Author: Catherine

posted content / cell phone photos mine, unless otherwise credited (thumbnail portrait of Catherine at MFA, Boston © David Cox photo) https://www.cryanaid.com/

Seashore smiles: umbrella dance moves on Long Beach

Posted on by Catherine

Grey skies, great surf and a happy rainy day on Long Beach. The umbrella choreography put a smile on everyone’s face today.

Umbrella dance moves_20200816_Long Beach ©c ryan

umbrella joy -Long beach gif-20200816__©c ryan

Signs of the times: Blume coffee and bakery clever design tweaks for customer and staff safety during Covid-19 #RockportMA

Posted on by Catherine

Rockport, Mass.

Clever reopening design at Blume. Customers step up to a custom order booth tucked into the door frame; the pick up window was moved to the right. Bakery goods are displayed in the windows. The signature pink floor shines through.

 

BLUME coffee and bakery _Rockport Ma_Covid-19 reopening design-20200815_©c ryan (1)I hope they add pink lanterns to the tree 🙂

Motif Monday: Gateways #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

Love this curve view of Gordon Thomas Park to inner harbor from Rogers Street heading into downtown

love this curve on Rogers view to inner harbor_20200628_Gloucester Mass ©c ryan

Gloucester Schools Covid-19 and reopening updates

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GHS Gillnetter coverage HERE by Cameron Muniz

Excerpt

“Gloucester  Department Head Karen Carroll also spoke at the meeting about how Gloucester is handling the pandemic. She said that Gloucester has had “zero deaths from people under 19” and that Massachusetts has a 2.2% positive test rate, which is higher than before but not a sign of a spike in cases.

Caroll also discussed the precautions being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Gloucester…”

Gloucester teachers’ feedback HERE

Excerpt

” Because our members’ voices were silenced at the Gloucester School Committee Meeting of August 5, 2020, the Gloucester Teachers Association is bringing our statement to the public. We are now not convinced that our voices will be heard in a Public Forum that has just been announced this evening. The School Committee will be voting on our Reopening Plan next Wednesday. We should have had a public opportunity to state our concerns with the current preliminary plans. The following is our statement regarding the reopening of the Gloucester Public Schools.” (See GHS Gillnetter)

Superintendent message and upcoming virtual info meetings below:

August 5, 2020

Dear Gloucester School Families,

On July 31 our planning team completed preliminary plans for in-person learning, remote learning, and hybrid learning which combines the two. Please visit the Plans Section on our website to read about the ways we could return to school.

Parents have provided important information this summer through surveys and direct feedback, and as we work toward final plans, your input is more valuable than ever.

We have planned a series of Virtual Family Forums that we hope you will be able to attend to get a full update, share your ideas, and ask questions. The schedule of upcoming forums is listed below, and we hope you will be able to join us at one or more of them. Also included below are Question Submission links that will allow you to ask a question in advance so our team can be sure to provide the information you need.

Also the School Committee has scheduled a special meeting on August 10 at 7:00 p.m. for members of the public to provide comment on the reopening of school. You will find information about how to participate in this meeting here. 

Thank you for working with us to develop solutions and provide answers to help you and your family prepare for a new school year.

Sincerely,

Ben Lummis, Superintendent

O’Maley Middle School – August 6 at 6:30 pm

Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86239675898

Meeting ID: 862 3967 5898

Join via Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799, Alternate: +1 (346) 248-7799.

Virtual Family Forums Question Submission

Elementary Schools – August 6 at 8:00 pm

Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84935039559

Meeting ID: 8493 5039 559

Join via Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799, Alternate: +1 (346) 248-7799.

Virtual Family Forums Question Submission

Gloucester High School – August 7 at 9:30 am

Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83847086274

Meeting ID: 8384 7086 274

Join via Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799, Alternate: +1 (346) 248-7799.

Virtual Family Forums Question Submission

Elementary Schools – August 10 at 9:30 am

Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81078866992

Meeting ID: 8107 8866 992

Join via Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799, Alternate: +1 (346) 248-7799.

Virtual Family Forums Question Submission

O’Maley Middle School – August 11 at 9:30 am

Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81869798517

Meeting ID: 8186 9798 517

Join via Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799, Alternate: +1 (346) 248-7799.

Virtual Family Forums Question Submission

Gloucester Pre-School – August 11 at 5 pm.

Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86923467533

Meeting ID: 8692 3467 533

Join via Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799, Alternate: +1 (346) 248-7799.

Virtual Family Forums Question Submission

Gloucester High School – August 11 at 7:00 pm

Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87944048463

Meeting ID: 8794 4048 463

Join via Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799, Alternate: +1 (346) 248-7799.

Virtual Family Forums Question Submission

Gloucester Pre-School – August 13 at 7:30 pm

Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89058197820

Meeting ID: 8905 8197 820

Join via Phone: +1 (312) 626-6799, Alternate: +1 (346) 248-7799.

Virtual Family Forums Question Submission

NEW Business in a business: Ken and Regina Lane Raise the Bar at Seaview Farm Wine Room curated by Paige Farrell #CapeAnnEats #RockportMA

Posted on by Catherine

Raising the Bar!

Explore a great and diverse wine list expertly built out for a specialty farm stand amid the natural beauty of Cape Ann.

Seaview Farm NEW wine (and craft beer)  room will open to the public Wednesday, August 5th, 2020, and along with the farmstand, will be open seven days a week from 11-6. The farmstand opens at 10am.

