Author: Pat D

We came across our friends the seals on the rocks at Brace Cove on a recent sunny day. I understand they are not exactly sunning themselves, but rather “thermo-regulating” but that doesn’t have the same poetic rhythm for a post title. I counted at least 17 of them, which is a larger group than I have seen in the past. They are just hard to resist.

We met friends for dinner at the Brown Dog on Central Ave in Ipswich recently. I think our fellow GMG contributor Nichole has recommended this place previously and I have been wanting to try it out for a while. It was a quiet weeknight and social distancing was not a challenge. The tavern atmosphere is cozy and warm. The masked staff was very friendly and helpful.

I tried the Reuben Sandwich, which I’d heard was highly recommended and it was very satisfying! Big enough to use a knife, but small enough to pick up. I also had their hand cut potato chips…a treat. Jim had the mac and cheese burger, which (as you can see) was mountainous. Irish coffee finished the wonderful meal for me. We’ll be back! I suggest you give it a try if you have not.

In between snow squalls and sunshine, we stopped at the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial and noticed she casts a long shadow, not surprisingly….. Always stunning.

The NEW Cape Ann YMCA website indicates it is scheduled to reopen this month and it appears they are very close to meeting that timeline. Construction is moving right along and several amenities are part of membership including outdoor turf field, Breakwater Roasters Cafe location, outdoor splash pad and recreation area as well as a state of the art gym! Consider membership and get ready for the new YMCA coming very soon!

A small St. Joseph’s Novena Mass was celebrated yesterday by Fr. Benetti at the Bishop Fenwick High School Chapel to bless the annual altar for the Gloucester Novena women. I do not know most of them by name, but Felicia Ciaramitaro Mohan and her mother Pat as well as Sefatia Romeo Theken made the arrangements and attended the Mass. Several others were a big help as well, but I unfortunately do not know their names. The Mass was livestreamed and is available here on the Good Morning Gloucester blog.

It was a blessing on its own to be able to attend and share such an event especially at this hopeful time in the pandemic crisis.

Where are you having breakfast this morning? May I suggest Mom’s Kitchen on Commercial Street? We stopped by this week in a tribute to having been at Mom’s Kitchen one year ago this week (March 12) after they had just reopened, but, ironically, everything else was starting to shutdown due to COVID 19. We have come a long way this year and it seemed logical to start this “new” post vaccination era with our friends at Mom’s Kitchen.

We podcast from there last March with the Mayor, Gloucester Public Health Director Karin Carroll and Sista Felicia. We didn’t intend for it to turn into such the chaos that it did during the podcast with shutdowns being announced steadily as we broadcast. We just didn’t know then where this was all going. Here’s the link to GMG Gloucestercast 387 in case you are interested from March 12 2020.

In the meantime, we visited this past week in cautious optimism that things may begin to look more normal soon. Jim had a veggie omelet, I had scrambled eggs with homemade salsa (excellent). We had a nice chat with Mom herself. The meal was relaxed, easygoing and satisfying, while maintaining necessary protocols. All our restaurant friends have had a heck of a time and we plan to try to support as many as we can as long as we feel safe…..and we have felt safe in all that I have shared with you all.

I promised I would include a live link to the new Massachusetts preregistration website when it became available this morning and it is: https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine This link can be used to request to book an appointment at one the the state’s mass vaccination sites. It will put you in line when you are eligible and notify you when an appointment is available. It further promises to keep you updated on a weekly basis as they warn it may take several weeks to secure a slot.

Preregistered people are encouraged to check the “vax finder” website here to book appointments at sites other than the state mass vaccination sites. This could mean getting an earlier appointment. You can work both tools to locate appointments. Preregistration does not exclude you from booking sooner at a different location when possible.

We are making progress toward a more normal daily routine!

It’s been busy on the water these last several days and we enjoy watching some crews return to the harbor and others leave, presumably with high hopes for a good day. Among others, here we see Marissa & Julie meet William E.; Cat Eyes and Allison-Carol.

We received this request for volunteers from Carol Mondello. It’s actually a great deal of fun to meet our visitors and have a chance to share knowledge about our favorite Gloucester spots, so give this opportunity some consideration!

