Month: May 2023

Sound of Music Rehearsal- Manchester Essex Middle School Ready for Opening Night!

Posted on by Catherine

Just days away! Manchester Essex Regional Middle School presents the Sound of Music on May 5, 6, and 7. Below is a press release, cast list and rehearsal photos.

Photos: Courtesy photos

The YMCA of the North Shore and Manchester Essex Regional Middle School (MERMS) are  proud to present one of the most famous musicals of all time: The Sound of MusicYouth Edition on Friday, May 5 at 7:00pm;  Saturday, May 6 at 7:00pm;  and Sunday, May 7 at 2:00pm at the Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. All tickets are $15.00. For ticketsgo to:https://our.show/mermssound-of-music

Directed by YMCA of the North Shore Theatre Specialist Heidi Dallin, the production features students from the Manchester Essex Regional Middle School playing some of the most beloved characters in theatre history. The Sound of Music was the final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein and features many cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title number, The Sound of Music.  The book of the musical was written by the Pulitzer Prize winning writing duo of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. A Broadway legend, Crouse spent his summers living in the Annisquam neighborhood of Gloucester. The Sound of Musicwon the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars. Set in 1938 Austria, before the Nazi occupation, this inspirational story based on the memoir of Maria Augusta von Trapp, follows Maria Reiner, an ebullient postulate who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. 

MERMS 8th Grader Cate Vendt playing Maria Reiner and MERMS 7th Grader Jack Rousmaniere playing Captain von Trapp lead the cast of over 30 middle school actors. Director Heidi Dallin’s YMCA Theatre Production Team includes Music Director: Rin Wolter; Set, Prop and Costume Designer: Sarah Vandewalle; Stage Manager: Manchester native Jenny Hersey; Choreographer: Ts Burnham; Sound Designer: Francis Bordeleau; Set Tech: True Sayess and Lighting Designer: MERHS Sophomore Nicholas Haley.

 The YMCA of the North Shore and Manchester Essex Regional Middle School’s production of The Sound of Music Youth Edition will be presented at the Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA on Friday May 5, and Saturday May 6, at 7:00 p.m and Sunday, May 7 at 2:00 pm. All tickets are $15 and can be purchased at  https://our.show/mermssound-of-music

The SOUND OF MUSIC CAST

Sound of Music Youth Edition CAST LIST

CharacterCast
Maria RainerCate Vendt
Opening Number ensemble (mountains, trees, birds, a brook, etc)Grace Burgess, Kit Carpenter, Thomas Chrzanowski, Damian Etna, Kate Graeter, Annabelle Kerivan, Calvin Lee, Scarlet Lee, James Lamb, River Martin, Mady N, Jack Rousmaniere, Oscar Storella, Julian Zaremba
Sister Berthe, Mistress of NovicesSimone Argento
Sister MargeHarper Hemme
Sister AnneNatalia Woodman
Sister EttaMaddie Delaney
The Mother Abbess, in charge of the AbbeyScarlet Lee
Sister SophiaRosie Renehan
Nuns of the AbbeyKatelin Aloi, Sofia Colarusso, Elizabeth Coughlin,  Emily Fedorowich, Maya Khan, Paisley Koeplin, Estelle Lovett, Chloe Marletta, Hannah Meara, Anne Stevens, Antonia Vivanco
Captain Georg von TrappJack Rousmaniere
Franz, the butlerElizabeth Coughlin
Hellen, the ChefHannah Meara
Clara, the MaidKatelin Aloi
Annika, a servantEstelle Lovett
Emilia, a servantMaya Khan 
Frau Schmidt, the housekeeperAnne Stevens
Liesl (16)Kit Carpenter
Friedrich (14)Oscar Storella
Louisa (13)Kate Graeter
Kurt (10)Thomas Chrzanowski
Brigitta (9)River Martin
Marta (7)Grace Burgess
Gretl (youngest)Annabelle Kerivan
Rolf GruberDamian Etna
Max Detweiler, friend of CaptainCalvin Lee
GoatAntonia Vivanco
Girl in the Pale Pink CoatChloe Marletta
Folks In the TownSofia Colarusso, Maya Khan, Paisley Koeplin, Madelyn Nazzaro, Natalia Woodman, Rosie, Simone, Katelin, Maddie D, Harper, James, Damian, Scarlet, Estelle, Julian
MamaEmily Fedorowich
Herr Zeller, a German supporterFrau ZellerJames Lamb
Fraulein Zeller, Herr Zeller‘s SisterMadelyn Nazzaro
Baron Elberfeld, party guest against NazisJulian Zaremba
A New PostulantPaisley Koeplin
Admiral von Schreiber, admiral In German NavyChloe Marletta
German OfficialsDamian Etna, Maya Khan, James Lamb, Antonia Vivanco, 
Salzburg Accordion DancersElizabeth Coughlin, Paisley Koeplin, Hannah Meara
Festival JudgesEstelle Lovett, Anne Stevens, Julian Zaremba
The Trio of The Saengerbung of HerwegenSofia Colarusso, Emily Fedorowich, Madelyn Nazzaro
Fraulein SchweigerKatelin Aloi

Sawyer Free Library to Celebrate Memoirs of Gloucester Authors in May

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Sawyer Free Library's avatarCape Ann Community

Author Talk at SFL with GAIL BRENNER NASTASIA on Thursday evening, May 4

Sawyer Free Libraryis pleased to present a series of local authors reading and discussing their memoirs this May at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester.All events are in person and open to the public. To register, or for more information, visit, sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Thursday, May 4, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Book Reading with local author GAIL BRENNER NASTASIA

Join local Author and Gloucester native Gail Brenner Nastasia, who will speak about her newly released memoir,The Fruit You’ll Never See.

