Author: Pat D

This is a very nice display honoring our veterans located on 133 near Gibbs Hill Road. I smile every time I drive by. Thank you to whomever put up such a lovely tribute.

Gloucester Veterans Day Virtual Ceremony details from their Facebook event page:

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the current restrictions on group numbers Cape Ann Veterans Services has joined with 1623 Studios to produce a pre-recorded Veterans Day Ceremony. Please join us on Wednesday November 11, 2020 to honor and celebrate our Veterans. Links and times are as follows:
Comast Channel 12: 10am, 3pm, 8pm
Youtube: 10am on 1623 Studios
Facebook 12pm on 1623 Studios and Cape Ann Veterans Services

This ceremony features speaker Chief Conley of the Gloucester Police as well as our Mayor, Senator Tarr and Representative Ferrante. It is hosted by Adam J. Cucuru, Director Cape Ann Veterans Services. Featuring the musical talents of Alexandra Grace and GMG’s own Jim Dalpiaz. I hope you can join us sometime today to honor our veterans.

Image borrowed from their Facebook event page:

We took a ride to Parker River Wildlife Refuge seeking eagles, so I was very excited to spot a white tail sailing around the marshes. Closer looks indicated it was definitely not an eagle, but a hawk; probably a Northern Harrier. It was hunting relentlessly and another even joined up briefly. It’s very intriguing to watch nature up close and personally at places like Parker River. It is well worth the ride if you like to watch birds and other animals. There are also hiking trails and beaches to visit. We have a lifetime senior pass (very reasonable) and there are several other programs for cheaper/free access. Info available here. These passes are good several federal recreation sites. Military, 4th and 5th graders are eligible for FREE passes! Check out the link above. We are very fortunate to have this resource so close to us.

In the meantime, some Norther Harrier on the hunt photos. If I am mistaken on identification, I welcome input. I am no expert beyond knowing these aren’t my eagles!

What a glorious few days this has been recently! And the beach looks especially inviting.

It was a spectacular fall afternoon earlier this week down on Dolliver’s Neck!

Seems like a good way to end the day! Eagle landing in the tree in the backyard at sunset.

We recently returned to Oliver’s Harbor on Main Street in Gloucester and quickly realized how much we had missed them! We prefer to eat in the bar area to people watch and check out the sports on TV. It’s a great bar area at Oliver’s with varied seating (all distanced and sanitized appropriately). The bread and oil were outstanding—-the oil was LOADED with garlic cloves and olives. Just right. I chose one of the specials: chicken broccoli alfredo and was not disappointed. The alfredo was light, the chicken and broccoli were plentiful. Jim went with the baked haddock — nothing remained to take home! Melanie was our cheerful and efficient server. As with other restaurants we have been to since reopening, we felt safely distanced and secure in the obvious sanitation efforts the staff is putting forth.

Over the summer, we met some nice people on a Lannon sail (hello photographer Judith!) and recommended Oliver’s Harbor to them. They were unable to get in that day, but I hope they will return one day and give it a try!

We spent a little time knocking around the dock yesterday and watched some boats come in, get off-loaded and restocked. Just like a well oiled machine! The Stanley Thomas and Pretty Girl are featured here.

Blessed in Gloucester. End of day light on the back shore this week. No retouching needed.

It was a pretty afternoon at Lane’s Cove recently. Lucky enough indeed.

Red, white and blue on Rockport Harbor is your voting reminder!

Significant updates are being put into place by Governor Baker effective November 6. I recommend you review these changes carefully. November 6 is Friday! From the City of Gloucester:

City of Gloucester COVID-19 Update – November 2, 2020

The City of Gloucester continues to advance measures to limit person to person contact to help slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).  Everyone should continue to follow the guidelines and recommendations from the City, the CDC and the DPH.  

The following are timely updates, announcements, and reminders from the City.

COVID-19 Updates & Information

STAY AT HOME ADVISORY:  Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced a Stay a Home Advisory that is set to begin on November 6.  All residents of Massachusetts are advised to stay home between the hours of 10pm and 5am.   Residents are asked to only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking emergency medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, picking up take-out food, or receiving deliveries.    

EARLY CLOSURE OF BUSINESSES & ACTIVITIES:  Governor Baker also issued a new executive order that requires the early closure of certain businesses and activities each night at 9:30 PM. The 9:30 PM closure requirement is aligned with the Stay At Home Advisory and together the two new initiatives are designed to further limit activities that could lead to COVID-19 transmission. Effective November 6, the following businesses and activities must close to the public each day between the hours of 9:30 PM and 5:00 AM.

• Restaurants (in-person dining must cease at 9:30 PM, although takeout and delivery may continue for food and non-alcoholic beverages, but not alcohol)
• Liquor stores and other retail establishments that sell alcohol must cease alcohol sales at 9:30 PM (but may continue to sell other products)
• Adult-use marijuana sales must cease at 9:30 PM (not including medical marijuana)
• Indoor & outdoor events
• Theaters/movie theaters (including drive-in movie theaters), and performance venues (indoor and outdoor)
• Youth and adult amateur sports activities
• Golf facilities
• Recreational boating and boating businesses
• Driving and flight schools
• Close contact personal services (such as hair and nail salons)
• Gyms, Fitness Centers and Health Clubs
• Indoor and outdoor pools
• Museums/cultural & historical facilities/guided tours

GATHERINGS ORDER UPDATED: Governor Baker also signed an updated order restricting gatherings. The new gatherings order reduces the gathering size limit for gatherings at private residences: indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 10 people and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 25 people. The limit on gatherings held in public spaces and at event venues (e.g. wedding venues) remains the same. The new order also requires that all gatherings (regardless of size or location) must end and disperse by 9:30 PM.

