What is the official State Ship of Massachusetts?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

That’s a question the Al Bezanson sometimes asks friends sailing on his schooner Green Dragon. He’ll get answers like “Old Ironsides,” “Mayflower II,” or “Arabella.”

Wrong! The correct answer, as Al points out, is the Gloucester schooner Ernestina-Morrissey, originally the Effie M. Morrissey, built in Essex in 1893-94. In 1995 then-Governor Bill Weld named her the official vessel of the Commonwealth.

effie

How did this little schooner qualify over all other contenders? Through a history of international outreach and service, nobly representing the maritime heritage of Massachusetts. She performed ably in hook-and-line fishing out of Gloucester that preserved fish stocks, in two decades of scientific expeditions to the Arctic Ocean, in wartime military missions, as a vital link between Cape Verde islanders and family members who had emigrated to New Bedford, and as an at-sea schoolhouse for educating thousands of Massachusetts school children in the wonders of their ocean environment. Nearly lost time and again, she is now undergoing complete restoration.

The story is told in Chester Brigham’s book Phoenix of the Seas, to be launched with a presentation and signing at the Cape Ann Museum on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00. Chet will also be introducing the book at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum on Wednesday, June 24 at 7:30.

phoenix

Those planning to attend the Cape Ann Museum launch are invited by Harold Burnham to a half-price sunset sail in Gloucester harbor in his schooner Ardelle from 6:00 to 8:00 that evening. Tickets available on the Ardelle website, schoonerardelle.com, and at Maritime Gloucester. Mention “Phoenix” when ordering

Knock, Knock.

Posted on by Nichole S.

I love this sound so much!  I couldn’t find the bugger to save my life, but I enjoyed stopping at the end of my street the other night to hear him do his thing.  Not going to lie, I couldn’t help but think, “Ouch.”

THIS SUMMER INTERNSHIP PAYS: Stage Fort Asst Welcome Coordinator Position accepting applications HURRY CLOSES JUNE 10

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Cat Ryan submits-

Last chance to apply for a temporary internship– paid position– for a Gloucester kid… perfect cool job and great experience all around for someone who knows Gloucester well!

Good fit for someone gearing up a future degree in hospitality or hotel management, marketing and press, or business administration. Could easily be combined with a night gig. Required to work one weekend day and some Thursday nights, otherwise known as ‘the Cape Ann Farmers Market– where you want to be on Thursday anyhow’ nights.

Check out the job listing here http://www.gloucester-ma.gov/Jobs.aspx

There’s a DPW job posting related to Newell Stadium, and a permanent position at Sawyer Free just that just closed June 5, 2015.

job posting june 2015

Order Your GMG Caps / Hoodies / Dry Fit Shirts Today To Insure Father’s Day Delivery

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hit it!- http://gmg.storenvy.com/

What are you gonna be the dope that puts it off and puts it off til it’s the day before and you don’t have anything and you’re gonna have to go scramble around to get something on the Saturday before Father’s day when you should be at the beach?

Don’t be the dope that A) Blows off Father’s Day or B) Waits til last minute and comes up with some crappy gift.

I’m giving you the perfect opportunity to get it all done and off your mind so you can enjoy yourself without having to do more than click a few buttons.

Is your dad a fan of GMG or a fan of G-Town?  Then hit this link up and buy him the gift you know he’s gonna love- http://gmg.storenvy.com/

 

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Day Three Filming the Ducklings

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Mallard Duck Family ©Kim Smith 2015I’m a bit sad to write that all but one of the ducklings that I have been filming has survived. He stays very close to Mama Mallard and Pa is never too far away. Today I filmed two different Mallard families, one with three ducklings and the other with five. I hope they have a better survival rate.

Mallard Duckling ©Kim Smith 2015Mallard Duckling Grooming ©Kim Smith 2015Sleeping Mallard Duckling ©Kim Smith 2015Nap Time

Precious Visitor

Posted on by God's Morning

eiderling

I saw this little creature running up Freemont Street on Rocky Neck, all alone and scared.  I (with the help of Wanye from Sailor Stan’s) chased him down and caught him.  I knew he would be a cat or other critter’s meal in no time if left to his own devices.  After a bit of research, I found that he is an eider duckling, probably about a week old.  He has an incredible appetite, once I discovered that he loves Mary’s Gone Crackers organic, gluten free crackers crushed up and made into a watery porridge.  He also likes shredded lettuce, and loves being in his water bowl and food dish.  I don’t know what to do with him/her, as he is too tiny to put back in the cold water by himself and I don’t know what eider he belong to.  Their mother’s apparently preen them putting oil onto their down so they can withstand the cold water, so he gets cold and needs to snuggle in my hands or under my armpit after being in the water to warm up.  A precious visitor to Hobbit House who loves being held and is very chatty.  I make the mother eider’s ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck call to him, and he gets so excited.  So great to be back on Rocky Neck, where anything can happen, and the most amazing things do.

