My View of Life on the Dock
Nathan writes:
Bottle was opened, pictures were sent to Kim. 🙂
Date was May 11, 2014
Found on June 1, 2014
Message said : To who finds this. My name is Josh and I am eleven. Please write back (address included, and was to a local business in Gloucester).
The bottle survived a 3 week journey in the ocean and 3 day journey on land, before I opened it.
I called the company today and I am hoping to return the bottle and message to the boy! 🙂
In the above Vine from the Berkshire Museum exhibit “Butterflies,” you can catch a glimpse of the ginormous Attacus atlas, the world’s largest moth. Atlas Moths are found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia and are common across the Malay archipelago. The female Atlas Moth, which is appreciably larger than the male, may have a wingspan of up to ten inches-imagine, nearly a foot! Attacus atlas is a member of the Saturn Family of moths, as are the North American Luna and Cecropia Moths. For comparison sake, our gorgeous Cecropia Moth has a wingspan of up to six inches.
Images courtesy of wikicommons
GMG Reader Denise Penta writes in the comment section of a previous GMG post “Exterminate All Swans” by 2015:
June 2, 2014
“In Rockport, MA across from Pebble Beach I enjoyed a male and female mute swan along with their 4 pens. Two days later, I returned to take more photographs and they were gone. I have asked the regular walkers in that area if they have seen them and to my dismay, they disappeared. At the same time, the ducks has 5 babies and now there are only 4. I also noticed many round indentures in the sandy water near the shore and wonder if an animal frolicked about consuming some ducks. I miss the swans terribly. I also drove around the waters where they are found throughout the summer, but to no avail.
Then after reading several articles, including this one, I learned what is occurring more frequently is that of hunting and removal by state and federal wildlife officials. State and Federal wildlife officials are removing Mute Swans and killing them so that they can open new habitats to introduce the larger Trumpeter Swan species which will in the next few years be used as a Trophy Waterfowl for hunting purposes. Wildlife budgets are experiencing huge deficits and now wildlife officials are trying to enhance these budgets by enticing hunters through Trophy Waterfowl which will greatly increase hunting and the cost of hunting permits.
We have been fighting with other entities to stop this killing and have successfully worked with legislators in New York to introduce legislation to stop the killing of Mute Swans in New York until wildlife officials can present true research instead of the false basis for killing the swans that have been perpetuated upon the taxpayer. Yes, the taxpayer is funding this killing and reintroduction of the Trumpeter Swans so that a few of the population can enjoy them by killing them.
I would like to know who in God’s name gave these people permission to plan the killings and replacements? The government does not have an all-rights to nature and without votes from the public, there should be great protests to such an elimination. I would be the first one with a sign if I find the government removed our beloved swans.”
Addendum from Denise: “I apologize, I clicked send before placing quotations from the source that I got the information from, so here is the site link to where I got the information.” http://www.stanley-park-swans.com/cgi-bin/ask/index.pl?read=7412
Nathan from Littleton found this message in a bottle. The bottle had been sealed with a cork and wax. He’s promised to write in to the comment section at GMG to let us know what was written on the note!
Check out this short film, shot in Gloucester, by Will Bermudez, for the Lexington High School Film Festival. Will is the son of my friend Claudia Bermudez and he won second place in the festival! You’ll see scenes of Brace Cove, the Paint Factory, the train station, and more. So many congratulations Will–just beautiful!
Detail of Paul Villinski’s “Arcus,” made from recycled cans
My friend Sam Jaffe talking about caterpillars.
Friday night I had the joy to attend the fabulous new exhibit at the Berkshire Museum titled “Butterflies!” The galleries are filled with hands on art and science activities, contemporary butterfly sculpture, artifacts from the museum’s collections, live caterpillars, and mixed media of photography and film, including an audio track from Dr. Lincoln Brower discussing what happens within a chrysalis. And, as part of the exhibit, one of the galleries houses a large butterfly pavilion with over 200 live tropical butterflies from around the world!
