City Of Gloucester Tax Bills Error News From Councilor Paul McGeary

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Tax bills in error

Wrong real estate tax bills sent out; corrected ones in the mail

The following notice has been released by the office of the mayor:
Due to a printing error, property owners in the City of Gloucester received an in correct real estate bill last week marked “Fiscal Year 2013” in the upper right hand corner of the tax bill. This bill has both the wrong fiscal year and the wrong tax amount due on it.Please disregard this bill. All property owners will receive a correct tax bill this week in the mail marked “Fiscal Year 2014”. The correct amount due is listed on the “Fiscal Year 2014” real estate tax bill.
Local banks and mortgage service companies did receive the correct Fiscal Year 2014 real estate tax bill information electronically last week. Therefore, any property owners that escrow taxes through a bank or a mortgage service company are, in all likelihood, not affected. Also, the correct property tax information is available to view, print and pay on the City’s website,  http://www.qloucester-ma.gov  under online services — real estate taxbills.
Taxes are due and payable on February 3, 2014.
The personal property tax bills that were sent out last week are correct.
We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused. If you have any questions please contact the Tax Collector’s Office at 978-281-9735 or go to www.gloucester-ma.qov for more information.

Callahan closure
A reminder to Boston commuters who use the Callahan Tunnel:
The tunnel is currently closed and will remain so until March. Signs for alternate routes to Logan Airport and the North Shore are posted on major highways approaching Boston.

Thanks for your support and interest in our city in 2013 and I hope you all have a happy and prosperous New Year!

Community Stuff 1/1/14

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

FREE FAFSA WORKSHOP IN GLOUCESTER
RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE IN FILLING OUT COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID FORMS
January 18, 2014
College Success-Gloucester, running out of Gloucester High School, will be offering a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) workshop on Saturday January 18, 2014 to assist parents and students in completing the Federal Financial Aid Applications online. All FAFSA forms must be done every year until the student graduates from college.  Every family will leave the workshop with a completed FAFSA.  This workshop is free and open to the public. The workshop will be held at Endicott College’s Gloucester campus at 33 Commercial St. between 9 am and 3 pm.
Appointments are required and should be scheduled by calling: (for English) Betty Haggerty at 978-740-6667 x105 or emailing her at ehaggerty@salemcyberspace.org or (for Spanish) Andria Castillo at 978-740-6667 x108 or emailing her at acastillo@salemcyberspace.org. Each appointment is scheduled for 90 minute sessions between 9 AM and 3 PM. At the time of scheduling, you will obtain instructions and a list of required documents and information to bring with you. 

College Success-Gloucester is a program of Salem CyberSpace ( www.salemcyberspace.org )

New Adult Computer Courses at
Rose Baker Senior Center

On January 13, 2014 a new session of once a week computer classes will begin at the Rose Baker Senior Center. These are Senior Net classes, designed for older adults who are not as ‘tech-savvy’ as the younger generations but want to join the digital age. All adults are welcome to attend. These classes cover various aspects of computer technology and communication tools, such as Email, the Internet and social media. Each student receives a book and coaches are available to assist the instructor and help individual students.

The following courses will be offered:

§    Level I – Computer Fundamentals
§    Level II – Introduction to Computers
§    Digital Photography
§    Introduction to the Internet and Email
§    Facebook
§    iPad
§    Kindle

If there is enough interest, Word, Excel Spreadsheets, Genealogy and Fun with Computers will also be offered.

Registration is open now for all these courses. To signup, stop by the Rose Baker Senior Center, or call 978-281-9765.

2014 Rocky Neck Plunge Tomorrow at 2PM

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,
This is a Video of the Rocky Neck Plunge 2013
What great time!
The Rocky Neck Plunge will take place on New Year� Day at 2:00PM
at Oaks Cove Beach on Stevens Lane
There will be a van at the corner of Wonson Street and Stevens Lane to collect
non-perishable food donations for The Open Door Food Panty so bring along some
goods to help fill it up (checks are also welcome).
Recommend View in HD at 1080p or 720p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frMPh3Bf81o
Herb Wennerberg video

Panetonne French Toast for a New Year’s Day Brunch Treat

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Did you know that panettone makes wonderful French toast?

Panetonne French Toast -- ©Kim Smith 2013 copyWe make French toast with panetonne during the holidays and it is always a much appreciated hit. Give it a try—your family will love you for it!

4-5 eggs whisked

1 ½ Cups whole milk

2 tsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

6-8 slices of panettone, cut into slices roughly ½ inch thick, and arranged to fit your baking dish,

Optional: add grated orange zest and cinnamon to the batter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter 9 x 12 inch baking dish. Dip panetonne in batter. Arrange slices in pan and pour any remaining batter over bread slices. Up to this point the French toast can be made ahead of time and set aside until ready to bake. Refrigerate if longer than half an hour. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and puffy. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.

