Category: Good Morning Gloucester

Bands…

Owner and artist Pauline Bresnahan has spent more than two decades at the helm of her store, Pauline’s Gifts in Massachusetts.

Lenise Willis //Editor in Chief//November 3, 2025

Owner and artist Pauline Bresnahan has spent more than two decades at the helm of her store, Pauline’s Gifts, a cherished fixture of the Cape Ann community in Massachusetts. Her work embodies dedication not just to business but to service. “Pauline has served the communities of Cape Ann for over 26 years,” said Glen Bresnahan of Pauline’s Gifts.

Beyond her role as a retailer, Bresnahan sits on the Gloucester tourism board and Discover Gloucester, using her platform to advocate for local artisans and small businesses. She is also known for spearheading Operation Troop Support, delivering supplies to women serving overseas — a mission that highlights her compassion and civic spirit.

Through art, entrepreneurship and activism, Bresnahan has created a model of what it means to blend business with community impact, proving that local retail can drive lasting change. Her dedication to retail and her community has earned her the title of finalist in the 2021 and 2024 Retailer Excellence Awards.

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Everybody’s favorite wreath, Keith, is out and about town. He’s ready for any selfie you might want during store hours at 44 Main St. Welcome back Keith! I know some of you out there were missing him……PS he has his own Instagram account KeithIsAWreath in case you want to check it out. He’s seen here saying “so long for now” to the boulevard garden beds and at 44 Main St.

Gloucester Fishtown Horribles Parade of Trees

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGiRWT49OVe_UWPNr5ex6TvyyUnDyWoeHF5NTN-_wCoc7wlg/viewform

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGiRWT49OVe_UWPNr5ex6TvyyUnDyWoeHF5NTN-_wCoc7wlg/viewform

Winter Mode…

December 19, 2025

9am-3pm

168 Main Street, 168 Main Street, Rockport

I am reaching out on behalf of the City of Gloucester, in collaboration with the towns of Rockport and Ipswich, who are investing $300,000 to address the opioid crisis through expanded treatment access, recovery support, and stigma reduction. More information about the funding is included below.

Are there any upcoming opportunities for collaboration where the Health Department could host a table at an event or have 5–10 minutes to speak about the Opioid Abatement funds during a meeting? We want to ensure these funds are used effectively, and your support would be a big help. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on where we could share this information.  

Opioid Abatement Funding Framework

The initiative is funded in part by a grant from The Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership, funded by the MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and is strengthened by a shared financial commitment from all three municipalities, using funds from the national opioid settlements. Gloucester contributed $100,000, Rockport $30,000, and Ipswich $20,000, and Mosaic Opioid Recovery matched their investment with another $150,000 for a total of $300,000.

The collaboration, was shaped by data and feedback provided by those with lived and living experience, and will fund the following:

• Transportation to and from treatment
• Post-treatment supportive housing
• Substance-free community classes
• Expanded access to recovery coaches
• Anti-Stigma education for community-wide understanding of opioid use disorder (OUD) so more residents will seek help

Residents of the three communities can learn more about these services by visiting community organizations such as Core Peer Recovery, Action, Inc, Open Door, One Stop Harm Reduction, Learn to Cope, Gloucester Health Center, Fishing Partnership Support Services, Younity Access Center, Beth Israel Lahey Health, the Grace Center, and the health departments in each community.  They can also go online at https://www.gloucester-ma.gov/1481/Opioid-Abatement-Funds to learn more.

The Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership is a public-private collaboration created to support initiatives in historically underserved communities that have experienced disproportionately high rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. Powered by RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE) and supported by the Massachusetts Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund, Mosaic represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to implement lifesaving, community-centered approaches to recovery.

Joey’s recent post regarding white tail deer in rut at this time of year brought back to mind this massive battle we witnessed in November 2018 at the Parker River Wildlife Refuge. These young bucks were clearly displaying rut behaviors in this extended battle at high tide. They each got soaked, it appears that one came out with a damaged antler though they each demonstrated fierce buck behaviors. I posted about this at the time (here’s the link) but this seems like a great opportunity to share some additional photos and details. When they finished, they were each panting and shaking off the water. At one point, I got such a stare-down that I was preparing to flee using my monopod as protection. It did not come to that and we were at quite a distance, but it was still memorable. Watch out for deer especially at this time of year.