Month: June 2024

2024 season opening

My recent trip to photograph birds also included this big fat guy, I believe he’s a bullfrog. He was really loud! I think it’s fascinating to note the ripples expanding outward from his throat when he’s vocalizing as you can see here. Look closely at the photo and you will see the ripples. A good reminder that the noises we make have a natural ripple effect.

JUNE 13, 2024 ~ SAWYER FREE LIBRARY

The Sawyer Free Library proudly announced the winners of the 2024 Poetry Without Paper contest during an inspiring awards ceremony held on Tuesday evening, June 11, 2024 at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. The event was marked by heartfelt readings from the award-winning students before a standing-room-only crowd of friends, family, and community members, all gathered to celebrate their achievements.

Former Poet Laureate of Gloucester, John Ronan, and newly retired Children’s Librarian, Christy Rosso, presented the awards. Christy Rosso, affectionately known as Miss Christy, was also honored for her 29 years of dedicated service at the Sawyer Free Library. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in developing, organizing and growing the annual poetry contest, fostering a love for writing among thousands of young Gloucester residents.

John Ronan, who co-founded the contest 22 years ago and continues to serve as its judge, shared some personal thoughts on Christy Rosso’s involvement in the program and years of service at the Sawyer Free Library, expressing the community’s deep gratitude for her unwavering dedication and nurturing presence. “Christy’s impact on our community’s children is immeasurable. Her passion and commitment have left an indelible mark on all who have had the privilege to know her,” said Ronan.  

Celebrating its 22nd year, Poetry Without Paper has inspired thousands of the community’s young writers to express themselves through poetry and prose. This beloved annual competition encourages local students from kindergarten through high school to share their love of writing and connection to Gloucester’s creative spirit. Each year, the variety and depth of the student poetry range from expected subjects like the beach, school, and family to just as many surprisingly deep, mature poems from these young writers concerned about issues facing the world around them.

From over 500 submissions, winners were selected from each age group: high school, middle school, and elementary school. The talented young poets were awarded certificates and shared over $1,000 in prizes. Additionally, all winning poets received an invitation to appear on 1623 Studio’s production, The Writer’s Block with John Ronan, and their winning work will be published online by the Library.

The Poetry Without Paper contest remains a cornerstone of the Sawyer Free Library’s mission to nurture and celebrate the literary talents of Gloucester’s youth. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and participants for their outstanding contributions and look forward to their future creative endeavors.

For more information about the Poetry Without Paper contest or other Sawyer Free Library programs, please visit www.SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

2024 Poetry without Paper Winners

Elementary School:

1^st:       Helen Larabell, Plum Cove, 4^th grade, “Believe”

2^nd:      Kat Rowe-Joyce, West Parrish, 5^th grade, “Last Time”

3^rd:      Sophia Oliveira, West Parrish, 4^th grade, “Perfect Life”

HM:    Freja McLanahan, Beeman, 1st grade “The Angry Guardians”

HM:    Adelia Crowell, Plum Cove, 5th grade, “The Cat of Lanesville”

Middle School:

1^St:      Vivian Payne, O’Maley, 8th grade, “Regrets”

2^nd:      Vivian Davies, O’Maley, 7th grade, “Pen to Paper”

3^rd:      Matilda Bruce, O’Maley 7th grade, “Silence”

HM:    Iona Fishburn, Waring School, 6th grade, “My Cold Walk Around the Block”

HM:     Alivia Deyeso, O’Maley, 7th grade, “Silence Poem”

High School:

1^St:      Johnny Sheridan, Waring School, 11th grade, “Elegy for the Impermanent”

2^nd:      Emma Wilt, Essex North Shore Agr. & Tech, “Not Quite a Dream”

3^rd:      Aleena Brown, GHS, 9^th grade, “Ambcatcher31”

HM:    Hope Castelucci, GHS, 10^th grade, “Yellow”

HM:    Phoebe Hone, GHS, 10^th grade “What Redemption Feels Like”

Photo above of 2024 Poetry Without Paper Winners: Back row, left to right: Sawyer Free Library’s Christy Rosso, Vivian Payne, Vivian Davies, Alivia Deyeso, Matilda Bruce, Hope Castelucci, Phoebe Hone, Former Poet Laureate John Rosso; Front row: Freja McLanahan, Kat Rowe-Joyce, Adelia Crowell, Helen Larabell  Missing from photo: Sophia Oliveira, Iona Fishburn, Johnny Sheridan, Emma Wilt,  Aleena Brown

Things are going well in some cases, but not so well in others.

