Documentary filmmaker, photographer, landscape designer, author, and illustrator. "Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly" currently airing on PBS. Current film projects include Piping Plovers, Gloucester's Feast of St. Joseph, and Saint Peter's Fiesta. Visit my websites for more information about film and design projects at kimsmithdesigns.com, monarchbutterflyfilm.com, and pipingploverproject.org. Author/illustrator "Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden."
Grant helps plovers have record year on Crane Beach
Local Ne.ws
By John P. Muldoon
Rotary Club paid for three solar-powered electric fences
IPSWICH — Those little birds you see running around the beach don’t have it easy.
Although they have wings, they won’t fly to trees to build their nests. Instead, they scoop holes, or “scrapes,” in the sand and lay their eggs there.
And that’s an invitation for all kinds of trouble: predators, rogue waves, dogs, or clumsy or malicious humans.
Combined with widespread loss of habitat, piping plovers are now on the federal government’s threatened species list. One estimate says there are just 8,400 left worldwide.
But along with lease terns, which are protected in Massachusetts, the plovers are well taken care of on Crane Beach.
In fact, they were so well taken care of in 2019 that a record number of chicks fledged and are now ready for the next perilous phase of their lives — a migration to the Bahamas.
This year, 49 pairs of plovers raised 96 chicks, said Jeff Denoncour, coastal ecologist with The Trustees of Reservations.
The last year that good for the birds was in 1999, when 44 pairs produced 89 fledglings, he added.
To show how precarious the species’ existence can be, Denoncour said the year 2000 was disastrous. Just 12 fledglings survived despite the efforts of 49 pairs. “That was due to a major storm,” he explained.
READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE Jeff Denoncour and Courtney Richardson last year at Jeff’s program on coastal ecology held at the Cape Ann Museum
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Several friends have shared this stunning photo from http://www.sciencephotography.com. To the naked eye, a Monarch Butterfly egg is the size of a pinhead.
Magnificent Monarch Butterfly Egg
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ON SALE AT GLOUCESTER HIGH SCHOOL STARTING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28
CATA Student Bus Passes are scheduled to be sold in the Gloucester High School Atrium on Wednesday, August 28, Thursday, August 29 and Friday, August 30 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; Tuesday, September 3 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Wednesday, September 4; Thursday, September 5; and Friday, September 6 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Gloucester High School Atrium. Student Passes will not be available for purchase at the CATA office until September 9, 2019.
The Pass Plus, Unlimited Semester (Fall or Spring) Pass and Unlimited Annual Pass will be on sale.
The Unlimited Semester (Fall or Spring) Pass and Unlimited Annual Pass are photo IDs and the student must be present at the time of purchase. The cost for theUnlimited Annual Pass is $200.00; the cost for the Unlimited Semester (Fall or Spring) Pass is $100.00 and the cost for the Pass Plus is $25.00. All Passes are payable by cash or check. For further information, call the CATA office at 978-283-7278.
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In 1992 Schooner ALERT was launched and christened TALL COTTON, a southern expression that means Finest Kind. She was designed and built by Paul Rollins in York, Maine. Built for a charter business the owner abandoned the idea, no charters we ever done, and the beautiful vessel was abandoned for at least 10 years.
She was purchased by Roger Woodman in 2006. Woodman changed her name to ALERT and started a new life for this fine boat fitting her out for commercial fishing and research. ALERT operated out of Portland, Maine until 2012.
In 2013 ALERT was sold to Captains Perry Davis and Bethany McNelly-Davis. They have been sailing out of Bailey Island, Maine hosting charters on the ketch TEVAKE since 2006. They converted the ALERT from a commercial fishing schooner to a commercial passenger carrying vessel. In September 2013 ALERT was awarded a certificate of inspection by the United States Coast Guard to carry 28 passengers.
Schooner ALERT Windjammer Cruises collaborates with schools to offer a tall ship experience that caters to their curriculum. Island Adventure trips are offered to students and private parties. The Harpswell based Tall Ship aims to serve their community and get the best out of every day we are given.
The Schooner ALERT and Ketch TEVAKE operate out of Garrison Cove on Bailey Island, Maine hosting two, four, and six hour public and private sailing charters.
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When I finished the original I Am More portraits in January of 2018, they were so well-received that I decided to keep going, and expand the project to the rest of the state. I’m finishing up the last of 20 new portraits called I Am More: Massachusetts, which includes subjects from Cape Ann, to Boston, to Cape Cod, to Amherst and everywhere in between, talking about opioid addiction, cancer, postpartum depression, surviving the Holocaust, learning disorders, bullying, suicide, sexual abuse and more. Brave individuals who are sharing their voices to help others – you may recognize someone:
I’m working on planning five regional exhibits of these new portraits in Boston, Worcester, Amherst, Lawrence and the North Shore.
