Author: Pat D

Here’s a chance to lend a hand to a worthy project AND motivate you to clean out those closets! Deadline April 16.

The YMCA is developing the Patillo building on Middle Street into affordable housing. This is how the construction project is coming along. For more information click this link.

We went to The Lobster on East Main St yesterday to have dinner with our guests and check out the First Annual NGOM (North Gulf of Maine) Shuck Off. It was a great event that drew quite a crowd. Kudos to the hard working staff at The Lobster for juggling all the craziness. Here’s the last part of the final round:

My favorite steak bomb hands down is available at Minglewood. All you have to do is ask for it! The sandwich arrives with freshly prepared shaved steak, onions and peppers surrounded by a crispy crunchy roll. The topper is that the roll is crusty without tearing your mouth into shreds. The second best part is that the sandwich is manageable with two hands and no utensils if you choose. Can you tell it hit the spot for me? Win Win Minglewood! Thank you for another winning menu item.

Sharing photos from Sugar Mags announcement of their Main Street opening at the former Oliver’s Harbor location. Open 7 am – 1 pm. I stop in for a scone which was perfect. Several customers were enjoying breakfast. Welcome back!

Sharing this information from Facebook regarding an upcoming fundraiser in Magnolia. Save the date!

Sharing information from The Lobster. This sounds like a great event. Hope to see many of you there.

The day many of us are awaiting is on the horizon! Tomorrow April 9 Lobsta Land on Causeway St. reopens for the season.

Sharing information about the annual Pizza Taste Off event:

It’s a joy to see the harbor busy with activity during scallop season. Welcome and thank you!

Once again our community stepped up for the Left-Right-Center fundraiser at the Gloucester Elks. Over $28000 was raised to benefit the Lily Jean families with the amazing support of area businesses and individuals. We sincerely feel blessed by all the donations for the raffles and auction as well as cash donations. It was an amazing night. Thank you Gloucester Elks, John Jerome, Anthony Saputo and many many others including committee members Annie Rochon, Pam Parsons, and Linda Miller led by the incredible Dee and Steve Noble. There was a great deal of support all around. Bless this community and our fishing families.

The Ernestina Morrissey is shedding her winter wrap and she seems to have weathered the winter like the queen that she is. Happy Easter to all!

We hope you will join us tonight for the Lily Jean Left-Right-Center fundraiser at the Gloucester Elks. Seats still available for the tournament at the door ($30 to play) or you can join the fun with light refreshments, raffles and a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit the families.

Also, Pat D’s Photos will be at the Minglewood Market starting at 11 am this morning if you need last minute basket fillers or hostess gifts.

The building at 20 Main St previously housed Fisherman’s Outfitters. Demolition has begun. I believe the plans call for a mixed use multi family construction.

Sorry Joey, I am doubling down on the hummingbird feeeding stations at my house this year. Not that you EVAH win, but this year’s selections for the hummingbirds and orioles will be hands-down winners. We can expect them to start returning mid April but it’s a good idea to put the feeders out a couple of weeks in advance so they see the red right away. I’m going to try the same with the Baltimore Orioles. And we’re off……

A shout out to the staff at Addison Gilbert! I was recently there for some routine testing which was handled in a friendly and efficient manner getting me on my way in only about 20 minutes total. I had arrived early for a testing appointment expecting to have paperwork to do but was taken straight in without fuss. What a treat! I then made my way to the second stop which, again, was in-and-out easy peasy. I was actually back in my car before the original appointment time.

I understand everyone has had their own experiences some good and some difficult but on this day, Addison Gilbert and its staff shone. We are very fortunate to have this facility available to us. I was watching “The Pitt” recently and there was a case where the characters had to drive 2+ hours to get to emergency help due to rural hospital shutdowns. I am grateful to have AGH right in our backyard.

For you music fans out there: Diamond Cove returns soon to Washington Street.

We hope you can join us Saturday April 4 at the Gloucester Elks on Atlantic Road for the Left-Right-Center fundraiser starting at 4 pm. $30 if you want to play; $10 admission for others. John Jerome performing, light snacks available , bar open….save the date. Proceeds to benefit the families.

Vote Tuesday March 31: polls open 7 am- -8 pm. Special Election for Ann Margaret Ferrante’s seat. Click here for more info: https://www.gloucester-ma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/2081

We drove over the bridge to Salem recently to visit the Peabody Essex Museum on a rainy day. Naturally, we were looking for lunch and libations afterward. We walked a very short distance to the Village Tavern on Essex Street. Our first impression upon walking in was to be reminded of the pubs we visited in Ireland. Several rooms, eclectic wall decor, large bar area all took us back to Ireland. Jim had pretzel bites and we ordered a pizza (delicious). I am always drawn to old newspapers and there was a front page from 1914 in a Salem newspaper describing some of the aftermath of what came to be known as the Great Salem Fire of 1914. It destroyed hundreds of buildings and left 18,000 people homeless over a 2 day period in late June. One of the articles on the front page described a commission being set up to assist residents and business owners with recovery and John B. Tivnan was named to head that effort. Low and behold, John B. Tivnan is on my family tree on the Gloucester side! I just happened to see this wall hanging, took a closer look and found a Gloucester tie. More to come on the Tivnan family connections. What a day! And the food was just right. If you’re over that way, check it out.