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.

What’s New At The MAC? New Youth Basketball Program!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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We are AST American Sports Training Academy on the North Shore, and we’d like to introduce
you to our new co-ed basketball skills & drills clinic program, AST Hoop-FUNdamentals for
boys and girls age 7-17.
We are launching our program mid-March at The Manchester Athletic Club (MAC) in
Manchester, MA (just off Exit 15, Rte.128N.)
Why should local Cape Ann players and their parents be interested in investing in skills & drills
classes this off-season, with spring sports just starting up?
We believe it makes perfect sense for kids who love the game, to keep in basketball shape and
continue to improve their all-important fundamental skills so they can develop to a higher
level…in preparation for next season.
We also believe younger kids, new to the sport of basketball, should learn the right way,
the first time and as for more advanced players, they only get better practicing the fundamentals.
A focused, fun, instructional program…our program…for one class per week will make the
measurable difference.
Our team at AST American Sports Training is staffed by experienced, energetic professional school teacher/coaches
and you can learn more “About Us” on our website www.asthoops.com.
Also, of note, is the discounted price we give to each member of an established team if 2 or
more team members enroll and multiple siblings get an even deeper family discount rate.
p.s. We are proud our clinicians are exceptional people with experience teaching school and
coaching children and adolescents.

I have attached a PDF that nets out our Spring clinic and we will be very grateful if you can include it on GMG.
Any additional information you may need, please let me know.
Thanks, and I am signing us up for GMG. It is excellent….

Jim & Rita Dziadosz

AST American Sports Training Academy

AST FUNdamentals Basketball Skills & Drills Clinics/Camps/Individual Training

978-930-4071

ASTHoops@aol.com
asthoops.com

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Statues & Plaques in Gloucester- Civil War In Riverdale From Peter Dorsey

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey,

Another Civil War memorial I have recently noticed sits in the Riverdale section of Gloucester on Washington Street, near the intersection with Hodgkins Street and across from the Mill Pond. It is an area which was filled in on the tidal side, and has a granite sea wall built up around it, and a cast iron fence with granite posts. The historical marker is a granite obelisk with a pointed cap on the top and beach stones set into and around the base. The inscription reads, “Riverdale Martyrs in the War of the Rebellion 1861 – 1865”. The names of the Riverdale men who died in the Civil War are listed on three sides of the memorial. Carved into a top section of polished granite are the Union Army Corps badges. It is a very scenic location for a war monument; in a tidal inlet.

Peter Dorsey

Bikini Speedo Dodgeball Pre-Party Live Blog Starts Now!!!! Come On Down To The Farm And Join The Fun!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Drawmaster Steve Campbell

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Frankie Gwynn From Red White and Blueballs
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Giovanna Displays The Muff Riders Uniform
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Frankie Approves Ryan Pinkham and Ty Rodgers Great Balls For Hire Uniforms
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Matt Sawyer and John Vizena From Last Year’s Champion Blinded By The White Get Uniform Approval
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KPup From Cross Fit Cape Ann Earns Speedo Approval
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Dodgefathers’ s Chris DeWolfe Gets Speedo Approval While The Dodgemother Looks On
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Dirty Luchadors Heather Mason and Amanda O’Neil
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Beverly Athletic Club (last year’s villans) Represent Strong At The Dodgeball PreParty
Jason Mason and Taylor Ingenhuett
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Chris Fontaine From Beverly Athletic Club’s BAC in Action
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The Rabbit and Derek Smith From The Crazy Ivans
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Franklin Cape Ann Spring Wine Dinner March 20th

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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The first of our 2013 Wine Dinner Series celebrates the Wines of Spring.

Always a popular event, our wine dinners combine beautiful seasonal dishes paired thoughtfully with choice wines and presented by the knowledgeable and entertaining BZ from United Liquors.

Reservations are recommended.

