Nichole’s “Picks of the Weekend” December 27th and 28th

Ok, I’m not going to lie, my First Pick for this weekend would be to R.E.L.A.X!!!

Enjoy some quiet family time.  Watch the kiddos play with their new toys. Unplug.  Plug in. Read a book.  Take a nap.  Go for a walk. Take a nap. Get the holiday crap out of the house.  Regain some normalcy.  Take a nap.  Go for a bike ride. Take a nap.  You get the picture.

Seriously, it is going to be (while I’m no meteorologist) close to 50 degrees.  Get outside and enjoy the somewhat mild weather and just chill.  I’m assuming that, like me, you’ve all been on the go like mad.  Shopping, hiding, finding, losing, wrapping, lying, shopping some more….repeat.  Throw in some holiday parties, engagements, and casual stop bys….and we are all BEAT.

I’m psyched for some major chill time with the family, but, if you are the proverbial energizer bunny and need something to do….have at it. I’ll offer a couple of suggestions.

With all my talk about relaxing, I have to admit I am kind of a hypocrite, because I’m super tempted to sign up for Pick #2

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is offering a couple of excellent programs this weekend!

The first is SURVIVOR….family style.  While I kind of feel like every day in our life lately should be dubbed “Survivor Day”…this does sound pretty awesome.

Survivor: Saturday, December 27, or Friday, January 2
Through teamwork and problem-solving, we will explore the woodlands of the sanctuary and imagine that we are explorers stranded in the wilderness. In order to survive, we will need to build shelters, collect firewood, and find food and a water source. Come and find out how you would survive!

The second is Build a Bird Feeder!

Parent/Child Build a Bird Feeder: Sunday, December 28, or Saturday, January 3
Brighten up your yard this winter with a bird feeder handmade by you and your child. Each family will receive a kit containing all the necessary parts to build a feeder that will attract chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, cardinals, and many other birds to your yard. A short slide presentation will highlight the birds that commonly come to feeders. We’ll also observe the sanctuary feeders to see which birds are looking for food. Instructors will circulate to provide assistance.

Check it all out here for sure!

 

Pick #3

Keeping in mind that it is school vacation and most indoor activities everywhere will be jammed….the Museum of Science is now showing some pretty excellent IMAX movies and a 15 minute 4D Polar Express Show!

The IMAX Theater is showing 1. Galapagos (I will actually travel there some day!! Total bucket list vacation!!) 2. Pandas: The Journey Home  and 3. Mystery of the Maya.

Read More Here.

The Polar Express film…while really short…also looks pretty awesome!

We’ve taken trips into the MOS during school vacations in the past and, while the Museum itself is usually mobbed, we’ve had good luck simply parking, heading to an IMAX movie, and then getting out of there.  I like to save an actual day at the museum for days when it is safe to say that it won’t be too crowded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curbside Collection Of Christmas Trees – January 12, 2014 – January 16, 2014

@Gloucester_MA: Curbside Collection Of Christmas Trees – January 12, 2014 – January 16, 2014: Special curbside collection duri… http://tinyurl.com/nkzu353

Sawyer Free Appeal

Hey Joey – I’m wearing a different hat this afternoon:  perhaps you can post our Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library 2014 Annual Appeal notice & invitation on GMG, when you think the time is right, before the year is over, so folks can still get their tax deductions !  The “Wordle” or “Word Cloud” was generated by the audience at our Annual Meeting in October, and reflects views of what our library will be in the future (Notice the large “AC” for Air Conditioning, next to “Welcoming”, and “Accessible”….).
Best,
Scott

Citizens of Gloucester,

You likely are aware that 2014 has been a time of progress at your Library. There’s much that’s new, and more to come. I am writing now to ask you to help us maintain the momentum by supporting our annual appeal.

