Author: Nichole S.

The Gloucester Police and Fire Department  have reported to the scene of an accident on the corner near East Gloucester Shaws.

I apologize for not posting this earlier, but tonight at 7:00 pm at the Wang Theatre – Boch Center in Boston is an amazing (and FREE) 25th Anniversary show for Beverly’s Express Yourself. 

With Blue Man Group, STOMP, The JaM Project from World of Dance, Amanda Mena from America’s Got Talent, Ten31 Productions, in the Mak’n, Boston Children’s Chorus, and Boston’s Best Musicians…..as well as 300 + of Express Yourself’s own talented youth…..this show is not to miss!

READ MORE ABOUT EXPRESS YOURSELF AND THE AMAZING WORK THAT THEY DO HERE

Express Yourself was founded on belief in the power of artistic expression to change lives.

In 1988, Paula Conrad – educator, choreographer, and dancer – founded Express Yourself to bring creative arts programs to youth in residential and outpatient treatment facilities. Stan Strickland – educator and award-winning musician and performer – joined her as co-executive director in 1995, and together they expanded Express Yourself into a network of professionals, affecting the lives of young people in over 50 Massachusetts cities and towns.

From the beginning, nationally recognized guest artists joined with Express Yourself to collaborate, create, and perform with program youth at our annual year-end celebration. Artists have included Blue Man Group, STOMP, Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart, Broadway dancers, and many others.

Over the past 25 years, we’ve developed a team of creative professionals who care deeply about our community. We know that art can heal and change lives — we see it happen every day. Our team is committed to being a positive, consistent presence in the lives of the youth we serve.

Back when Jamie McDonald, “Adventureman”, and his crew were in Gloucester for the epic finish of his US Super Run, we had dinner together a few times and found ourselves discussing the similarities and differences of our two Gloucesters.  We have the Greasy Pole and they have their Cheese Wheel Rolling….both are pretty peculiar to outsiders.  We are located on historic Gloucester Harbor…the country’s oldest fishing port and they are located on the Severn’s River…and are one of England’s most inland ports.

Another fun similarity is that we both have Tall Ship Festivals.  Our is Labor Day weekend (read all about it HERE) and theirs is happening in a few days!

You can read all about theirs HERE! 

We took another little pitstop on the way home from baseball last night.  There are so many amazing nooks and crannies around Cape Ann to enjoy and discover.

Good Morning Gloucester readers will receive a 10% discount if registering for summer program sessions at Harborlight Montessori in Beverly this summer.  Harborlight’s campus is located conveniently right off of Exit 18.   Summer sessions run each day from 8:30-3:00 with extended day options available from 7:30-8:30 and from 3:00-5:30.

Use code GMG to receive your discount when clicking on the second green button on the link below. 

Read all about Summer at Harborlight below or by following the link.

http://www.engageyourworld.org/engage/summer-program/

Harborlight welcomes students from 4 months to 14 years to explore their world. Harborlight provides a  safe, caring, vibrant community where independence, cooperation, and exploration are encouraged.

During the Summer Program,  for older students, the adventures in learning allow them to discover something unknown about the world around them and reveal something about themselves—engaging in cooperative hands-on activities, exploring the areas of arts, science, and engineering, invest in forming new friendships.

For our youngest students it is the daily, small, independent tasks that make each day an adventure in learning— discovering the magical space of the children’s gardens, or using their little hands to squeeze lemons for lemonade.

Summer Program is open to community and is licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care.

For children in Grades 1-7, there are eight individual week-long  programs that engage the students in hands-on learning opportunities with field trips and overnight opportunities, too.