“Good Morning,
I’m so happy to be planning to open as usual this coming season so I wanted to check in and see how you were doing and what your thoughts were on coming back this summer. I intend to allow visitors in at a reduced capacity with masks and social distancing required and of course additional cleaning protocols. Sources predict we will have a robust season with lots of people wanting to get out and about this summer. 
Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon. 

—
Carol MondelloWelcoming Center CoordinatorStage Fort Park 978-281-8865

The State has developed a new preregistration system for those seeking vaccine appointments. Beginning tomorrow, Friday March 12, you can sign up and be enrolled in a virtual queue to be notified when an appointment is available for you at one of the mass vaccination sites. Residents are cautioned that it may take several weeks for an appointment to become available, but this seems like an opportunity to ease some of the anxiety caused by trying to obtain appointments in the current method. To learn more: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/preregister-for-a-covid-19-vaccine-appointment When a link to the preregistration is available, we will provide it (tomorrow)

More big news as described by NBC10: In a second major announcement, officials said the state’s seven mass vaccination sites will be reserved exclusively for educators during four dedicated days on Saturday, March 27, Saturday, April 3, Saturday, April 10, and Sunday, April 11.

This is pretty big news and a sign that perhaps we are gaining on this virus and heading to better days ahead.

Reflection on still waters.

It was low tide on a beautiful day at Wingaersheek Beach earlier this week. I enjoyed walking out past the channel marker to see the Annisquam Lighthouse from a new (to me) angle.

Joey recently reminded me of how great the lobster carbonara is at Oliver’s Harbor on Main Street, so we made a point to get down there to indulge. Thanks to Hannah, our server, for great service! We sat appropriately distanced at the bar, masks and sanitizing stations on full display so we felt safe. Jim had one of the specials that night: peanut crusted mahi mahi which he enjoyed very much. It’s one of our favorite places for the great food, welcoming atmosphere and friendly service.

You may remember from my eagle post yesterday that I posed a question to our readers to assist in confirming the “intruder” who seemed to be harassing the 2 adult eagles flying high over the sky in Magnolia recently. I had originally thought it was a hawk, but upon closer examination of the photos, I wondered if it might be a juvenile.

I heard from Larissa Smith of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey: “I work for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ on the NJ Bald Eagle Project. That is an immature eagle, probably a 3year old bird. It is interesting that the adults were carrying sticks which would indicate nesting somewhere in the area.” Thank you Larissa! Three eagles over Magnolia….here are a few additional photos.

The Windward Grille on Eastern Ave Essex is reopening for indoor dining this week! Spring really is on the way! We hope to get there soon.

We were very happy to see an eagle fly into a tree in our Magnolia yard and examine an abandoned hawk nest. We have seen this a few times over the past few weeks but yesterday we got quite a show! The eagle sitting in the hawk nest got actively harassed by a red tail hawk, screeching in protest at the bigger predator. The eagle took off, stick in mouth and I lost it for a bit. Then an eagle landed in another tree at the edge of the marsh then took off in a soaring flight back and forth over a wide area. Pretty soon, another eagle joined up and this couple stuck together as an intruder interrupted their peaceful Sunday flyover. At first we thought the intruder was a hawk, but closer examinations of the photos puts that in doubt for me. The third bird had coloring that suggests it could be a juvenile eagle but I am just not certain. Perhaps someone out there with more detailed knowledge will weigh in?

Anyhow, one of the eagles and the intruder skirmished a bit in mid flight before the second eagle came in as reinforcement. This lasted several minutes overhead and was difficult to photograph so high in the sky so some of these are a little bit fuzzy. It was an amazing sight to witness. After a bit, the eagle couple flew off together toward the harbor and we hope to see them again soon!!!

Tomorrow is Monday and that’s a reason to celebrate because that means it’s $12 Burger and Beer night at the Beauport. Hope to see you there! Last week’s special menu choices shown below. I recommend the chicken…..on Burger Night….YES!

It seemed to be all lines and shadows, waves and blowing sand at Good Harbor Beach recently. A little lonely but not for long.

The State Pier is always interesting……..

“The more things change, the more they stay the same” is one of those phrases I didn’t understand too well as a kid, but I understand much better now. Though season, tides and weather changes, we have certain stable reminders of our history,