What are your kids doing this April Vacation?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

NOLA-AirportFor the fourth year, Gloucester’s Rick Doucette, YMCA Teen & Camping Services director, is takingĀ teens andĀ chaperonsĀ from North Shore YMCAs to New Orleans during April Vacation to help people rebuild the City and even the Bayou — they plant trees as well as repair homes.

This trip works wonders on many levels: local teens are immersed in New Orleans culture; they feel the joy of having a profoundly positive impact on other people’s lives; they experience first-hand how working together builds a stronger community.

MardiGras2013_CabotAdMost kids goof off during April vacation. Ā Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in giving kids free-time to explore the world and become themselves. Ā But something vital touches me when I hear that 47 local teens are going to donate their vacation time to work hard on a construction site or in a swamp so that people 1500 miles away can have a better life.

That’s one reason why Vickie and I are producing a concert next Saturday, April 6, featuring New Orleans natives Henri Smith & Charles Neville to help raise money for this trip. Ā Last year, we sold out Minglewood Tavern on Mardi Gras, so we decided to take it to another level this year and host it at the historic Larcom Theatre in Beverly (more about that here).

You can still get tickets and there are even a few VIP packages left. Ā Get on-line tickets hereĀ or go to Gloucester Music.

Here’s a list of the adventurous teens who are going on the trip and the YMCA they belong to. Ā Let’s honor them by helping to raise money so their parents don’t have to pay for their kids to work during April Vacation.

BEVERLY YMCA LYNCH VAN OTERLOO YMCA
Meghan Cafferty Emma Knittle
Elizabeth Coughlin Renee Pavolich
Anna Gibson Emily Peugh
Nicholas Jalbert Adam Rodgers
Jonathan Powers
Rebecca Salah SALEM YMCA
Graeme Marcoux
CAPE ANN YMCA Catherine Marcoux
Michael Collins Hannah Morin
Frederick Doucette Jr Jakob Murtaugh
Christian O’Donnell Will Parr
Kevin Redmond Morgan Rogers
Conor Williamson Aiden Scrimgeour
Zachary White Shannon Tucker
Tyler Bailey-Jerome Elektra Tzannus Newman
Molly White Madeline Wiryo
Leia Sturtevant Brenna Burke
Nicole Klink Marin Ian Carter
Nicole Williamson Nathaniel Clark
Shannon Gallagher Catherine Coleman
John Brisson Audrey Delgado
Zeke Pasquarelli Chase Duffin
Jared Marshall Jaclyn Jermym
Austin Sousa Cole Jermym
Steven Verga Abby Sherwood
Zoe Wong

 

John Rockwell ~ Alchemy ~ Ladies Night ~ Wednesdays 7-9

Posted on by Joanne

john rockwell alchemy

Hi All:

 

Ā In honor of spring allegedly coming to Cape Ann AND theĀ Cherry Blossom FestivalĀ about to happen in Washington AND in gratitude for last week’s appearance by my new musical friend Helen Aki, I submit the following:

 

Food, beer, wine, friends, song

 

Tomorrow is Ladies Night

 

Hump Day sadness gone.

 

Perhaps if I’d taken more than 30 seconds and used a brush and ink, that would have seemed poetic…Did you know that there are web sites devoted completely to haiku…about SPAM? It is well nigh impossible to select just one to share. So here are 2.

 

Can of metal, slick

 

soft center, so cool, moistening

 

I yearn for your salt

 

to be more spam like

 

o greatest mystery meat
resurrected feetĀ 

 

I hope to see you this week at Alchemy Bistro, 3 Duncan Street in Gloucester. I sing every week there from 7-9, and it’s a lot of fun.

 

John

 

Thursday night blues party with Dave Sag’s to host Mike O’Connell…Smokin!

Posted on by Joanne

blues party mike dave frosty

Dave says,


Let’s welcome back local chef and author of “Cooking with IamsĀ®” Mr. Mike O’Connell. Mikey, with his business partners: Mr. Ixnay, Mr.Umpchay and Mr.Amscray has been busy prepping food for the latest nursing home season in Rockport, and is just rarin’ to go and whoop it up on our stage. He writes, he plays groovy catarrh, and he sings like an angel. He’s dying to get out of the house!!

Again, we bring you guit-slinger Dave Brown, the systolic swami of slide, to lubricate the proceedings. Also, Forrest “Frosty” Padgett, to pound the skins. You’ll be hearing Mikey’s toons as well as a eclectic compendium of past hits and failures. Gonna be a swell nite! Spread out!!

http://www.therhumbline.com/

Off the Island

Posted on by Sharon

pi4

Plum Island

I shot this and a bunch of other photos on Sunday using an old Nikkor 24mm f2.8 manual lens that I got at a yard sale for $15. It was more work, but if you have lenses from your old SLR’s and they fit on your DSLR, try experimenting with them. You might be surprised with the results! Here’s more information on this.

