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.

GDT Reports That The City Is Looking To Make I4-C2 A Temporary Parking Lot

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
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City eyes I-4, C-2 for paid parking

By Marjorie Nesin Staff Writer

Gloucester’s waterfront I-4, C-2 lot, where many have found a free space to park over the past two years, could soon become a temporary metered lot if the city has its way.

City officials have applied for a state permit to allow such use of the 65 Rogers St. site because the state insists the city have a permit to charge for parking on the 95-space waterfront lot while the city searches for a person or company interested in developing the property, according to Harbor Planning Director Sarah Garcia.

Read the entire article here

This to me is a total no-brainer.  They are looking to make it a “temporary” lot which will provide a whole lot of parking for area businesses and will generate money for the city.  How is this not a good idea? 

Would people rather see it sit fallow, put a chain across it and not let anyone park there just to spite Downtown Gloucester and all the businesses and city coffers that would benefit?

In the comment section of the article folks are calling for an open air fish market from which fishermen can sell their fish directly to the public.  That sounds nice but when all is totaled you want to cut out the existing waterfront properties that handle the fish and sell to local consumers and get this product to market while not allowing other uses for the waterfront properties except for marine industrial uses.  Isn’t that special?  There is Steve Connolly, Intershell, Turner Seafood already selling seafood to the local consumers.  Taking a City owned property and offering it up to compete with existing businesses when thiose existing businesses have already been severely impacted by fishing cuts hardly sounds fair to me.

We have a Consumer Supported Fishery (CSF) product with Cape Ann Fresh Catch and we have the Farmer’s Market which already operates in a different location.  So take away a property that would provide parking for all of downtown and replace it with a business model that would compete with existing businesses, doesn’t make much sense to me.

A temporary parking lot will feed all the businesses around the Downtown area including the Museums, Restaurants, Retailers, Whale Watch Boats, Schooners and more.  best yet the City gets paid for the parking.

GMG Stats and Top Ten Posts of The Day- February 25th, 2013 60,322 Views

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

60,000, as in 1,000 times 60

thank you for the correction Martin DelVecchio

 

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2013 Rotary Polar Plunge Photos from Lisa Cardinal

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey,
It was a pleasure to meet you on Sat. The “lobstah” was delicious. Here is
a mini album from the Plunge. Post any, all or none…
Have a great day,
Lisa Cardinal

Community Stuff 2/26/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Sarah Lufkin Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of Sarah Lufkin, who passed away from complications of leukemia in April, 1997. Friends of the family set up a scholarship fund to help students who are studying in a field that will have a direct effect on children. Sarah was studying Early Childhood Education at Salem State Community College when she was diagnosed.

The Lufkin Family in conjunction with Periwinkle’s Restaurant is hosting a fabulous fun evening to benefit the fund, Thursday, February 28 at Periwinkle’s Restaurant, 74 Main Street (Route 133), Essex.

The evening will include hors d’ouevres, a silent auction, raffle and live music provided by local musician Joe Militello. Tickets are $25 per person and will be available at the door the night of the event. The event starts at 6:00PM and goes until 10:00PM.

We are always looking for donations of food from restaurants or catering companies and donations of items for the silent auction and raffle. If you would like to donate, please call Sue Lufkin at 978-768-7122, Laurie Lufkin at 978-985-6532 or Kim Lufkin Williams at 978-853-0845.

 

Anita Pandolfe writes-

Dear Joey,

Like the beams of light

coming forth in the fog,

your blog

shows us the way,

to enjoy everyday

on our beloved Cape Ann.

Thanks for all you do!

Anita

Local therapist-midwife, Anita Pandolfe Ruchman, NP, is producing an exciting, provocative play about Childbirth.

BIRTH, a play by Karen Brody, will be performed on Cape Ann and beyond this spring and early summer

This is a call for folks to join the production and acting Teams.

On Saturday and Sunday March 2nd and 3rd, (next weekend), from 1-3pm each day, we will be holding auditions and info sessions at the Rockport Unitarian Universalist Church, 4 Cleaves St in Rockport.

