Month: March 2014

GMG FOB Catherine N. Gunn Shares St. Joseph Feast Photos!

Posted on by Sista Felicia

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One of the most beautiful traditions of  hosting a St. Joseph Altar, is the act of welcoming in others,  “who we refer to as Orphans” to join our families to celebrate the feast and all it’s festivities.  Several years ago Catherine N. Gunn was invited to join Crocetta Gropp’s  family and friends during their annual 9 day Feast Of San Giuseppe. They welcomed her into their families celebration and all it’s preparation’s with open arms, and she quickly became part of Crocetta’s core team. Catherine is one of many who help cook, clean, and entertain the hundreds of guests that visit the Groppo Families’ Altar each year.  I happen to know Catherine personally and she has shared her wonderful experiences of being at the Groppo family home over the past several years.  She has expressed how much she looks forward to this celebratory time with  her “adoptive Sicilian Family” each year!  As the  hostess of our families altar and this wonderful deep rooted tradition of welcoming people, I know exactly how  both Crocetta and Catherine’s heart feels sharing their devotion to St. Joseph together … Family, Friendship,  Food and Faith is a beautiful thing… Viva !

Crab Meat Scampi

Posted on by Sista Felicia

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Tuesday evening Eric Lorden owner of Passports Restaurant and Alicia Cox owner of Mamie’s Kitchen took over my kitchen for a few hours, during the St. Joseph Trolley celebration at my home! Eric and Alicia teamed up and whipped up a few crab meat dishes for our guest using  5 lb. of fresh crab meat Cousin Joey Marcantonio dropped off  earlier that afternoon while I was on the St. Joseph Trolley ride with the Godmother of Gloucester “Sefatia.  Alicia prepared dozens of delicious crab cakes, while Eric prepared a yummy crab meat scampi. Thank you Eric, Alicia and cousin Joey that was an awesome treat! 

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Click see more for my Crab Scampi recipe!

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Continue reading “Crab Meat Scampi” →

This is me and dogs.

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Only I would have totally been eaten because I would have passed out after crapping my pants.

Icelandic Horses even wait for spring in Essex

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

These horses born in Iceland, now living in Essex, await the warm weather, after this winter.IMG_8659

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GMG PR Person Of The Year- Tina Ketchopolos

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I’d like to hereby recognize Addison Gilbert’s PR Maven Tina Ketchopolos as this year’s GMG favorite Press Release writer.

First off posting all the press releases for the hundreds of community organizations is a ton of work.  I do it because I know people appreciate it and I hear from enough of the readership that tell me that if they didn’t read every day’s “Community Stuff” post they wouldn’t know about 3/4 of the things happening around town.

The reason I’m recognizing Tina is for several reasons.

1) When Tina writes a press release she doesn’t make it too wordy, gets right to the who, what, when, where and ends it.  I don’t have to go back in and re-edit it.  I don’t have to chop out all the extra stuff many PR people add in because somehow they think that people want to read their mission statement on every press release they send out.  What many other PR people don’t get but Tina does, is that when you add in all that extra boilerplate at the end of the Press Release and if I included it, readers would recognize it as the same boilerplate that you served them up last week and scroll right past it, not reading what you wrote.

2) When Tina sends me a press release I rarely ever get a follow up email 6 hours later asking for an edit.  She gets it done right the first time, every time.  I have a list of about 7 different PR people who send things in that I know inevitably as soon as I take the time to edit and schedule their press release for the following day and press the upload button, I will get a follow up email asking me to change things around because they got stuff wrong in the original Press release that they sent.   One time doing this OK, no problem but there are certainly the habitual offenders that drive me and I’m sure the Community Event publishers at other newspapers and media outlets- nuts.  Posting press releases is not creative work, it is providing a free service.  The creative part about making blog content like photography, podcasting and writing is what drives the fun.  The editing and re-posting of community press releases is more work like without the pay.  So keeping that in mind it’s nice to know you only have to do the work once and not have to go back in and fix someone’s mistakes.  With Tina, it’s rare that she asks for a redo.

3)  The formatting.  Tina always submits her releases in a straightforward format that doesn’t need me to jump through hoops to copy and paste the info she’s trying to get across.   If you saw the messes that some PR folk send in that require me to resize and reformat and fond different programs on the web to open up the attachments, you would pull your hair out.  Not Tina.  Just types it it into an email for an easy-peasy copy and paste making my job of editing it simple.

