Author: Joey Ciaramitaro
The creator of goodmorninggloucester.org Lover of all things Gloucester and Cape Ann. GMG where we bring you the very best our town has to offer because we love to share all the great news and believe that by promoting others in our community everyone wins.
The Boat House in Kennebunkport, ME From Mary Barker
Hi Joey,
My husband and I decided to give ourselves a Christmas gift of going away for a night. We decided upon the Boat House in Kennebunkport, ME. It was not cheap, but we felt like we veer being totally spoiled then entire time.
We went up on Saturday, Jan 18 during the snow. We had a slow ride up but it was well worth the drive. It snowed the entire time we were in Kennebunkport, finally subsiding when we reached York on our way home.
I had my new camera (Canon 5D) with me, so stopping to take photos in the snow was a must. The first few shots are taken from our room and our balcony. I was quite delighted to have a pinky schooner, I think, outside my room.
The shot of the blue light is from the restaurant, David’s, on the first floor of the Boat House. I had an absolutely amazing meal there – an “open ravioli” (large square of pasta) loaded with a wonderfully seasoned ricotta, large pieces
of lobster, shrimps and scallops with snow peas and some shredded cabbage, topped with a sherried cream sauce. It was to die for!. Despite the continuing snow on Sunday, we traipsed around and enjoyed the Maine seacoast.
The snow on the rocks and the rocks, trees and shrubs was so beautiful! The last couple of shots are of the Nubble Light in York, always a nice spot to stretch the legs.
Mary Barker
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Lots Happening Down At The Gloucester Marine Railway Despite The Cold Weather From Mary Barker
Hi Joey,
In my travels this week I found lots happening down at the Gloucester Marine Railway despite the cold weather. The crews have been busy doing winter work
like sanding hulls,and repairing bilge pumps. On Saturday, the Adventure had a crew on board to clean the bilge and salt water wash the forecastle to prepare for
the installation of bunks. The Adventure will have people on board most days from 9 to 3 doing the carpentry world. The Phyllis A’s crew were also taking advantage
of the ‘warm’ (30 degree) weather and dis some salt water washing of her decks. I’m sure anyone who wanted to volunteer to help with any of the maintenance and
restorative projects for these historic boats would be most welcomed.
Mary Barker
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Community Photos 1/28/14
Greetings from the Delaware River Valley, Joey. Rob and I were by Pavilion Beach on July 20th, 2012, when we noticed how incredibly still the sea was. There were three young women who may have been learning how to use the SUP board, but ended up quite comfortably out by the large sail boat. It simply seemed surreal. When I saw the posting a couple of days ago with people walking on the ice (maybe in the same area), I remembered my photo and pulled it out of my 40,000. Linda are
If you should use this, just pick the best photo. We are fascinated by the sea being frozen.
Linda rae castagna
Hi Joey,
Saw these swans hangin out with their buddies on Front Beach in Rockport today.
Matt Cegelis
Here are a few shots of last nights opening at Flatrocks Gallery. They had a great turnout for their new show Translucence. Here is Debbie Clarke in front of her paintings, and the owners, Anne Marie Crotty and Cynthia Roth.
Manchester-Essex Rotary news from Dorothy Sieradzki
Manchester-Essex Rotary awarded three Manchester-Essex High School graduates scholarships at the Rotary’s January 8th meeting. Laurel Barrie is a freshman at Stetson University in Florida, studying health science. Sarah Sergeant is a freshman at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, studying physical therapy. Calvin Lamothe is a freshman at Vassar studying psychology.
Manchester-Essex Rotary is a service organization, whose membership consists of various local business leaders, and is a member of Rotary International, and is dedicated to building goodwill and peace throughout the world. The Manchester-Essex chapter raises funds through community events to provide scholarships to local students and give back to the community in a variety of ways. Rotary thanks each of you for your kind and generous support and participation throughout the year!
Photo 1 Calvin Lamothe, Sarah Sergeant, Laurel Barrie
Photo 3 Brendan O’Donoghue, MERC President, Sarah Sergeant, Laurel Barrie, Bob Gravino, District Annual Giving Chair
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15 Degrees? Yeah, We Got Guys Going
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Checking In With Those Who Joined The Dollar Shave Club
A couple months back I ran out of my supply of razor blades and went to buy new ones and just couldn’t bring myself to pay what they charge for Gillette razorblades. I tried the top of the line CVS brand disposable blades only to gash the shit out of my face
see pic below-
The CVS brand razors provided far and away the worst shaving experience of my life. Then Rick Doucette suggested The Dollar Shave Club which forever changed my shaving experience. The razors were far cheaper, more substantial than the Gillette razors, more comfortable, total no brainer to me. Huge Fan.
So I know a bunch of you signed up. Two months in, are you still as happy with your decision to try the Dollar Shave Club as I am?
