Anita, you’re always so proud of your sons (and with good reason!). This one’s for you.
Joey DaSilva and Frank Pacheco
Author: Kimsmithdesigns
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."
SHOUT OUT TO GLOUCESTER’S FINEST- THANKING OUR FIREMEN, POLICEMEN, AND EMTS
This morning I was rear-ended coming home from filming Plovers. No worries, just a touch of whiplash. I was a little shook up and didn’t ask for the name of fireman, EMT, and policeman who were there within moments of calling, but would very much like to thank them, not only for this morning’s help, but I have been thinking about them all week during Fiesta. They were present at every event throughout this past week’s fabulous fiesta, and I observed them providing assistance in myriad situations. I think we are very blessed in Gloucester to have such a dedicated and compassionate team of policemen, firemen, and emergency medical responders. A most sincere thank you for all that you do each and every day, and for all that you did to make this year’s Saint Peter’s Fiesta the wonderful success that it was.
Don’t they have the greatest badges too 🙂
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BREAKING: SWEETNESS! RANDY SWEET DOES IT AGAIN
RANDY SWEET – YOUR 2017 FRIDAY AND SATURDAY GREASY POLE CHAMPION!
Randy Sweet captures the flag for the second night in a row. As is the Saturday tradition, the Friday Greasy Pole winner walks first. Randy took the flag at the top of the third round. Congratulations Randy!!!
Randy’s parents Michelle and Billy, and brother Collin
According to Randy’s dad, Billy, Randy and his friends have been practicing walking the Greasy Pole since they were young kids.
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SARA FAVAZZA UNVEILING THE NEW SAINT PETER STATUE
Although meticulously maintained over the years, the Saint Peter statue is becoming increasingly dried out and fragile, as explained by Joe Novello, master of ceremonies at the Saint Peter’s Fiesta official opening event. Sara Favazza hopes the original Saint Peter statue will eventually be retired to the Cape Ann Museum, and perhaps live next to the Our Lady of Good Voyage statue.
Sara Favazza and the new Saint Peter statue.
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STUNNING TALL SHIP PHOTO FROM CITY COUNCILOR MELISSA COX
Melissa Cox shares her beautiful photo. Thank you Melissa!
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TWO SAINT PETERS SIDE BY SIDE – CAN YOU TELL THE NEW FROM THE ORIGINAL?
The beautiful new Saint Peter statue was unveiled at Friday night’s Fiesta opening celebration. Sara Favazza, daughter and tenth child of Captain Salvatore Favazza and Maria Lucido Favazza, did the honors. Salvatore Favazza commissioned the original Saint Peter’s statue in 1926 and in 1927, Gloucester celebrated its first Saint Peter’s Fiesta.
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RANDY SWEET YOUR FRIDAY 2017 GREASY POLE CHAMPION!
Congratulations to first time walker Randy Sweet, the Friday 2017 Greasy Pole Champion! 
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FIESTA BABY PLOVERS!
Four of the sweetest little Piping Plover chicks hatched Thursday morning, June 22, at Good Harbor Beach. They are all beautiful and perfectly formed and healthy. Within hours of hatching, the mini-marshmallow-rockets were zooming and tumbling about the shore. Mom Joy and Dad Joe are in full on protective mode, doing their best to chase seagulls and people out of their territory.
Don’t mess with Mama Joy!
Last year the East Gloucester neighborhood kids named the parents, Joy and Joe; and chicks PuffPuff, FluffFluff, and Tootsie Pop. The parents are most likely the same pair as they have nested in nearly the exact same spot as last year. Comment in the comment section for name suggestions if you would like. Wouldn’t it be great if the four names were somehow Fiesta inspired 🙂
Good Harbor Beach is going to be very crowded this weekend. If the chicks manage to survive the first ten days, their odds of surviving increase dramatically.
How we can all help the Piping Plover chicks survive:
1) Perhaps the most important point to understand is that within hours of hatching, Piping Plover chicks are on the move. They soon begin to explore outside the symbolically roped off area. Keep an eye out for the chicks. Educate friends and family that they may see these tiny vulnerable creatures on the beach. Do not approach the chicks or adults, but observe quietly from a distance. Mom and Dad Plover will let you know if you are too close.
2) Don’t leave behind or bury trash or food on the beach. All garbage attracts predators such as crows, seagulls, foxes, and coyotes, and all four of these creatures EAT plover eggs and chicks.
3) Do not linger near the Piping Plovers or their nests. Activity around the Plovers also attracts gulls and crows.
4) Keep dogs off the beach at all times of the day and evening.
Snuggling next to Mom for warmth.
Clip from last year’s year Piping Plover Family —
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GREASY POLE MAGIC
With puffy pink Maxfield Parrish-like clouds, the Greasy Pole was looking its best in last night’s twilight. 
Gloucester Greasy Pole and Ten Pound Island
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FIESTA SHORT FILMS AND GREASY POLE VIDEOS FROM KIM SMITH
We can add these short films and greasy pole videos to the GMG library of greasy pole contributions.
