My View of Life on the Dock
Photo’s from Gloucester’s fantabulous-in-every way Maritime Heritage Day. With wonderful activities for mariners at heart, both young and old, beautiful wares for sale, folk music, and delicious seafood, this event just gets more and more awesome every year. I can’t wait to take our granddaughter to next year’s Maritime Heritage Day!
Maritime Heritage Day Sunrise Panorama
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD! THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Sunday and Monday schedule are as follows:
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017
8:30 am
Skippers Meeting
This meeting is required for all Schooners sailing in the Mayor’s Race. Meet at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Reception and Awards Ceremony
for captains, crews and invited guests (ticketed event).
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 10:30 am
Parade of Sail Viewing Party at Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House.
Visit Beauport for some of the best views of the annual Gloucester Schooner Festival’s Parade of Sail. Watch schooners sail to the Eastern Point Light breakwater to begin the Mayor’s race for the Esperanto Cup. Coffee and light breakfast refreshments are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring blankets and/or chairs and other refreshments if preferred. The house is not available for tours during this event. $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers. Registration is required. 978-283-0800
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Parade of Sail as Schooners proceed from Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.
11:00 am to 1:30 pm
Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light, from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Avenue) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free ofCharge, courtesy of Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
1:00pm
Start of Mayor’s Race for the Esperanto Cup, Columbia Trophy, Ned Cameron Trophy; and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.
Monday evening is an impromptu gathering, but not official as of yet.
Schooner Festival Committee making today’s decision to postpone Sunday’s events including Mayor’s Race and Parade of Sail
A glorious Gloucester good morning, brought to you by scenes from Maritime Gloucester. Looking forward to a great time tomorrow at Maritime Heritage Day and the fireworks over beautiful Gloucester Harbor!!! And the clambake, and the carillon concert! It’s going to be a super Gloucester day in every way! Here is Saturday’s schedule of events:
Saturday, September 2, 2017
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day
Maritime Gloucester, located at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester, will host its annual Heritage Day celebration from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event is free to the public.
4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Gloucester House Public Clambake
Music, food and a whole lot of fun. The cost is only $16 for Lobster, Corn and Cornbread.
5:15 pm to 5:45 pm
Carillon Concert at Our Lady of Good Voyage, final concert of the summer series can be heard throughout the downtown Gloucester area.
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Concert on Stacy Boulevard
Live music and light effects on Stacy Boulevard with a break during the fireworks.
7:00 pm
Fireworks Viewing Party at Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House.
Watch Gloucester’s annual Schooner Festival fireworks display from the terrace and lawn of Beauport. Treat yourself to an abridged evening tour as the house transforms at night. Bring blankets, chairs, picnics, and mosquito spray. Candles are prohibited. Adults and children over twelve only, please. $12 Historic New England members, $20 nonmembers. Registration is required. 978-283-0800
7:00 pm
Boat Parade of Lights
The annual Boat Parade of Lights begins at dusk at Jones Creek on the Annisquam River, travels down the river, through the drawbridge and into Gloucester Harbor, ending in the Smith’s Cove area of the harbor.Click here for information on joining the Lighted Boat Parade.
9:15 pm
Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor. (following Parade of Lights, time approximate)
(The Gloucester Fireworks Committee is in need of more donations for the Labor Day weekend fireworks. Donations may be made to The Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Please notate “fireworks” on your donation.)
Check here for the 2017 Schooner Festival complete schedule of events.
Ship’s Bell Schooner Adventure
Schooner Ardelle and Dory
click photo for music info
Anticipation is building for Gloucester’s fabulous and beautiful Schooner Festival. After a year and a half of Harbor renovations it is a joy to see Schooner Adventure and Schooner Ardelle return to their home at Maritime Gloucester.
Schooner Columbia will be berthed next to the Adventure during the 2017 Schooner Festival, as she has in previous years, save for last year’s Festival. Friday’s schedule is as follows:
Friday, September 1, 2017
All Day Arrival of Participating Vessels.
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Mayor’s Reception for invited guests (ticketed event)
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Gloucester Block Party on Main Street in downtown.
Schooner Adventure Crew
Schooner Columbia
Check here for the 2017 Schooner Festival schedule of events.
Compass Rose ~ Bronze and glass sculpture by Mark Read, Maritime Gloucester
Cape Ann’s Schooners
Adventure, Flagship of the City of Gloucester and leading the Parade of Sail
Thomas E. Lannon, honoring her namesake– a fisherman from 1901-1943
Ardelle flagship for Maritime Gloucester.