The Goal of this production is to raise awareness about the profound impact the childbirth experience has on a woman’s life. Come share your skills and talents by join us in this important, exciting endeavor. We are seeking creative, energetic folks to be involved on all levels; publicity, marketing, sound, fundraising, acting, stage management, etc.

For further info please contact Anita:

 www.atenderplace.com

La Province Renovation Sale February 28th- March 3rd

reno_sale@laprov

Hi Joey C & GMG!
We’re starting our Renovation SALE this Thursday, February 28th – March 3rd & everything is on 20%-50% OFF!
Thanks!
Dawn @ La Provence
4 Main Street
Rockport, Ma
978.546.5868
www.laprov.com
Winter Hours:  Thurs – Sun 11am-5pm

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Now accepting registrations for the next session:
March 11 – May 4

Monday adult class: 9:00-12:00 p.m. 
Monday kid’s class: 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday adult class: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Wednesday adult class: 6:00– 9:00 p.m.
Thursday adult class: 6:00-9:00p.m.
Friday adult class:  9:00 -12:00 p.m.

All levels of experience – beginners always welcome!
Wheel-throwing ~ Hand Building ~ Glazing
Private lessons ~ Independent Study Program ~ Retail Gallery
Cynthia Curtis Pottery
80 Pigeon Hill Street, Rockport, http://www.cynthiacurtispottery.com
   
To register, call 978 546 6186 or email: info@cynthiacurtispottery.com

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On Thursday, February 28th, The Gloucester High School Drama Club will be presenting the dark comedy, one act play Cagebirds by David Compton.
The show is at 7:00 pm on February 28th in the GHS Putney Auditorium and tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

In this allegorical play, “birds live in a cage”, each totally absorbed in their own particular characteristics. When the Wild One is introduced into their midst by their Mistress, she endeavors to persuade them to break out from their self-imposed dependence and imprisonment into the wider world outside

This February 28th’s presentation is the GHS entry that will be performed at the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s High School Drama Competition. The competition will be held on Saturday, March                           2nd at the Ipswich High School at 9 am.
For more information about other school’s performance places and times, see the METG website at metg.org

Cape Ann Shakespeare Troup Performances

Wednesday, February 27: Opening night, all tickets $5!

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In Defense of The Waterways Board

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I respect our City Council, respect our Mayor and respect our Harbormaster.

The editorial in the Gloucester Daily Times asking to scrap the Waterways Board is not a good idea.

Let me explain why.  City Councils have elections every 2 years.  City Councilors come and go and while they mostly have our best interests in mind they just don’t have the history and knowledge of the rules and regulations and past grudges and what works on the waterfront like people that derive their income from it.

There are people like Tony Gross who have worked on the waterfront most of his life.  He also sits on the School Committee and knows processes.  Tony knows from dealing with people on the waterfront all his life who the players are and what regulations are in place that have restricted progress and also the ones that have insured stability.

Not having a Waterways board and handing over all the decisions to people who don’t have long terms relationships with the harbor is just crazy.

If some people have their feelings hurt because a cockamamie idea to have the public finance a floating marina which will have to be maintained with public dollars then good riddance.   If people can’t see that a floating marina in the middle of the harbor would  compete with existing waterfront properties who would love to be able to finance the transient dockage needs and finance it with private dollars (read not public dollars) and maintain the private docks with private dollars then good riddance as well.

If there is a problem with perceived lack of progress maybe, just MAYBE the PROCESS OF GETTING THINGS APPROVED MIGHT BE LOOKED AT AND STREAMLINED.

How about writing an editorial calling for the elimination of layers upon layers of bureaucracy and allowing the waterfront some relief from antiquated Designated Port Area (DPA) zoning regulations in a time when our fleet has hyper-consolidated and we read daily in the Paper Richard Gaines’ articles about cutbacks, the latest calling for yet another 70 plus percent reduction in landings.

Yes there needs to be more transient dockage but those needs can be filled with the many empty piling fields around the harbor which if the zoning was changed would allow for the private waterfront sector to pay for these needs being built and maintained instead of always looking for government handouts to get things done.

So calling for the Waterways Board to be disbanded is no solution.  We need people who have intimate knowledge of the port and its history to help guide and inform the Council as to what is going on.