Matriarch…

Sharing information about a free open house tomorrow at Maritime Gloucester to help celebrate 20 years of the Ocean Explorers program.

It’s Flag Day so fly ’em if you have ’em! This is from the Welcome Center at Stage Fort Park.

Has pollen taken over your outdoor space?  Your patio covered in that annoying yellowish dust that chokes you up every time you head outside?  With pollen falling, you should be calling Atlantic Power Cleaning for a HOT water pressure wash.  

Your roof, home or building, awnings and patios are all covered in this toxic dust which is the number one cause of allergies and breathing problems.  The most effective way to remove it is to get ahead of the game with a HOT water pressure wash from Atlantic Power Cleaning.  

Don’t invite pollen to your party — contact Atlantic today for a free estimate. 

Pollen Clean Up

COMPLIMENTARY

WINE TASTING WITH DAVE GANSLER, MANAGER OF LA ROSA SELECTIONS, FEATURING FINE WINES FROM SOUTHERN ITALY

WINES

Borgo PaglianettoTerravignato Blanco, Marche, Italy

Varietal: Verdicchio Alc. 12.5%

The Borgo Paglianetto vineyard is certified organic and set in the heart of Marche, in the AltaValle del’ Espino. Since 2008,  the winery has offered the highest quality expression of white and black grapes from Matellica, Verdicchio being the most well-known of those.From a West-facing (clay-calcareous soil) vineyard with grapes picked in mid-September to preserve acidity,Terravignato is vinified for four months in stainless steel, with two further months of rest in the bottle.The name is inspired by times past,  when, in the properties of wealthy Roman landowners in Matelica, the designation of “terrevignate”meant lands dedicated to the cultivation of grapevines. Terravignata is characterized by its verticality, supported by a sour citrus note and the freshness of a young wine: the grapes allowing us to achieve this result come, in fact, from a West-facing vineyard and are picked early during the maturation phase. Pale yellow in glass with green hues, Terravignato has aromas of lemon, fresh-cut grass, and wet stone. On the palate,it is light in body, refreshing in its high levels of acidity, and with concentrated citrus fruit flavor. Pairs well with artichokes and asparagus, seafood risotto, truffle pasta dishes. $14.99

Cantina del Barone Paone Fiano di Avellino, Campania, Italy

Varietal: Fiano,Alc.13%

Cantina del Barone sits on the sunny hills of Cesinali, a small farming village in the Avellino area. On eight hectares of land, Luigi Sarno makes great still and sparkling white wine from the Fiano varietal. More than 40 years ago, Antonio Sarno purchased the estate and planted the first Fiano vines in 1985. Located in the hilly region known as Irpinia, just 20 miles inland from Mt. Vesuvius, this small family vineyard is ideally situated to benefit from a terroir that is home to one of Italy’s most noble white wines. Fiano thrives in these dark, sandy, volcanic soils laden with shell deposits, benefitting from long hot days and cool nights thanks to the influence of the surrounding mountains. Fresh out of viticulture and enology school, Antonio’s son Luigi has brought new enthusiasm to the family operation. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand. Fermentation lasts 30-35 days with indigenous yeasts, and the wine ages in stainless steel tanks for five to eight months, finishing with four months aging in the bottle. This Fiano expresses real elegance, generous in its fleshiness and captivating floral aromas, with a distinct toasted hazelnut note on the finish. Pairs well with cheese and charcuterie, shellfish, poultry and roasted pork. $22.99

Stefania Barbot Irpinia Campi Taurasini Ion

Varietal: Aglianico, Alc.15.5%

Stefania Barbot and Erminio Sapienza set out to make a wine grown and estate-bottled in Taurasi, that was a baby brother to the more famous Taurasi red wine. Their ‘Ion’ Irpinia Campi Taurasini DOC is ready to drink two years after the harvest but will also last many years. “Ion’ means purple in ancient Greek, those cultural influences being strong in Southern Italy.

