Author: God's Morning

I pray you are blessed, built up in your faith and Christian walk, and become an interactive participant in God's Morning. We are here as Christ's body, supporting and building each other up in all righteousness, in His name, awaiting His soon return. Maranatha!

A Full House at Essex Shipbuilding Museum

Posted on by God's Morning

 
A full house on Wednesday evening at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum’s Waterline Center.

A talk by Robert Booth…
“When Salem Ruled the World, 1790-1830”
Most readers know Salem only for the city’s notorious witch trials. But years later it became a very different city, one that produced America’s first millionaire (still one of history’s 75 wealthiest men) and boasted a maritime trade that made it the country’s richest city. Westward expansion and the industrial revolution would eventually erode Salem’s political importance, but it was a shocking murder and the scandal that followed which led at last to its fall from national prominence.


Robert Booth, a native of Marblehead, Massachusetts, grew up on salt water, racing sailboats, and working as a lobsterman. He is an authority on historic architecture and maritime culture, having reasearched the histories of hundreds of houses and their occupants, from Nantucket to Maine. He helped to rescue America’s last surviving Revolutionary War privateering base, which was moved from Marblehead to Derby Wharf in the Salem Maritime Historic Site, a federal park devoted to seafaring. He works as executive director of the Center for Clinical Social Work, a national advocacy and education association for members of the largest mental-health-care profession in the country. His guidebook, Boston’s Freedom Trail, has stayed in print for nearly thirty years, and he writes about history for the online version of The Boston Globe. He is Curator Emeritus of the Pickering House (1664) of Salem and is the founding director of the online Salem History Society. He resides in Marblehead with his wife and children.

Booth’s latest book…

Death of an Empire: The Rise and Murderous Fall of Salem, 
America’s Richest City (Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press, 2011)
“A complex and well-researched yarn, Death of an Empire chronicles the little-known history of this relatively brief period of wealth and good fortune for a Massachusetts seafaring center, along with its economic downfall amid the rise of industrialization in the United States. It also recounts a lethal conspiracy and scandal that robbed Salem of whatever remaining luster was left after the city’s golden age. Booth, a local historian – and sometime lobsterman – grew up in Marblehead and knows the territory of which he writes with authority.”
–The Boston Globe

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Empire-Murderous-Americas-Richest/dp/product-description/0312540388

Essex Shipbuilding Museum on Chronicle Tonight

Posted on by God's Morning
Here’s some interesting news for the blog.
Monday night on WCVB
–Len

“Chronicle” HD, WCVB’s flagship program, well be re-airing a “tweaked-up” version of a story they did last year on the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. It will air on Monday, April 9th at 7:30 P.M, Channel 5.

Here’s a link to Chronicle’s web site to catch it again if you miss it:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/chronicle/index.html

THREE TEENS, A STEEPLE, HIGH IDEALS, AND THE POWER OF YES!

Posted on by God's Morning

Seth Perkins and Sam Cunningham are gifted, talented, brilliant stand-up comedians  with a genius and magic all their own.  Their friends, the Campers from the years of Art Harbor Camp, the cHicKeN cOupe troupe, most of the 
Theater Pie Workshops troupes, all know this.  There was a time when Seth Perkins was Legend in Residence at the St. Ann School. 

When the idea of putting their talent on the stage and calling it a SHOW was asked of them as a request for help, they gave a resounding, no hesitancy answer, YES!  And they brought on their friend William Gleckner– who was actually right beside them with an expression on his face of real concern for what Seth and Sam had just set into motion– and  made William  producer and called the show William Gleckner presents SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.  

The show was billed as a Benefit for The Unitarian-Universalist Society  of Rockport’s  SAVE THE STEEPLE FUND.  Jennifer Ober the music director and administrator of the UU, also a YES person, took on the project with vim and vigor and excitement and jumped into the work of organization, support, logistics, on and on.  Local Artists at the school and from the Rockport Community and the UUSR itself also responded YES with enthusiasm to providing back-up entertainment to The Featured Stars, Seth Perkins and Sam Cunningham, Producer, William Gleckner, MC’d in the good company of Beethoven, Seth and Sam’s Music Side-Kick, and Mr. Benjamin Franklin who was on board to speak for The Steeple because of its historical importance to the community of Rockport.

THE Audience, Artists/Performers, UU Members all gathered and a Show was about to begin.  A Show that was only happening because three innovative young men have the talent, and Gut and Heart Inspiration and ZEAL to make things happen and say YES and open up possibility and set the magic energy in motion.
No one can do what Seth and Sam can do.  So if not for Seth, and Sam, and William this would never have happened.

Support rallied and it was a magnificent show.  It was hoped that maybe $800. could be raised as a special gift to the UU from the Theater Pie Workshops who have their home at the UU because the UU takes care of so many in our community in so many different ways.  No one saw this fund raiser as any kind of an answer to the very serious and immediate Steeple Dilemma.  To get the Steeple reinforced and stabilized which also includes a study for the full renovation work that will span many years the lump sum amount needed before work could be started was $7,000.