It’s been 19 months of drawing, traveling, meetings, fundraising, editing, and outreach.
So far I’ve raised $24,200 of my goal of $40K to pay for these portraits and exhibits, so I have $15,800 left to raise to make it to my goal and bring these to the public.
Here’s where you can help!
I’ve written a blog post explaining I Am More: Massachusetts with links to all of the portraits and the amount I need to raise. Ocean Alliance (our fiscal sponsor) has added I Am More to their donation page so that people can easily make a tax-deductible donation to the project. If you would consider sharing the link on Facebook that would be incredibly helpful: https://amykerrdraws.org/2019/09/04/help-bring-i-am-more-massachusetts-to-the-public/
All of the info and instructions are in the blog so all you would need to do is share the link, and if you’d like to add a few words about what the project has meant to you, feel free.
Thank you so much for helping get these faces and voices out there!!
Amy
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Celebrating Maestro Yoichi Udagawa’s 20th Season as Conductor & Music Director
&
INTRODUCING CAPE ANN SYMPHONY’S
YOUNG MUSICIANS’ COMPETITION
Cape Ann Symphony proudly announces the opening of the orchestra’s 68th concert season as well as Conductor and Music Director Yoichi Udagawa’s 20th season leading the orchestra. Under Udagawa’s leadership the orchestra has transitioned to a fully professional year round orchestra, expanded from one concert venue to two: Manchester and Ipswich; increased its traditional five performances per season to eight performances; welcomed an impressive slate of acclaimed guest artists; premiered a new chamber music series, Musicians Unleashed, and this season launched a Young Musicians’ Competition to give a young music student on the North Shore the opportunity to play with CAS and work with Conductor Udagawa.
The Cape Ann Symphony Young Musicians’ Competition is open to young music students of orchestral instruments in grades 6-12 on the North Shore. Players of orchestral instruments other than piano are encouraged to submit a video audition. The winner of the competition will be invited to perform with the Cape Ann Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor and Music Director Yoichi Udagawa, at the Cape Ann Symphony’s Holiday Pops concert on November 30th at 7:30 in Manchester-by-the-Sea as well as receive a scholarship from CAS to support their music education. Cape Ann Symphony Music Director and Conductor Udagawa is excited to introduce the competition this year and mentor the next generation of musicians, “Made possible by the generosity of Dr. Ed and Mrs. Ann Marsh, we are having our first Young Musicians’ Competition this year, and the winner will be featured at our Holiday Pops concert. The amazing level of music talent of young people today is inspiring and makes all of us very optimistic about the future. Never have so many young musicians played at such a high level – and we are really looking forward to performing with the winner.” CAS Board President Fran White echoes Udagawa’s excitement, “Cape Ann Symphony continues to grow! This year for the first time we will sponsor a youth competition and are reaching out to the talented students throughout the North Shore to give them the chance to work with Maestro Yoichi Udagawa and perform with the orchestra. I want to thank Dr. and Mrs. Marsh for their generous contribution that has allowed us to introduce this program and expand our outreach.” The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2019. For details on submission guidelines, visit www.capeannsymphony.org.
BSO Musicians Photo: Marco Borggreve
CAPE ANN SYMPHONY
2019/2020 CONCERT SEASON
CLASSICS AND THE MOVIES
Performances:
Saturday, September 28, 2019: 7:30 PM: Manchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Sunday, September 29, 2019: 2:00 PM: Dolan Performing Arts Center, Ipswich High School, Ipswich, MA
Cape Ann Symphony kicks off the 68th season with Classics and The Movies inManchester and Ipswich.Theseason opening concert celebrates classic compositions used in movies as well as contemporary classics created for Hollywood. The program includes Wagner’s The Ride of the Valkyries which was usedin Francis Ford Coppola’sAcademy Award winning film:Apocalypse Now; Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije; Rozsa’s BenHur Suite; Korngold’s Robin Hood Suite; and John Williams’ Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind and Star Wars.
HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT
Performances:
Saturday, November 30, 2019: 2:00 PM Dolan Performing Arts Center, Ipswich High School. Ipswich,MA
Saturday, November 30, 2019: 7:30 PM Manchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Sunday, December 1, 2019: 2:00 PM: Manchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
TheHoliday Pops Concert, Cape Ann Symphony’s joyful holiday tradition, features a program of holiday favorites from Bach, Anderson, Herbert, Rutter, Handel, Tchaikovsky and others. The Cape Ann Symphony Chorus under the direction of Rockport’s Wendy Betts joins the orchestra for this exciting celebration of holiday music including the annual audience sing-along. The Manchester concert at 7:30 pm on November 30 will feature the Winner of CAS’s inaugural Young Musicians’ Competition performing with the Orchestra.