Bald Eagle, Green Dragon and Sugar Babe from Gloucester
Redbird & Lewis H. Story from Essex.
View of the Paint Factory from Maritime Gloucester
Toby Burnham, also known as The Seagull Whisperer, and his lobster boat the Jupiter II, spotted along the Back Shore.
Toby Burnham The Seagull Whisperer
Wednesday, August 30 – 7pm
THE RHUMB LINE
40 Railroad Avenue
Gloucester, MA
My Special Guests: DOWN HOME SWING!
Such a treat for us all to have Downhome Swing as our Rhumb Line music guests… for so many reasons. First off, the level of musicianship is totally off the charts. Marston by himself is a treasure. Add that Laurie and Ellen have such a natural vocal blend, you’d swear they were sisters! And… we of course must take full advantage of the limited time we have each year with the Keefes before they head back to St. John. Yes, we are lucky! ~ Fly
left to right: CHICK MARSTON, LAURIE KEEFE, ELLEN FORD, JAY KEEFE — with Laurie Keefe.
https://www.abovewatermusic.com/
This is the official North Shore ‘Highest Mountain’ album release party! It’ll be a full band show with some killer players and James Vassallo will be opening. Can’t wait to play the record for everyone!
Brad Byrd
https://www.facebook.com/katrinasgloucester/
Scott Memhard share his gorgeous Passionflower, which he grew from seed! I asked how hardy is his vine because our Maypop died out after a very bad winter several years ago.
“Kim – I hadn’t heard them called Maypop before. They’re hard to winter over around here, even in a sheltered location with heavy mulch. I started several varieties of these, Passionflower vines and Cup & Saucer vines, from seed last fall inside, and they’ve been doing well this summer. My grandmother always had a Passionflower vine that she’d brought from Bermuda, where they’re grown for perfume, in her little greenhouse. As kids we were very impressed by their incredible delicate structure and colors, especially when she preserved the flowers by dipping in hot melted wax!”
Scott’s photos are of the North American native species Passiflora incarnata. We here on Cape Ann are located in the tippy most northern range of this beautiful vine. All the rest (500 species) are more tropical. Maypop grows prolifically in the southeastern US and the foliage is the caterpillar food plant of FOUR species of butterflies: Gulf Fritillary, Julia, Zebra Longwing, and Variegated Fritillary. One of numerous common names, it is called Maypop because in the southeast the vine has a habit of popping up in May, in a location where you did not plant. Maypop spreads by root suckers. Other common name include Wild Passionflower, Apricot Vine, Old Field Apricot, Holy-Trinity Flower, Molly-pop, Passion Vine, Popapple, Granadilla, Maycock, Maracoc, Maracock, White Sarsaparilla, and Purple Passion Vine.
Scott Memhard Photos
Longtime Eastern Point resident Elli shares this lovely scene of a doe and fawn foraging in her backyard. I have seen lots of bucks in the marsh at the EP Lighthouse and we’ve had a few single deer in our yard on Plum Street, but never a fawn and doe. I sure would love to photograph/film a fawn and mom on Cape Ann. Thanks so much to Elli for sharing!
White-tailed doe and fawn, Eastern Point, Gloucester
The Second Annual Ocean Alliance Labor Day weekend art exhibition and fundraiser gala in partnership with Trident Gallery and the Trident Live Art Series celebrates contemporary viewpoints of the sea and maritime history at the Ocean Alliance Headquarters, the historic Tarr & Wonson Paint Factory.
Trident Gallery Director Matthew Swift is curating the art installation Edge for Ocean Alliance, which will be on view, free and open to the public, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Hours to be announced.
Trident Live Art Series Director Sarah Slifer Swift has invited Composer Robert J. Bradshaw and the Beauport Chamber Players, lighting designer Michael Friedman, and dancer Nina Brindamour to create a site-specific staging of Bradshaw’s musical work “Down to the Sea in Ships” for the Paint Factory.
“Down to the Sea in Ships” is a piece for strings and narrator about ill-fated whaling captain George Pollard Jr., whose story inspired Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick.
In addition to this unique inter-media staging of “Down to the Sea in Ships,” the Gala event includes delicious food and drink, the art exhibition, and the Parade of Lights and fireworks of the Gloucester Schooner Festival.
Tickets are $100/person, a contribution toward the continuing restoration of the paint factory complex, one of the last standing icons of Gloucester’s maritime history. More information and tickets will be available soon!
Foggy early morning scenes around the Harbor.
