Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

After Pickleball and the elliptical machine I wandered down to the Bliss Bites Cafe at the Y and had this delicious Quinoa, toasted sweet potato, chickpea and feta bowl for $6.50.

Healthy, delicious, reasonably priced and satisfying. I’ve been longing for a place I can reliably go and not blow my diet in one meal. Bliss Bites Cafe is that place!

What: Locals Colors is proud to partner with four very worthy local charities for our annual Valentines day card celebration. Our artists have donated cards for the cause so that 100% of what is raised can go to the charity with the most votes. The ads are attached for you to share in your newsletters!
When/Where: From now until Feb 14th the cards will be on sale at Local Colors, 121 Main Street.
How it works: For every purchase of a predetermined selection of Valentines day cards the buyer will be able to vote for their charity of choice. Each card equals a vote. At the end of the sale the votes will be tallied and the one with the highest vote will be awarded the funds.

Ron Gilson Submits this tribute to Ray Chandanaias:

Ray was a valued member of our waterfront community, a devoted family man and my long-time friend… a straight shooter to all who knew him.
Ray… until we meet again, smooth sailing… Ron Gilson⚓  ⚓  ⚓GLOUCESTER’S “CATERPILLAR” MASTER MECHANIC

1933 ~ RAY CHANDANAIS ~ 2022My friend and a great guyLooking back over 50 years ago, when I first met Ray, we both were so young.  Ray had teamed up with “Ozzie” Howard and after a few years, they moved their successful marine repair business to Pond Road.  At that time, I had just opened my Gloucester Marine Insurance Agency.Ray and Ozzie both serviced our fishing fleet, and in a way, complimented each other’s work.  Ray approached his Caterpillar customers with the tools and expertise of a brain surgeon.  His partner, Ozzie, serviced his customers with his “jack of all trades” experience and a sledge hammer!  IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF ONE ERA AND THE END OF ANOTHER!

As our business relationship grew, our friendship intensified.  In my life, the friendships I’ve made along the way, are all important.  Ray Chandanais is my good friend, along with his family:  wife, Helen; son, Jay; sister, Theresa Wilkins; mother, Mary, and their own family relatives come to mind.

When our coffee house opened in 1981, the first daily breakfast customer was Ray!  No one supported our business more than Ray, and on weekends, his entire family.  Our friendship went far beyond business.  Ray, Helen, and their family were our family.  Joan and I were invited to their wedding at the Surf in Magnolia.  Family birthday parties, Veteran’s Day and Marine Corps (10 November) annual restaurant birthday celebrations, when Ray loaned his sons’, Randy and Michael, Marine Corp portraits for display above our restaurant dessert case.  Ray was so proud… GREAT MEMORIES!

I got the simple porcelain ceramic pour over coffee maker 9 years ago and it has yet to fail me.

There are many reasons why I love this method and I’ll list them:

• Compact form, easily stored in a cabinet.
• Excellent tasting coffee
• No moving parts to fail
• Saves lots of money over crappy Keurig coffee (I’ve yet to have a single Keurig made coffee that wowed me)
• A simple toss of the paper filter into the trash and rinse and it’s clean as a whistle and ready for the next use

I want less stuff on our counters, not more.

Here’s a link to purchase one- https://amzn.to/3FskLMF

I use it with a small electric water kettle that stores away easily as well, link to purchase here- https://amzn.to/3Ietns1

9 years going and I make at least one coffee a day in it. By my calculations it’s saved me thousands by home brewing at a cost of under 35 cents per cup to brew at home.

The flatter surface is difficult to click on the new clickers while the older clickers are much easier to use. I’d recommend you hold on to your older clickers rather than “upgrade”.

The slightly raised arrow buttons are more of a miss when clicking them than a hit which can be frustrating and lead to a less enjoyable user experience.

Keep your head on a swivel out there folks!