Category: Uncategorized

A Rubber Duck Unit of Length

Posted on by paultmorrison

Unit of Measure: A Standard Rubber Duck.
Length including duck bill: 6 inches (15 centimeters)
Height: 5 inches (12 centimeters)
Width: 3 inches (6 centimeters)

In the afternoon I will be posting photos of the Rubber Duck sitting  on a dead Finback Whale washed up on the rocky coast of Cape Ann. It will help to realize that RD is not a small duck. (The closeup fisheye effect of the iPhone distorts the view but RD really is 6 inches from stem to stern.)

And yes, RD has a red fiberglass cast on her right wing. She thanks everyone for all the get well cards. She only misses being able to give Homie a big hug.

Famous Great Guy!

Posted on by capeannpainter

When I worked at Tadco Mfg. in the late 70’s and early 80’s I met Phil Bissell at one of the train station shops at the Whistle stop Mall in Rockport, Ma. During my lunch breaks I used to stop by and say Hi and talk Art and if it was one of my friends Birthdays I’d have him draw a quick sketch for them. He would love to talk art. He’s is one of my inspirations. I think $25.00 for one. He wasn’t Famous back then but he should be now! You never know!

GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

August 28, 2009

Rockport’s Bissell and his legendary logo celebrated

By Matt Langone

In the world of sports, followers often subscribe to the notion of out of sight, out of mind. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally.

Historic moments and people become lost in the rapidly changing times. The founding fathers and iconic figures that our professional sports leagues and teams were built upon become forgotten due the right here, right now mentality of sports. However, New England Patriots fans will have a chance to get acquainted or reacquainted with the symbol of the beginning of the Patriots, and the man who created that symbol.

That man would be Rockport’s Phil Bissell, who created the original New England Patriots logo Pat Patriot in 1960 shortly after the team — then known as the Boston Patriots — was formed as one of the eight squads to play in the American Football League (a league that existed from 1960-1969 before merging with the NFL).

With this year being the 50th anniversary of the Patriots organization and the AFL, the new sleek Flying Elvis logo of the Patriots will step aside for a few games and allow the retro uniforms and Pat Patriot to make a triumphant return.

For The Entire Story Click Here To View At The Gloucester Daily Times Website

Greetings from France

Posted on by Matthew Green

Greetings from France!

This is the famous Abbey of Solesmes, in the area of Sarthe, west of Paris. I was here for two days, soaking in their amazing Gregorian Chant (and taking photos of the monastery buildings and gardens), before heading off to Paris. More photos of France (with the GMG logo!) will be forthcoming…
– Fr. Matthew Green

Not your average college dean ~ listen up tomorrow at 9am on 104.9FM

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

In case you missed this post, Next Thursday (10/25) is the 2012-13 Berklee in Gloucester season kickoff at The Gloucester House featuring the Jim Odgren Quintet, who are helping raise money to send a Gloucester student to Berklee.  You may remember that this is the brainchild of Berklee’s Dean of Performance, Matt Marvuglio.  Now, when you read the word Dean, what do envision?  Bet it’s not the guy playing the flute solo at about 2 minutes into this video (Jim Odgren is on alto sax in this video too).

Here’s another video of Matt at The Gloucester House on March 30 with Berklee professor Ed Saindon on vibes and students Nori Shiota on bass and Jazz Robertson on drums.

Matt told me he’s planning to come to the concert on Thursday.  Perhaps we can convince him to sit in.

How cool is it that you can see the top professors, students — even the dean — of the best music school in the world right here in your own backyard!  Well, Aurelia Nelson, host of the show Curtain Up on North Shore 104.9 thinks it’s pretty cool, so she asked me to join her for tomorrow’s show to talk a little about it.  So tune in to 104.9FM tomorrow at 9AM.

But before all that, you’ve got 13 venues with live music to choose from tonight — perfect number for a beautiful October Saturday!  See the complete live music listing here.

Viewer Discretion is Advised.

Posted on by capeannpainter

Viewer discretion is advised

Bird vs. Wind Turbine

It looks like the bird is playing with the blades of the Turbine. BUT THEN!

I could only watch it once. I pity the Sea Gulls. They’re not as smart as a Hawk or Eagle.

Hammond Castle

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,  we sure enjoyed meeting you a few mornings ago and are enjoying the sights and sounds of Glosta/Cape Ann.  Even though Hammond Castle is closed for the season (except for Haunted Nights), I poked around and caught this pic of autumn leaves framing a back window.  Just a little something different.
Cheers, Sharon St Clair-King and Chuck King.

photo-3

Marty and Brian Luster Perform at Carnegie Hall

Posted on by Marty Luster

We all know the way to get to Carnegie Hall is “practice, practice, practice.” Well, on Wednesday evening more than two years of ukulele practice paid off when Brian and I got the opportunity to accompany the UKULELE ORCHESTRA of GREAT BRITAIN before a nearly full house at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan.

 Here we are outside Carnegie Hall prior to showtime. Note the sticka.

Here are some of our buds from the orchestra on 7th Ave. trying to find a proper pub.

 A quick sidewalk rehearsal, and finally our grand performance,

along with hundreds of other ukulele wielding audience members.