FACE COVERING ORDER:  Governor Baker also signed an updated order related to face-coverings. The revised order requires all persons to wear face-coverings in all public places, even where they are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. The revised order still allows for an exception for residents who cannot wear a face-covering due to a medical or disabling condition, but it allows employers to require employees to provide proof of such a condition. It also allows schools to require that students participating in in-person learning provide proof of such a medical or disabling condition.

MA TRAVEL ORDER IN EFFECT:  All visitors and returning residents are required to fill out a “Massachusetts Traveler Form” unless they are coming from a state that has been designated a lower risk COVID-19 state or fall into an exemption category. The new travel order also provides that visitors and returning residents arriving in Massachusetts from any place other than a COVID-19 lower-risk state must quarantine for 14-days unless they can produce a negative COVID-19 test result administered on a sample taken not more than 72-hours prior to arriving in Massachusetts.  For more details please visit mass.gov/matraveler.

LOWER RISK STATES:  Travelers from COVID-19 lower-risk States are not required to fill out the Massachusetts Travel Formand do not need to quarantine. States are included on the list based on meeting two criteria: average daily cases per 100K below 6 AND positive test rate below 5%, both measured as a 7-day rolling average.   The current list of COVID-19 lower-risk states, which was recently amended, includes: California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington.  

TIPS FOR A SAFE AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING:  Traveling and gathering with family and friends for Thanksgiving will look different this year to keep loved ones safe from COVID-19. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) provided guidance for holiday celebrations to help limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and reduce the spread of the virus.  Read the full press release here.  

Status of Cases

As of today, November 2 the status of COVID-19 cases in the City of Gloucester were as follows:

• 458 overall cases (411 confirmed and 47 probable);
• 419 recovered; 
• 26 COVID-19 related deaths; and 
• 13 active cases.

 For a list of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts, which is updated every evening, click here.   

City Updates & Information

IMPORTANT NOVEMBER 3 ELECTION DATES AND REMINDERS:  For important November 3 election related information including election related deadlines, in-person early voting dates/times, and polling locations please clickhere.  

VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS:  The City of Gloucester is utilizing the Zoom platform for remote participation of public meetings.  Virtual Public Meeting Forums are open to the public.  For a list of all upcoming scheduled meetings, including meeting agendas, click here.  For Zoom links to access these remote meetings click here. 

STAY INFORMED, SIGN UP FOR CITY EMERGENCY ALERTS/WEBSITE NOTIFICATIONS:  City officials have and will continue to use the Smart911 system to share information and updates regarding COVID-19 as the situation surrounding the virus continues to evolve. To sign up for Smart 911 go to http://www.gloucester-ma.gov/384/Emergency-Alerting. To review current subscription selections and/or sign up for City of Gloucester website notifications go to http://gloucester-ma.gov/list.aspx.

Health Guidance and Recommendations

According to the CDC, symptoms of the virus appear within 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.  People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19: Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing or at least two of these symptoms:   fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.  

 If you display symptoms or suspect that you may have come into contact with a person who may be infected, please contact your primary care provider immediately.

Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Please wear a mask or face covering when out in public, maintain a safe physical distance of 6 feet from others, wash and sanitize your hands and frequently touched surfaces often, and stay home if you’re sick.    

Thanks to these hard working gentlemen for the work at the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial last week. They all need a little TLC now and again and it was nice to see this. Thank you! It’s one of our favorite spots.

After the podcast last week, we took my sister Paula to Mom’s Kitchen for breakfast. It was so filling, she was still stuffed when she got back to New York ! YUMMMMMM…..weekly specials and hours here. We got a breakfast sandwich on a bagel, a veggie omelet and scrambled eggs. Always friendly, always great food.

I have been wanting to stop by the Latoff Farmhouse Kitchen for a while now and we finally took the opportunity. The menu is wide ranging and service is offered through the takeout window. They do not accept debit or credit cards, but cash, check or Venmo are welcome. Jim’s cranberry walnut chicken salad sandwich on a bagel was quickly finished! See that, Joey? More information regarding hours and menu is available here. It is located on 127 in Rockport near the transfer station. Well worth the short ride.

We recently enjoyed sunset from high atop Gloucester at Pilot’s Hill thanks to friend Bex Borden! Cheers to a glorious view!

We love the Fox Creek Tavern in Ipswich! It’s easy to make online reservations, which I recommend as they can get pretty busy especially on the weekends. On this trip we had margherita flatbeard, Nashville chicken and Cajun Chicken with pasta. James was our server and we saw our friendly manager Cecelia working frantically behind the bar. the very relaxed, yet socially distanced, atmosphere adds to the pleasure of the visit. We’ll be back soon!

Special birthday shoutout to the Boss: Joey Ciaramitaro! As the article says, Joey shows the best of the city from the dock to the block! Here’s a photo that accompanied an article from Wicked Local in 2009 featuring our favorite podcaster and blogger Joey C. Eleven years since the article and he still shows the best of the city to the rest of the world. Thanks Joey and special wishes for a great day. You’ve barely aged.

Time is running out to vote early at City Hall. I’ve been helping by checking people into the building and have been meeting many early voters. I’m also meeting those whose names I recognize as blog followers, so I have especially enjoyed that. Early voting continues until Friday Oct 30 and is available during City Hall hours: Today Wednesday Oct 28 8:30 am -4 pm; Thursday Oct 29 8:30 am – 6:30 pm and ( last day) Friday Oct 30 8:30 am – 12:30pm* note 12:30 closing on Friday. More info available here. You can return absentee ballots, vote in person at your polling place on Tuesday Nov 3 or vote early at City Hall until Friday. Just vote.

Special thanks to Pauline’s for the flag pin and to the Generous Gardeners/ Maggie Rosa for the flowers.

A new sign shows a new business coming soon to the Walgreens Plaza on Main Street!