Bridget Mathews captured this beautiful photo during last nights St. Peter Novena
The Feast of St Peter begins each year with a 9 day religious novena, held at the American Legion Hall on Washington Street here in Gloucester. Each evening women of all ages…and a few men…gather for a nightly rosary, mainly done in Sicilian. Click links below for a to hear one of the oldest deep rooted Sicilian tradition’s still held in our beautiful community.Â
The St. Peter Rosary…
You may remember this song from past post relating to St Joseph Rosary this past March…It was my Uncle Mike Militello most favorite Novena Song Dell’Aurora. It has become our families favorite song…we can’t help but think of him each time we sing the chorus part of this song…
Rose Verga leading the prayer service last night
Peter Favazza writes~ This is what it’s all about. The statue of St. Peter who makes miracles happen …here I’m taking a picture with my cousin Sarah Favazza. Sarah’s father Salvatore Favazza bought the St Peter Statue over from Sicily 80 years ago.
Photos courtesy of Peter Favazza
Ma Chi Siammo Tutti Mutti…Viva San Pedro
I will be live blogging nightly from the St. Peter Novena and posting more photos and stories about this tradition over the next several days…keep checking back…Viva San Pedro!
***If you have any old photos from past St. Peters Novena’s, and would like to share them on GMGÂ please send them to us!
From left: Gina Ciaramitaro, Nicole Curcuru, Amanda Mohan, Pat Ciaramitaro, Felicia Mohan, Andrea Randazza Carlson, Bridgette Mathews, Abbey Mathews
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The church of the Portugese community was dedicated in 1893. Our Lady of Good Voyage church on Prospect Street was rebuilt after a fire in 1914. In this photo, the carillion bells are only a few years old.
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My name is Virginia, I am a sweet and cuddly girl.   I am a seven-year old girl cat with a handsome brown/mix coat.
I am looking to be the only cat in my home  I would prefer to move into an adult only house.  I love attention.
Also, we have a special program here at the Cape Ann Animal Aid, located at the Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter, Four Paws Lane, Gloucester. We have the Senior Cat Adoption Program right now and there are no adoption fees for cats six and older and we have several cats here who are over six.  So please stop on by and learn more about me and our other senior cats. Remember, seven is still a young cat!
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Hope you had a great Father’s Day! You probably already know (have had) this, but the re-opened Studio has a sushi roll in your honor! Delicious! So good we had to have 2! 🙂 Karen Pischke
Note from Joey- Named after our Grandfather, Captain Joe, The Man our business is named after. I’m no Captain.
Hello Joey and Kim,
It is the summer of blue petunias in Gloucester. If anyone is wondering why weedy beds on the boulevard and around town have been cleaned out and replaced with blooming flowers, please thank my numerous Generous Gardener Volunteers. We are the ones in the green aprons working around town. We have planted around 400 plants behind the police station including 100 blue petunias. We have planted 300 blue petunias and 50 Nepeta at the Fishermen’s Wives and another 70 blue petunias and 10 Knock Out Roses have replaced the weedy patch of Rosa Rugosa at the start of the boulevard. The small garden at the corner of Pleasant and Middle Street has also been filled with a variety of perennials.
This is donated time, labor and plants for all residents and tourists to enjoy. If you would like to join our group, we meet on Wednesday’s at the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial from 6-7 PM. If we are elsewhere, there will be a sandwich board at the memorial to let volunteers know where we are. If you would like to get emails regarding Generous Gardeners activities, contact Susan@generousgardeners.org. If you would like to support city beautification financially, the non-profit Gloucester Civic and Garden Council supports our work. Send donations to Adah Marker, Treasurer, 3 Fuller Street, Magnolia, MA 01930. Please put in the memo line for Generous Gardeners.
