Birds at the feeder

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Snowy, windy and messy Sunday did not keep the birds from having some treats.  I love the birds hanging on to the feeder during a gust of wind.

Looks like rainbows in the waves

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Monday on Shore Road the ocean was singing a song and the waves were coming in beautifully.  All of a sudden I noticed rainbows on top of the waves.

Making Jokes During a Presentation Helps Men But Hurts Women

Posted on by Catherine

women’s history month- article from Harvard Business Review

“Making Jokes During a Presentation Helps Men But Hurts Women”

ouch

“…However, our research suggests that the benefits of humor do not extend to everyone — women may actually be harmed by using humor at work. We find that when men add humor to a business presentation, observers view them as having higher levels of status (that is, respect or prestige) within the organization, and give them higher performance ratings and leadership capability assessments compared to when they do not include humor. However, when women add the same humor to the same presentation, people view them as having lower levels of status, rate their performance as lower, and consider them less capable as leaders…”

Research by Jonathan Evans , Jerel Slaughter, Aleksander Ellis and Jessi Rivin 

Titan

Posted on by Nichole S.

Sunday morning snow was falling and Thatch and I took a quick ride down the State Fish Pier on the way to volunteering at the “Welcome Home Veteran’s Luncheon” at the Elks. The juxtaposition of the fishing fleet in the winter weather always gets me.

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Wreath Making Event

Posted on by Pat D

Linda Brown of All Purpose Flowers on Lexington Ave in Magnolia recently hosted a wreath making workshop that I decided to attend despite my clear lack of skill. Linda brought everything we needed and had the tables all decked out with clippers, glue guns and tape so we set to work.  The wine and cheese helped. I even got to witness FOB Sharon use a glue gun for the first time! It was such fun that Linda is considering offering another workshop in flower arrangement, which I am looking forward to. Making a spring wreath is a nice way to usher in spring…..hello? Spring? We are waiting….

Wreath

First visible sunset since clocks sprung forward. Plum Cove Beach, 6:42 pm, March 11, 2019

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
First visible sunset since clocks sprung forward. Plum Cove Beach, 6:42 pm, March 11, 2019
March toward the light…
Cowboy Andy McCloy

Corned Beef Brisket Or Flat At Stop and Shop $1.47lb with Flyer Coupon

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey Ciaramitaro's avatarNortheast BBQ

It’s on the label for $2.47 but the flyers available at the door have the $1 off coupon for the deal.

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Group show of Essex Heritage 2018 Photo contest winners at Salem Visitor Center

Posted on by Catherine

News from Essex National Heritage- Congratulations to all the winners including Amy Smith of Gloucester:

Essex Heritage Announces Winners of 2018 Photo Contest

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Essex National Heritage Area Photo Contest. The annual photo contest encourages photographers of all levels to “capture” the living landscapes, unique places, and interesting people of Essex County, MA. The contest is presented in partnership with Hunt’s Photo & Video, the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, and the National Park Service at Salem Maritime and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Sites.

From rocky coasts and harbors and rural farms to historic downtowns and parks, photographers vividly captured a variety of special places in Essex County for their award-winning submissions to this year’s contest. All of the photographs were taken within the Essex National Heritage Area and fell into the categories of “Off the Beaten Path,” “People of Essex County,” and “A Closer Look.”

2018 Essex National Heritage Area Photo Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner
• “Waves,” taken in Salem by Laurence Spang of Salem

Category: A Closer Look
• 1st Prize: “Sunflower, All For Me,” taken in Newbury by Ken Jordan of Lynn
• 2nd Prize: “Storm Damage,” taken in Salisbury by Caroline Stella of Saugus
• 3rd Prize: “Head Sails,” taken in Gloucester by Frank Conahan of Groton

Category: People Of Essex County
• 1st Prize: “Sandstorm,” taken in Ipswich by Kristin Bender Kyllingstad of Beverly
• 2nd Prize: “Essex Tech Teaching Moment,” taken in Danvers by Sue Plutsky of Beverly
• 3rd Prize: “Winter Hop” taken in Peabody by Judy Schneider of Middleton

