Month: January 2015

BREAKING NEWS: GARY BACKSTROM BAND to open for John Cafferty on Jan 31 in Beverly

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

You’ve all heard the Gary Backstrom Band, right?  (If not, you’re missing out on one of Gloucester’s most exciting musical ensembles.)  Be sure to catch these guys when they open for John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band on Saturday, January 31 right down the road at Beverly’s Larcom Theatre.  Good seats are still available RIGHT HERE.  Some of the best available seats are in the balcony GET THEM HERE.

Gary’s got quite an impressive bio (see here) having opened for the Allman Brothers, Derek Trucks and Los Lobos among many others.

Besides being one of the area’s top guitar players, Gary is also a very talented singer/songwriter.  Here are a couple of videos of the band at Harbor Loop with special guest Carlos Menezes Jr. on Sax (great solos in the 2nd video):

And Now I Can Sleep

Posted on by Nichole S.

I saw this sweater and matching pants (jammies, I’m thinking…but, I’m really not sure) during my one trip to the mall during the holiday season.

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They reminded me of something, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.  Since then, every once in a while, it has nagged at me.  I’d get this tiny little sliver of a flashback…almost grab it….and then POOF…it’d be gone again.

Until last night.

Victory!

I awoke from a sound sleep with a strange song in my head.  Foggy…I went back to sleep.  In the morning, I found myself humming it again…and then, not much later…I finally had it!

I had figured out the song.  But, why?  Why was I suddenly singing a song from some whackadoodle show from my youth?

The Great Space Coaster!  What?!

There’s No Gnu Like Gary Gnu!

Seriously?  I watched this stuff?  I was a pretty active kid…Did I really have this kind of free time on my hands?

And then…. I found these images.

And now I can sleep.

Do you think the designer of the pants and sweater clocked some time watching this same show back in the day?  You never know when inspiration will strike….or how long it will stay dormant in your psyche, evidently.

 

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Tuesday January 13th , 2015 Cape Ann Weather…

Posted on by Peter J Lovasco

Marine Forecast :
Tue N winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. Light freezing spray likely.
Tue Night N winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt… Diminishing to 5 to 10 kt after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Scattered snow showers.

Pod Cast Weather :
http://www.spreaker.com:80/episode/5479248

Hourly Forecast :

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Potluck Writer’s Book Club and Backyard Growers Event at the Eastern Point Lit House

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

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Getting All My Ducks in a Row for Trip to Santa Monica

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Niles Pond Ducks in a Row ©Kim Smith 2015Niles Pond Ducks 

This week, with the exception of Thursday, I have pre-scheduled my posts with a series of photos from last Sunday’s early morning walk as I am not sure how easy it will be to post from California. I am hoping to fill my time with additional posts from LA, if doable. Liv reports it may be in the seventies this week!

Time to Reconnect

Posted on by Nichole S.

With a rare unscheduled morning suddenly before me and the boys off for a game of pond hockey, I put Marlin on his leash, grabbed a cup of coffee, and took off for a brisk walk around town.

It has been way too long since I’ve been able to find time to do that and it was exactly the dose of medicine that I needed yesterday.  I don’t often forget why I love living in Rockport, but this is the time of year that I don’t necessarily find the time to actually enjoy it….or appreciate it.  Early yesterday, for 90 fantastic minutes, Marlin and I played Who are the People in Your Neighborhood while walking past Old Garden Beach, down Atlantic, through town, up and down Bearskin Neck, to Front Beach, into Mill Pond Park, past the frozen pond, by the cemetery, down Hale Street, through town again, and back home….seeing friends and familiar faces along the way.

Along the way, Marlin was kind enough to let me wrestle my phone out of my pocket once in a while to snap a photo.  He isn’t keen on slowing down much…but, tolerated my pitstops.  He was most appreciative of the stops that allowed him to stalk birds.  He, unlike me, doesn’t have an affinity for front doors…but would take those opportunities for a quick pee.

There’s something magical about this town…no matter how cliche that sounds… and I’m so happy to have had the chance to reconnect.

 

Medical Monday

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin

9.30am: CATA Dial-a-Ride bus picks me up at home to go to Addison Gilbert Hospital.
10:00am: Have an echocardiogram made, to check for heart valve abnormalities.
11:00am: In oncology clinic, get injection for my bones, and have a teaching session about upcoming chemotherapy treatment.
12:30pm: Eat lunch in hospital cafeteria, read, and people watch. The food is good there and inexpensive.
2:15pm: Walk down to the AGH sports medicine and rehab department for specific exercises for gait and balance.
3:00pm: Call Dial-a-Ride for ride home to Rockport.
3:30pm: Hit the couch and watch CNN.
Don’t let anyone tell you that being sick is like a vacation. I’m busier that when I was healthy!

