Day: April 6, 2016

Who Wants It?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Trophy Has Been Engraved and As Of This Coming Saturday at 12:00PM Sharp Will Be Up For Grabs. How Bad Do You Want It?
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Anyone not playing in the dodgeball tournament that would like to volunteer to help out during game day? For a great cause. Please email ftgwynne@gmail for more details
Thanks!

Check Out The Facebook Event Page For The Latest Dodgeball Updates-

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Bikini Speedo Dodgeball This Saturday April 9th Click This Link For All The Info

SHOW UP FRIDAY NIGHT TO PICK UP TEAM UNIFORMS AND WATCH THE FULL LENGTH MASTERPIECE CREATED BY CRAIG KIMBERLEY IN ALL IT’S GLORY
TEAM NAMES HAVE BEEN REMOVED TO PROTECT THE PATHETIC, AND WEAK….AND LAME.

SCENES FROM AROUND CAPE ANN’S BEAUTIFUL MARSHES

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Cape Ann marshes are coming to life, in spite of the snowy days and unseasonably cold temperatures. Choristers make themselves readily known with their mating songs and with still bare tree limbs, they are fairly easy to spot.

Red-winged Blackbird male Rockport MA Kim Smith 2016

Sing, sing, sing!

Cardinal Female Kim Smith 2016Mrs. Cardinal

Mouring Dove pair Kim Smith 2016Camouflaged! No eggs yet at the Mouring Dove nest.

Swan male rockport MA Kim SmithMr. Swan looking good.

cat in nine tails Kim SmithDissipating cattail seed heads make for terrific songbird nesting material.

Turn up your volume and listen for the male Red-winged Blackbird song in the instagram below, just audible enough through the noisy Mallards quacking.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD1jo7pjypZ/

 

Gloucester Job Opportunities – North Shore Career at the Elks Today

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

IMG_4195The Management team of North Shore Career held a Job fair at the Elks on April 6th, many opportunities, see some in the slide show below

 

 

 

Outside The Box

Posted on by Marty Luster

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One of the joys of digital photography is the opportunity it presents for thinking outside the box and experimenting with oddball techniques.

This photo was taken in a very dimly lit restaurant in Portland, Maine a few years ago. I was intrigued by the illumination of the woman’s face by her cell phone. I shot at a slow shutter speed and high ISO (sensitivity) to gather all the light that was available. The result is a grainy, blurry, wispy photo –  attributes you usually don’t want to see. However, I think it works here to create a somewhat eerie, dreamlike image.

 

Harbortown Arts Festival – Applications Are Open

Posted on by James Eves

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Gloucester’s Harbortown Cultural District has received funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to generate our First Annual “Harbortown Arts Festival” over Memorial Day Weekend 2016.

On Saturday, May 28, we are going to work with local artists, downtown businesses, galleries, and coffee shops located within the Cultural District to open new art shows, host gallery talks or open studio time. We want to generate an “art walk” atmosphere up and down Main Street, Pleasant Street, Middle Street and Rogers Street. We will encourage shops to stay open later than usual to take advantage of the increased foot traffic downtown these evening events will bring.

On Sunday May 29 and Monday 30, Harbortown Cultural District will commission artists to produce creative place-making projects or programs in collaboration with a downtown Harbortown Partner. Harbortown Cultural District will be investing $4,000 directly to our creative community through micro-grants up to $500. We will be promoting the Harbortown Arts Festival widely through print, online and social media.

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This packet includes information about the Harbortown Creative Place-Making Grant Program. The link to the online application is on the last page.

GOALS:

Harbortown Cultural District created the Harbortown Arts Festival to:

  • Promote Gloucester’s Harbortown Cultural District identity and location downtown
  • Reinforce partnerships with the local businesses, artist, cultural non-profits and allies of Harbortown Cultural District (see map above).
  • Invest and mobilize the creative community to animate spaces and places within Harbortown Cultural District.

ELIGIBILITY:

Harbortown Creative Place-Making Grants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding. The proposed project or program must:

  • Occur on private, not public, property.
  • Be a non-permanent project or installation
  • Be completed by 9 p.m. on Monday, May 30.
  • Engage the community in the development or implementation – or both – of the proposed project or program.
  • Have a Creative Partner and a Harbortown Partner co-leading the implementation of the proposal.
    • ​Lead Creative Partner(s) of any artistic discipline(s) are welcomed to apply (Examples include but are not limited to dance, music, visual art, literary art, new media, folk art, puppetry, or circus arts).
    • Lead Creative Partner(s) must live within Essex County Massachusetts. Preference is given to Creative Partner(s) residing in the City of Gloucester, followed by residing in a Cape Ann community.
    • Lead Harbortown Partner must be located within the boundary of the Cultural District. While many allies and organizations support the work of Harbortown Cultural District, this grant program is specifically designed for institutions located within the boundaries of the Cultural District, which is referred to as a Harbortown Partner.

