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.

Harbortown Partners and Stakeholders Filled the Gorton’s Gallery Post From Fred Bodin and Catherine Ryan

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

It was a great event, with the usual speeches, and the big surprises were the winners of the temporary installations on the Harbor Walk. Here are a few photos from Mayor Kirk:

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Catherine Ryan-

Good event.

City officials including Mayor, Jim Duggan, Sarah Garcia, councilors Melissa Cox and Joe Ciolino; other state dignitaries Anita Walker, Meri Jenkins – MCC; Bruce Tarr; Ann Margaret Ferrante

Co-chairs Judith Hoglander and Bob Whitmarsh

Press including GMG FredB and DavidC  who are also founding partners J

So many Harbortown partners and stakeholders filled the Gorton’s Gallery at the Maritime Gloucester (key cultural anchor asset and founding partner for CD) We have a happening cultural district!

Surprises included

· Gloucester Public High School teachers John Barry and Kurt Lichetenwald’s cool S.T.E.A.M. (science technology engineering, Arts and mathematics) classes featuring students’ hand made, engineered musical instruments.

Student David Puglisi came to the event and showcased his handmade plywood electric guitar see his youtube video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v11HV7MNfU

Mr. Lichtenwald mentioned other students including  Sam Oliver who designed a ( Blue Man-esque) PVC percussion instrument, 6ft long that is at GHS on display;  she did the math calculations for every note.

· 2 sea chanty songs from founding partner and national historic landmark Schooner Adventure via their dedicated staff and volunteers!

Singers included Joanne Souza, Beth Welin, Barry O’Brien, Tim Perkins and Rose Sheehan

· Amazing jazz music from __________________ from Henry Allen Folklore and More (two young musicians—I have to get their names!!)

· food and spirits from Gloucester House, Topside Grill, Steering Committee, Cape Ann Brewery

· Mayor’s announcement of the three winners of the 2013 Gloucester HarborWalk Public Art Challenge

James Calderwood (Durham, NH) Fish Net(working title), street mural

Justin Desilva (Medford, MA), With Every Street There’s a Story (working title), 20 crosswalks

Bartek Konieczny (Abington, MA), Rope Arch (working title), sculpture

The 15 semifinalists’ proposals will be exhibited at Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free in July 2013!

Community Stuff 5/29/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

GREENBELT PRESENTS 24th ANNUAL ART IN THE BARN: image

Artisan Showcase and Sale June –14-16 benefits Greenbelt land conservation efforts

On June 14-16, paintings, sculpture, hand-crafted jewelry, and pottery will enliven every part of Greenbelt’s Cox Reservation, 82 Eastern Avenue in Essex, from the white farmhouse headquarters to the rustic barn, to the rolling grasslands and walkways overlooking the Essex River, as the annual Art in the Barn juried exhibition and sale returns for its 24th year.

The 130 artists include renown local artists Marty Morgan, Cynthia Curtis, Anne Cowman, Brad Storey and Beth Williams. Sale proceeds directly support Greenbelt’s land conservation efforts.

The opening reception, from 6-8:30 pm on Friday, June 14, will feature the music of Crazy Maggy, the famous Ipswich Ale Tapmobile, and tasty treats provided by the Flatbread Mobile Pizza Oven and Batch Ice Cream. Exhibition and sale hours are as follows: Friday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 pm and 6 – 8:30 pm; Saturday, June 15 from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, June 16 from 10 am to 4 pm. The exhibition is free. Parking is $5 per vehicle for the whole weekend.

Relay for Life Cape Ann

The Relay For Life is a signature fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society. It is a grassroots community based event that takes place beginning at 6 p.m.on June 21-22, 2013 at O’Maley Middle School, 32 Cherry Hill Road, Gloucester. For more information about the event or to sign up as a team or make a donation, please visit the website at http://www.RelayForLife.org/CapeAnnMA."

IDRC Race boat launch

Lend a hand this Sunday morning June 2nd, at 8:30 AM when we will launch the freshly painted race boats in preparation for the US Elimination races the following weekend.  We will meet at Eastern Ave Self Storage (bring a trailer if you have one) and load up the 4 race dories, then off to the HS boat ramp where we will meet Joe Novello who has volunteered to tow them back to the town landing.  I also need a volunteer to meet Joe at 8:30 at the town landing to rig up the 2 practice dories that we will remove from the water after a full year in.  Please let me know if you can make it as many hands make for light work!