Manchester Athletic Club Named To List of Top 100 Clubs in America

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Blue Sky Holdings, Inc., the parent company that includes Manchester Athletic Club in Manchester by-the-Sea, MA, MAC Fitness in Rowley, MA, and MAC Fitness in Gloucester, MA, was recently named to the list of America’s Top 100 Clubs of 2012 by Club Industry.

The local sports club corporation, which services families on Cape Ann and the North Shore, was chosen from over 13,000 health and fitness clubs nationwide. Dedicated to seeing its members reach their personal fitness goals since 1973, the club itself has reached a few of its own in recent years. Manchester Athletic Club has undergone a complete renovation, including a new fitness area and equipment, a state-of-the-art childcare center and the addition of several new tennis courts. In 2011, Manchester Athletic Club’s MAC Tennis program was named one of only 24 Certified Regional Training Centers in the country by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Today, the program is receiving national and international recognition as home to some of the top competing junior players in the country. In 2009 the company expanded to include MAC Fitness in Gloucester with MAC Fitness in Rowley following in 2010.

"Manchester Athletic Club has a long and established history on Cape Ann,” said Keith Callahan, General Manager and Managing Partner. “It’s great to work with such a dedicated team of tennis, fitness and service professionals. While industry recognition is clearly appreciated, the real success story for our club is the impact we’ve had on the families of Cape Ann."

“It’s been an amazing journey to see this company, its membership and our dedicated staff grow our clubs to the point that we are recognized among the top in America,” added John Donovan, Owner. “With this award, we aim to energize not only our company, but our membership as well.”

Manchester Athletic Club is located in Manchester by-the-Sea, MA. The full service health club features 11 tennis courts, the Gymazing! Child Center for preschool-aged children, iXl programs for young teens, a fitness and strength training center staffed with certified professional trainers, indoor aquatics center, multiple group exercise studios, and an outdoor pool with playground.

Fitz Henry Lane House Post Feedback From Joseph Muse

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

joey, 

enjoyed the post last eve of the Fitz Hugh Lane  house. So glad it was saved. Remember playing in that neighborhood when their was an active community there with streets and houses all around. i think they used to call it the old stone jug. Almys was on main street and the Bradford hotel. It would be interesting to see photos of the entire neighborhood prior to the fire.

Fitz Henry Lane Eighth Grade Field Trip

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
O’Maley Takes Advantage of Local Gems to Enhance Learning in the Classroom

museum shot

On October 12th, Lighthouse students participated in a Gloucester field trip to enhance their work with the interdisciplinary theme of perspective. After having done work with a biography of Fitz Henry Lane, students traveled to the Cape Ann Museum to hear a presentation on his life. Following the presentation, students were able to walk around the museum and observe/analyze the large collection of Fitz Henry Lane
originals.
 sketching at lane site 1
The museum visit enhanced their understandings of the following essential questions:  1. How does landscape affect who we are and how we see the world? 2. How does understanding deepen when we consider a subject from the opposite view? 3. How are the five themes of geography evident in Gloucester’s landscape? 4. How can museums become classrooms? 5. How does art “speak” without words?

sketching at lane site 2
   
After their museum visit, students proceeded to the Lane house on Harbor Loop. Here, students listened to a monologue by O’Maley teacher, Jay DiPrima. His theatrical speech as Fitz Henry Lane kicked off their work at their first site. Students surrounded the Lane house and sketched landscapes considering perspective and the way the five themes of geography affect landscape.

Jordan Govani limited view sketch in process

          Jordan Govani sketches inner harbor

    Students also sketched views from Rocky Neck and from the boulevard. Lunch at the Gloucester House ended a successful trip.

Has anyone played with Windows 8 yet?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I have no interest in it and am fearful that they’re gonna screw up everything I love about Windows 7.

I haven’t tried it out so I’m not sure its fair to say that but was wondering what anyone that has used it thinks.

Unidentified Leaping Creature

Posted on by God's Morning

Anyone have any idea what leaping little creature made these tracks on the beach? 

Bounding is done by animals with relatively long bodies. The animal springs forward like a slinky-toy releasing itself, and all four feet come down in the same general area, and then they repeat the operation, leaving clustered prints in widely separated groups, as shown above. There are plenty of bounding animals — weasels, minks, otters, and many more. However, in our backyards most of us will only see the tracks of two kinds of bounders — chipmunks and squirrels. And they don’t always bound.

Prints of chipmunks and squirrels often show claw marks, but sometimes the claws don’t show at all.  (from backyardnature.com)

E.J. Lefavour

Note To Self: Pass On The Bumblebee Tuna

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

AP: Calif. Worker Cooked to Death in Tuna Factory Steamer

The Associated press reports-

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a 62-year-old employee was cooked to death at a Southern California seafood plant for tuna maker Bumble Bee Foods.

The Whittier Daily News reports Jose Melena was found shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday at the plant in Santa Fe Springs.

Erika Monterroza is a spokeswoman for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. She says it’s unclear how the man ended up inside a cooking device called a "steamer machine."

The state agency has launched an investigation.

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