The most visible change is the John and Dorothy Rando Memorial Garden and Amphitheater and its surrounding gardens and plantings, ready for events as soon as weather permits. A new parking lot awaits you, too, with easy access from School Street.  Your visits to the library are more convenient now, with self-service checkout available at the circulation desk and a handy book drop-off box in the parking lot. Many thanks to the Friends of the Library for both these service improvements.

In addition to all the physical changes, there have also been changes in our staff as we thanked retiring Library Director Carol Gray for her 16 years of faithful service and welcomed Deborah Kelsey in September as our new Library Director.  Deborah brings unusual energy, vision, and expertise to her new role. She is a past President of the New England Library Association and has held leadership positions at libraries in communities as diverse as Framingham and Medfield.

Look for more changes to come, as well, driven by the strategic plan developed collaboratively by community members, the Library’s Board of Directors and the staff.  One project already under consideration: a complete revamp of our heating and ventilation systems, including adding air conditioning.

Whatever the amount, your gift to the Sawyer Free Library is much like a good book – it will have lasting impact and enrich the lives of many.  I hope you will join me in adding your contribution to the bookshelf, knowing that your gift is an offering to our community.  Thank you for your consideration.

With thanks,

R. Scott Memhard, President
Board of Directors, Sawyer Free Library

P.S. Attached to this sheet is a “Wordle”, or word cloud, created from a list of words that came out of the recent Annual Meeting; attendees were asked to describe their vision of Sawyer Free Library in the days and years to come. The size of the word in the pattern reflects the frequency with which it appears on the list. 

SFL Wordle

One Day Before Christmas Carol Countdown: Mary Did You Know? by Pentatonix

Firing up the GMG Santa Tracker

santaradar

Good Morning Gloucester will be firing up the Santa tracking Radar Thingy when Santa is within 500 nautical miles of Cape Ann. Meanwhile, NORAD and Google have far larger Santa Tracking budgets and are currently tracking Santa leaving Kathmandu. Click links below for up-to-the-second plotting of Santa. Santa is currently darting back and forth between India and Russia reaching maximum velocity for the trip. Elves have had to douse him with water several times already to keep him from bursting into flames.

NORAD tracks Santa
Google Santa Tracker

Now That’s an Airline With Some Holiday Cheer

West Jet Airlines out of Canada is doing it right.

These videos have circulated before, but on Christmas Eve, the 1st two are a nice reminder of how simple…or not so simple…acts of kindness can go a long, long way.  And, they remind us all, that surprises are awesome.  The others show that a sense of humor in this day in age is priceless.  Kudos to a company with enough creativity, humor, and kindness to spread holiday cheer….even on holidays like April Fool’s.

Makes me wonder what they have up their sleeves this Christmas???

 

 

 

What’s Happening at GHS 12/23/14

Just a quick note to all to have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season! Rest and relax and return with renewed energy to have a healthy New Year!

The exam schedule follows:

Mid – Year Exams
ABC           1/21/15
DE   Make-Up   1/22/15
FG    Make-Up   1/23/15

UPCOMING DATES OF INTEREST

Early Release ½ day for students on Tuesday December 23!

Holiday Vacation December 24 until January 2

School Re-Opens Monday January 5.

Martin Luther King Day January 19

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
Calvin Coolidge

“The two most joyous times of the year are Christmas morning and the end of school.”
Alice Cooper

Christmas Eve 12/24/14 Forecast …

Marine Forecast :
Wed E winds around 5 kt…becoming SE 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Patchy fog. Rain. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.
Wed Night S winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Patchy fog. Rain. Vsby 1 nm or less.

Coastal Flood Advisory :
Minor splash over at high tide from 10-2pm on sum vulnerable Shore Roads …
Flood Watch :
Rains 1-3″

Hourly Forecast :

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Track Santa Kids NORAD :
http://www.noradsanta.org

Pod Cast Christmas Eve / Christmas Day Forecast:
http://www.spreaker.com:80/episode/5391592

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Wind Forecast :

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North Shore 104.9 Holiday Toy Drive Video from Lisa Smith at Cape Ann TV (Including Cast from Holiday Delights Caroling)

Highlights include Chelsea Berry singing “White Christmas,” and the cast from the Gloucester Stage’s Holiday Delights singing “Here We Come A Caroling.”

