ED

Bill O’Connor Writes-

Hi Joey,

I had the pleasure of interacting with Ed while he hung buoys on the lobster pot tree on Saturday.  He was all smiles in spite of the rain, and it was great to see how proud he was of the tree. It is quite a tribute to the community spirit of Gloucester!

Enjoy!
~Bill O’Connor
North Shore Kid

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Joey C edit:

You see that haggard old bastard right there in that picture?  Yeah, he’s the guy you want in your foxhole when the shit’s going down.  #BelieveThat!

Smiling when things are going right, smiling through the times when there’s no one around and we’re planning our next community event, smiling during the construction and long after the event’s when the crowds are gone and the cameras are put away and the stuff has to be deconstructed. You couldn’t ask for a better man as a friend I’m telling you.

Ed’s gonna be sworn is as the president of the Chamber of Commerce next month.  Should be a good year for the Chamber.

HUGE THANK YOU TO FRED BODIN AT BODIN HISTOIC PHOTO

Fred thank you so much for hosting once again all the GMG crazies at your fantastic shop in the heart of Downtown Gloucester.

Long after the party goers are tucked under the covers it leaves the party thrower to clean and take out the trash.

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I want you to know how much I appreciate you hosting our party.  It means a lot!

Check out Fred’s Facebook Page For Bodin Historic Photo and like it here

Next Up- Two Buddies Show At Alchemy Thursday

EJ and I will be having a show to benefit The Gloucester Education Foundation at Alchemy Thursday Night (Which Just So Happens To be Men’s Night)

Alchemy Does A Really Nice Job With Their Opening Night Artist Receptions – Hope To See You There

Chelsea Berry’s Pathways for children Toy Drive

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Chelsea Berry’s Pathways for Children Toy Drive. ♥
Join us at Alchemy for a night of tunes, food, and good karma!!! Bring a toy and your appetite to support Gloucester’s Pathways for Children… no cover charge, Wednesday, December 12th, 7-9pm.

Big Time Thanks To Bobby Ryan From Ryan and Wood For The Custom Coasters For All Our FOB’s and SOB’s To Take Home Tomorrow Night at The GMG Holiday Party at Bodin Historic Photo

REPREFUCKINGSENT!

If you’re not drinking Ryan and Wood Spirits you’re not drinking the smoothest most luxurious spirits known to man.  That’s a well known fact- you can look it up.

I’m not sure if the Knockabout Gin chilled down icy cold with tonic is my favorite or the Beauport Vodka Tonic icy cold with tonic is my favorite but I’ll tell you unequivocally they are my absolute favorite in each of their respective vodka and gin categories to drink.

I’ve been sitting (not literally) on these coasters since late last summer to unleash tehm upon our FOB’s at our Holiday Party!  Get there early and get yours to take on your winter trips and Represent!

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#BOOM!

It’s like this- When you put it all together- the locally produced and sold, highly regarded, easily attainable, easily packagable in one of those liquor gift bags, there is nothing in the entire city that is as easy to gift and as highly regarded as a bottle or three of Ryan and Wood Booze.  Ask Terry Weber.  She had her engagement party last Saturday.  I’m stuck at the dock all day long and couldn’t get to the party til after 8PM.  What do I do?  Slip into the liquor store, get a bottle of Ryan and Wood Folly Cove Rum, stuff it in a gift bag- #Boom!  Easy Peasy lemon Squeazy All Time Greatest Most Appreciated Simple To get Gift.

2012 Seacoast Holiday Fair Photos From David Cox

Hi Joey,

I have a couple of series of pictures taken by my Dad, David Cox at the Seacoast Holiday Baazar. They are great! We would love it if you would post them with the message below to the Friends of Seacoast.

The residents and staff of the Seacoast Nursing and Rehab facility would like to express our gratitude and give special thanks to the Friends of Seacoast for all they do to enhance the lives of the residents living at Seacoast.

The holiday fair sponsored by the Friends of Seacoast was a huge success and enjoyed by all!

Has Any Gloucester Mayor Or City Council Had This Much Success In What Is Supposed To Be A Suck Economy?

