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.

A Party to Remember GMG Christmas Party Pics From Fred Bodin

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Paul Morrison, Sushi King Dan Leahy, and Father Matthew Green attack the sushi brought by Mark McDonough from Lattitude 43. R Duck doesn’t like sushi.

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A great crowd  of 100+ at the GMG Christmas party at Bodin Historic Photo

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Theo MacGregor and Jerry Oppenheimer, FOB’s and FOG’s (Friends Of the Gallery)

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Sally Jackson, Brewmistress of the Boston Brewing Company (Sam Adams) and husband look at an 1884 map.

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An indication of a really good party- and this was only half way through.

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Fredrik D. Bodin

Bodin Historic Photo

info@BodinHistoricPhoto.com

Like us on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/BodinHistoricPhoto

Gloucester Gig Rowers Club 7:30 AM row last Tuesday From Janet Rice

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Janet Rice submits-

Gloucester Gig Rowers Club 7:30 AM row last Tuesday. -Brrrrr!

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Yeah, you can do this kind of stuff anywhere.  Nothing special at all. Winking smile

Joey Ciaramitaro, a blogger from Gloucester, Mass., called it “ridiculously disfigured” and “horribly disproportionate.”

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

New York Times, Front Page.  It’s What We Do.

Click here for the entire story

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Excerpt-

When Jonesport joined Beals to make a lobster trap tree on the island for the first time last year — it was 56 feet tall — Joey Ciaramitaro, a blogger from Gloucester, Mass., called it “ridiculously disfigured” and “horribly disproportionate.”

Mr. Ciaramitaro said he preferred his hometown’s tree, which stands about 35 feet, illuminating a plaza in the fishing city’s downtown. Each year, a local arts group invites children to decorate buoys as ornaments, which are auctioned off to raise money for the group. There are 353 on the tree this year.

“I think ours has a lot more soul in it than the other trees,” Mr. Ciaramitaro said. “It’s not just a bunch of traps all stacked up.”

Gloucester is believed to have started the tradition of the large lobster trap tree when it built its first one in 2001. Janice Lufkin Shea, who was a Gloucester shopkeeper at the time, was frustrated that Main Street had no holiday display. She saw a tiny lobster trap tree in someone’s yard and thought a bigger version would be perfect for downtown.

Legend has it that when people in Rockland, Me., learned of it, they decided they had to have one, too.

Click here for the rest of the story at The New York Times Website

I mean was there ever any question?  Last year’s fair and balanced poll proved out the numbers without a shadow of a doubt- the Gloucester Lobster Trap Tree Is Clearly the Most Beautiful.   Especially when you factor in the love and care from Art Haven and 353 sweet children who pulled together to adorn our tree with community messages and incredible art work.  You see, Gloucester isn’t just one dimensional.  Sure we have a great fishing community but it is so much more.  The Arts, The Food Scene, The Literary Scene, we’re not just a one dimensional fishing town.  We’ve got it all!

The Gloucester Lobster Trap Tree Has Been Constructed and Adorned With Buoys Hand Painted With Love and Special Messages Of Peace, Joy and Hope By The Children Of Gloucester.  And then there are the sterile generic boring trees erected by prisoners of the Maine criminal system who have been incarcerated for unspeakable crimes against the elderly and sick and destitute.

We’ve Got God On Our Side.  The Results Of The Poll Were Inevitable.

The numbers don’t lie, here’s the poll-

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Nice That The Bean’s Buoy Was Featured In The Article-

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Here’s the Bean painting her buoy last week at Art Haven-

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Community Stuff Sunday

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
Ralph Bates, of Manchester, Heats Things Up at The Open Door

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Julie LaFontaine writes-

Hi Joey,
I am excited to share some news with you and the GMG readers! The Open Door received a generous donation of $8.000 from Ralph Bates, of Manchester, to replace and and install a double-convection oven for the Community Meals kitchen. The oven is a Turbofan Convection oven that will speed up cooking times in the kitchen and make meal time more efficient.