The couple identified 3 hectares of land at 500 meters of altitude with clay and limestone soil from which to make their organically farmed Taurasini. The grapes are hand-harvested and the wine is aged 12 months in stainless steel, with the guidance of acclaimed enologist Vincenzo Mercurio. Ion is ready to drink now but is so robust, it can be cellared for many years. A dark ruby in the glass with purple hues, on the nose, it has dark red and black fruit, rose and violet, the signature balsamico of Aglianico, leather, smoked meat, and a whiff of smoke. On the palate the wine is concentrated in flavor, full-bodied and with robust but well-integrated tannin, bracing acidity, and a lengthy finish. Pairs well with barbecued beef, smoked pork, prime rib. $21.99

Luretta L’Ala Del Drago Gutturnio Superiore, Emila-Romagna, Italy

Varietals: 60%Barbera, 40% Croatina, Alc.14%

Luretta was founded in Emilia-Romagna’s Colli Piacentini in the 1980s by Felice Salamini (a Frenchman who discovered the area in his travels) and Carla Asti. The winery is now headed by Lucio Salamini. The constant temperature and thick walls of the cellar support the optimal aging conditions and storage of 500,000 bottles (some Luretta wines age up to eight years prior to release) and 100 barriques. Luretta is proud of the fusion of French (use of oak and French varietals) and Mediterranean (aromas of Mediterranean scrub and varietals that likely originated in Greece) influences expressed by its wines. Luretta is certified organic and produces still red and white as well as sparkling wine. Luretta’s Gutturnio Superiore is a wine that goes straight to the point. Created following the local tradition by blending Barbera and Croatina grapes, Gutturnio Superiore differs from other interpretations because of its long aging process in oak barrels. It is a wine that presents its rustic personality at the first sip, a

wine that combines Barbera and Croatina to pay homage to the centuries-old tradition of Gutturnio. The wine displays earthy aromas and intense hints of currant and blueberry. Pairs well with aged cheeses and cured meats. $19.99

Agricola Arzilla Garbino Bianco, Marche, Italy

Varietal: Bianchello, Alc.12%

Agricola Arzilla was founded in 2020 by two self-described “wacky old men,” Claudio Tornati and Diego Drude. Their goal was to create great natural wine from seven hectares in the countryside above the seaside Adriatic town of Pesaro in the Marche. Their motto is “the exceptional feat, believe me, is being natural.” Garbino is local slang for the hot Saharan wind blowing in from the Adriatic. The Garbino Bianco is a Pet Nat made from 100%Bianchello (Biancame) grapes, which are vigorous and disease resistant and make fresh crisp and herbaceous white wine. Hazy and light amber in the glass, it has a nose of white flowers and peach, and flavors of licorice, ripe peach and pear. Serve as an aperitif. Pairs well with salads, seafood, fried foods. $19.99

Find out about new wine arrivals and other events at Savour by following us on Facebook and Instagram. 

And don’t forget to check out what’s new in our beer case, including two juicy NE IPAs and a clean, refreshing rice lager from East Regiment Brewing, a veteran-owned brewery in Salem and a crisp new lager from Rockport Brewing.

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Kathleen’s Price-Value Gems:

Unique to SAVOUR our three price-value collections, with

each category ($9.99ers – $14.99ers -$19.99ers) offering hundreds of wines

at one price, personally curated by Kathleen, some have limited availability.

9.99ers…the quality is taste delivering above-price enjoyment …Value!

14.99ers…exhibiting qualities of complexity…Elevating the Experience!

19.99ers…value laden wines by innovative vintners…Expect Exceptional!

Adding to this Saturday’s wine tasting with Dave is Savour’s Everyday Tech Tastings at the North Shore’s Only Digital Wine Machine. Fun to use and enjoy!  Taste up to 20 wines with new selections regularly added…& yes, complimentary. Kathleen welcomes your questions for food pairings.

Welcome Your Donation in any amount for Pathways for Children.

Thank You! …Kathleen

 For Your Mobile Calendar

Savour Wine Tastings!

June 15 – David Gansler, owner of LaRosa Selections

June 22 – Anna G of Cynthia Hurley Wines

June 29 – Bill Hoey of 21st Century Wines

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Continuing to offer a case discount 0f 10% on wines and all items purchased with the case to all customers. Wine Club members get 5% off on 6 bottles and all items purchased with the 6 bottles. Thanks again for your support!

 We continue using our 5 Molekule high performance air purification units that clear the air of 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and allergens every hour, store wide.

We are pleased to continue curbside pickup service

Savour Wine & Cheese l 76 Prospect St. l Gloucester l 978. 282 .1455

Sidewalk Sessions: Micheal Dekoster From Maritime Gloucester Talks Opportunities

https://youtu.be/_0qvjoiALmM