Underwings of the Blue Morpho Butterfly from the live butterfly pavillion.
“Butterflies” was curated by Maria Mingalone, the museum’s director of interpretation, and she deftly and beautifully combines science, art, and nature in an exhibit that is sure to inspire and delight the very youngest to the most senior of citizens, and every age in between! 
The opening was very joyful and buoyant—I most certainly felt that way and, judging from the expressions on visitor’s faces, wasn’t alone. I am convinced that butterflies bring out the happy in people! 
The audience for my short film “Flight of the Monarchs”—I watched as many people watched my film many times over, despite the case that because the galleries were so crowded you couldn’t hear the beautiful music. I think there were several thousand people at the event.
The music that I set my film to is “Fields of Blue,” written and performed by Jesse Cook. I wrote the artist and sent him a copy of my film and the most amazing thing happened where, within only the few day whirlwind to create this little film, we were granted permission to use his song!!!!!!!!
My film opens with a clip of a Monarch flying in front of Eastern Point Lighthouse (you can see our Lighthouse in the above photo). Most of the footage that I used for the movie was of butterflies in flight, shot on Cape Ann, and the audience was stunned at how beautiful the migration is through Gloucester. That opening clip of the Lighthouse and the Monarch took several days to capture the exact shot that I wanted. Butterflies don’t take direction! 
Some of my photos were used to illustrate Dr. Brower’s audio recording explaining what happens inside a chyrsalis
Sam and his fiance Kathy, also a graduate student in environmental studies.
If you have never been to the Berkshire Museum, their website description reads as follows: “The Berkshire Museum offers a unique array of exhibitions, activities, and attractions for visitors of all ages. From fine art and ancient objects to fossils; from an aquarium of native and exotic creatures to the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation, we are your community museum: a place where everyone, from toddlers to elders, can learn, play, explore, innovate, be engaged and inspired.”
I arrived early, before “Butterflies” opened its door, and explored the galleries. It’s really a very engaging museum and especially while the exhibit is running, would be a wonderfully fun and interesting day trip with children.
Sam Jaffe making final adjustments to the chrysalis and cocoon display. To see some of Sam’s stunning photography, click on his website here: Sam Jaffee
Olive Ridley Skeleton at the Berkshire Museum
See more photos from the Berkshire Museum galleries Continue reading “Butterflies! at the Berkshire Museum”
Our very best and dearest summer friends, Kristina’s and Ben’s oldest daughter, Sarah, graduated from Boston College graduate school this spring. The beautifully growing Gale family gathered from far and wide to celebrate Sarah’s graduation. Usually we see the Gales in late summer and it was an especially wonderful treat to attend Sarah’s graduation party over Memorial Day weekend. I can’t wait for their return in August!!
Sam Gale, who recently graduated from college, works at Cape Pond Ice.
More snapshots from Sarah’s graduation ~ Continue reading “Congratulations to Sarah Gale ~ Recent Boston College Grad School Graduate!!!”
Where’s my garden, and my front porch? Lost in a sea of seedlings! 
Round No. 1 DONE!! Round No. 2, Ready to Plant!
Perennial growing tip: Several days ago Lisa Smith from Cape Ann TV helped me upload a film project. While working and catching up, she shared that she had purchased one each of a Marsh Milkweed plant and a Common Milkweed plant last year at our first Cape Ann Milkweed Project. Lisa thought hers weren’t doing that well and that they were not going to make it through the winter. She was very pleasantly surprised to see a strong sturdy stalk of Common Milkweed emerge as well as a nice little clump of Marsh Milkweed stems also emerge.
There’s an old-fashioned saying regarding growing perennials that goes something like this: The first year they sleep; the second, they creep; and the third year, they leap! Especially this year, where the ground and air temperature are cooler than what we have become accustomed to in recent years, perennials may be a little slower than usual to emerge.
