Year: 2013

Chickity Check It!- Life In a Nutshell From Renata Aylward

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Life in a Nutshell

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Renata Aylward – My stories. My way.

Ranata has some nice things to say-

Good morning readers.

Taking the opportunity on this grey and rainy day to let you know about a great blog that I found through a friend. The blog, “Good Morning Gloucester” is helmed by Joey C. (don’t ask me to spell his last name or it will take up all the space I have for this post.) You don’t have to be from Gloucester to enjoy the blog. It is written with wit, humor, love, and a large dose of community involvement. This is a blog with a heart and soul.

for the entire post click here

Ted (Robert Edward) Turner Quote Of The Week From Greg Bover

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

“If I only had a little humility, I’d be perfect.”

Ted (Robert Edward) Turner (1938-     )

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Media mogul, billionaire, philanthropist and sailor, Ted Turner was born in Ohio, but his family moved to Atlanta when he was nine. Educated at The McCallie School and Brown University, from which he was expelled for having a woman in his room, Turner took over a successful billboard business at 24 when his father took his own life. Over the next two decades he parleyed that business into an empire by shrewdly expanding a local television station into the giant TBS cable network, while establishing CNN, the Cartoon Network, TNT, TCM and others. As captain and owner of the sloop Courageous he successfully defended America’s Cup in 1977, beating Australia 4-0. He owns the Atlanta Braves and the Hawks, more land than Rhode Island and Delaware combined, and a herd of 50,000 bison. Famously outspoken, “The Mouth of the South” has pledged a billion dollars to the United Nations Foundation and supports anti-war and environmental causes. Married three times, most recently to Jane Fonda, he now says he has four girlfriends, a situation he describes as “complicated.”

Greg Bover

The Spirit is Unstoppable

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Fred Bodin writes-

his is the fire scene at 91 Washington Street the day after. The Gloucester Fire Department did a textbook-perfect job knocking this fire down. There was damage to the top two floors, and only water damage to our Happy Dumpling restaurant. We were all Blessed!

Their enlarged menu was in the front window. The glass is clean and they’re mopping up. Neighbors and family were coming and going. Thankfully, they’ll open next week. The Happy Dumpling will be fine.

Yes, there was a fire, but this woman’s spirit is fireproof. I only knew her from Joey’s video, and she seemed very nice. When I barged into her water-damaged restaurant this afternoon, I noticed something very special: Twinkle in the eyes, playful demeanor (she stuck her tongue out at me), and is forever moving forward. Go there and you’ll see.

Did You Know? Castle Manor and LePage’s Glue

Posted on by God's Morning

castle manor and lepage glue copy

Did you Know that the Castle Manor Inn at 141 Essex Ave in West Gloucester was originally called Spruce Manor.  The manor was built during the turn of the 20th Century, completed in 1900, taking two years to build.  The cost of its construction was $14,200.00.  The manor was built for Ruben Brooks and his family, a co-founder of LePage’s Glue, then called Russia Cement.  In the foyer of Castle Manor Inn, you will find a glass display case holding samples of LePage’s glues, pastes, cement and tape, as well as some history about the place and a cool Saturday Evening Post ad about LePage’s Signet Permanent Inks .

The 20 room Queen Anne Victorian with its twin turret towers has 10 lovely guest rooms, as well as 16 detached motor lodge units.  They also have an excellent restaurant, Seaglass @ The Castle, serving breakfast daily from 7-10:00am and weekends from 8:00am-noon, and dinner served daily from 4:00pm in their elegant wood paneled dining rooms, or on their romantic wrap-around porch.  I had an excellent veggie omelette there yesterday, which, as always, I dove into before remembering to take a photo, so it is half-eaten looking.  They also have a grand sheltered function deck with lovely marsh river views and a picturesque gazebo.  The deck can accommodate up to 120 guests for weddings, business conferences, meetings and celebrations of all types.  For more info, visit www.castlemanorinn.com

E.J. Lefavour

 

Celebrating Richard’s Life From Kathy Chapman

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Celebrating Richard’s Life

Nancy Gaines (wearing Richard’s jacket) with her son (Richard’s stepson) Sam at a gathering of friends and family after Richard Gaine’s service at Greeley’s Funeral Home. He will be sorely missed. A public memorial will be announced soon.