Harbortown Creative Place-Making Grants prioritizes projects that:

  • Increase access to the arts and cultural equity by valuing the diversity of the City of Gloucester.
  • Support art in parts of downtown Gloucester that are historically under-served and under-resourced.
  • Support art in sites, spaces and contexts that may not typically be viewed as places for artistic activity.
  • Demonstrate diverse and strong artistic expression.
  • Seize an opportunity to creatively engage important conversations about Gloucester’s rich cultural legacy – past, present or future.

FUNDING CRITERIA

  1. Artistic Strength.
  • Creative Partner is the lead artist implementing the project or program.
  • Creative Partner leads a clear vision for the proposed project or program.
  • Creative Partner resides in Gloucester, Cape Ann or in Essex County.
  • Harbortown Partner is located within the Cultural District.

     2. Community Engagement.

  • Community is involved in the planning or implementation – or both – of the project or program.
  • The project or program will increase the sense of community within and among participants or audience.
  • The project or program will celebrate Gloucester’s unique and diverse cultural heritage.
  • Efforts will be made to engage populations within the City that are not typically present at Gloucester’s artistic or cultural events.

     3. Feasibility.

  • Stated proposal’s scope and schedule will be on time and on budget.
  • Creative Partner and Harbortown Partner are able to administer the implementation of the proposed project or program.
  • Proposed project or program will help Harbortown Cultural District achieve our stated goals for the Harbortown Arts Festival.
  • Funds requested are appropriate and reasonable.
  • Proposal confirms that the project or program occurs on private, not public, property.

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

TIMELINE

Grant applications will close 5:00 pm on Monday, April 18.

Applicants will be notified Monday, May 2 on whether the proposal was accepted or not.

If you have any questions about the Harbortown Arts Festival or the Creative Place-Making Grant Program, please contact:

Rebecca Borden

Chair, Harbortown Cultural District

Email: rebecca.borden@gmail.com

Cell: 202-929-9549

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Gloucester’s Harbortown Cultural District

Rebecca Borden, Chair

Tom Daniel, Past-Chair

Deborah Kelsey, Vice Chair

Rich Weissman, Treasurer

Patty Gates, Secretary

Gloucester, MA 01930

Cape Ann Plein Air Informational Meeting

Posted on by capeannpainter

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From “Cape Ann Plein Air”;

“We’re launching the First Annual Cape Ann Plein Air Festival!

Please join us for wine, cheese and information on Thursday April 21, 2016 to learn about this new exciting event that will “float all boats” on Cape Ann during the shoulder season. From Oct 10-16, 2016 Cape Ann’s plein air tradition will be the centerpiece as up to forty professional plein air artists compete for cash prizes during a week-long paint-out. This is a chance for ALL of Cape Ann’s arts, culture, and community organizations to collaborate and raise Cape Ann’s reputation as a destination for artists, serious art collectors, and art lovers.

Organized in partnership with the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, seARTS, North Shore Arts Association, Rockport Art Association, Rocky Neck Art Colony, Essex Merchants Group, and you!”

Thursday April 21, 6-8pm
Rocky Neck Cultural Center
6 Wonson St.
Gloucester MA
Call 978-758-1210 for info

Keep up to date on what’s happening on Cape Ann Plein Air’s Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/Cape-Ann-Plein-Air-1134576859920009/

En plein air

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

En plein air (French pronunciation: ​[ɑ̃ plɛn ɛːʁ]), or plein air painting, is a phrase borrowed from the French equivalent meaning “open (in full) air”. It is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors, also called French: peinture sur le motif (“painting of the object(s) or what the eye actually sees”), where a painter reproduces the actual visual conditions seen at the time of the painting. This method contrasts with studio painting or academic rules; those might create a predetermined look. En plein air can also be used to describe other activities where a person partakes in an outdoor environment.[

My quick, easy and very portable Watercolor Plein Air setup
My quick, easy and very portable Watercolor Plein Air setup

Hey! I Want My Shirt Back!

Posted on by capeannpainter
My Nephew Tommy soon to be a "Art, Rocks!" Artist
My Nephew Tommy soon to be an “Art, Rocks!” Artist

James Connolly First Medal Winner in the First 1896 Olympics has Gloucester Ma connection

Posted on by Catherine
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image: Google Doodle 2016 April 6

Before he was a Harvard spurner, a Veteran, a Gloucester Master Mariner, a sea tales chronicler and beloved writer,  James Connolly (1868-1957) was one of 14 American athletes (5 were Bostonians) to compete in the international Games of the I Olympiad in Athens, Greece, 1896.Twenty percent of the international competitors were from the United States.

