I have been following Cape Ann Weather on Facebook for some time now as I have some to realize it is the most accurate forecast for eastern Essex County.  I met up with Chris at the Pleasant St. Tea Company to have a chat about his interest in the weather.

Cape Ann is Chris’ hometown and his fascination with weather is lifelong, but his interest piqued with the Blizzard of 78. It probably helped a great deal that his mother was also a “weather nut”.  He worked a number of years at Varian and was trained in web design after leaving there in 1999. He’s been reporting the weather since 1996, so he’s had many years to hone his skills and many interesting weather events along the way.  He shared a number of fascinating stories about the Perfect Storm and I’m sure yesterday’s weather provided him with hours of study for our benefit.

Chris spent some time lobstering and after the Perfect Storm, he led a fund raising effort to replace lost and damaged lobstering equipment for locals. He did so by sharing his photography. His photos were sold and the profits given to lobstermen.  In addition to photography, plane spotting is another hobby he shares with his followers. His Cape Ann Weather website is chock full of vital information and I encourage you to take a look.

Chris was very gracious in our conversation and I appreciate his time. I also appreciate the patience shown when this original post somehow published with only a title! My apologies as this did not do justice to the time and effort Cape Ann Weather has shown area residents, but I hope to meet again someday for further discussion. Have a great weather day!

For more still photos from Venice visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/50820704@N06/albums/72157666890519787

I had the pleasure of sharing a toast with Kurt and Richard Hosman at the “soft opening” of their all new Drift Cafe (formerly Cafe, Brew & Spirits) at 3 Main Street on Saturday and can’t wait until they are in full swing in a couple of weeks!   I loved coming here last year because it had a great vibe, and it’s a perfect place to hit after dinner for some music and a drink (and a muffin…they are delicious!) or during the day for a espresso and light fare!   Good luck to Kurt and Rick!

With the help of prior owner Will Bard we were driven by the strong sense of place and purpose to create a Café built for those seeking to continue that warm, musical Café vibe.
During the day, we are a coffee house Café that focuses on espresso-based drinks while proudly serving an array of fresh made, pastries, muffins, scones and croissants along with fresh seasonal salads and sandwiches. At night, we transform into a bar where people feel “at home”, dishing out an array of bar bites and stirring up both classic and contemporary elixirs for every taste and price point. Whether you go booze free or spiked, we welcome you to go ahead and espresso yourself.  Drawing inspiration from the unique character of the neighborhood and the local community, and the creator of Café Brew and Spirits the NEW Drift Café Gloucester has been designed to be part of this growing community, satisfying both body and spirit from sun up to lights out.

Please do stop in to see us, check out the new look of the Café and say hello.

We look forward to seeing everyone back at DRIFT. ~Kurt & Rick

GMG recently received a press release announcing the retirement of librarian/archivist Stephanie Buck after serving in her role there since 2004.  Since she has been of great personal help to me over the years in my research, I was anxious to speak with her about her experiences before she retires.

She seems reluctant to blow her own horn, but her vast knowledge of Cape Ann and the holdings of the Cape Ann Museum Library and Archives has been shared widely with many people such as myself who needed some expertise to sort through the various resources. And since Ms. Buck also volunteers at the City Archives, the card catalog in her mind is packed with a variety of helpful information.

These are some of the resources at Cape Ann Museum available to visitors. I’m sure Ms. Buck and the other volunteers have these cataloged in their brains ready for access at request by interested parties.

She told me she has been on Cape Ann since the 1970s and was grateful to have landed on Cape Ann.  She was an integral part of the research team that finally uncovered evidence of Fitz Henry Lane’s actual middle name: a renowned local artist born as Nathaniel Rogers Lane and sometimes known as Fitz Hugh Lane. Information provided by the Cape Ann Museum (Sarah Gledhill) informed me that Ms. Buck wrote a book about this discovery called Fitz Who? The Artist Latterly Known as Fitz Hugh Lane. She also co-authored other books about Fitz Henry Lane ( Fitz Henry Lane : Family and Friends  as well as Chronology of Mary Mellen, published in Fitz Henry Lane & Mary Blood Mellen : Old Mysteries and New Discoveries.

Tellingly, she did not mention these to me herself, but she did mention she is working on another book and that she likes to do house research. The Museum library and archives will miss her deep knowledge and talents.  I know I will miss seeing her behind her desk when I visit!

Dr. Molly O’Hagan Hardy will be taking over the position following Ms. Buck’s retirement at the end of the month. She is the guest curator for the current exhibit Unfolding History, Cape Ann Before 1900; a fascinating display of old documents relating to the history of Cape Ann from a variety of perspectives. The oldest one I took note of was from the 1620s!!!!! Imagine that! I suggest you take time to view this marvelous exhibit.

We wish Stephanie Buck a long and happy retirement. Best wishes from GMG and a grateful public.