Only In Lanesville…

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Susan Hershey submits-

Joey –

drove by this sign, said to myself "did that sign really say what I think it said?" turned around. drove back and sure enough it did!

love it! thought you’d like it too! leave it to lanesville …

caution beautiful dreams ahead

Chickity Check It!- Ghostly Shipyards From Around The World

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

From Vincze MiklĂłs on www.i09.com

Where do boats go when they die? Sometimes they end up in vast ship graveyards, sometimes craggy, foggy places where ships have met their doom, and sometimes spots where ships are deliberately left to rust. There’s a quiet beauty to many of these graveyards and their resting inhabitants.

For the entire post and incredible images- Ghostly Shipyards From Around The World

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Exploring Conomo Pt. and The Essex Conference Center

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Ann Kennedy submits-

Fun to see a floating house installation, or whatever it’s called, and the conference center is a beautiful place to see sculpture in the trees.  What a terrific day on Cape Ann!

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And this is why I’m not a nature guy…

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

A couple of weeks ago we were walking through Halibut Point Park with another family, the Daniels. Halibut Point is one of the area’s true gems with gorgeous vistas, easy to navigate trails, nice spots to stop and picnic, it’s just fantastic and if you haven’t gone I’d say it’s in the top ten list of things to do when you visit.

While we’re walking through Halibut Point we hear a bullfrog.  Matt Daniels, great guy and the dad in the other family hops onto a rock, spots the bullfrog and snatches the thing up in his hands.  Just like that he had a bullfrog in his hands, showing it to all the kids.

Now the thought of reaching down and grabbing a frog is just not anything I’d ever think of doing.  Grabbing a frog holds about as much appeal to me as handling a steamy turd barehanded.

When I encounter wildlife all that runs through my head is how the creature is going to attack me or peck my eyes out or rip my guts out and leave me there with my entrails hanging out waiting for the buzzards to come and finish me off.

Anyway, this video here confirms all my suspicions about wildlife-

Here is Matt Daniels holding the frog we saw at Halibut Point State Park-

 

I see you looking at me killer attack frog. I’m watching you watching me!

Stone Cold Assassin.

Community Photos 5/28/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

Took this picture from the boulevard this morning near the Korean War Memorial.

Thought you might be interested in posting it on your web site.

Steve

Steve Canning

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Community Stuff 5/28/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Strawberry Festival and Plant Sale, Saturday June 1st 9a.m. rain or shine Holy Family Parish (St. Ann’s Yard if shine, Monsignor Sullivan Hall if rain. This year besides all the wonderful plants, homemade goodies, jams, breads, and relishes there will be a Grannies Attic., with such items as vintage dishes, silverware, linens, knick-knacks and household items.

The ladies Guild have been hard at work getting plants ready to sell, not to mention the homemade jelly and jams and lots more. Come and visit Grannies attic for the match to that favorite China tea cup or the tea pot that has been broken, or a linen tablecloth for that special occasion.

Remember Saturday June 1st Rain or Shine St Ann’s Rectory Yard Prospect if Shine or if rain Monsignor Sullivan Hall Pleasant Street if rain.

So I went to this new joint in Beverly…

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I don’t mind paying up for great food but the one thing that I will not endorse is paying up for good food but leaving hungry.

When you offer up a pasta dish for $22 and then serve barely 6 ounces of pasta I have a problem.  That’s $22 without salad, just the pasta dish.  Pasta- as in wheat flour and eggs.

I won’t be back.

I coulda ate a feast at Sista Felicia’s or gone to La Trattoria for better food at a lot less or my favorite Italian restaurant of all time- Vinny’s Superette in Somerville for half the dough and a hundred times better food.

Screw that place.  Never going back.

(our dining companions were great though)

Right On Spitbrook, Left On Daniel Webster, Right On Milf

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Oh those crazy Hamilton folk and their street signs.

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Milf Street Hamilton Ma, Yep, It Exists.

This sign on the corner of Milf and Union. Google Map

Submit your Own photo of the Milf Street sign to GMG For a chance to win a copy of Ron Gilson’s An Island No More

Community Photos 5/27/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Al Bezanson submits-

Privateer LYNX at Maritime Gloucester.  Bound for the Great Lakes via Lunenburg and Canso, NS.

http://privateerlynx.com/

Lynx

May 28 Kick Off Party for Gloucester’s 2nd Cultural District: HARBORTOWN

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

May 28 Kick Off Party for Gloucester’s 2nd Cultural District: HARBORTOWN

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Come Celebrate!

