Category: Chickity check it!

Chickity Check It!- The Clam

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

http://gloucesterclam.wordpress.com/

James Dowdā€™s writing should really be all you need to know to make this an instant bookmark and follow.

(Plus heā€™ll get into all that icky politics stuff that I canā€™t stand)

Look what you made us do

Posted by jamesdowd

We have resisted blogging about Gloucester for a couple of reasons. First, Gloucester was previously covered by an actual newspaper, the Gloucester Daily Times [paywall. Seriously!] Sadly, the GDT has suffered in quality of late. Oh, letā€™s not sugar coat it, they are awful. Like ā€˜painful groin rashā€™ wretched. In our opinion Gloucester essentially has no functioning newspaper now, and certainly not one with a useful online presence. This means a lot of Gloucester viewpoints are not being heard.

It stinks from the head

It stinks from the head

Cape Ann Online has great discussions along with a bunch of trolling. Itā€™s a great forum for short-form stuff. But itā€™s forum-style.

Of course Joey Ciaramitaro runs a pretty boss blog Good Morning Gloucester. He covers events, food, art, the highly clickworthy winter bikini volleyball beat and now even weather and waterfront. The man has heat, but heā€™s crystal clear about one thing: He does not want to cover anything that could remotely be considered ā€œpoliticalā€. This is his right and his is blog is just that. Itā€™s great the way it is and he wants to keep it that way.

Bookmark and follow it here- http://gloucesterclam.wordpress.com/

Here is some of the greatness James dropped on GMG in years past-

 

James Dowd Breaks Down Our “unoffical” just-for-fun completely non-scientific poll (Surprise Our Margin Of Error Was Better Than Gallup)

Bike Lane Parking From Jim Dowd

Jim Dowd on the new bike lanes:

Jim Dowd and The Why Gloucester Is Hipster (and thatā€™s not a bad thing) Rant

Jim Dowdā€™s Post On Good Morning Gloucester Makes The Washington Post

Jim Dowd responds to the attack on the Boston Marathon

ā€œMake it look shitty.ā€ James Dowd latest screed on cycling in Gloucester

An Open Letter to My Bike Wheel Thief from Jim Dowd

Cape Ann Milkweed Project Seed Pickup and Information Day is Sunday, May 18th, from 9:30 to Noon

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Female Monarch Egg Marsh Milkweed Ā©Kim Smith 2011Female Monarch curling her abdomen around to the underside of a Marsh Milkweed leaf (Asclepias incarnata) to deposit an egg. Photographed inĀ Gloucester

Our milkweed and New England Aster seed pickup day is this coming Sunday from 9:30 to noon at Captain Joe and Sons. Captain Joeā€™s is located at 95 East Main Street and you can find directions posted on their website here. Thanks so much to Joey for hosting the event at the dock. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

banksy-1Banksy Image Courtesy Bing McGilvray

THE RED SHED FILM FESTIVAL AND BARBECUE ~ Coming This Saturday May 17th

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

-4

The Red Shed Film Festival is a micro film festival featuring selected short films produced on Cape Ann, by Cape Ann filmmakers, with a focus on Cape Ann. Contributing filmmakers include Henry Ferrini andĀ Kim Smith,Ā along with videos produced by C.B. Fisk and Cape Ann TV.

The films range in subject matterĀ from the creation of a C.B. Fisk pipe organĀ to local prominent writers and painters. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite film at the end of the evening.

Come for dinner and filmĀ screenings–Wallyā€™s Bistro will be on hand from 5pm to 8:30pm offering pulled pork, mac ā€˜nā€™ cheese, and much more!

The Red Shed Film Festival takes place atĀ Harvey Park, located in downtown Rockport (between High Street and Broadway) on Saturday, May 17, beginning at 7:00pm.Ā The Film Festival isĀ under the umbrella of Rockportā€™s annual Motif No.1 Day.Ā The Red Shed Film Festival is produced in conjunction with Granite Visions Video Productions. For more information please got to Rockport Art FestivalsĀ or call 978.290.9200

Twin Lights Soda, a staple of summers on Cape Ann and manufactured in Rockport for over one hundred years, will be available during the screenings.