Learn more about the  selection  from Ken and Regina Lane, Seaview Farm owners (first photo), and Paige Farrell, Wine Curator (second photo) below:

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About the wines at Seaview Farm

Bringing wine and craft beer to the Seaview Farm Store provides a wonderful opportunity to further enhance the selection of our own grass-fed beef, specialty foods, and other farm products. As owners of Seaview Farm, we worked closely with wine curator Paige Farrell as she carefully selected wines, which would resonate with the space itself — a room in the farmhouse that has been in our family for nearly 200 years.

Paige took a classic approach, setting the wines of France and Italy as the foundation; and then sourcing synonym wines from alternate European countries, as well as from the Finger Lakes in New York State, and the vineyards of California, Oregon and Washington. – Ken and Regina Lane

The selection of wines on offer is just a taste for all that is to come, as the Seaview Farm Store continues to develop as one of Cape Ann’s local culinary treasures. We are delighted that the combination of our farmhouse setting and Paige Farrell’s experience and passion for wines of the world means that our customers will have a selection of wines worthy of this beautiful region.”

– Ken & Regina Lane, owners, Seaview Farm, and Paige Farrell, wine curator for Seaview Farm, Freelance Writer, Fine Wine and Hospitality Consultant, WSET Advanced Certification, Wine and Spirits; Diploma, 2020

 

About Paige Farrell

Paige Farrell has worked with fine wine for over twenty years, including at two Relais & Chateau properties. She has collaborated with Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand at the renowned Tru in Chicago, and with Barbara Lynch at Menton in Boston. In addition, she works with major corporate clients as the public relations, marketing and event manager for the Boston wine trade. For individual clients, she curates wine selections for private wine cellars. As a wine writer, Paige writes regularly for Northshore Magazine, and has written for The SOMM Journal, ELYSIAN Magazine, and several other publications. She has taught extensively about wine.

” Wine is more than a beverage to me. It’s a gentle chameleon; a muse connecting food to drink to family to friends to places to times; a portal to a slower pace and  — perhaps most especially — a poetic pause.” – Paige Farrell

Paige will be available to hire for private events, tastings, and personalized wine selections from the farm shop. She can be contacted at farrellpaige@gmail.com. Her website is www.paigemckeonfarrell.com.

Paige Farrell holds a BA in French from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with studies at Paris-Sorbonne University, Paris, France and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Presently, she is a Diploma Candidate with the prestigious Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). She is also a photographer, and has exhibited at Jane Deering Gallery and Flatrocks Gallery, both in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

 

Motif Monday: Good Harbor Beach Bass Rocks and Sherman’s point #GloucesterBeaches

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summer 2020 Good Harbor Beach Bass Rocks Sherman's Cottage motif_20200613_Gloucester Ma ©c ryan

photo: Catherine Ryan

Al fresco dining: Salt Water Grille

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Salt Water Grille 226 Washington St, Gloucester, MA  (978) 879-4244

From their website:

Indoor & Outdoor Dining / Takeout/Curbside Pickup | WE BELIEVE IN QUALITY SO WE CHANGE OUR SPECIALS DAILY, CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK TO SEE! @Salt Water Grille and Pub
Wednesday, Thursday: 3pm-9pm, 
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12pm-9pm
Closed Monday, and Tuesday

 

outdoor seating al fresco - dining Salt Water Grill_20200727_Gloucester Mass_summer of Covid-19 ©c ryan (2)

outdoor seating al fresco - dining Salt Water Grill_20200727_Gloucester Mass_summer of Covid-19 ©c ryan

Fog and charm – Cape Ann Harbor Tours ticket booth

Posted on by Catherine

Harbor Tours harbor loop fog_20200612_Gloucester Mass ©c ryan

 

Fog and charm Cape Ann Harbor Tours ticket booth on Harbor Loop

Major Field House restoration progress at Gloucester High School | Big DPW project #GloucesterMA #GHS #Basketball #Track

Posted on by Catherine

After twenty plus years in need and many years of planning, the Gloucester High School field house deficiencies are no more. Restoration is underway on this 1.6 million capital improvement directed by Gloucester Public Works.

The old bleachers are being replaced with top notch product.

Issues with the original concrete and under laying have been resolved. “The new work will be done correctly.” This mean new hardwood flooring. New usable track. Gloucester DPW hired Capital construction for this big project.

Views of the progress July 2020– so exciting!

 

Gloucester High School Field House summer construction major renovations_20200727_Gloucester Mass photographs ©c ryan (5)

 

The old bleachers were punched out all over, holes like confetti. Rumor one I’ve heard was shot put tosses caused the damage (whether practice misses or on purpose, I’m not sure) Rumors two is the holes were a result of indoor baseball and softball practice. What do you think caused the holes? Cue up GMG poll.

Whatever the results, counting on community taking care of the new fieldhouse.

The  Benjamin A. Smith Field House, aka Smith Field House, was formerly dedicated to  Albert Bachelor. 

 

New business! Argentino Plastering helping Carl’s Cones ice cream open “the sooner the better!” 185 Washington Street #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

Argentino plastering  is building out the new Carl’s Cones ice cream parlor (in the space formerly occupied by  Paprika Grill and Scroo Cooking). Fixtures from Salah’s ice cream at George’s across the street were acquired and repurposed for this site.

Carl’s Cones hopes to open… “the sooner the better!”