Photo © Kathy Chapman 2013

Thank You April Smith!!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Yesterday while at CATV making copies of my film, Beeman School 1st grader April Smith lent a hand by agreeing to be my focus group that afternoon. Her candid response to the film, “I loved it!” When I asked what her favorite part was, she first said the music (thanks to my darling daughter Liv for providing the vocals and dear friend Kathleen for the accompanying pipe organ), and then she added she also liked the butterflies and caterpillars. I guess that just about covers all!  Thanks April!!

April Smith ©Kim Smith 2013

And special, special thanks to Andrew Love and April’s Mom, Lisa. Lisa, very graciously, has been sharing the Final Cut editing station (located smack dab in the middle of her hectic office at CATV) with me for the past several weeks.  Andrew once again provided much appreciated assistance with editing and techno problems.

P.S. April was not playing hookey; she was missing school because of a miserable head cold.

Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Premiere

14 live shows ~ decks, schooners, restaurants, bars ~ music all day!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

One of the best reasons to live in Gloucester is that when the weather finally turns nice, it’s outdoor music galore.  Case in point: today you can soak in music on 4 decks, a schooner, at Shalin Liu with the ocean backdrop and a dozen restaurants/bars, many on the water and/or with outside dining.  Here’s a taste of Michael O’Leary singing Celtic music on the Lannon.  Not sure if there are any tickets left for today’s music sail, but you can call 978-281-6634 and find out.

After the sail, get ready to dance & party with Boston Magazine’s Best Local Band, Three Day Threshold at the Rhumb Line tonight at 9.  Here’s a video of them at the Paradise in Boston.  Video sound isn’t great, but you get the idea (click here if you want good sound).

Having these guys in Gloucester is BIG.

See complete live music lineup here.

Allen & Dylan Estes on 104.9 Father’s Day Radio Show SUN @ 9AM

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Aurelia Nelson, host of Curtain Up on North Shore 104.9 invited Allen Estes and his son, Dylan, for her special Father’s Day show that will air tomorrow, SUNDAY, at 9am.

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L-R: Aurelia Nelson, Dylan Estes, Allen Estes

They perform together and talk about the role of music in their lives — and ours.  It’s worth getting up early for.

Then you can see Allen at the Rhumb Line with Orville Giddings at 8pm — a great way to wind up Father’s Day weekend!

LOCAL28 – MILE MARKER 1 – SAT. JUNE 15 – 8PM

Posted on by Joanne

local28

http://local28.wordpress.com/

MileMarkerheaderA

http://www.milemarkerone.com/

brad byrd and band ~ Madfish Grille ~ Saturday 9:30-12:00

Posted on by Joanne

brad byrd madfish

Brad Byrd and band will bring in the SUMMER! Madfish Grille, 77 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, Saturday, June 15th 9:30pm-Midnight.

 Brad Byrd, Leo Ciaramitaro, Donnie Knowels and Jimmy Clarizia

http://www.bradbyrdofficial.com/#

madfish

http://www.themadfishgrille.com/

Congratulations To Kathleen Powers Morgan (Erickson) and Robert Morgan!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Just wanted to let you all know that Robert Morgan (co-owner with me of Savour Wine and Cheese) and I were married last Wednesday, June 5 in a lovely, intimate ceremony in beautiful Sedona, Arizona.  Feel free to stop by and extend your best wishes!  If you see Bob, be sure to say "hello!"