-2-1

Chickety Check It ~ Friends of Burnham’s Field New Facebook Page!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

10341465_632893203468511_7192875601165661724_nGreat Progress being made at Burnham’s Field!!!

Checkout the Friends of Burnham’s Field Facebook Page Here!

10277747_632703783487453_4577434352950410883_n-1

g258000000000000000aa5d45c4727fea0fda0ecfd08b98a74e15bda71a
10359325_632691120155386_8545854421511404173_n

All photos courtesy Friends of Burnham’s Field

Bluets in Bloom, or Quaking Quaker Ladies

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Blue bird nesting box Azure Bluets, Quaker Ladies, Houstonia caerulea Field Ā©Kim Smith 2014Bluebird Nesting Box and Bluets

At thisĀ time of year, whenĀ you pass by a fieldĀ with patches of white, stop and have a closer look.Ā The Bluet’s tinyĀ florets are actually a dreamyĀ azure blue; the little bunchesĀ also “quake” in the seasonal breeze!Ā Also called Quaker Ladies, the sweet petite blossoms attract Little Carpenter bees,Ā Green Metallic bees, small butterflies, and the Meadow Fritillary Butterfly (Boloria bellona). Both nectar and pollen are theĀ pollinator’sĀ floral reward!

Azure Bluets, Quaker Ladies, Houstonia caerulea -2 Ā©Kim Smith 2014Azure Bluets (Houstonia caerulea)

Azure Bluets, Quaker Ladies, Houstonia caerulea Ā©Kim Smith 2014IpswichĀ River CanoersĀ and Bluets at Willowdale Estate

 

Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team Update

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Logos.AIThis is going to be a busy month.
We have a bunch of new furniture for our new office, so…
We will need to assemble it. Shelving units, file cabinets, desks.
Are you halfway handy? Well then:
Thursday May 15, 2014 Start time 4:30pm
Put It Together Party
186 Main Street, Gloucester
I have been told there will be music and snacks.

The big office move is scheduled for this next weekend:
We (CAVPT and Kestrel) are moving our office from 15 Lexington Ave. in Magnolia to 186 Main St. Gloucester in Brown’s Mall right across from the police station. The plan is to do this on Saturday, May 17th. We will need help with this. If you have a truck or a van, we could use that too.

Start gathering your donations for the Big Giant Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team/Kestrel Educational Adventures Yard Sale.
Saturday May 24, 2014, 9am-1pm. St. Peter’s Square, Gloucester
Bring your donations to St. Peter’s Square at 7am on the morning of the sale. No TVs or computers please. We will need some volunteers to work at the sale too. And, we will have some stuff at our Magnolia office which will need to be moved from the office to the sale early in the morning on Saturday. How early? Depends on how many volunteers and trucks we get.

Next show:
Sunday May 18, 2014 2-3pm
Snakes of New England and the World- one hour live animal presentation.
The barn at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, Ipswich MA
Guess what?… We’ll need volunteers.

And… here’s something:
As a result of the recent article in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, ‘Two Rick Roths Walk Into A Bar…’, Rick Roth and I have been invited to be on WGBH, Boston Public Radio on Friday May 16th from 1:35-2pm. Tune in and hear me make a fool out of myself in a new medium.

We need lots of volunteers in the next couple of weeks, so please get in touch and let me know if you can help out.
Thanks, Rick

we only have one earth, save it

New Butterfly Garden at Pathways for Children!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Pathways before -2Ā©Kim Smith 2014Breaking Ground!

