Category: Good eggs

Things To Do! Earth Day Kids Clean Up and Concert!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Berry Green Earth Day Kids Clean Up and Free Concert In Gloucester!

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Chelsea Berry – singer/songwriter and ardent environmentalist – is coordinating a kid’s clean up and free concert on Sunday, April 25. 

 Interested children and their families (all ages welcome!) should plan to meet on the front lawn of the Unitarian Universalist Church at the corner of Middle and Church Streets in Gloucester between 12:30 and 1:00 to pick up gloves and (empty) trash and recycling bags.  The clean up will take place from 1 to 3 – rain or shine.  In the event of rain, bag and glove distribution will take place in the lower level of the church.  The clean up is city-wide and participants are encouraged to clean up a public area in Gloucester of their choosing– it could be their school grounds, favorite playing field, park or beach.  (We will also have a list of suggested sites on hand, if folks need ideas).  Any young children unaccompanied by a guardian will work with one of our trash / recycling coordinators and pick up trash within walking distance to the church. 

 Participants will then meet back at the Church @ 3:30 (with their collected trash/ recycling) for the free concert (which will start at 4).   Refreshments will be served, but in keeping with Chelsea’s commitment to preserving the environment, her concert will be a ZERO WASTE event – that is no trash will be generated at this event.  Food and paper waste will be composted and any beverage containers will be recycled.

 Who is Chelsea Berry?  Chelsea is a very gifted and talented singer-songwriter.  Originally from Alaska, Chelsea has made Cape Ann her new home.  Increasingly a regular on the Gloucester music scene, Chelsea also gives singing, guitar and piano lessons to many of the next generation of Cape Ann musicians.  Given her love of the outdoors and concern for the environment, she came up with the idea to combine her 2 passions to celebrate Earth Day and to do it in concert with Cape Ann Kids – instilling in them (the future stewards of the earth) the importance of preserving our environment.  According to Rose LoPiccolo, Gloucester Recycling Coordinator, Chelsea is using her gifts to give back to Gloucester!

 For questions about the event, email:  berrygreen2010@gmail.com

 Thanks to the Unitarian Universalist Church for providing the venue, to the City of Gloucester for providing the trash bags and trash collection, Common Crow for providing refreshments and to the MassDEP for their help in coordination of the event.

 *Trash picker-uppers get into the concert for free!  Suggested donation for all others:  $10

One Hour At A Time Notice From Donna Ardizzoni

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

 

 

Good Morning:

 Hope all enjoyed their weekend with the glorious weather.  I think we need to do Main and Rogers again.  Maybe if more and more people see us out there they in turn with take pride.

Saturday:             April 10, 2010

Where:                 St. Peter’s Square

Time:                     8:00 am

 Please bring brooms, gloves, dust pans if you can and I will get the bags from the DPW…

 Remember the benefit on Saturday night for the Gloucester Fisherman Athletic Association

www.gloucesterathletic.org

great cause and our great local musicians.

 Thanks and enjoy your day.

 Donna

Now Accepting Nominations For Wellspring Cape Ann Families Community Appreciation Awards

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Now Accepting Nominations for

Wellspring Cape Ann Families Community Appreciation Awards

Child-of-the-Year, Parent-of-the-Year or Family-Supporter of the Year!

Do you know a child, parent or community member who has made a difference or added to the community in a special way?

Consider nominating them as a “Child-of-the-Year”, “Parent-of-the-Year” or “Family-Supporter-of-the-Year!”

Wellspring Cape Ann Families is now accepting nominations for the 14th Annual Community Appreciation Awards and will recognize those children, parents and family supporters who have made a difference and contributed to their families or the community in a special way. The awards ceremony will be held Sunday, April 25th at 3:00pm at Cruiseport, Gloucester.

Nominations are being accepted in three distinct award categories: Child of the Year (with three age categories), Parent of the Year, and Family Supporter of the Year.

These awards are named in memory of Howard Blackburn, (1859-1932), a local fisherman who invested in the community of Gloucester and recognized the need for interdependence to sustain a thriving community- A hero who strengthened family life on Cape Ann.

Anyone is eligible to nominate. Past winners have included teachers, school nurses, day-care providers, along with children and adults from Cape Ann and the North Shore.

Nomination forms are due by April 5, 2010. For more information, or to request a nomination form please call Courtney Karcher at (978) 281-7856 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (978) 281-7856 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 3, or e-mail ckarcher@wellspringhouse.org or go to www.wellspringhouse.org to download.

