Nichole’s Picks 3/3 + 3/4
Pick #1:Â Sugaring Off Tours at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
The warm days of late winter awaken the flow of sap in the maples, causing buds to swell and resulting in sweet-smelling, billowing clouds of steam rising from the sugarhouse. No matter your age, we offer many ways to take advantage of the age-old tradition of maple sugaring here at Ipswich River!
Saturdays & Sundays, March 3–18
On our naturalist-guided tours, learn how to identify a sugar maple, observe tapping and sap collection methods, watch the sap being boiled down in the sugarhouse, and get a sweet taste of the final product.
Afterwards, warm up by the woodstove in the Barn, where hot dogs cooked in maple sap (aka sap dogs) and delicious soups and desserts made by our volunteers are available for purchase. Visit our gift shop to browse a selection of maple products, and be sure to bring home a bottle of our own freshly made maple syrup.
$10/$8 Members • $11/$9 Nonmembers
Tours last about an hour and run in all weather. Advanced registration is required.
Pick #2: Awesome Cultural Festival at Harborlight
Free Event on Saturday, March 3rd 9:00-12:30
We welcome you to Harborlight to experience our second annual Cultural Festival. Journey through our halls on a trip through Spain, Peru, Hungary, England, Mexico, China, Nigeria, Japan, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, and America. Also make a stop along the way to learn Sign Language. Begin in our library where guests will enjoy music and stories from around the world. Grab your passport and begin your adventure! Have your passport stamped while enjoying art, crafts, recipes,and activities from a variety of cultures.
The morning will end with live entertainment. A group of youth performers from the Chinese Folk Art Workshop will perform a traditional dragon dance, a Diablo yo-yo performance, and leave time for hands-on demonstrations.  Some of Harborlight’s own faculty and parents will perform the Flamenco, and Harborlight students will sing international songs.
Pick #3: Treasure Island at the Larcom Theater
Performances:
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Saturday, March 3rd | 11:00 AM
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Saturday, March 3rd | 2:00 PM
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Sunday, March 4th | 11:00 AM
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Sunday, March 4th | 2:00 PM
Tickets: Â Â $15 | $17 | $21
The company that brought you The Little Mermaid last year is back by popular demand with Treasure Island.
Experience the thrilling tale of adventure on the high seas in this fun-filled yarn of piracy and buried treasure. Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy on the sailing ship “Hispaniola,” is drawn into this action-packed story full of unsavory characters, including the infamous Long John Silver, who leads a scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle. The greedy mutineers fight each other for treasure as friendships come unraveled, and new alliances are formed. Good ultimately triumphs, but not without lots of twists and turns! Enjoy this amazing family musical that springs to life with all the great action and talent that The Panto Company USA is known for!
The performance duration is approximately 60 minutes with one intermission. The story is written for children 4 to 13 years old, but it is a true family show that everyone will enjoy!
As always for a comprehensive list of family activities please visit our friends at North Shore Kid
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Good Harbor beach – What a View
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Bazinga!
I was watching a Big Bang Theory rerun recently as Sheldon and Amy Farrah Fowler were recording his new Fun with Flags video series. A note on the chart behind his head said “Featuring your Father’s Grandfathers’ Flags“. What a great blog topic! Don’t click out of here just yet.
My Gloucester great grandfathers were William H. Ryan and William Edward Pierce and somehow I never noticed they were both named William until this blog research. William Ryan was born in 1862 in Gloucester. At that time, the United States flag had 34 stars. This flag only lasted a couple of years before new stars were added and therefore the only President to serve under this flag was Abraham Lincoln.
By the time he died in 1934, the flag had 48 stars. That flag lasted 47 years until Alaska joined the Union followed a few months later by Hawaii.
William Edward Pierce was born in 1864 in Argyle Nova Scotia Canada. Nova Scotia had not yet joined the Confederation of Canada, but did so only 3 years later along with the rest of the provinces. This flag was only 6 years old at the time William was born.
William Pierce died in 1942 in Gloucester under a US flag of 48 stars.
Our ancestors lived through very interesting times and the flags of their time on this planet tell this story. Both Williams were born into political turmoil as their homeland struggled to unify and to create the great democracies now in place.
BAZINGA–got you didn’t I? It’s interesting, isn’t it? – to think about the history they saw probably without even realizing the impact.
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Sould Rebel Project Has A New Album.
When SRP comes out with a new album it’s an automatic purchase for me.
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FEBRUARY SURFING
Hardy soul surfing in 40 degree waters.