E.J. Lefavour

Hobbit House Studio

Grilling Chicken Wings On the Smokey Joe Weber Grill

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Grilling Tools-

Weber Smokey Joe Grill –$29.99

Weber RapidFire Chimney Charcoal Starter $14.99

Cowboy Lump Charcoal Hometown Ace Hardware $15.99 20Lb bag

Other Joey C Recommended Grill Accessories Here

 

 

To prep for the grill: 

Fill 2/3 of your Weber Rapid Fire Chimney  with charcoal and put two sheets of newspaper crumpled up in the bottom of the chimney. Light the paper on fire and sit back for about 15 minutes to let the charcoal to get partly white.

Once your charcoal is ready dump the coals and arrange them on one half of the bottom of the grill to set up for indirect heat.

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To prep the chicken wings:

Cut the little tiny wing tip of and then separate the drumette from the large part of the wing using either a large kitchen knife or a good set of kitchen shears.  Lightly coat with your favorite chicken rub.  I put my chicken parts into a tupperware like container, drizzled the rub over the chicken and gave it a light shake to coat them.

At this point they are ready for the grill.  Arrange the drummettes with the thickest part on the half of the grill without coals under them but closest to the half of the grill that has the hot coals so they will get the most heat.then continue to arrange the chicken with the thinnest pieces placed further away from the side of the grill with the hot coals.

Place the grill cover on and choke down the top vent so that it is a little less than half way open to be sure to cook the chicken at a slow pace.  After 20 minutes flip your chicken over, add a little seasoning if you’d like and cover it for another 20 minutes

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Place the grill cover on and choke down the top vent so that it is a little less than half way open to be sure to cook the chicken at a slow pace.  After 20 minutes flip your chicken over, add a little seasoning if you’d like and cover it for another 20 minutes.

This is after 20 minutes and just before the first flip-

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After the second flip take the cover off and cook the wings on direct heat over the coals watching for flare-ups and crisping up the outside.  This should be about 2 minutes on each side, directly over the coals.

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The wings with  nice little char marks and ready to come off the grill.

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Plated and ready to eat

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Check out my recommended grills and accessories here

Gloucester Area Astronomy Club is holding their annual “Welcome to Amateur Astronomy” night on Friday night June 12

Posted on by James Eves

GAAC-logo
Friday June 12 @8:00 is our annual
Welcome to Amateur Astronomy Night
at GAAC!

The Lanesville Community Center is at 8 Vulcan Street in Lanesville.

We’ll have telescopes of every size and description set up inside the LCC for you to inspect and ask the owners about. What are the benefits of that particular scope? What can you see? How much did it cost? And that’s not all:

At this meeting we’ll have six quick ten-minute visual presentations on different Astronomy topics for you to enjoy, and of course the usual goodies and wonderful conversation you’ve come to enjoy from GAAC.

Don’t miss this annual overview of everything you need to know in order to enjoy exploring the cosmos in the company of very nice people.

“What’s in a name?”

Posted on by capeannpainter

“What’s in a name?”

Juliet:
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

“I was adopted on Friday 06/05/2015”

Check out my Dog and Feline friends at

http://capeannanimalaid.org/

“Picking out my new name”
“I think I’ve got it!!”
“IZZY and Walnuts”
PASSED OUT!

MY NEW NAME IS…..

“IZZY!”

“Thanks to Darlene Tait for my new name!”

Lye a New Friend

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

I ran into Lye on the breakwater, he was fishing and enjoying a day off from work. We exchanged our immigration stories of why we came to the USA. His was far more dramatic than my own. I also found that as a Vietnamese Interpreter, I found that his English was far better than my Vietnamese.  Lye a naturalized US citizen, like myself, passes on the benefits to his children, for his hard work.  We cherish our heritage, but Love America. 

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#GloucesterMA Downtown Block Parties Now Have Their Own Twitter Account- Follow Now For The Latest Info

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Currently they only have 8 followers but I’m guessing after this post that number might jump a bit. Smile

Click here to follow them on Twitter