4)The Thanks.  Tina always recognizes and thanks me for posting her stuff.  It may seem trivial but when you get press releases from an organization weekly and they just stuff it down your throat, you take the time to edit and post it for them and then they never once acknowledge it with a simple thank you, that gets irritating.   I often wonder if I just stopped posting their stuff, would they even notice?  Do they really care if it gets posted?  It’s just a pet peeve of mine.  So thanks Tina, for the thanks Smile

Listen the stuff Tina sends in is no where near the most exciting information posted on these pages.  But because the way she submits consistent, easy to post, relevant, correctly edited the first time press releases and then follows up with a nice thank you to let me know that the work I do on my end is appreciated, THAT is why she gets 99% of the stuff she sends me posted in the Community Stuff pages and THAT is why she is being recognized as a truly professional and effective PR person.

I’d hire her in a heart beat.

Congrats Tina

Community Stuff 3/21/14

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

 

Don’t forget! The Hive is hosting a FREE Bowl-a-Thon for the Empty Door.

HIVE-BowlaThon

12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 23

11 Pleasant Street

No experience required!

Photo credit: Cape Ann Art Haven

www.ArtHaven.org

www.TheHiveCenter.org

 

 

Get Fit to Run

Don’t Run to Get Fit

Beverly Hospital Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is hosting a special evening that’s all

about running and more!   The free lecture will be held on

Thursday, March 27 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

in the Lecture Hall at Beverly Hospital, 85 Herrick Street, Beverly, MA.

The Lecture Hall is located inside the main entrance of Beverly Hospital. 

Space is limited and registration is required by

calling 888-253-0800.

Presentations from orthopedic surgeons and physical therapist on timely topics,

including common knee injuries for runners will take place.

Presenters will include:  Dr. John Boyle, Dr. Anthony Schepsis and Beth Ann Hayes, PT.

Refreshment will be served.

Caity in the Running for Hood Scholarship

Hi All,

I am asking if you would please consider going to www.Hood.com and voting for Caity O’Leary, Gloucester, Mass., Gloucester High School.  If she wins the vote, she will receive a $5000.00 scholarship.  You can vote daily until April 18, 2014. 
Thank you for voting!!!

Susan

O’Maley students attend Essex District Attorney’s Youth Summit
8th grade students Matthew Smith, Alias Mortillaro, Ryker Bos, Meghan Craaybeek and Jenna Lake took part in Essex Couny District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s 2nd annual Youth Summit on March 4th. Hundreds of 8th, 9th and 10th grade students from all over Essex County participated in this leadership enriching event that featured Al Duncan, a noted motivational  speaker. Mr. Duncan shared ideas and strategies with the young leaders that they can take back to their schools to help others. At O’Maley, many of the strategies will be used to promote the SAILS program.

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2014SurveyWebPhotoTake a minute to complete the 2014 Greater Cape Ann Community Needs Survey and tell us what YOU think we need! Your feedback will aid the creation and improvement of important programs and services for people living in our community. This survey is part of a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment conducted every three years by Action, Inc., a non-profit human services organization with offices in Gloucester, Ipswich and Rockport. Learn more about Action, Inc. at www.actioninc.org. Results from the 2014 Community Needs Assessment will be published and available to the public sometime this winter. Thank you for helping to make Cape Ann an even better place to live – for everyone.

Complete the 2014 Greater Cape Ann Community Needs Survey today!

Jessica Benedetto-Unger

Director of Marketing & Planning

Action, Inc.

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Video- Saint Joseph’s Novena Wednesday Night 2014 At Sista Felicia’s

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

M. June Opper- Goldenblatt Asks About Wolfs- Anyone Wanna Chime In On This?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey. 

I just happen to stumble on your website while I was looking for some information on the grey wolf.

My husband and I moved into our new house four years ago. 

We are fortunate to have many wild animals around us. 

We live at the end of a short cull de sac with a small amount of woods behind us. 

We have seen fox, ( the babies playing hide and seek with one another) 

deer, turtles, rabbits, coyote, mice, ground, hogs wild turkey ducks and now geese.

BUT we have also seen something that no one believes.

I was glad my husband was with me at the time, otherwise I would have thought I was nuts.

