Author: Nichole S.

I saw this last night while playing soccer mom….fittingly.

I kind of love it.

You want to support local music and score some pretty excellent songs written about our beloved Gloucester at the very same time…. head straight to the link below!

http://satchkerans.bandcamp.com/album/wait-what

Take the time to take a listen.

Satch Kerans has just released his 5th solo album and after listening it to it during yesterday’s Patriots game it was a total no-brainer to go ahead and buy it on his “bandcamp” page for a mere $7.  The songs are “folky rock” (or at least that is what this non-musician would call them) and, when I closed my eyes…which is how I always need to listen to new music…I kind of felt like I was soaring over Gloucester Harbor, the docks, the fishing fleet, through downtown, and towards Rockport.

Of course, don’t just take my word for it….

“Years after settling into an entirely different identity and new set of priorities – Kerans reemerges with some of the best songs he’s ever written. At the collection’s core is a clutch of sturdy melodies and classic pop structures…Kerans gets better and surer with age”.

Jonathan Perry
The Boston Globe

In case you were under a rock…or maybe just not living on Cape Ann and the greater surrounding area during the 80s, the 90s, and a bit beyond…Satch Kerans drew crazy crowds with his band The Catalinas (ahhhh…the memories).  While he’s also now rocking the baseball and soccer fields as a father, husband, and coach…his musical talents have only grown stronger.

If, by any chance, I haven’t given you enough reason to go ahead and take a listen, buy a song, or buy the entire album…it is worth noting that solo album #5 by Satch Kerans is also dedicated to his friend, Ed Gieras, who passed away in April, 2015 after enduring Huntington’s Disease.

Satch was sure to include the link where we can all help find a cure for Huntington’s Disease on his BandCamp page.

“Help find a cure and donate to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (hdsa.org).”

This is always such a fun game to watch…

While I’ve been there many, many times, the beauty of the Rose Garden at Lynch Park in Beverly always takes my breath away just a little bit.  There’s something about how gorgeous it is…and how it sits boldly, so close to the oceanfront, that always surprises me.  A great place to head for a picnic lunch if you’re looking to squeeze every last drop out of summer.

Clearly I need some more practice taking panoramic photos. That’s one freaky soccer team.

How is this for an opportunity?  The Mystic, of recent Gloucester Schooner Festival Fame, will be tied up at the GORGEOUS Nantucket Boat Basin soon and you can seize the opportunity to sleep onboard.  She’ll be in Nantucket September 21st-27th…so act soon if you’re interested!

From September 21-27, Mystic will be docked at the Nantucket Boat Basin offering visitors a unique lodging experience.  Upon boarding Mystic, you will be captivated by tall masts, elaborate rigging and large, spacious decks. The interior of the ship boasts a delightful, roomy salon and comfortable lounge.  Oversized windows provide natural light and spacious views.  All cabins and common areas are climate-controlled and offer ample room for comfortable occupancy.  Two staterooms have a double bed and private bath, and there are 14 staterooms with either a double bed or twin bunks that share bathroom facilities.  A continental breakfast will be be served in the salon.

HEAD HERE FOR ALL OF THE DETAILS!!

ALSO CHECK OUT MYSTIC ADVENTURE SAILS HERE…if you’d like to charter her or head to the Caribbean.

First order on the meeting agenda is the fact that it is almost the end of tourist season and where the heck are we going to start finding our french fries?

Did anyone bring a pencil?  Whose turn is to write the meeting minutes?  Why do you always get the highest piling?  What makes you so special?

I took this photo because I thought it was funny that 3 seagulls looked like they were having a meeting.  I just realized that there are actually 4 seagulls sitting on the pilings.

We should be proud of our Rockport Harbormasters who helped respond to this tragic situation last night.  I will update with more information as it becomes available.

From wcvb.com

The body of a woman who fell off a cruise ship off Cape Ann Friday night has been recovered, according to the United States Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard said it received word of a woman falling overboard from the cruise ship Seabourn Quest about 10 miles off the coast around 7 p.m.

Several search and rescue teams responded and searched the area.

Around 8:30 p.m., the Rockport Harbormaster, with emergency medical service personnel on board, recovered the woman’s body.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/womans-body-recovered-after-falling-off-cruise-ship-off-cape-ann/35231340

A photo that begged to be taken. Does it get more picturesque than this? The Ardelle and Motif #1.

It has come to my attention that I might possibly write about my boys too much.  True, not true…either way, that’s how I roll these days and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

But, since it can’t always be about scenic photographs, family activities, and super cute kids (I may be biased)…..let’s talk about super cute football players this morning instead.