Castle in the Fog
City Hall and the Paint Factory
UU Church 
Cruise Ship American Constellation with Ten Pound Island and the Greasy Pole
The American Constellation is a 175-guest room cruise ship from American Cruise Lines. From the company’s website, “Designed to navigate the inland waterways of the East Coast, American Constellation brings guests to beautiful ports the larger ships can’t access. In the intimate atmosphere onboard, guests will find the largest staterooms in the industry, spacious lounges, as well as observation decks and private balconies that offer spectacular views of the passing landscapes.”
Cape Ann’s wildlife rehabilitation expert Jodi Swenson released a Mute Swan fledgling Saturday at Niles Pond. Jodi worked with Eastern Point resident Lyn Fonzo, where they set the young swan free from Lyn’s beach access to the pond’s edge. Lyn reports that the fledgling immediately headed to the reeds. Niles Pond is dense in vegetation, most notably at this time of year, and almost immediately, it was difficult to see her hiding, although easy to hear, as she moved through the phragmites and cattails.
Jodi, from Cape Ann Wildlife, shares that the Mute Swan baby has been in her care for several months. The cygnet came from Tufts and she/he appears to be about four months. Jodi raised the swan purposefully with minimal human contact so that the animal would remain wild. The now fledgling is very, very shy of humans, so please be respectful while the swan is becoming acclimated to her new environment. Cape Ann’s Mr. Swan is at least 27 years old and it is everyone’s greatest hope that he will “adopt” the new one, perhaps guiding her to maturity.
The above photo, although out of focus, is included here to show that the young one is foraging for food on her own. Look closely and you can see the pond vegetation dangling from her mouth. This is a great sign, that she can feed herself!!
Please visit Jodi’s website, Cape Ann Wildlife, Inc. I am sure we can all imagine how costly and time consuming it is to rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife. If so inclined, please think about making a tax deductible donation. Our deepest thanks and appreciation to Jodi for all the care and love she gives to Cape Ann’s most vulnerable animals. Until recently, Jodi was Cape Ann’s only wildlife rehabilitator. Jodi would like to give a shout out to Erinn Whitmore, who has been working with Jodi for many years, and who recently earned her state wildlife rehabilitator’s license. Erinn has founded GROWL: Gloucester Rehabilitation of Orphaned Wild Life, and will be specializing in caring for small mammals.
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD! THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Sunday and Monday schedule are as follows:
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017
8:30 am
Skippers Meeting
This meeting is required for all Schooners sailing in the Mayor’s Race. Meet at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Reception and Awards Ceremony
for captains, crews and invited guests (ticketed event).
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 10:30 am
Parade of Sail Viewing Party at Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House.
Visit Beauport for some of the best views of the annual Gloucester Schooner Festival’s Parade of Sail. Watch schooners sail to the Eastern Point Light breakwater to begin the Mayor’s race for the Esperanto Cup. Coffee and light breakfast refreshments are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring blankets and/or chairs and other refreshments if preferred. The house is not available for tours during this event. $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers. Registration is required. 978-283-0800
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Parade of Sail as Schooners proceed from Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.
11:00 am to 1:30 pm
Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light, from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Avenue) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free ofCharge, courtesy of Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
1:00pm
Start of Mayor’s Race for the Esperanto Cup, Columbia Trophy, Ned Cameron Trophy; and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.
Monday evening is an impromptu gathering, but not official as of yet.
The Sea to Supper celebration was a beautiful event for a beautiful lady who has advocated for Gloucester and New England fishermen and their families her entire adult life, beginning when she became the young bride of a fisherman. An example of just one of many of Angela’s accomplishments is that if you are a Gloucester resident and have ever needed health insurance assistance, you can thank Angela for the groundbreaking work she achieved in securing health insurance for the families of fishermen and the broader Gloucester community.
Manny’s photos are terrific and here a few more.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYNlp2KlmyuC87P4cKfPGe7ygiTj_ZHLRuf73Q0/
Watching the grand Schooner Adventure from the Dogbar Breakwater today at noon reminded me that Gloucester’s magnificent Schooner Festival begins one week from today!
Adventure, Flagship of the City of Gloucester and leading the Parade of Sail
Thomas E. Lannon, honoring her namesake– a fisherman from 1901-1943
Ardelle flagship for Maritime Gloucester
Bald Eagle, Green Dragon and Sugar Babe from Gloucester
Redbird & Lewis H. Story from Essex.
Friday, September 1, 2017
All Day Arrival of Participating Vessels.
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Mayor’s Reception for invited guests (ticketed event)
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Gloucester Block Party on Main Street in downtown.