Electricity Conversation Update #14 Paulie Walnuts Gets His Energy Assessment #GloucesterMA

Paulie Walnuts talks about his energy audit from Next Step:

We had the Energy Audit on the 22nd. Chris was our person. He was great. We got alot of free LED Lights and power strips.
We are also getting attic insulation really cheap! It was worth a couple of hours of our time. I’m a skeptical person. This out-did my expectations. JUST DO IT!

If you want to take advantage of awesome programs available to you right now for zero out of pocket then sign up for your own energy efficiency assessment and get a ton of free lightbulbs, power strips, electronic thermostats that will turn down the heat at night or while you’re at work automatically, and efficient showerheads.

SIGN UP HERE-

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Parts 1,2,3 Here
Electricity Update #4: Free Home Energy Assesment With Kevin From Next Step Living
Electricity Update #5: Video Walkthrough- Energy Efficiency Assesment and Free Stuff At Mom’s House
Electricity Update #6 Energy Saving Ideas
Electricity Savings Alternative Home Energy and Comfort Update #7- Cape Ann Chimney and Hearth
ELECTRICTY AND HOME ENERGY UPDATE #8 NO BRAINER- DONNA AND RICK GET THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT!
ELECTRICITY, HOME HEATING AND ENERGY UPDATE #9 CAPE ANN CHIMNEY AND HEARTH TESTIMONIAL FROM CAROL CATALDO
Electricity Update #10
Electricity and Home Heating and Comfort Update 11: Cape Ann Chimney and Hearth Part III
The No Brainer Electricity Update #12
Electricity Update #13 Next Step Experience At Lise Breen’s Laneseville Joint

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The Allison Carol Hauled Out at Rose’s Animated Timelapse Video

Breaking News: Gloucester Music Store Opens Downtown!

Diamond Cove Music Store Gloucester MA ©Kim Smith 2014Welcome news for Gloucester’s musicians and music lovers! Diamond Cove Music is now open for business in downtown Gloucester. Tom Eaton, proprietor, specializes in stringed instruments, primarily guitars, ukeleles, banjos, and mandolins, and also repairs. He can special order music books and sheet music, too. Plans for jam sessions and music lessons are underway.

Diamond Cove Music is located at 57 Washington Street (conveniently two doors down from Sclafani’s Baker) and is open Christmas Eve Day from noon to 4pm.

For product information and store hours, visit Diamond Cove Music website here.Diamond Cove Music Store Gloucester MA ©Kim Smioth 2014

 

Two Days Before Christmas Carol Countdown: Hallelujah by Jon Bon Jovi

 

Did you know?

“Jingle Bells” is one of the most popular Christmas songs ever written. Except it’s not a Christmas song. It was written to celebrate Thanksgiving. In 1850, James Lord Pierpont was hanging out in a tavern in Medford, Massachusetts, when he was inspired by Medford’s famous sleigh races to write a tune called ‘One Horse Open Sleigh” for a children’s Thanksgiving play. Everyone loved it so much that it became incorporated into Christmas. Another bit of trivia for you: Mr. Pierpont was the uncle of banker John Pierpont Morgan, better known as J.P. Morgan. “Jingle Bells” was also the first song broadcast from space, in a Christmas-themed prank by Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra.

Beautiful Christmas Arrangements From Sage Floral for Your Last Minute Shopping and Special Hostess Gift

Thanks to my mother-in-law Janet for sending this lovely arrangement from Sage Floral ~ and thanks to Sage Floral for making our Christmas table so pretty!Sage Floral Gloucester florist Christmas Arrangement ©Kim Smith 2014