This summer’s options for those students are:

MAD SCIENCE: Secret Agent Lab,  July 8-12

Percy Jackson’s Challenge, July 15-19

Ready Set Chef, July 22-26

Bike Week, July 29-August 2

Wilderness Explorers, August 5-9

I Survived, August 12-16

The Art of Summer, August 19-23

This summer, Children’s House and Kindergarten students can travel the world this summer with Harborlight’s  international travel curriculum, Passports!  Each student will get a “passport” and earn a stamp for every continent they visit, with different areas of the world highlighted every week.  Students will learn and have fun through engaging interdisciplinary projects, games and cooking activities.

In the month of  July, journey through North America, learning about the countries, customs, animals and landmarks in the United States and Canada.  Also, explore the largest continent in the world, Asia, learn to use chopsticks, speak and write in Chinese and participate in a mock “Chinese New Year parade”.  Next, go on a safari in Africa and learn about the African animals, customs and the majestic savanna.  Rounding out the month is an exploration of the language, culture and food of South America.

In August, explore the continent of Europe’s beautiful architecture, famous landmarks, rich culture and amazing food! Also, journey to the exciting continent of Australia, home of the Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforests.   Finally, beat the heat of the summer and visit the coldest continent in the world: Antarctica. Learn now animals keep themselves warm and discover the unique features of this climate and land.

Well, this can only mean one thing…..St. Peter’s Fiesta must be coming soon??*Correction 😉   Seems this could actually mean something else!  The awesome Donna Ardizzoni pointed out that these rides are probably here for for the petting zoo carnival fundraiser that is taking place this weekend for the fireworks and concert fundraiser!  She’s so smart!!

Visit the the fun this weekend! Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. in the 65 Rogers St., the I-4, C-2 lot. Free admission and small cost to purchase tickets for carnival rides.

On another note, these funny green guys were totally giving me the stink eye.

Soon enough.   If the weather ever stays warm, we are looking forward to bike rides to Rockport’s Lobster Pool restaurant and oceanfront seafood dinners with this awesome view.

Be the reason someone smiles today.  I know that the whole “random act of kindness” thing isn’t exactly new and that no one really needs me telling them to spread cheer, but I wanted to tell you a super quick little story anyway….

Yesterday, a person who I adore and respect immeasurably left me a voice message thanking me for something that I did….that, really wasn’t a very big deal at all.  In his message he told me how special it was and called me a, “Bloody Star.”  I mean, come on.  It totally made me smile and, quite honestly, made my day.

So, be someone’s little boost today. Be the reason someone smiles unexpectedly today. Shoot a super nice text, send an email letting someone know that you appreciate them, leave a super nice voice mail….or, better even still, tell someone in person how great they are.  Make someone’s day.

If, by chance, someone does something nice for you or makes you smile by surprise, feel free to tell us about it here.  Good stuff.

2019 Gloucester Public Schools Citywide Arts Festival

Saturday, May 11, 2019

I know for sure that the annual Gloucester Public Schools Arts Festival is a favorite yearly event for many, many families.  With a perfect combination of both performance and visual art….and with the work and artistic creativity of each school in the district represented….this is truly a special event.   There will be both live performances and art displays for all to enjoy at the Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester’s City Hall, and the Sawyer-Free Library.   The day’s events will kick off with a Proclamation by Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken at 11:15 at City Hall and will continue until 4:00 pm.

Please also stop by and put your stamp….well, fish….on the collaborative Koi Fish art project that will be taking place between 12-2 in the courtyard of the Cape Ann Museum.

All three venues are within easy walking distance of each other….helping to make this event as easy as it is wonderful!

Please refer to the information and schedule provided in the official press release below…and we hope to see you there! 

Gloucester Public School Arts Festival on May 11th to celebrate the artistic creativity and talent from students in every school in the District.  Event sponsored by the Gloucester Education Foundation.

Gloucester, Mass., — The annual Gloucester Public Schools Arts Festival is celebrating the talents of Gloucester students with another extensive downtown event, featuring art and performances from children in every school in the Gloucester Public School District.

