Chasing the Sun…

Call For Consignments – RAA&M Annual Art Auction – Consignment Deadline: March 9, 2023

The Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M) in Rockport, MA is currently accepting consignment submissions of works by Historic American Artists, Highlighting the Cape Ann School, for its Annual Art Auction. The consignment deadline is Thursday, March 9th and the Auction will be held on Saturday, May 6th, 2023 – Live Online Only. The Auction Preview Exhibition will be on view for two weeks prior to the auction in the Hibbard and Maddocks Galleries of the RAA&M. 

Each year, this prestigious fundraising event attracts serious collectors from across the country, as well as those just starting an art collection. The auction features works by master Cape Ann artists of the past such as: Aldro T. Hibbard, Anthony Thieme, Emile Gruppé, Harry A. Vincent, Antonio Cirino, Frederick Mulhaupt, Jane Peterson, W. Lester Stevens, Marguerite S. Pearson, Charles Vickery, Paul Strisik, Max Kuehne, Mabel May Woodward, Charles Woodbury,Theresa Bernstein, Al Czerepak, Charles Movalli, and many more. The RAA&M auction specializes in Cape Ann art, but is not limited to this region and also includes works by numerous other prominent historic American artists.

The auction, now in its 38th year, began with a bequest by founding member Antonio Cirino (1888-1983). Cirino left his artwork to the Association with the stipulation that the art be auctioned to help support the organization. The auction quickly evolved to include other historic Cape Ann artists, and has been the RAA&M’s major annual fundraising event ever since.

For more information about the Rockport Art Association & Museum and its Annual Art Auction, please visit www.rockportartassn.org/auction.

To make an appointment or to inquire about consigning, please contact Margaret Redington at 
978-546-6604, ext. 1002 or auction@rockportartassn.org.

Marblehead Arts Association major annual show, Variations 2023, has an open call for art.

This organization has a strong membership, beautiful Hooper Mansion venue, and attracts many art supporters on the North Shore.

I encourage you to submit your work, in categories of Fine Art, Photography, and 3D.  Cash prizes too!

Submissions are due February 25,

onebite.app/restaurant/frankie-slice-peabody-ma-120521a2/review/2be21d39-58e4-44ca-b250-3cce75704113

Do you have great photos that showcase the beauty of Rockport? The Rockport Rotary Club will be producing a 2024 photo calendar as a fundraiser this year and is requesting amateur and professional photographers alike to submit their best high quality photos of Rockport to be entered into our contest. The photography winners of each month plus the cover will receive $50. The photos are to be of Rockport and emphasize qualities that make Rockport a special place to live, work and visit in each season. Examples include featuring the fishing industry, town events, parades, pets in a quintessential Rockport scene, quarries, architecture and ocean scenes.

The contest will run from February 20^th 2023 to March 20^th 2023. Please submit your high quality digital photos to photos@rockportrotary.org and include your name, mailing address and phone number so we can notify you if you have won. Questions can also be submitted to the same email address.

Overview of Gloucester – Bridge Reconstruction, Western Avenue over Blynman Canal

A Live Virtual Public Information Meeting will be hosted on the MassDOT website below to discuss the proposed Gloucester – bridge reconstruction, Western Avenue over Blynman Canal, G-05-002.

When:
6:30 PM, Thursday, February 23, 2023

Purpose:
The purpose of this public information meeting is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Bridge Reconstruction Project, Western Avenue over Blynman Canal, G-05-002. All views and comments submitted in response to the meeting will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

Proposal:
The proposed project includes the reconstruction of the Western Avenue over Blynman Canal bridge.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be presented in the meeting.

Project inquiries, written statements and other exhibits regarding the proposed undertaking may be submitted to Carrie E. Lavallee, P.E., Chief Engineer, via e-mail to dot.feedback.highway@state.ma.us or via US Mail to Suite 7210, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Major Projects, Project File No. 608397. Statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public meeting transcript must be emailed or postmarked no later than ten (10) business days after the meeting is posted to the MassDOT website listed below.

This meeting is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (e.g. interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, live captioning, videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), TTD/TTY at (857) 266-0603, fax (857) 368-0602 or by email (MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us). Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten business days before the meeting.

On Presidents’ Day, I happened upon the seals resting in Brace Cove. They seemed to be enjoying the day the way most of us were: in the sun and near the water. I chatted with a couple of other seal admirers while there listening to the seals bark and watching them maneuver for comfort. There seemed to be about a dozen of them along with some other birds and ducks. For more pictures and further story details, please check out Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook.

We have a massive National Grid Bill Credit and It’s all Because Of Cazeault Solar

Fill out the form or email me at goodmorninggloucester@yahoo.com and I’ll have lifelong Gloucester resident Tim Sanborn from Cazeault Solar call you to go over your options for free.  don’t cry to me when you look at insane electric bills this winter if you don’t get solar on your house.  we did it and it’s easily the best investment we’ve ever made!

WALTHAM, Mass. —

Massachusetts electricity customers could be facing a steep increase in their winter bills, National Grid warned on Wednesday.

Citing the high price of natural gas used in generating the power, the utility company said winter electricity rates taking effect on Nov. 1, will be sharply higher than they were last winter.

“In total, the monthly bill of a typical residential electric customer using 600 kWh (kilowatt-hours) will increase from $179 in the winter 2021-2022 season, to approximately $293 for the winter 2022-2023 season,” National Grid said.

That’s a 64% increase year-over-year.

Enroll in the City Community Electricity Aggregation Program at this link- https://gloucester-cea.com/

He’s been busy organizing photos at his room at Seacoast

Funny as ever. David’s still got it!

Slack Tide…

Sharing information from Sclafani’s Italian Bakery on Washington St in Gloucester. Thank you GMG Jim for the update and photo! PS Today’s sasitza bomb and chicken soup are out of this world!!!!

Joseph Virgilio Jr., 79, of Gloucester, husband of Barbara M. (Sova) Virgilio, passed away in Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Gloucester on Saturday, February 18, 2023. His final days were spent surrounded by his loving family and friends. Joseph was born in Gloucester, MA on June 27, 1943, and was the son of the late Giuseppe and Mary P. (Parisi) Virgilio.

Joseph was a co-owner of Virgilio’s Italian Bakery in Gloucester and was very active within the community. He was a long-time member of the Gloucester Elks and the Knights of Columbus and had served on the Gloucester tourist commission. In his spare time, he enjoyed cooking for family and friends, visiting Dunk’s Schoolhouse in Maine and traveling to Aruba and Florida.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, whom he was married to for 56 years; his children, Mary Bates and her husband David Bates Jr. of Atlanta, GA, Jacqui Nyborg and her husband Rodney Nyborg II of Gloucester, MA, and Joseph Virgilio III and his wife Kristen Virgilio, of Charleston, SC. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Megan Bates and David Bates III, Rodney Nyborg III and Annika Nyborg, and Joseph Virgilio IV and William Virgilio, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, as well as his brother Paul Virgilio and sister Rosemary Virgilio.

Visiting hours in the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St. Gloucester will be held on Wednesday, February 22 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Family and friends are cordially invited. His mass will be celebrated in St. Ann’s Church, Holy Family Parish on Thursday, February 23 at 9:30 a.m. with his burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery in Gloucester. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452.

Online condolences may be given at: http://www.greelyfuneralhome.com

Visitation

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

3:30PM – 6:30PM

Greely Funeral Home
212 Washington St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

Service

Thursday, February 23, 2023

9:30AM – 10:15AM

St. Ann’s, Holy Family Parish
60 Prospect Street
Gloucester, MA 01930