Call Maria @ 978-283-7888

Open Door Bowl Painting Event

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Dear Joey,

Would you let GMG readers know there is a chance to paint a bowl for the annual Empty Bowl Dinner? The decorating event will be held at The Open Door, info or 978-283-6776 ext. 205.

For more information, find us on Facebook/TheOpenDoorMA or visit www.foodpantry.org.

Maybe Snoop Maddie and The Bean would like to get in on the painting action this year? Hope to see you there.

Community Photos 3/13/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Charles Erbafina Photos From March 8, 2013

Bil Hubbard Submits-

Joey,
Here’s a short story about two of the first Gloucester gillnetters that I hope you can use on GMG.
My grandfather, Capt. John A. Dahlmer  bought the 39ft. “Rough Rider” shortly after she was launched at Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1904.  She was one of the first gas-powered fishing boats on the Great Lakes.  The first picture was taken the day of her launch.  Grandfather brought her to Gloucester in 1910 and alternating in the command of Capt. Edw. Weiderman and Capt. Pete Tysver and Capt. Lawrence B. Dahlmer.  The second picture shows her at the Tysver wharf off E. Main St.
In 1909 Capt. John Dahlmer had the 63ft. “Margaret D.” built at the J.G. Laird & Son Shipyard in Ashtabula, Ohio.  She was named for and christened by my mother, Margaret V. Dahlmer who was 5 years old in 1909.  Later that year, or early in 1910 he brought her to Gloucester where she worked as a gillnetter and mackerel seiner.  The first picture shows her launch in 1909 and the second is of her, rigged for seining in Smith Cove.  She was wrecked on Milk Island off Rockport in 1915.
The captains Dahlmer, Weiderman and Tysver were among a group  of 10 skippers who brought their families and boats from Charlevoix, Michigan to Gloucester in 1909-1910 and established the first successful gillnet fishery in America’s oldest fishing port.  All four families settled on Rocky Neck and eventually moved to other Gloucester locations. Other families from Michigan who brought their boats and settled in E. Gloucester included the Arnold, Shoares, Lasley,Lafond and Place families.
The Michigan men earned handle, “Michigan Bears” by working together to do whatever chore needed to be done for their boats, no mater how hard or how heavy the work.  The Michigan men and their son’s went on to captain many other boats out of Gloucester over the years.
Bill Hubbard
11Mar.2013

Rob and Danelle Get The Gold In Sochi

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

David Umstead writes-

Let me give you a bit of background on Rob.  We moved to Manchester in 1978 when Rob was eight.  We always skied a lot as a family and skiing became Rob’s passion at an early age.  He became interested in ski racing when he was at Manchester High School and drove himself to Stowe, VT every weekend in the winters of his junior and senior year to train with the Mount Mansfield Ski Club.  He went on to ski for UMass Amherst and was named captain and MVP of the of the Team in his senior year.  When he graduated UMass, his plan was to coach ski racing for a year or two and then apply to medical school to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather.  Somehow, the med school gig never happened.  He followed his passion and I am guessing that last Saturday, one day before his 43 birthday, was the greatest day of his life.  I am guessing this tops the two bronze medals at the Paralympic Games in Whistler.

You can follow the story of Rob and Danelle as a team at their website … www.Vision4Gold.com or via the link to Facebook.

I have attached a picture of Rob and Danelle getting their gold medal in Sochi.

World Cup Downhill Champions

Local Notables To Consider Voting For In The North Shore Magazine 2013 BONS Awards In The Eat Category

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I’m taking category by category and highlighting some locals who you may want to consider worthy of your vote (BTW St Peter’s Fiesta is currently trailing Topsfield Fair and Good Harbor is close to Crane’s) so if you haven’t voted in the Play Category get on it!- Voting in the Play Category here

Here are some local joints that have been nominated in the Eat category (you can click on the highlighted establishments to see pictures or posts we’ve done about them)-

Vote Here  For The Eat Category In The North Shore Magazine 2013 BONS Awards

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Al Fresco Dining- Franklin Cape Ann, Lobster Pool