The annual Gloucester Public Schools Arts Festival takes place on Saturday, May 11, 2019 and is a showcase of student visual and performance art, including painting, ceramics, photography, woodworking, theater and music from every school in the district. This celebration features art and performances from children in every school in the Gloucester Public School District. Art will be on display and performances will take place throughout the downtown area — in City Hall, Sawyer Free Library, and the Cape Ann Museum.

All are invited to participate in a collaborative art project—making Koi fish creations with paper – that will take place from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Cape Ann Museum courtyard.

 If you go…

What: Gloucester Public Schools Arts Festival

When: Saturday, May 11, from 11 am to 4 pm (see below for a schedule of events)

Where: Sawyer Free Library, City Hall, Cape Ann Museum

2019 Gloucester Public Schools Arts Festival Schedule of Events

(subject to change)

Performances

Cape Ann Museum:

12 noon – 2 pm          Community Art Project – Creating Koi Fish with Paper (Courtyard)

Rain Location:  Sawyer Free Library – Main level (near elevators)

12:15- 12:35               Veterans’ 4th & 5th Grade Chorus “The Gleeful Eagles” (Auditorium)

12:40 – 1                     GHS Chorus Performance (Auditorium)

2 – 2:30                       GHS Theatre Program Performance: Selections from Mamma Mia!  (Auditorium)

City Hall Auditorium:

11:15                           Proclamation by Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken

11:30 – 12 noon          Mad Hot Ball Demonstration (District 5th Graders)

12:05 – 12:30              Recorder Performance (District 3rd Graders)

12:35 – 1                     Ukulele Performance (East Gloucester & Plum Cove 4th Graders)

1:05 – 1:35                  Dancing Through the Decades with Sarah Slifer Swift of MAGMA

1:35 -2:35                   GHS Engineering Department Interactive Demonstration

3 – 3:25                       O’Maley Chorus and Stage Band Performance

3:30 -4                        GHS Docksiders Performance

Sawyer-free Library:

12:30 – 1                     Music, Song & Dance with Sound Harbor – Session 1 (Friend Room)

1:30 – 2                       Music, Song & Dance with Sound Harbor – Session 2 (Friend Room)

All Day Visual Art Displays

Cape Ann Museum:

• Gloucester Pre-School
• Beeman – Blue
• West Parish – Green
• Veterans’ – Red

City Hall:

• O’Maley Innovation Middle School (Auditorium)
• Art Haven (Auditorium)
• GHS Cabinet Design (Auditorium)

 Sawyer-free Library:

• GHS Visual Arts, Clayworks, Photography (Matz Gallery/First level)
• East Gloucester – Black (Mezzanine)
• Plum Cove – Purple
• West Parish – Green

100 Venues! 10 Fridays!  All for free!

Thanks to the Highland Foundation, Free Friday Fun is back for the summer of 2019!

READ MUCH MORE HERE: http://www.highlandstreet.org/programs/free-fun-fridays-2019

Scroll down to see the FULL LIST OF FREE FUN on this year’s 10 different Fridays!

Our Free Fun Fridays offer visitors no-cost admission to many of the most treasured cultural venues in Massachusetts. This program was created to increase access and enrichment opportunities for children and families throughout Massachusetts during the summer months. Every Friday, from the end of June through the end of August, multiple sites are open for free. We reach out to schools, veterans groups, libraries, seniors centers, and many other community organizations to ensure that everyone knows that they are also welcome.

Looks like the Nathaniel Bowditch swallowed up the Tom Slaughter down in the boat yard.

Gloucester, Ma’s newest best friend from Gloucester, England just finished breaking the World Record for distance gone on a treadmill in a 7 Day stretch.  Congratulations, Jamie McDonald….Adventureman.

See caption from Jamie’s Facebook Page below:

He’s done it!!!

Jamie is now the (unofficial, until verified) world record holder of the @guinnessworldrecords record for the greatest distance covered in 7 days on a treadmill 💪💪💪

As Jamie said when he equalled the record though… records aren’t just there to be broken, they’re there to be SMASHED!!!

