Secret White House Tapes at the Sawyer Free Library
Category: Chickity check it!
Check Out The Beautiful You Project From Denise Remington On Facebook
Denise writes-
Hi Joe,
My name is Denise and my husband is Tony Remington. He recently spoke to you about the community/charity event that I am putting together. I wanted to recognize someone in our community that was already ‘paying it forward’ and have a special celebration in their honor. I am getting such positive feedback and support from the community and I am excited for “Beautiful You Project” and to make a difference in someone’s life!
www.facebook.com/beautifulyouproject
for more info click the flyer and check out the Facebook Page
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Preview of Tonight’s Garden Tour
The sultry colors of these tulips would make the most gorgeous cocktail dress, don’t you think?
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Garden Tour Tonight at Willowdale Estate!
Please join me tonight for a tour of the butterfly gardens I designed for Willowdale Estate. Come experience a taste of Briar’s gracious hospitality and enjoy refreshments served in the conservatory. I stopped by the gardens yesterday and the spring blooms are at their peak and simply spectacular this year–not only the tulips but many natives as well, including Eastern Redbud, Cornus florida, and Carolina Silverbell. I will also be showing several of my short films. Please RSVP to Sarah at: Sarah@WillowdaleEstate.com ~ 978-887-8211.
I hope to see you there!
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7th Wave Restaurant in Rockport is Open for the Season!
One of our family’s very favorite restaurants (and not just because our son is a cook there) is the 7th Wave Restaurant, located at Tuna Wharf on Bearskin Neck in Rockport. The staff is delightfully friendly, the seafood is always fresh, delicious, and cooked to perfection, and we love eating al fresco amongst the treetops on the 2nd floor deck, with a spectacular view of Rockport Harbor below
7th Wave Seafood Medley
The 7th Wave is not only owned by the Kahn Family, it is a family-operated business as well; in fact their name is derived from the seven family members who work and own the business–the parents and their five children. Now through Father’s Day, 7th Wave is open Friday and Sunday from 11:30 to 6pm and on Saturdays from 11:30am to 8pm. For more information visit their website at 7th Wave Restaurant.
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Secundaria ~ A Beautiful Film About Cuban Ballet and Ballerinas
Several weekends ago I had the great joy to attend my friend Lyda’s premier of her most recently completed project, Secundari, a film she co-produced with the film’s creator, director, camerawoman, and editor, Mary Jane Doherty. You may recall the GMG post about Lyda’s documentary Love and Other Anxieties, which played at the Cape Ann Community Cinema this past summer, for which Mary Jane was the cinematographer.
The film’s website provides a convenient synopsis, without revealing the extraordinarily dramatic turn of events captured by Mary Jane ~
“Secundaria quietly follows one high school class on its journey through Cuba’s world famous National Ballet School. Our teenage dancers love to dance but many of them must dance as their sole way out of poverty and the constraints – visible, and not so visible – that is life in Cuba.
At least, that’s how the movie begins. In their third year, shy and inscrutable Mayara, the class star, takes charge of her destiny by committing an unprecedented act of willfulness.
Cinematic storytelling without a script, staging, or interviews, our gentle stream of a story turns out to have a waterfall hidden around that last bend…”
I, as well as the unknown-to-me women sitting to the left and to the right of me, were all sobbing as the story unfolded–crying tears of joy and of sorrow. I am hoping Rob will bring this beautifully filmed and heart-felt story to the Cape Ann Community Cinema.
Mary Jane and her son Dillon at the Somerville Theatre
Secundaria premiered to a packed house at the Somerville Theatre as part of the Independent Film Festival Boston. We then headed over to the Rosebud Dinner in Davis Square for a super fun after-party. I loved meeting Mary Jane and was able to speak with her briefly about Secundaria. She didn’t have any part in the dramatic turn of events that took place during the making of the film, and was as shocked by the events as is the first-time viewer. The music for the film, scored by Berklee student Luis Delias, is gorgeous and captures the essence of the Cuban dancer’s lives and loves.