Just before intermission, Rev.Susan, Pastor of the UU stepped forward to announce that an anonymous Matching Challenge Grant had just been given to the Unitarian-Universalist Church for $3, 500.  The door to possibility that Seth, Sam, and Will opened with YES was receiving an abundance no one would have thought remotely possible.

Seth Sam, and Will had Saved The Steeple.  They set the energy in motion and the energy chose to work as energy can and will if it is positive.

It is a wonderful story.

The Unitarian-Universalist Society and Church in a statement from member Heidi Wakeman to the congreagation said….
 
Young people need to be acknowledged and celebrated for their ideas,hard work,accomplishments, and generosity.  Will, Sam, and Seth took on a project, and saw it through from start to finish.”Save the Steeple” began as a gesture of thanks to the UUSR for accommodating the Chicken Coupe Troupe Productions,    with which Will & Sam have been affiliated for many years. No one expected this effort would net such lofty results.  Additional thanks go to Jennifer Ober, Music Director & Administrator of the church for all of her behind the scenes knowledge and coordination.
 
On behalf of the UUSR, I say a hearty, “Huzzah! Thank you! Hip, hip, hooray!”
 
Donations may be made to the Steeple Fund, payable as such, and sent to The Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport, MA 01966

Help Wanted – Madfish Grille

Posted on by God's Morning
Is interviewing and accepting applications for the 2012 season! Come on down and apply! Must be comfortable working in a high volume establishment

Please come down during these hours to apply in person 

SATURDAY APRIL 7th from 10am-2pm

 
Madfish Grille, 77 Rocky Neck Ave.

Cape Ann Painters and Photographers Group

Posted on by God's Morning

Hi everyone,

Greetings!

This is just a reminder that our regular second Monday of the month meeting will be held at “The Annie”, One Washington Street, Gloucester on Monday, April 9 at 9:00AM.  There will coffee/mingle time from 9-9:30 with the meeting beginning at 9:30 and ending at 11AM.  We will continue with our format of having everyone “check in” for  a few minutes to tell us what you have been working on.

Thanks and hope to see you then.

Alice Gardner

Note: This group that Alice Gardner started is evolving into a really great networking, sharing and fun event for Cape Ann artists, so if you’ve thought about joining us, please do.  You won’t be sorry.  All creative types on Cape Ann are welcome (you don’t have to be a painter or photographer).  Henry Allen and The Annie are great hosts too – thanks Henry.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Did You Know? (Joshua Tree)

Posted on by God's Morning

Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act (Public Law 103-433), it had previously been a U.S. National Monument since 1936. It is named for the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) forests native to the park. It covers a land area of 790,636 acres (1,235.37 sq mi; 3,199.59 km2) – an area slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. A large part of the park, some 429,690 acres (173,890 ha), is a designated wilderness area. Straddling the San Bernardino County/Riverside County border, the park includes parts of two deserts, each an ecosystem whose characteristics are determined primarily by elevation: the higher Mojave Desert and lower Colorado Desert. The Little San Bernardino Mountains run through the southwest edge of the park.

Wendie Demuth, my gallery neighbor on Rocky Neck, is on a six week adventure exploring and photographing 15 of our National Parks.  Here are a few preview shots from Joshua Tree National Park.  Look for some amazing new photos at Wendie Demuth Photography Gallery at 77 Rocky Neck on Madfish Wharf this season.   

E.J. Lefavour

Pews for Sale

Posted on by God's Morning

These are the pews that were removed from the old Christian Science Church during renovation of the new Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.  If you have ever thought you would like to have a beautiful hardwood pew in your front hallway or gallery or porch, this is your chance.  These beautiful 8′ and one 10′ pews are available for purchase at the cost of $250 each.  Not only will you be adding a very unique, historic and beautiful piece to your home, you will also be helping the Rocky Neck Art Colony in its fundraising efforts for the Center.  If you are interested in one or more, please contact Karen Ristuben at karen.ristuben@gmail.com.

E.J. Lefavour

Open House at The Center

Posted on by God's Morning

Yesterday from 1-4:00pm there was a fun and well attended Open House at the new Center at Rocky Neck, home of the new Gloucester’s Rocky Neck Cultural District and Rocky Neck Art Colony.  If you didn’t have a chance to make the Open House yesterday, there will be another one on Sunday, April 15th.  The space is really lovely and inviting, and there was an excellent exhibit of works by Rocky Neck artists on display.  Watch for lots of great things to be happening in this space.

E.J. Lefavour

Did You Know? (The Owl & The Pussycat)

Posted on by God's Morning

We all know the tale of the owl and pussycat, who sailed off for a year and a day in a beautiful pea green boat and ended up on some island where bong trees grow.  They were very much in love so got married by the turkey who lives on the hill, after getting a pig to sell them the ring from the end of his nose.  But did you know that the owl and the pussycat had owlittens – lots of them?  Most people don’t know this because owlpusses don’t leave Bong Tree Island and not many people know how to get there, so they are seldom seen and not much is known about them.  I had a chance to visit Bong Tree Island and met a number of the ancestors of the owl and the pussycat, and they agreed to let me paint and interview them so people back here could get to know them.  Photographs were prohibited as they have strong superstitions about them. 

