Good Morning Gloucester

Viva San Pietro!

Cape Ann Museum celebrates Fiesta with film,
photography, sculpture and more

The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to offer a special view of Fiesta-inspired art. The mini-exhibit will be on display in the lower level atrium from Tuesday, June 23 through Sunday, June 28 during Museum hours. Drawing on the Museum’s own collection, along with private collections in the area, the exhibit includes works by New York artist Philip Reisman who worked in Gloucester during the 1940s and 1950s, painters Lucette White and Eileen Mueller who captured the color and excitement of Fiesta in more recent years, and collage artist and sculptor Hans Pundt. Two documentary films about Fiesta will be available for viewing on a continuous loop throughout the week. Related exhibits and information can be found in the Museum’s Maritime Galleries.

St. Peter’s Fiesta – Festa di San Pietro – honors St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen. It is the largest and most colorful of the celebrations that Sicilian immigrants brought to Gloucester. The tradition of celebrating Fiesta began in Gloucester the late 1920s as a neighborhood novena and expanded to a city-wide event in the 1930s. Fiesta is still celebrated in Gloucester in late June, with four days of music, dancing, parades, fireworks, seine boat races and the traditional greasy pole competition. On the last day of Fiesta, an outdoor Mass is held, followed by the blessing of Gloucester’s fishing fleet.

NORTH GREETS SOUTH!  NORTH SHORE ARTS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL REGIONAL COMING TOGETHER OF ACCLAIMED ARTISTS FROM OUR NORTH AND SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITIES.

AT THE INVITATION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NORTH SHORE ARTS ASSOCIATION, artists from communities south of Boston will mix and mingle with NSAA members in a day of plein air painting on Tuesday, June 23, from 10 AM – 5:30 PM.

Refreshments will be served in the morning and late afternoon.

Seventy! artists, many of whom are internationally known, will paint en plein air at six private property locations on Rocky Neck opened only to them for this special event, and at the harbor side grounds of the NSAA overlooking East Gloucester’s sparkling Smith Cove. All places have been filled, however to be placed on the waiting list, and for more information please contact the following Coordinators: North Shore: Judythe Evans Meagher, jemeagher@comcast.net; South Shore: Nancy Colella, saltydogstudio@comcast.net

The North Shore Arts Association’s galleries are open, free to the public, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m.

More information on all North Shore Arts Association events is available by visiting their website at www.nsarts.org, and by email at arts@nsarts.org, or by telephone 978 283-1857.

My boys are all about tradition.  That being the case, our yearly trip to Nantucket is incredibly important to them.  They are creatures of habit and it is very much the small things that help them look forward to the last week of June each year.  One of those predictable “traditions” is the 8:30 a.m. meet up in the Johnny Appleseed’s parking lot in Beverly with the two other families that we travel with.  We load up on coffee and munchkins, hand out the annual Nantucket team t-shirts, and then caravan to Hyannis to get in line for the car ferry.

With the vehicles safely in line, the kiddos are almost exploding with excitement…and the grown-ups get to begin the sweet transition into island relaxation.

With the go ahead, we drive into “belly of the beast”, say good-bye to our Jeep, and head to the bow of the ferry for lots of laughs, photo opportunities, and a few “we’re finally on vacation” drinks.

The excitement builds as Nantucket comes into view and Brant Point Light can first be seen.

Once off the ferry the next step is driving through town, down the cobblestone streets, past some of our favorite haunts, and eagerly anticipating checking out our new digs.  Which….typically do not disappoint!

I recently brought my mother, Jean, who is with me for the summer on Rocky Neck, over to the senior center.  I have tried to get her to go to senior centers in her hometown and while we were down in Florida, to no avail.  Rose Baker was different from the moment we walked in the door.  People (workers, volunteers and members) were outwardly welcoming and lovely.  We walked in last Monday to hear the end of Dave Sag and The Ole Salty Jazz Band, who were just wonderful, and I even got asked to dance by a charming man named Sam!  If you have free time between 1-3:00 pm on Mondays (they will be away until July 6), definitely stop in and break up the day with a little dancing.  I’ll put you on my dance card.

We have been back for lunch, which was delicious, fresh and lovingly prepared by Open Door.  Mom has joined in a singing group, and the supportive social day care program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which gives us each some time away from each other and with our own peers.

The Senior Center offers so many wonderful programs from computer classes, knitting & crocheting group, longevity training, yoga, tai chi, zumba, Bingo, meditation, Reiki, drawing, art program with our Juni Vandyke, swimming at the Y, shopping trips, hearing clinic, cards (some serious players there of bridge, whist and poker), pool room and so much more.  I joined mainly to get my mother to go, but there are a number of offerings I want to take advantage of (the benefit of being 60!).  If you or a loved one are reaching or well into their “senior” years, you owe it to yourself to check out the wonderful resource we have here in the Rose Baker Senior Center.

E.J. Lefavour

http://www.hobbithousestudio.com