Good Morning Gloucester

I expected to see a rainbow after yesterday’s storm passed, but it was still pretty awesome out here on Old House Cove.  Very windy!

The Boston Globe Sunday insert of the Parade magazine featured a cover story called “The Songs of 1970: What We Were Listening To 50 Years Ago Today” by Jim Farber that I found intriguing.  Then, as I read and remembered those years for myself, I realized how these tunes might help some of us over some “Troubled Waters” today.

Om 1970, I was just entering high school. I was very naive and somewhat sheltered living in rural western New York. The nation (and the world) were coming off a couple of very difficult and divisive years 1968 and 1969. Even I knew change was in the air.  It did not sit well with my Gloucester raised father.

Of course, as a teenager, my lifeline was music. It meant EVERYTHING. I was tied to a transistor radio, which probably looked something like this one I found on ebay:

Top single of the year was Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” themed with hope and faith. Other popular songs of support and peace 50 years ago included “O-O-h Child” and “Let It Be” (a personal favorite). Are you humming  yet? Other popular groups included the Jackson 5 with a young Michael Jackson, James Taylor, and Elton John. I know you are humming now, especially if you are of a certain age………

It seems these songs should be making a comeback to offer support, guidance and peace of mind in this turbulent time. COVID notwithstanding other disruptions (hurricanes and protest movements) deserves to be addressed with soothing 1970s style music. Who’s with me?

The link to the Parade story is here and includes a playlist! A screenshot from that website to inspire you:

How to pronounce “Blynman” Bridge ?

Hi,

Random question, thought maybe with the people at your org you may know.  How to pronounce “Blynman”, from the Blynman Bridge (aka “cut bridge”)

I’ve heard it pronounced like “Bly” nman.  Where Bly rhymes with “fly”.    But I’ve also heard it pronounced “Blyn” man where the “Blyn” sort of rhymes with “Tim”

Figured I would through it out there to you.

Thanks.

-Mike

(new to Gloucester 2020)

Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and the Board of the Gloucester Council on Aging announce the appointment of Gloucester native Elise Sinagra as Director of Elder Services.

Sinagra officially began her duties on July 6 and succeeds Lucy Sheehan, long-standing and much admired Executive Director of the Rose Baker Senior Center. The Director of Elder Services position will encompass the role of Senior Center Director as well as directing programs and services outside of the senior center’s scope.

Sinagra said, “I’m honored to serve my community in this important role. I can think of no greater privilege than attending to the needs of our seniors. Lucy left an incredible legacy of committed service to build on and it’s my goal to do just that. The amount of support I’ve already received from this great community is a testament to the love we have for our seniors.”

Her work will be supported by the Gloucester Council on Aging’s Board of Directors who are tasked with overseeing the COA’s well-being and progress toward its mission of serving as a focal point where seniors and their families can access a network of local, state, and federally sponsored elder services while providing an integrated array of health, nutritional, educational, recreational, and social programs for older men and women.

Mayor Romeo Theken said, “Everyone knows how much I love my seniors. Elise’s enthusiasm is very energizing and her creative thinking will be critical to lead the important work for our seniors. This new and expanded role will be instrumental as we support Gloucester’s senior population and ensure they benefit from a greater quality of life. We are thrilled to have her join our team and under her leadership we very much look forward to increasing and strengthening our work in serving our seniors.”

Sinagra joins the Gloucester Council on Aging with more than twenty years of diverse experience including serving as Director of Community Integration for Seacoast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and as the founding Executive Director of Family Promise North Shore Boston, a successful family homeless shelter program that operates through a network of houses of worship. She also provided constituent services in the Office of Congressman John Tierney where she handled Social Security and Medicare constituent casework as well as liaising with senior centers across the district to disseminate information on the then newly enacted Affordable Care Act.

Fred Cowan, Chairperson of the COA Board said, “Elise has her work cut out for her in accepting this position of identifying and serving Gloucester’s seniors during such a rapidly evolving and unprecedented time where wearing personal protective equipment and practicing social isolation is encouraged. For many years we’ve benefitted from a highly committed board, the remarkable accomplishments of the Friends of the Council on Aging, and Lucy’s dedicated leadership to make the Senior Center hum with activity. When we can reopen the Senior Center to the public it’ll be a new day with new challenges for developing programs and activities and coordinating our resources to meet those needs. Although yes, it’s a tough time today to take on such an important role, we know that Elise Sinagra’s unique blend of experience and her deep knowledge of the community puts us all in a strong place to address our shared goals.”

Sinagra added, “I’m humbled by the list of people who will be my collaborators in this critical effort. From my colleagues at the city level to the skilled and caring leaders we have in our private, for-profit and non-profit institutions – we have so much talent and concern for the well-being of our seniors. I want to be a bridge that connects that community caring and talent to our seniors in meaningful ways. The Rose Baker Senior Center has benefited from annual increases in grant funding, expanded hours of operation, expansion of SeniorCare’s meals program and a wide variety of programmatic developments. I hope to be able to bring the next set of advances, especially some near term innovations to address critical needs that have emerged or worsened as a result of this public health crisis that’s disproportionately impacting our older adults.”

Sinagra serves on the board of directors of Action, Inc., the Disability Resource Center, and the First R Foundation and now as part of her new position will also sit on the board of the Friends of the Gloucester Council on Aging. She was born and raised in Gloucester where she currently resides.

From Facebook. Thanks for the heads up Mayor!

VISIT: https://www.rnacexhibitions.com

Good Morning I know it is a longshot but this picture shows what I believe was an engagement taking place. I didn’t realize it until I got home & looked though pictures. Maybe if you post it we can find (hopefully still) happy couple. ♥️ August 3, 2015

Thank you,Linda Gutmans

We totally indulged to celebrate our anniversary by staying at the beautiful Beauport Hotel for a short staycation. The room faced the harbor for a relaxing and spectacular view. The restaurant was booked ( great news for them on a Monday night I think!) so we ordered room service….a first for us….as I noted, indulgence Dalpiaz style. We’d come in from a long drive and it was the best way to end the day in celebration. Thanks Beauport staff!