There’s been a ton of talk lately about Tom Brady, the Patriots, Deflategate, Spygate, and the whatnot.  But, I think it is time we get to the meat of the matter (ahem).

The amount of handsome in the QB column of the Patriots roster is kind of crazy.  It almost seems unfair.  I don’t know how the other teams even concentrate.  Kidding, kind of.

So, the question that arose last night is:

Football skills aside, Who is your #1?

Patriots longtime Quarterback Tom Brady #12 OR the Patriot Quarterback (2nd round 2014 Draft Pick) Jimmy Garoppolo #10.

Maybe something a little less “mugshot” will help you….

Pick #1   

Coastsweep Beach Cleanup – Pitch In & Play!

A great way to help clean up the coast while also learning and enjoying family friendly activities!

Saturday, September 12

Joppa Flats Education Center and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge announce that the Coastsweep 2015 cleanup for Plum Island, including the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Sandy Point State Reservation, will be held on Saturday, September 12, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Along with the cleanup, outdoor family activities for children of all ages will be offered to keep everyone engaged, from 10:00 am-3:00 pm.

Along with Coastsweep, Joppa Flats School and Youth Education Coordinator Lisa Hutchings presentsCoastsweep on the Beach, a full day of outdoor family activities that include:

• Live tide pool animals
• Coastal plant walks
• Sand science on the beach

Group Games

For group games for younger kids, and participatory coastal science for older kids, families, friends, and school and scout groups are invited to meet at Parking Lot #1 at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

In the case of inclement weather, family activities will take place indoors at Joppa Flats Education Center at One Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport.

Participation in Coastsweep is free, for all ages, and will be held rain or shine. Participants do not need to preregister and may show up at any time during the day.

READ ALL ABOUT JOPPA FLATS COASTSWEEP HERE!!  

Pick #2

Harold Parker State Forest Family Fishing Festival

September 12: Harold Parker State Forest Family Fishing Festival, Andover – This free, non-competitive, family friendly, learn-to-fish event will take place at Sudden Pond in the Harold Parker State Forest from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Bring your own fishing equipment, or borrow ours- limited equipment and bait will be provided. *Open to the public – Contact the Harold Parker State Forest at 978-686-3391.

 Click HERE for more information!

Pick #3   Doggie Maze Day at Marini Farm

This is the only weekend that dogs are welcome on the property to explore the corn maze with their families!  It is also the 1st weekend that the corn maze is open…can you say, “Summer must really be ending”?

Cape Ann Youth Hockey is proud to sponsor CHALLENGER HOCKEY.

This is a FREE program with a focus on introducing adaptive ice hockey to children with developmental disabilities.  Please see below for more information and spread the word to families that you know who may be interested.

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about a banded seagull that we saw down in St. Peter’s Square.  Several of you offered information with contact information for reporting seagull sightings.

I was happy to send off the details of the gull that we saw and see if it could help.

I heard back from Dr. Julie Ellis the other day.  This is what she had to say…

Thanks very much for this report. K18 was banded on Appledore island as a chick on July 10, 2011. So, we know this bird is 4 yrs old. Before your observation, we only have one other resight of this bird after it was banded: Hampton Beach, NH 9/16/2012. So, yours is only the second resight of this bird!  Very cool. These resights help us understand how long gulls live, where they go when they’re not on Appledore, how many chicks they have, what proportion return to nest on the island, and other important aspects of their biology. I have done some studies of disease in the gulls, but most of the data we get will be used for studies of population,biology and ecology of the birds.

Here is my original post…if you are interested

https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2015/08/28/for-the-birds/

Here is a link for reading more about the Gulls of Appledore

https://gullsofappledore.wordpress.com/

Joey has captured a couple of banded gulls also….Check out his here….

https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/another-banded-gull-captured-by-joeys-gmg-lens/

The schooners certainly stole the show this past weekend, but let us not forget that on Saturday evening there were some pretty spectacular fireworks too.

At Fenway Park hoping to see at least number 498! Go Big Papi!

just a few photos from this morning’s Parade of Sails.

#schoonerfestival

I took hundreds of photos of the schooners that are participating in this year’s schooner festival that I get to weed through and play with this evening. However,  I wanted to share what the outer harbor looks like right now in a live blog post.

#schoonerfestival

Live blogging from Compass Seafood.

The good news is they caught a tuna.

The bad news is that Sea Tow had to bring them in to unload it.

Luckily, at 95 inches and over 350 pounds, the fish should cover the tow.