Luis Delias and Mary Jane Doherty
Mary Jane Doherty is the Associate Professor of Film at Boston University. She developed B.U’s Narrative Documentary Program, an approach to non-fiction storytelling that utilizes the building blocks of fiction film.
Mary Jane on location in Cuba
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This Week at Cape Ann Community Cinema
Click Here for showtimes
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Good Harbor Beach Footbridge Almost Ready for Fun!
Not yet fully functional with still a few wobbly, rotted, and missing boards, but any day now the footbridge will be ready for summer fun. I walked along the marsh edge early this morning and saw a single Great Egret, cormorants, gulls, geese, ducks, robins, and a Mourning Dove. I put my feet in the water and it was numbingly cold, but that didn’t prevent a half dozen paddle boarders from enjoying the foggy frigid surf.
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Garden Tour with Kim Smith at Willowdale Estate
Please join me Monday evening for a tour of the butterfly gardens I designed for Willowdale Estate. Come experience a taste of Briar’s gracious hospitality and enjoy refreshments served in the conservatory. The tulips are at their peak and look simply spectacular this year. I will also be showing several of my short films. Please RSVP to Sarah at: Sarah@WillowdaleEstate.com ~ 978-887-8211.
I hope to see you there!
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Beeman Ballroom Experience Premieres on TV TONIGHT ~ Mad Hot Ball on Sunday
Here’s what’s happening – from Lisa Smith @ Cape Ann TV:
Cape Ann TV Waltzes in with the Premiere of The Beeman Ballroom Experience Documentary in Conjunction with the Gloucester Fifth Grade Mad Hot Ball
What happens when you take a whole fifth grade class, mix in some cha-cha and waltzes, and what do you get? Join Cape Ann TV as they premiere, The Beeman Ballroom Experience, a half-hour documentary showcasing the four month journey of the Beeman Memorial Elementary School’s 2012 fifth grade students as they begin learning the steps to classic dances in their music classes to the District-Wide Mad Hot Ball Competition, and through these experiences mature and grow into confident young adolescents.
Started in the early 2000s, the Gloucester fifth grade dance program has been funded in part by the Gloucester Education Foundation (GEF) for all of the five Gloucester Elementary schools. Maggie Rosa, President of the Gloucester Education Foundation, says that the “Social skills these children learn are impressive.” Tina and Ron LaFlam, from Miss Tina’s School of Dance, teach the children the art of ballroom dancing. All the student’s hard work and hours of practicing culminates into a final Ball where each pair gets to dance for their families and a panel of judges. Carrie, one of the students interviewed, says that she was “scared” at the beginning of the dance program because she thought some were going to be better then others, but through the process realized that everyone was equal in their ability to dance.
This documentary shows how ballroom dancing still has a place in modern society. It was filmed by Cape Ann TV with CATV staff and Beeman parent volunteer, David Lufkin, and edited by Gordon College Student/Cape Ann TV intern Greg Dry and Cape Ann TV’s Lisa Smith. Ms. Wentzal and Ms. Lafata, two Beeman teachers who were interviewed in the film, say that the children take pride in their accomplishments at the end of the program and at the competition Ball, and that their academics became stronger as a reflection of the things they have learned.
Tune into Cape Ann TV Channel 12 for The Beeman Ballroom Experience on: Thursday, May 2 at 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday May 5 at 9:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 9 at 8:30 p.m.; Friday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. For more programming information go to: CapeAnnTV.wordpress.com.
This year’s Gloucester Fifth Grade District-Wide Mad Hot Ballroom Competition is Sunday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Did you know we have a world-class composer in our midst? Check his new work out on Sunday
Award-winning, local, world-class composer Rob Bradshaw’s new work premieres this Sunday 5/5 at Gordon Chapel with 2 performances at 2:30 and 5pm. You may know Rob from over 20 works commissioned and performed about Cape Ann, including the cantata commemorating the Middle Street Fire, Requiem for Rockport and music for the dedication of the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives statue and Schooner Adventure.