No City Councilor could ever be expected to understand what is really going on in the waterfront and all the rules and zoning that is hindering responsible development because their livelihoods don’t depend on it like many of the members of a good Waterways Board filled with Fishermen, Recreational Marina Owners, Lawyers who understand waterfront zoning, Marine Construction Company Owners,  and Waterfront Tourism People.

What you don’t need on the Waterways Board are commies who think that the government should pay for everything and look at private waterfront development as if it was the devil because god forbid someone might make money.

The fishermen should have places to tie their boats and they do.  With the drastic consolidation of the fleet the upland portions of these properties should have relief from the archaic zoning of the DPA so these properties can be reinvigorated with private (read not public) dollars so they could pay more money to the City in taxes.   Everyone wins.

I may not agree with the Waterways Board 100% of the time but realistically you never could expect to.  However with a Waterways Board filled with people that derive their income from the waterfront and have intimate knowledge of it you will be FAR better served than letting a bunch of commie bureaucrats that only are looking for the public sector and public dollar projects to get things done instead of the people who control the purse strings and have to risk their own capital.

Big Mike’s Bikes Getting Bigger New Shop In The Works!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hey Joey!
Good news! After months of cramped quarters overstuffed with bikes, we moved into the space directly next door that was Miguel’s and before that, Enterprise Car Rental. So our address and everything is staying the same. How easy is that? We’re going to have 3 times our original space. Now we’ll have far more space for used bikes on display, and we can carry a more varied range of accessories and even basic bicycle repair classes. We’re also going to start stocking used sporting goods like ice skates, roller skates, hiking backpacks, etc – why go all the way to Wenham or even Reading for a pair of used ice skates? Ain’t nobody got time for that.
Here’s some pictures of the space coming together.
Look at all this empty space! I could’ve set up a roller rink.
Here’s the new repair station. Now we can double our output.

We have a lot of stuff to put away, but we’re open in the new spot on Tuesday!
Thanks!
Kathleen
Big Mike’s Bikes
http://www.bigmikesbikes.org

Marcy Plante Still Hot At 35

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Marcy Runs The Gymazing Program at The Manchester Athletic Club Where You Can Have Your 6 Week To Six Year Old Child Taken Care Of While You Get Your Workout On.

Meet The Trainer: Peg Harmony

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

If you would like to train with Peg her contact info is below. For more information about joining the Manchester Athletic Club and training with Peg call 978-526-8900.

PegH

Name:

Peg Harmony  pharmony@manchesterathleticclub.com

Area of training expertise:

Functional Training

Why workout?:

To feel better about yourself both physically AND mentally.  To help you deal with and relieve stress whether it be personal or work related.

Favorite exercise:

Kettlebell Swings

Favorite easy to cook recipe:

Broiled scallops with sweet lime sauce 

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Serves 4

Ingredients

    4 tablespoons honey
    2 tablespoons lime juice
    1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
    1 pound bay or sea scallops, rinsed and patted dry
    2 teaspoons grated lime peel
    1 lime, cut into 4 wedges

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Position the rack 4 inches from the heat source. Cover a broiler pan or cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Spray generously with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, lime juice and oil. Add the scallops and toss gently to coat with the honey mixture.

Arrange the scallops in a single layer on the prepared broiler pan or baking sheet. Broil until opaque throughout when tested with a tip of a knife, about 5 minutes. Turn the scallops over and broil for another minute.

Divide the scallops onto 4 warmed plates. Pour any juices from the broiler pan or baking sheet over the scallops. Sprinkle with grated lime peel and serve with a lime wedge.

Seafood. Jupiter Florida from Mike Parisi

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hey Joe,
Here I am in beautiful Jupiter,Fl. at the Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant.  Now you would think you could have some nice locale seafood,not a chance, everything they serve for shrimp is farm raised.  All the fish imported too. 

I can’t believe that we have to work so hard to find locale caught seafood,caught by American fishermen.  I understand that we now as a nation import over 90 percent of our seafood.  I can not believe our country stands by with our locale fishermen tied to the dock,over regulated,managed by bad science while our people eat imported seafood.  I hope the recent cod quota proposal of 77% does not happen.Save out American Fishermen
Mike Parisi

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GMG Photo Safari Scheduled For Saturday March 2nd, 2013

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Meet at Rocky Neck Causeway Parking Lot at 9AM. 

