The World’s Largest Ocean and the Tiniest of Birds

Black-chinned hummingbird Goleta Santa Barbar Ellwood mesa Ā©kim Smith 2015We were happily surprised by the sight of theĀ diminutiveĀ Black-chinned Hummingbird perched atopĀ a thicket, spotted while hiking downĀ the steep descentĀ to the beach atĀ Goleta, Santa Barbara. I loved the view of theĀ region’s smallest bird juxtaposed against the world’s largest body of water, the Pacific Ocean. In the background you see Santa Cruz, one of the eight Channel Islands that comprise the archipelago off the southern coast of California, along the Santa Barbara Channel.

More photos from beautiful Santa Barbara to come.

Black-chinned hummingbird Goleta Santa Barbara ©Kim Smith 2015Black-chinned Hummingbird

Goleta Santa Barbara Ellwood Mesa ©Kim Smith 2015

Live Red Sox Update from Foxwoods!

It’s Ya new slugs Sandoval!

And not to be outdone, Joe Kelly!

Peep Joe’s shirt!

I think I need that sorta hair cut..Eh?
Go Sox 2015!!!
#soxwinterweekend

Julian Edelman posts hilarious ‘Growing Pains’ parody for the Patriots

Julian Edelman posts hilarious ‘Growing Pains’ parody for the Patriots on Youtube.

Too Many Blows to the Head?

9th Annual North of Boston Tourism Summit on Friday, January 30th

9th Annual North of Boston Tourism Summit

on Friday, January 30th at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Danvers

All are invited to attend the 9th Annual North of Boston Tourism Summit on Friday, January 30, 2015 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore, 50 Ferncroft Road in Danvers. Presented by the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, the daylong event typically attracts more than 150 industry professionals representing a wide spectrum of the region’s tourism-oriented businesses, organizations and agencies.

The North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau is one of the 16 state-designated Regional Tourism Councils for Massachusetts. Our overall mission is to develop and implement effective marketing strategies to increase the number of overnight visitors to Essex County and to Massachusetts. In calendar year 2013, the tourism industry in Essex County generated more than $906 million in domestic and international expenditures, supported more than 7,000 jobs and generated close to $70 million in state and local taxes.

We have put together an exciting program, which includes Luncheon Keynote Speaker Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.

Here is the timeframe of events for the day.

7:30 – 8:30am   –   Registration & Breakfast

8:30 – 9:00am – Breakfast Plenary Session Grand Ballroom I & II

  • Welcome remarks by Steve Bartha, Town Manager, Danvers
  • Remarks by State Senator Joan B. Lovely
  • Remarks by Mayor Kim Driscoll, Salem

9:15 – 10:15am   –   Concurrent breakout session I: International Marketing & Cultural Tourism Marketing

10:30 – 11:30am   –   Concurrent breakout session II: Know Your Audience & Extreme Makeover

11:45 – 12:30pm   –   Industry Roundtables

12:30 – 1:45pm – Lunch and Plenary Session

  • 12:30pm – Keynote Speaker, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito

2:00 – 3:00pm – Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Tourism U Session

To learn more about the program and to attend the Summit, please contact the North of Boston CVB at 978-465-6555 or visit www.northofboston.org.  The event web page can be accessed from the CVB homepage, where sponsorship packages and event tickets may be purchased online.

KEP Headshot

Conference Registration Pricing:

NBCVB Member – $60, Non-Member – $70, Student – $45

Thank you to the following event sponsors:

Title Sponsors:

  • DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore
  • Salem Witch Museum

Presenting Sponsor:

  • Cricket Press
  • Universal Wilde

Summer news on this winter day

Hi All,
Good news about the Block Parties!!! Matt Cogan who works for the city will be taking over this great downtown event. A big thank you to the new major for making this happen.
More information will be coming soon.

Block Party 2

Making Ready

For safety’s sake, I’m very concerned with navigating snow and ice. A fall could put me back in the hospital or nursing home, places I’d like to avoid. I bought an ice cane attachment at Conley’s Drug Store on Railroad Avenue in Gloucester. It works great! If you hold the two white buttons together, the spikes can be lifted to face up on the cane. I also bought a pair of basic shoe cleats for my boots at Ace Hardware. We’ll see how they work. Another safety option for the snow storm we’re supposed to have is to simply stay home šŸ™‚IceCane5493wm IceTrecker5495wm

7:50AM #GloucesterMA Snow Update

7:50AM #GloucesterMA Snow Update:

Stay off the roads unless it’s necessary.
Most roads are not currently plowed with over an inch of accumulation.
I saw two accidents driving through town.

Community Stuff 1/24/15

VALENTINE’S DAY EVENT AT THE BLUE SHUTTERS BEACHSIDE INN.

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Join Melissa Bourque and Julie Ann Gadziala for an evening of Crystal Bowl Channeling Connections 1/14/15 or book individual daytime sessions…
6:00 – 7:00 Appetizers & Dessert and Refreshments
7:00 – 9:00 Gallery with Julie Ann and Melissa.