Beyond Gloucester, Rob’s works have been performed all over the world from Bangkok, Thailand, to Sydney, Australia. In America, his works have been heard in many prestigious venues including Lincoln Center and during The Kennedy Center’s 2010 International VSA Festival at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall.
Here’s what he says about Las Apariencias Engañan, which premieres on Saturday as part of The Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras Spring Afternoon Concert. This concert is free and open to the public and appeals to all ages. Each concert will last between an hour and two hours and both will be followed by a reception after the performance. The NMYO Silent Auction will take place during the concerts as well.
Las Apariencias Engañan, for orchestra, is inspired by Afro-Cuban Bembe rhythms. These rhythms, widely performed throughout Latin America, have dramatically influenced American popular music but have been lost in their original form for most listeners. This composition is intended to provide a fun and exciting way to help reintroduce this wonderful music to musicians and audiences.
As with all of my music, this work has a strong educational component and is intended to raise social awareness – in this case, of how Latin American music has influenced (and continues to influence) American music.Adam Hayes (Berry College) asked me to write a work inspired by Afro-Cuban Bembe Rhythms. If you are familiar with Latin American music, you know that the “clave” rhythm (and many variations) is an integral part of the music and culture. What you may or may not know is that these rhythms are also found throughout American music. We play them over different meters and this had led to Americans losing both the knowledge of our rhythmic heritage and more importantly, often the ability to even play or understand these wonderful rhythms in their original form.Although not a Bembe per se, every rhythm in the work is directly inspired by the rhythm of this style and common variations. For many months, I have been working closely with percussion faculty and other experts in the field, learning how to assimilate this style into my own work.
CiR: As Composer in Residence with the Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras it is my responsibility to teach students about the craft of composition and to inspire them to explore creativity through music. We work on a composition project each year where the students create elements of a larger work that I assemble and they perform at their May Concert.
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WOW and WONDEFUL—150 milkweed plants ordered!!!
Thank you to everyone participating in our Cape Ann Milkweed Project!
Monarch Butterfly Nectaring at Common Milkweed ~ Good Harbor Beach
Milkweed may not be for everyone’s garden; even if you did not order plants, you are welcome to come on down to the dock Saturday morning, the 18th of May, and learn more about the Monarch-milkweed connection. The plants are being shipped on Monday the 13th and I will keep you updated on their progress.
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Cape Ann Milkweed Project ~ Last day to order plants
Monarch Butterfly on Marsh Milkweed
Order Your Milkweed Plants Today!
In case you missed the details see Sunday’s Post: Cape Ann Milkweed Project
Tonight I am placing the order for the milkweed plants. Please get your orders in.
Thank you to Everyone participating in the Cape Ann Milkweed Project!!!
Newly Emerged Monarch Butterflies. I called these two butterflies the” Twins,” because they completed every stage of their life cycle within moments of each other, including pupating and emerging from their chrysalides.
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Cape Ann Milkweed Project ~ Place your orders today
Order Your Milkweed Plants Today!
Monarch Chrysalis on Rib of Common Milkweed Leaf
Everyone who wrote in yesterday and placed an order has been recorded. Anyone interested in ordering either Common or Marsh Milkweed today, please place your order in the comment section of this post or yesterday’s post, which explains the project, and includes all details. Don’t forget to specify whether you are interested in Common or Marsh Milkweed and how many plants you would like.
Thank you so much to everyone who is participating. Keep the orders coming!
Monarch Caterpillars Feeding on Milkweed in the Summer…
Equals Millions of Monarchs in the Fall!!!
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Community Stuff 4/29/13
Chickity Check It! The Law and Water Gallery
Here above the tide, in America’s storied fishing port, the Law & Water Gallery shows provocative works by accomplished artists in mixed media, paint, ceramics, and photography.
The gallery brings together two bodies of art under one roof. The first has, as its starting point, the written and unwritten laws that shape society. The second centers around the body of water that surrounds and sustains our island.
