Beautiful fish: Hook-eared sculpin and Mailed sculpin -By Al Bezanson

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Meet the sculpins

The several members of the sculpin and sea raven tribe that are known from the Gulf of Maine are a homogeneous group, characterized by large spiny heads; very wide gill openings; very broad mouths; slender bodies; separate spiny and soft-rayed dorsal fins (united in some rare species); large fanlike pectorals but small caudals; and by ventrals that are reduced to three long rays. All of them, too, have a fashion of spreading the gill covers and of flattening the head when taken in the hand. They likewise produce grunting sounds, and some of them have the power of inflating themselves with air or water when they are molested.

From Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) courtesy of MBL/WHOI

http://www.gma.org/fogm/Artediellus_uncinatus.htm

http://www.gma.org/fogm/Triglops_ommatistius.htm

Waves three days after the storm

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

New obsession, the huge waves in Gloucester.  It makes you wonder how something so beautiful can also be very destructive.  Took some photos on Monday from The Back Shore and Shore Road.

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Job opening at Gloucester Downtown Association

Posted on by Catherine

Downtown Assoc

“The Gloucester Downtown Association‘s Sidewalk Bazaar Coordinator has moved to Salem; Danielle Capalbo did a great job for us for the Bazaar and our Christmas promotion.  I am sure we all wish her well in settling into her new home. The Glouceser Downtown Association (GDA) is now looking for a new Bazaar Coordinator which is a paid contract position.  So if you know of anyone who you think might be interested, please have them send a resume to Patty Gates (Premier Imprints)  or myself ( The Weathervane) for consideration.”
Thanks,
Joe Ciolino, Director GDA”

Gearing Up

Posted on by Nichole S.

We were away for the weekend and missed the entire storm.  I was feeling a little out of the loop and have been missing the waterfront so we took a quick drive down to Pigeon Cove Harbor this morning on the way to school/work.

Dreary and drab today….but, always pretty.

Old Time Minstrel Show

Posted on by Pat D

I found this program in a downtown Gloucester shop.  It states: “We, the members of the Gloucester Service Chest welcome you to our entertainment, an Old Time Minstrel Show, which is given for the benefit of all our own boys in the Armed Forces.”  It was held on January 20 1944.  I was tickled to see my dad listed (“Patty Ryan” though he was generally known as Paddy) as a performer.  My childhood memories of his many performances are full of End Man/ Host duties at variety shows for various charities, so this was perfect.

He must have been only about 16 at this time and it’s gratifying to see that his End Man experiences had a long history.  Another cousin, Edna Handran, is listed on the ticket committee so it was a bonus. Some of the other names include Virginia Friend, Priscilla Cahoon, Theresa Sylvester, Buzzy McKinnon, Norman Ball and Lester Bragg.  There are others but perhaps some of you recognize these.  Presumably the ladies were members of the Junior Women’s Club at the time.

Performances included songs like My Shining Hour, My Heart Tells Me and Pistol Packin’ Mama; and, of course, Yankee Doodle Dandy. You’re humming right now, aren’t you?

SNOWY OWL HEDWIG SURVIES MARCH NOR’EASTER RILEY! -By Kim Smith

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Our beautiful Snowy Owl Hedwig survived, and looks none the worse for wear. She spent the afternoon of March 5th resting in a sunny, but wholly unphotogenic location (and extremely windy corridor, too, I might add). Perhaps a New England Nor’easter is nothing to her, when compared to an Arctic tundra storm. She’s clearly a genius 🙂 And has some mighty good survival skills.

Thank you to Betty G. Grizz for sharing her Hedwig sighting this afternoon ❤

BEFORE AND AFTER ATLANTIC ROAD ESTATE MARCH NOR’EASTER STORM RILEY -By Kim Smith

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Atlantic Road estate, after a relatively mild storm last week.

Sunday afternoon, after March Nor’easter Riley.

READER DAVE FINDS DOVEKIE ALIVE ON THE BEACH–AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A DOVEKIE

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Dave writes, “Saw this Dovekie at low tide Saturday. The gulls were picking it up and dropping it to the side. I chased them away – temporarily and shooed it back into the water.”

Dovekies are easily blown ashore during severe winter storms.  They don’t walk very well on land. If you find a Dovekie on the beach, and it does not appear to be injured, gently pick it up and bring it to the water. And do as Dave did, shoo away interested gulls.

Thank you so much Dave for sharing your photo and for helping the Dovekie back in the water!

Read more about Dovekies here:

RARELY SEEN ON LAND TINY AND BEAUTIFUL DOVEKIE FOUND ON LOCAL BEACH -BY KIM SMITH

BEAUTIFUL FISH: SEA RAVEN -By Al Bezanson

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

SEA RAVEN; RED SCULPIN; SEA SCULPIN; RAVEN; KING o’NORWAY

The sea raven is said to be a good table fish.

See Fishes of the Gulf of Maine, Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953, courtesy of MBL/WHOI http://www.gma.org/fogm/Hemitripterus_americanus.htm

Today, if you looked close, you might have seen sea ravens hurled by the crashing storm waves into the road on the back shore.

 

St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Music Concert

Posted on by James Eves
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Celtic songs of Michael O’Leary.  Multi-instrumentalist Steve Levy joins fiddler Jen Strom and guitarist Bob Strom to back up the vocals in the warm, intimate acoustic of the historic Annisquam Village Church, March 17 at 7 PM.
Tea and scones follow this festival of song.
Erin go bragh! 
Tickets are $15 at the door; $5 for 16 and under, $40 per family.

Thank you,

Kathleen Adams, Music Director
Annisquam Village Church
StPatsFriends2018.jpg

 

Cape Ann Gift Certificates!

Posted on by charlene01930

Questions came up at the lady podcast about the Cape Ann Gift Certificates.

Did you know . . . Cape Ann Gift Certificates are really checks?

We sold more than 60K last year, 20K just over the holidays! This is a highly successful program that keeps people shopping and dining locally.

Click to access GiftCertificateList-revised-2-12-18.pdf