Bake Shop (Pastry)- Jim’s Bake Shop, Plum Cove Grind

Bakery (Bread) Virgilio’s

BBQ- Smokin Jim’s, The Farm Bar and Grille

Beer menu- Franklin Cape Ann, Cape Ann Brewing

Breakfast- George’s, Sugar Mag’s, Willow Rest (as you know my love of Gloucester Breakfast joints is unmatched- way too many to list so we will stick with the nominated but Mamie’s Kitchen, and Fort Square should be at least nominated as well)

Burger- Passports

Cocktail Bar- Franklin Cape Ann

Coffee Shop- Lone Gull, Cape Ann Coffee Café Sicilia and Pleasant St -None are nominated all deserve to be!

Confectionery- Nichols Candies and Turtle Alley

Farmer’s Market- Cape Ann Farmer’s Market

General Excellence- The Market, Duckworth’s is not nominated but I’d say needs to be a write in.

Gourmet Market- Savour Wine and Cheese 

Lobster- Causeway, Lobsta Land and Roy Moore are Nominated, For Lobster Pool and Seaport Grille not to be nominated is silly IMO

Italian- a write in for La Trattoria Gloucester only makes sense

Lobster Roll- Seaport Grille

Mexican- Jalepenos– for Tacos Lupita Gloucester needs to be a write in as well.

Pizza- Giuseppes and The Willow Rest.  There are so many great pizza joints in Gloucester and everyone has their favorites you could write in any number- Sebastians, Sclafanis, ect, ect ect

Pub Food- Franklin and Topside Grille

Raw Bar- Lat 43 nominated, Rudder could be a write in

Sandwiches- There is no Gloucester nomination and you could easily write in Virgilios, Sclafanis, or Willow Rest here

Seafood Prepared- the Causeway and The Rudder

Sushi- Latitude 43

Tapas- Alchemy or The Azorean

Thai- Thai Choice could be a write in

and when you’re done you can vote in the Play Categories-

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So far I’ve featured local nominees in the Play and Eat Categories, in a couple days I’ll highlight the Shop, Renew, Kids, and Live Categories.

See those locally nominated in the Play category here

Community Stuff 3/13/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Fooseball Tourney at Cape Ann Brewing

Joey  Remember foosball? the college bar game where we’d all heavily drink and smoke up? well this is the adult version and it’s a Foosball Tournament . $10 entrance fee. and it’s March 24 @ 12noon in Cape Ann Brewery. Teams (draw for partners) and singles. to sign up call/text   Steve Rogge 978-230-9565

Thacher Island Association

Cape Ann Light Station on Thacher Island – A National Historic Landmark

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Thacher Island Latest News

March,  2013 

Hello,

This is the first issue of our Latest News E-mail about Thacher Island. As a member or interested party we hope to send you e-mails from time to time announcing important news,events and special information about what is happening on both Thacher and Straitsmouth Islands. 

Visit our Newly Designed Web Site now.

Thacher Island Association Web Site

We are excited to announce a newly designed and more user friendly web site. From our new site you will be able to buy Thacher merchandise, renew your membership, donate, check up-coming events, find details on how to visit the island and view recent photographs that our guests,visitors and professional photographers have submitted.Just click on this link to see what it looks like and send us your comments Thanks. Link

WHEN: Thursday, March 14th at 7PM

WHAT: Trawl to Table: Understanding Today’s Groundfisheries

WHO: Vito Giacalone from the Northeast Seafood Coalition and Jen Levin, Gulf of Maine Research

Institute

For the public and interested parties who wish to better understand the current Gloucester groundfishing fleet, the methods and gears used,
the areas fished and the issues facing the fleet, this is a great opportunity to come and learn. We are very
fortunate to have these two experts speak to the topics.

WHERE: Gorton’s Seafoods Gallery at Maritime Gloucester, 23 Harbor Loop.

HOST: Maritime Gloucester

SPONSOR: Turner’s Seafood

For more information call 978-281-0470 or send an email to info@maritimegloucester.org

Programs are free but come early as seating is limited and we expect a strong turnout.

