
Breaking News: Tugboat High and Dry At Gloucester Ma State Fish Pier

My View of Life on the Dock

Sista Felicia, Beasley Amanda and The Mrs will be manning the GMG Booth at The Bazaar (So happy they brought back the bazaar name from “Sidewalk Days).
(perfect for Iced Coffee, Iced Tea, Lemonade, Sunny D and Rum, You Name it, It Tastes Better loaded up with ice in these bad boys)
![]()
-“This Is Gloucester” DVD Review From A Biased FOB Linda Colman
Posted on December 12, 2011 by Joey C
Linda writes-
Hi Joey!
Here’s my review of your “This Is Gloucester” DVD. I’ve watched it twice. First time was the day I received it in the mail. Since I’m your target audience I decided to watch it a second time with one of my BFF’s, Judy, who’s never been to Gloucester and has never seen the blog. Not being an FOB like myself, I figured she’d be able to provide the objective viewpoint that I lack since I’m a lover of Gloucester and a rah rah fan of GMG. I’m biased for sure.
Let me begin by saying that the DVD cover is really cool. Beth Swan has a great eye for design and did a fantastic job. Appealing right away. Beginning the DVD with “Gloucester at Dawn” and the beautiful music was a great way to set the tone and my friend Judy said she didn’t know Gloucester was such a beautiful place. BOOM!
I imagine that deciding what to include and what to leave out of the DVD from all the GMG material must have been the hardest part of making it. I don’t know how you managed to do it, but you wound up with a really well balanced presentation of the essence of Gloucester- the beauty of the place, the fishing industry, the history, festivals and the passionate people who call it home. A really great mix.
The only trouble I had with the DVD, and believe me I realize that this is totally personal (although Judy had the same reaction), was the appearance of the “Rare Golden Sea Robin”. I remember seeing it on the blog and it was bad enough looking at that thing on my laptop, but on my big TV screen? Yikes!! I can see how it might be a big deal to land one of these horrifying creatures but it’s a TERRIBLE thing to look at. Judy gasped, covered her eyes and I had to tell her when it was over so she could keep watching. Just when we were regaining our composure, THERE IT WAS AGAIN!!! It made an unannounced and unexpected second appearance after “The Back Shore” chapter!! At that moment Judy fled from the room and wouldn’t watch any more.
The people chapters (as opposed to the creature chapters) appealed to me the most. I enjoyed “Building the Greasy Pole Shrine” because of the obvious passion of the people involved in its construction, “Salting Herring At Cape Seafoods” because… well I don’t know, I just liked watching it… and the “St Joseph Novena” chapters that finished off the DVD were the best. The people who live in Gloucester truly love their city and it shows!
So there’s my review, Joey. It’s yours to do with as you please. Run it on the blog, trash it completely, edit it as you see fit, whatever. Oh, one more thing. I think an introduction by you at the very beginning would have been great.
Thanks a million for putting the DVD together! Linda
![]()
Copy and photos from Maggie Rosa
Today, on a beautiful summer’s morning, members of the City Hall Restoration Phase II Building Committee took to the staging to review the ongoing restoration.
We were impressed by what has been achieved recently.
IMG_2134.JPG
The restored cornice work in the final color but waiting for the brickwork to be painted in the same color
Not many people can say that they have seen the bell from this angle and so close up
I love the "pixelated" look that the mesh gives the photo.
Approaching noon on July 30 2012
St Ann’s was shining brightly as was the repaired ventilator.
Love the reflections offered by the new copper-clad ventilator.
Another "pixelated" view
The big tower says to the smaller tower – I’m so pleased that you are receiving the good care that I received a few years ago.
Thank you, citizens of Gloucester.
Long may we look over you.
Couldn’t resist a self portrait!
Yet another shiny reflection
Thanks Dan Goldthwait for Da Sticka
Dan writes-
I just read the bicycle rant and plan on mailing you the sticker I had made for my car. I live in southern California but was born and raised on the Maine coast and I simply lose my squash at the spandex mafia that thoroughly dominates my neighborhood every weekend. Gigantic batch of asshats who form a massive group every weekend morning making it entirely impossible to get around near our house. And boy are they uppity. Blow through stop signs, traffic lights and as you said, manage to find themselves dead center of the road going 7 with no intention of moving over.