Saturday, September 2, 2017
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day
Maritime Gloucester, located at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester, will host its annual Heritage Day celebration from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event is free to the public.
4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Gloucester House Public Clambake
Music, food and a whole lot of fun. The cost is only $16 for Lobster, Corn and Cornbread.
5:15 pm to 5:45 pm
Carillon Concert at Our Lady of Good Voyage, final concert of the summer series can be heard throughout the downtown Gloucester area.
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Concert on Stacy Boulevard
Live music and light effects on Stacy Boulevard with a break during the fireworks.
7:00 pm
Fireworks Viewing Party at Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House.
Watch Gloucester’s annual Schooner Festival fireworks display from the terrace and lawn of Beauport. Treat yourself to an abridged evening tour as the house transforms at night. Bring blankets, chairs, picnics, and mosquito spray. Candles are prohibited. Adults and children over twelve only, please. $12 Historic New England members, $20 nonmembers. Registration is required. 978-283-0800
7:00 pm
Boat Parade of Lights
The annual Boat Parade of Lights begins at dusk at Jones Creek on the Annisquam River, travels down the river, through the drawbridge and into Gloucester Harbor, ending in the Smith’s Cove area of the harbor. Click here for information on joining the Lighted Boat Parade.
9:15 pm
Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor. (following Parade of Lights, time approximate)
(The Gloucester Fireworks Committee is in need of more donations for the Labor Day weekend fireworks. Donations may be made to The Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Please notate “fireworks” on your donation.)
Sunday, September 3, 2017
8:30 am
Skippers Meeting
This meeting is required for all Schooners sailing in the Mayor’s Race. Meet at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.
2017 Gloucester Schooner Festival Notice of Race
10:30 am
Parade of Sail Viewing Party at Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House.
Visit Beauport for some of the best views of the annual Gloucester Schooner Festival’s Parade of Sail. Watch schooners sail to the Eastern Point Light breakwater to begin the Mayor’s race for the Esperanto Cup. Coffee and light breakfast refreshments are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring blankets and/or chairs and other refreshments if preferred. The house is not available for tours during this event. $10 Historic New England members, $15 nonmembers. Registration is required. 978-283-0800
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Parade of Sail as Schooners proceed from Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.
11:00 am to 1:30 pm
Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light, from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Avenue) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free ofCharge, courtesy of Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
1:00 pm
Start of Mayor’s Race for the Esperanto Cup, Columbia Trophy, Ned Cameron Trophy; and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Reception and Awards Ceremony
for captains, crews and invited guests (ticketed event)
Cape Ann’s Schooners
Adventure, Flagship of the City of Gloucester and leading the Parade of Sail,
Thomas E. Lannon, honoring her namesake– a fisherman from 1901-1943,
and Ardelle flagship for Maritime Gloucester.
The Bald Eagle, Green Dragon and Sugar Babe from Gloucester,
and Redbird & Lewis H. Story from Essex.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE 33RD ANNUAL GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL WEBSITE HERE
Highlights from last year’s 32nd annual Schooner Festival
The original, very first, Gloucester Schooner Festival Parade of Sail short film, 2013
Schooner Adventure Gloucester Harbor August 25, 2017
For Joey, because I know how much he would love to encounter one of these beasts while swimming.
Soulful eyes of River Otters.
What a treat to come upon this North American River Otter family foraging along the pond’s edge. They are quite shy and mine was a brief encounter, but I hope to meet up with them again soon.
River Otters are returning to Massachusetts for several reasons, including better wetland conservation, pollution control, and the fact that the remarkable comeback of North American Beavers has also helped NA River Otters. For the few short moments that I saw the otters, the youngsters were playing with each other, while also intently feeding on frogs and tadpoles.
River Otter Eating a Tadpole
Follow this link for excellent information on River Otters in Massachusetts.
The simple answer is that it is a moon-shaped lens flare! The flares in your image are crescent, or ellipse, shaped because the source of light was shaped like that. Had it been an ordinary day when the sun was not obstructed by the moon, the lens flares would have been circular. A lens flare is the phenomenon where light is scattered, or flared, in a camera’s lens system, often in response to a bright light. 
The crescents in my Fujifilm camera photos are pale violet; the crescents in my iPhone photos are aqua blue-green.
https://instagram.com/p/BYEfrG6Fh1qCO6KiqNhp-7lAS3bb0i-22x4WBw0/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYJMwejlnp0/
Good Morning Gloucester, brought to you by Good Harbor Beach.
The sky became increasingly dramatic as the sun rose under the thickening early morning clouds.
Good Morning Gloucester 