Big Time Kudos to Those In Charge.  I’d Say We’ve Never Had It So Good

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Just This Year-

Harbor Walk

Three Turbines which will if “conservative numbers” pan out will provide $450K in energy savings and the City didn’t pay a dime for them.

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Expansion at Gortons

Burnhams Field The Largest Inner City Green Space Gets Totally Redone

Endicott College Opens It’s Doors In Gloucester

Excellent New Police and Fire Chiefs

Huge windfalls in free cash and upgraded bond ratings

Huge upgrades to our water and sewer infrastructure

#Boom!  You can fool good about the direction this City is taking. Honoring it’s past while readying for it’s future.

(Thanks Ed for helping me with this list)

Community Stuff 12/3/12

THANK YOU

The Friends of Seacoast Holiday Fair held on December 1, 2012 was a great success made possible only by the generosity of the following merchants and volunteers:
The Liquor Locker, Seabreeze Liquor, Ryan & Wood Distillery, Cape Ann Liquor, Bank Gloucester, Stop & Shop, Lisa Leahy, Joey Ciaramitaro, Rudy Macchi, Jerry Nicastro , Debbie Sheedy,  and  Linda Rogers who donated the popular lighthouses of the United States.

Thank you Vince Scola, Florence Martin, Ann Letendre who sold the cookies made by so many wonderful ladies. Donna Saunders of the Amvet Ladies Auxillary #32.

To the caring staff at Seacoast Tom Doucette, Paul Spinole, Matt Putanasuu, Jennifer Shairs, Kerry Arsenault, Linda Cooney, and Dolly Prevost.

Thanks to David Cox who came and took pictures of the children and residents with Santa Claus and for the beautiful framed ocean scene picture he donated.  To the many vendors who came to sell their wares.
 
A special thanks to all the hard working members of the Friends of Seacoast, who baked cookies, made gift baskets, sold raffle tickets to the 30 bottle Wine Cellar Raffle, and worked the various tables and gave up the day away from their families.
Angela Ciaramitaro, Pat Ciaramitaro, Rosalie Nicastro, Buzz Mc Eachern, Maryann Amero, Jane & Vincent Pallazola, Meg Mc Cann, J.D Mc Eachern, Sam Santuccio, Joanne Waalewyn, and Tom Lattof

Thanks to Alison Cox, our Activities Director and Stephen Doyle for all their help and support.

Congratulations to the winner of the 30 bottle wine raffle won by Paul Ciluffo. and to the winners of the several baskets, Cathy Mortillaro, Helen Kimmence, Sharon Crowley, Sam Santuccio, Chris Pantano, and G. Selig

The proceeds will be used to provide meaningful social activities and entertainment for our residents.

Karen Mc Cann, Gen Chrm
Holiday Fair


To Our Contributors: Let’s Keep Pushing!!!!

Let’s Earn This Every Single Day!

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  • 2012 BONS (Best of North Shore) Magazine Awards For Best Blog Editors Choice and Best Blog Readers Choice

  • GMG Wins CBS Boston Most Valuable Blogger

    GMG Wins CBS Boston Most Valuable Blogger

LETS  DO THIS!

Wellspring House Holiday Store Is A Worthy Cause (Thanks Aaron Bourke for Submitting This)

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Aaron Bourke writes in-

Hey Joey,
Hope this finds you well and happy.

The other night my wife and I were discussing which local charity to support this Holiday season.  We have decided to make Wellspring House our choice.  They have this cool program set up to help families purchase gifts and necessities for their children. I would send you the link, but that is somewhat beyond my capabilities at this moment.

Perhaps you could post something about the program if you see it fit.  We don’t have children, but the mere thought of  one not having something to look forward to really struck us. I can’t imagine the pressure on a parent in need this time of year. 

I think The Holiday Store is a GREAT IDEA!!!
Cheers,  AB

Wow, thanks Aaron for bringing this to my attention.  I had never heard of it before but it really is a worthy cause to donate to.  Here are the deets for the Wellspring House website

Wellspring’s 16th Annual Holiday Store

Saturday, December 8th and Sunday, December 9th

Hear about board member Trish Castraberti’s Holiday Store experience here in Trish’s letter.