Messages will be both Spiritual and Personal. Spiritual Channeling, Mediumship Connections with Loved ones in Spirit, and Healing Vibrations are all part of the evening.
Note… The sounds of Melissa playing her Moldavite Crystal Bowl are quite the intoxication. So deep, so healing and so very beautiful.

Cost is $40 and includes both the Gallery itself and the Food (appetizers & dessert) and Refreshments (beer, wine, coffee, tea) prior to the event.

This is an intimate setting. Reservations are required as there is very limited seating. RSVP directly to Julie Ann /Melissa or to the EventBrite link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crystal-bowl-vibrations-with-messages-channeling-mediumship-gloucester-ma-february-14-2015-tickets-15421056796

PRIVATE SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE WITH JULIE ANN OR MELISSA DAYTIME 2/14 & 2/15. $66 PER 30 MINUTE SESSION. CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY
Julie Ann:  978-387-5306 JulieAnn@NHMetaphsyical.com  (www.PsychicJulieAnn.com)
Melissa: 978-979-1212  MBourque1111@gmail.com  (www.MelissaBourque.com)

Consider booking a room and staying overnight at The Blue Shutters. Contact Innkeeper Eddie Comer for a reservation: info@blueshuttersbeachside.com (978) 283-1198 (www.blueshuttersbeachside.com)


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Pop Gallery Has Football Fevah!

Who’s ready for our Patriots to cream the Seahawks?! WE ARE!!!

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Starting TODAY, come into POP Gallery and enter our $50 RAFFLE!! You can enter up to the day before kick off (Jan. 31st)!

The winner will be announced before Sunday’s KICK OFF (Feb 1st)! And while you’re in, entering your name, scope out our cute pregame goodies! Sweatshirts, cozy lounge pants, and more!


IT’S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT FALL ENROLLMENT AT EASTERN POINT DAY SCHOOL

Interested in exploring EASTERN POINT DAY SCHOOL? EPDS is currently enrolling for Fall. 

Next OPEN HOUSE will be Tuesday, Jan. 27th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Tours of the school are always available as well. Please call us at 978.283.1700 or email at info@easternpointdayschool.org

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU! 

https://bf1-attach.ymail.com/us.f1416.mail.yahoo.com/ya/securedownload?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f32197592%5fAIhL2kIAABH5VMA9hgAAAARdgRg&m=YaDownload&pid=2.2&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=yahoomail&cred=2EG86KkLiKPX8c3VFhWn5SwK.EIEZBkXUyxrFBBgkx_dtPYOe9GEgDNh&ts=1422016317&partner=ymail&sig=6WSq8zFro62CX4fq3btIAg--


Ruth Mordecai’s Thoughts On The David Black Proposed Sculpture

There have been examples of public art in the City of Gloucester that are a tribute to this city and are loved by the people here because they speak to the heart of who we are:
The Committee for the Arts has done a wonderful job in taking care of and publicizing the beautiful and historically significant City Hall Murals.Ā 
seARTS did it right when the Partner with an Artist chose Tricia O’Neill’s downtown mural of her quote from Vincent Ferrini.Ā 
Ken Hruby’s bronze in the courtyard of the Cape Ann Museum.
There is the bronze sculpture of Fitz Henry Lane next to the historic Fitz Henry Lane House, a historic house on the harbor side of Rogers Street.Ā  The three story stone Gothic Revival building was built in 1849 by the artist and was his home until his death in 1865.
And we cannot forget the Man at the Wheel !!!!!!! A triumph of figurative public sculpture.
Now one would think…well those have gone well…why not just continue as we have been?
Because it is not enough that an individual, a sculptor, with a technically skillfully fabricated work, as nice as he is, and having connections to Gloucester, has offered to contribute his work to the city.
I trained as a sculptor at Boston University School for the Arts and got my Masters and Bachelors degrees there and taught there in sculpture and worked with some of the best sculptors of this century. I welded in steel and cast from clay to plaster to bronze. I would not expect because I live here that a work of mine, should I want to contribute it, would be placed in front of the community without a rigorous process to determine WHERE it should go and WHETHER it is right for Gloucester.

I am aware of a lot of discord and discomfort around this work. Ā It is not enough to say in time we will get used to it. Ā Ā 
Museums do not accept donations without a process of selection.
As GloucesterĀ ventures more actively into the realm of more public art for this city we need to have a more critical process in place.Ā It is important that a new Public Arts Policy be developed that sets the standards and that assures engagement by the people of Gloucester and our local artists in the selection of public art.
Other cities have done this…the City of Boston has had a specific “Task Force for Public Art”. They have worked with the neighborhoods.  I was a member of that task force for 2 years.
I therefore urge that the City of Gloucester delay any vote to set aside $30,000 of public funds for the installation of the David Black sculpture at Solomon Jacobs Park until a rigorous review and public discussion of the proposal and alternative locations is completed. 
Respectfully,
Ruth Mordecai
I am very sorry I cannot be at the meeting.  I have had a plan in place for several months to leave for 2 weeks on Monday morning.

Editor Note:
If someone feels strongly that the piece should happen I’d be happy to post their thoughts as well.
-Joey