Gail learned early on that some people mattered and others didn’t. Despite moving away from Gloucester in her early twenties and becoming an attorney, it wasn’t until she began to appreciate the value in her criminally-charged clients, those with whom she shared similar struggles, that she was finally able to recognize her own worth…

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Who Do You Think Has The Tastiest Balls In Town? Come To The St Peter’s Club Thursday Night at 6PM To Find Out!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Good Morning Gloucester in conjunction with the St Peter’s Club will be holding the first ever Meatball Challenge to benefit the St Peter’s Club Scholarship Fund.

The first 100 people to donate $10 at the Club Thursday night will taste a meatball from each of these great Gloucester Iconic Chefs-

Delaney’s Pizza, Richie Baressi, Zina Saputo, Charlie’s Place, Topside Bistro, The Causeway, Tonno, Oak To Ember, Minglewood Harborside and Sclafanis Italian bakery.

The first 100 to donate will receive a ticket with which they will use to vote for their favorite after trying all ten in a blind taste test. The Trays of meatballs will only be identified by a single letter- A, B, C, D . and at the end the meatballs that have the most tickets win.

Thank you to Joe Virgilio for donating 200 rolls and to The Zappa family from The Causeway for donating the use of 10 chafing trays. Open to the public the night of the event, membership applications will be available and the bar will be open for you to stay and watch the event even if you aren’t there in time to get one of the 100 tickets for voting. Each entrant is only making 100 meatballs so only the 100 first people to donate will be ticket holders.

Good Morning Gloucester will be livestreaming the event so come by the table and say hi!

Video: Tonno Gloucester meatball challenge hype video – Will The Meatballs With Gravy Win? Come To The St Peter’s Club Thursday Night and Find OuT!!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Thursday evening at 6PM the place to be is going to be the St Peter’s club when they are opening their doors to the public for the 1st Ever Meatball Challenge. The first 100 people to donate $10 that night at the door will be able to try a meatball from 10 of Gloucester’s finer chefs. These people will be entered to win a door prize and will be able to vote for their favorite meatball!

I expect a great crowd. The bar will be open and we will be livestreaming the event!

We will be taping other segments with the other spots tomorrow and through the week leading up to Thursday!!

Sclafani’s – Tonno – Oak To Ember – Minglewood Harborside – Delaney’s – Topside Bistro- Zina Saputo – Richie Baressi – Causeway – Charlie’s Place

Video: Zach Sears Minglewood Harborside meatball challenge hype video – Zach Says “Don’t Let Us Win!” #whynotus

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Thursday evening at 6PM the place to be is going to be the St Peter’s club when they are opening their doors to the public for the 1st Ever Meatball Challenge. The first 100 people to donate $10 that night at the door will be able to try a meatball from 10 of Gloucester’s finer chefs. These people will be entered to win a door prize and will be able to vote for their favorite meatball!

I expect a great crowd. The bar will be open and we will be livestreaming the event!

We will be taping other segments with the other spots tomorrow and through the week leading up to Thursday!!

Sclafani’s – Tonno – Oak To Ember – Minglewood Harborside – Delaney’s – Topside Bistro- Zina Saputo – Richie Baressi – Causeway – Charlie’s Place

The Island Cowboy Returns

Posted on by Alicia Unleashed

Episode 111!

Listen we need a disclaimer, it’s been a minute since we’ve done this. But we’re back and who better to do it with than none other the Island Cowboy himself, John Jerome! We talk about his sophomore album ‘Sunday Morning Sunrise’ that releases on May 11th!
We even play a few tunes! Check it out!

Video: Oak To Ember meatball challenge hype video with guest Kim Kardashian!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Thursday evening at 6PM the place to be is going to be the St Peter’s club when they are opening their doors to the public for the 1st Ever Meatball Challenge. The first 100 people to donate $10 that night at the door will be able to try a meatball from 10 of Gloucester’s finer chefs. These people will be entered to win a door prize and will be able to vote for their favorite meatball!

I expect a great crowd. The bar will be open and we will be livestreaming the event!

Here’s Neal Maver and Curtis Healy chiming in. we will be taping other segments with the other spots tomorrow and through the week leading up to Thursday!!

