Community Photos 1/28/14

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Greetings from the Delaware River Valley, Joey.  Rob and I were by Pavilion Beach on July 20th, 2012, when we noticed how incredibly still the sea was.  There were three young women who may have been learning how to use the SUP board, but ended up quite comfortably out by the large sail boat.  It simply seemed surreal.  When I saw the posting a couple of days ago with people walking on the ice (maybe in the same area), I remembered my photo and pulled it out of my 40,000.  Linda are

If you should use this, just pick the best photo.  We are fascinated by the sea being frozen.

Linda rae castagna

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Hi Joey,

Saw these swans hangin out with their buddies on Front Beach in Rockport today.

Matt Cegelis

Cegelis Art Group

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Here are a few shots of last nights opening at Flatrocks Gallery. They had a great turnout for their new show Translucence. Here is Debbie Clarke in front of her paintings, and the owners, Anne Marie Crotty and Cynthia Roth.

http://flatrocksgallery.com/

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Manchester-Essex Rotary news from Dorothy Sieradzki

Manchester-Essex Rotary awarded three Manchester-Essex High School graduates scholarships at the Rotary’s January 8th meeting.  Laurel Barrie is a freshman at Stetson University in Florida, studying health science.  Sarah Sergeant is a freshman at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, studying physical therapy.   Calvin Lamothe is a freshman at Vassar studying psychology. 

Manchester-Essex Rotary is a service organization, whose membership consists of various local business leaders, and is a member of Rotary International, and is dedicated to building goodwill and peace throughout the world.  The Manchester-Essex chapter raises funds through community events to provide scholarships to local students and give back to the community in a variety of ways.   Rotary thanks each of you for your kind and generous support and participation throughout the year!

 

scholarship recipients
Photo 1 Calvin Lamothe, Sarah Sergeant, Laurel Barrie

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Photo 3 Brendan O’Donoghue, MERC President, Sarah Sergeant, Laurel Barrie, Bob Gravino, District Annual Giving Chair

Checking In With Those Who Joined The Dollar Shave Club

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

A couple months back I ran out of my supply of razor blades and went to buy new ones and just couldn’t bring myself to pay what they charge for Gillette razorblades.  I tried the top of the line CVS brand disposable blades only to gash the shit out of my face

see pic below-

The CVS brand razors provided far and away the worst shaving experience of my life.  Then Rick Doucette suggested The Dollar Shave Club which forever changed my shaving experience. The razors were far cheaper, more substantial than the Gillette razors, more comfortable, total no brainer to me.  Huge Fan.

So I know a bunch of you signed up.  Two months in, are you still as happy with your decision to try the Dollar Shave Club as I am?

Click here if you want to sign up too

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Request for Help from GMG Community and Monarch Film Update

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

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For the past three years I have been filming the life story of the Monarch Butterfly in backyards and along the shores of Cape Ann. My original intent was to tell the story of the butterflies primarily as it relates to their northern breeding grounds and specifically here in our community. Prior to filming, I wrote a children’s story about the Monarchs and during this entire time I have had an ongoing inner debate as to whether or not to travel to Mexico. While editing the film these past few months, I determined that capturing the butterfly’s story in their winter sleeping grounds as they are awakening in Mexico would only add to the film’s depth and beauty. To film in Mexico would be a dream come true.

If you listened to Joey’s GMG podcast yesterday, you heard that in February I am going to be filming the butterflies in Mexico!! This all has come about very quickly! I have to practice walking five miles a day, recall how to ride a horse, and learn enough Spanish so that if I am separated from my group or kidnapped by bandits, I can at least inquire as to where is the bathroom.

Does anyone know of a local outfit that gives lessons in trail riding? And does anyone have experience with a Spanish language lesson CD (basic)? If so, can you please recommend in the comment section. Thank  you!!!!!!!

Stay tuned for adventures from Mexico! Beauty on the Wing ~ Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly will premiere  in the summer of 2014.