I drink coffee. Lots of coffee.
How to keep the pearly whites staying pearly white after drinking all that coffee? No need to get expensive dentistry teeth whitening treatments. That’s for suckas.
Floss, use Arm and Hammer Advanced White toothpaste with peroxide and follow up by swishing some hydrogen peroxide around in your mouth for thirty seconds after you floss and brush in the morning and before you go to bed.
The big jug of Hydrogen Peroxide at CVS was $1.49 and will last you a long while.
#Boom!
Some of my best memories were listening to Satch Kerans as lead singer of The Catalinas at The Kaloust house for our 3rd of July Bash’s we used to have.
Satch’s new band The Satch Kerans Band played for a great cause in Project Sunshine
Satch writes-
Hi Joe - this is a link to an article about a benefit we played for Project Sunshine. Project Sunshine provides funding for summer recreation activities for the children of 157 homeless families who have been placed in hotels or motels in Danvers. It’s an incredibly important cause.
Read about it in this article-
By Kathy McCabe
Globe Staff / July 29, 2012
The cool spray of the fire hose soaked youngsters in the noon sun at the annual Fireman’s Muster, one of the hottest events of summer at Endicott Park.
Hundreds of kids from the town’s playgrounds and recreation programs descended on the park’s wide, green fields for a day of old-fashioned firefighting fun.
“We’re going to get, in the end, soaking, soaking wet,” said 10-year-old Isabel, dripping wet in a bright yellow T-shirt with “Sunshine Club” printed on the back.
The finale featured kids and counselors frolicking in a giant pile of sudsy fire foam, the ’50s hit “Splish Splash” blaring over the public address system.
“You look good in a beard,” said Tereza, 12, giggling as she lathered up the face of Chris Roy, director of Project Sunshine.
“You think so?” said Roy, breaking into a smile.
Project Sunshine, a free summer recreation program for homeless kids living in Danvers hotels, has become it’s own shining star. Over the past two summers, the program has received a statewide honor, attracted nearly $40,000 in private funding, and won the hearts and hands of volunteers from Danvers to Marblehead to Brockton.
“It’s a communitywide effort, with a tremendous outpouring of volunteerism,” said Town Manager Wayne Marquis. “I think people feel proud that their town cares enough to reach out to our residents who are in need. You can count me in that group.”
Read the article in entirety here
Amy Clayton writes-
Hey Joey,
My sister Robyn and I just came from a weekend at the Lowell Folk Festival sharing our crazy Fiesta hats. We were invited by the curator of festival. The theme of the festival was from head to toe and we were honored to be invited. But we couldn’t just go with our hats and expect people to understand what we do, so we had to bring St.Peter’s Fiesta with us…lol. We brought with us a 5ft statue of St. Peter ( my sister made) a wooden cut out of St.Peter that people could take pictures with and many pictures on foam board of the different aspects of the fiesta. I handed out over 350 Gloucester visitor guides and St.Peter pins. We had so much fun and people were in awe of our community celebration and of course the hats.
I am emailing you this to see if you could share this with GMG viewers, I wish I had thought of it before we went, a press release was sent to the newspaper but they nothing went in. So I was thinking you could let people know about our great opportunity to share our great community with people from all over.
Here is the website that had a write up about us…. http://www.lowellfolkfestival.org/crafts.html, and I included some pictures.
Where it all began back on April 2, 2012-
Posted on April 2, 2012 by Joey C
The Mrs just put up this great wall of frames. Over/under on the time before any pictures get placed in the frames is 2 months and I’ve got the over. What cha got?
Update: July 30, 2012
When working around the lobster tanks all day long during the summer I don’t wear my heavy winter muck boots which keep everything super dry. I wear lower cut boots which inevitably get water splashed inside them and my feet sweat due to the heat.
So I was in Nelson’s buying some new work gloves and stumbled upon these FoxRiver sock liners which claim to wick and dry your feet.