Connolly medalled. Twice. On the first final of the opening day, Connolly won what is now the triple jump and came in 2nd in the high jump. He sailed home a champion, the first Olympic medal winner in 1500 years. This recognition no doubt helped his byline and he rapidly gained a reputation as a fantastic writer. The Boston Globe published his first war correspondence, “Letters from the Front in Cuba” where he served with the Irish 9th Infantry of Massachusetts. His career soars after writing about Gloucestermen from his days working in Gloucester. I’ll let Connolly take it from here, it’s so good:

“While still twenty-five pounds underweight from tropic fever, I took a job as physical director of the Gloucester Athletic Club. I played football on the Athletic Club cleven, spent the fall and winter (1899-1900) there, chucked that job in the spring, took a steerage trip to England…participated in second Olympics (second place)…returned to US again…My next move was to make fishing trips with the captains I had come to know while in Gloucester with the Athletic Club. I had no intention of writing them up, but at this stage of my development I was able to appraise men fairly well. Here were great men, and all the greater because they did not know that they were great. I began by writing of actual experiences with the Gloucestermen, continued with them as the heroic men they were in short stories. My first stories were sent to Scribner’s Magazine, and immediately accepted. And the first half dozen stories were brought out in the volume, Out of Gloucester, by Charles Scribner’s Sons.”

James Connolly

James Brendan Connolly’s parents were Irish immigrants and his dad was a fisherman. Connolly was born in 1868 in southie, Boston, one of 12 children. He died in 1957. You can see the first ever modern Olympic medal at Colby, which was donated by his daughter, Brenda. Several Gloucester writers and notables mention him. TS Eliot wrote the introduction to Connolly’s 1928 Fisherman of the Banks. NC Wyeth illustrated some of his books. His sailing chops were envied.

In Gloucester, MA:

Today is the first day of track and field at O’Maley Innovation Middle School. On this 120th anniversary of the first day of the modern Olympics (thanks Google Doodle), may our student athletes be inspired by James Brendan Connolly. Check out a Connolly book from Sawyer Free or look for vintage editions at Main Street Antiques and Dogtown Book Shop.

Read more about Connolly by Connolly

Read more about the Olympic anniversary celebrated by Google Doodle artist Olivia Huynh that prompted my post today and many others.

Read more about Connolly’s Southie ties in the Boston Globe (alas no Gloucester mention)

James Connolly sculpture Boston Globe photo
Photo caption: The memorial to Connolly, dedicated in 1987 and designed by artist Thomas Haxo. The memorial was paid for through a grant by the Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund. Rosso/Boston Globe

37 Days Left to Apply for This Fun!

Posted on by Nichole S.

Red Bull Flugtag, meaning “Flying Day” in German is coming to Boston.

Even if you’re not brave (or crazy) enough to apply….I think being a spectator for this spirited mayhem would be a blast!

Mark Your Calendars now!

Applications and “craft designs” are due by May 13th.

The Red Bull Flugtag event will be held on August 20th at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell.

Red Bull Flugtag is back in 2016 and is once again challenging wannabe pilots to push the limits of human flight. Since 1991, Red Bull Flugtag (which translates to “Flying Day” in German) has made stops around the world challenging competitors to build and pilot homemade human powered flying machines. For the first time ever, the brave and brainy teams of five will take a flying leap off a 28-foot-high flight deck into the water below in both Boston, Massachusetts and Louisville, Kentucky.

Applications are now being accepted for both locations and carpenters, athletes, designers, engineers, entertainers, and everyone in-between can turn their dreams of flight into reality. Five-Member teams of aspiring aviators and courageous craftsmen can apply for a chance to compete by submitting flying-machine plans to http://www.RedBullFlugtag.com. The deadline to submit craft designs is May 13.

READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE!

