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.
2011 GMG Shop Gloucester Initiative- The Villiage Silversmith
Another day- another merchant featured in our annual Holiday push to bring you more reasons to shop local.
Save The Date For The GMG Christmas Party December 17th & GMG Holiday Gifts
First Ever OFFICIAL GMG CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!!!!
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.
It’s been an incredible year of highs for the team, between our killer Fiesta coverage, taking home CBS Boston’s Best Blog award, the success at the GMG Gallery Khan Studio at Rocky Neck, just killing all the local coverage between the fishing, downtown, business and arts community, helping some locals earn special recognition and oh so much more, it is now time to come together and celebrate all the goodness that we’ve collectively been able to do- TOGETHER!
I’ll have “This is Gloucester DVD’s there if you want to buy one (or ten), EJ and Sharon will have their calendars there as well.
I’ll also brig a large stack of the new black Stickas to pass out.
Order Joey’s This Is Gloucester DVD By Clicking Here
Order Sharon’s Cape Ann Wall Calendar Here
Order EJ’s Babson Boulders Calendars Here and Gloucester Fisherman Calendar Here
Order Vickie Van Ness’s Celebrate Gloucester Music DVD Here
Linda Klein Has Some Nice Things To Say
From Minnesota to Gloucester
Joey
Hello from Stillwater, Minnesota. My daughter attended Emerson College in Boston, and when I visited her and rented a home on Salt Island Road in Gloucester, I fell in love with your city. She graduated in 2009, but ever since that first trip in 2005, I have rented the house for one week every year. December 11 to 19 is my week for this year, and I am very excited.
I follow GMG every day and vicariously pretend that I am truly a "resident" and know all the people in the stories and photos. I am a writer (mostly about cancer care) and would like to visit the Writer’s Center when I am there. After years of writing non-fiction, I am finally at work on a novel …. and its setting is …. Gloucester.
I was especially touched by your story commemorating the 10 year anniversary of the loss of the Starbound. When I saw the photo of the freighter that hit them, my heart sank. I have watched these ships come into the harbor in Duluth, MN, from across the Great Lakes and cannot imagine seeing one of them coming toward me. My grandfather was a fisherman in Sweden and Finland before emigrating to America. I am drawn to these stories.
I was also touched when you paid homage to the folks at the facility where your Dad is living. I lost my mom to Alzheimers after she lived for 9 years in just such a place. I know how difficult it is.
Thanks for indulging my babbling, and I hope to meet you when I am there. Would it be terribly brash to stop in and spend some time at your Christmas party on Saturday night? For one night, I could pretend to be "one of you."
Warm regards,
Linda Klein, Town Clerk
May Township
Joey writes:
Linda of course you are invited to come hang with us. Any FOB is and from what you’ve written you sure as hell qualify as a FOB!
Pleasant St Panorama
Harmeling Physical Therapy Tip of the Month
Tip of the Month: December
Although this has been a “balmy” November, we all know that the snow and ice is just around the corner.
According to statistics, 80% percent of slips and falls are due to snow and ice with more than 50 percent occurring between 6 a.m. and noon. (https://www.wcfgroup.com/sites/default/files/slips.pdf)
With this in mind, here are a few exercises to improve your balance before those cold winter mornings come along:
EXERCISES SHOULD BE DONE IN A CORNER OR DOORWAY TO ENSURE SAFETY
1. Stand with one foot in front of the other (heel to toe), hold this position for as long as you can without looking at your feet. Repeat x10
2. Slowly march in place bringing your knees as high as they can go. Key is SLOW march. Repeat x30 lifts on each leg
3. Stand on one leg. Hold as long as you can. Repeat x10.
4. Fold a bath towel into a large square. Stand with feet touching and shift weight onto your toes, back to your heels and side to side SLOWLY. Practice this for 3-4 minutes
5. Walk heel to toe down a hallway, using the walls for support if needed
Have a safe and slip-free winter!
To find out more about Harmeling Physical Therapy please visit www.harmelingpt.com . Our Gloucester clinic is located at:
Blackburn Industrial Park
8 Blackburn Center
(978) 283-0888
Sheela Zerilli, DPT
Lanes Cove Fish Shack Photo From Kathy Chapman
Pearl Harbor from Skip Montello
Hi Joey,
I visited Pearl Harbor on Sunday morning, December 7 in 2008 and I put together this slideshow of the National Memorial. If possible, feel free to share it with the GMG community on this day, December 7. 2011, 70 years later.
Thanks, Skip
Flying With the Ducks From John Wheeler
Sista Felicia’s Sugar Cranberries Recipe on The Gloucester Times Taste of The Times
To Felicia Mohan these sugared cranberries are something that she places along with nuts all around her holiday house. She says that they are “Where sweet meets tart, and a family favorite.”
The first thing you have to do is sort a bag of cranberries by removing any that are bruised or overripe, setting aside. Heat 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar to make a simple syrup. Place the cranberries in the heated syrup and place in the refrigerator overnight. The cranberries are going to become slightly soft and some may even split open.
The next day strain your cranberries and place them in a pie dish filled with superfine sugar and roll around until well covered. Remove them carefully with a wire mesh ladle so that you do not disturb them very much. The less you touch them the better they will look.