Rather than wait until the film was complete, this weekend I made a new website for the film-in-progress. When you have a moment, I hope you’ll visit my website and read more about Beauty on the Wing here.

monarch-butterfly-milkweed-good-harbor-beach-c2a9kim-smith-2011Monarch Butterfly Nectaring at Common Milkweed ~ Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester

Beauty on the Wing celebrates the poetry and majesty of the uniquely North American phenomenon of the Monarch butterfly and its migration. There are no other butterflies the world over that travel this distance and it is a fascinating ecological link that connects Mexico with nearly every geographic region within the United States and Canada. How well the forested habitats of Michoacán are taken care of is as of equal importance to the Monarchs as how we in Gloucester conserve our habitats.

Flatrocks Gallery – a Little Out of the Way but Well Worth the Trip

Posted on by God's Morning

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The opening of Translucence at Flatrocks Gallery Friday night was extremely well attended, but not at all surprising for such an excellent show and gallery space.  For us on this side of Cape Ann, it may seem a little out of the way, but it is well worth the trip over to Lanesville to see it.  Gloucester’s art scene is just killing it!

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E.J. Lefavour

Listen to Interview with Brian Gore of International Guitar Night

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
Clockwise from top- left: Mike Dawes, Pino Forastiere, Quique Sinesi, Brian Gore

Earlier this afternoon I interviewed Brian Gore, who is bringing his International Guitar Night to Shalin Liu next Friday, Feb 7.

Four extraordinary guitarists: Brian Gore from San Francisco, Pino Forastiere from Italy, Quique Sinesi from Argentina and Mike Dawes from England will each perform solo and then all together creating a sound like nothing you’ve ever heard before on guitar.

In this interview Brian talks about his music, various guitar tunings and genres — and he gives us a hint of what we can expect next Friday.

If you’re still not sure you want to go, watch this video of Brian on Guitar:

Greenbelt Reports Status of Osprey in Essex County Large Bird of Prey Thriving in Recent Years

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Volunteer “citizen scientists,” working in support of Essex County Greenbelt’s Osprey Program, monitored Osprey nests in 10 communities and submitted their observations, helping Greenbelt confirm that 26 pairs of Osprey nested across Essex County in 2013, as compared to 18 pairs in 2012; 14 pairs in 2011 and 11 pairs in 2010.

The 26 pairs are the most observed since Greenbelt started helping the Osprey population in 2007 by building and repairing nesting platforms. “Osprey are really thriving in Essex County, and with the work of so many volunteers, we are collecting excellent information that is helping us understand where they are nesting and whether they are successfully fledging young,” said Greenbelt Director of Stewardship Dave Rimmer, who also directs the Osprey Program.

Rimmer released these findings in a full report entitled Status of Osprey Breeding Activity in Essex County Massachusetts 2013, available on the Greenbelt website, ecga.org.

Some 200 volunteers and Greenbelt staffers filed online reports of Osprey nesting activity from Salem to Salisbury, starting in April right though to September.

Greenbelt expanded its Osprey Program in 2013, adding a webcam on a nest at its Cox Reservation headquarters. The Osprey Program also established a more comprehensive nest monitoring effort; installed a new Osprey platform and repaired others; installed two outdoor kiosks with detailed information about Osprey biology and conservation, and collaborated with Dr. Rob Bierregaard of UNC, Charlotte, to track two fledgling Osprey by satellite to study Osprey migration.

But the highlight of 2013 was streaming webcam video from the nesting platform at the Cox Reservation, which went directly to the Greenbelt website. Rimmer credits the webcam for building new public awareness and support for Osprey conservation in Essex County. Video of Allyn and Ethel, the nesting Osprey pair at the Cox Reservation, their eggs and chick, was viewed more than 60,000 times on Greenbelt’s website and facebook page, from as far as away as a family in France and a class of school children in Florida. The webcam will go live again sometime in March, when the Osprey pair is expected to return.

On Greenbelt’s website, ecga.org, you can view the full report of the Status of Osprey in Essex County in 2013, see a map showing Osprey nest locations in Essex County, as well as view the current flight path of Whit, the one surviving fledgling from a Gloucester nesting platform. Dr. Bierregaard tagged Whit last August so a satellite could follow his travels as he migrated from Gloucester to Venezuela.

Rimmer says, “Osprey are such a beautiful and captivating bird of prey, while also a strong indicator of the health of our coastal ecosystem. We have been overwhelmed by the public interest in Osprey activity, especially the steaming webcam video that was viewed worldwide by so many. All of us at Greenbelt are eagerly anticipating the return of Osprey to the area this year in March and April, and we are excited to once again engage as many people as we can with our programs.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for Greenbelt’s Osprey Program should contact Dave Rimmer at dwr@ecga.org.