Sunday, December 1, 2019: 2:00 PM Manchester-Essex
Sunday, December 1, 2019: 2:00 PM Manchester-Essex
TheHoliday Pops Concert, Cape Ann Symphony’s joyf
MOZART, HAYDN, BRAHMS & LEWIN
Performance: Sunday, March 22, 2020: 2:00 PMManchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Mozart, Haydn, Brahms & Lewin features legendary composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, and Johannes Brahms and guest artist Grammy winning virtuoso pianist Michael Lewin. The internationally acclaimed pianist has played in over 30 countries and commands a repertoire of over 40 piano concertos. Mr. Lewin joins CAS to play Brahms’ powerful Piano Concerto No. 1. The concert also includes Mozart’s joyous Overture to theMarriage of Figaro Overture and Haydn’s delightfulSymphony No. 1 “Clock.”
BRAHMS, DVORAK & DEJARDIN
Performance: Saturday, May 16, 2020 7:30 PMManchester-Essex High School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Performance: Sunday, May 17, 2020 2:00 PMDolan Performing Arts Center, Ipswich High School. Ipswich,MA
Cape Ann Symphony welcomes back Boston Symphony Orchestra Principal cellist Blaise Déjardin to play Dvorak’s Cello Concerto. Déjardin made his CAS debut in March 2017 with his acclaimed performance of Saint-Saens’ elegant Cello Concerto.The orchestra revisits Johannes Brahms work in the May concert with his stirring Symphony No. 1, a piece which he struggled with for 14 year to complete.
CONCERT WINDS OF CAPE ANN plays benefit in Annisquam
The Annisquam Village Church continues its concert series on Sunday afternoon, September 8 at 4 PM with a benefit performance by the Concert Winds Trio. Seasoned players with a penchant for light-hearted chamber music –Jean Antrim, Flute; David Benjamin, Clarinet; and Priscilla Walter, Piano will feature Franz Danzi’s trio “Sinfonia Concertante.” Also on the program are duos and solos of Brahms, Delibes, Noda, and even Leroy Anderson (special student guest flautist Sophia Hogan-Lopez joins the trio in Anderson’s “Penny Whistle Song”).
The concert is a benefit for the newly refurbished Village Church at the head of Lobster Cove. Widely known for its beauty and resonant acoustics, this historic building is an ideal venue for chamber music and has attracted many world-class musicians to perform.
A reception in the Cove Room, which has also undergone renovations, follows the concert.
It’s heartbreaking to read about the death and devastation wreaked by Hurricane Dorian. Never having been, but greatly wishing to go someday, our hearts go out to the people of this beautiful and magical archipelago, the Bahamas.
Several friends have written asking about what happens to shorebirds, especially the Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers, during a monster hurricane like Dorian. Some lose their lives, some are blown far off course and hopefully, more will survive than not.
One somewhat reassuring thought regarding the Piping Plovers that are tagged in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is that they may not yet have left the States. After departing Massachusetts and RI, a great many tagged PiPls are soon found foraging on the shores of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout National Seashore, and Cumberland Island National Seashore, GA. Data suggests that the Outer Banks are a priority stopover site for Piping Plovers well into the late summer. After leaving our shores, southern New England Piping Plovers spend on average 45 days at NC barrier beaches before then heading to the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.
A male Piping Plover that I have been documenting since April, nicknamed Super Dad, still in Massachusetts at his breeding grounds as of August 28th.
Here is Super Dad with his two fledglings, aged 31 days, On August 24th, 2019.
Thirty-one-day old fledglings, sleeping after a morning of intensive foraging and fattening-up.
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Wonderfully fun and funny, heartfelt, quirky, original, and fabulous musicians all, Guster headlined Gloucester’s first Riverfest Seaside Music Festival. Montage of highlights from the show with favorite songs “Amsterdam,” “Happier,” “Satellite,” “Stay With Me Jesus,” “Homecoming King,” “Ramona,” “Do You Love Me,” “This Could All Be Yours,” and more.
For information on upcoming shows, tickets, store, and to see Guster’s latest hit video for “Overexcited,” go HERE to www.guster.com
Riverfest presented by 92.5 The River and the City of Gloucester, Stage Fort Park. See photos from the show at Kim Smith Designs
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My friend Jill Whitney Armstrong writes that “this is one exhibit not to be missed, with tents in the yard, interactive augmented reality, a magical live painter, free reiki and more! Plus David Robinson has work in the show – a communal atmosphere.”
I am looking forward to attending and hope to see you there!
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So sorry Readers for repeat posts, trying to sort out a Facebook issue with some posts appearing on the feed and some posts not. It is puzzling and frustrating!
Gloucester Harbor in all her glory – photos from the Parade of Sail and Schooner race.
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Charlotte and I had a fantastic time at Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day, with much, much climbing in and out of the giant lobster pot, seeing friends, art activities, exploring the touch tank, and getting to know a Boa Constrictor 🙂
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Don’t miss Gloucester Maritime Heritage Day, Saturday August 31st, from 10am to 4pm.