Click here if you want to sign up too
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Ferry Beached For Scrapping
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Greenbelt Reports Status of Osprey in Essex County Large Bird of Prey Thriving in Recent Years
Volunteer “citizen scientists,” working in support of Essex County Greenbelt’s Osprey Program, monitored Osprey nests in 10 communities and submitted their observations, helping Greenbelt confirm that 26 pairs of Osprey nested across Essex County in 2013, as compared to 18 pairs in 2012; 14 pairs in 2011 and 11 pairs in 2010.
The 26 pairs are the most observed since Greenbelt started helping the Osprey population in 2007 by building and repairing nesting platforms. “Osprey are really thriving in Essex County, and with the work of so many volunteers, we are collecting excellent information that is helping us understand where they are nesting and whether they are successfully fledging young,” said Greenbelt Director of Stewardship Dave Rimmer, who also directs the Osprey Program.
Rimmer released these findings in a full report entitled Status of Osprey Breeding Activity in Essex County Massachusetts 2013, available on the Greenbelt website, ecga.org.
Some 200 volunteers and Greenbelt staffers filed online reports of Osprey nesting activity from Salem to Salisbury, starting in April right though to September.
Greenbelt expanded its Osprey Program in 2013, adding a webcam on a nest at its Cox Reservation headquarters. The Osprey Program also established a more comprehensive nest monitoring effort; installed a new Osprey platform and repaired others; installed two outdoor kiosks with detailed information about Osprey biology and conservation, and collaborated with Dr. Rob Bierregaard of UNC, Charlotte, to track two fledgling Osprey by satellite to study Osprey migration.
But the highlight of 2013 was streaming webcam video from the nesting platform at the Cox Reservation, which went directly to the Greenbelt website. Rimmer credits the webcam for building new public awareness and support for Osprey conservation in Essex County. Video of Allyn and Ethel, the nesting Osprey pair at the Cox Reservation, their eggs and chick, was viewed more than 60,000 times on Greenbelt’s website and facebook page, from as far as away as a family in France and a class of school children in Florida. The webcam will go live again sometime in March, when the Osprey pair is expected to return.
On Greenbelt’s website, ecga.org, you can view the full report of the Status of Osprey in Essex County in 2013, see a map showing Osprey nest locations in Essex County, as well as view the current flight path of Whit, the one surviving fledgling from a Gloucester nesting platform. Dr. Bierregaard tagged Whit last August so a satellite could follow his travels as he migrated from Gloucester to Venezuela.
Rimmer says, “Osprey are such a beautiful and captivating bird of prey, while also a strong indicator of the health of our coastal ecosystem. We have been overwhelmed by the public interest in Osprey activity, especially the steaming webcam video that was viewed worldwide by so many. All of us at Greenbelt are eagerly anticipating the return of Osprey to the area this year in March and April, and we are excited to once again engage as many people as we can with our programs.”
Anyone interested in volunteering for Greenbelt’s Osprey Program should contact Dave Rimmer at dwr@ecga.org.
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Well Would You Look At That, A Beautiful GMG Painting From Sam Nigro
Wait Sam Nigro paints?????
You mean he does something other than fish 24/7 off his custom striper assassin boat?
True renaissance man right there!
Thanks a bunch Sam 
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Community Stuff 1/27/14
Hi Joey!
I am Cape Ann’s new representative from the American Cancer Society helping Cape Ann volunteers produce the Relay For Life in June. I moved to Gloucester in October to take this job and start a new life in this fabulous town. Good Morning Gloucester has been a great way for me to stay in touch with everything happening in and around Gloucester.
I’ve seen a couple of posts promoting Relay For Life fundraisers over the last few months and I thank you for helping our teams in this way. We are working very hard to bring the Relay For Life of Cape Ann back to the level of success it enjoyed just a couple of years ago. Our theme for the 2014 Relay For Life is “Uniting to Finish the Fight Together,” emphasizing the strength of Cape Ann when we all come together for a cause. One of our event chairs, Darlene Riley, recalls with great emotion how the citizens of Gloucester rallied around her family when her teenage son was diagnosed with bone cancer. The community support meant everything to her. This year we are trying to unite ALL the communities of Cape Ann by reaching out to Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex and even Ipswich (although it’s a subject of some debate whether or not Ipswich is part of Cape Ann!) We want to remind everyone what is at the Heart of Relay: Celebrating our cancer survivors, Remembering those we have lost and Fighting Back to end this dreaded disease.
To kick off the Relay season, we are hosting a Heart of Relay Party Thursday, February 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Elks Club of Bass Rocks. We will have lots of great information, games, refreshments, a cash bar and opportunities to win a great Cape Ann prize package. Would you help us publicize the event by sharing the attached flyer on GMG the week of February 10? The event is open to the public and is completely free. We invite everyone who is interested in getting involved with Relay For Life to join us. (I am attaching both a pdf and a jpeg. If you need another format or need me to adjust the size, please let me know.)
Thanks so much for your support and for your great service to our community!
P.S. The Relay For Life of Cape Ann will be June 13-14 at O’Maley Middle School. As plans come together for this awesome event, we’ll keep you posted!
