My View of Life on the Dock
First I would like to thank Pat Kelleher for sending the photos of the Art Show. We had a family wedding out of town, so I could not attend. This show is always successful. Since the volunteers were there to help out, my photos that were hung sold. Thank you to all who volunteer at the great event.
Click here for new 2017 map.
A Twenty plus mile open water race around Cape Ann sponsored by the Cape Ann Rowing Club using seaworthy oar or paddle powered craft. Saturday, July 22, 2017.
Gloucester Department of Public Works (DPW) is clearing out and revamping a little overgrown corner by the scenic footbridge. Pretty much everything that was there is returning: the bench, bike racks, sign, and 1 trash barrel. Weeds will be cleared out. The rotting sign is being replaced and relocated by the tree and perpendicular to the road so as to be readable and preserve view shed. DPW is installing a foot wash which has been a request for a number of years, a tiny water tap off the water main and regulated with a meter. The recent “paving was just an overlay to address a series of potholes.” They’re repairing some broken sidewalk panels, too.
TRASH BARRELS ON THE WEEKENDS – Now you’ll see them
TRASH BARRELS DURING THE WEEK – Now you won’t
There will be pairs of barrels at the beach paths on Gloucester’s two biggest beaches– Good Harbor and Wingaersheek– on weekends as a trial experiment. The barrels will be emptied including a late evening sweep to ensure they’re not left overflowing through the night. It’s a combo option of carry in / carry out with carry in / carry off, because the former works well for most people, not all.
What did DPW find this past weekend?
The barrels were full both days. It was less messy than some of the previous busy weekends. There was lots of dog waste. By morning, they found that there was still trash left in the parking lot which means…
Some beach goers disregard all options: carry in /carry out policy, new blue plastic bags, new barrel pairs at the paths, even a dumpster they walked by behind the concession stand. Oh, and there’s the dog waste despite the No Dog May-October ordinance.
Of course, the litter is not just at beaches. Yes, it detracts from other priorities. DPW is finding trash pretty much everywhere people park (like the boat ramps.) Some people feel that it’s ok to leave behind bags of trash outside where they parked, or next to a full barrel. Gentle reminder from DPW: Pizza to go boxes atop the barrels can block bins that may hold more. Pizza boxes need to be compacted.
prior post Both/And : Carry In Carry Out and new trash barrels at Good Harbor Beach paths
GHB parking lot clean as a whistle after busy weekend
pedestrian bridge? clean as a whistle? not so much and yet so –keeping it positive–the beach was jam packed yesterday!
other: Creek opened Monday (board of health, not DPW)
new testing methods on the horizon
Click photo for music info
The count I heard passing the Gloucester High School athletes going strong at summer conditioning… How many jumping push ups do they go up to?
Beautiful effort and gym
A great weekend to use the water shuttle to enjoy Gloucester Harbor, operated by Cape Ann Harbor Tours.
Family gather for a Birthday celebration on the Privateer, 90 year old “Man of the Hour”, in the center.
They came from Beverly, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Colorado.
A great way to celebrate on the Privateer from the 7 Seas hale Watching.
Visitors from Oregon visit their cousins in Gloucester
Couple from Maine enjoy Stacy Boulevard
Care Giver new to Gloucester
Friends on the Boulevard
We avoided the beach traffic yesterday and hung out at Ten Pound Island and enjoyed just watching the boats go by. These ladies from Ohio visiting some friends in Ipswich had the same idea!
Husband Neil on the beach enjoying some sun!
Caught the Schooner Roseway setting sail as I was yakking around Ten Pound Island yesterday morning. I could hear the unison “heave-ho” of the group as they began to pull the sails up and within minutes she was under sail and heading out of the Harbor.
The new and exciting Music at the Beach Concert Series kicks off this week, on TUESDAY night, with Pier Ave performing at the bandstand at Rockport’s Back Beach at 6:00pm. Check out Pier Ave in their video here!
The idea for Music at the Beach started taking shape thanks to a conversation between Bruce Reed and Don “Duffy” Greel, the Supervisor of Rockport’s DPW. During the conversation Duffy spoke of the concert series at the bandstand in the New Hampshire town where he has a camp. Reed had already been thinking that the bandstand could prove to further build community and would be the perfect venue for family events.
Bruce Reed explains…
I discussed some ideas with Rockport’s Town Administrator, Linda Sanders. Funding was always the major issue. I had a core group willing to help with ideas, but we still had no funding. Selectwoman, Sarah Fiumara Wilkinson, learned about a group named “Awesome Rockport” who is committed to identifying and supporting local initiatives. We filled out their form and were selected as one of three finalists. My 9 year-old cochairman, Wyatt Wilkinson, and I developed a presentation and won the grant. Wyatt and I then presented to the Board of Selectman and received their sponsorship.
The buzz around town for Tuesday’s event is quickly spreading and many people, including yours truly, are really excited to attend! We are very appreciative to Bruce Reed, Wyatt Wilkinson (9 years-old, bears repeating!), Awesome Rockport, and the Board of Selectmen….as well as anyone else who played a role.