By the Oak Creek, where we held a small reception at L’ Auberge with four of our children.

wedding vows

Exchanging vows in the small Spanish chapel at Tlaquepaque.

sedona panorama

Panoramic view of Sedona from the helicopter

sedona cactus

Cactus in bloom on Airport Mesa

Kathleen Powers Morgan (Erickson)

Co-Owner of Savour Wine and Cheese

76 Prospect St. Gloucester, MA 01930

Junque & Disorderly

Posted on by Matthew Green

Looking back at the places I’ve reviewed so far, we have Second Glance (a little bit of every kind of item, including a significant clothes section, but more thrifty and less antiques), St. John’s Thrift Shop (also a wide variety, very affordable prices, located right in downtown Gloucester), The Sequined Fan (specializing more in exotic and beautiful items for around the house or for wearing), and Pearl’s (with more emphasis on small furniture, although also with a variety of  other items). Now, for a store that is more focused on antiques, large and small: Junque & Disorderly!

JDLocated at 57 Washington Street, this is properly an “antiques and collectibles” store, as the sign indicates.  They have a wide range of items for the household, from trinkets to furniture.  It is a large space, and a shared venue for several different dealers, so the price range varies.  I was amazed at some of the deals! If I had more space (and a little more money), I’d have walked out with a beautiful wooden set of dining room furniture, a mantle clock, etc…  They also have nice paintings and framed photos and things of that sort. I almost bought a nice reproduction of Murillo’s “Immaculate Conception” with a hand-painted (faux gilded) wooden frame, but I already have more religious images than space to show them!

Their hours are:
Mon – Tue: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

– Matthew Green

Note: I am on vacation for about 10 days. I have material for a few more posts in this series, but I probably will have to interrupt it for a few days until I get back. In the meantime I’ll share some photos from vacation!

 

Tweet of The Day From FOB Brooke

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

 

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Here’s Brooke at Happy Dumplings waiting in line just before the place went up in smoke and she was left on the street, hungry and dumplingless.

Plum Cove Beach Re-opened for swimming according to City of Gloucester website

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Frank McCall submits-

Hi Joey,
My wife and I moved to the Lanesville area of Gloucester last September and we’re loving it! We met you and your wife at one of the recent Savour Wine and Cheese Open Tables. What a fantastic meal!
I saw that you posted yesterday about the closure of Plum Cove Beach. I thought you might want to let folks know that the beach has been re-opened (according to the City of Gloucester website). Here is a link to the announcement: http://gloucester-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=498 .

PLUM COVE BEACH RE-OPENED FOR SWIMMING

June 14, 2013, 1:00 PM

Based on preliminary results of samples taken at Plum Cove Beach on June 13, 2013, the Gloucester Health Department is lifting the swimming ban related to the elevated enterococci levels from samples taken June 11, 2013.

Current enterococci levels are less than ten colony-forming units (CFUs) for the sample, well below the limits set by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s bathing beach standards.

The Department will return to its regular sampling schedules. For more information and updates, please visit the city website at http://www.gloucester-ma.gov or please contact:

Max Schenk
Manager – Environmental Health Services
Gloucester Health Department
978-282-8025

I was at the beach at sunset tonight while walking my dog. Here are a couple of photos.

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Community Stuff 6/15/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Thacher Island Association Annual Meeting.

Thacher -Straitsmouth

The public is invited on Monday June 17, at the Rockport Community House, Broadway, Rockport, 7:30pm.
Learn more about both Thacher and Straitsmouth Islands, how you can come for a visit, become a member or a volunteer. We will have a special presentation on the past year’s accomplishments and our future plans. Admission is free!

Publish America is proud to announce the release of a new novel by one of our most prolific authors.  Barry Stacks, who was born and raised in Gloucester, Massachusetts, once again has delivered to us an original story that takes place in and around his hometown and Cape Ann.  Tucker Norman (pronounced Tuckah Nawmin), much like the author of this fantastic voyage, is a man who’s been trying to get back home for five decades.  After retiring from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, where he’d been a detective, Tucker finally realizes his dream.  Within the first few days of returning home Tucker finds that his best childhood friend is now the Chief of Detectives for the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, and Tucker finds himself drawn into a criminal case that’s filled with intrigue and mystery.

