Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Meet the chiefs at Gloucester UU Church November 26th

GAAC Has Moved!

After almost ten years at the St Paul Lutheran Church, the Gloucester Area Astronomy Club has started to outgrow the space, and we have moved our monthly meetings to the Lanesville Community Center, right up the street.

The Community Center has a lot of space to grow, all the amenities we’ll ever need, and a nice dark area outside where we can set up scopes before and after meetings. This is a real plus. Maybe in the warmer months we can even do some guerrilla astronomy there for the folks in and around Lanesville.

Come and see us in our new digs on December 14, our Christmas party! We’ll have door prizes, a new video from NASA on Saturn and the Cassini spacecraft, followed by a presentation by our own Steve K on what’s up in the winter sky. And of course there’ll be plenty of Christmas goodies to eat and lots of good conversation. GAAC charges no dues or fees. See you there at 8:00!

CAST Call For Actors-

Interested in acting? Want to participate in a twenty first century production of William Shakespeare’s "Julius Caesar"? Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe has several roles (from 18 years and up, male and female) still open in this tragedy about ambition, power, intrigue, and politics. The play will run the first week of March at the Gorton Theatre in Gloucester, with evening rehearsals in Rockport starting in December, breaking for the holidays and resuming in January. For more information and to arrange an interview, contact the director, Joseph Stiliano, at cast2008@prodigy.net  .

Schooner Adventure’s Holiday Tea

Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012 (1:30-4 pm) at the beautiful Inn Magnolia, 18 Norman Avenue, Gloucester (Magnolia).

Come enjoy tea tasting with Upton Teas (yes, there’ll also be coffee for those who must…), finger foods, live music, raffles and our Ship’s Store for holiday shopping.

Tickets are $10 per person at the door. For more info – call 978-281-8079, email bwelin@ schooner-adventure.org or go to www.schooner-adventure.org

Date: Tuesday, November 20 , 2012

Time:    8:30 to 11:00 a.m.                               Time:     2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Place:   Gloucester Marine Railways              Place:    Jodrey State Pier
            81 Rocky Neck Ave                                3 State Fish Pier

It’s not too late to get a flu shot – and if you need a tetanus shot or pneumonia shot, those are available as well.  Three vaccines, all FREE, for you and your family.  You don’t need health insurance to participate in the clinic.

Did you sign up for the 2013 Discover Gloucester Visitor Guide yet?

It would be a lot easier to print & fill out the insertion order if it was attached, right?!

Here it is:

Discover Gloucester Insertion Order 2013

We’re already working on the 5th edition of the very popular, digest-sized local Visitor Guide and your business should be in it, right alongside those who’ve already signed on.

100,000+ Visitor Guides will be printed and distributed locally; in our near and far drive markets, even Internationally. It also goes to trade shows; cruise ship passengers get it…it’s everywhere there are visitors!

Send in your insertion order and payment now to take advantage of the Early Bird Deal: FREE listing with a display or FREE highlighting of any basic or enhanced listing- ONLY UNTIL DECEMBER 1

Questions? Contact Linda Stockman stockmandesign@comcast.net         or Linn Parisi linn@SeaportGloucester.org

We wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. We all have so many reasons to be thankful. See you at the December 5th Holiday Award Party at Jalapenos!

Linn Parisi and the Discover Gloucester Board

Hello Joey,

Through our many connections in Gloucester, including our brother and sister, Officer Chris Frates and Erin Frates we have been introduced to your fantastic site about the comings and goings in your great town! 

Our family’s world was thrown upside down this year when our 27 year old son Peter was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Since March, we have rallied behind our remarkable son along with his many friends and our beloved community to help him spread awareness about this horrific disease.  The best way to learn about Pete, our family and our journey is to go to Pete’s website, www.petefrates.com .   There are many news items and newspaper articles there that have been written about our journey.

On Dec. 29^th our Gloucester friends are planning a Plunge 4 Pete at Good Harbor Beach and a post plunge party at Bass Rocks.  I have attached a flyer to invite people to plunge or just sponsor a plunger.  Any help publicizing this event you can assist with would be greatly appreciated. 

Sincerely,

John and Nancy Frates

Schooner Adventure introduces….

