Hi Joey: I was hoping you could share with your readers what I would categorize as a near miss drowning story that my wife Ginger and I were involved in this past Sunday on our beautiful Annisquam River in an effort to bring awareness to the potential dangers of recreational boating along the river.

First a bit of background if you will. Ginger and I have grown up on the Annisquam for over 50 years and know its ins and outs, it quirks, and its beauty. One might call us “river rats”. We have seen the use of the Annisquam change from years gone by when the old eastern rig trawlers used her for saving hours of transit time between the gulf of Maine and Ipswich Bay to Gloucester Harbor and the river had limited recreational use due to pollution, today the river is alive, as clean as it has ever been in our lifetimes, and recreational boaters flock to her shores. Unfortunately, not all of these boaters have local knowledge of the many facets of rivers and currents.

Ginger and I were transiting at no wake speed north bound approaching the area known as Jones’s Creek. It was a gorgeous day, perfect for boating, as could be attested by the hundreds of fellow boaters enjoying the river and her sandy banks. At the time the current was in full ebb at the apex of Jones’s and the Annisquam and the outbound current was flowing very strongly. As we neared the intersection we could not help but notice out of the corner of our eyes an orange object in the water off to port. For me, a 24 year USCG veteran, orange on the water only means one thing, some sort of lifesaving device. It was out of place. So I maneuvered across the boating traffic, which was heavy and moving both north and south, to investigate; we simply could not help ourselves. As we got closer it became apparent the orange was indeed a “PFD” (Lifejacket) and as we got even closer we could see two heads, nothing more. Two folks were barely keeping their heads above water in the rapid current. It was apparent we had a life threatening situation on hands, and as we approached to within shouting distance, it was confirmed the two men were in extreme distress. Luckily we were able to come up on them, cut our outboard engine, and pull them aboard one at a time via our stern ladder. They were exhausted and clearly only minutes away from succumbing despite the fact that they were both physically strong individuals. They sat onboard with us for a while to catch their breaths and regroup as I idled in position. Once able to convey what had happened it was a scary but not untypical story.

It seems these men were not locals, had come to the Annisquam to enjoy the beauty of the day, get some swimming in, and simply have a great day. We were able to get them to tell us where they had come from and we proceeded to head for their boat. It was anchored properly out of the channel in what one would call a “great spot”. As it was a hot day, one of the fellows dove off the back of the boat upon completion of getting the anchor set without evaluating the current and was quickly swept away. He tried in vain to swim back to the boat, against the current, which quickly sucked all energy from him. His friend, noticing his predicament, grabbed a life jacket (smart move), and dove in after him. He did reach his buddy, got the life jacket on him, and then tried in vain to swim them both back to the boat against the current. By the time he realized that that was not going to happen they were close to the river channel quite a distance from the shore. When we came upon them they were exhausted and had just grabbed a mooring pickup to keep themselves from going under.

There are so many lessons to be learned here, I have to share them with your readers.

• Once safely anchored, take some time to evaluate your surroundings, know and understand the depth of water and current. As one of my friends said later in the day, “this is not a lake”.
• If you are going to swim off the back of your boat and you notice a current even ever so slight, trail a life line over the stern with a floating device attached to its end.
• Always keep a throw able device at the ready. This could have prevented the second guy from having to risk his life going after his buddy.

• If caught in a strong current, never ever try to swim against it. Allow the current to carry you and swim diagonally to the shore. You may have a bit of a walk to get back to your boat, but you will be able to walk, not swim with the fishes.
• In the above mentioned situation, the rescuer should have put on a lifejacket of his own before going after his buddy. There is no sense in the rescuer drowning as well.
• And this one a pet peeve of mine. NEVER EVER allow people near the stern of your boat with an engine/outboard running. I witness this foolishness dozens upon dozens of times daily when boating/beach season is in full swing.
• For all you boaters out their, always be aware of what is going on around you. I swear a dozen or more boats passed directly by these guys as they struggled to stay afloat.

After, we exchanged pleasantries, shared the above tips with our happy swimmers once we had them safely back on their own boat, we departed ways heading for beautiful Wingearsheek to claim our bit of sand for a few hours of fun in the sand and sun.