These projects could not have been done without help from Terese O’Connell, Sue Skinner, Ann Johnson, Deborah and Roger Dawes, Beth Chianciola, Mary Jo Holland, Nancy Mertens, Cathy Hertl, Joan Sweeney, Sheila Blake, Christie Wight, Kirstin Martin, Maggie Rosa and Rosemary Banks. I hope I didn’t miss anyone and I apologize if I did. Also, a thank you to Wolf Hill Garden Center for a fabulous discount on all of the plants that didn’t come from someone’s garden. We also thank Neptune’s Harvest Fish/Seaweed Products for their fabulous fertilizer we are using everywhere.
Here are some before and after pictures.
Susan Kelly
Chair, Gloucester City Planting Committee
The new stairs at The Police Station From Bing McGilvray-
The situation was brisk last Sunday at Bodin Historic Photo. Our man Fred was back in his de facto Chamber of Commerce role as tourists wandered in with random questions. A customer was being briefed on the way things were a hundred years ago on the waterfront. All the while old friends were coming by. The word of the day was Keep Calm and Carry On. There was time, however, to enjoy a popover sent over from Passports.
Al Bezanson
American Glory-
American Glory arriving in Gloucester harbor at 5:40am. Tues. –Len Burgess
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Marine Forecast …
Wed SW winds around 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Patchy fog. A chance of showers and tstms. Some tstms may produce gusty winds…small hail and heavy rainfall. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.
Wed Night NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 1 foot or less.
Early morning showers / storms followed by mostly sunny skies with lower humidity and temps climbing into the upper 80’s to lower 90’s .. Breezy west wind 10-15mph and gusty .. Wednesday night clear lows in the 50’s light west winds…
Beach Forecast .. Mostly Sunny 89° temp , winds west 10-18mph .. Water temps 58-63° . UV INDEX 10! Burn in less then 10-15 minutes … Use sun screen .. Enjoy have a great day !
Hourly Forecast …
Extended Forecast…
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The Child Study Program had the opportunity to be filmed by the local cable station to promote the program to the community. A special thank you to Mark Kelsey for helping to make this happen. Check it out
can you please post the attached two files to your blog? one is the general annoucement of the parade and the other is a campaign we are trying to raise. get people back to dressing up and being part of the parade. trying to gather that interest in participating, especially of the young kids in the community.
any help would be great.
thanks as always.
David Harvey
Chairman
Fishtown Horribles Parade Committee
Presents the
Fishtown Horribles Parade
When: Thursday, July 3, 2014
Time: 6:00 pm
Where: Kicks off and ends at Gloucester High School Parking lot
*Parade participants need to be at the High School no Later than 5:00 pm
**If interested in becoming a committee member Or volunteering day of Parade, please contact Dave Tucker @ 508-517-1731 or Al Kipp @ 978-223-7264.
For anyone that isn’t interested in attending Gloucester’s Superbowl, The Saint Peter’s Fiesta-
Hello,
My name is Marinna Teixeira and I am the event planner at Mass Energy Consumers Alliance in Boston. Candace Wheeler has advised me to contact this email address for sending out a press release for one of our upcoming events:
Mass Energy is hosting a breakfast & wind turbine tour at one of the wind turbines in Gloucester on June 28. I would like to submit the attached press release and spread the word about this wonderful (free!) event that is a great opportunity for everyone in the Gloucester community to learn more about wind power.
Who: Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance (Mass Energy), a local non-profit organization with a commitment to support renewable energy. What: A Gloucester Wind Turbine Tour! People of all ages are welcome to join us for breakfast and to learn about the wind turbines (and take a peek inside a turbine tower!) Speakers on renewable energy will be present, including members of the Gloucester community who will explain how the turbines benefit their community. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP is required by Wednesday, June 25. Where: Blackburn Industrial Park in Gloucester, MA When: Saturday, June 28 at 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Why: Mass Energy offers the only tax-deductible green electricity option in Massachusetts (see http://www.massenergy.org/renewable-energy). The Gloucester wind turbines are two of the most productive wind turbines in the state, and Mass Energy purchases green power from them on behalf of our members. During our wind turbine tours, we aim to educate the public about the positive impacts that local wind power provides for the community. RSVP: Get your tickets by Wednesday, June 25 for this free event at http://gloucesterwind2014.eventbrite.com or by contacting Marinna Teixeira at marinna@massenergy.org or (617) 524-3950 ext. 142.