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Cape Ann Master Shipwright Leon Poindexter to Give Talk at New Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum – Ships Built in Gloucester

Hello Joey:

Local Cape Ann resident Master Shipwright Leon Poindexter has built the ships (the Beaver and the Eleanor) for the new Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum in Gloucester (the Dartmouth will be built in 2014).  On Sat., March 16, Leon will be giving a talk about the historic role the ships of the Boston Tea Party played and their re-creation for the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum as part of the museum’s new 2013 Speaker Series.  I thought this might be of interest to your Good Morning Gloucester followers. Also  Attached is a shot of Leon – direct out of central casting.  Here are the details:

March 2013 – The Ships of the Boston Tea Party – Their Historic Role and Re-Creation

Cape Ann, Mass. local Leon Poindexter, a master shipwright of several historic vessels and consultant to maritime museums, will provide a fascinating overview of the historic Boston Tea Party ships: the Beaver, Dartmouth and Eleanor, discuss the influence the ships and their captains played before, during and after the Boston Tea Party and highlight the re-creation of these historic ships for the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.  Ship building is one of the oldest industries in the United States with roots in the earliest New England colonial settlements. Mr. Poindexter learned his trade from some of the last of the “old timers” who worked in the famed shipyards of Essex and Cape Ann, Mass. With more than 30 years experience, he builds, repairs and restores large traditionally built historic wooden sailing vessels and their rigs. Some of his vessels are on the National Register of Historic Places.  In addition to recreating the Beaver and Eleanor in Gloucester, Mass. for the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Mr. Poindexter has worked on many other important ships, including the USS Constitution and the USS Massachusetts. He was the master shipwright in recreating the HMS Surprise, used in the Academy Award-winning movie “Master and Commander” starring Russell Crowe. He will also be bringing many of the traditional tools still used in ship building. Also included in the ticket price is clam chowder, corn bread and beer or lemonade.

Date: Sat., March 16, 2013

Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Price: $35/ticket (adult)/ $15 (children aged 17 & under)

Extra show added for O’Maley Little Mermaid Junior

Because of last Friday’s cancelled show, the O’Maley Innovation School is pleased to announce an additional “Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr.” performance for this Saturday night, March 16th at 7:00.  If you had purchased a ticket from 3/8/13,  you can use it for the following shows or receive a refund. Tickets are $5.00 for students and seniors, $7.00 for adults.

· Thursday, 3/14 at 7:00 p.m.

· Friday, 3/15 at 7:00 p.m.

· Saturday, 3/16 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Shrinkage For A Cause! Thanks To Jungle Silkscreening For The Awesome Job On The 2013 GMG/Farm Bar and Grille Bikini Speedo Dodgeball T Shirts

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Dri-Fit Technical T-Shirts Made Possible By Jungle. for Our Dodgeball Competitors and Volunteers. They will be for sale on game day with all the money going to Next Step.

Check In On The Event Facebook Page For All The Details Here

T shirt design by Frankie Gwynn from the Farm and www.thirstygolf.com

T- Shirts Hot Off The Presses at Jungle Silkscreening

Front with the Logo

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Back- Shrinkage For A Cause

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Dodgeballers and Friends of Dodgeballers Don’t Forget to Come To The Farm Wednesday Night To Pick Up Your Dry- Fit Technical T-Shirts and Registrations Bring Your Uniforms for Approval and Get In The Harlem Shake Video we’ll be taping Wednesday night!

The event itself will be held at YMCA Camp Spindrift in West Gloucester. They have an ideal facility to accommodate this event as it grows. Parking will be at nearby Wingarsheek Beach and there will be a shuttle between the parking lot and Camp Spindrift.

