Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

The Gloucester Downtown Association is proud to once again organize the Gloucester’s 57th Sidewalk Bazaar. The Bazaar features Shopping, Deals and Steals, Crafts, Art, Food and Music. The date is August 6th, 7th and 8th from 9:00 to 5:00 PM. We will have Kid’s Activities, Roaming Railroad, Non Profits, and Something for Everyone! See you all there.

Jen Amero forwards

Strong storm winds for have finally put out the lights at Mattos Field on Webster street, the most historically significant “Field” in Gloucester. Home to decades of youth sports, birthplace of little league in Gloucester and home plate for a few hometown heroes gone to the “bigs”, darkness dimming this diamond is something a dedicated group is looking to reverse like Ruth’s curse.

“Light up Mattos”, a committee formed largely of the veteran members of the Cape Ann Women’s Softball League (CAWSL), had secured considerable funds to replace the 40 year old lights before the storm knocked the poles down altogether. The removal of the poles has now displaced the league and many other Mattos enthusiasts altogether, in the middle of their season. It is in an effort to illuminate their cause that I submit this brief history of Mattos field:

The field’s history is an impressive one, perhaps the most vibrant open space in Gloucester for nearly 100 years. In 1935, in the depths of The Depression, the WPA had a brilliant idea; take Webster’s Pond, provide work for the jobless, open space for tenement –dwellers, pay honor to a teenaged Portuguese immigrant from the neighborhood, who on October 5, 1918 was the youngest “American” killed in WWI, and with it’s iconic bleachers create not Mattos “Park” but Mattos “Field”.

When the following great, war, WWII ended in 1945 and GIs again came back to “The Hill”, the cultural epicenter of Gloucester’s Portuguese community, they started families, joined social clubs, and organized sports leagues at Mattos Field. Portuguee Hill’s Gloucester Fraternity Club (The GFC) still houses the 1948 league trophy in its trophy case.

In the early 1950s, Gloucester Little League began at Mattos, the charter signed in the GFC hall. From its inaugural class, little Billie McLeod would go on to pitch for the Boston Red Sox in 1962.

In “baby boom” 1957, Veterans’ Memorial School opened on the grounds of Mattos Field, providing much needed space for the children of veterans to learn and play. A playground was added to the offerings at Mattos.

In the 60’s, the growing softball league proposed and worked with the city to install the original lights, one of the very first installations in the state. Every summer, teams and fans came by bus from across the New England to play fast pitch tournament ball “Under The Lights at Mattos”. And kids who honed their baseball skills playing sandlot on its diamond each morning would re-assemble there to cheer on their brothers and fathers after dark. 

Pee Wee football took the field in the 1960s, offering year round organized sports for kids on the hill.

In 1970s, in the days of Billie Jean King and Title 9, guaranteeing equal funding for female student athletes, graduating GHS softball players wanting to continue playing ball organized a league of their own, the Cape Ann Women’s Softball League (CAWSL), joining the men’s Cape Ann Industrial League and Semi-Fast leagues to take their own place under the lights at Mattos. They quickly made their mark, producing an all-star squad that traveled the country winning in high level tournaments.

They also became coaches and mentors to other female athletes. Girls aged ten to fifteen who were previously relegated to cheerleading became competitive softball players, then GHS softball players, players in the CAWSL, and then themselves coaches in the youth and high school programs. And most importantly, they became the stewards of Mattos Field.

It is this group of women, mothers and daughters, sisters and friends who bring their families down the field every Wednesday and Friday night from spring to summer who are leading the charge to restore the shine on the emerald field. It is through their tenacious efforts to secure grant money, private donations and city support that over the past four years has resulted in an overhaul of the field.

They’ve gotten bathrooms installed, electrical service moved and up-graded. The DPW has replaced and covered the splintered, dangerous, ugly bleachers and installed, maintain and police trash and recycling barrels. . The CAWSL has worked with Art Space to get the bleachers painted. They are a cheery, vibrant addition to the Veterans’ Memorial School playground. A backstop and scoreboard are planned. The old dirt and stone dust infield has been replaced with state of the art materials and also the outfield has been treated and seeded and is a verdant symbol of their efforts.