Informal meet and greet.

Go off in groups or individually to shoot.

Go home.

Edit photos.

Submit them to goodmorninggloucester@yahoo.com

Joey C creates an online album of the photos.

We post the album on the blog. 

People meet people, get inspired, create friendships, everyone wins.

#Boom!

Who’s In?

Tacos Lupita One Year In Business Dollar Taco Celebration

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

On February 25th, 2013 Tacos Lupita Will Be Offering $1 Tacos In Appreciation Of It’s Customers After One Year In Business.

63 Washington Street Gloucester MA

http://tacoslupitagloucester.com/

2013 GMG/ Farm Bar and Grill Bikini Speedo Dodgeball Tournament Teams- It’s Comin Baby! March 16th

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

BAC in Black
Ass With Class
Red, White and Blueballs
Formerly American Bacon
Canadian Bacon
Blinded By The White
Muff Riders
Speedo Cops: The Long $#@! of the Law
Power Snatch
Pistol Whip
Mamie’s Dodgefathers
The Rough Putters
Jungle Fever
Krazy Ivan’s
BAC in Action
Great Balls For Hire
The Dirty Luchadors
Scared Hitless
Dont Neglect the Balls
Swiss Farmy Knives
Barely Legal

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School project needs some help finding old radios

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

School project needs some help finding old radios

If you come across any old radios (portable or semi portable) that work or don’t work / Tubes or old transistors and you are never going to use them, but hate the idea of throwing it out. Send it my way. I found a great project to convert them into amplifiers for electrical instruments which will go hand in hand with our homemade instrument project. It looks as though I will be presenting this STEM project and the students work this summer at Northeastern University.

Before you say “They can’t use that old thing”, remember that we can use the knobs and inner electronics. The older tube radios have an analog sound that is amazing but the old transistor radios are much more portable both are welcome. So, check the attic and then the cellar and let me know if you find anything or just drop them off at Gloucester High School. Please pass this email on to anyone you think might have some collecting dust. I thank you and my students thank you.

Kurt Lichtenwald
a.k.a. Coach L.
Physics and Robotics Teacher
Gloucester High School

http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com Do you get it?

Ezra Pound Quote of The Week From Greg Bover

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

"Credit is the future tense of money"
Ezra Pound

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(1885-1972) from Canto
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Quoted, with thanks, from JoeAnn Hart’s excellent new book Float.
Born in what was then the Idaho Territory to parents of Quaker and Puritan ancestry, Pound was raised in Philadelphia, but rebelled against his genteel surroundings and exiled himself to England to be a poet. Disgusted by the slaughter of the First World War, which he blamed on market capitalism, he spent much of the next twenty-five years in France and Italy. He befriended and championed Eliot, Hemingway, Frost, Joyce and our own Charles Olson, and helped to publish much of their early work. A supporter of Mussolini and Hitler, he made radio broadcasts denigrating the United States during the Second World War, was arrested as a traitor at its conclusion, and spent the next 12 years in an American psychiatric hospital. Meanwhile his poetry continued to be read and appreciated, winning controversial awards and prizes. Finally released in 1958, he returned to Italy publishing the last of his Cantos, 110-118, in 1968.

Greg Bover

2013 Oscar Ballot and Contest

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Submit Your Picks For The Winners of The Top Six Categories

Joey C’s Picks-

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You can go to http://movies.yahoo.com/oscars/pick-em/ and make your selections.

Write in who you picked in these 6 categories in the comment selection below this post.  Be sure to fill out your ballot before the Oscars Telecast tonight.

Best picture: Argo

Of the movies nominated I’ve seen Argo and Django Unchained.  Both must see movies IMO.  I was on the edge of my seat throughout Argo.  Fantastic movie.

Django Unchained, the Quentin Tarantino Directed Movie was a complete spectacle and just like everything else from Tarantino you had no idea where everything was going.  I’d like to see it win but they don’t seem to like to reward Tarantino and I think Argo takes home the honor based on the sympathy vote for Ben Affleck getting the snub in the director category. 