CHECK OUT THE MUSIC AT THE BEACH FACEBOOK PAGE HERE
Keeping It Simple- Salt-Pepper-Garlic
After Six Hours In The Smoke At 250
GloucesterCast 233 With Deanna Fay, Wayne Berger, Greg Verga, Doug and Gloria Parsons, Bill Cox, Catherine Ryan, Kim Smith, and Joey Ciaramitaro Taped 7/16/17
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Beginning early this morning and continuing throughout the day, our Little Chick has almost fledged. He does a tiny run, then sort of hops into the air, flapping his wings for short distances, several feet perhaps. We can’t quite yet call it flying, but he is getting very, very close.
Every little clump of seaweed, dried or fresh, holds the promise of a tasty treat, insect treat that is.
The PiPlover volunteer monitors are amazing. I would like to again thank the following people, the Ryan-King family–Catherine, Cliff, Charles, and George–who divide their morning shift between all four family members, Caroline Haines, Hazel Hewitt, Paul Korn, Chris Martin, Diana Peck, Lucy Merrill-Hills, Cristina Hildebrand, Carol Ferrant, Jeanine Harris, Ruth Peron, Karen Shah, Annie Spike, and conservation agent Ken Whittaker.
Morning Wing Stretches ~ We hope you can fly soon Little Chick!
Papa on the job and in full on protective mode this morning.
We are pleading with folks to please, please keep your dogs off Good Harbor Beach. This morning I observed a dog owner purposefully and actively encourage his dog to chase Papa Plover. The owner had one of those retractable leashes and over and over again gave the dog more leash and encouragement to go after Papa. I stood between the dog, owner, and Papa with Little Chick on the other side in hopes of keeping him safe. As the owner and pooch came closer and closer, I tried to wave them away but they kept coming. Meanwhile Papa Plover was having a complete meltdown, employing every plover distraction trick imaginable. When I tried to speak with the man he cut me right off and barked that his was a SERVICE DOG and that service dogs are allowed. I again tried to explain but he was having none of it and said that if his dog caught the Plover, he wouldn’t hurt him.
Even if that were true, which it is not, I think the scofflaw dog owners are missing a huge point. To the PiPl, any four legged creature is a threat. It is very unlikely that the Piping Plover parent can ascertain the difference between a coyote, fox, or dog. I hope the following explanation helps people who don’t quite get it, better understand what all the fuss is about.
Your cute pooch is trotting down the beach. Even from a distance of several hundred feet away, your activity messages a ten alarm fire bell in the PiPl brain. The PiPl parent has no idea that your dog is the sweetest and most harmless dog that ever lived. Instead of staying nearby to where the chick is foraging or resting, the adult immediately goes on the defense, racing down the beach, flying after the dog/coyote/fox creature, alternating between dive bombing you and your dog and limping along the beach, pretending he has a broken wing.
Meanwhile, back where the chick is foraging, the crafty crows and ravenous gulls sense the golden opportunity they have been awaiting. Crows/Gulls don’t like the nasty defensive bites and pecks the adult Plovers inflict upon them when they get to close to the chicks, especially when tag teamed by both parents. But now there is no Plover parent anywhere within hundreds of feet of the baby because they are too busy defending the chick from the sweetest dog that ever lived. Time to swoop in and carry off the pleasingly plump chick, ripe for a wonderfully satisfying Gull/Crow breakfast.
A Tender, Tasty Plumpling
Shortly after the dog owner/service dog departed, and just as Catherine was arriving to take over my shift, coming from the footbridge end was an elderly woman and her adorable husky puppy. They were were walking the beach at the high tide mark, exactly where the chick was feeding. Simultaneously, coming from the private end of the beach were a Mom and her son, and their beautiful golden retriever. After a good deal of explaining to both parties, they all turned and headed toward the direction from where they had come and away from the boardwalk #3 area.
Three dogs in the span of twenty minutes.
Catherine’s photo of me approaching Golden Retriever family.
Please don’t write and tell us to call animal control at 6:00am. We have called and left messages, but their shifts do not begin until later in the morning. I think if we are serious about controlling the dog owner problem on Good Harbor Beach, possibly we could hire a part time person to ticket early in the morning and after the lifeguards leave in the late day. The tickets collected would easily pay the cost, and then some. It wouldn’t be long until the word got out.
I plan to find out if service dogs are allowed on beaches with shorebirds that are listed as a federally threatened or endangered species. If the dog was really a service dog, and service dogs are permitted, perhaps the owner could choose a different beach. And too, hopefully rentors in the area are letting their renters know that dogs are not allowed on the beach, leashed or unleashed, and at all hours of the day and night during the summer months.
Twenty-four-day-old Piping Plover
Piping Plover chick assuming the crouch defense posture.
“Alright Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my closeup.”
If you would like to see another 60 photos of our just concluded trip to Italy, go to:
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Good Morning Gloucester 