But the lights are the biggie. And that was before they actually fell down.

The committee, “Light Up Mattos” (Like them on FaceBook) is in need of an additional $200,000 to replace the lights and restore the field and all of the games played on it to it’s original glory. Ongoing fundraising events have been very successful, but that’s a big number and a big need but a big part of the city’s athletes and school children will shine under those lights if we help them to reach their goal.

For information and to donate, please go to….https://www.facebook.com/lightupmattos

Let’s Light Up Mattos, for every kid who wants to play ball, big and small.

Jerry Goulart

former men’s league pitcher, CAWSL father and coach, former EG Vikings coach and board member, Little League grandfather and Portuguee hill kid.

You could just see that front developing as in engulfed the harbor

Hi Joey,
Any way you can help promote this? This is what I posted on Facebook, but there’s no way I can reach as many people as you can! Thanks for considering…

Hi all, my husband Sal Di Stefano and I are fairly new to Rockport MA A friend of ours Lisa Glover at Nine Lives Cafe had to close for a bit for a family emergency. She just reopened today. She’s such a positive and civic-minded small biz, we’d like to help her out. We’d like to do a “CASH MOB” at the café tomorrow, (Thursday 8/6/15). I challenge us all to go spend $10 in cash at the café. We “mob” her so she sells out of coffee and pastries. Who’s with us? Thank you for your consideration.

TRUNK SHOW with Brooklyn Artist/Designer Kimberly Geiser!

Pop Gallery- As many of you know, The Gloucester Sidewalk Bazaar is a celebration of Gloucester Downtown which begins on Thursday, August 6th and runs through Saturday, August 8th!   Artists, Crafters, Food Vendors, Non-Profits, Kids Activities & Entertainers from near and far join Gloucester Merchants and Restaurants on the street for a fun and festive three days!

Pop Gallery has invited our very talented friend and long time featured jewelry artist, Kimberly Geiser,  to exhibit a trunk show at 67 Main Street on SATURDAY from 2 pm to 8 pm !

Kimberly is NYC based enamelist and contemporary jewelry designer. She will be bringing along some NEW WORK to show and will be available to answer questions about her technique and designs! 

Come have a drink and scoop up a handmade piece of WEARABLE ART while you’re here!

GLOUCESTER WATERFRONT FESTIVAL schedule announced

ARTS, CRAFTS, FOOD AND FUN BY THE SEA IN STAGE FORT PARK ON GLOUCESTER HARBOR

Historic Stage Fort Park along Gloucester Harbor will once again blossom into the colorful 35^th Annual Gloucester Waterfront Festival on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2015.

Each year over 50,000 people attend this spectacular event and view the works of over 200 Juried Artists and Craftsmen from throughout the U.S.A. Continuous live music, traditional New England Seafood, a fabulous pancake breakfast and Antique Cars complement this picture perfect seaport event!

Exhibits include Fine Jewelry, Watercolors, Pottery, Custom Signs, Bird Houses, Quilts, Silk & Dried Floral Arrangements, Wildlife Art, Dolls, Pressed Flowers, Painted Antiques, Photography, Metal Sculpture,
Sand stone, Carved Birds, Maps, Fiber Arts, Stained Glass, Music Boxes, Scroll Work, Masks, Candles, Copper, Wood Burning, Slate, Tapestry Bags, Nautical Crafts, Shaker Style Furniture, Oils, Primitive and Folk Art.

Come and sample an array of gourmet delights such as Herbal Dips, Trail Mixes, Jams & Jellies, Maple Products, Dried Fruit & Nuts, Salsa, Mustards, Vinegar’s and more.

Free live “family style” entertainment includes Contemporary Rock, Folk Music and performance art.

North Shore Old Car Club will display over 75 Antique Autos on Sunday.

The Gloucester Waterfront Festival runs from 9am to 6pm each day.