These works offer fresh perspectives on law and justice, port and place, work and environment.
Located in the storefront law office of Ken Riaf on Gloucester’s Harbor Walk, the Law & Water Gallery is open on Saturdays and by appointment.
At the Friday May 10 meeting of the Gloucester Area Astronomy Club, physicist Gary Meehan will speak on the nation’s next generation of geosynchronous weather satellites, GOES-R.
Gary will give us a high-level "tour" around the satellite, and explain the various instruments that will fly on it. Gary will give particular emphasis to the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), the flagship instrument on GOES-R, for which he is the lead systems engineer.
The new satellites will provide continuous imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere as well as space weather monitoring. They will be the primary tool for the detection and tracking of hurricanes and severe weather, and will improve support for the detection and observations of meteorological phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property, and ultimately, economic health and development.
Gary has been a member of the GOES-R Ground Processing team for the past few years at Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) in Lexington.
GAAC meets at 8:00 on the second Friday of every month at the Lanesville Community Center in the Lanesville neighborhood of Gloucester. There is no charge. More information is available on their website, http://gaac.us and on their Facebook page, http://facebookcom/gaacpage
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Cape Ann Milkweed Project
Monarch Butterfly Emerging from Chrysalis
Order Your Milkweed Plants Today!
In March I shared an article about bringing back the Monarch Butterflies. Great interest in planting milkweed was expressed by many. The way to bring as many Monarchs as possible to our region is to help recreate the butterfly’s habitat in our own gardens. The number one way to do this is by planting native wildflowers, milkweed for the summer caterpillars, and asters and goldenrod for the fall migrants. Number two is to make a commitment not to use pesticides, which will indiscriminately kill all the creatures that your milkweed plants invite to your garden.
Monarch Eggs on Common Milkweed ~ see the tiny yellow pinhead-sized dots on the top of the upper leaves of the milkweed plants (click to view larger)
Milkweed is the only food plant of the Monarch caterpillar and the flower is a fantastic source of nectar for myriad species of bees and butterflies.
So many GMG readers wrote in requesting milkweed plants that Joey has very generously offered his place of business—Captain Joe and Sons—as our go-to-place for picking up plants!! It’s going to be a super fun morning–stop by with your coffee, visit, learn about milkweed and Monarchs, and pick up your order.
Please place your order today or tomorrow. I am not pre-collecting the money and am fronting the funds to purchase plants. I don’t want to have dozens of homeless plants, so I am asking everyone to please be on the honor system.
We are ordering two types of milkweed. The cost is 7.00 per plant, which will come in a 3.5 inch square pot. The plants are on the smallish side however, that is the ideal size for shipping and transplanting milkweed. I am writing instructions for planting and they will be provided at the time of purchase.
Monarch Caterpillars J-Shape on Common Milkweed Getting Ready to Turn into a Chrysalis
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the milkweed we see most typically growing in our dunes, meadows, roadsides, and fields. It grows quickly and spreads vigorously by underground runners. This is a great plant if you have an area of your garden that you want to devote entirely to milkweed. It prefers full sun, will tolerate some shade, and will grow in nearly any type of soil. The flowers are dusty mauve pink and have a wonderful honey-hay sweet scent.
Marsh Milkweed (Aclepias incarnata) is more commonly found in marshy areas, but it grows beautifully in gardens. It does not care for dry conditions. These plants are very well-behaved and are more clump forming, rather than spreading by underground roots. The flowers are typically a brighter pink than Common Milkweed.
Monarchs deposit their eggs readily on both types of milkweed and in my garden I grow Common Milweed and Marsh Milkweed side-by-side.
The cost of the plants includes shipping from Missouri. Hopefully everyone will be good and if they place an order, will honor their commitment. If there is any money beyond what was spent on plants and shipping we will donate it to the ongoing fundraising drive for the Rocky Neck Cultural Center purchase of the beautiful center on Wonson Street.
