Nichole posted this picture just a couple days ago. Just drove by and there’s an under agreement sign on it. 

At Maritime Gloucester, deep water sailor Joe Harris last night regaled his audience  with the tale of his quest to set a new class record for an unassisted solo circumnavigation of the world.

Joe cast off from Newport RI on his 40 foot monohull Gryphon Solo 2 on November 15, 2015. Sailing southward and easterly, his plan was to cross the South Atlantic to the waters off Cape Town, South Africa and then continue east through the Indian Ocean into the Pacific, running south of Australia and New Zealand, round Cape Horn and then take a long slog North along  east coasts of the Americas back to Newport.

Unfortunately, Joe was forced into Cape Town to repair his hydro-generator, without which he would have lost the use of all of the electronic navigation and communication equipment on board. A second incident resulted in serious hull damage necessitating another emergency stop, this time in Uruguay.

Although Joe did not set the new record, his voyage of 154 days (not counting the repair stops) was a thrilling adventure filled with moments of abject terror as well as those of serene contentment. When asked if he would do it again, Joe said, ” I would like to, but don’t think I will.”

See Joe’s photo gallery of the voyage here.

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Cape Ann & Beyond:
Lecture by Judith Curtis

The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to offer an illustrated lecture by author and art historian, Judith Curtis on Saturday April 1 at 2:00 p.m. Curtis will discuss one of the North Shore’s most distinguished landscape and marine painters, the late Charles Movalli. This talk will touch on Movalli’s philosophy and technique as it pertains to works in the current special exhibition, Charles Movalli: Cape Ann & Beyond. Exhibition support generously provided by Judi Rotenberg and Edward Zuker and Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. & Lucienne M. Bosselman.

The cost of this program is $10 Museum members / $15 nonmembers. Space is limited; reservations required. For more information email info@capeannmuseum.org. Register by calling 978-283-0455 x10 or online at Eventbrite.

Judith Curtis is a freelance writer specializing in art-related themes and is curator of the Rockport Art Association and Museum’s permanent collection. She lives on Cape Ann and is a regular contributor to the American Art Review. She has also written several books including Anthony Thieme, The Life and Art of Paul Strisik, N.A., W. Lester Stevens, N.A., (1888-1969), Harry A. Vincent and His Contemporaries, Rocky Neck Art Colony (1850—1950) and A. T. Hibbard, American Master.

Textures and Light: Visualizations in Monochrome – Kirk R. Williamson One-Artist Show

An exhibition of black and white photography titled Textures and Light: Visualizations in Monochrome by local artist Kirk R. Williamson will open in the Marguerite Pearson Room of the Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M) on Saturday, April 1st with an artist’s reception from 2 – 4 PM. The exhibition will be on view Saturday, April 1 – Thursday, April 13.

A lobstereman heads out past the Motif#1 into Rockport Harbor for a morning of lobstering.

The toe of the frog at the Rockport Art Association has a mitten attached to it.

“This show brings me back to my roots in black and white photography. I was classically trained as a black and white newspaper photographer I tend to see light in those terms. The vital elements of successful black and white work are texture and light.” – Kirk R. Williamson

Mr. Williamson has been a photojournalist for most of his working life. For the past 35 years he has been employed by a variety of newspapers on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Starting in 1978 he began his career as the Director of Photography at North Shore Weeklies in Ipswich where he remained until 1979 when he moved to the Salem Evening News. As the Chief Photographer at the Salem Evening News he spent the next 20 years fulfilling his dream of being a photojournalist for a daily newspaper. While at the “News” he photographed Presidents, celebrities, and major sporting events throughout Essex County and Boston. What he enjoyed most was photographing high school sports throughout the North Shore. During this same period he also had his work published in the New York Times Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Ski and Skiing Magazine and numerous publications around the country. He was also a New England contract photographer for The New York Times, Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

Mr. Williamson left the Salem Evening News in 2000 and began work at Autobytel an Internet company as the Photo Editor where he was responsible for the digital capture and archiving of over 10,000 images for the automobile library. In 2003 he left Autobytel and started the Cape Ann Photographic Foundation where he is still the Executive Director. In 2007 he came back to the field of photojournalism as the Multimedia Editor for Gatehouse Media’s North group where he was responsible for a staff of photographers and producing the still and video production for this group of 20 newspapers and 24 websites.

In August of 2016 Mr. Williamson retired from the news business and has concentrated on a new career in teaching at the college level and running his own workshops. He is also starting a photo tour company in May of 2017.


RAA&M April Hours:

Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM; Sunday 12 – 5 PM. For more information on this and other shows, please visit the RAA&M’s website at www.rockportartassn.org

Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group Opens Fourth Show

The Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group opens its fourth group exhibition, “Un-expected No. Four” at the Rockport Art Association and Museum. This show features artworks of about 80 artists, works of both the RAA&M’s artists and contributing members. Works on view in the exhibi-tion range in medium to include paintings, mixed-media, graphics, sculpture and photography.

The Experimental Group is a creative forum, its main mission is to increase public awareness and to fos-ter self-expression by bringing artists together to explore and share ideas that cultivate creative free-dom. The EG is encouraged and supported by the Rockport Art Association & Museum.