Skippy Finds Adventure

This beautifully illustrated children’s book tells the story of Schooner Adventure’s mascot of 15 years, Skippy, a wharf dog, who followed Adventure’s engineer aboard in 1936 and stayed for the rest of her life. Find out what life was like on Gloucester’s last dory fishing schooner through Skippy’s eyes. Meet members of the crew—Skippy’s family—and see what their daily work was like.

When Schooner Adventure retired from fishing in 1953, she was the last American dory fishing schooner on the Atlantic. A way of life died as this grueling method of fishing was replaced with more modern net fishing equipment, which required fewer crewmen onboard. Adventure spent the next 30 years taking passengers on windjamming trips out of Maine. In 1988, Captain Jim Sharp donated her to the people of Gloucester, returning her to her original home port. Today, a complete restoration of Adventure is nearing completion, bringing her back to her original fishing configuration. Now she serves as a living memorial to Gloucester’s master mariners, teaching new generations about Gloucester’s fishing history.

Skippy Finds Adventure was created under the direction of Adventure’s education coordinator, Beth Welin, and was generously funded by the Dusky Foundation. The creative team for Skippy Finds Adventure includes Gloucester residents, artist Rusty Kinnunen and writer Peter Cherry, as well as editor Ann Droppers, another North Shore resident. The book will be used in the “Skippy’s Adventure Program” geared for grades PK – 2 and joins Adventure’s other education programs (the Traveling Dory Program, the Working Waterfront Walking Tour, and the History Sharing Program) in helping bring to life the story of Gloucester’s fishermen and fishing industries over the ages.

Skippy Finds Adventure books and Skippy stuffed animals will be available at Schooner Adventure’s Holiday Tea at the Inn Magnolia (Dec 2. 1:30-4pm), in City Hall during the Middle Street Walk and soon at local stores! Adventure items may also be purchased through Schooner Adventure’s office (Fitz Henry Lane House on Harbor Loop). For more information about Schooner Adventure’s offerings, go to www.schooner-adventure.org or contact Beth Welin at 978-281-8079 or email bwelin@schooner-adventure.org.

Rotary Club of Rockport-Tree Lighting event

Rotary Club of Rockport Tree-Lighting Dinner

Saturday, December 1, 2012

4-8pm The Fish Shack Restaurant

21 Dock Square Rockport MA 01966

Watch the beautiful Rockport Christmas Tree Lighting, enjoy Christmas carols, and then join us for a delicious dinner!

Clam Chowder or Creamy Chicken Stew served in Bread Bowls, Salad, Dessert, and beverage.

$10.00 in advance or at the door.

Spaghetti and Meatballs for the kids w/dessert and Beverage

$5.00 in advance or at the door

For tickets in advance contact slovasco@bankgloucester.com or lwessel@bankgloucester.com

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Rockport to benefit the scholarship fund and other community service projects.

Saturday afternoon after Thanksgiving – 11/24/12 – 1-4pm

The Farm Bar & Grille, Essex

and the Sunny FishCakes’ Music Revue present –

*Rockin’ the Farm for Rockaway Beach*

BBQ, Blues and Brews to support rebuilding lives and communities in the wake of the flood and Super Storm Sandy.

We hope that if you are around for the holiday weekend, you will consider joining with family and friends for an afternoon of fine Farm food and beverages with local musicians Live Dead and special guests contributing their craft for this fundraising event. No cover charge – the Farm Bar & Grille will donate a generous amount of the proceeds to recovery efforts in the hardest hit areas of NYC.

Email KittCox@gmail.com for additional information

Addison Gilbert Hospital to assist The Cape Ann Military Family Support Group

The Cape Ann Military Family Support Group will be preparing holiday packages for our military serving and items will also be sent to military hospitals.

During the month of November, a collection of items will be taken and provided to the support group for the gift baskets they will be assembling.

Needed items include:

Candy canes, breakfast bars, pre-package cookies, Lollipops, bar soap ChapStick, roll-on deodorant,toothbrushes, toothpaste, Handy-wipes, wet-naps, Band-aids, Dental floss, nail files, hand towels,writing paper, writing pads, Ziploc bags, Magazines (Auto, Men’s Health, People), Crossword Puzzles,Movies for DVD players.

Containers are located inside the Fisher Lobby of Addison Gilbert Hospital, 298 Washington Street, Gloucester, for those who would like to donate items that will gratefully be received.