I would not at all be surprised to to see Lincoln with though.  I just won’t root for it because I’m just not a fan of period pieces. even though it’s probably a great movie.

 

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis In Lincoln

If there was a lock I’d say Daniel Day-Lewis is about a big a lock as you can get in this category this year.  The Oscar voters love Daniel Day-Lewis, he’s already won twice, he was in an important movie and none of the other movies in this category were huge movies.  Easiest category to pick.  Book it.

Best Actress: Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty

I’m going with Jessica Chastain here because once again no one has seen any of the other movies in this category.  Amour, a French sub-titled film.  The Impossible, didn’t hear about it. They say Jennifer Lawrence didn’t have to act much for her role in Silver Linings Playbook.  and Beasts of the Southern Wild, another movie no one has gone to see.  Also Meryl Streep wasn’t nominated in this category.  Because it doesn’t matter when Meryl is in the race Meryl wins.

Another easy category to pick.

Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln

I’d rather see Christopher Waltz win for his performance in Django Unchained but I’m picking Tommy Lee Jones.  I figure for the Spielberg movie they’re gonna give a bunch of awards and this is a category where they can give another one.  Alan Arkin was great in Argo but it wasn’t a huge role onscreen.  Philip Seymour Hoffman is great in everything he’s in but I never saw The Master and didn’t hear a lot about it.  Silver Lining Playbook is just a movie that despite all the huge stars in it I never heard anyone say “You Have To Go See This Movie” so that’s why I doubt it goes to Dinero.

Best Supporting Actress: Sally Field

Sally Field because she’s Sally Field.

I can’t root for Anne Hathaway and her phony humble brag.  Never saw her in anything that blew me away.  Would I be shocked to see Anne Hathaway win it?  No, in fact she probably will but I just root against here every time. 

Best director: Steven Spielberg for Lincoln

I just think Spielberg doing an important piece with big actors is gonna get votes.  It’s probably a movie I ought to go see but it’s just not my kinda film.  I’m no history buff.  Would have loved to see Quentin Tarantino win for Django Unchained but he wasn’t even nominated.  Also wouldn’t have minded to see Affleck win for Argo.

They’re not going to give it to the director of a French sub-titled movie (Amour). Not gonna give it to  the director of a small movie that no one saw, Beasts of The Southern Wild.  Never heard anyone say “You must go see Silver Linings Playbook”.  Maybe the long shot here is the Life of Pi but I highly doubt it. 

Gotta be Spielberg for the lock.

Don’t forget to click on the comment below this post to leave your predictions in the top six categories.  You can view the nominees here- http://movies.yahoo.com/oscars/pick-em/

Robert Newton Cape Ann Community Cinema WGBH radio Interview Dishes On Oscars

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Catherine Ryan writes-

Hi Joey

If you haven’t had the chance, listen to Robert Newton’s WGBH radio interview with Edgar B. Herwick III about all things Oscars, Rob’s stellar programming (which includes special events featuring nights with Liv Ullmann or movie launches with luminaries like John Sayles) and of course Rob’s enthusiasm for Gloucester! It’s the lead interview, first 10 minutes.

“Movies are spiritual experience and way of life for me…I’m happy to share my enthusiasm and joy for film…and our refuge sanctuary (here) in Gloucester !”

Outstanding!

http://www.wgbhnews.org/post/beer-and-movie-weekend-happenings

His annual Oscars night also falls on his birthday this year. Come celebrate:

New England String Quartet opens the Oscars and plays selected Oscar winning music.

Red Carpet 8PM

Movie snacks from around the world (Norway Raindeer jerky – Liv Ullmann inspired no doubt)

Happy Birthday Rob!

Wicked Tuna Dave Marciano’s Hard Merchandise On The Blocks At The East Gloucester Marine Railways- Watch Sunday Night!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Don’t forget to watch Wicked Tuna and check out The Hard Merchandise and Tuna.Com Websites where you can buy their gear

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Next episode: Shark Attack New  Sun, Feb 24 9:00 PM
NGC 
The fishing teams are threatened by great white sharks. Included: A shark slams into the Christina; Tyler must risk life and limb to untangle a harpoon line from the Pin Wheel’s propeller in the shark-infested waters.
full episode description

Watch a video with Dave here-

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