Month: March 2017

Random act of Kindness by a Driver and companion from BREAKWATER CONSTRUCTION

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey, 

I want to publicly thank Breakwater Construction for their random act of kindness last night.

Last night at 6:40 PM I arrived at the West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational  church to open the church for a Tuesday evening 12 step CoDA  7PM program meeting. It was rain, snow and sleet  outside and the city plows had created a 3 foot wall of ice and snow on the street. The church had not been plowed yet with the several inches  snow and slush.

I decided to park on Essex Ave with my four way flashers and walk in on top of the snow 75 feet or so and see if the snow  shovel was next to the door. It was. I took a scoop of the snow slush 6 inches deep laden with water and the plastic shovel bent and creaked with the weight of the slush. I proceeded back to the street to shovel at least a car width in to allow for those who might have felt compelled to get to the meeting.

I took one partial shovel full of snow and saw a huge bright Red 1 ton pickup truck with a four way bright yellow snow plow blade across Essex St going toward Essex  stop his truck and roll his window down. He said I can cut you a path in and move the barrier ice wall out of the way. I told him I was opening up for a 12 step meeting and I would really appreciate it.

He turned his truck around and cut a path two car width  path into the full length of the parking lot , widened the street opening and left with his passenger.  Just after he had departed a member of the group arrived and we drove in the space he had created and parked to be ten minutes early to open the church for the meeting.

The truck said BREAKWATER CONSTRUCTION on the side. The driver and his passenger were extremely generous of their time, equipment and kind spirit for which I and others were very thankful to be able to hold our Tuesday night CoDA meeting.  This was an act of kindness that is discussed often in church but tonight clearly demonstrated by BREAKWATER CONSTRUCTION. 

Sandy

Cape Ann Youth Hockey Programs- Girls Open House Today!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I was wondering if you could share the following for some Cape Ann Youth hockey programs. 

Girls open house Friday the 17th

https://www.facebook.com/events/142427856277709??ti=ia

And our challenger program:

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Jessica Cusumano

CAYH Registrar

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Under the weather with a two-boxes-of-tissues-a-day head cold, I haven’t been out walking as much as usual. This afternoon I popped over to Niles to take our Rosie out for a very short walk, just in time to see off in the distance a male and female Ring-necked Duck resting at the icy water’s edge, along with freshly opened branches of pussy willows. Spring is surely on her way!

Ring-necked Ducks for the most part breed further north. I imagine the little flock that is at Niles is only here for a brief period of time.

Charles Fine Arts: Form–Face-Figure Exhibit

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

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IMG_3296On Exhibit at the Charles Fine Arts located at 196 Main Street Gloucester.

FORM  FACE FIGURE  starting Saturday March 18th – April 9th

Includes Live Portrait Sessions by Geoffrey Chalmers, Eli Cedrone, and Leon Doucette

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Beverly hosts a regional Massachusetts Cultural Council cultural districts gathering at The Cabot

Posted on by Catherine

The City of Beverly and The Cabot hosted a Massachusetts Cultural Council north shore cultural district meeting today. The theater was getting ready for tonight’s sold out Celtic Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan and they still made time for the districts. Mayor Cahill welcomed the group. The current exhibition installed in this sunny space is a solo show by fine artist and commercial sign maker, Andrew Bablo.

Cultural districts and organizations coming together for this meeting included the following: Beverly Main Streets and the BAD district; Montserrat College of Art; Chris Sicuranza, Gloucester’s Director of Communications & Constituent Services,Office of the Mayor; the two Gloucester cultural districts, and local cultural council; Rockport’s cultural district; Essex Historic Society and Shipbuilding Museum  and district; Historic New England and Cogswell’s Grant; Lynn’s district; Haverhill’s; and Concord’s. Concord will be hosting their regional meeting tomorrow. Currently there are 35 cultural districts across Massachusetts with 40 possible by the end of June. Salem may come on next year.  Interactive MA cultural districts as Google map.