Sclafani’s – Tonno – Oak To Ember – Minglewood Harborside – Delaney’s – Topside Bostro- Zina Saputo – Richie Baressi – Causeway – Charlie’s Place

Save the date, Magnolia Historical Society

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni
Save the date! On Sunday, May 7th we’ll be having our 2nd lecture of the season. It’s called The House at the End of the Point. It will cover the history of Coolidge Point and the fascinating story of the house and its original owner will also be told. Wine, soda and snacks will be served at 4:00 with the lecture starting at 4:30.
We know that there are very few of you out there that haven’t taken a picture of a sunset that included the house at the end of the point…so we’d love to see your best shot, and we’ll include it in a slideshow that will run prior to the lecture. Feel free to post it here and send the file to admin@magnoliahistoricalmuseum.org
After the terrific turnout for our first lecture last month, we ask you to please let us know if you’ll be coming and RSVP to admin@magnoliahistoricalmuseum.org. Thank you!

Smoothies At Magnolia Cafe! Perfect For A Summer Day 978-526-0443

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Did you know Magnolia Cafe has smoothies?

Tropical Paradise, as featured in the photo
Green Machine
Cafe Berry Banana
Almond Butter Delight

They also have ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, frozen yogurt and more!

If you haven’t tried out this hidden gem located in Magnolia, you’re missing out!

20 Lexington Ave Gloucester, MA 01930
978-526-0443

Hummingbird Update

Posted on by Pat D

As a follow up to the discussion held on the podcast about Pat’s hummingbirds, I humbly accept the honor bestowed for being the first of the contributors to post hummingbird news. (How’s that Joey?) As you saw last week, our hummingbird station was all set and ready to roll but we soon discovered the new larger tube we got wasn’t going to work. It was much too large to work efficiently so I replaced it with a small one in addition to 2 small hangar style feeders. So far, the single male we have had visit is very happy with the small hangars. Hoping to see a female soon! This is what it looks like when the hummingbirds can come to your deck and avoid various sporting equipment usage nearby.

THIS THURSDAY: Empty Bowl Marketplace

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

todtheopendoor's avatarCape Ann Community

ORDER tickets NOW for Empty Bowl Marketplace: there’s still time! 

The Open Door Empty Bowl Marketplace has been reimagined with a new twist—a street fair-themed event at Cruiseport in Gloucester (6 Rowe Square, Gloucester MA) this Thursday, May 4, from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Step through the doors and into a dining room transformed into a colorful marketplace packed with this year’s bowls. Choose your favorite bowl and then head to the lower level to bid on auction bowls, get your picture taken, and pick up your dinner from the Farmers’ Truck. The bowl will go home as a reminder that somewhere, someone’s bowl is empty.

CLICK HERE for pay-what-you-can tickets.

Each year, The Open Door Empty Bowl event raises funds for programs that keep local children fed over summer break, including Summer Meals for Kids, Mobile Market, and Food Pantries. The annual event is held in tandem with an…

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Sawyer Free Library and Treetop Yoga present Storytime Yoga at Treetop Yoga Studio

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Sawyer Free Library's avatarCape Ann Community

Join Erin McKay and Sawyer Free Library for Storytime Yoga – free yoga for children exploring stories, movement and fun this Tuesday, May 2 at 10:45 a.m. at Treetop Yoga!

Hosted by Sawyer Free Library, the free program will be held at Treetop Yoga Studio, 3A Pond Road.  Yoga for children 5 and under and their caregivers. 

Register at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Questions? Contact: jvitale@sawyerfreelibrary.org 

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We have our first meatball challenge hype video from Sclafani’s Italian Bakery!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Thursday evening at 6PM the place to be is going to be the St Peter’s club when they are opening their doors to the public for the 1st Ever Meatball Challenge. The first 100 people to donate $10 that night at the door will be able to try a meatball from 10 of Gloucester’s finer chefs. These people will be entered to win a door prize and will be able to vote for their favorite meatball!

I expect a great crowd. The bar will be open and we will be livestreaming the event!

Here’s Rob from Sclafani’s putting in his pitch for why he thinks Sclafanis will win! we will be taping other segments with the other spots tomorrow and through the week leading up to Thursday!!

Sclafani’s – Tonno – Oak To Ember – Minglewood Harborside – Delaney’s – 525 – Zina Saputo – Richie Baressi – Causeway

Team Smitty Hold’Em Tourney

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Good morning Joey, I wanted to see if you would be interested in posting something about a fundraiser my family and I are hosting this coming weekend.  The following is a little something about how the tournament came to be and what it supports.  The flyer is attached.  Thanks!

Team Smitty is a group of people comprised of Mike Smith’s family, friends, and people that Mike had touched over the years.  Our goal is to make sure that Mike’s memory and spirit lives on in our hearts, minds, and memories!  We are also dedicated to helping others in the same way that our community helped Mike, and all of us, during his times of struggle.

As part of our effort to help others, we hold an annual Texas Hold’Em Tournament and include a 50/50 drawing and raffle prizes.  The tournament is a fun night that brings friends together, new and old, for a few laughs and a chance to share in Mike’s memory, while raising money to assist those in need. This is an event that Mike created years ago in support of the Relay for Life.  Since Mike’s passing in 2012, we have carried on the tradition of this event each year.  Last year we were able to help 5 local families who had been impacted by cancer and/or other life hardships.   

The event will be held on Saturday night, May 6th at 6:00 PM at the St. Peter’s Club (registration starts at 5:00).