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My View of Life on the Dock
LUFKIN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER JANUARY 10TH AT PERIWINKLES RESTAURANT
The Sarah Lufkin Memorial Scholarship Fund will hold its 13th annual benefit fund-raiser on January 10th from 6 to 10 p.m. at Periwinkles Restaurant in Essex.
The Lufkin family will host the event which will be filled with friends, food, music, raffles and a silent auction will be held to benefit the Sarah Lufkin Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The recipient of this year’s award will also be announced during the event. The scholarship was set up shortly after Sarah’s death in 1997 to award money to students who have attended Essex Elementary School and who will be studying in a field that has a direct effect on children.
"We want students who will be working with children to benefit from the scholarship, in essence, continuing what she was unable to do," according to Sarah’s sister, Kim Lufkin. "Sarah returned to Salem State part time after finishing two years of chemotherapy and made the dean’s list that semester."
All food for the evening will be donated by local restaurants and caterers while the staff at Periwinkles will donate their time and energy. Live music will be performed by Joe Militello and there will be a raffle, a silent auction, and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $25 each and will be available at the door.
For ticket information or information about how to donate an item please contact Sue Lufkin (978) 768-7122, Laurie Lufkin (978) 985-6532 or Kim Lufkin (978) 853-0845.
Hey Joey,
On New Year’s Eve I was headed over to Horizon Chinese Restaurant to pick up our New Year’s Eve feast, when I came across this bird literally standing in the middle of the road. I almost ran it over, and couldn’t tell what it was at first – I thought it was road debris. I stopped the car and got out to check what it was, and when I saw the feet it kind of freaked me out a little bit. This bird did not flinch a bit even though it was fully lit with high beams and fog lights from my car which was only a few feet away, so I figured it was sleeping. I snapped a couple of photos of it with my iPhone, then I nudged it with my toe a couple of times before it woke with a startle and scurried off.
The bird’s behavior was pretty strange so I submitted it to the Mass Audubon and they determined it was a rare sighting for this area, and the bird was a young Purple Gallinule that hatched in 2011. The one I saw looked like this: http://tgreybirds.com/PurpleGallinule5.jpg When they are full grown they look like this: http://tgreybirds.com/PurpleGallinule1.jpg
There’s a lot of concern for the well being of this animal because it’s not equipped to survive the cold of the North, so if you see it around – report it to the Mass Audubon at mass_audubon@massaudubon.org ASAP.
Enjoy,
~Bill O’Connor
North Shore Kid
Ann writes-
Hi Joey. Yesterday I was wandering through a local (Liberty, MO) flea market and from across the room a dusty old postcard caught my eye. I could hardly believe it when I picked it up and read the caption, "Surf at Eastern Point, Gloucester, Mass."! I especially love the sentiment written on the back: "The ocean is wonderful. I never tire of looking at it." I couldn’t agree more.
Happy New Year to you and all GMGers! I look forward to more great coverage of all things Gloucester in 2012!
Good Morning Joey,
Here are some shots of people and the Rocky Neck Plunge.
Happy New Year!
Betty Pijut -Rocky Neck
The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present As the Wind Turns or There is No Such Thing as Plain Sailing: Mishap and Mayhem on the High Seas on Saturday, January 7 at 3:00 p.m. Stephanie Buck, Librarian/Archivist at the Cape Ann Museum, will discuss the experiences of three trading captains at the turn of the 18th century as told by themselves. From lonely hearts to pirate raids to foul weather and fair – there was no such thing as plain sailing – just mishap and mayhem on the high seas. This program is free and open to the public. To make a reservation or for more information, please call Jeanette Smith at 978-283-0455, x11 or email jeanettesmith@capeannmuseum.org.
STEPHANIE BUCK is the Librarian/Archivist here at the Cape Ann Museum. She was educated in England and was awarded a degree from London University before coming to this country. She is married (to the museum’s photo-archivist Fred Buck) and the mother of three and grandmother of seven. She retired about fifteen years ago – from her long term position of general manager for the Cape Ann Food Co-op – but finding the lure of history and the challenge of detective work too great – she began volunteering in the archives department of both the City and this museum. In 2004 she joined the Cape Ann Museum staff as librarian and archivist while continuing her volunteer work in the City Archives. Since then she has authored and co-authored several books and papers and given lectures on such topics as The Art of Gossip and the Life of Rev. John White.
Funding for this program was made possible through a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and to contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.
The Cape Ann Museum is located at 27 Pleasant Street in Gloucester. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Museum is closed during the month of February, on Mondays, and on major holidays. Admission is free for Cape Ann residents during the month of January. The Museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information please call: (978) 283-0455. Additional information can be found online at http://www.capeannmuseum.org
Built right here on Cape Ann!!!!!!
The NightSUP was designed by Tyler, Dominic and Sylvie from Cape Ann SUP.
We showed our designs to Keith Natti over at Twin Lights Glassing. He scratched his head and looked at us like we were crazy….but in the end, so was he. Keith’s attention to detail has made this project even better than any of us hoped. We’ve tested these boards in lots of conditions and we’ve even had Harbor Seals use the light from the boards to hunt the fish below us.
So before the barage of Shark comments, We just want to say this: If YOU are the largest predator in your’ waters, then you need a SUP with LEDs. You will see your’ own waterways and wildlife in a brand new and magical way.
Double Waterproof LEDs and a rechargable batteries are the recipe for a whole new way to view nature and Paddleboard more safely at night time. This is the custom creation of a surf punk and a sup kook who put aside the chatter to come up with something RAD.

More on her blog: http://squamcreativeservices.com/photography/photography-blog/.
Happy New Year!
Hi Joey,
My family and I spend a couple of weeks on the Mill River every August, but during the time I’m on the other side of the cut, I look forward to reading your no bull, honest and upfront blog. I grew up in Pigeon Cove and now live in the Boston area, not too far from Gtown, but far enough that I can’t take a walk along the back shore everyday.
Happy New Year and looking forward to more Gloucester news in 2012.
Sincerely,
Amy
Arlington MA
Katie and Dan Desmond of Gloucester, MA welcome their new son, Brady Matthew born at Beverly Hospital on January 1, 2012, at 3:03 a.m., 9 pounds, 1 oz., 21-3/4-inches long.
Proud Grandparents:
Jim and Betty Gomes of Boxford, MA
Richard and Roberta Desmond of Salem,MA
Great-Grandmother (100 years old) Catherine Desmond of Revere, MA, will be visiting Brady today!
In addition to his Grandparent and Great-Grandmother, Brady has a large number of cousins, aunts, uncles and extended family to welcome him into the New Year.