The first official event for the Gloucester Harbortown Cultural District will be held on May 28th from 4:00 to 6:30pm at the location of one of our founding partners and cultural assets in the district, Maritime Gloucester on Harbor Loop.

Mayor Carolyn Kirk, City of Gloucester dignitaries, and Massachusetts Cultural Council officials will be in attendance along with the partners and stakeholders.

Visit www.gloucesterharbortown.org to see the list of partners. We had a great time when the MCC came to town in March for the site visit, and the party at Fred Bodin’s.

Please join us. You can count on light refreshments, beverages including wine and beer, and a surprise or two.

Bring along your recipe ideas for a Harbortown inspired cocktail, non-alcoholic variation, or family beverage. We will collect them for a future tasting contest to determine some winning "Harbortown" contenders.

Thanks to founding partners Gloucester House Restaurant and Topside Grill for providing some of the light refreshments and Cape Ann Brewing Co for providing their special artisan beer.

To help us with the head count, please RSVP :  judith@nii.net

What: Festive kickoff for Harbortown Cultural District

Date: Tuesday May 28th, 2013

Where: founding partner Maritime Gloucester (thank you so much!), Harbor Loop

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When: 4:00-6:30 pm, drop in

RSVP:  judith@nii.net, Judith Hoglander, Co-Chair Steering committee of the GHCD

Bring a friend along , absolutely

Reminder: Harbortown beverage recipe entries (with and without alcohol)

Visit http://www.gloucesterharbortown.org/

Community Stuff 5/27/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

School Open Enrollment

Eastern Point Day School, grades PreK through 8, is holding open enrollment for the 2013-14 school year. Eastern Point Day School is pleased to offer both full and partial tuition scholarships for new students in the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. The scholarship awards range between 25% up to 100% reduction of the student’s tuition. We encourage families to schedule an appointment and visit Eastern Point Day School to see if the school is the right fit for your child and family.  Please call 978/283-1700 or email info@easternpointdayschool.org for more information.

Eastern Point Day School
8 Farrington Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-283-1700
www.easternpointdayschool.org

Hi Joey

Decided to start this rainy weekend at Lobsta land with our 2 boys last night. Awesome dinner- We were so psyched to see a great addition to the kids menu- ( which is often the usual pasta, burgers, and chix fingers) Our younger guy Colby ordered the children’s salad with chicken on top. He loved it!  Nice to have that great choice! FYI to other families!

Barbara Kelly

Lots Of Suspects In The Great Shrimp Caper Of 2013

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

2013-05-25 08.30.01

If you recognize any of these seedy individuals please contact local authorities immediately.  We’re counting on you, our grassroots community investigative team to figure out who the scumbag is that’s been clipping bags of shrimp out of the freezer.

From our in-house surveillance cameras.

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Who is old school Gloucester enough to remember clear plastic furniture covers?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

https://i0.wp.com/www.tlloh.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sofa-plastic-cover.jpg

Dating myself, I remember back in the early 70s when making the rounds with my mom and sister Felicia we would visit all her Sicilian relatives on Prospect and up on Commonwealth, and they always had their living room furniture sets covered with that hard transparent plastic to protect it.

Never see those plastic furniture covers any more.  While talking to Miles Schlicte we were trying to figure out when, if ever they took the covers off the furniture.  Was it only for special occasions, or was it when there weren’t children around?

Did you know anyone or have any relatives that had the transparent furniture covers?

Not my mom-

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Cindy Hendrickson Pitches Cape Ann Foodies Tour

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hey Joey,
It was so much fun seeing you at the Stage Fort Park Visitor’s Center Opening.  Thank you for posing with the new Cape Ann Foodies Signature Fork.
Here are a few pictures of some of the Usual Tourism Suspects mugging with the Fork. 
Cape Ann Foodies is the creation of Gloucester local Patrick Halloran.  What a great idea – a walking tour that combines History, Food, and Local Beer.  It is fun and filling!
Check out the website:  http://www.capeannfoodietours.com or give him a call at 617-902-8291.
I am excited to be one of his tour guides this year; just need to lose the crutch and I’m good to go.
Cheers!
Cindy Hendrickson