North Shore Arts Association is pleased to Announce A Special Exhibit and Benefit Sale for Local Charities of archived works of internationally recognized Rockport artist, Betty Lou Schlemm.
“The Gift” June 29th – July 26th
Artist’s Sale of Unframed Paintings, Saturday, June 28, 1-4 p.m. Opening Reception Sunday, June 29th, 2 – 4 p.m.
Rockport’s artist, author and teacher Betty Lou Schlemm is, as she says, “tithing my life,” referring to her amazing body of work. She is selling off the personal archive of her work both in oils and watercolor. The proceeds of this most generous sale will go to benefit three of Cape Ann’s charity organizations: Wellspring House, Open Door, and Cape Ann Animal Aid. This extraordinary gift and sale, given with such generosity of spirit, truly is a one time opportunity to own and collect the work of a legendary artist.
More information on all North Shore Arts Association events is available by visiting their website at http://www.nsarts.org, and by email at arts@nsarts.org, or by telephone 978 283-1857. The North Shore Arts Association’s galleries are open, free to the public, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m.
COME PARTY LIKE A POP GIRL!
Want to have a late night shopping /dance party at POP, complete with drinks and your favorite hostesses?!
Come hang with Peg and V for a night of partying…like a POP Girl! Specialty cocktails and snacks will be served and there will also be some other surprise goodies for attendees! This is a test run of what we hope will become a regular thang! Special goodies for special customers! Tease, tease! 🙂
It’s not often you can get a Red Sox fan and a Yankees fan to agree on, well… anything! Especially if that Yankees fan happens to be… FRANK from Gloucester!
But once in a great while a brand comes along that unites the fans for love of the game! That brand is Tokens & Icons!
Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), the American native small tree, is so rarely planted today. Trees and plants trend at nurseries and, unfortunately, Fringetree has become one of those beauties that we need reminding of its great merits. The above specimen can be seen today in full glorious bloom on Rocky Neck, across the street from Judith and Gordon Goetmann’s Gallery. The botanical name translates lossely as snow flower, aptly describing the fluffy panicles covering the Fringetree when in bloom.
The sweetly scented airy blossoms are attractive to bees and butterflies and the ripened fruits are a wonderful food source for songbirds and small mammals. In autumn, the foliage turns a brilliant clear golden yellow. Fringetree grows from Canada to the Gulf Coast, and famously tolerates air pollution, making it ideal for urban landscapes. Grow Fringetree in sun to part sun, in moist fertile soil. At maturity, the tree tops out at twelve to twenty feet high and equally as wide.
The one negative is that Fringetree is slow to leaf out in spring, with a tendency to look dry and woody. Don’t plant it with your spring ephemerals and you won’t notice!
Fringetrees are dioecious, which means they have separate male and female plants, similar to hollies. Some flowers are “perfect,” meaning they have male and female parts. The male’s flowers are showier than the females, and the female and perfect flowers give way to blackish-blue fruit in late summer. Chionanthus virginicus is a member of the Oleaceae, or Olive Family, and the fruits of Fringetree are similar looking to that of Olea eruopea, the olive tree cultivated throughout the Mediterranean, Africa and Asia for its edible fruit.
I ran into Anne Malvaux while photographing the Rocky Neck Fringetree and she reports that she doesn’t recall seeing any fruit, which means it is most likely a male of the species, or that the fruit is so delicious it is quickly devoured by wildlife (often the case with native trees and shrubs). Or if it is a female and doesn’t bear fruit, it may because there is no males growing nearby. We’ll have a another look in late summer.
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Originally this post was titled “C2 for Toby Pett” however when I ran into Kathy Chapman at Cape Ann TV today and told her about the post for Toby, she mentioned that she had taken a photo of Roy Orbison three days before he passed away. She shot the photo at the Channel nightclub in Boston and it ran on the cover of the arts section of the Boston Phoenix. Kathy writes, “He died of a heart attack three days later at the age of 52.” Thank you so much Kathy for sharing!