(well I am  but not because of this. HA!) .

We have a rather large green lawn ( it was once planned to be a pool area)

and one afternoon sitting right in the exact middle of the yard was a large grey Wolf.

At first I just looked at it and felt confused. Was it a huge dog? A coyote? 

I called in my husband and we just stood there at the window overlooking the whole scene completely mesmerized. 

The Wolf sat proud and high like a NAI. Then, along come two beautiful young fox who merrily danced around the wolf. 

It was amazing and neither of us could move to get the camera for fear we might miss something.

This seemed to go on for a very long time. Or maybe I was hoping it would never end. 

Eventually the fox skipped into the woods on one side and the wolf went to the edge of the woods and urinated. 

Then disappeared in the trees. A couple of nights later I heard him howling (and the dog down the street whimpering). 

I have been looking for info for at least two years after this happened. And looking for the wolf since he marked his existence in our yard.

Every one we tell the story to always say we could never have seen it because grey wolves are extinct here. ( Stow, MA)

And they laugh at the part about the red foxes). Actually I found an article saying that there was a grey wolf siting a while ago in Stow.

And another saying a wold my travel with a fox but that doesn’t add up in other fact articles. They are not friendly.

A couple of nights ago we were trying to decide what movie to watch ( we watch movies when we are not watching wolves ect.) and I said out of the blue 

Let’s watch Dances With Wolves. I don’t know why I thought of it and I have never seen it on TV. BUT the next night it came on!! 

So of course now I am thinking about the wolf that people either don’t believe we saw and wishing for its return.

I was writing you to see if you had ever heard anything like that before. Or heard of grey fox sitings in the Massachusetts area. 

And, if you are still reading this, thanks for your time and thoughts , if any.

Best wishes, 

M. June Opper- Goldenblatt

It’s a Wrap ~ Viva San Giuseppe!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Saint Joseph Feast ©Kim Smith 2014 -2Nina and Frank Groppo

Yesterday, March 19th, The Feast of San Giuseppe was celebrated in Siciliain-American homes throughout Gloucester. Filming concluded last night for Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Community Film Project at the home of Nina and Frank Groppo.

Saint Joseph Feast ©kim Smith 2014

I arrived shortly after 9:00 am to the Groppo home, already packed full of friends and family prepping and cooking and organizing the house to accomadate the multitudes expected. For fear of missing any wonderful moments, I was sorry to leave even briefly, but I needed to pick up the exquisite Sicilian cassata cake created by Maria, Nina, and Domenic at Caffe Sicilia.

Sicilian cassata cake ©Kim Smith 2014.Sicilian Cassata Cake

Saint Joseph Feast -©Kim Smith 2014. -6 JPGReturning to the Groppos ~ After days of preparation, cooking was in high gear, with enormous pots of Saint Joseph sauce simmering, vats of oil bubbling, and everyone working at their jobs. One of the most amazing aspects of the Groppo feast preparations is that no one person is giving orders; everybody just knows what to do and does their job perfectly!

At 11:30 guests began to arrive, and arrive they did! Literally hundreds of friends and family poured through the Groppo’s welcoming  doors throughout the day.

Saint Joseph Pasta ©Kim Smith 2014After the extraordinary feast–extraordinary for the variety of, and deliciousness of, traditional Sicilian dishes, a feast for several hundred guests, I should add–many stayed for the afternoon; for conversation, coffee, desert, more wine, and tidyng the house for the next wave of family and friends, which began to arrive at 4:30.

The most beautiful of all prayer services was held at 5:00, where at the conclusion everyone stood shoulder to shoulder, holding hands, singing, and praying. Nina gave a most heartfelt speech of thanksgiving and then everyone embraced. The loving spirit of Saint Joseph, and the love and kindness of family and friends sharing a tradition together, was felt by all. And then we ate again, the second feast of the day!

Saint Joseph Feast -2©Kim Smith 2014.

Filming at the Groppo Family’s Saint Joseph Feast was simply beyond wonderful and I have a trunk full of memories I will treasure all my life. My most heartfelt thanks to Nina and Frank Groppo, and to their their extended Family and Friends for more than just allowing filming during their cherished Feast of Saint Joseph preparations, novena, and feast day, but for for making me feel welcome and completely at home! The thing is, they make everyone feel that way. Many come to the Groppo’s Feast straight away from work, fisherman and marine railway workers eat alongside businessmen in suits, and all are welcome at the Groppo table.

