We were invited to podcast from Magnolia 525 on Lexington Ave Sunday morning and their brunch menu was at the top of our list of discussion points. Brunch is served 10:30-2 on Sundays then the full menu becomes available. If you haven’t tried this place out in a while, it’s definitely a worthwhile stop for delicious food, warm and welcoming atmosphere and to see your neighbors! Tamie and Larry were very gracious hosts and we had a great time. Some brunch menu items include a variety of mimosa flavors, eggs, french toast, quiche, crab cakes benedict and MORE!
Special thanks to my undercover photographer who gets all the photo cred but can’t be revealed because of the undercover nature of the work 🙂
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Gloucester, a vital economic anchor for the Greater Cape Ann region, faces challenges similar to those of Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities, including ensuring that all residents can access and take full advantage of the online environment. To address this challenge, the City of Gloucester — specifically the Sawyer Free Library and municipal IT Department — has been working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to develop Gloucester’s first Digital Equity Plan. This plan is a roadmap for how the community can address the digital divide by helping underconnected residents better access the Internet and obtain the devices and digital skills needed to fully participate in digital and everyday life. The Gloucester City Council heard a presentation on the Digital Equity Plan on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
“The digital divide in Gloucester highlights the need for increased accessibility. Our city is taking steps to ensure that all residents have the opportunity to learn and build technology skills as the online environment becomes increasingly more important for educational attainment, upward economic mobility and personal well-being,” said Mayor Greg Verga.
The plan has been developed and funded as part of the Mass Broadband Institute’s Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program, and consists of existing conditions assessment, community engagement analysis and recommended actions that the community can collectively take, as well as recommendations for resources to implement them. Once approved by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, the City will be eligible for certain grants and funding sources, including the Massachusetts Broadband Institute’s Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Grant program.
“Gloucester’s Digital Equity Plan is an actionable plan that will drive the strategic investment of resources to deliver equitable access, opportunities and outcomes for all Gloucester households,” stated Sawyer Free Library Director Jenny Benedict, who co-led the planning process. “We are so grateful to all the community partners and focus group participants for engaging in this planning process and providing thoughtful and valuable feedback which has informed the recommendations.”
The digital divide does not impact all households equally, and as in many Massachusetts Gateway Cities, income disparity poses a barrier for the community of Gloucester. Many households struggle to afford basic necessities, including internet access and computing devices. Gloucester’s rates of over 10.7% of households lacking internet access and over 7% of households lacking a computer are high figures compared to neighboring municipalities and compared to Essex County as a whole. This gap disproportionately affects residents of color, non-English speaking residents, and immigrants.
After spending much of the last year reviewing data and conducting outreach to residents and community leaders, MAPC alongside the Sawyer Free Library and municipal IT Department, have compiled findings and recommendations for the community into a plan document. Recommendations include ways to support internet access, such as providing public Wi-Fi in community spaces, or subsidized or free internet at public housing sites. The plan also includes recommendations to expand digital literacy and device access programs, as well as to build capacity, for instance, by forming a Gloucester Digital Equity Steering Committee and launching the Digital Learning Lab at the Sawyer Free Library.
The new year is here, and it’s the perfect time to set your sights on a fresh start. Whether you’re decluttering your home, moving to a new space, or gearing up for a big project, Grove Street Self Storage is here to help you achieve your 2025 goals.
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We attended the GHS Girls Ice Hockey game recently and were very impressed by the level of skill and teamwork the group demonstrated. Although Beverly won, the team has had a very successful season so far and are exciting to watch. We are keeping our eye on this group! Here’s a photo dump for the game. I hope you see your favorite player.
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Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 4th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival on January 25 and 26, 2025 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm! Over 1,800 people came out last year to share their salty pride while enjoying free ice sculptures and cultural activities around Downtown Gloucester.
The Cape Ann Museum is partnering with Discover Gloucester and several local cultural institutions and businesses to offer two full days of free programming in the coldest part of the year. Inspired by the annual Salem’s So Sweet event, this two-day event will include ice sculptures, live music, salty treats, free kids’ art activities, and much more.
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Today’s Pet of the week is the last one left (but never least!) Meowwwzah! (aka “Meowzer”) We had a busy cat/kitten month as December often is and have just the one guy left all by his lonesome. Let’s find him a home for the New Year!