Click here to read or print out the recipe at the Gloucester Daily Times Taste of The Times
Fort Square Café Features Holiday Gifts In Addition To Fantastic Food and Sparkling Conversation!
As I’ve stated ad nauseum there is no where I’ve ever been that has as many incredible breakfast joints as we have here. So to be in business in Gloucester serving breakfast you have to be special.
…and the Fort square Café is just that- very special. With Rusty making EVERYONE feel welcome the way only he can work a room to Heidi’s incredibly creative menu (yesterday she was making peppermint cheesecake) the food is always outstanding.
If you want to get a real feel for the people of this town just belly on up to the breakfast counter and let the master of ceremonies Rusty entertain you while Heidi works her magic at the helm of the kitchen.
Soooo good!
Z I G G Y
Community Stuff
Tobin Dominick writes-
Dear Friends… it is time again for our annual Holiday Open House. Please join us for a little holiday cheer at our new Pool Bar – featuring some signature cocktails. Also we have invited some local vendors to give you even more gift giving ideas. Swimming is free for the evening, and we are offering some deep discounts on our Pool Day Passes, as well as our new Punch Cards (6 and 12 sessions) to be used whenever you can come to the pool. Both make great gifts, stocking stuffers, and more.
Please pass this along to all that you know…our pool, spa services, and more await you!
The City Hall Ball originally scheduled for 7pm Saturday evening is being postponed to later in the Winter 2012.
Here’s the Revised Program.
Smoking Cessation Program – Program at Addison Gilbert Hospital on January 9
The American Lung Association’s "Freedom From Smoking Program" is an
eight-session group smoking cessation program. Participants will learn a positive approach to becoming a non-smoker. Classes incorporate several different smoking cessation techniques including relapse prevention, weight control, stress management, behavior modification, nicotine replacement therapy and group support.
The Gloucester program will begin on Monday, January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 1, 6 and 13 at Addison Gilbert Hospital, Longan Room, 298 Washington St, Gloucester (Washington Street entrance).
The cost: $125.00 ($100 for employees of Northeast Health System)
For further details or to register, please call: 978-304-8020.
Join us in Dowtown Rockport this Friday Night from 4 to 8pm for an evening of holiday Shopping. Shops and galleries will be open offering a variety of exclusive promotions, raffles and free giveaways. Join us for light refreshments and a unique gift shopping experience, all conveniently located in downtown Rockport. As part of the evening’s festivities, Rockport Festivals will be hosting a Holiday drop-off center for the Open Door Food Pantry from 4 to 8 pm. Bring your donations of non-perishable goods to the Old Firehouse Trust and enjoy hot coffee and homemade treats as you shop downtown. Santa will be helping take in donations from 5 to 6 pm and then be visiting the participating shops!
The Art Room Boutique
Translating Madeleine: Boo I Went Poop
Dawn from La Provence Adopts A New Family Member Because Of GMG
Joey,
Our newest family member Koji with his big sister Abbie! We went to "look" at the puppies because we’re always seeing the cutest animals posted on GMG but we fell in love with Koji and had to take him home.
thanks!
dawn
When in Rockport you must visit La Provence!
Click the picture below to check out La Provence website. you can also follow La Provence on twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/LaProv
2011 GMG Shop Gloucester Initiative- The House of The Raven
Best Use of Da Sticka Yet!
Pierre – Pet of the Week
My name is Pierre. I am a four-month-old female pointer mix.
I am at the Cape Ann Animal Aid (CapeAnnAnimalAid.com), a non- profit shelter at 260 Main Street in Gloucester. I am black-and-white and will be medium in size. I have lots of energy and need a little training; but I am very smart and willing to learn. Please stop down to the shelter and visit me and the other dogs and cats who are in need of a loving home.
The staff here appreciate donations to our Building Fund, but they also appreciate donations of clean towels, blankets, paper towels, large trash bags and gas cards for our van.
Please stop down and visit me soon and remember, although my name is Pierre, I do not speak French!
BASE Gloucester Open House
On Wednesday, December 7, 2011, the seafood display auctions in New Bedford and Boston, and their existing seafood off loading facility in Gloucester will re-launch as BASE New England, a group of seafood display locations that will allow buyers worldwide to purchase New England fish electronically via the daily BASE online auction. This will help ensure that buyers, most typically seafood distributors, have access to a steady supply of seafood. The organization integrates operations of the existing display auction facilities in New Bedford and Boston and adds a display facility in Gloucester merging the seafood marketplaces in New England’s three largest ports, New Bedford, Boston, and Gloucester, into one auction.
The first auction at BASE Gloucester will take place on Thursday, December 8 at 6 a.m.
Please join us for an open house where customers, journalists, government officials, and friends can view the operations of the new display auction will be held on Wednesday, December 7 from noon to 5 p.m in Gloucester.
Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk will cut the ceremonial ribbon at 1 p.m.
The facility is located at 37 Rogers Street along the planned Harbor Walk. Refreshments will be served.
Dominic Nesta steams by Ten Pound Island Photo Bill O’Connor
Hi Joey,
I sent you a photo of Dominic Nesta working on his boat in October, and happened to see him steaming around the harbor in it the other day. I think he did a great job! The lines of the new boat look really familiar – can you tell he was trying to achieve a visual metaphor in his design?
Enjoy!
~Bill O’Connor
North Shore Kid




