Good Morning Gloucester

“After hanging around underground for 17 years, billions of flying bugs known as cicadas are due to sweep over the East Coast starting sometime in the next month. And although it’s too early to predict exactly where or when the brood will appear, this spring’s emergence should rate as the most closely watched bug-out in history.

“For entomophobes, this is the season of despair. For the entomophiles, this is the season of joy,” said University of Maryland entomologist Michael Raupp, using highfalutin terms for bug-haters and bug-lovers.

The outbreak is expected to start in the Carolinas in April or early May, and work its way up northward to Washington, Philadelphia and New York by early June. Some observers have already reported the first signs of the emergence. The timing depends on the weather: Cicadas dig “escape chimneys” up from the ground where they’ve been maturing for the past 17 years — and when the temperature reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), that signals the insects to rise up, wriggle out of their shells, take wing and look for mates.

“Be ready for the buzz
The bugs are mostly harmless to plants and humans. The worst a cicada can do is poke you with its pointy proboscis. But the 90-decibel buzz of a sky-darkening swarm can be a bit unnerving to the unprepared. Raupp recalls one harrowing tale from 1962’s outbreak, when “the kids were shrieking in the playgrounds as cicadas divebombed them.”

In Raupp’s view, however, the pluses far outweigh the minuses. The cicada nymphs help aerate garden soil with their burrowing, and when they emerge, the bugs represent a culinary bonanza for birds and other species. (They’re said to taste like asparagus. Or shrimp.)

Besides, cicadas are cool. “Without a doubt, they are a true marvel of nature and one that should be enjoyed whenever possible,” Raupp writes on his Bug of the Week blog.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540/vp=51499051&#51499051

Hello there!
I’m part of the Hamilton-Wenham Mother’s club, friends with Jeannine Ryan. She mentioned that last year you put a little blurb on your blog about our race, and we were wondering if you’d be willing to add something again this year? The second annual women’s only Fast Chicks 5k road race is on May 4th at Patton Park. http://www.fastchicks5k.org/Home.html  Last year we had over 200 runners, and we’re hoping to at least double that this year. Each year we pick a charity to donate the proceeds to – this year the proceeds will go to the Community Giving Tree, a North Shore organization based in Boxford that provides gently used children’s clothes, equipment, and basic necessities for families in need. http://communitygivingtree.org/ It’s a great local charity.
Let me know if you’d be willing to add anything about the race on your blog, and thank you so very much!!

Laura Sexton

  The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is offering a one day study course for those who are interested in earning the FCC Technician Class Amateur Radio License.This course will take place at the Lanesville Community Center on 8 Vulcan Street in Gloucester on Saturday April 27th starting at 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.The cost of this course is $20.00 which includes study materials and the testing fee.For those interested in taking this course please e-mail course leader Stan Stone at techinaday@caara.net . For more information on the amateur radio hobby please go to www.caara.net

Thanks

Dean Burgess

You can get your

FCC Technician Amateur Radio License in One Day with

Tech-in-A-Day

Note: Morse code is no longer needed for any amateur radio license.

How?

If you can spare one Saturday, chances are very good you can get your FCC amateur radio Technician license. Don’t worry if you’re not technically inclined, this method depends much more on short-term memory than technical knowledge or background. By spending six hours studying the questions and answers from the FCC exam question pool, you’ll remember enough to pass the exam given at the end of the class. The test is 35 multiple-choice questions and you need 26 correct to pass. This method has worked with teenagers to senior citizens.

Why?

With a Technician license, you can use VHF and UHF amateur radio bands, meaning when the phones go dead and your cell phone doesn’t get reception, you will be able to get a message out with a simple hand-held radio. For emergency workers, adding Amateur Radio capability adds to your communications abilities. And, it is great fun with interesting people to meet.

Help!

So after I get my license, what next? The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is ready and willing to teach you the practical matters on getting “on the air”. We can answer your questions on how to operate, what radio to buy, etc. We get together every Sunday morning for coffee and donuts—come join us sometime. We also have members’ meetings once a month with interesting presentations.

Schedule

Date: Saturday, April 27^th, 2013

Time: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (includes exam)

Place: Lanesville Community Center
8 Vulcan St
Gloucester (Lanesville), MA

Contact

Stan Stone, W4HIX

978 283-2015 e-mail: techinaday@caara.net

You must pre-register for this course.

Cost & Requirements

Fee: $5 (includes materials & snacks)

Test Cost: $15 (required by FCC)

Bring photo ID & Social Security Number

If you went to the last one, you already know that.  If you love to dance, meet and hang out with cool, fun and lively people, in a spot with a great dance floor and great dancing music, don’t miss this.   My hip has finally recovered from the last one, so I’ll be looking for some dance partners!

FRIDAY, April 19th, 7 -10pm
 The Cultural Center on Rocky Neck
6 Wonson St, Rocky Neck, Gloucester

Suggested donation of $10 per person is greatly appreciated.
This is a fun, fundraiser to help support
The Cultural Center on Rocky Neck


Last months DANCE PARTY  was a smashing success, over 80 people attended throughout the night, the dance floor was crankin’ the whole time, and everyone had a great time!  I’ve had some excellent feedback on the music, people loved it!  If you like lively dance tunes, then this is the place for you! 

We’ve got a big wood dance floor, a big open space, friendly and open vibe, and we welcome you! Single, got no partner, come alone! Join us on the dance floor, meet new people and have a great time!  The dance floor was humming right at 7, so come early and dance to your hearts content!

All are welcome!!!!!!

If you wanna bring a snack to share, please do so. Bring your own beverages, of whatever sort (alcohol is fine). Please note that this not a drinking party, it’s a dance party. Tables for snacks and beverages will be set up downstairs, so please bring them down there when you arrive. If you could please take with you what you brought, that would help us a lot on clean up at the end of the evening.

Hope to see YOU there! The people make the party, hope you’ll help us make it a good one! PLEASE SHARE THIS AND INVITE OTHERS!

For questions, info, please email BrendaMalloy@hotmail.com or call 978-559-1709

If you’d like to volunteer or help out in any way at this event, let Brenda know

E.J. Lefavour