We had a crowd of 500+ here to watch him break the record – let’s have the same here for the finish at 1pm!

Please do keep donating atwww.superherofoundation.org/donate

 — atCineworld Gloucester Quays.

For anyone who might imagine that the opportunity to run a bit, walk a bit, run a bit, and walk a bit in an enclosed area, protected by the elements, for 7 days is anything less of a monumental task than was running 210 marathons in the USA for 11.5 months ….. I can assure you… it was not.

Thanks to a YouTube live streaming feed and the social media prowess of the amazing Superhero Foundation team, every second of the past 7 days was available for viewing, cheering, supporting, and worrying.   As they predicted in the beginning, it was a week that was full of very high highs….and very low lows.

With an average of 2-4 hours of sleep late each night….and a faster pace during the day to make up for slightly more sleep than originally estimated… Jamie nailed it.  The end was not always easily visible though.   In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, I dare say that Jamie was incredibly close to quitting.  The pain he was in was palpable and it was hard to imagine he could recover from it.  With an amazing amount of support from his physical therapist, Sylvia, and the one and only AdventureDAD (Don McDonald), Jamie somehow found the strength to persevere and plow ahead.  He later said that the pain and inability to walk early that morning took him back to his childhood.  With his mobility stolen at a young age and a long fight to get it back….he knew that this week, despite it all, he needed to find the strength to just keep moving.

And keep moving he did.  Right past the old World Record and on to a new one.

At about 10:45 this morning, London time….and 5:45 our time, Jamie matched the previous record to much fanfare gathered in the plaza of the Cineworld Gloucester Quays

With a live band, a crowd of about 500 supporters, his dad, his mum, his amazing Anna McNuff (read all about how cool she is here), Sylvia, Ian, his phenomenal Superhero Foundation team, and many,  many others…. Jamie just kept moving.

The old World Record stood at 517 miles….or about 833 kilometers.  This morning Adventureman sealed the deal with a new record of 844 kilometers (still being made official).  

To watch video highlights of this past week, or parts of his US Super Run (that recently ended in our very own Gloucester, Ma), or his run across Canada, or his 12 day marathon static cycling ride, OR his bicycle ride from Bangkok to Gloucester, England….. check out Adventureman’s YouTube channel HERE!

And….while you’re at it, please consider donating HERE

For starters, I highly recommend that you watch an oldie, but goodie….one of Jamie’s original trailers….here:

https://youtu.be/XicDMvoVW7c

Thatch and I stopped by Plum Cove Beach for some quiet time after a long day of school, work, homework, baseball, lacrosse, etc.   It was nice to sit still for a minute and enjoy the view.

Good Morning from Granite Pier.  I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

I apologize for the graphic nature of these photos, so if you are viewing on Facebook do not click on the link if you do not wish to see more.

My salty boys were off on a bike ride and one of their weekly explorations of the harbor in Rockport when they happened across this sad sight.  While nothing about this dead baby seal makes me happy, the story itself makes me glad once again that we live where we live.

After a morning of volunteering, presenting the color guard, and walking in Gloucester’s Pride Stride with his US Navy Sea Cadet Division for Thatch and a lacrosse double-header (with two nice wins) for Finn….the boys asked to ride downtown to explore for a bit (aka…get an ice cream).

Again, I’m sad that they happened across this seal, but I can’t help but like how they handled it.  Thatch, who at least in one little way takes after me, was sure to capture many photos….not just of the seal, but also a quick video to demonstrate exactly where it was found.  Next, after discussing what may have happened to it, they FaceTimed me to show me where they were, show me the seal, and ask permission to report it.   After we talked, they rode to T-Wharf, found Rosemary and Scott, Rockport’s Harbormasters, who were conveniently pulling into the dock at the time, and told them about the baby seal.

Later on they sat and looked at the photos once again trying to decide what could have gone wrong.