If you would like more information about the exhibition, would like to schedule an interview and a walk through, or need additional promotional images please contact: Nella Lush, Experimental Group, Chair, 978.886.4582 or via email experimentalgroupraa@gmail.com

The Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M) is one of the oldest and most active art organizations in the country. The Association has a long and distinguished history that has spanned 96 years.

5:00 am on Fan Pier in Boston this morning.   It was a beautiful sunrise which I will share tomorrow, but for now sharing a quick shot of blue hour…worth getting up at 3:45 on my day off 😀

Pastels de bacalhau

The real deal.  Cooked to order while you wait.   Note the sliver of hot red pepper.  This, beer included, is less than the cost of a meal at McD or BK.  Support your local pub.  Old Schoolhouse, Hudson, Mass.

Al Bezanson

Can we figure out other stuff to prescribe?   How bout prescribing a little mental toughness instead of making this shit so readily available?  I respect the hell out of any doctor that asks a patient that doesn’t absolutely need hard core pain meds if they can take a little pain and go with heavy duty Tylenol instead.

This stuff is destroying too many young lives.

World Series pitcher describes his battle with Adderall here

Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass legislation that authorizes $200 million for Chapter 90 funding to help municipalities complete road, bridge and infrastructure improvement projects.

The legislation provides Cape Ann’s communities with nearly $1 million for improvements to municipal roads and bridges. Gloucester will receive $665,844.64, Essex will receive $129,965.82, and Rockport will receive $189,641.87. The bill also appropriates $70 million to replace the Registry of Motor Vehicle’s information technology infrastructure.

“Safe roads are key to the safety and prosperity of all communities especially Gloucester,  Rockport, and Essex,” said Ferrante. “Ensuring the safety of local roads for our children, residents, visitors and those who conduct business in our area is a top priority of local leaders, including myself.”

“Chapter 90 funds are essential to providing stability and spurring economic growth in Massachusetts,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said. “That growth starts on the local level. I am pleased we were able to take action on this bill before April to support safety and efficiency in our municipalities.”

“The House of Representatives voted to support $200 million of Chapter 90 funding for our cities and towns,” said Representative Brian S. Dempsey (D-Haverhill), Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means. “Today’s vote will ensure that local transportation projects will continue to move forward as the busy construction season gets under way.  These funds are a vital source of local aid and demonstrate the House’s ongoing commitment to deliver needed resources to our partners at the municipal level.”

“This funding is instrumental to cities and towns seeking to make repairs and updates to their infrastructure,” said Representative William Straus (D–Mattapoisett), Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “The winter weather is especially tough on roads, and The Legislature’s $200M appropriation will allow municipalities added funds this construction season for repairs that are most needed.” 

This legislation complements a 2016 transportation law focused on highways, small bridges and a municipal grant program. That bill authorized $750 million for both federal-aid interstate and non-interstate highway projects, and $50 million for a new program to repair small bridges.

Nautical Driving School: Gloucester, MA

Learn to be safe while having fun on the water!

Boat Handling School

Now Taking Reservations for Spring 2017

The Nautical Driving School will give you hands-on knowledge, skill and confidence to correctly, and safely, handle a boat.

This 12 hour course you will teach you the inner workings of a vessel, boating vocabulary, and the proper protocols for navigating tight waterways as well as open waters. You will learn how to interface with other captains and understand the proper use and protocols of the Marine VHF Radio.

This class will give you the experience and confidence to know how to react in the case of emergencies, to competently and safely relieve someone at the wheel and stand a watch on your own.

Hands on class agenda includes:

Building your self confidence, learn the following…

• The USCG Rules of the Road
• Helmsmanship
• Navigation
• Radio Protocols
• Docking
• Anchoring
• Perform Mechanical Checklists
• Line Handling and Knot-Tying

E-mail for information regarding scheduling, pricing or any specific questions you might have.

Captain George Story

Captain George Story has worked on the water for 40 years, 30 as a professional licensed captain. Over those many years he has Skippered such boats as Whale Watch vessel, High Speed Commuter Catamarans and large Wind-Jamming Schooners and Ketches. Due to his knowledge of northern waterways he has been a sought after Harbor and River tour-boat captain. He has also command tugboats and working barges during winter months inspecting bridge, seawalls and pipelines

Throughout his career he has delighted in educating young and old alike in all aspects of the sea and waterways including how to safely drive boats of all sizes, even under the most adverse conditions. He was an instructor for the Coastal Bound Program. He is happiest when at the wheel of a boat of any size

As an educator, teaching the marine sciences has been a passion and labor of love. Maritime careers are never predictable given the constant challenges to be met. Sharing his knowledge of the sea brings Captain Story full circle.

Richard Congelosi

Richard Congelosi spent 47 years in the automobile industry. The last 30 as General Sales Manager for a well-known Jaguar dealer. Richard brings a background in finance, as well as organizational skills necessary for any business.

Richard is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has worked in several movies and TV programs, had his own rock ’n’ roll radio program “American Jukebox” on 3 stations in the Boston area for 12 years, Richard is always looking for the next adventure. A love for cars, and a fascination with boats brings Richard here.