BreedDomestic Shorthair/Mix Age1 year 3 months 21 days GenderMale SizeMedium ColorBlack Spayed/NeuteredDeclawedNo HousetrainedYes Special NeedsAdoption Price$75.00
Meet our charming and friendly 1-year-old heartthrob! This handsome fellow has had a urinary blockage in the past, making him a bit more prone to future blockages. But don’t worry-he’s been happy and healthy since being in our care. He loves to be picked up and snuggled and is a DREAM at vet visits. He just needs a special diet and a loving, observant adopter with a keen eye to keep him happy and healthy in the future. If you’re looking for a sweet, snuggly companion, he’s your guy! Meowzer is looking to be your one and only cat in the home since he doesn’t seem to be a big fan of them here at the shelter. Adopt him today and enjoy a lifetime of purrs and cuddles. Meowzer is now part of our extended stay club! Since he’s been here for longer, his adoption fee has been reduced so that hopefully he can find a home sooner!
A Fata Morgana (Italian:[ˈfaːtamorˈɡaːna]) is a complex form of superior mirage visible in a narrow band right above the horizon. The term Fata Morgana is the Italian translation of “Morgan the Fairy” (Morgan le Fay of Arthurian legend). These mirages are often seen in the Italian Strait of Messina, and were described as fairy castles in the air or false land conjured by her magic.
Fata Morgana mirages significantly distort the object or objects on which they are based, often such that the object is completely unrecognizable. A Fata Morgana may be seen on land or at sea, in polar regions, or in deserts. It may involve almost any kind of distant object, including boats, islands, and the coastline. Often, a Fata Morgana changes rapidly. The mirage comprises several inverted (upside down) and upright images stacked on top of one another. Fata Morgana mirages also show alternating compressed and stretched zones.[1]
The optical phenomenon occurs because rays of light bend when they pass through air layers of different temperatures in a steep thermal inversion where an atmospheric duct has formed.[1] In calm weather, a layer of significantly warmer air may rest over colder dense air, forming an atmospheric duct that acts like a refracting lens, producing a series of both inverted and erect images. A Fata Morgana requires a duct to be present; thermal inversion alone is not enough to produce this kind of mirage. While a thermal inversion often takes place without there being an atmospheric duct, an atmospheric duct cannot exist without there first being a thermal inv
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Christopher Edmund Brown 56, peacefully passed away on Friday, January 3rd surrounded by his loving wife, family and friends after a lengthy illness. Chris affectionately known as “Brownie” bravely fought a courageous battle.
Brownie was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and attending Gloucester schools and Stonehill college, receiving his bachelor’s degree in business in 1990. He was a lead applications sales executive for mission critical public sector and healthcare with AT&T for many years, where he created a family that stood with him through the end.
Brownie’s calm demeanor and quick wit allowed him to make many friends that remained close throughout his entire life. While Brownie’s life was much too short it was a life well lived.
Brownie enjoyed boating and playing softball with his boys. He was a proud member of the Hurd Builders championship softball team of 2013. He loved traveling and his yearly trips to Aruba with all his closest friends and wife.
Brownie’s house was always open to friends and family. He was the ultimate host of many parties from Beach Court to Rocky Neck. He was most comfortable standing behind his bar making drinks and telling stories with his many friends.
Brownie walked the greasy pole for 17 years most famously walking as Spider Man.
Brownie is survived by his wife, Rosey Lourenco-Brown; his mother, Sheila Brown; his sister, Colleen; his niece, Kayla Brown and his aunt, Colleen Jourdeneis and her husband Rick; uncle, Ivan Brown and his wife Sally; sisters-in- law, Celia Wheeler and husband Joe, Isabel Cottone and husband Al; nieces and nephews, Nicole and her husband John, Andrew, Matthieu, Marcus and Sabrina; great-niece, Kira and great-nephew, John.
He was predeceased by his father, Louis Brown III and uncle, Edmund DuPont.
Brownie’s funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, 142 Prospect Street, Gloucester on Wednesday January 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. There are no visiting hours.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MGH Phillips House, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114.
Arrangements by Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Good Morning Gloucester 