This generous gift came at a time when the ovens that had served the kitchen for more than fifteen years finally gave out.
"Ralph Bates has a quick wit and a heart of gold," said Julie LaFontaine, "Through the years, he has shown up just when we needed him most."
Over the years Ralph Bates has also provided a commercial refrigerator and a gas range for The Open Door’s kitchen. More than 40 groups from the community use the kitchen each year between 15,000 and 18,000 meals are prepared in the kitchen each year to guests needing food and companionship.
Dressed in a Red Sox hat and jacket, Ralph Bates joked as he posed for his photo between Kenn Taber, the Community Meals manager, and Julie LaFontaine, executive director, but he was serious when he said, "It just makes me feel good to know I am helping others."

The mission of The Open Door is to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. We use practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in need, and to engage others in the work of building food security.

Pictured left to right: Kenn Taber, The Open Door Community Meals manager, Ralph Bates, of Manchester, Julie LaFontaine, The Open Door executive director

Julie LaFontaine

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT!!!!! Are You A FOB? GMG Christmas Party December 17th at Bodin Historic Photo

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I’m just gonna put this out there that if you consider yourself a FOB you had better show up for our killer First Ever OFFICIAL GMG CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!!!!

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Even youse Jews and Buddhas can come by Smile

We’re gonna celebrate it all, Kwanza, spinnin the dradel, all that fun shit!

I’m springing for the Sebastians Pizza, bring a jug of booze or some beer, we will have cups and ice and we’re gonna have a good time.

EJ and Sharon will have their calendars for sale!

I’ll also bring a large stack of the new black Stickas to pass out.

Come eat my food, get a sticka, have a drink and revel in all the good GMG Vibes!

December 17th

7:00PM

Bodin Historic Photo

82 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. (978) 283-2524. info@bodinhistoricphoto.com

I can’t wait to see everyone at the Christmas Party.

Oh, and for those who are new around here-

FOB=Friend Of the Blog

Go See! The Lobstah Crackah Ballet

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

All right let me just spell it out for you.

You could buy tickets to Boston’s Nutcracker and spend $40 (if you’re lucky) on parking, $74 for nosebleed seats, per ticket for a family of four and refreshments, say conservatively speaking $50 for a total of $386.  To see something that has absolutely zero relevance to your lives.

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Orrrrrrrrrr, you could bring your family to the Annie At Blackburn and see The Lobstah Crackah Ballet performed by locals and featuring a Lobster and my favorites- super crazy menacing seagulls who poop all over the stage along with a whole bevy of other sea creatures.  For a teeny tiny fraction of that price!

We went night before last and Snoop Maddie Mad and The Bean have not stopped talking about it.  It’s a ballet, so know that up front so there are no words but there is a ton of action and unlike The Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker where it costs you $74 for the worst seats in the house PER TICKET you could go to The Lobstah Crackah Ballet for a mere $15 (suggested donation) per ticket.

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So again $386 to go see the Nutcracker Ballet in Boston vs $60 to See Seagulls Poop all over the stage at The Annie!!!

I say go with the Poop all the way and that will leave you precisely $326 left over to spend on Christmas presents downtown!

Not to mention that the seating at the Annie puts you on top of the action instead of needing a set of those stupid  mini binoculars to possibly catch a glimpse of the action at The Boston Ballet from the cheap seats.  Duh, No-Brainer.

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If you bring your family I highly suggest going to Giuseppe’s downstairs from the Annie,the food was fantastic, the service top notch and you can grab one of their specialty pizzas and a couple of kids meals and be out of there for under $50.

Here are some pics from our great night in GTown!

Dinner at Giuseppe’s-

Giuseppe’s Special Pizza

Chicken Fingers, the good kind

On To The Annie!

Henry

For more info check out the website-http://www.theannie.org/

Who could resist this face?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Rich Sagall writes-

Joey,

Perhaps you can use this picture. It’s our Corgi Dashiell. When I lay down he will crawl onto my stomach and plob his head down on m chest asking to have his head rubbed.

