.— The Gloucester Education Foundation (GEF) has awarded a total of $143,000 in funding to the Gloucester Public School District (GPSD) for a variety of programs at all of Gloucester’s seven elementary, middle and high schools for the 2013-14 school year.  GEF’s Board President, Maggie Rosa, and Executive Director, Christina Raimo, made the check presentation to the District at the September 25 meeting of the Gloucester School Committee.
Among the programs being supported through GEF’s funding this year are:
·    a new “wet lab” at the O’Maley Innovation Middle School to provide students with hands-on experiences in studying the life sciences;
·    the week-long Summer Engineering Adventure, which sent 40 Gloucester students to explore the laboratories on the Cambridge campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
·    scientific field studies, ballroom dance instruction, and drama productions at all of Gloucester’s elementary schools;
·    the addition of a ShopBot® digital router to the Cabinet Design & Innovation program at Gloucester High School;
·    a new District-wide visiting artist program;
·    Soundfields® amplification systems for all elementary Grade 2 classrooms;
·    summer preparatory classes for students taking advanced-placement courses in chemistry, English literature and composition, history and economics;
·    the O’Maley Afterschool Program;
·    participation by Gloucester High School teachers in the Building Learning Communities Conference, held in Boston in July and the May 1 education forum held in Gloucester.
–MORE—
“GEF is pleased to be able to provide this level of support to the Gloucester Public School District for enriching and innovative programs that stimulate learning in all of Gloucester’s students. While this award represents the lion’s share of GEF’s sponsorship for 2013/2014 we will be providing additional grants in the spring. ” said Dr. Rosa.  “We are so fortunate to have the support of our very generous community, which makes all of these programs possible,” she added.
Gloucester Education Foundation is a nonprofit community-based 501(c)3 organization that is made up of individuals who are committed to maintaining a culture of excellence within the Gloucester Public School District. GEF works with educators, school administrators and with other organizations to generate support for programs and practices that will inspire and excite a sense of learning and exploration among all students.  Since its founding in 2005, GEF has provided more than $2.7 million for programs in the Gloucester Public School District.

 

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GloucesterCast Sept 29, 2013 With Guest John Sarrouf and Host Joey Ciaramitaro

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

GloucesterCast Sept 29, 2013 With Guest John Sarrouf and Host Joey Ciaramitaro

Topics Include Gloucester Conversations, Fuller School Dialogue, Best Sub Joint In Gloucester,Favorite Gloucester Cultural Events, Favorite Restaurants and More

For More Information about Gloucester Conversations-

http://www.publicconversations.org/gloucester

To sign up and be part of the dialogue-

email gloucester@publicconversations.org