Panetonne French Toast ©Kim Smith 2013 copy

Niles Pond Winter

Posted on by God's Morning

niles pond winter

Niles Pond is beautiful in every season.  Because of the leaves being gone from the trees, the first shot of the pond with Brace rock behind was a perspective I had never seen before and looked strange to me, like the rock had moved onto the beach and was nestled in the grasses.

E.J. Lefavour

This one’s for you Joey! The good ol’ days when January meant something to me!

Posted on by Craig Kimberley

Not so long ago, you could find a happy Steeler fan in the kitchen.

A Question For Sista Felicia

Posted on by Sista Felicia

Print

Heather Smidt Writes….
Hey Sista Felicia,
Any chance you have a recipe for gluten free pasta that actually tastes good? Most of the ones that you find in the grocery store are poor substitutes. I married into an Italian family and this would save me from getting sick when I eat at the inlaws. Thanks!

gluten free pasta

Sista Felicia Response…

Heather, recently I spotted a sizable display of  “Felicia Bio” Gluten Free pasta for sale while shopping at J. Pace & Sons in Saugus Ma. just off Rt. 1. I personally have not tasted “Felicia Bio’s” products, but I’m willing to go out on a limb would guess it to be a testy alternative to traditional pasta for individuals who share your Gluten allergy. My guess is solely based on the size of their display, imagine they would only allot that amount of retail space to a product with a high demand.

Clink link below for more information on Felicia Bio products

http://glutenfreefelicia.com/i-nostri-prodotti?lang=en

With Ice Please!

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin
With New Year's Eve here, there will be plenty of ice used in sculptures and serving foods such as shrimp and oysters, not to mention keeping the bubbly cold. But before electricity and refrigeration, there was only one source of ice: Ice ponds and ice houses. Workers cut the ice and it was stored in a nearby "house," in salt hay, cork and sawdust insulation until it was needed. Around 1900, the Fernwood Lake Ice Company, pictured here, had the largest building in Massachusetts, measuring 105 feet x 205 feet. In 1908, the Fernwood Ice Company merged with Cape Pond Ice. The fishing industry used a lot of ice to preserve their catch as it was brought to market.
With New Year’s Eve here, there will be plenty of ice used in sculptures and serving foods such as shrimp and oysters, not to mention keeping the bubbly cold. But before electricity and refrigeration, there was only one source of ice: Ice ponds and ice houses. Workers cut the ice and it was stored in a nearby “house,” in salt hay, cork and sawdust insulation until it was needed. Around 1900, the Fernwood Lake Ice Company, pictured here, had the largest building in Massachusetts, measuring 105 feet x 205 feet. In 1908, the Fernwood Ice Company merged with Cape Pond Ice. The fishing industry used a lot of ice to preserve their catch as it was brought to market.

Pet of the Week – Lady

Posted on by Alicia Pensarosa

Lady
Hello, my name is Lady and I am a two-month-old Husky/Dalmatian pup.  I am residing at the Cape Ann Animal Aid located at the Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter, Four Paws Lane in Gloucester.   I am here with my siblings and we are sweet pups who will be medium to large when we are fully grown.   I love to investigate and the shelter provides that for me with all the toys and outside trails.   I love being here, the volunteers and staff are wonderful to me, but I can’t wait to find a forever home.  Every time the door opens, I think it might be my new owner!  Please visit: CapeAnnAnimalAid.com to see more photos of my siblings and I and I think you will agree, I am the cutest!

Happy New Year!

Community Stuff 12/31/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

image

Gloucester Community Blood Drive, sponsored by Temple Ahavat Achim, will be held this Thursday, January 2, 2014 from 2 pm to 7 pm at the Temple Ahavat Achim, 86 Middle Street, Gloucester.

For an appointment please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org

All presenting donors this January will receive a voucher for a FREE pound of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.

It’s easy being green: architectural character downtown Gloucester

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Cat Ryan submits-

19th, 20th and 21st Century green in the mix

image

From the distinguished Cape Ann Museum’s fresh coat of paint and ongoing preservation

image

To many weathered, copper-clad architectural details like these rare repeat oriel windows

image

Elegant oriels along Parsons’ pedestrian street, too, though no pressed metal. But look up for the green tiled roof!

imageimage

Creating a nice umbra mix alongside the newish-ish green exterior for the Jeff Weaver/Restoration Works, 16 Rogers Street –  the newcomer (former Old Timers/Catch 22/Fiesta Pub) joins the green in Gloucester. Check out its distinct porthole window on the door.

image

Then and then: 16 Rogers before photos (green middle elements against textured and well acclimated exterior).

imageimage