Community Photos 3/27/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

A Perfect Gloucester Spring afternoon! Alice Gardner

DSCN4095_2

Easter Bunny sighting Sunday on Front Beach, Rockport

Hi Joey,

Not sure this qualifies for the blog, but in the hopes that it does, Iā€™m sending along a couple of pictures of the Easter Bunny taking a beach stroll.

Thanks,

Patty aka Capeannpatio

March 24, 2013 Rockport 114March 24, 2013 Rockport 119March 24, 2013 Rockport 122

photo

Gloucester MA Police Department Update From Chief Leonard Campanello

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

Just thought I would keep your readers in the loop on some of the things we have going on here at the Police Department.

1. Our Gloucester Police Fitness Challenge will be wrapping up on April 14, 2013. We have over 40 officers participating in it and we have all benefited from weight loss and learning more about fitness. We have also seen great support from the community and would like to recognize them here:

    – Cape Ann Car Wash donated for the purchase of fitness equipment

    – Castle Manor Inn donated for the purchase of fitness equipment

    – Cape Ann Marina and Resort donated for the purchase of fitness equipment

    – Gortons donated for the purchase of fitness equipment

    – Toms Auto Center donated for the purchase of fitness equipment

    – Manchester Athletic Club donated 6 weeks of membership to all participating in the Fitness Challenge

    – The Fitness Zone came up with the Final Fitness Challenge and will host at their facility

    – YuKan Run and Rich Morell donated the entry fees for the Yukan races being run in Gloucester this summer, and will sponsor each officer who participates in the races with a donation.

We thank them tremendously for their support!

2. The Citizens Police Academy is winding down. We are in our fifth week and the class has enjoyed presentations from patrol, detectives, and a tour of Middleton Jail. The response has been great and both officers and citizens are enjoying the program. I would like to thank Bob Ryan and CATA for donating a bus ride to the Middleton Jail for the students. I would also like to thank the Gloucester Police Superior and Patrol Officers Unions who have donated a graduation pizza party at Guiseppes (thanks Joe and Memory, as well). We will be running a 2nd Academy in the fall and hope people will fill that class as well.

3. We are partnering with the Healthy Gloucester Collaborative, the Gloucester Licensing Commission and the Gloucester Council on Aging to present "Social Hosting: The Law and Underage Drinking". This is a free, must attend seminar for anyone with teenagers or kids who will eventually be teens. It focuses on what can happen when an underage drinking party is hosted at your home, with or without your knowledge. Our speaker will be District Attorney Jon Blodgett and an expert attorney in the field of Social Hosting law. The seminar will run from 6:30pm-8:00pm on Thursday April 25, 2013 at Rose Baker Senior Center. I would strongly encourage your readers to join us and learn some very important information on this topic. Give me a call to register. Again, its free!

4. In late April, early May, residents can expect to see a coordinated, concentrated effort to stem the tide of drug sales in Gloucester. Our message is clear: If you’re using drugs, we will help you or point you in the right direction for help, If you’re selling drugs…Stay out of Gloucester. Period.

5. Hopefully by May 1, residents will see a new uniform and patch which we will be unveiling in the near future. This has been a six month long effort to coordinate uniforms for all officers so that we present professionally at all times. As the summer months arrive, residents can expect an increased walking presence in the downtown area as well as the possible addition of motorcycles to our fleet to both enhance traffic enforcement and foster community policing (also to quickly get through crowds during the many special events the City hosts).

The above measures are just a quick overview of some of the ongoing projects we have going at the Police Department, in addition to handling our estimated 20,000 calls for service annually. We are humbled by the support the Gloucester community continues to show us and hope we are providing an above satisfactory level of service to all residents. Your readers are welcome to contact me directly with any questions, comments, ideas or issues, at the information provided below. Thanks, Joey, for the opportunity to update your readership.

Sincerely,

Leonard Campanello

Chief of Police

City of Gloucester, MA

Summer Camp and Organization Thank Yous From East Gloucester Elementary

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey!

On behalf of East Gloucester Elementary School I would like to give a huge thanks to the camps and organizations that came out for our fair on Saturday.

For those of you that missed it – it was one of those days that makes you wish you could be a kid again and experience these awesome things in person!

Our community is so full of amazing opportunities for children!

Here is a shout out to the camps that came and their websites – please do yourself and your kids a favor and CHECK THEM OUT!