Thank you to Sarah Grow for sending this along.

One Hour At A Time Gang Clean Up This Saturday

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

A bunch of folks met each Saturday morning last year to spend a little time outdoors and clean up City Streets that could use a little trash pick up.  Our very own very good buddy Donna Ardizzoni fills folks in on where to meet and everyone sets off to clean up a certain section of the City each Saturday morning.  It only takes an hour or two of time but you get out in the fresh air, meet like minded folks that love our city and feel great about what you’ve done afterward.

From Donna Ardizzoni-

Hi All:

Hope all had a great weekend and are dry….

When:                                  Saturday:             April 3, 2010 8:00AM

Where:                                 Meet at St. Peter’s Square

What to do:                        I think we should go down Main and Rogers and also some of the Boulevard..  especially if we have some brooms, shovels, etc.                                                        Due to the weather coming in, we need to clean as much as we can especially on the streets and near the Tavern.

Thanks to all and please pass the word..  we will make this city shine…  and show how beautiful it is

I will bring the bags from the DPW…

Stay dry…..

Donna

SailGHS Launch Their Boats!

Posted on by capeannpainter

The GHS Sailing Team Launched their Boats Sunday Morning in preparation of the 2010 Season. Students, Parents, and Volunteers pitched in to get their Boats in the water. Get down to the State Fish Pier when they are practicing, it’s always fun to see them racing around and practicing their capsizing drills.

Here’s some info from SailGHS Administrator Patti Paige; 

The GHS sailing team is a co-ed team consisting of middle school and high school sailors.  Currently, students from Rockport, Gloucester and home-schooled children participate in the program.  The spring sailing season begins April 5 and runs through May 28.  Fall sailing is held in September and October.  We meet Monday through Thursday from 3:00 pm until 5:30 pm.  We sail in Gloucester harbor and conduct a learn to sail program where inexperienced students sail in Rhodes 19.  More advanced sailors belong to the racing team and sail in Vanguard C-420s.

 
GHS sailng team is a member of the Massachusetts Bay League (MBL) high school sailing organization which is located at the Community Boating Center on the Charles River in Boston, MA.  MBL organizes racing events between local high schools in three divisions. 
 
Anyone interested in sailing with us, students and adults alike, can contact me at either sailghs@yahoo.com or by calling me at 978-283-4676.
 
Patti Page, Administrator, SailGHS
HEAVE!
HO!

It Floats!
Patti and the Students Tow one of the Boats to the Main Float.
Patti and the Students get the main float ready for the Boats. View from the State Fish Pier.

Charlee Bianchini Writes in From China

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Everyone!
I know a lot of you must be wondering what happened to the blog… Well it’s back!  I had a wonderful two months traveling around Asia and I’m back in Qufu and ready to post what I wrote of my adventures and then some.  So don’t hesitate to check it out and leave comments and stories about home.  Looking forward to hearing from you and hope all is well!

Still having a wonderful time here in Qufu.  Started teaching a few weeks ago, and am really lovin in.  Just wanted to let you know that I have updated the blog, and am trying to get better at keeping up with it on a regular basis.  So keep checking it out for more posts!  www.charleebeth.wordpress.com Would love to hear more comments from you guys and any news from home.  Miss you all so much and hope you are well!
Best,
Charlee

Chickity Check It!-

click the pic to check out her Polis Journeys

Rotary Recycling Day With Rick Doucette, Sal Frontiero and Friends

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com

Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright Wrap Up From Caitlin Featherstone

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
From Caitlin Featherstone-
Cape Ann TimeBank celebrated the beginning of spring with a crowd of dancing, grooving folks at Alchemy last Saturday.  With over 100 people attending our “Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright” dance party at Alchemy, it was one of their biggest community events ever.  The crowd was a mix of TimeBank regulars and members, interested folks and people drawn by the music of the band, Groove.

A raffle that included offers from TimeBank members piqued interest in the TimeBank and raised some money.  Winners were excited about taking advantage of massage, kayak lessons, garden design, photo portraits and a night at Inn Magnolia.

The evening netted us about $1000 US dollars.  This  does not include the immeasurable goodwill and community awareness that the event also provoked.

Thanks to members who put up posters, distributed postcards, worked the door, sold raffle tickets and organized countless details that made the evening seamless and enjoyable even for the organizers.