Rick Roth writes ~
Well, we had a real nice yard sale on Saturday. The weather forecast was a little iffy, but we decided to go ahead with it, and it turned out to be a great day. I just don’t think I can begin to thank everyone who helped out by name when you consider all those who donated items, transported items, set up, sold, bought, gave us pemission to use the property, adverised, broke down, and cleaned up. Really a huge effort by a whole lot of people. Thank you all.
We made about $1300.00 which is a new record for us. It seemed as though whatever we did we always made $1000-1200. So, we were rewarded for all our effort.
Once again, thanks to all who contributed.
Rick
we only have one earth, save it
This was one of my favorite films from the Red Shed Film Festival. I think after viewing, you’ll see why. Hit the V icon in the lower right hand corner to view larger.
A film by Henry Ferrini, Gloucester Mass., linking the artists of Rocky Neck Art Colony, past and present.
Dear Friends,
Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I hope today finds you with friends and family and enjoying beautiful weather!
I have wonderful news to share about an upcoming exhibit at the Berkshire Museum in which I have been hired to create a film about butterflies in flight. The title of the exhibit is, what else—Butterflies! They have also purchased 26 of my butterfly photographs. Additionally, during the exhibit, my interview film with Tom Emmel will be running on a continuous loop, as will the new short film about butterflies in flight. And best of all, screenings of my full-length Black Swallowtail film and Monarch film will be shown during meet the filmmaker events. This is a fantastic educational project, with a 5,000 square foot exhibit space, which will also house live butterflies. It’s a truly hands-on exhibit, designed with children and adults in mind!
“Butterflies” is scheduled to run through August and will most probably be extended though September. I am attending the opening this coming Friday, May 30th and will take photos and bring you more information about the Berkshire Museum and the exhibit.
Our Cape Ann Milkweed Project went without a hitch and was lots of fun. Most picked up their seeds and if you sent a self-addressed stamped envelope, your package is ready to mail Tuesday morning. So many thanks to Joey for sponsoring the Cape Ann Milkweed Project at Captain Joe and Sons. Thank you so much to everyone that participated, and most importantly, the Monarchs (and myriad other species of pollinators) thank you!!!
Happy Spring Planting!
Monarch Butterfly and Hellenium
Catherine Ryan writes ~
There were 10 adult presenters and each of us met with ½ the grade (5 classes each): Paul Goldberg Historic Photos, Joey Palmisano for NOAA, Jim Caulkett the Harbor Master, Leslie Bartlett for Granite, Catherine Ryan for the HarborWalk, Lara Lepionka for Cape Ann Gardeners, Paula Gray for UU History, Barbara Silberman for the Sargent House, Mary Ellen Lepionka for Native Americans, and Ramona Latham for the Trustees of the Reservation. Most of the other presenters were included somehow in the HarborWalk content — and the teachers mentioned that as one source! The teachers were fabulous and are committed to this project. Again this year all the 6th graders visited the HarborWalk (in the fall). The kids were engaged and enthusiastic, not exactly my doing, rather the material I had to work with, the teachers special build up to Gloucester History Day, and the dedication and uniqueness of the presentations before me! I wanted to sit in on all of them! Some of the students are working on projects and may have questions. Others wrote up a report for the whole day that they are sending into local media.
I handed out the large 11 x 17 sheet for the “hunt on the HarborWalk”. My son George had a smart twist on bingo and C7A’s map. Matt and Tom created a jazzy tear sheet announcing the movie series coming this summer (big enthusiasm for Jaws!) Virgilio’s was not only generous with offering a free Italian cookie (hopefully combined with a visit to the whale moment), but also such fun determining how we might track the $ value. He wants to split the cost with me and encouraged me to have the children write down an expiration date to encourage some urgency. He remembers fondly the school volunteering that he and his family and friends did for so many years.
The sweetest rewards may be from our youth!
My industrious neighbors Esme and Ruby–lucky mom Dawn! Girls, can I please hire you to come to our home and help me with my housework, too!?! 🙂
Good Morning Gloucester 