Words cannot accurately express my gratitude and appreciation to all the families that participated in the filming of Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph community film project. My sincerest hope is that the film will hold stories and moments for all to treasure.

Saint Joseph Feast ©Kim Smith 2014-5I think the most challenging part of the upcoming editing is going to be in following the documentary’s screenplay, which I wrote several years ago, about the history and significance of the traditions, while weaving together everyone’s stories, and including all the priceless, spontaneous moments captured on film.

This post is a little hurried and I would like to write more, but it is my son’s 21st Birthday celebration tonight. Time for birthday dinner cooking to get underway. Viva San Giuseppe!!!

Saint Joseph Feast Pasta ©Kim Smith 2014.

Updates will be added periodically to the film’s website: Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Film Project

Making Saint Joseph Altar Bread

Saint Joseph Altar Bread ©Kim Smith 2014Saint Joseph Altar Bread

Birds over Kettle Cove Island

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

This island in Magnolia Harbor has many species of birds that nest on Kettle Cove Island.

March 19, 2014 Birds over Kettle Cove Island

Tidal Pools under Ice

Posted on by God's Morning

ice and tidal pools

Although I am really tired of ice, I thought these ice formations on the tidal pools were interesting.  It’s the first day of spring, so hopefully we won’t see any more of this until next winter.  Happy Spring!

E.J. Lefavour

Shop Smart, Shop Small and Shop Downtown

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Fun happenings from the Gloucester downtown association starting on March 22, 2014.
Shop Downtown

Spring is Here and Cape Ann is Coming ALIVE – Check out this weekends live music!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

As always check online for the lastest updates:

TOMORROW, Friday, March 21, 2014

Linda Amero 7:00 pm LINDA AMERO
Menage a Trio with special guest Jack Senier (piano) & & Mark Pucci (bass)

118 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Phone: 978-283-7888
FREE SHOW
8:00 pm  MIKE O’CONNELL BAND
Giuseppe’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
2 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Phone: 978-879-4622

FREE SHOW
The Runaround Sound 9:00 pm THE RUNAROUND SOUND
Dog Bar
65 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Phone: 978-281-6565

FREE SHOW
Soul Rebel Project 9:00 pm Listen to Soul Rebel Project SOUL REBEL PROJECT
Roots Rock Reggae!

Minglewood Tavern
25 Rogers Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Phone: 978-281-0223

FREE SHOW
The Bandit Kings 9:30 pm Listen to The Bandit Kings THE BANDIT KINGS
One of the last shows ~ Don’t Miss

40 Railroad Ave, Gloucester, MA
Phone: 978-283-9732
FREE SHOW
Don't Miss a Night of Roots American @ Shalin Liu on 4/6

An Evening of Roots Americana with Annalivia And Ari & Mia
Annalivia is a New England-based string-band drawing from tradition & today to create their own brand of new acoustic folk music, alive with new energy & innovation. Members:Liz Simmons, Flynn Cohen, & Emerald Rae are all masterful players of bluegrass to Irish, Scottish & Old Time Appalachian music
Don’t Miss a Night of Roots American @ Shalin Liu on 4/6

Continue reading “Spring is Here and Cape Ann is Coming ALIVE – Check out this weekends live music!” →

Dave Sag’s Blues Party tonight with Brian Templeton, Billy Loosigian & Dave Mattacks on drum 8-11at The Rhumb Line

Posted on by Joanne

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Dave says,

  The Happy Ending Social Club is proud to present Mr. Brian Templeton to our stage this week. Last time he was here, the joint had to be repainted. Mr. B., nasty harpist and vocallist that he is, will have you on the floor with his myriad vocal keenings and  harmonica sorties.DSC09412

Backing his play on Qatar will be Mr. Billy Loosigian, real estate mogul and cosmetic mutilation expert. Dive-bombing from behind will be our atomic clock, Mr. David Mattacks. And me, too. We hit at 8 P.M. Don’t be a cube, rube; go ape!

THE RHUMB LINE BAR & RESTAURANT
40 Railroad Ave.