All in all a great afternoon on the River
Joe and Ginger McKechnie

This was a nice find by @BearskinNeck On Instagram

Read the entire obit here

DANVERS: Joanne R. (Crotty) Burgess, 75, of Danvers, passed away suddenly at the Massachusetts General Hospital on July 14, 2015. She was the wife of 54 years of Leonard P. Burgess. Born in Salem, she was the daughter of the late John F. and Lauretta J. (Tardiff) Crotty. Joanne graduated from St. James High School in Salem and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.

Joanne was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Girls Drill Team of Salem and was also quite active in various other CYO activities. While in college, Joanne worked part-time in research laboratories at Harvard Medical School in Boston. In addition to her work at home raising four children, Joanne dedicated many years in the development of specialized individual reading and motor skills programs for those with disabilities and special needs. She also worked as a teacher in the Boston School System and at the Landmark School in Prides Crossing, Beverly. Joanne put her family and friends above all and cherished and lavished lots of love and attention on her 5 grandchildren. She enjoyed literature and art and loved to paint. She enjoyed boating as a member of the Danversport Yacht Club and loved the beach and traveling to Florida and Cape Cod. Joanne had a strong faith life and was a devout Catholic. She traveled twice to Medjugorje in Bosnia on Pilgrimage.

More here

Hi Joey,

Hope you are well and having a good summer.

I was hoping that you could help me spread some public awareness? 

I used to be a Volunteer for the Marine Animal Rescue team at the New EnglandAquarium….

But unfortunately due to Federal cuts Cape Ann is no longer under the Aquarium’s jurisdiction….

It’s seal season right now….the time when baby seals are learning how to survive on their own….and you will frequently find them resting on beaches.

Yesterday I was on GHB and had to physically get in the way to stop a man from carrying a baby seal pup off of the island in a tarp.

This was so dangerous for this baby seal….because the very people who think they are helping are actually hurting or even killing the seal. 

Stressing out a seal by picking it up or touching it or getting too close to it can make the seal very sick and can even kill it. Also getting too close to seals can be harmful to humans and dogs!!! Seals carry many diseases (Seal finger, influenza, distemper and more!!!) that can make you, your kids and your dog sick!!

A lot of people think if they see a seal on the beach that it’s sick….but this isn’t the case. 

This is directly from the NEAQ’s webpage:

Seals belong on the beach. It’s normal. Please don’t disturb them. Unlike whales or dolphins, seals are semi-aquatic and are comfortable out of the water. Most seals come onto beaches to sleep, nurse or soak up some sun.

What should you do if you spot a seal on the beach?

Seals are cute, but they are wild animals and should not be disturbed. By getting too close, you could upset the seal or possibly get bitten.

Watch quietly from at least 150 feet away.

Keep dogs away from the seal.

Do not offer the seal food or water.

Do not pour water on the seal or try to cover it with a towel or blanket.

Do not try to make the seal move.

Does the seal look injured or unhealthy?

Most seals on the beach are perfectly healthy, but sometimes they do need human assistance. Does the seal have any obvious injuries, gunky eyes, or look skinny or underweight? If the seal does, please take notes on its location, size, coloring and behavior and call the New England Aquarium’s Marine Animal Hotline at (617)  973-5247. Cape Ann is no longer under the NEAQ’s jurisdiction but they can give you the number of the proper wildlife agency to call.

All marine mammals are federally protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This law makes it a Federal Crime to touch, disturb, feed or otherwise harass marine mammals without authorization.

Please help me spread the word to help inform & educate the public about this.

Thank you & have a great summer!

Jen Johnson 

Hey Cap’t Joe, another update…Boston Globe calls Method 15/33 “Riveting” and I sold the movie rights for full feature film to Production company named Next Wednesday.  Here’s the Globe review…
http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2015/07/11/three-new-thrillers/1FyWihBTejomzJ4E3YUToL/story.html?event=event25

Hope you’re doing well!!

Best,

Shannon

July Gloucester History Sharing Program

Come see images of old Gloucester and share your own memories during these monthly presentations presented by Beth Welin at the Rose Baker Senior Center. On Monday, July 27, 10am, the program will be “ Ghosts of Vincent Cove: The Shipbuilders and their Vessels.” Sponsored by the Phyllis A Marine Association and supported by the Awesome Gloucester Foundation.  For more information go to the Phyllis A Marine Association website at www.phyllis-a.org.

hi joey!