Wellspring’s 16th Annual Holiday Store will joyfully open its doors once again this year. The operation of the Holiday Store relies strongly on the contributions of our generous and committed community of supporters. Last year the gifts we collected made it possible for Wellspring to serve more than 225 families and provide gifts for over 500 children. The needs are even greater this year and we aspire make the Christmas Holiday special for even more families.

Please consider brightening the holiday season for those in need by heading up a toy drive on behalf of the families that we serve!

Gifts must be dropped off at Wellspring House by Monday, December 3, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Some suggestions……

Young Children:

  • Young boys like trucks, Legos and Matchbox cars,  dinosaurs, Disney characters and action hero figures.  Superhero pajamas are also well-received.  
  • Young girls are always drawn to baby dolls and tea sets and toy kitchens.  “Dress up” items are also fun.  Barbie and Disney related toys are popular choices.  Stuffed animals (particularly beanie babies and Webkinz) and hoola-hoops are also well-liked.
  • Boys and girls both like Play-Doh, toy guitars and keyboards, Disney characters, jump-rope, sidewalk chalk and and Lincoln Logs. 

Middle Age and Older Children:

  • Boy of all ages tend to gravitate to sports items, whether it be equipment, games, sports shirts or other items.  There are some reasonably priced tennis racquets and badminton sets at Target.
  • Girls like make up, hair and nail accessories as well as clothing items like shirts, fashion scarves, purses and bags.  “Make-your-own” jewelry/arts + crafts kits are enjoyed as well. 

Winners For Everyone:

  • Art supplies are always well-liked.  These can range from crayons and markers to paint/pen sets, and even small canvases.  A great resource for these kinds of gifts is A.C. Moore.
  • Clothing is always appreciated.  The best things to purchase are shoes and shirts as those are easiest to match in terms of fit.
  • Books are welcomed and encouraged – we make sure that each child takes home a book from the Holiday Store.
  • Boardgames are fun for the whole family.  Games like Uno, Monopoly, Apples-to Apples, Clue, Twister make for great gifts.     

Please note – all gifts should be new, unwrapped and non-violent. 

Ron Beckley of Gloucester, who specializes in disaster services technology, has been deployed to New Jersey To Aid In disaster relief after Hurricane Sandy

Red Cross volunteers deployed after Hurricane Sandy

Ron Beckley

From the American Red Cross-

American Red Cross volunteers from Eastern Massachusetts, after working in our communities during Hurricane Sandy, are accepting deployments to states devastated by the superstorm.
Ron Beckley of Gloucester, who specializes in disaster services technology, has been deployed to New Jersey.
Disaster Services Technology specialists are responsible for all the technology that is deployed on disaster relief operations. DST volunteers set up satellites where all phone and internet services have been disrupted, they set up computer services in remote locations for Red Cross caseworkers and often have to repair equipment in crisis situations.
The American Red Cross has mobilized more than 14,900 disaster workers from all over the country who have supported relief efforts. Volunteers have served more than 7.6 million meals and snacks so far, and have handed out more than 5.5 million relief items.
Ron Beckley, in accepting this deployment, is gaining more experience working with Red Cross experts throughout the U.S. When he returns to Massachusetts, his knowledge will help better inform our efforts, and help make our local region stronger.

Many in your community want to know how to help. They could train to become disaster volunteers, or fund this long-term relief effort by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or visiting RedCross.Org.

The 2012 Gloucester MA Lobster Trap Tree Takes Shape

Pics and Video From Niece Amandacakes

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Our Donna Ardizzoni Hard At Work

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Chickity Check It- Be Grateful Project – Open Door and the Cape Ann Food Pantry From Jen Amero

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Jen Amero writes-

Continuing the Be Grateful Project through the holiday season with a nod to Gloucester’s own Open Door/Cape Ann Food Pantry. Under the energized direction of Julie Hazen LaFontaine, the Open Door offers a free grocery store and community meals for the needy, the elderly and the lonely at their Emerson Ave location as well as neighborhood, senior care and school-based mobile farmers’ markets and a second hand clothing and furniture shop at it’s "Second Glace" resale boutique on Pond Road.