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OUR HOSTS photo L-R: Kevin Harutunian, Chief of Staff, Beverly; Aaron Clausen, City Planning Director, Community Development, City of Beverly; Gin Wallace, Director Beverly Main Streets; Meri Jenkins, MCC; J Casey Soward, The Cabot, Beverly; Steve Immerman Montserrat College of Art, Beverly; Annie Houston, MCC

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Cosgwell’s and Historic New England;Lee Spence Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum, Essex Cultural District; Suzanne Rocky Neck Cultural District; Rose Sheehan Gloucester local cultural council; Jenny Arndt Haverhill Cultural District
Fine artist and commerical sign business: Andrew Bablo exhibit at Cabot contact steezdesign.com or instagram @steezmagazine
Cabot director – J Casey Soward generous on a busy day!
Readying for Celtic Sojourn tonight at Cabot
Mayor Beverly welcomes MCC and North Shore districts
Chris Sicuranza, Meri Jenkins, Annie Houston
Suzanne and Rose

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Women of Essex exhibit at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum opens this weekend

Posted on by Catherine

Slated to run in conjunction with National Women’s History Month, Women of Essex Stories to Share, will be on display most weekends from March 18-April 29. The show is hosted by Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum. Lee adds:

“The motivation for this exhibit was the recognition that, while our emphasis at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum has been on shipbuilding and the men involved with it, there were many significant roles of women in the community. Hence the exhibit Women of Essex – Stories to Share. This exhibit features about a dozen women that we are featuring individually in this first phase of the project. To help scope this effort, we are focusing this phase on women who are no longer with us. These include the women that were instrumental in building the first meeting house, one of the first woman auctioneers in the country, a female professional baseball player, a woman who was a motivator behind several town projects, several individuals active in the arts, and even an enslaved woman. There will be collections of several other groups of women, namely teachers and restaurateurs, an Essex mainstay.”

www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org

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Gloucester Writers Center

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Our Friend of the Blog Sandra Williams will be doing a book reading at the Gloucester Writers Center.

Nichole’s Picks 3/18 + 3/19

Posted on by Nichole S.

Pick #1: Wonka, Junior

There’s quite a buzz about East Gloucester Elementary School’s upcoming performances of Wonka Jr.

Shows on Friday @ 6:30, Saturday @ 2:00, and Monday at 6:30.

I’ve been told that tickets are $10 and are available at the door.

 

Pick #2: Cape Ann Youth Hockey:  Girls Open House Practice on Friday, March 17th at 6:00 pm.

CAYH - Girls Flyer 2017-2018 Season from kristin

 

Pick #3: Children’s Drop and Shop at the Pingree School in Hamilton

The Drop & Shop offers a unique, extensive shopping experience for families with kids 0-16.  You can shop for complete seasonal wardrobes for all your kids, or stock up on new [different] toys, games, books, DVDs, gear and furniture.  There are sizes, styles and price ranges for everyone.  Moms, Dads, Aunts and Grandmothers are all welcome to shop for the all the children in their life.  Best brands only.  All items are screened, hand-picked and approved from a team of experienced and savvy moms!
Plan for an extensive shopping experience by bringing an empty shopping bag, or three. The facilities offer plenty of room to roam.  We ask – no food or drink, cash and local check only.  Children are always welcome, but please consider others and make sure they stay within arms reach.  Roaming children will be asked to re-unite with their guardian.  It’s not okay to leave children unattended.

 

As always, for a comprehensive listing of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid

New book based on a lifetime of guidance: local writer Jane Edwards shares her compelling take on elder care

Posted on by Catherine

Congratulations, Jane!

See Joann Mackenzie’s article in the Gloucester Daily Times about Jane Edwards new book  “Caring for Caring: An Enriching, Kindhearted, Ethical Journey with Our Elders”. 

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Judith Curtis at the Cape Ann Museum

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Cape Ann Museum's avatarCape Ann Community

Cape Ann & Beyond: Lecture by Judith Curtis

Saturday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m.

Offered in conjunction with the special exhibition, Charles Movalli: Cape Ann & Beyond.

Charles Movalli (1945–2016), Marine Railways, 2014. Acrylic on canvas. Gift of Dale Movalli, 2016 [2016.59].

