This just in from Senator Bruce Tarr:

Today I had the honor of attending the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s 24th Annual “Firefighter of the Year” Award Ceremony.  Governor Deval Patrick, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Andrea Cabral, State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, and I were all on hand to support and honor firefighters across the Commonwealth for their acts of heroism and bravery.

Among today’s recipients were members of the Gloucester Fire Department: Captain Joseph Aiello, and Firefighters Jonathon Sanger, Charles Scola, James Burke, Robert Rivas, Frank LeClerc, James Hannon, and Paul Hudson, who were recognized for their bravery in trying to rescue a 15-year-old girl in April during a house fire on Summer Street in Gloucester, and three other fires throughout the city earlier this year.

I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of the members of the Gloucester Fire Department and all of those in the fire service throughout our state for their personal commitment and sacrifice on behalf of our safety and well-being.

Posted below are two photos of Gloucester’s firefighters at today’s ceremony; one with Governor Deval Patrick during today’s ceremony, and one with Mayor Carolyn Kirk and myself.

Hi Joey,Could you post this for me please. Good Morning Gloucester has been very helpful in getting the word out on my little store..Best Wishes JackieHappy Holidays, everyone! We would like to invite all of our fabulous customers- and all of your friends- to a Make Your Own Jewelry Night tonight, December 19th, from five P.M. to nine. We’re going to support our good friend, local artist Melissa Tarr, and enjoy beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and some quality crafting.We are located at 269 Main St. Gloucester.Hope to see you there!Cheers, MRVD

Place Your Order Here- http://gmg.storenvy.com/

Men – it’s YOUR Night – Dec. 19

Dear Joey,

Calling all guys!

Whether you have yet to start your holiday shopping or just have a few things to finish up, Men’s Night in Downtown Gloucester is the place to be.

This Thursday, December 19th from 5pm to 10pm, celebrate the season at Harbor Goods with specials, guy treats and great customer service.

We’ll have all hands on deck to help you find that perfect present for everyone on your list; you can get it done all in one shop and have fun doing it!

Mix, Mingle and Be Merry with the crew at Harbor Goods/Life is good®  

119 Main Street, Gloucester, MA

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Dock Square Shop, photo from Anthony Marks

 Maritime Gloucester’s 12 Days of Fishmas

Fun facts for A – L:

The peppermint angelfish is a very rare species from the South Pacific. These candy-striped fish are found at depths of over 300 feet!

The banded coral shrimp is colored like a candy cane! While they look like shrimp, these tropical crustaceans are more closely related to crabs and lobsters.

Could there be a more festive sea creature than a Christmas tree worm? These tropical marine worms use their feathery tentacles for both feeding and breathing.

Decorator crabs are known for decorating themselves with seaweed and small marine animals for camouflage. This decorator crab used tiny sea stars!

In the United States, these fish are called bluefish, but in South Africa, they’re known as elf! Whatever you call them, these speedy fish can be found off of every continent but Antarctica.

Nudibranchs are sea slugs, related to snails and land slugs. The frosted nudibranch is a Pacific species, known for feeding on a various prey, including crustaceans, snails, and sea squirts.

Ginger gobies are small bottom-dwelling fish found in Eurasia. Females lay their eggs on rocks, and afterwards, the males guard the eggs until they hatch.

The holiday darter is found in rivers in the Southeastern United States. These colorful fish feed on small crustaceans and aquatic insect larvae.

Antarctic icefish produce antifreeze proteins. This prevents ice crystals from forming in their blood, allowing them to live at freezing temperatures that would kill most fish species.

Jingle shells, jingle shells, jingle all the way! A jingling sound can be heard when waves crash upon beaches covered with these oyster-like shells.

Snow photos make great content. But I just got a message from home: LEAVE NOW! internet is going in and out . . .  no phone . . .  at all … If i were you I would get my FA out of there. They just plowed here (I think she’s talking about the issue of access to our driveway). So, I guess it’s time to go. Thankful that I have a 4WD Jeep. My commute is only 6 miles to Rockport. Tomorrow, the CATA (Cape Ann Transportation Authority) bus might be good. 60 cents? Ya think? Our area, Cape Ann, is predicted to get 5 to 7 inches of snow. Maybe! If I have internet when I get home, I’ll let you know more.

The Illusion

At mid ebb I was sitting at the side of
a tidal creek along the edge of the marsh
that cushions Essex Bay like a large soft pillow
placed on a  hard granite bed.

The stream was long and snaked off into the distance
reflecting both the border marsh grass and the
thin clouds far overhead.  The stones in the water
were like signposts showing the way to the sea.

What a lovely scene, I thought, how gentle and sublime.
This is the way to experience life; immersed in beauty,
a vision to hold onto – a flashback of the
best there is –  a remembrance of joyful days.

Three hours later, the stream was gone, the rock filled
bed was mud, no more a mirror of sky and grass .
And the rocks, alone and exposed, spoke only of what had been;
my river of peace and beauty now empty.

This must be a magician’s trick, an illusion that
appears and enthralls only to disappear
at the pass of a wand or the murmuring
of some secret and ancient incantation.

But I am the sorcerer. I am the illusionist
who attaches to objects and scenes the word
sublime. I conjure up the images to
be remembered; if not for me, beauty would not be.

Marty Luster

An encore, originally posted February 12, 2012.