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For the rest of her blog post about The Open Door Pantry click here

Thanks to all who helped raise money for The Rockaways on Sunday

This just in from Will Hunt:

Thanks to the generosity of musicians and audience, we raised over $400 for relief efforts in the Rockaways on Sunday night. Thanks also go out to the Hive and David Brooks, for providing the venue as well as the Van Ness Group, Joanne Silva, the Gloucester Times and the Beacon for helping publicize the event. Terrific musical performances were enjoyed by all. Ron Schrank, Allen and Dylan Estes, Guy Zacardi, the Satch Kerans Band, the Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester, Just Like Newman, the Gordonaires, Ed Sakurai, and finally the BFs kept things rocking until Cape Ann’s own hurricane survivor and New Orleans native Henri Smith, backed by Tucker Lindquist, Ira Levine, Janice Fullman and John Buckner, ended with a soulful and heartfelt rendition of “Wonderful World” that really drove the message home…we are all in this together.
Thanks again everyone for helping spread some love in a dangerous, but indeed wonderful world.
                                                                                              Will Hunt
I don’t usually embed videos with commercials in them on GMG, but this one is worth it:

Happy Birthday FOB Joey Ciolino!

Here’s Joey Ciolino and his friend Taylor Sousa  getting ready to leave for the semi formal. Joey will be turns 18 today Sunday Nov 18th

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Happy Birthday EJ! You Light Up All Our Lives With Your Positive Spirit!

We have a bunch of positive minded, kind, creative folks that are part of our little GMG community.  Perhaps no one among us embodies what it is to be a GMG’er more than our friend EJ.

GMG Contributor’s EJ Pictures-

Kim Smith submits-

E.J. JoeyE.J

Paul Morrison Submits-

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Donna Ardizzoni Submits-

February 19, 2012 e.j.

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Fr Matthew Green submits-

From The Bong Tree Island Party

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Kathy Chapman photo-

(this was EJ before she kicked ass this summer on her diet and cleanse)

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Ed Collard submits-

EJ Back In The Day (Would You Hit That?)

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Marty Luster Submits-

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Fred Bodin submits-

At the Bong Tree book launching party-

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Beth Swan writes-

"Happy Birthday EJ! ENJOY and live it up!" —Beth 🙂

March 19, 2011-

Video interview introducing EJ to the GMG Community-

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We tape a video for EJ’s Kickstarter Project To Launch Tales of Bong Tree Island-

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Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort – Community Clothing Drive – at Gloucester High School Field House

Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort – Community Clothing Drive  -  at Gloucester High School Field House

A Community Clothing Drive to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy will be held Monday, November 26 through Friday, November 30th at the Gloucester High School Field House.

Hiltz Moving and Storage has generously offered to transport the donations that are generously collected locally to a community in New Jersey.  Hiltz Disposal is also a contributor to our effort.

Items that have been requested are: winter clothing (men’s, women’s and children’s), Socks (all sizes), winter coats, hats, mittens, gloves, winter shoes and boots (all sizes), blankets, disposable diapers, baby wipes, towels (cloth not paper), face cloths, first aid kits, work gloves (heavy duty), flash lights, batteries, sleeping bags and pads, contractor(heavy) trash bags, packing boxes (with flaps so that it can be sealed shut), packing tape, and black magic markers.

The hours of drop off at the Gloucester High School Field House are as follows:

Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 2 pm daily and also 6 pm to 9 pm evenings.

If you can help in any way, by donating, collecting needed items, sorting, packing, or help in any capacity, please contact Jackie Hardy at jackieAhardy@verizon.net

Huge Thank You To Paulie Walnuts and Folks That Bought GMG T Shirts- Hosting Costs For The Year Are Paid!

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Our Paul Frontiero does the screen printing for our GMG T-Shirts.

We just passed another huge milestone on the company who hosts Good Morning Gloucester –Wordpress with the amount of content we’ve uploaded to their servers for you our readers to consume and needed to pay up for more storage space.

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Thanks to Paulie for printing the T-Shirts and the people who buy GMG T Shirts, the latest hosting and storage costs for GMG content has been paid.

Thanks GMG Community!

Whipple Bowl! At Cape Ann Lanes From Joey C

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Panorama Click for Full Size-

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