At $5.98 a pair I didn’t want to buy too many just in case it was a gimmick.
If you suffer from having damn uncomfortable wet feet all day long that these sock liners work the nuts.
Dry and comfy and that makes my days a whole lot more comfy when I’m on my feet all day long.
Well worth the $5.98. I bought two more pairs this morning.
Get ‘em at Nelsons on Main Street
248 Main Street Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-5675
Leon Poindexter declares the Tea Party Ships finished. On board both vessels is a mix of robots and actors reenacting life at sea in colonial times.
Photos © Kathy Chapman 2012
Made with fresh lobster meat, not canned, not frozen. No lettuce, no filler, Made The Right way
Hi Joe,
As of this morning we have room for two more full foursomes and a few singles. Those interested in a fun round of golf with with a great group of guys, and donating (through your participation) to the scholarship fund set up for Aran Patrican’s son, Thomas should contact Rob Bouchie at PatricanMemorial@gmail.com to secure your spot.
Inaugural
Patrican Memorial
Invitational Golf Tournament
Cape Ann Golf Course
Friday August 3, 2012
7:40am
A golf tournament will be held in the honor and remembrance of two great, respected individuals. Both Aran and Ryan Patrican passed on far too early in their lives, although their spirits will forever be with us all.
The golf tournament shall be a shotgun start, with a scramble format. It is expected that each group have one principal representative, responsible for payment, and coordinating the group. The $125.00 payment (per player) will include a full round of golf (18 holes), golf cart, and a full hot lunch. One should expect raffles, prizes, and plenty of laughs.
A generous amount of the group fee will be placed in the Thomas Patrican Educational Fund. Please respond as timely as possible, as half the group spots have already been filled.
The winning team with the lowest score card will have their names eternally etched upon the Patrican Memorial Cup, and they shall house the trophy until the following years event.
Team:
___________________ (Principal)
___________________
___________________
___________________
Please respond to: PatricanMemorial@gmail.com
Thank you,
JD Perry
The forecast wasn’t great for the Annisqaum Sea Fair’s Dinner on the Bridge: Severe Flood Warning with Heavy Rain and Thunder Storms. Nevertheless, we packed our rain gear with the wine and bug spray, hopped in the Jeep, and hoped for the best. We found light rain and stalwart locals lined up at the serving table, determined to get their dinners, support a good cause, and enjoy the final event of the 166th Annisquam Sea Fair.
Roy Moore’s Fish Shack catered the dinner. It started raining more heavily, but the staff didn’t break stride in serving up the food, which included fresh corn on the cob and potato salad, with either chicken or lobster.
When Janet and I sat down at a choice but wet table, I took a photo of my plate in front of the fantastic view of Lobster Cove. Fresh picked flowers and a fisherman added to sense of place – the feeling of being in Annisquam and on the island called Cape Ann.
I hadn’t even started on my lobster when fisherman Rick Taylor’s rod bend down to the water from a big bite. After a few minutes, he reeled in a large striped bass. Gloucester’s Tina Greel assisted in landing the fish, as she and her husband Terry (in the background eating corn on the cob) had tied up there on their boat.
The striper measured 34 inches – a beautiful fish! Rick generously gave the fish to Tina and Terry. Oh yeah, my lobster dinner was still hot and tasty, and the wine was cold and delicious. Rain? I didn’t even notice. What an incredible place we have here! It rains on your dinner, a large fish is caught 20 feet from your table, everyone is so friendly, and it’s a birthday night I’ll never forget.
The Annisquam Sea Fair’s Dinner on the Bridge: Next year, I’m in!
Fred Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street Gloucester, MA 01930 info@BodinHistoricPhoto.com
Like us on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/BodinHistoricPhoto

Anthony Marks submits-
Janet Rice submits-
Mother Nature creates awesome bouquets!
Ann Kennedy writes-
In Missouri our courteous wildlife will almost always pose for a photo shoot when they amble onto your property…as these guys did.
We’ll be in Gloucester soon, but I promise to leave my mom jeans, fanny pack, and coyote at home:-)
Melissa Cox submits-
Photo’s from The Hive Opening Saturday July 28th