Gloucester Back Shore Surfer
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Senator Tarr on NPR and MA legislators unite
Feb 28, 2018 – Senator Tarr’s voice came through my car radio on the way to work this morning on WGBH 89.7 “stories we’re following”. I’ll add a link to the audio if they add it to the website. The story concerned off shore drilling and the senate resolution. Here’s the opening (you can find the complete resolution here  http://www.tarrtalk.com/). Mayor Theken shared photos, and Governor Baker’s letter of support (see below the “read more” break)
Senator Tarr- Senate Resolution Calls for Protection of Massachusetts’ Waters
 Concerned about the potential for oil and gas drilling off of the coast of Massachusetts? Here is the text of the Senate Resolution that I sponsored with Senator Mike Barrett. The Senate adopted it unanimously. MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR TO LIMIT THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE NATIONAL OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF OIL AND GAS LEASING PROGRAM AND TO PROTECT THE WATERS OFF THE COASTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND NEW ENGLAND. Whereas, on January 4, 2018, the United States Department of the Interior announced the publication of a draft proposed program in support of its national outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing program; and…”
In 1979,  Attorney General Francis Bellotti and Sarah Bates and Douglas Foy of Conservation Law Foundation brought suit against the government’s plan to sell oil-lease tracts on Georges Bank.
Continue reading “Senator Tarr on NPR and MA legislators unite”
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BEAUTIFUL FISH: WHITE HAKE AND SQUIRREL HAKE -By Al Bezanson
Ever since 1616, when Capt. John Smith wrote “Hake you may have when the cod failes in summer, if you will fish in the night,” it has been common knowledge that they bite best after dark, from which it is fair to assume they do most of their foraging between sunset and sunrise.
We are forced to discuss these two hakes together, for they are so hard to tell apart that they are often confused, while they agree so closely in habits and distribution that what is said of one applies equally to the other, except as noted below.
From Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953 _ Courtesy of MBL/WHOI
http://www.gma.org/fogm/Urophycis_tenuis.htm
http://www.gma.org/fogm/Urophycis_chuss.htm
2010 to 2016 Massachusetts landings of white hake have been in the range of 3 to 5 million pounds. Squirrel (Red) hake landings 197 to 366 thousand pounds.
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James A Ryan map of Gloucester / Rockport quarries displayed at local dentist office
I like how area businesses display art and historic ephemera. The waiting area of Dr. Powers’ dentist office features a fascinating poster of the Gloucester Rockport Quarries © July 2017, a working document created by James A Ryan*, Reg / Prof Civil Engineer from Gloucester, MA, based on “2011 aerial surveys provided by Gloucester DPW Engineering Department and Rockport counterpart”
I know Dr. Powers is a history buff and that’s why it’s displayed. (I had a chuckle thinking about these are the first fillings at a dentist that I don’t mind learning about :))
(*no relation)
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The curve appeal of Shore Road
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Winter into Spring Pottery Class
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SAVE THE DATES FOR AMY KERR’S UPCOMING “I AM MORE” TRAVELING PORTRAIT SHOWS
Beginning in July there will be I Am More portraits traveling to Gloucester City Hall, Addison Gilbert Hospital, Gloucester High School, Emerson College, Gloucester Stage Company, Action Inc., Lahey Behavioral Health, The Open Door, Cape Ann Cinema and Stage, Cape Ann Coffees, Magnolia Library and Community Center, Eastern Point Lit House, Cape Ann Animal Aid, Backyard Growers, Saltwater Massage Studio, Cape Ann Power Yoga, Willow Rest, Maritime Gloucester, and Sound Harbor Music School.
If you would like to host a display of one or more portraits in 2019 please let me know. You can see the portraits and read the essays here:Â https://amykerrdrawsportraits.wordpress.com.
Stay tuned for I Am More: Massachusetts…
Thanks for your support!
Amy Kerr
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Last Light Annisquam
4 minute exposure just after the sun had disappeared love capturing the lingering light this way as it gives the clouds the streak affect.
I also want to thank Joey for giving me this opportunity as the featured artist for the month of February. And also to all of you for the lovely comments and likes.
Tomorrow March 1st through the month i will have 6 pieces at the gallery area at Addison Gilbert Hospital here in Gloucester
And will also have 7 pieces hanging in Gallery above the Schooners Market in Essex through the month of March,,
Thank you everyone,
To view more of my work, see my gallery on the Cape Ann Giclée website
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Northeastern Conference Cheerleader Competition
GHS Cheerleaders again win cheerleader competition with the Northeast Conference.
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Gloucester Smiles-856
Welcome back from Sweden
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Vistors from Lawrence
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Acoustic Dinner at Feather & Wedge Featuring Andrew James, Thursday, March 1
Join us Thursday, March 1 at Feather & Wedge for dinner and a special evening of music from one of Boston’s most talented singer/songwriters, Andrew James. His impressive set list is comprised of original music and covers by artists including Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Tracy Chapman, John Mayer and Jack Johnson. 7 PM- 9 PM. For a list of upcoming events at Feather & Website, visit our website.
Reservations strongly suggested.  978. 999. 5917
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Young Professionals Event at Pier 23 Kitchen
Come meet with other young professionals over drinks in a casual atmosphere at an event hosted by Pier 23 Kitchen and Next Generation Cape Ann.
Tuesday, March 6 at 5 PM – 7 PM
We have a growing group of young professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs on Cape Ann and this is a way to get together, share ideas and help grow each other’s businesses and the community.
FREE to attend. Cash Bar. Light appetizers.
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Boats at Rest
Resting boats are peaceful and yet bob a bit as if anxious to get out on the water with their masters.
Good Morning Gloucester 