Thanks also to James Auditore Events, Alchemy and Groove, without whom the event would not have been possible.
For more information about Cape Ann TimeBank or to join, please contact Cheryl Davis (cdavis_62@hotmail.com) or Nancy Goodman (ngoodman52@yahoo.com).
pictures from Tom and Judy Robinson-Cox- To view the entire album of over 100 photos click here

Breakfast with Joey? What the Winners can expect-

Posted on by capeannpainter

Joey’s a great Guy always giving up his free time for a good cause. Such as this Friday’s auction for the East Gloucester Elementary School. He’s agreed to be a “prize”. You can win Breakfast with him at Sailor Stans!

This probably sounded like a great idea:  Having Breakfast with Joey of GMG.

Just think of all the great conversation you could have with someone so connected to this great City!

But the winners are in for a surprise. I know from experience that joey does’nt talk much when he’s eating. Also watch your fingers when reaching for the last piece of Bacon. It could be a big mistake.

But there is a good side to this story. You can have a great breakfast at Sailor Stans;

http://www.rockyneckartcolony.org/sailor_stans.html

 GOOD LUCK!

Your going to need it.

 Edited by Joey-

I took out a disgusting video that mr bananahead decided to post.  Damn it Paulie.  I just finished dinner and am thoughrouly grossed out by I just witnessed.  I normally have a pretty strong stomach but I honestly feel sick to my stomach right now.

“YEAH RIGHT! This from the Guy who sponsored the Infamous CORN DOG Challenge.” 

Mr. Bananahead

Now Accepting Nominations For Wellspring Cape Ann Families Community Appreciation Awards

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Now Accepting Nominations for

Wellspring Cape Ann Families Community Appreciation Awards

Child-of-the-Year, Parent-of-the-Year or  Family-Supporter of the Year!

Do you know a child, parent or community member who has made a difference or added to the community in a special way?

Consider nominating them as a “Child-of-the-Year”, “Parent-of-the-Year” or “Family-Supporter-of-the-Year!”

Wellspring Cape Ann Families is now accepting nominations for the 14th Annual Community Appreciation Awards and will recognize those children, parents and family supporters who have made a difference and contributed to their families or the community in a special way.  The awards ceremony will be held Sunday, April 25th at 3:00pm at Cruiseport, Gloucester.

Nominations are being accepted in three distinct award categories: Child of the Year (with three age categories), Parent of the Year, and Family Supporter of the Year.

These awards are named in memory of Howard Blackburn, (1859-1932), a local fisherman who invested in the community of Gloucester and recognized the need for interdependence to sustain a thriving community- A hero who strengthened family life on Cape Ann.

Anyone is eligible to nominate. Past winners have included teachers, school nurses, day-care providers, along with children and adults from Cape Ann and the North Shore.

Nomination forms are due by April 5, 2010. For more information, or to request a nomination form please call Courtney Karcher at (978) 281-7856 ext. 3, or e-mail ckarcher@wellspringhouse.org or go to www.wellspringhouse.org to download.

Thank you to Sarah Grow for sending this along.

Michelle DelVecchio Talks East Gloucester Elementary School Auction

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Michelle Delvecchio talks about the East Gloucester Elementary School Auction and also what it means to live here and what she loves about our community.

Check out the East Gloucester School Elementary School Auction Website By Clicking This Text

Catered By Duckworth Beach Gourmet

Donna Ardizzoni Has A Message For People Who Litter

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Donna Writes-

As a member of The One Hour at a Time Gang (we try on Saturday mornings to clean the streets and beaches), I must say the cigarette butts are disgusting.

The city needs to fine people for throwing this litter on our streets.

Could it be that smokers who throw cigarettes out of windows and on streets not know that is littering — just like throwing a coffee cup out onto the streets and onto our beaches? As we clean, most of the litter is cigarette butts.

Please smokers, think before you throw them on the ground.

Our environment and city will thank you.

Thanks and take care

Donna Ardizzoni

Things To Do- Gloucester Pride Stride April 25,2010

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Pride Stride will be entering it’s 23rd year this coming April 25th.