Toby shares a Gloucester story about one of his favorite Roy Orbison songs, “It’s Over,” in yesterday’s post about the recently released documentary about the making of Orbison’s album “Mystery Girl.” See post here. Toby’s comment:
“I realize that many do not keep our early to bed, early to rise schedule…was hoping to hear from someone re: C2…well, here is the answer: where David Cox’ wonderful little shop is, there was Nick’s Pool Room…it was a wonderful place to spend time and make friendships…Mike Patil, one of the founders of Timberline, spent time there…Phil Mazzeo, who just closed his hair salon on Center Street, was one of the best shooters…I could go on and on…it was a place where you learned to mature and to respect others…It was run by the Danikas family, Artie, now in his 80’s, walks Essex Ave and Good Harbor Beach every day…and his son Capt. Nick is co-owner of the Hurricane II, the whale watch boat…anyway, I have gotten off track here, C2 was the number on the Juke Box for “It’s Over”, that great tune by Roy…and when you were about to finish off your opponent in a game one would often say “C2″…to this day when I am watching sports and one team has clearly claimed the upper hand I often say “C2″, although I don’t think many around me understand…”
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Despite a snagged anchor and a misplaced cannon fuse,the Schooner Thomas E Lannon was first across the finish line in last night’s Schooner Challenge in Gloucester harbor, beating out Ardelle and Fame. See the drama here! As for the song writing and marlinspike seamanship competitions, you be the judge.
Video by Marty Luster
Music by Matt Sowell
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Robin Griggs Wood has photographed a lot of Seagulls and shows them on her Google Plus account. Here is one where she helps start the non-meme #seagullbuttsaturday.
She then worked that photo into a magazine cover. That seagull’s name is Clotilde but I think Homie can model just as well as Clotilde can.
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A group of people were discussing Tom’s postcard and what the circle image on it represented to them.  What do you see?  Don’t miss Tom’s opening reception Friday, June 20th from 5-8:00pm at Imagine Gallery.
E.J. Lefavour
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We know you love Sailor Stan’s for breakfast, but this Thursday night, June 19 at 7:00pm, Sailor Stan’s Restaurant will be hosting a Lebanese Dinner with music by Allan and Dylan Estes. $30/person (includes tax and gratuity). Very Limited Seating. Call 978-281-4470 to make a reservation, or stop by Sailor Stan’s to purchase your ticket in advance to guarantee your spot.
Dinner will include:
“Laura’s Garlic Sauce” with Syrian Bread
Taboule Salad
Chicken Shawarma
Roasted Potatoes
Lubee (Lebanese Green Beans)
Stuffed Grape Leaves
Baklava
Coffee, tea or cold beverage
B.Y.O.B.Â
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Meet my hero!  I love this guy!  If you need some work done on your house you’d be crazy to not call Matt Gardner.  Last year I saw a small platform deck on the sweetest little house in Nantucket and I took one distant photo from the end of the home owners’ long driveway.
With that photo and lots of babbling about what I love….and I what I really don’t like, Matt Gardner saw my vision (even when I wasn’t completely sure I could see it) and created what I consider a true work of art! Â I am so smitten with our new deck I can’t even stand it! Â Not only is he completely skilled, but he was patient, honest and reliable…which made working with him really wonderful.
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1 combine first 6 ingredients in bowl of food processor fitted with metal blade
2 process 30-40 seconds or until creamy dressing forms
*Note
There are many ways to make blue cheese dressing; basic ingredients always include mayonnaise, blue cheese, and one acidic ingredient like vinegar, lemon juice, or Worcestershire sauce, that is  blended together with, a cream product like; heavy cream, sour cream, crème fraiche, or buttermilk. After countless times of making and serving this dressing,  I prefer to use sour cream or crème fraiche  when I need a thick textured dressing and, prefer to use  buttermilk when needing a lighter and looser textured dressing.  It’s all personal preference, and or what’s on hand in your refrigerator!
Good Morning Gloucester 