Eben 07-24-12

The Gift That Keeps On Giving…

Posted on by Sista Felicia

PrintThis weeks GMG Cook!

Laurie Lufkin Writes~ ….my Mom made your Grilled Basil Chicken and White Bean Salad for dinner!   She could not find any Broccolini and put a bit of honey in the dressing but those are the only changes!  It’s so delicious!

Laurie Lufkin Grilled Basil Chicken photo

Sista Felicia Writes ~ looks delicious… and I bet the honey addition taste yummy too!

Please send us your Sista Felicia Recipes Photos and join the GMG COOKS CLUB!

 

Appreciate the Silence, Cherish the Sounds

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin
When I go to bed, I don't count sheep. I count the seconds until I hear a human-made sound. It takes a while, but I'm usually asleep quickly. That's my silence. At dawn, the sparrows in our hedge awaken and start tweeting. Then our parakeets respond in their own bird language. These are the sounds I cherish in the morning.
When I go to bed, I don’t count sheep. I count the seconds until I hear a human-made sound. It takes a while, but I’m usually asleep quickly. That’s my silence.
At dawn, the sparrows in our hedge awaken and start tweeting. Then our parakeets respond in their own bird language. These are the sounds I cherish in the morning.

Well Would You Look At That, A Beautiful GMG Painting From Sam Nigro

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Wait Sam Nigro paints?????

You mean he does something other than fish 24/7 off his custom striper assassin boat?

True renaissance man right there!

Thanks a bunch Sam Smile

Monday January 27th 2014 Weather Forecast..

Posted on by Peter J Lovasco

Cape Ann Weather
Monday A slight chance of showers between 11am and 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Southwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25mph.

Monday Night Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -3. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

MARINE FORECAST ….
Mon: SW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. A chance of showers.

Mon Night: NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

My Met Weather Friend Mike Haggett Maine Weather & Myself Down Good Harbor Beach….

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Interview with my Special Guest Mike Haggett Maine Wx … Thanks Mike for you’re time was great seeing u pal !

Community Stuff 1/27/14

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Cape Ann Kickoff poster

Hi Joey!

I am Cape Ann’s new representative from the American Cancer Society helping Cape Ann volunteers produce the Relay For Life in June.  I moved to Gloucester in October to take this job and start a new life in this fabulous town. Good Morning Gloucester has been a great way for me to stay in touch with everything happening in and around Gloucester.

I’ve seen a couple of posts promoting Relay For Life fundraisers over the last few months and I thank you for helping our teams in this way. We are working very hard to bring the Relay For Life of Cape Ann back to the level of success it enjoyed just a couple of years ago. Our theme for the 2014 Relay For Life is “Uniting to Finish the Fight Together,” emphasizing the strength of Cape Ann when we all come together for a cause. One of our event chairs, Darlene Riley, recalls with great emotion how the citizens of Gloucester rallied around her family when her teenage son was diagnosed with bone cancer. The community support meant everything to her. This year we are trying to unite ALL the communities of Cape Ann by reaching out to Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex and even Ipswich (although it’s a subject of some debate whether or not Ipswich is part of Cape Ann!) We want to remind everyone what is at the Heart of Relay: Celebrating our cancer survivors, Remembering those we have lost and Fighting Back to end this dreaded disease.

To kick off the Relay season, we are hosting a Heart of Relay Party Thursday, February 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Elks Club of Bass Rocks. We will have lots of great information, games, refreshments, a cash bar and opportunities to win a great Cape Ann prize package. Would you help us publicize the event by sharing the attached flyer on GMG the week of February 10? The event is open to the public and is completely free. We invite everyone who is interested in getting involved with Relay For Life to join us. (I am attaching both a pdf and a jpeg. If you need another format or need me to adjust the size, please let me know.)

Thanks so much for your support and for your great service to our community!

P.S. The Relay For Life of Cape Ann will be June 13-14 at O’Maley Middle School. As plans come together for this awesome event, we’ll keep you posted!