Pathways Before Ā©Kim Smith 2014Pathways for Children “Before” Photo

This week we broke ground for a butterfly garden at Pathways for Children. I think it has been several years since Caroline Haines, the COO of Pathways, and I, first began discussing the possibility of a pollinatorĀ garden for Pathways. Then in the summer of 2012 we had an amazing Monarch Butterfly program for the children,Ā and believe me when I write that it was truly a fabulous event because it just so happened that very day, several of the caterpillars pupated right before the childrenā€™s eyes! Caroline, the teachers, and the students had the ā€œbug.ā€

After meeting with Caroline,Ā Pathway’s Bernie Romanowski,Ā and teacher Sandra, we determined the best use of the spaceĀ would be toĀ createĀ an outdoor classroomĀ within theĀ flowering pollinator gardenā€”no easy task as the front elevation is one long narrow sliver of space. Fortunately, though, the front of the building also faces primarily south, which is idealĀ for planting the most fun and colorful of butterfly, bee, andĀ songbird attracting plants.

Pathways Liberty Mutual Volunteers Ā©Kim Smith 2014Liberty Mutual Volunteers

Bernie secured a bobcat for exactly two hours and proceeded to rip out the overgrown and diseased trees and shrubs. Under Bernie’s direction, we were then joinedĀ by a dream team of volunteersĀ from Liberty Mutual who, in less than five hours, completely transformed the front to the beautiful canvas you see below. A fence, two-Ā foot wideĀ trellised pergola, and tableĀ are yet to be installed. And, the Manchester Garden Club has graciously offered to lend a hand with the planting!

Bernie Romanowski Ā©Kim Smith 2014 copyThe Amazing Can-Do Bernie Romanowski

Pathways new butterfly garden Ā©Kim Smith 2014Our Canvas

Stay tuned for more updates to come!

Reminder ~ My Garden Tour and Film Screening at Willowdale Estate Tuesday Evening

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Willowdale Estate Tulips Ā©Kim Smith 2012On Tuesday, May 13th, at 6pm, I will be giving a free guided tour of the butterfly gardens at Willowdale Estate, located in Topsfield. After the garden tour, we will have a screening of my film, Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly, and serve a selection of Willowdale’s exquisite refreshments. I hope you can join us!

For ticket information and to RSVP click here.

BST Banner FINAL To learn more about Willowdale, visit their beautiful new website here.

Does your Mom ROCK? Then Dance with her to ENTRAIN tonight at 8 and help restore Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Tickets at the door starting at 4pm.

EntrainPoster_900b

You have until noon tomorrow to save $10

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

EntrainPoster_900bJust because tomorrow’s Entrain concert will help raise money for Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse Restoration Fund doesn’t mean you should payĀ more than you have to.

Yesterday we told you the minute a few good seats were released for John Sebastian (they were gone within an hour of our post). Ā Today we’re giving you fair warning that $20 advance tickets for Entrain will be gone by noon tomorrow.

So get down to the Liquor Locker tonight or when they open tomorrow at 8am. Ā Or get advance ticketsĀ online here.

BREAKING NEWS: We just released a few excellent seats for tonight’s John Sebastian Concert

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Once in a while it just happens. Ā Seats that were sold or held for the band get released on the day of the show. Ā Well, that just happened for tonight’s John Sebastian concert at The Larcom TheatreĀ down the road in Beverly. Ā We figure FOBs should have first crack at snatching them up before they’re gone. Ā Get them here. Ā They won’t last very long.

Were you at Woodstock? Ā Wish you’d been there? Ā Come see John Sebastian tonight and ask him what THIS was like (watch video if you want to know what I’m talking about)

Big week in Gloucester for Brian Alex

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
Brian Alex on Local Music Seen with Allen Estes

You know that Gloucester’s music scene is going places when we can attract a star like Entrain’s Brian Alex threeĀ times in the same week!

Tonight (WED) he’ll be the featured guest on the Cape Ann TV show “Local Music Seen with Allen Estes” airing at 6:30pm. Ā And if you miss it, you can watch the whole show on-line here.