Plant pick-up is at Captain Joe and Sons, 95 East Main Street, Gloucester, on Saturday, May 18th from 9:00am to 12noon. If you cannot pick up your plants at that time, please ask a friend.
My order to the nursery is being placed on Tuesday night, so please get your orders in asap. Place Your Milkweed Order in the comment section of this post. Be sure to indicate which type of milkweed, Common or Marsh, and number of plants.
Our deepest thanks to everyone who is participating.
Female and Male Monarch Butterfly on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Rain date pick up: Sunday, May 19th from 9am to 12noon.
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Shout Out to Seaside Graphics–Super Speedy Service, with a Smile!
Yesterday I was working on a client drawing and the time got away from me. Before long, it was 5:45. I had intended to drop off a flash drive with my movie poster at Seaside Graphics, in hopes that I would have posters to deliver by early next week. I jumped in the car and raced over and made it just before 6:00 closing time. Not only did the staff graciously not mention my walking in the door at 5:58, they printed all 25 in about five minutes, and the posters came out beautifully.
Seaside Graphics was highly recommended by both Cape Ann Giclee and Cape Ann Cinema’s Rob Newton for this type of printing. Fast, efficient, and excellent quality– Thank you Seaside Graphics!!!
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Chronicle producer’s new book cover is Motif #1
You may know Ted Reinstein from the award-winning TV show Chronicle on Channel 5.
I’ve been a fan for years and was lucky enough to meet Ted when he produced Chronicle’s feature of Gloucester in 2007 right after Celebrate Gloucester and the opening of Cruiseport.
After covering every corner of New England for 16 years, Ted has made good on his claim, “I have enough stories to fill a book!” Now he’s about to release what National Geographic Traveler has named one of “The Best Travel Books of Spring.” And look at what’s on the cover!
Ted sent me a pre-release copy of his chapter on Cape Ann, which he aptly titled The Other Cape. Here’s how it begins:
Obviously written from the heart, Ted describes Gloucester as “America’s most authentic, enduring working waterfront.” The chapter is filled with quotes by–and stories about–local fishermen, artists, photographers and others along with some excellent photos.
This captivating, well-written book isn’t just a travelogue. It’s a gem that everyone who lives here and cares about this place would want to own. New England Notebook hasn’t been released yet, but you can pre-order a copy now — right here.
Ted tells me he’s planning to come to The Other Cape to do a reading at some point. We’ll be sure to let you know when and where as soon as it’s scheduled. Perhaps you can get your book signed!
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SAVE the DATE ~ WORLD PREMIERE of My Film!!!
COMING SOON! WORLD PREMIERE at the
CAPE ANN COMMUNITY CINEMA
FRIDAY JUNE 21, 2013 at 7:30 pm
ADVANCE TICKETS available at Cape Ann Community Cinema
Come celebrate the premiere of my film, Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly, on the Summer Solstice, Friday, June 21st at 7:30pm, at the Cape Ann Community Cinema.
As everyone who knows me knows, I have been working on developing this film for nearly two years. It is the first to be completed in the trilogy and I am overjoyed to announce the premiere will be held at the Cape Ann Community Cinema. Many thanks to Rob Newton for inviting me to have the premiere at his wonderfully unique and super fun movie theatre. I hope everyone will come celebrate this special night with me. I think you will love seeing scenes of our native flora and fauna, filmed all around Gloucester and Cape Ann, on the Big Screen.
The Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly is a 45-minute narrated film. Every stage of the butterfly’s life cycle is experienced in vibrant close-up, from conception to pupation to metamorphosis. The film is for adults and for children so that all can gain a deeper understanding of the symbiotic relationship between wildflowers and pollinators and the vital role they play in our ecosystem. Filmed in Gloucester.
ADVANCE TICKETS available at Cape Ann Community Cinema
Light refreshments, including wine, and beer will be served. I hope to see you there!
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Here Is a Large Slide Show Collection Of Beach Footbridge Photos From Around The World
Some interesting designs!
Click below to view-
Good Morning Gloucester 