35th Annual Gloucester Waterfront Festival

Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, Massachusetts

August 15 & 16, 2015 – 9am to 6pm Daily

Schedule of Events

Saturday, August 15

7:30am to 11am Gloucester Rotary Club’s Pancake Breakfast

9am Festival Opens: Arts, Crafts, Food Booths

9am to Noon Kim and Alex Duo – Contemporary Music – Food Court Stage

Noon to 3pm Livin’ on Luck – Local Music– Food Court Stage

1pm to 4pm  Performance Art – Ops the Cyclops – Roaming the Festival

3pm to 6pm Fil Pacino – Classic & Contemporary Rock, Folk, Blues

Sunday, August 16

9am Festival Opens: Arts, Crafts, Food Booths

9am to 1pm   Justin Beech Contemporary Rock, Folk, Blues – Food Court Stage

11am to 4pm North Shore Old Car Club over 100 antique/vintage autos
Noon to 3pm Performance Art – Mary Poppins Pops In – Roaming the Festival
Noon to 3pm Simon and Alex – Classical Duo – Roaming the Festival

1pm to 2pm School of Rock – Student musicians – Food Court Stage

1pm to 5pm Cape Ann Lobster Roll Sales and Beer Garden
2pm to 6pm Altar Ego – Classic & Contemporary Rock – Food Court Stage

· Numerous Artisans will be demonstrating their craft including Pottery, Woodworking,

Glass Blowing, Basket Making & Oil Painting, Red Work Stitchery and Tile Making.

· Dozens of Specialty Food booths will offer samples including herbal dips, jams, jellies, sauces, mustards, maple, honey, ice tea, oils, vinegars, fudge and more.

· A wide variety of International Foods will be available including Greek and traditional American fare, wraps and paninis, alligator, grouper and famous Gloucester Lobster and Seafood.

· Non-profit Agencies will be participating by selling cookbooks and distributing information.

· Designated Children’s Area with bounce castle, maze, giant inflatables,
face painting, airbrush and more.

For more information call 603-332-2616 or visit http://www.castleberryfairs.com
Presented by Castleberry Fairs. Sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

(978) 283-1601

Hi Joey,
    Just returned home from another GREAT Gloucester vacation. We enjoy “smiles on Main Street” . Thought you might like a picture of “Smiles on the Thomas E. Lannon”.
                                   Sharon & Leo Kolenick  (Pottsville, Pennsylvania)

Northshore Sports Desk

Hi Joe – the North Shore Sports Desk will be broadcasting live from inside the Cape Ann Savings Bank this saturday morning the 8th from 8-9am. Nick Curcuru – Gloucester Times and Phil Stacey – Salem News will be hosting the show. Guests will be the cape ann savings bank student athletes of the year as chosen by the bank and the show. A male and female each from gloucester high, manchester/essex and rockport high are chosen. Thanks Joey for a mention!! Best- Pete Kelley

The Cape Ann Y – Mobile Y program is offering free one week tennis lessons next week August 10th. Tennis lessons take place at the High School Tennis courts for kids ages 5&up.  No cost, just need to register at the Cape Ann Y.  The Mobile Y Program is sponsored by the United Way- Women in Action.   

Youth Tennis Lessons

Ages: 5 years & up, co-ed

Week of August 10th

Location: Municipal Tennis Court at Gloucester High School

Ages 5-8 years Time: 5:00pm

Ages 9& Up Time: 6:00pm

​T​

his top-notch program will introduce the game of tennis to beginners and reinforce strong  skill-development for returning players. Through a series of games and fun activities, your child will make new friends and learn the basics of tennis in this fun and recreational setting.   Kids are encouraged to bring their own racquets, if they do not have one we have a limited number available. 

This special 1 week clinic is offered at no cost, however kids are required to be registered. We have limited number of spaces available!   Register for all week or just the days that you want! 

Teens from around the globe get an up close look at Gloucester.

Young women from around globe check out the Sea Pocket Touch Tank Aquarium at Maritime Gloucester Saturday as part of the Women2Women Conference.  Photo by Desi Smith.

GLOUCESTER — A group of 120 young women from all over the globe descended on the Maritime Gloucester museum Saturday afternoon to learn all about marine science, the local fishing industry, and what it’s like to be a female sea captain.

The point of the program was to help inspire these young women — ages 15 to 19 — and assure them they can have a place among the next generation of influential chemists, biologists, engineers, mathematicians — even seafarers, if that’s their dream.

Read the full article from the Gloucester Daily Times.