Tomorrow, you can see him live at The Rhumb LineĀ 8:30pm with Dave Sag, John Keegan, John Hyde, Mark Earley andĀ Ephraim Lowell.

Then on Saturday, he’ll be fronting theĀ ENTRAIN benefit for Gloucester’s UU Church Meetinghouse at 8pm (save $7.25 if you get tickets here). Ā It’s a good weekĀ to get a taste of Brian’s extraordinary and versatile talent!

Home-Scale Ecological Design Workshop

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Alex Sands, who is the husband ofĀ GMG super FOB LidiĀ Sands,Ā is holding a two day workshop on permaculture and ecological design.Ā For all the details, read more from Alex:

I would like to invite you to an upcoming event in which I think that you may be interested. I am co-hosting a two day workshop titled “Learn How to Transform Your Landscape into a Garden of Eden: Home-Scale Ecological Design” on May 24 and June 21.

Permaculture and ecological design are design systems which use principles which facilitate health and abundance in natural ecosystems to enhance human systems. This workshop will look at the principles of permaculture and walk through the steps of the ecological design process. Participants will learn to identify and articulate their goals, assess their site and create conceptual and master plans.

I am co-hosting this event with Kay Cafasso, an extraordinary permaculture educator from Western Massachusetts. The presentation will take place at the Lanesville Community Center on Saturdays, May 24 and June 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost for this two day workshop is $150.00. Please see our flyer below.

I hope to see you there!

Thank you,

Alex

—
Annisquam Landcare, Inc.
183 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 282-3323
AnnisquamLandcare.com

Pc Spring 2014 Workshop

Red White and You Contest to Fund Our Fireworks

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Melissa CoxĀ shares a link to win a contest sponsored by Destination America to help fund our fireworks display. She writes, “Can you please share this link to a contest to support our wonderful Gloucester Fireworks show on the 3rd of July?Ā You can vote once a day until May 16th.”

Red, White, and You People’s Choice

Our Most Heartfelt Congratulations to the 2014 Gloucester Citizenship Award Winners!!!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

UU Citizenship Awards 2014 Ā©Kim Smith 2014Back row left to right: Martin Klugman, Joe Novello, Jim Flint, Terry Sands, Barry McKay, and John McElhenny

Front row left to right: Maggie Rosa, Linn Parisi, Donna Ardizonni, and Ann Straccia

To receive a GloucesterĀ Citizenship Awards is a veryĀ special honorĀ and it is truly onlyĀ bestowed upon theĀ most deserving. At the award ceremony last night the love andĀ positive energy had by family and friends for these outstanding Gloucester citizens was palpable. Donna Ardizonni and Melissa Cox Ā©Kim Smith 2014Donna Ardizonni and Melissa Cox Ā©Kim Smith 2014 -2Melissa Cox presenting Donna’s award, and sharing a funy story about removing dead seagulls from the beach.

Here at GMG we areĀ very proud of all the recipients, but especially, especially proud that our own Donna Ardizonni was nominatedĀ for her good work with the One Hour at a Time Gang. John McElhenny Ā©Kim Smith 2014We are very proud too of our GMG super FOB and friend John McElhenny for hisĀ stellar job in spearheading theĀ Burnham’s Field improvements and in turning it into a gorgeous newĀ community playground, garden, and park.

Mike English Terry sands Ā©Kim Smith 2014Mike English Terry sands Ā©Kim Smith 2014 -3Mike EnglishĀ Honoring Terry Sands

On a personal note, I amĀ also very proud that a very dearĀ friend, Terry Sands, is oneĀ of this year’s honorees, for hisĀ extraordinary work directing (along with his co-director Mary Curtis) the fabulous Annisquam Village Players, for the past TWENTY- SEVEN YEARS!