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VISION DEPOT (FORMERLY PARRELLI OPTICAL) ANNOUNCES A NAME CHANGE, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS BEFORE

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

More Cape Ann Health, Fitness and Wellness News-
http://www.capeannwellness.com

Joey Ciaramitaro's avatarCape Ann Wellness

VISION DEPOT (FORMERLY PARRELLI OPTICAL) ANNOUNCES A NAME
CHANGE, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS BEFORE
Dr. Bonny Weingarten, serving Gloucester since 1997, has
just announced that the well-known and long-established eye care and full-service
optical care retail store at 29 Railroad Avenue in Gloucester has changed its name to
Vision Depot, from Parrelli Optical.
“When we parted ways with the Parrelli Optical franchise, we wanted to let the
community know that our goals have not changed at all: we have the same great
service for our many customers, the same dedicated and highly trained employees, the
same management and owner, and now an even better selection of the best frames
and the most fashionable styles. Plus, we now are able to accept even more types of
insurance,” said Dr. Weingarten.
Vision Depot specializes in digital eye examinations, dry eye and allergy management,
high fashion in eyewear, all…

View original post 113 more words

www.capeanncommunity.com Bulletin Board Happenings For 4/6/16

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Mind the Light: Poetry and Movement at the Cape Ann Museum

April 5, 2016 ~ Cape Ann Museum

Saturday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m.

A Multimedia Presentation with Suellen Wedmore and Friends

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Based on her most recent book of poetry, Mind the Light, writer Suellen Wedmore melds photographs, paintings, music and movement to depict the bravery and intelligence of the little-known heroines of our American past—women lighthouse keepers. Assisting Wedmore will be Juliana McGovern, Barbara Brewer and others. Following the program, Wedmore will be available to sign copies of her book, for sale in the Museum Shop. This program is free for CAM members / $10 for non-members (includes Museum admission). Space is limited; reservations required.

For more information email us at info@capeannmuseum.org. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Museum at (978) 283-0455 x10 or online at Eventbrite.

Gloucester Biotechnology Academy – Apply now!

April 5, 2016 ~ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

School children and their teacher in a high school science class

This could be you in September!

The Gloucester Biotechnology Academy is now accepting applications from recent high school grads for the first class to start September 2016.  Your gateway to a career in the exciting field of Biotechnology…

  • Preparation for entry-level lab tech jobs
  • Nine-month training on modern biotech methods
  • No tuition or fees – course is completely underwritten
  • Paid internship after completing 2 semesters
  • Career skills and mentoring

    For your application package:  biotech.academy@gmgi.org

    For more information:  Gloucester Biotechnology Academy

    Change YOUR Life!

    Image ~ April 5, 2016 ~ lwheels2636

    ALI 1 & 2 4x6 postcard June 2016 p. 1

    Good Morning –

    Greetings from North Shore Career Center.  We are delighted to announce that we have gathered 35 companies located in Gloucester and Brockport to a Job Fair.  We are also expecting 200+ Job Seekers in the Cape Ann area to participate in this event at no cost at all. 

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    LEGO®-Packed Kids Events in April Vacation Week

    Invent your way through April Vacation Week with 2 LEGO®-packed Cape Ann library events celebrating the publication of The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin!

    Written by local author, Elinor Teele, this hilarious adventure for kids aged 8-12 has already received a Kirkus Star. Join Elinor on Saturday, April 16 or Thursday, April 21 for LEGO® inventing, word games, steam engine exploring, interactive readings, and a super-cool book raffle!

    Find all the details: elinorteele.com/events/

    Mechanical Mind of John Coggin - Book Launch PosterMechanical Mind of John Coggin - Rockport Vacation Week Poster

    Check out –

    The Gloucester Pull Out

    from B.B. Boudreau

    Cape Ann

  • Yeah, it’s STILL winter. It’s April 4th today and it snowed. And they’re saying there will be more. I have started to look for reasons to be happy about being here, and decided that there are some delightful aspects of winter here in Gloucester, although maybe not as numerous as in summer. Here’s a big one. Everyone knows how to drive these narrow roads.
    I believe after living here for 20 years, it’s because of a clever maneuver that I have coined The Gloucester Pull Out. Some people from the outside think it’s rude, but I’ve never been able to figure out why. In taking a left turn from a driveway or side street, we wait for three or four cars, which is reasonable in the winter, and then pull slowly into the coming lane.

    • For the entire post click here

    The Manchester Essex Green Team is selling 40 pound bags of Black Earth Compost made from the Manchester Essex School District’s food waste converted into rich and nutritious soil for $8 each.  This sale will be happening on a rolling basis and will continue all year long. All participation is greatly appreciated because the profits will be donated to the Green Team programs in all three schools. The Team is accepting credit card orders by visiting the Team’s secure website at http://www.greenteam.mersd.org, click on the “buy compost” option on the homepage. Or you make payments by checks made out to MERSD and send to The Green Team, 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester, MA 01944.  Green Team Director, Eric Magers, will deliver the product for free to any location in Cape Ann (and a reasonable fee beyond that). If you have questions, or live beyond Cape Ann for free delivery, please contact the Green Team @ greenteam@mersd.org or 978.525.6469. 

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