On Wednesday, March 13th at 7pm there will be a COMPETITOR’S PRE-EVENT MEETING at the Farm Bar & Grille in Essex, MA (233 Western Ave). The purpose of this meeting will be to give the athletes their tshirts and wristbands, as well as go over the rules of play and verify athletes’ age and make sure swimwear is all legal. At least one person from each team should be present. The idea here is to make everything run smoothly on the day of the event.

The Farm Bar & Grille and Good Morning Gloucester together with YMCA Camp Spindrift present the 3rd annual outdoor bikini/speedo dodgeball tournament to benefit Next Step, a charity that provides aid to children and young adults with life threatening illnesses (www.nextstepnet.org)

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Peter Dorsey Does Joan of Arc

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey,

I have been looking at some of the commemorative statues that there are around Gloucester. There’s art and history in so many places. One is a WWI memorial and is a large statue of Joan of Arc on a horse in Legion Square at the intersection of Washington and Middle streets. The imposing bronze statue, which was dedicated in 1921, is one and a quarter times life size, stands on top of a large carved granite base. There are bronze plaques on either side listing “The Sons of Gloucester Who Gave Their Lives in the Great World War” and decorative plaques at either end. Wrapping around the base is a granite bench; perhaps designed so people might sit there with friends and family, and reminisce. There are beach stones surrounding the monument, and set into the ground like cobblestones.

Designed by Anna Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973), her original Joan of Arc statue won an honorable mention at a Paris art show. There were four other Joan of Arc statues cast by her that were placed in either New York City, San Francisco, Quebec, Canada and Blois, France. Huntington was 34 when she made the original plaster statue in her family’s studio in 1910 which was near Annisquam. It has been reported that the horse was modeled after one of the East Gloucester Fire Station’s horses, and that “Joan” was actually Anna’s, niece who was sitting on a barrel.

For those who have never looked closely at this imposing statue and monument, I suggest they park, and carefully walk to the center of the square. It is truly an artistic masterpiece!

Peter Dorsey

Cape Ann Giclee is hosting a Good Morning Gloucester FOB art and photography show

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

Cape Ann Giclee is hosting a Good Morning Gloucester FOB art and photography show here at our studio/gallery March 29th – April 7th. We will be displaying and making available for sale the work we have printed for GMG FOBs notables such as founder of the blog Joey C, Kim Smith, Donna Ardizzoni, Thom Falzarano and others – full list to follow. We will be donating our 15% gallery commission to the Cape Ann Food Pantry. We will also have a friendly best in show competition and award the first, second and third place winners with Cape Ann Giclee gift certificates in the amounts of $100, $50 and $25 respectively. To kick this show off and give a good start we will host an opening party on March 29th from 5pm – 9 pm. We hope that people will join us to celebrate the work of the many talented FOBs we are lucky to have here on Cape Ann.

For FOBs who have not spoken to us about submitting work for the show please contact us or just come on by the studio.

Contact:

Cape Ann Giclee
20 Maplewood Ave
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-546-7070
info@capeanngiclee.com

Pat Conant, alias Cammygrammy Represents! in Tuscon AZ

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Pat Conant, alias Cammygrammy, represents while visiting her daughter in Tucson, Arizona. Woke this morning to snow on the mountains in the desert. Nothing to compare to the storm in Gloucester. Bring on spring!!

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Sista Felicia Does St. Joseph’s Day Pasta For The Gloucester Times Taste of The Times

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

From The Gloucester Daily Times-

When Felicia was growing up this special recipe was prepared by her Aunt “FeFe“, Vincie and Uncle Mike (Militello). Now she makes it herself and passes along the family’s recipe secrets. The main ingredients are cauliflower, fava beans, and the ferns on top of the anise bulbs. In fact, since the grocers and supermarkets typically throw away this part of the plant before even putting it on the shelf, Felicia goes around each year to remind them to avoid that for this special week of St. Joseph’s Day so that she and others can properly make the dish.