Kay Ellis Linn Parisi Ā©Kim Smith 2014Kay Ellis Honoring Linn Parisi for her work with Discover Gloucester

Each winner was honoredĀ by a friend or colleague and itĀ wasĀ wonderful to learn about the roles they have played in making our beautiful community all the more beautiful. Gloucester is Ā a very special place to call home and it is people like this year’s 2014 Citizenship Award recipientsĀ that make our cityĀ profoundly unique and,Ā simply awesome!Ā Our most heartfelt congratulations to the 2014 Citizenship Award winners!!!

Jim Flint Ā©Kim Smith 2014Jim Flint for his work with the Lanesville Community Center

Martin Krugman Ā©Kim Smith 2014Marty Krugman for the Schooner Adventure

Joe Novello Ā©Kim Smith 2014Joe Novello for the Saint Peter’s Fiesta

Barry Mckay Ā©Kim Smith 2014Barry McKay for the Rose Baker Senior Center

Maggie Rosa Ā©Kim Smith 2014Maggie Rosa for City Hall Restoration and the Gloucester Educational Foundation

Ellie's beagle Ā©Kim Smith 2014Anne Straccia’s Rescue Beagle Ellie

McElhenny Famiky Ā©Kim Smith 2014McElhenny Family

AVP Family Ā©Kim smith 2014AVP Family

Ann Margaret and Sefatia Ā©Kim Smith 2014Sefatia Romeo Thekan and Ann Margaret Ferrante

Sefatia Ā©Kim Smith 2014Sefatia for Terry!

Donna and Rick Ā©Kim Smith 2014Donna and Rick and Family

Sefatia and terry sands Ā©Kim Smith 2014JPGSefatia and Terry

McElhenny Family AVP Family Ā©Kim Smith 2014McElhenny Family and AVP Family

Gloucester Writer’s Center May Line-up, with Our Own Joey C Discussing Blogging at the Rocky Neck CulturalCenter

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

 

unnamed-1
Sat., May 10 7:30pm
Cultural Center at Rocky Neck
6 Wonson Street
THOREAU ON ROCKY NECK

Suggested Donation $10
No one turned away for lack of funds

Join actor/educator Jay DiPrima, for this spirited and thought provoking reading of
Henry David’s Thoreau’s lecture on
Economy.

unnamed

GLOUCESTER DIGGERS SERIES

David Rich
Wed., May 14 7:30
GWC 126 East Main Street

The Hiring and Dismissal of a
Black Teacher in 1950’s Gloucester

unnamed-2

unnamed-2Come hear, speak and see
Joey Ciaramitaro, Steve Brettler, Greg Gibson, Martin Ray and Kathleen Valentine talk about
B L O G G I N G .

Tues. May 20th 7:30
Cultural Center at Rocky Neck

unnamed
Robert Podgurski
Wandering On Course to a Gestalt Poetics
Thurs. May 29th 6:30pm Ravenswood Park
Space is limited so Email Annie to reserve a spot.
Donation at will

After the walk come to a reading by Bob at the GWC at 8:00pm

Snapshots from belle + me at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Anne Malvaux belle and me Rocky Neck Cultural Center-3Anne Malvaux belle and me Rocky Neck Cultural Center -4Fun, French, and Flirty is belle + me’s tagline and their vibrant Spring/Summer collectionĀ was all that and more! PhotosĀ from Friday’s opening ~

belle and me Rocky Neck Cultural Center.

Anne Malvaux belle and me Rocky Neck Cultural Center.

EJ writes, “Created by Anne Malvaux and Lisa LeVasseur, belle + me is a French-inspired line of cool scarves and cooler jewelry. Their hand-made pendants are one of a kind and they use ā€œrepurposedā€ metal, beads, and fabric when possible. These pendants are designed to be worn on their unique line of scarves, in a multitude of colors and designs.”

ReadĀ EJ’s previous Artist Spotlight post about belle + me here

Anne and her family are so photogenic and it was lots of fun taking snapshots. Best of luck with belle + me Lisa and Anne!

Anne Malvaux belle and me Rocky Neck Cultural Center