This Friday at 7pm, our good friend Julie Upton will be making a public presentation entitled, “In the Footsteps of the Buddha”

Julie has traveled northern India and Nepal extensively over the past few years and has created a tour that highlights the four sacred places of the Buddha’s life: where he was born,  reached awakening, taught for the first time, and died.  She’s going to give an oral and photographic journey of what it’s like to visit those places.  Everyone is welcome. Wisdom’s Heart, 2 Duncan St., Gloucester  wisdomsheart.org

Thanks!

Poet Charles Giuliano at Annisquam Village Library August 27

The poet, Charles Giuliano, spent the summers of his youth in Annisquam.

On Thursday, August 27, at 7:30 PM he will return to his roots with a reception and reading from Shards of a Life at the Annisquam Village Library at 354 Leonard Street, rear.

The book of verse, which is available through Amazon, contains a number of poems related to growing up in Annisquam.

A second book Total Gonzo Poems which will be published this fall contains a chapter The Nugents of Rockport. On his mother’s side, Dr. Josephine Flynn, his Irish ancestors are an important part of Cape Ann History.

In 1875 Patrick and Mary Nugent, Irish immigrants, leased the 32 acre Beaver Dam Farm in Rockport from the Babson family. They raised 13 children of which three died tragically in 1913.

When Mary died in 1927 the farm was abandoned and later torched by local kids. All that survives is the stone kitchen from 1658. George Nugent bought land up the road on which is now located Nugent Farms a condominium complex. For a time George Nugent was the Boss Tweed of Gloucester politics.

There will also be a reading of selections of Nugent poems from the soon to be published book.

Now retired from teaching art history and running the gallery program for Suffolk University/ New England School of Art and Design Giuliano has an extensive career as a curator and critic. He also taught at Boston University, U. Mass Lowell and other colleges.

In 1970 he coined the word Gonzo which he was the first to publish in a July 3, review of Ten Years After at Harvard Stadium. At the time he was the rock critic for the daily Boston Herald Traveler. Giuliano is the only surviving original gonzo journalist. That legacy is the focus of his second book.

In addition to the Herald Traveler he was a columnist and editor of Art New England, contributor to Art News, the daily Patriot Ledger, Boston After Dark/ Phoenix and numerous publications.

Currently he lives in the Berkshires where he and his wife Astrid Hiemer publish and edit the on line digital magazine Berkshire Fine Arts.

The Cape Ann Contra Dance Summer Series kicks off on Saturday, July 18
at the Magnolia Library Community Center, 1 Lexington Avenue, Gloucester, MA at 8:00 PM.
Live music and dance instruction are provided by the Cape Ann Contra Dance House Band. Sit-in musicians are also welcome.
There is a requested donation of $10 per dancer/sit-in, dancers/sit-ins younger than 16 are free.
This event is supported in part by a grant from the Gloucester Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The Cape Ann Contra Dances are organized and produced by Folk Life Studio.

The Summer Series will continue, same time and place, on Saturday, August 8 and Friday, August 21.

For further information visit   https://www.facebook.com/CapeAnnContraDance

Thanks!

– Rose

Our friend Len Burgess’ wife has passed- Barry O’Brien submits-

Joanne Burgess, Lenny’s beloved wife, died suddenly.  Lenny just called me to let me know.

There will be a viewing at the Levesque Funeral Home at 163 Lafayette Street in Salem on Friday from 4-8.  

There will be a funeral mass on Tuesday at Immaculate Conception in Salem.  Time TBD.  

Notice of her passing will be listed in the obituaries in the Salem News this evening.

Please share with all who you feel should know.

Sadly,

Barry O’Brien

Now to just get it engraved.

The spy. 5 minutes into http://www.thehomiecast.com listen tomorrow for the confirmation.  
 

David Amaral of the Rudder Restaurant is throwing a combo party first for the artist on rocky neck, they will be at the party to talk art and take you through their galleries and show you whats new….lets support the artists on Rocky Neck. Second…it is a welcome to Gloucester party for my fiancé who is visiting from Tennessee so she may meet all my friends and realize what a wonderful place this is.  I will be serving Lobster sliders and a beautiful dry rose wine…and some beer….if you would like something else please feel free to BYOB.  Look forward to seeing y’all there!

Forgot to tell you the time: the party at the rocky neck art studios between the rudder and madfish starts at 7:00pm!