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FIESTA MYTHBUSTER!
Caffe Sicilia, Main Street Gloucester
Despite the wonderfully fun and boisterous Fiesta crowd on Rogers Street, Main Street was quiet and peaceful. Tom and I went to dinner at Passports and it was a cinch to park. We had a lovely dinner and then walked to the carnival. No need to “escape” to other towns during Fiesta. Please support your local Main Street restaurants and businesses during Fiesta week.
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PHOTOS FROM SAINT PETER’S FIESTA NOVENA AND PROCESSION
Simply beautiful. Viva San Pietro!
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NOTE TO ALL LEMONADE STAND PROPRIETORS: PLEASE BE SURE TO ONLY USE CAPE POND ICE!
Locally sourced Cape Pond Ice makes for the Best Lemonade!
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CAFFE SICILIA’S MARIA CRACCHIOLO’S SUPER DELICIOUS SAINT PETER’S FIESTA CAKES
Maria Cracchiolo outdid herself in providing not one, but two, fabulous cakes for the ninth night of the Saint Peter’s Fiesta novena. The smiles of anticipation and delicious enjoyment on everyone’s faces said it all!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO VINCIE SCOLA, WINNER OF THE SAINT PETER’S FIESTA EMERALD NECKLACE!
In honor of the 90th anniversary of Gloucester’s Saint Peter’s Fiesta, Fay and Ralph Puopolo donated an exquisite emerald and diamond necklace. Each night at the novena, the women attending entered a ticket for a chance to win the necklace.
Novena super helpers Al Millefoglie and Michael Linquata announcing the lucky winner.
Vincie and Florence
Rosalie Orlando, Vincie Scola (wearing the necklace), and Florence Martin
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AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, THE LOGRANDE SISTERS ARE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN FOR SAINT PETER’S FIESTA!
Mayor Sefatia shares the following story and photos —
Sisters Serafina Ferrara, Rosalia Millitello, Caterina Ferrara, and Maria Costanzo are sharing Saint Peter’s Fiesta together. Caterina has recently returned from Italy to Gloucester after a twenty-five year absence. This is the Logrande sisters first Saint Peter’s novena and Fiesta celebrated together in twenty five years. Viva San Pietro!
Photos by Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken
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TONIGHT’S SAINT PETER’S NOVENA BEGINS AT 6:30
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVjywPUFpyS/
Saint Peter’s Novena 2017
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GLORIOUS GLOUCESTER MORNING
All is well with Plover Families, on both the West and East sides of Gloucester!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkxzAyldXv/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkyzEIl-To/
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PLASTIC, PLASTIC, PICK IT UP: SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEMONADE STANDS!
The East Gloucester Blake Court Kids kicked off the first day of summer with a lemonade stand. A portion of the proceeds goes to the organization, “Plastic, Plastic, Pick it Up.”
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REVIEW: “THE EFFECT” NOW PLAYING AT THE GLOUCESTER STAGE COMPANY
“The Effect” Tackles the Timeless Topic of Love
By Tom Hauck
Can love be induced chemically? This ancient question has been asked in Greek mythology and medieval legend, and perhaps most memorably in the 12th century story of Tristan and Isolde, in which a love potion created a powerful amorous attraction between the two even though she, Isolde, was betrothed to the king. Shakespeare explored it too: One of the bard’s most famous love potions was employed by the fairy Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, who dribbled the goop in the eyes of the sleeping Lysander, and later Demetrius, causing romantic chaos in the forest. And anyone who was around in the 1960s knows “Love Potion Number 9,” the infectious hit record by the Clovers.
Playwright Lucy Prebble revives this time-honored theme, as well as several others, in the New England Premiere production of The Effect. Set in a drug trial clinic, the play opens with Connie (Susannah Hoffman) and the aptly named Tristan (Mickey Solis) being hired by Dr. Lorna James (GSC favorite Lindsay Crouse) for a four-week trial of what is supposed to be a new anti-depressant medication. Lurking in the background is Dr. Toby Sealey (Brad Hall), who represents Big Pharma, and who, convenient to the many-layered plot, has had a prior romantic relationship with Lorna.
Sure enough, the new drug’s only discernable effect is to rev up the libidos of Connie and Tristan, who quickly get the hots for each other. When Lorna discovers that the drug trial is not what she thought it was, her old lover, the smarmy Toby, being a good soldier for Big Pharma, demands that the trial continue to its possibly dangerous conclusion.
As one can always expect from the Gloucester Stage Company, the actors, without exception, are of the highest caliber. The set by J. Michael Griggs and lighting design by Russ Swift effectively evoke a mood of sterile creepiness. The direction by Sam Weisman is crisp and clean, and he leads these four exceptional players briskly through the many changing moods and themes of the script. Presented in two acts with an intermission, now through July 8. For tickets visit gloucesterstage.com or call 978-281-4433.
Good Morning Gloucester 