Annisquam Arts http://www.annisquamarts.com

Art Haven www.arthaven.org

Cape Ann Museum http://www.capeannmuseum.org

Cuvilly Earth & Arts Center    http://cuvilly.org/school

Discovery Adventures http://discoadventures.com

Eastern Point Day School http://www.easternpointdayschool.org

EPYC Sailing http://www.epyc.net/club/scripts/section/section.asp?GRP=13669&NS=JSP

Gloucester Museum School http://gmscamp.org

Gordon College Athletic Camps  http://athletics.gordon.edu/sports/2012/6/1/GEN_0601125001.aspx?path=kids_club

Henry Allen’s Folklore Theatre Company www.henryallen.org

Manchester Athletic Club http://www.manchesterathleticclub.com/club/scripts/section/section.asp?NS=SC

Maritime Gloucester http://maritimegloucester.org

Mass Audubon http://www.massaudubon.org

Rockport Music http://www.rockportmusic.org

Sandy Bay Yacht Club http://www.sandybay.org/sailprog.shtml

Summer Quest http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/special-events/summerquest-at-the-crane-estate/choose-your-quest.html

Wenham Museum http://www.wenhammuseum.org/programs.html

YMCA http://www.northshoreymca.org/programs/

Have an amazing Summer (and Spring if it ever comes!)

All the best,

Muffy White

Co-Chair EGS PTO

The Rudder Opens April 18th!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Besides Having The Most Beautiful Room To Dine In Gloucester the Rudder Also Has A pretty Good Web Presence.

Check Out Their Site For All The Details- www.rudderrestaurant.com

The Rudder is available for private functions 7 days a week. Contact Greg
Halle the event coordinator if you would like to book your special function.

TheRudder_GoodMorningGloucester_BlogPost

For more information on the hours of operation, private functions and
social media visit www.rudderrestaurant.com."

Community Photos 3/26/13

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Janet Rice Submits-

The weather front was magnificent as it moved in today! (Do you see what I see?)

Best-Janet

IMG_2545

the Annie B. is prepared to be launched at Maritime Gloucester. Check out out the Pilot Gig Rowers Club at www.gloucestergigrowers.com.

All Aboard!

Best-Janet Rice

IMG_2498

Two Headed Shark Submitted By Bill Oā€™Connor-

image

Click here for more pics and the story

Rocky Neck Marine Railway

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

As we were walking at the Rocky Neck Marine Railway took some photos and decided to do a little research on the railway.

In 1855, Dodd & Tarr Fisheries was startedĀ on the tip of Rocky Neck in Gloucester Harbor. As the fisheries business grew to encompass a wharf, a grocery store, warehouses and 15 schooners, the need arose for a way to repair and maintain the fishing vessels. In 1859, the company constructed the first of two marine railways on the northern-most tip of their property on Rocky Neck. From then until about 1970, the Railways used a steam engine to haul up the vessels. One note of interest is that the gears used in the steam engine were producedĀ at the same factory that built the engine for the Civil War battleship, the Monitor.Ā  In 1874, the Tarr bothers of Gloucester took over the firm of Dodd & Tarr and by 1879 the company was listedĀ as ā€œRocky Neck Marine Railways Associationā€. The name ā€œDodd & Tarr & Co.ā€ was reserved for the fishing business only. By 1892, the railway was maintaining 20 first class vessels. In 1907 Capt. Frederick Albert Cook reportedly brought his schooner to the Railways to beĀ sheathed for ice and outfitted for an Arctic expedition. In the 1920s and 30s, schooners participating in the International Fishermen’s Races were hauledĀ out at the Railways for painting and last minuteĀ repairs. In the late 1980s the Mayflower II came for repair. Recently the privately owned 128 foot Nantucket Lightship was hauledĀ up in dry dock as she received fresh paint and maintenance.Ā  Since 1859 the Rocky Neck Marine Railways, now known as the Gloucester Marine Railways Corp., has maintained and repaired thousands of fishing, commercial and pleasure boats from the wooden schooners of the last century to the present day steel and fiberglass vessels. A modern TraveliftĀ has recently augmented the original railways as GMRC keeps moving ahead, from one century to the next, distinguished as the oldest continuously operating marine railways in the country and a well-respected member of the marine industry in the Northeast.

March 23, 2013 Outward bound

What a Difference a Day Makes

Posted on by paultmorrison
Museum of Fine Arts 2/25/2013
Museum of Fine Arts 2/25/2013

Museum of Fine Arts Boston on Monday

Museum of Fine Arts Today

Museum of Fine Arts 2/26/2013
Museum of Fine Arts 2/26/2013

Spring may have sprung.

Beautiful Amanda Mohan

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

AmandaĀ (Felicia’s daughter and Joey’s niece)Ā is a positively wonderful young woman. SheĀ is a freshman in high school at Governors Academy and studying photography. Amanda askedĀ for some help with a photography project for schoolĀ and we had lots of fun exploring the shoreline.

Amanda Mohan Ā©Kim Smith 2013

Amanda Mohan Ā©Kim Smith 2013 -2.

AmandaAmanda Mohan