SNOWY OWL FEATHERS IN THE MOONLIGHT -By Kim Smith AND REQUEST FOR HELP

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Hedwig is the gift that keeps on giving! What a joy to see her awakening in the rising full moon last night. She preened and fluffed, then flew through the moonlight to a nearby phone pole.

The wind was whipping up and ruffling Hedwig’s feathers, making her look extra fine in the glow of the Snow Moon rising.

Dear Friends,

While I am sorting through the challenges of one of the hard drives for my Monarch film crashing, I have been organizing the Snowy footage. Captured in photos and on film, we have her bathing, passing a pellet, pooping, eating, flying, and much more, and is going to make a terrific short film. It’s a mystery to me exactly where she goes when she disappears for several days and I am hoping to document every aspect of her stay in Gloucester. She has been spotted at several locales in East Gloucester, Salt Island, and Twin Lights but, if by chance, she is a regular visitor to your yard, please write and let me know. The best way to keep the information from becoming public knowledge is to email me at kimsmithdesigns@hotmail.com. I am also looking for a few minutes of footage of a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) as they are closely related to Snowies (Bubo scandiacus), so please write and let me know if you have a resident Great Horned Owl. Thank you so much for any leads given 🙂Full Snow Moon Rising

Official :Gloucester Issues Coastal Flooding Statement

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

28575697_10155035273927331_4130520960677695813_n
Gloucester Emergency Flooding Alert [Code Yellow Alert Issued 3/1/2018 6 PM]
LONG DURATION COASTAL STORM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
Tides will be astronomically high from Thursday night (3/1/2018) through all of Saturday (3/3/2018) with a coastal storm and storm surge increasing coastal flooding and property damage. Power outages, road closures, and other emergency incidents are expected in the next 24 to 48 hours and we strongly recommend all citizens to prepare accordingly.
Additionally, we caution all citizens who are in low lying areas that are prone to flooding to be aware and prepare accordingly. Any home or business that was previously affected by recent storms and flooding should especially take caution.
Coastal properties facing East, NorthEast may be severely affected by the predicted storm surge and significant wave action.
Precautionary measures should be taken immediately to best prepare, including voluntary evacuation prior to the storm. All residents should avoid these areas, as well as avoiding driving through any flooded areas.
Strong winds may cause power outages and we are asking citizens to shelter in place. If your home is being flooded or if you are in danger, call 911 for immediate assistance. Emergency teams are prepared to assist anyone in need so call 911 right away.
Roads may be slick in areas, so we remind all to take caution if driving. Roadways most prone to splash-over at astronomically high tides will be at greatest risk of inundation.
Updates will be forthcoming and will be shared on the City of Gloucester website and social media pages so please visit http://www.gloucester-ma.gov. Thank you for your assistance and please use 911 for any flooding or emergency needs.
# # #
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDER CONTACT INFORMATION AS FOLLOWS:

 

POWER OUTAGES
National Grid has been preparing for power outages in different areas across the North Shore, including Gloucester. If any outages do occur in your area, it is imperative that they be reported via the National Grid Customer Service or Outage Reporting phone lines as listed below. Every outage phone call that we receive is logged into our outage tracking system and better enables us to pinpoint the location of the issue. The sooner National Grid can identify the location of the issue, the quicker a response can be sent.
The Customer Service Line is: 1-800-322-3223
The Outage Reporting Line is: 1-800-465-1212
REMINDERS/ SAFETY INFORMATION
Flood safety tips: http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/flood-safety-tips
Storm preparedness and safety information: http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/winter-storm-safety-tips
Power outage preparedness and safety information: http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/power-outage-safety-tips
Safety and preparedness tips for extreme cold: http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/extreme-cold-safety-tips
Winter safety tips for pets: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/winter-pet-safety-tips
MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STATEMENT
Latest weather and emergency reports can be seen using the following links and resource lines:
Live weather maps and climate information: http://memamaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=0da6e4d888b74317b52b7a5064aa3dc2
Power outage map reporting: http://mema.mapsonline.net/public.html
Latest situation charts, messages and social media friendly messaging: https://www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA/

# # #

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
ED MANAGER CHIEF ERIC SMITH AT ESMITH@GLOUCESTER-MA.GOV

 

28514427_10155035275112331_348316864993323096_o

Beautiful Fish: Blue Hake -By Al Bezanson

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns
Blue Hake

Our previous post spoke of two members of the hake tribe – WHITE HAKE aka BOSTON HAKE sometimes called BLACK HAKE and sometimes MUD HAKE when they are not simply called HAKE or their other name, LING.  The other mentioned, SQUIRREL HAKE is more commonly known as RED HAKE, except when it is called LING.  Got it?