Gloucester, MA 01930

phone: 978-283-9732

http://www.therhumbline.com/index.htm

Lat43 & Turner’s Seafood Team up to Benefit Maritime Gloucester – Monday March 31st

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

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For the Love of Eggs Benny! Mamie’s & Two Sisters

Posted on by Craig Kimberley

I have a passion for food. And I have an even greater passion for breakfast food. Wether it’s prepping, making sauces, waffles, pancakes, fried eggs, scrambled, home fries, green chili covered breakfast burritos, bacon, and biscuits…I LOVE IT ALL!
Then there’s Eggs Benedict, no first meal has a sense of class and sophistication like Eggs Benny. So I offer to you my first two masterful examples fashioned by two of our finest local King’s of the Cooktop. First up: Linguica Eggs Benedict by Chris DeWolfe.

Sweet baby Jesus, just look at that!
Pure Portuguese porky perfection lies just below soft egg pillows draped with the hollandaise of the gods!

If your yolk doesn’t ooze out like a river of gold, you’ve been betrayed and bamboozled! And if you don’t like an oozing yolk, you have failed as a human.

Next up is Two Sisters, home of some very impressive breakfast masterpieces. Most of the time you will be pampered by great food and tons of laughs with this young man, Aaron Poole, and I mean tons of laughs!

Aaron has prepared perhaps the greatest combo in Eggs Benny history. May I present to you, Eggs Benedict Surf and Turf!

What’s under there you ask? The “Surf” comes by way of the Fisherman’s Benny Fish Cake, and the “Turf” travels to your plate from the Emerald Island of Ireland, the Homemade Corned-beef hash! That right there is what dreams are made of folks, dreams.

I should mention the masterful home fries, but I think you can smell them from where your at. Now go, venture out, eat well, and report back your findings of true love.

Pet of the Week- Zoe

Posted on by Alicia Pensarosa

Zoe is still looking for her furever home!

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My name is Zoe, I am a senior lady looking for a forever home.   My family moved and was not able to bring along – they felt badly and thought if I were placed at the beautiful Cape Ann Animal Aid, located at the Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter, I would have a good change to find a family that loved me as much as they did.   I am affectionate and mellow girl.

I love going for walks and riding in the car.  I am not a big fan on being at home alone – I would like to join you at work if that is possible and if you are retired, that means we can spend lots of time together.    I have shared a home with cats in the past.

I am not too bothered by the other pups here at the shelter and I love all the staff and volunteers!

I hope you might give me a chance and plan to stop by and visit me soon.  I am so excited about having a family to love me again, I could cry!   Please learn more about me and the shelter by visiting:

CapeAnnAnimalAid.com

Joey C. Approved Pani Cunsatu

Posted on by Sista Felicia

 

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Are you wondering what to do with your St. Joseph Bread rolls?….This is a MUST TRY recipe! Joe Pace sells fresh Ricotta Cheese brought in from New York twice per week…Trust me it’s worth the trip to their store in Saugus Ma. to purchase this amazing cheese!

Pani Cunsatu

Ingredients

1  St. Joseph Italian Bead  Roll or 1 whole  Italian Bread cut into  3 inch wide wedge

1/4 cup Fresh Ricotta Cheese

1-2 tablespoons Pesto (recipe featured in Gifts of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia;Harvest on page #37)

2-3 Red Roasted Pepper strips

1/2 teaspoon Olive Oil

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Step-by-Step

1 slice bread in half

2 spread Fresh Ricotta Cheese over bottom half

3  spread Pesto over ricotta and top with Red Roasted Peppers

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4 drizzle olive oil and season with freshly ground pepper; fix top bread half; serve

Joe Pace and Sons is located @ 190 Main Street Saugus Ma 01906 #781-231-9599…don’t forget to tell them Sista Felicia from GMG sent you!

Watching Black and White Birds

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin
I saw two large black birds in a nearby tree, too large to be crows. Today, a big seagull was perched on the peak of a roof. The bird had an injured leg, just like me. For the homie, it''s do or die time. I balance my laptop while in bed, trying to not bend my legs and cause pain. Homie flew away, and I write this and wait for my physical therapy.
I saw two large black birds in a nearby tree, too large to be crows. Today, a big seagull perched on the peak of a roof. The bird had an injured leg, just like me. For the homie, it”s do or die (fly) time. I balance my laptop while in bed, bending my legs and causing pain. Homie flew away, as I write this and wait for physical therapy. These are the hands we have been dealt.