Image: Charles Movalli (1945–2016), Marine Railways, 2014. Acrylic on canvas. Gift of Dale Movalli, 2016 [2016.59].

Author and art historian, Judith Curtis will give an illustrated lecture on 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 Cape Ann & Beyond exhibition.

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…

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Gloucester Biotechnology Academy – Visit us at the Cape Ann Career and College Fair!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute's avatarCape Ann Community

Gloucester Biotechnology Academy – Priority Applications due now!

Stop by our table at theCape Ann Career and College Fair!  March 16th from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the Gloucester High School field house.  All GHS students and parents are invited.

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#NationalKickButtsDay

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Karen Pischke BSN, RN's avatarCape Ann Wellness

Your Bridge to Health; Promoting Optimal Wellness for Mind, Body and Spirit

#NationalKickButtsDay. You Can Do It!

Kick Butts Day is organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and sponsored by the United Health Foundation. The first Kick Butts Day was held in 1996.

Blow

Talk to your doctor about group and individualized treatment programs for smoking cessation. Stopping smoking can be a challenge. Medications for tobacco treatment along with tobacco treatment counseling may make it easier. Ask your doctor if you are a candidate for Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT,) Zyban (Wellbutrin) or Chantix. 

Addiction is a ‘disease of the brain.’Nicotine addiction is no exception, and the cigarette companies know as much about the addiction pathway as healthcare providers, finding ways to  make cigarettes more addictive so they can sell more cigarettes.

Collaborative, comprehensive, supportive programs make it easier to stop.

Benefits of Stopping Smoking –  Click here to…

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WHERE DO SWANS GO DURING A STORM?

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

We friends of Mr. Swan think he is practically a genius. You would have to be, to survive the oftentimes inhospitable shores of Cape Ann. And, too, he is well over twenty years old and has out lived two mates!

Mr. Swan at Brace Cove

Mr. Swan is a species of swan called a Mute Swan, which do not migrate great distances. Instead, they move around from body of water to body of water within a region. When Mr. and Mrs. Swan were raising their young, by mid summer, when food was becoming less plentiful and water levels receding at Henry’s Pond, the entire swan family–mom, dad, and all the cygnets–would travel for the remainder of the breeding season to Niles Pond, a larger pond with a more plentiful supply of aquatic vegetation. Several weeks ago, the brackish water of Henry’s Pond thawed. Mr. Swan returned to the Pond, but then with a stretch of cold weather, it quickly refroze. He headed over to Pebble Beach to forage for food in the saltwater cove. This week, sensing the coming nor’easter, Mr. Swan moved over to Rockport Harbor, which rarely freezes, is less rough than Pebble Beach, and where a supply of food is readily available. Whether a September hurricane or March blizzard, Mr. Swan rides out the storm tucked in along the edge of pond or harbor.

Don’t you find it very interesting that although not indigenous to this country, Mute Swans have adapted many strategies for surviving our changing seasons, and with the seasonal changes, the differing types of, and amounts of, food available.

Mr. Swan at Rockport Harbor

If you see Mr. Swan at any of our local bodies of water, please be very kind to him. Dogs, no matter how well meaning, will make any swan feel threatened. And please, if you must feed him, only feed him whole corn. No junk food ever. Swan junk food includes bread, crackers, chips, and Doritos. In all the years that I have been filming Mr. Swan, never once have I fed him. Mr. Swan has friends, wonderfully kind stewards, who regularly look after his well-being, supplementing his native diet of pond greens and seaweed with cracked corn, and that is quite sufficient for his good health.

Thank you everyone for looking out for Cape Ann’s one and only Mr. Swan!

Mr. Swan at Henry’s Pond

Mr. Swan at Rockport Harbor and Niles Pond, with His Ever-present Entourage of Quackers

LAST CHANCE TO SEE MULAN!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Last chance to see O’Maley Academy Drama Club’s presentation of Mulan

Friday, March 17th at 7:00p (Han cast)
Saturday, March 18th at 1:00p (Tang cast)

See the complete cast list at http://omaleypa.blogspot.com/

Surfers after the storm

Posted on by Catherine

Ides of March and this time of day nearly a rainbow in every spray

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