Today we have another – BLUE HAKE.  It’s rare in the Gulf of Maine but common beyond the slope and has been taken at 1,000 fathoms.  BLUE HAKE look much like WHITE  and RED HAKE and also like BLACK HAKE which are really WHITE HAKE, as explained in the previous paragraph.

Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953.  Courtesy of MBL/WHOI – BLUE HAKE

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

Evan Goodrow @ The Rhumb Line’s Dave Sag’s Blues Party 8:30pm 3.1.2018

Posted on by Joanne

 

Evan Goodrow returns continuing his winter tour of the North Shore.

 

Be great to play with him again! With him, Ephraim lowell on drums. Bring sacrifices For the altar!

 

 

40 Railroad Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-9732

http://www.therhumbline.com/

Nichole’s Picks 3/3 + 3/4

Posted on by Nichole S.

Pick #1:  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

Sap buckets on tree © Marie-Anne Verougstraete

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.

REGISTER ONLINE

READ MORE HERE 

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.

Screen Shot 2018-03-01 at 9.07.57 AM

READ MORE HERE

Pick #3: Treasure Island at the Larcom Theater

LARCOM THEATER

Performances:

  • Saturday, March 3rd | 11:00 AM

  • Saturday, March 3rd | 2:00 PM

  • Sunday, March 4th | 11:00 AM

  • Sunday, March 4th | 2:00 PM

Tickets:   $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!

Screen Shot 2018-03-01 at 9.18.16 AM

As always for a comprehensive list of family activities please visit our friends at North Shore Kid

Bazinga!

Posted on by Pat D

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.

FEBRUARY SURFING

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Hardy soul surfing in 40 degree waters.Gloucester Back Shore Surfer

Senator Tarr on NPR and MA legislators unite

Posted on by Catherine
1292
Senator Tarr, Mayor Romeo Theken, Angela Sanfilippo, Feb 27, 2018 (Mayor Romeo Theken shared this photo)

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.

1293
JJ Clarke, Angela Sanfilippo, Douglas Foy-  November 24, 1981
Senator Tarr 2000 cenotaph dedication photo gloucester archives
In 2000, throwback photo of Tarr from the Gloucester archives at the dedication of the cenotaph

Continue reading “Senator Tarr on NPR and MA legislators unite” →

BEAUTIFUL FISH: WHITE HAKE AND SQUIRREL HAKE -By Al Bezanson

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns
 WHITE HAKE; BOSTON HAKE; BLACK HAKE; MUD HAKE; HAKE; LING
 SQUIRREL HAKE; RED HAKE; LING

 

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.

 

James A Ryan map of Gloucester / Rockport quarries displayed at local dentist office

Posted on by Catherine

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)

2011 map quarries (2)2011 map quarries

IMG_20180228_141437 (1).jpg

SAVE THE DATES FOR AMY KERR’S UPCOMING “I AM MORE” TRAVELING PORTRAIT SHOWS

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

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: https://amykerrdrawsportraits.wordpress.com.

Stay tuned for I Am More: Massachusetts…

Thanks for your support!

Amy Kerr

Wednesdays with Fly Amero @ The Rhumb Line ~ Michael Gallagher is retiring and there is a grand send off tonight! 7pm 2.28.2018

Posted on by Joanne

Wednesday, February 28 – 7pm
THE RHUMB LINE
40 Railroad Avenue
Gloucester, MA
My Special Musical Guests: EVERYONE!

After 37+ amazing years of bartending at the Rhumb Line, the great Michael Gallagher has decided to retire. In tribute to his longstanding impeccable quality, character and integrity, every Wednesday musical guest we’ve ever hosted has asked to appear to perform personal dedications for his final bar shift. There are some, of course, who will not be able to be with us, but they do send sincere regrets and undying love. There will be a card for us all to sign, and I’ve actually written a little special something for the occasion. Anyway, it promises to be a great send-off for a truly great person, so we’re expecting it to be busy. Please try to come early and grab a good seat for the spectacle you are about to witness! Hail to thee, Michael Gallagher! You are loved and will be missed! ~ Fly

The great Michael Gallagher, ladies and gentlemen…

Some of the evening’s guests: J.B. Amero ; David Brown ; Allen Estes ; Ed Daley ; Orville
Giddings ; Sasquatch ; Chick Marston ; Dan King ; Brian King ; Bill Gleason ; Toni Ann Enes ;
Tom Eaton ; Inge Berge ; Ron Schrank ; Bradley Royds ; Tony Frontiero ; Elaine O’Rourke
Dinner with great music!
*Each week features a special, invited musical guest
The Rhumb Line Kitchen……now features Janet Brown with some new and healthy ideas!
Plus a fine, affordable wine menu!
Upcoming…
3/7 – Toni Ann

3/14 – Ron Schrank

3/21 – Liz Frame

Visit: http://www.therhumbline.com/
Looking forward……to seeing you there 🙂