Author: God's Morning

The Coast Guard Cutter Grand Isle crew is scheduled to return home after a 7-month overhaul in the Coast Guard Yard, located in Baltimore, MD, at 3:00 pm Friday. The Grand Isle is a 110-foot Island Class Patrol Boat. Major work completed on the Grand Isle included the replacement of one diesel engine, two new shafts, two new propellers, two new rudders, two new stabilizing fins, a new reverse osmosis system (used to turn salt water into potable water), and a replacement of over 530-square feet of the hull. The total cost for the 30-week project was approximately $2.7 million.

“It’s great to have them back,” said Lt. Joe Klinker, the 1st Coast Guard District public affairs officer. “Our cutters provide a persistent presence throughout the maritime domain. With the Grand Isle back in Gloucester, that means one more crew working with the fishing fleets, one more ship protecting the ports, and one more opportunity for someone when they need us most.”

CDR Thomas S. Morkan
Chief, Response Department
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston
Boston, MA 02109

Served Friday Feb 10 – Tuesday Feb 14

On Valentine’s Day – Each dinner comes with a rose!

Manny Simoes photo

There will be a Bowl painting event to benefit the Open Door on Saturday, February 11, from 4 to 6, at Trinity Congregational Church, 70 Middle Street Gloucester.  The bowls are made and donated by local potters, painted by volunteers like you and sold at the “Empty Bowl Meal” in May.  There is no charge but there will a good-will collection of canned goods or money for the Open Door.

I have to say that the magic that is Rocky Neck never ceases to amaze.  I’ve never been on a whale watch or seen a whale up close and personal; but I did today in Smiths Cove on Rocky Neck.  This fellow cruised up and down Rocky Neck, obviously a little disoriented and not able to find his way back out again.  Debbie and Peter Schradieck were visiting Madfish Wharf and spotted him first and came to find me to come see him.  Wendie Demuth was there too so we all ran down to the Marine Railways and photographed him from the end of the railways pier.  Peter estimated his length to be between 25-30′ and that he was a fin whale.  I’ve also included a photo from the internet of a beached fin whale, which has the same bumpy head feature you can see on this whale, and the fin which you can see in the last photo of the series, although it could also be his tail.   Hopefully that won’t be the fate of this one.  Peter did call the Coast Guard and alert them of his presence in Smiths Cove.

The fin whale is the second largest animal in the world after the blue whale, the fastest swimming of all the large whales (sometimes called the greyhound of the seas) and the commonest of the large baleen whales.  This one certainly was fast, as he would come up in one spot on the cove and a minute later be coming up again at a spot a good distance away, so quickly that at first we thought there were two of them.  I hope he can find his way out, as he should be on his way to warmer waters now, and there won’t be any food for him in Smiths Cove.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Sunset and full moon photos Tues. evening 2-7-12
–Len Burgess

Came across this Easter egg while walking around Annisquam.  Looks like even the Easter Bunny is confused by this springlike weather, or maybe he’s trying to move in on Paul’s ArtRock niche.

E.J. Lefavour

“Nothing is exactly as it seems, nor is it otherwise”
Alan Watts  (1915-1973)
Born in Britain, philosopher and theologian Alan Watts moved to the US in the thirties, attending Episcopal seminary while at the same time receiving training in Zen Buddhism. He served briefly as a priest but left the church to pursue a career as a teacher and lecturer. His bestselling 1957 book The Way of  Zen was one of more than two dozen he wrote on spirituality, religion and consciousness. Many of his brilliant lectures are available on the web and as an Iphone app. This seemingly nonsensical quote is in the nature of a koan or parable, perhaps the best known of which is “What is the sound of one hand clapping.” These thought provoking sayings are meant to encourage lateral thinking. The origins of the Watts quote go back to the Surangama Sutra, probably written 1,400 years ago, and may refer to our inability to truly comprehend reality.

Greg Bover

Gregory R. Bover
VP Operations, Project Manager
C. B. Fisk, Inc
978 283 1909
www.cbfisk.com

https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/quarry-id-from-1973-photo/

I would appreciate if you would post this information for Cape Ann cable
subscribers:

Comcast is currently making some technical changes that may affect local programming. Cable subscribers who have high definition televisions will continue to be able to view Cape Ann TV Channels 12, 20 and 67; however,
those cable subscribers who do not have high definition televisions need to install a digital television adapter (DTA). Subscribers can call Comcast at
1-877-634-4434 and request to either have a DTA delivered to them or they can  pick up the device at a Comcast office: 12 Tozer Road in Beverly or 8A
Traders Way in Salem. To continue to view Cape Ann TV Channels 12, 20 and 67, they must connect the DTA to their cable box. Call Comcast at:
1-800-266-2278 or 1-877-634-4434.

Thank you!
Donna L. Gacek
Executive Director
Cape Ann Regional Cable TV Access Corporation (Cape Ann TV)
38 Blackburn Center
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 281-2443 ext. 230
Fax (978) 281-8679
email: dgacek@capeanntv.org
www.capeanntv.org

I was just talking to David Calvo about a hit and run that totaled my car, another car and damaged a third.  He thought you might be able to post a notice on Good Morning Gloucester.  The hit and run happened at 2:00 to 3:00 am Sunday morning on East Main Street in front of David’s Studio.
There must have been extensive damage to the riders side of probably a truck or an SUV.  There would be a reward for information – my phone number is 978-281-3020 and address is 245 East Main St., just up the street from David’s.
Anyone who saw something or noticed a damaged vehicle could really help me out.