Dennis Acker writes in-

Good morning,
We are hoping to be listed with the Upcoming Events on your site. The 23rd Annual Pride Stride Walk is Sunday April 25, 2010 at Stage Fort Park. We are encouraging Cape Ann Non-Profits to register and recruit walkers to help raise money for their Non-Profit.
Thank you
The Gloucester Pride Stride Board of Directors

Here’s a link to The Pride Stride Website for more details on how you can get involved

From the website-

The 23rd Annual Gloucester Pride Stride Walk will begin at noon on Sunday April 25, 2010 at Stage Fort Park. The 5 mile walk will start and finish at Stage Fort Park, while enjoying scenic views of the Boulevard, Rogers Street, State Fish Pier, Main Street, Boulevard. We look forward to your participation on behalf of your favorite Cape Ann Non-Profit.  We will begin collecting pledges at 10:00AM in the Visitor Center.  If you are unable to join us on the 25th, you can still collect pledges for your Cape Ann Non-Profit and bring them to Becky Sumner at The First National Bank of Ipswich in the Walgreens Plaza, mail them to us, or a donation may be made to the Gloucester Pride Stride Committee to help defray the costs of the annual walk.

East Gloucester Elementary School Auction Friday Night

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
I donated breakfast with me and on me at Sailor Stan’s as an auction item (I know, not that exciting, right?)
Come on out and bid it’s sure to be a great night and how can you beat it when you have the food being done by Duckworth Beach Gourmet?

from Marty Del Vecchio via Cape Ann Online-

The East Gloucester Elementary PTO is holding an “Auction for the Arts” on Friday, March 26th at 7:00p, at Cruiseport in Gloucester.

East Gloucester is lucky to have Ed Touchette, a truly wonderful art teacher.  He is unlucky enough to have no dedicated art room, and to get by on less than $3 per student per year.  The proceeds from this auction will help in both regards.

The evening will feature appetizers provided by Duckworth Beach Gourmet, a cash bar, and dance music by Wheelhouse.  Bidding for silent auction items will commence immediately, with select items presented in a live auction at approximately 8:00p.

Please check our blog for page at http://egscharityauction.blogspot.com/ for more details.
Here’s one of the featured items-

Vintage School Chairs Decorated By Each Classroom


Also here is a list of other items up for Auction

Kat Valentine, Cape Ann Brewing Featured In Cape Ann Magazine!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

From Kat Valentine the creator of the Parlez Moi Blog and a bajillion books-

Cape Ann Magazine wrote an article about knitting on Cape Ann with some pictures from our Tuesday night Knit Night at Cape Ann Brewing’s Pub. They interviewed me and quote me in the article. I put pictures and a PDF of the article on my blog if you want to read it: http://parlezmoiblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/cape-ann-magazine-loves-knitters.html
Our group:
And the “expert”, toasting the knitters who helped make her book a success:

Here are some pictures and videos from Coveted Yarn which is located just up the street from the dock here on East Main Street-

Make a Difference- One Hour At A Time

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

A bunch of folks met each Saturday morning last year to spend a little time outdoors and clean up City Streets that could use a little trash pick up.  Our very own very good buddy Donna Ardizzoni fills folks in on where to meet and everyone sets off to clean up a certain section of the City each Saturday morning.  It only takes an hour or two of time but you get out in the fresh air, meet like minded folks that love our city and feel great about what you’ve done afterward.

From Donna Ardizzoni

Reminder:

St. Peter’s Square

8:00 – 10:00 or so this Saturday

Please bring gloves and I will go and get the bags from the DPW

We should start on Main and Rogers ….

Weather is supposed to be great..  YEAH…

Thanks all

Donna

Jimmy T Is A Finalist For Survivor And Needs Our Help!!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

We’ve got to put the full weight of our community behind one of Gloucester’s favorite Sons- Jimmy T!  He needs our support to get on Survivor.  Please copy the url of this post and send it to your friends and family members to also vote for our boy Jimmy T.

vote here- http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/casting_call//

Jimmy is not only a great guy but he is one of the DOERS around town.  You know, the 2% of people that make 80% of the cool stuff happen.  He volunteers a ridiculous amount of time along with help from others to make the International Dory Races what they are today and continuing the great tradition.  He truly deserves to be on the show for a whole slew of reasons.

From the Survivor Website-

Vote On Your Favorite Finalist
The top 10 finalists are in. Think they have what it takes to win the game? Vote for your favorite now and one lucky winner will head to Los Angeles for an audition with the SURVIVOR casting team.

Jimmy T at The International Dory Race Eliminations, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

From Jimmy T-

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime! My video, titled “Gloucester Fisherman” because I am so very proud of my community and maritime heritage, has been selected to the Final 10 of the “Survivor” Casting Call Contest! Whichever video of the final 10 receives the most votes, that person will likely be a castaway in season 21/22 of “Survivor”!!!