Monday January 12th , 2015 Cape Ann Weather…

Posted on by Peter J Lovasco

Marine Forecast :
Mon SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt in the morning. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Snow…rain and sleet. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.
Mon Night NW winds 10 to 15 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt after midnight. Seas 2 to 4 ft. A chance of snow. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.

Pod Cast Weather :
http://www.spreaker.com:80/episode/5473555

Hourly Forecast :

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Community Stuff 1/12/14

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Dear Joey:
GHS Girls Basketball will be hosting a Restaurant Fundraiser this month at Jalapenos.  The flyer is attached.  Would you be willing to post this on “Good Morning Gloucester” so we can invite the whole community to join us?  

Thank you!

GHS Girls Basketball Boosters

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New Nature Preschool Opens for Area Residents

Only 10 minutes from Grant Circle, the new Ipswich River Nature Preschool located at Mass Audubon’s Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary on Grapevine Road in Wenham is accepting applications for September 2015 and we are encouraging families on Cape Ann to participate.

This preschool will provide a nurturing learning environment that fosters development of the whole child and a lifelong relationship with nature. Through multi-sensory explorations and cooperative play, our nature-based programs will nurture each child’s curiosity while providing a safe, supportive learning environment that encourages inquiry, exploration and discovery.

To learn more about this new, innovative preschool, or to download an application, please visit online atmassaudubon.org/ipswichriver then click Nature Preschool, or call Kim at 978/887.9264 EXT 7706 and start building your child’s lifelong love of nature!

Sue Ann Pearson
Development Assistant
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Hi Joey, could you include this announcement on your Good Morning Gloucester page?  It’s a wonderful opportunity for people in the community!

Community Announcement

The Adult Learning Center of North Shore Community College is looking for students for its FREE Adult Career Pathways program on both the Beverly and Lynn campus. Classes meet in the afternoon from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday. Students with or without a High School diploma can apply. Math, English and Science topics are taught, with particular focus on Health Care and Construction Trade careers. For more information, contact Kellie Barker at Kbarker05@northshore.edu or 978-236-1228.

GHS Wrestling Team and Coach Kirk’s Special Recognition

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Hello,

I’m sure you get many requests for posts, but I’d love to let people know about the GHS wrestling team. They had their home opener tonight against Salem High School and they crushed it! They won 48 to 24 with 8 pins; an impressive feat for a team that is only in it’s second year!

I’d also love it if Coach Kirk Benson got special recognition.

At tonight’s meet there was a dedication of the new wrestling mat that Coach Kirk Benson and his family bought with money from his parents estate. Kirk’s parents have both passed away, but were very involved in their community and were all about supporting youth in whatever they were interested in whether it be sports, arts, travel etc. 

I’ve attached a picture of the team on the new mat and a picture of Kirk and Carolyn Benson (there is also a non cropped picture of the team on the mat).

Thanks for your consideration!

Neyla Bajoras

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Monarchs Eyed for Possible Inclusion Under US Endangered Species Protection

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Cape Ann Milkweed and Monarch Habitat, Eastern Point

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering adding Monarchs as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. A one-year review is underway to monitor the butterfly’s status. Since the 1990s the population has plummeted from about one billion to approximately 35 million. That may seem like a substantial number, but the Monarchs need stronger numbers to be resilient to other threats such as harsh weather.

The reason for the decline is primarily because of loss of milkweed habitat in the agricultural heartland of the United States. With the development of Monsanto’s Roundup and Roundup Ready (glyphosate resistant) seed, farmers are now able to spray glyphosate directly on their corn, soybean, and sorghum crops. Roundup also destroys milkweed. Secondly, with the push for ethanol, farmers have begun to plant corn on conservation land.

If the Fish and Wildlife Service determines that the Monarchs are threatened, they will set aside land for milkweed.

You can read more about the the Monarch Butterfly Endangered Species Act here:

FAQs on the Monarch Butterfly Endangered Species Act Petition

Monarch Butterfly Wildflower Joe-pye ©Kim Smith 2012Monarch Butterfly Drinking Nectar from Native Wildflower Joe-pye Weed

You can learn more about the Monarch migration and the loss of Monarch habitat from Professor Tom Emmel here ~ 

Coolidge Reservation

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Remember the ice is not thick enough to skate on. Clarke Pond also has salt water that flows through to the pond from an inlets that have been opened.
January 9, 2015 Clark Pond

Hanna Kimberley’s Feminism Stuff

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey. The subject of my book is in the #2 slot!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahjewell/historical-women-who-gave-no-fcks#.obQVPaNxX

Hope you are well. xxx, h