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     In describing this action packed thriller and murder mystery, the books editor, Paige Kippen Holmes said, “Be prepared for Top Dog mystery and romance from this new guy in town; Tucker Norman will capture your curiosity and your heart at warp speed!” As the author has always done, the story has twists and turns that stretch the readers imagination like a rubber band be pulled out to its limits.  For those readers who’ve long since left Cape Ann in your rearview mirrors you’ll find the story transports you back to the streets of your youth.  For the readers who still call Cape Ann home, you’ll find images of this familiar geographical setting floating through your head as you turn the pages.

     For information about other books penned by our author please visit his website, Gloucesterlostboy.com.  To speak directly with Barry he can be reached via e-mail at Lostboy1007@tampabay.rr.com. 

Sandy Bay Apothecary

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Hi Joey –

We are ready to go public :)  Well, the town is already buzzing about it  – but we haven’t put the word out in print yet…

My husband and I are purchasing the land at Blue Gate Gardens in Rockport and will be building a brand new, independent pharmacy (Sandy Bay Apothecary)!

Here is the catch – we need approval from the Rockport Board of Appeals to put the business on the lot.  Although the Wonson family has been operating their business there for over 35 years, the lot is zoned residential and we will need to request a special permit for our own business.

Can you help spread the word?  The meeting is Tuesday June 25th, 7:30 pm at the Rockport Library, 2nd Floor.

Just a background:  My husband, Nenad, has been the Pharmacy Manager at Rite Aid in Rockport for 7 years.  He has a strong connection with the community and has always dreamed of opening his own pharmacy.  By building our own space, we can provide our customers with a handicap accessible bathroom with changing area and a private consultation room for medical questions – both of which are not available to customers at other pharmacy locations locally.  We will offer a pharmacy area as well as a great front store – which will have a small selection of perishable and non-perishable grocery items (think salads, wrap sandwiches, soups, etc – made and sourced locally).

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks!
Amber

Longtime Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Minister to Retire on June 30th, 2013

The Reverend Wendy Fitting will step down from the pulpit of the Independent Christian Church of Gloucester, on Sunday, June 30th after she gives her final sermon as the minister at 10 a.m. The church is located in the heart of Gloucester’s Historic District and is the home of America’s first Universalist Society. Fitting will be the second longest serving pastor in the history of church, founded by Rev. John Murray in 1779. Fitting came to the church in 1989, bringing a vibrant and inclusive vision of what a modern Unitarian Universalist church could be in Gloucester.  From a position of thinking about disbanding and shutting down services, the church, under Fitting’s watch, grew and thrived. The church now has an active and engaged membership that represents the whole spectrum of the city, including fishing industry workers, artists, new immigrants, and long term residents from a wide variety of backgrounds. Preaching often with only an outline and notes, Rev. Fitting was able to appeal to the head and heart of the parishioners with an amazing range and depth of ideas.

Rev. Fitting will remain in Gloucester and pursue other interests.

A celebration of her tenure as pastor of the UU Church will follow at a private home. For information on tickets, contact the church office at (978) 283-3410 or email gloucesteruu@earthlink.net.

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Don’t Forget To Check Out Our Buddy Beth Williams-

We’ve had a lot of rain recently and it’s time for a break!  Luckily the forecast for this evening and the weekend is a good one. I wanted to send this quick reminder of where I’ll be this weekend and the next.

Art in the Barn this weekend!

June 13 – 16, 2013:  Greenbelt’s 24th Annual Art in the Barn, Essex, MA

Studio Tour next weekend!

June 22 & 23, 2013: Cape Ann Artisans Open Studios, Gloucester, MA (my studio)

Later this summer…

July 3 – July 22, 2013:  Rocky Neck Gallery Summer Artists Series

September 29, 2013:   seARTS Celebrate Wearable Art II

Visit my  Shows   page for more info on any of these shows.

Beth

www.bethwilliams.com   &  www.changeabead.com