This is Sir Winfred Owlpuss III, who is a regal fellow, and very friendly and informative.  He was a pleasure to meet and visit with, except he kept trying to give me dead mice to eat, and seemed a little offended that I wouldn’t accept his offer.  Unlike Ed Collard, there are some foods I just won’t eat.  The owlpusses, or owl cats  as some prefer to be called, love mice, which is the main staple of their diet.  Some of the younger ones have somehow gotten a hold of, and really enjoy Friskies, but the older ones won’t touch it, saying it is filled with chemicals and forbidden animal parts.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Did You Know? (Turkeys are Intelligent)

Posted on by God's Morning

Contrary to popular belief, wild turkeys are intelligent, inquisitive, affectionate, sentient beings.  Turkeys also have a large vocabulary and have been found to have twenty distinct and specific vocalizations. Also contrary to popular belief, wild turkeys can fly, and are capable of flying at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour for short distances and can travel on the ground at speeds of 25 miles per hour.  They also like roosting in trees, as these birds were doing on River Road.  I’ve seen them walking around all over Cape Ann, but had never seen them in trees before.  There was a rafter of them (what a flock of turkeys is called) very high up in the trees.  When I spotted the first one, I thought it was a vulture because of its size and the way the setting sun was glinting off his/her wattle.  Then I spotted the others and realized they were turkeys.

In anecdote after anecdote from the 17th through the 19th centuries, the wild turkey was characterized as showing an amazing friendliness towards people. Wild turkeys would walk right up to the early settlers. Sadly, the birds likely met with death for their curiosity and friendliness.  It is good to see that today turkeys can once again freely roam our neighborhoods without fear.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/khan-studio.html

Come One, Come All to the GMG Spring Fling

Posted on by God's Morning

When: Saturday, March 31 at 6:00pm

Where: Bodin Historic Photo 82 Main Street (978-283-2524) info@BodinHistoricPhoto.com

What: A Good Morning Gloucester and Bodin Historic Photo gallery spring party for FOBs, FOGs, contributors, and open to the general public.

If you missed our winter bash you don’t know how much fun we had; the place was packed!  BYOB (appetizers/dishes are welcome too), and come meet up with your favorite GMG contributors and FOB’s!  Don’t be a lonely little dandelion puff.  Come out and be part of the GMG fun and help us celebrate Spring. 

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/khan-studio.html

Don’t Miss Monty Python and the 21 Chickens!

Posted on by God's Morning

This is an article from Chicken, Mary Colussi, 8th Grader, St. Ann School.

“The Coupe’s at it again. The last time our fabulously theatric faces graced the pages of the Gloucester Daily Times, we were saving Sherwood. But that was so Renaissance. We’ve traveled even farther back in time, still in England, to the mystical and bumbling land of Camelot. And let me tell you, “Monty Python and the 21 Chickens” is not your average King Arthur story. Mostly because King Arthur is… wait for it… a girl! Scandalous, no? It is precisely this kind of innovation that should motivate you to immerse yourself in culture and come and see one of our three performances. Hey, why don’t you come to all of them? If not, the French Taunter will be very put out, and trust me, he is not the kind of guy you want to make angry. I called his mother a hamster once, and I still have the emotional scars.             

Anyway, the shows are on Thursday, March 29 at 7:00 P.M. and Saturday March 31st at 3:00 and 7:00. The Chicken Coupe is still stationed at the fantastically wonderful Unitarian Universalist Church at Rockport. The shows are free, but donations are gratefully accepted; they will benefit Dona Lambert’s Summer Playhouse, a theater program I myself am going to participate in. On a partially solemn but mostly giggly-in-an-excited-way note, allow me to say this. This is an immense project, far larger than we anticipated, and I have never been more proud of the Chickens. The show is set to a soundtrack of the Beatles, Star Wars, and our own delighted heartbeats. Even King Arthur would be satisfied. Hope to see you there!” 

 

Let the Games Begin

Posted on by God's Morning

Call for Mug Up Competition Suggestions

This season we will be continuing the Sunday morning Mug Up tradition started last year at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery on Rocky Neck.  Last year everyone who came to our Sunday morning version of church (fellowship, breaking of bread and reverence tinged with joyous fun) really enjoyed themselves, and many returned every Sunday.  We held three competitions last year: The Deviled Egg Competition, The Bloody Mary Competition and the Grand Finale Lobster Roll Competition. 

This year we are planning to do 4 competitions, one each month in June, July, August and September and would like your input as to the types of competitions we could have.  We can repeat some of last year’s competitions or come up with 4 new ones.  So send your suggestions of the types of competitions you would like to see this year.  Obviously suggest things you are really good at making or are a connoisseur of eating/drinking, so you can enter or be a judge of that competition, if it is chosen. 

Let the games begin.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com