Her aunt and uncle FeFe and Vincie used to create an alter every St. Joseph’s Day and that became very big, so big that many people came each year to pay their respects and eat some of the special pasta dish. The pasta sauce was served over home made St. Joseph fettuccini pasta. What made this St. Joseph Pasta is that all the flower used to prepare the feast was blessed by a priest the day before St. Joseph day. It was done, in fact, at a very special mass in Aunt FeFe and Uncle Vincie’s home in front of her alter. You cannot get much more authentic than that.

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You can read my buddy Heather Atwood’s article about Felicia and St Joseph’s Traditions here-

Feast of St. Joseph fare celebrates workers

Plum Island Houses Toppling Into Water Nothing New- 1976 Photo From Fred Bodin

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
Plum Island

Storm Damage, 1976 – Like Only Yesterday

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It’s been going on for a long time on Plum Island, MA, and elsewhere along coastal New England. I have a liking for Plum Island, because I surf fished there for years when I lived in Boston. When this hit the TV news, I drove right up and photographed this tragedy in 1976. I felt so, so bad for the folks who owned this vintage home. I believe it was owned by a Boston (Harvard?) professor. It had been there for many years. How many generations enjoyed delightful meals made on that old stove? Best of luck to those currently impacted, and to the rows of houses behind them.

Fredrik D. Bodin

Bodin Historic Photo

Community Photos 3/12/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Dwight Hebert submits-

Look close and you can see the resident on his deck eyeballing this wave

Bass Rocks March 9th 2013

Joey

Saw some storm photos on Good Morning Gloucester and thought we’d share a couple of post-storm Good Harbor Beach shots taken from the Blue Shutters on Saturday and Sunday. There are even more photos on our Facebook page and bloghttp://blueshuttersbeachblog.blogspot.com/

The good news – as you can see from the “sun rays “ shot, Good Harbor is as beautiful as ever after a tough few days.

Tony, Patty, Ed & AnnMarie

Blue Shutters Beachside Inn

Pat Morss submits-

Joey:  The storm was impressive, but the day after was awesome.  “Pat”

Spring Ride from John Wright

Hi Joey,
Took this pic a couple of years ago. A wasp floating on a whirly-gig going downstream.
A hint of Spring ..
Thanks and BTW I voted for GMG for BONS and saw the overwhelming results. It’s a slam dunk!
CONGRATS..
John

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Sandy Chadwick contributes-

Hi Joey

Love GMG.  Took a couple of photos this morning off of Atlantic Ave as the tide was coming in.  Don’t know if you can use them. I love all the beautiful photographs of Gloucester that readers contribute.

Sandy Chadwick

Atlantic Ave March 10, 2013View from Atlantic Avenue

Community Stuff 3/12/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

 

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On Cape Ann Profiles host Rich Sagall interviews David Tower, Steve Whittey and Neil Dineen, three Cape Ann wine makers.

David Tower, founder of a Massachusetts winery in the 1980’s with an annual production of 16,000 cases, now leads a small winemaking group that produces 2,000 bottles a year.  He has a Master’s degree in winemaking and two years apprenticeship in Germany’s wine country. He’s currently the chemistry teacher at Rockport High School.

Steve Whittey, a Gloucester native, is a West Point graduate and retired US Army Major. He is also a recently retired Rockport High School math teacher. As assistant winemaster, he aids Tower in the technical aspects of the winemaking and leads the wine crew.

Neil Dineen has been teaching history for 32 years, both in Virginia and Massachusetts. He is the current high school history teacher at Rockport High School. Involved with the wine group since 1996, he enjoys the people and the winemaking and says his extended family loves the gifts.Cape Ann Profiles can be seen on Cape Ann TV Channel 12 on Friday, March 15 at 10:30AM and 7:00PM and on Sunday, March 17 at 2:00PM. It repeats on Friday, March 22 at 10:30AM and 7:00PM and on Sunday, March 24 at 2:00PM

St Patty's Day at Seaport Grille

March 11th-17th  All Week

Corned Beef Dinner with Cabbage, Irish Soda Bread, Potatoes, Carrots, Turnip & Green Beer!

GREEN BEER

Come join the fun