John Sullivan

Jrs333@verizon.net

That Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals have been named among Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals in the U.S.?   The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® study is annual, quantitative research that identifies the hospitals with the best facility-wide performance.  At the heart of this research is the 100 Top Hospitals National Balanced Scorecard, a set of measures that evaluate performance excellence in clinical care, patient perception of care, operational efficiency, and financial stability. 

http://www.beverlyhospital.org/about-us/awards-and-recognition

I had my first experience with Addison Gilbert Hospital on Monday.  After many years of not having health insurance, thanks to Kim Smith who told me about the Gloucester Family Health Center, and Marissa Alves, who helped me through the Commonwealth’s paperwork process, I now have coverage.  I had an appointment with my new PCP, Candace Thompson, who is a wonderful doctor – very sweet, friendly, attentive, took the time to listen, ask questions, make recommendations and made me feel totally at ease and cared for, as did Erica, her nurse.  The women in the lab were efficient, friendly, and I never felt the “pinch”.  Radiology and Registration were the same, and there were no long waits anywhere.  Even the fellow patients I met and spoke with were at ease and friendly.  We on Cape Ann are so lucky to have Addison Gilbert, and I hope that the new affiliation with Leahy will only make it stronger, and that all existing staff will be retained for as long as they choose to stay.

E.J. Lefavour

There is one remaining time available for a guest artist this summer on Rocky Neck at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery on Madfish Wharf (6/8-6/21).  In addition to the great opportunity to exhibit your work on Rocky Neck, the oldest working art colony in the country and an incredibly beautiful and fun spot, you get to have your work seen by all the great Sunday morning Mug Up attendees and GMG peeps.  If you were thinking about a guest exhibit this season, better move fast.  You can go to http://www.khanstudiointernational.com/goodmorninggloucester%20gallery2012.htm for more info and to confirm the date.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Three+ Generations Watch the Super Bowl at the Patio Restaurant in Magnolia

Friends and families gathered at the Patio Restaurant in Magnolia watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. Vital stats: the youngest Pats fan was 3 months old; 100+ Cajun chicken wings were consumed, and 27 people yelled out, “Why can’t anyone catch the ‘darn’ ball?”

 The smiling lovely cheerleaders, from left to right, Caroline O’Leary, 11; Kate Del Torchio, 12; and Callie O’Leary, 13…

 Auntie Linda tries to shield baby niece Julianna Rae from the disastrous last minutes of the game but Julianna sneaks a peek… 

But, no matter what the outcome, Roger and Theresa Lee were all smiles… 

*For more photos of the Patio’s Super Bowl party, click here:  www.themightyvoyager.com

Submitted by Terry Webber

GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PIANIST DANILO PEREZ TO PERFORM

IN ROCKPORT ON FEBRUARY 10

Concert to benefit the North Shore Jazz Project

 Grammy award winning artist Danilo Pérez is bringing his distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz to the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport on this Friday, February 10. The event is a fundraiser for the North Shore Jazz Project. Perez’s music has attracted critical acclaim and loyal audiences around the world.  As a bandleader and performer, Perez earned three Grammy nominations and scored two Grammy Awards.

The North Shore Jazz Project (NSJP) All-Stars will open the show.  The All Stars consist of some of the best jazz players from the North Shore, led by educator and bandleader Michael Tucker. Tucker is a graduate of Danvers High, Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory.  Musicians come from towns including Rockport, Ipswich and Georgetown.

“We are very excited about this artistic collaboration between Danilo Perez and the North Shore Jazz Project,” said Henry Ferrini, resident of Gloucester and cofounder of the NSJP. “Mr. Perez is a personification of the NSJP’s mission.  Throughout his career he has been an active participant in creating an environment where jazz performance, education and appreciation can flourish.” 

Event details: February 10, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport, MA, 8 PM. Ticket prices: $25, $30, $35. Buy online at http://www.rcmf.org/tickets.html or call 978.546.7391.  

For more info on the North Shore Jazz Project please visit http://northshorejazzproject.org/

Submitted by Terry Webber.

Hey Joey!

Just wanted to spread the word on my Facebook contest for my Web-store Driscoll’s Jewelry and Gifts. We use Amazon as our web-store so people have a trusted source that protects them and their purchases. The contest is a free entry on Facebook for a set of His and Her Silver Claddagh Rings retailed at around $150.00. The only requirement to qualify is that the entrants let the contest post that they entered. We will be checking the winners facebook page to make sure it is there, or that they shared our page.  Drawing ends Feb 12th and winner will be drawn on Feb 13th.  Here is the link to the Facebook Entry Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Driscolls-Jewelry-Gifts/367978363216632?sk=app_28134323652 

And here is the link to our Amazon listings and categories: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_jewelry?_encoding=UTF8&node=3367581&field-brandtextbin=Driscoll%27s%20Jewelry%20%26%20Gifts 

Thanks! 

Daniel Driscoll

When I went out to go to an early doctor’s appointment this morning, my Annie van wouldn’t start.  I opened the hood and pulled out my handy car starter, which usually does the trick.  As I was hooking it up, a Knight in a white van pulled up and asked if I needed help.  I tried starting her with the starter – nothing.  He pulled his van up in front of mine and pulled out one of those battery reading gadgets and tested the battery, which was nearly dead, and then gave me a jumpstart, which worked and got me on the road in time.  The Knight’s name is Oliver and he is a landscaper that does work around Annisquam.  I owe him a debt of gratitude, and it was just one more reinforcement of how incredibly kind people are on Cape Ann.  Thanks so much Oliver. 

The picture is one of my new glass paintings, and since it is a flower and he is a landscaper, I thought it would work since I didn’t have my camera to capture him jumpstarting my old girl. 

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com