Vickie Grassman | Specialist, Relay For Life
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GloucesterCast Taped 1/26/14 With Host Joey Ciaramitaro and Guests Toby Pett and Kim Smith
GloucesterCast Taped 1/26/14 With Host Joey Ciaramitaro and Guests Toby Pett and Kim Smith
Subscribe to The GloucesterCast Podcast by Email
Topics include:
Polar Vortex, Alberta flipper,local restaurant talk including DeWolf Tavern, new theme at Alchemy, The Mexican Touch, Sticky Fingers, Changes on the blog, addressing Craig Kimberley’s statement that the blog has gotten too soft, Bill O’Connor helps to streamline the blog, words to people who begrudge contributors to promote their work on the blog, Art Haven Buoy Auction Kudos, Kim’s Not So-Teasing Butterfly announcement.
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BG Brown Summed Up What Was Going To Happen In The Fishing Industry In Gloucester 4 Years Ago
This was filmed in 2010 and it’s only gotten worse. What he predicted back in 2010 is about 10 times worse 4 years later.
As I type this a fisherman just left my office. He is 52 years old and has fished his whole life. He is a stern man meaning he has no stake in what the owner of the boat may receive when he sells out his commercial fishing permits. He has only seen it get worse and worse and was telling me he has absolutely no idea what he could do for a living since all he knows is fishing. It’s sad and it is despicable what they did when they instituted Catch Shares and privatized the ocean and fish. Before Catch Shares there were hundreds of small boats with stern men who could go out and catch 800 lbs of cod under the “Days at Sea” program. They could fish every day and because there was an 800 pound limit there were no 20-40,000 lb trips of fish on the auction to decimate the price. What was on the Fish Auction for fish was made up of lots of small boats 800 lb trips of quality day boat fish. So you had hundreds of boats with hundreds of captains and hundreds more of stern men making a good living while barely impacting the fish stocks. Boats were being repaired, boats were buying fuel, families were being fed. Now we have probably 80% less.
Just years later the hyper-consolidation of Catch Shares which we all knew was the inevitable result when you privatize a natural resource has decimated our fleet and the number of fishermen left standing while they most have either sold out or are trying to.
Back in 2009 I started to collect the stories and add them to a thread on Cape Ann Online as sort of a journal and record for those who might have said they didn’t see this coming. There are three pages of articles from fishermen and about how it was and has decimated our working port and independent fishermen.
Click here for the list of articles (3 pages worth)
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Pema Chödrön Quote of The Week From Greg Bover
“Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that’s the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a great adventure. Life is like that. We don’t know anything. We call something bad; we call it good. But really we just don’t know.”
Pema Chödrön (1936 – )
Born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown in New York City, Chödrön attended the elite Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. After two marriages and a career as an elementary school teacher she began studying Buddhism with Lama Chime Rinpoche, becoming a nun in 1974 and a bhiksuni in 1981. She is thought to be the first American woman so ordained. A prolific writer, her books include When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times from which the above quote is taken, as well as the recent How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind. She is the director of the Gampo Abbey on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia and spends seven months of the year in solitary retreat.
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Cape Ann Museum. An Inside Look At Renovations From Bing McGilvray
Today I got an eye-opening look at the amazing renovations taking place inside the Cape Ann Museum. Curator Martha Oaks took librarian Linda Oaks, historian Mary Rhinelander McCarl and me on a guided tour through all the galleries and just about every inch of the place has been stripped bare, except for a two small rooms being used for storage. The library is doubling as cramped temporary office space but everyone is very excited about the radical changes taking place. The work is being done by Manchester firm Windover Construction and they have been very busy since the museum closed its doors last fall. I took a lot of pictures and I hope you can share a few with your readers.
Martha, Linda and Mary survey the scene:
Martha reveals how the education room is being used for storage:
The new front entrance:
To View 14 More Photos with Captions hit the Continue Reading link here-
Continue reading “Cape Ann Museum. An Inside Look At Renovations From Bing McGilvray”
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Pop Gallery Doing Valentines Day Big Per Usual
Hi Joey!
I have a few promo items to send you. We are hosting a Valentine’s Day event at Pop on Feb. 8th. 3-7. All details are included on attached pdf, also included jpeg.
We are also selling “VALEN-TINS” which are our take on “gift baskets” for the season of love.
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Video- 2014 Art Haven Buoy Auction Action With Senator Bruce Tarr
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Passports Bordeaux Wine Dinner January 30th- 4 Courses- 4 Wines – Get Your Ressies For Trip Advisor’s Number 2 Out Of 127 Restaurants In Gloucester
Call 978-281-3680
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How I spent my winter vacation from Kenny MacCarthy
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The Mighty Sandollar Hauled Out For Maintenance
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Community Photos 1/26/14
Building Center hoisting up the new sign Photo from Cat Ryan
Joey,
Here’s a picture I took of the shack at Dunfugin boat ramp after storm Wednesday
Bob Barr
Motif Number One by Night By Peter Digre
Good Morning Gloucester 