Maritime Heritage Day floats out a boatload of seaside fun
By Gail McCarthy
Maritime Gloucester will bring the glory of sailing the open seas during the Age of Sail to shore on Saturday for its Maritime Heritage Day, an annual event tied in with the Gloucester Schooner Festival.
The free, daylong event — which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — offers visitors an opportunity to step aboard a schooner and feel the history of these sailing vessels. The public will also have the chance to watch America’s oldest marine railway in action, which also learning about traditional boat building and the biology of the region’s oceans.
“Both locals and visitors can come down with their families, and it’s free and it’s meaningful,” festival chairwoman Daisy Nell Collinson said. “It’s one of those passive educational things. You are learning and absorbing things without making it feel like a lesson.”
This year, the festival venue is expanding and will include both Maritime Gloucester’s home base on Harbor Loop and the temporary schooner docks about a block away on Rogers Street. The dirt lot known as I4C2, next to The Gloucester House restaurant, will be dedicated to the festivities for the day.
The additional space will allow more boats to be open for deck tours, with greater opportunity for the public to experience them.
“Maritime Heritage Day is one of my favorite things about Gloucester Schooner Festival,” said Michael De Koster, executive director of Maritime Gloucester. “Not everyone wants to get out on the water, but everyone can have a great day of maritime fun at Maritime Gloucester and at the new schooner docks at I4C2. So many great community organizations get together to show the best of Gloucester and make it a family-friendly day.”
To interest all ages, organizers have pulled together a variety of local organizations and exhibitors, each with their own attraction or activity. Participants include Gloucester 400, Cape Ann Art Haven, Cape Ann Museum, Cape Ann Vernal Pond, Essex Shipbuilding Museum, Great Salt Marsh Project, Lowell’s Boat Shop, Ocean Alliance, North Shore Sea Scouts Ship 5, Seaside Sustainability, Schooner Adventure, Schooner Roseway and Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association.
OLLIE — Ocean Learning Lab and Immersive Experiences — will be at the I4C2 lot, along with other exhibitors, so those waiting to board schooners can find out more about the maritime environment while having some fun.
There also will be artisans displaying their wares and food vendors, including The Eclectic Clam, Gig Rower Hot Dog and Veggie Burger Stand, and Kim Gregory Pure Pastry, serving up their specialties.
All Day Viewing and Deck Tours at Schooner Docks at I4C2
10:00 am to 4:00 pm Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day
Maritime Gloucester, located at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester, will host its annual Heritage Day celebration from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event is free to the public.
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm Concert on Stacy Boulevard
Enjoy a community concert on The Boulevard before and after the Parade of Lights and Fireworks.
7:00 pm Boat Parade of Lights
The annual Boat Parade of Lights begins at dusk at Jones Creek on the Annisquam River, travels down the river, through the drawbridge and into Gloucester Harbor, ending in the Smith’s Cove area of the harbor.
9:15 pm Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor. (following Parade of Lights, time approximate).
Sunday, September 1, 2019
8:30 am Skippers Meeting
This meeting is required for all Schooners sailing in the Mayor’s Race. Meet at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.
10:30 am to 12:00 pm Parade of Sail as Schooners proceed from Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.
11:00 am to 1:30 pm Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light, from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Avenue) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free of Charge, courtesy of Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
1:00 pm Start of Mayor’s Race for the Esperanto Cup, Columbia Trophy, Ned Cameron Trophy; and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Reception and Awards Ceremony
for captains, crews and invited guests (ticketed event).
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The brand new beautiful School Street Sunflower field is not to be missed. With gently rolling hills, abundantly planted rows, and a wide, easy path to stroll (easy enough for a two-year-old to navigate), the 5 acres of sunflowers is a wildflower lover’s dream.
Paul Wegzyn and his Dad, also Paul Wegzyn, shared their enthusiasm for this exiting new venture.
There are picnic tables for those who would like to take lunch, and positioned artfully around the fields are photo props such as tractors and bales of hay, but for the most part, the scene is straight up gorgeous sunflowers (and bees!).
The variety planted blooms in 50 to 60 days from when planted and today is day 61. Only a few flowers have droopy seed-laden heads, or have passed. NOW is the time to go as the blooms will all have expired in another two weeks.
Kissable Butterflies
School Street Sunflower Farm
At the corner of Linebrook Road and School Street (for google maps type in – 79 Linebrook Road)
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Open 8am to sunset.
The cost is eight dollars during the week, ten dollars on weekends, and the ticket covers a full day. Wristbands are available if you would like to return the same day. Children under five are free.
Instagram: @schoolstreetsunflowers
Facebook: @schoolstreetsunflowers
Thoughtful sayings posted throughout the field ~
“Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.”
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Good Morning Gloucester 