Category: Off The Beaten Path
• 1st Prize: “Walking on Clouds” taken in Gloucester by Sarah Burrows of Wenham
• 2nd Prize: “Appleton,” taken in Ipswich by Amy Smith of Gloucester
• 3rd Prize: “Nature’s Window,” taken in Manchester by the Sea by Stephen Dagley of Beverly

People’s Choice Winner
• “Monarch and Thistle,” Taken in Haverhill by Kathy Diamontopoulos of Haverhill

Instagram Winners

New to the Essex Heritage Photo Contest was an Instagram category. Instagrammer were encouraged to tag photos that they took during 2018 with #essexheritagephotocontest. Over 450 photos were entered and 9 winners were selected for their stunning shots that captured the special quality of Essex County. The accounts that won the Instagram category are as follows: @a.a.g.photo, @dcmills89, @funky_monkey_photos, @harbors_edge_photography, @lomachusetts, @saltwaterlabphoto, @sarahtracyburrows, @sjdagley, @tugapeaks

 

Group Show in 2019 for the 2018 contest winners

The eleven winning images will be exhibited for one year at the National Park Service Visitor Center in Salem (2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA 01970) and at the office of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (160 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830).

Essex National Heritage 2018 Photo contest winners exhibited in group show at Salem Visitor Center 2019.jpg
See all the winning photographs on the Essex Heritage Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EssexHeritage

Prints for the Essex National Heritage Area Photo Contest exhibits were generously provided by Hunt’s Photo & Video. Prizes for the Photo Contest were generously contributed by Hunt’s Photo & Video and the National Park Service.

About Essex Heritage and the Essex National Heritage Area
Essex Heritage is the non-profit organization that manages the Essex National Heritage Area by developing programs that enhance, preserve and encourage recreation, education, conservation and interpretation projects on Boston’s North Shore and the Lower Merrimack River Valley. The Essex National Heritage Area is comprised of the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, MA. For more information, visit EssexHeritage.org or call (978) 740-0444.

City Auditor Kenny Costa on Excellence in Financial Reporting Award and more GOOD NEWS! Well done Mayor Romeo Theken Administration #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

One of many precepts for life that artist and friend, Michael Mazur, impressed upon me: make sure and celebrate life’s ta-dah moments. Here are a range of recent bright announcements and achievements in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Congratulations Mayor Romeo Theken, administration, departments, city staff — well done to all involved!

Kenny Costa, City Auditor, describes a major award for Gloucester, with Jim Destino and John Dunn at full City Council on February 13, 2019:

Gloucester receives Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

City Auditor Kenny Costa presentation to City Council about major award financial reporting_20190213_© catherine ryan

City Auditor and Jim Destino with City Council_20190213_Gloucester MA major recognition for accounting reporting

“The City issued a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for Fiscal Year 2017.  The City was awarded for the first time the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for our Fiscal Year 2017 financial audit report also known as the CAFR.  This achievement is nationally recognized and its the highest form of financial reporting.  This is a great achievement for the City and a credit to our finance team.  The preparation of the report was a total team effort.  This achievement will be favorable to the bond rating agencies.  The Finance Team is very proud of this achievement.  We’re proud to be one of only 40 communities in Massachusetts to accomplish this.” – Kenny Costa, City Auditor

You can read the full report here: Gloucester CAFR 

He expects Gloucester to make this target annually from here on.

Sampling of more recent good news:

 

  • Plans settled for YMCA at Gloucester Crossing

 

 

  • New UMASS grant from Seaport Economic Council Sean Horgan writes in the Gloucester Daily Times “The University of Massachusetts system, which includes UMass Amherst’s Gloucester Marine Station at Hodgkins Cove, received a $276,854 grant from the council to identify economic growth opportunities for the Massachusetts commercial fishing industry.”