Rich

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Community Stuff Saturday

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Salvation Army Notes From Da Godmuddah- Sefatia

Hello again,

As we approach the end of the year 2011 and we are thank full for what we have, there are some who are struggling, let me explain. I have been a volunteer for the Salvation Army Gloucester Unit now for almost 15 years, since I started at AGH 02/10/1997. Thur S/Army we have helped so many with different things, food, utilities, prescriptions, this year I have notice how the working class has no help, especially those who become sick but plan on returning to their jobs, so I took it a pond myself to approach the S/Army and ask if I can help Cancer Patients, if a person is doing chemotherapy or radiation etc and they are out on medical leave if they are the lucky ones will get short term disability 60% of their pay if partner takes a medical leave its no pay, their house hold expenses add up , there is not Food Stamps, Fuel Assistance, Masshealth or help at all, they are being penalized because they still have a job or because they have savings as small as it may be and they are living off of their savings. So what can the S/Army do they approved for me to help these families, give them up to $300 food vouchers, help with utilities. Also we are going to help over 17 families up to again $300 per family for the Holidays, Great News, what I am asking is so far this has almost taken all of our Gloucester Unit budget $15,000 so far, so I am asking my friends if they want to donate and keep it local, yes all of your donation will remain here in Gloucester as long as you put in the memo.. GLOUCESTER UNIT… it all comes back to help our community, I have helped some from others, we made them Gloucester like the mother and baby both with cancer, unfortunately the baby passed away 12/13/11 but knowing we helped in a small way, its a little comfort so please its all tax deductible, if your in the giving spirt and you can then please do, if you want to donate anything else to these families like oil, etc please just let me know we would like to have someone say will match dollar for dollar in oil, or clothing or food, anything is a help, especially when there is no other help once again the WORKING CLASS has to pay but gets nothing back in return. Thank you for you time and forgive my long letter.

God bless Sefatia

REMEMBER GLOUCESTER UNIT ON THE MEMO LINE, GUARANTEE’S IT STAYS LOCAL.

Shot In Gloucester- Letters to Annabelle Episode 2

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

On Annabelle’s 16th birthday she receives a letter from her father who has been missing for almost a year. Now mysterious strangers are after her and the only way to save herself is to discover who she really is.
This is part 2 of 5. Catch all the episodes as they premiere online throughout the month of December.
Watch Episode 1 here

INFO: LTA is a no-budget/non profit web series brought to you by Independent filmmakers from the New England area. The entire series was shot primarily in Gloucester, MA over the course of 5 days. It was shot on the Canon 5D Mark II and 60D.
LIKE the fan page for all the updates: facebook.com/LettersToAnnabelleSeries
EPISODE 3 premieres Wed. Dec. 21st 2011

2011 GMG Shop Gloucester Initiative- Bodin Historic Photo

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

YOU ARE INVITED!!!!!
THE GMG CHRISTMAS PARTY!
SATURDAY NIGHT-BODIN HISTORIC PHOTO!

Come By Any Time.  Starts at 7 But Fred Is Open All Day

December 17th

7:00PM

Bodin Historic Photo

82 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. (978) 283-2524.

Isabel Natti Tribute Day II

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Isabel Natti in the doorway of The Sara Elizabeth Shop where she been created for decades.

I’m not sure how to express how fortunate I feel to have been able to capture the interviews with Isabel and document so much of what it is that makes our community special.

These videos belong in an archive somewhere.

Video 1- Isabel Natti At The Sara Elizabeth Shop

Video 2- Isabel Natti At The Sara Elizabeth Shop Part II

Video 3 Isabel Natti at The Sara Elizabeth Shop Part III

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Isabel Natti Squid Factory Print At The Sara Elizabeth Shop

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Isabel Natti Cape Ann Postcard At Alexandra’s Bread

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Lanes Cove Fish Shack Poster–2011 From Les Bartlett

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The 2011 Lanes Cove Poster is available. It retails for $25.00 with $5.00 donated back to the Fund Raising for the Lanes Cove Fish Shack.
Here is what it looks like: the images span from 1880 up to last December’s Nor’easter which ripped a hole in the Breakwater.
The poster measures 12 inches by 18 inches, printed on high gloss paper. I am printing on demand. (Note: free shipping in US)

Please e-mail Les Bartlett at lesadept@me.com or call him on his cell at 978-325-2965

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