Now it’s up to you! My ONLY chance is for you to click on the link below, vote for me, and take a moment to forward this e-mail to as many friends, as far reaching as possible.

Five minute of your time could change the lives of my family!!!

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/casting_call//

Thank you so much…. your support means everything!

Jimmy T.

I’ll keep this post stickied for a while at the top of the page so if you see someone in the street just direct them to http://www.goodmorninggloucester.com and they can click the link here to vote.
please vote early and often for a great guy that does a ton for our community.

Last Night’s Docksider Fundraiser at Perriwinkle’s

Posted on by Sharon

The money has been raised for the Hawaii trip in April. The Docksider kids worked hard to get the funds together, and last night’s fundraiser at Perriwinkle’s in Essex gave the kids’ spending money. Many local businesses donated the food that the kids served.

What a hard-working group of great young people! And a community pulls together once again! Have a great trip!

Seaman Scarves Fund-raiser on March 2 at Cape Ann Brewery

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

From Kat Valentine at Parlez-Moi Blog-

In a previous blog I talked about using the very old, traditional knitting pattern for Seaman’s Scarves as a possible fund-raiser here in Gloucester. The Seaman’s Scarves are used for endeavors such as  Christmas at Sea, a project The Seaman’s Church Institute. Ever since 1898, during the Spanish American War, The Seaman’s Church Institute has sent thousands of packages to mariners at Christmas time. Included in the packages are hand-knit items donated by knitters from around the country. These include watch caps, socks, vests, and, of course, scarves (photo above), in addition to lip balm, hand lotion and toothpaste and brushes. Last year over 10,000 garments were sent by knitters and thousands more were needed. (They also offer information on how citizens can help our mariners who are the victims of pirates at sea.) Their web site offers a list of free patterns in PDF format for both knit and crocheted patterns for the items they need.
Subsequently I designed 2 original Seaman’s Scarves. One is in Aran Style:
And the other is Guernsey Style:
I am writing the directions for these scarves and Tuesday night, March 2nd, at 6:30, I will be at Cape Ann Brewery with the patterns. Knitters are invited to come and “purchase” a pattern for whatever donation they would like to make. Cape Ann Brewery has graciously offered to match whatever is donated and the proceeds will be donated to the fund for the children of Matteo Russo, a Gloucester fisherman who was lost, along with his crew in January of 2009. I will be present to help knitters get started on the pattern, if they wish (bring worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles) and I’ll help anyone who is interested with either of the patterns.
This should be a great time — an opportunity to learn something new, do some good for our community and have an excuse to drink Cape Ann Brewery’s scrumptious product. I look forward to seeing you there….

Most memorable GMG post for me as we approach 1,000,000

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

There are so many memorable posts over the past two years but the one that sort of sticks out was Mike Lindberg’s 2009 year in review.

I know that we churn out a ton of quality content but in Mike’s 2009 year in review it sort of took me aback with the number of interviews that he grabbed snippets of in that video and that was just a fraction of the ones that were actually conducted.

There are thousands of pictures and hundreds of videos- so many that I forget about a lot of them until I go through the archives.

I also love all the Fiesta coverage, Man vs Food Challenges, Flower box Competitions, Block Party Coverage, The GMG Tree Project…. god I could go on and on.

I love to write and wish I had more time to write more and love to do interviews because I love meeting new people and creating new friendships.

The blog has been such an incredible blessing in that it has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people and create new friendships.

The contributors starting with ever faithful and reliable Sharon.  Mike Lindberg, Paulie Frontiero, Laurie Lufkin, Paul Morrison, Alicia Pensarosa, David Cox and Thom Falzorano,Donna Ardizzoni,Beth Swan, Frank Ciolino, Jo-Anne Silva and the new guy who has been just everywhere- Manuel Simoes.

We can’t forget the people who leave regular comments after posts and let us know that yes, we do have an audience and what people like and dislike.

I’ve always said that give me good friendships over money any day of the week and the richness in friendships that have been a result of the blog have made me a very rich man indeed.

Being able to bring our community together, make people aware of all the great stuff happening around us and highlighting the very best of our spot on earth has been so very rewarding for everyone involved.

Thanks for everyone who has been a part of this thing.  I’d probably be locked up in a mental institution without you.

Thank you each and every one of you for your friendship.

Your Pal Joey