Vickie Grassman | Specialist, Relay For Life

GloucesterCast Taped 1/26/14 With Host Joey Ciaramitaro and Guests Toby Pett and Kim Smith

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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GloucesterCast Taped 1/26/14 With Host Joey Ciaramitaro and Guests Toby Pett and Kim Smith

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Subscribe to The GloucesterCast Podcast by Email

Topics include:

Polar Vortex, Alberta flipper,local restaurant talk including DeWolf Tavern, new theme at Alchemy, The Mexican Touch, Sticky Fingers, Changes on the blog, addressing Craig Kimberley’s statement that the blog has gotten too soft, Bill O’Connor helps to streamline the blog, words to people who begrudge contributors to promote their work on the blog, Art Haven Buoy Auction Kudos, Kim’s Not So-Teasing Butterfly announcement.

BG Brown Summed Up What Was Going To Happen In The Fishing Industry In Gloucester 4 Years Ago

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

This was filmed in 2010 and it’s only gotten worse. What he predicted back in 2010 is about 10 times worse 4 years later.
As I type this a fisherman just left my office. He is 52 years old and has fished his whole life. He is a stern man meaning he has no stake in what the owner of the boat may receive when he sells out his commercial fishing permits. He has only seen it get worse and worse and was telling me he has absolutely no idea what he could do for a living since all he knows is fishing.  It’s sad and it is despicable what they did when they instituted Catch Shares and privatized the ocean and fish. Before Catch Shares there were hundreds of small boats with stern men who could go out and catch 800 lbs of cod under the “Days at Sea” program. They could fish every day and because there was an 800 pound limit there were no 20-40,000 lb trips of fish on the auction to decimate the price. What was on the Fish Auction for fish was made up of lots of small boats 800 lb trips of quality day boat fish.  So you had hundreds of boats with hundreds of captains and hundreds more of stern men making a good living while barely impacting the fish stocks. Boats were being repaired, boats were buying fuel, families were being fed.  Now we have probably 80% less.
Just years later the hyper-consolidation of Catch Shares which we all knew was the inevitable result when you privatize a natural resource has decimated our fleet and the number of fishermen left standing while they most have either sold out or are trying to.

Back in 2009 I started to collect the stories and add them to a thread on Cape Ann Online as sort of a journal and record for those who might have said they didn’t see this coming. There are three pages of articles from fishermen and about how it was and has decimated our working port and independent fishermen.

Click here for the list of articles (3 pages worth)

Video: MACKLEMORE LIVE!!!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Nominated for Seven Grammys!!!!!!!!!!! 

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are nominated for a Grammy award in the following categories: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.

Can’t wait to see the Grammys tonight. Will Macklemore take all?!? Who do you think will win tonight?

I filmed Macklemore and Friends live in New York City, performing “Can’t Hold Us,” this past November while a guest of my daughter Liv at the Best Buy Theatre.

See more GMG posts about Macklemore and Ryan Lewis:

MACKLEMORE LIVE at Best Buy Theatre

Same Love Marriage

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Win THREE Awards at the VMAs!!!

BomBom Butterflies Video

Stunning New Video from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton

What was on Your Playlist this Summer?

Dog Bar Breakwater

Posted on by Marty Luster

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Dog Bar Breakwater

It’s quite a simple structure, given its task:
blocks of granite, each one thirteen tons, piled neatly
and securely on and next to the other.
So far it has survived more than one hundred
years of tides, winds, waves, heat of summer and the
numbing cold of winter.

Like a mother’s guarding arm, it protects our boats
from the dangerous surf, deflects the fury
of the sometimes angry sea; provides a measure
of calm to our harbor and is home to the beacon
and signal that guide us safely to our berths.

On fine days, it is a place of walks, picnics,
picture taking, artists painting, people fishing,
quiet talks and, each September, we watch schooners
head out for their annual race into the past.

On stormy  days, if one dares go out to see,
we witness giant sea upon sea doing their best
to crest over the topmost blocks as if to challenge
he very notion that we, by force of will,
can make any harbor safe.

It is a noble effort that makes me wonder:
we have built the Dog Bar breakwater, but
can we, on our stormy days, prevent ourselves
from dashing recklessly upon  hidden bars
by careful placement of blocks of wisdom,
and, on the good days, walk along the tops amid
waves of joy and gratitude?

Marty Luster

Encore. Originally posted January 22, 2012. Video clips January 25, 2014.