Pilot Schooners From Al Bezanson

Joey… From  a 1956 book privately printed by Second Bank – State Street Trust… two pilot schooners built at J F James in Essex, as they appeared in 1956.  One or the other could often be seen standing off near Nahant.  PILOT is now HIGHLANDER SEA and can be seen at Rocky Neck Railways.  ROSEWAY does day sails out of Boston this time of year and will arrive in Gloucester on Labor Day for a race to Provincetown.

There is a little gem of a museum in Scituate with an exhibit of the tragic wreck of pilot schooner COLUMBIA during the 1898 Portland Storm.   At that time Boston had seven active pilot schooners.

Pilot and Roseway

http://www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org/sites_maritime.html

Community Photos 8/25/12

Schooner Ardelle Sunset Sail photo by Joanne Marks

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Martin Del Vecchio submits-

Loon photos from Lake Dunmore, Vermont

Joey–

I am loath to leave Gloucester in the summer, but I make an annual exception for Lake Dunmore, Vermont.

Here are a couple of photos of some great northern loons that I took while kayaking on the lake.  These loons are closely related to our cormorants, and are magnificent animals.

Thanks!

Lake Dunmore-2699Lake Dunmore-3135


Community Stuff 8/25/12

Rotary Comedy Show

RotaryComedyShowPoster2012

Tickets are still available to the annual Gloucester Rotary Comedy Night, featuring Jim Lauletta (Comedy Central), Bob Seibel (New England favorite, Vegas, Atlantic City), Sean Sullivan (Comedy Central), and Boston’s Dave Rattigan on Thursday, August 30, at Cruiseport Gloucester. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. Don’t miss this evening of fun and laughter! Tickets are $25 each, and are available from any Gloucester Rotarian. For more information, contact Ruth Pino (ruth@ruthpino.com).


Magnolia is the Place to Be this Saturday – Aug 25 beginning at 9 AM

Yard Sale, Craft Tents, Antique and Vintage Goods Appraisals, Walking Tour, Food, Uniquely Magnolia, and a Silent Auction.  

Yard Sale

Zillions of wonderful items that the community donated have been now moved to the Magnolia Library at the corner of Lexington and Norman Avenues and are ready for sale.  There is something for everyone from vintage, new and used – household items, furniture, china, baking pans, yard and exercise equipment, toys, lamps, electronics, holiday decorations, furniture, kids and adult clothing, jewelry and accessories,  and the list goes on and on.  The doors to this tag sale will open at 9 AM sharp (no early birds).  Come check it out.  You’ll be thrilled with what you’ll find. 

Crafts

Lauren Asaro reports that as many as forty crafters from throughout Cape Ann will be setting up their tents along Lexington Avenue.  They will be selling paintings, photography, hand made beads, hand painted tiles, soaps, clothing, headbands, jewelry, sculptures, handmade and decorated birdhouses, handbags, hand painted shells, baby blankets and fleece stuff, cards and prints, crystals, and more 

Magnolia’s Roadshow

Then at 10 AM, for a small donation everyone is invited to participate in the “Magnolia Roadshow” Just like on the television show this event features two well-known appraisers (photographer) David Cox of Main Street Antiques and Norman Larsen who will appraise vintage and antique items that people bring in to them.  Walk-ins are welcome.  We hope to be hearing squeals of delight.

Bringing History Alive

At 11 AM, meet at the Inn of Magnolia to join Jim Cook the curator of the MHS museum on a walk along historic Shore Road.  Jim, a Magnolia native, has a wealth of information on the area and his tours always receive accolades from participants. 

Food

As some people have been working on the tag sale, Connie Condon has been calling the best cooks in town asking them to share their specialties at a baked goods table she has organized that will open at 9 AM.  Dolly’s Famous Fish Chowder will be sold for lunch. 

Uniquely Magnolia

The Magnolia Shop will have unique Magnolia items and souvenirs for sale.

Silent Auction

All day until its 3 PM closing, there is an opportunity to participate in a Silent Auction that will have over 50 offerings.  Participants can place bids on paintings that capture the beauty of the community, gift certificates to restaurants and stores, baskets of toys, tours and cultural events, tickets to a Celtics game, and the highlight of the event a restored rowboat.  Treat yourself or start your holiday shopping early. 

The Value of Your Donations

When you make a purchase or donation, you will be supporting the restoration of the iconic Blynman (the Red School House) on Magnolia Avenue.  MHS is in the process of purchasing the building being aware that it needs a new furnace and roof.  Your support now will be used to nurture this icon into a museum and cultural center providing the community an opportunity to learn about the history of one of the more fascinating communities in the country. 

There is no admission charge.  A small donation is being requested for the evaluation of your “Roadshow” items.”  We’re encouraging people to bring their own bags to be used to take their treasurers home. 

Lisa Ramos, President of the Magnolia Historical Society says that this promises to be a fun-filled end of summer family event and invites everyone to come explore Magnolia on August 25th.  For more information visit www.magnoliahistoricalsociety.com, like us on Facebook  or call 978-290-3005. 


Hi Joey,

I wonder if you’d mind one more plug for the Hammond Castle Psychic Faire taking place from 11:00 – 4:00 on this Saturday and Sunday. Thank you so much!

Terry

(978) 283-7532  Terry Milton


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HAT Party Pics From Karen Ristuben

Karen Ristuben submits-

Hi Joey,
A few pics from our HAT Gala last Friday Aug.17 at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck…what a place we live in, what an amazing community project we’re building, and what a blast we had!!  Thank to so many friends, neighbors, and newcomers who came to celebrate Gloucester’s Rocky Neck Cultural District designation and generously contributed to the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck Building Fund.  Thanks to all, and stay tuned as this community-wide project takes flight!!  Check out the Calendar at www.rockyneckartcolony.org and sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep up with The Center’s events..
Best to you,
Karen

Jeff Cluett new art

Joey these are se photos of se recent artwork and lifestyle photography that I have produced since leaving rocky neck. The mural is 56/12 feet long and was a collaborative project(although I had some of the largest hand) done in Lowell ma. When I had a gallery/ studio space out there. The bmx jump was photographed by myself with my iPhone. Feel free to use as many or as few of the photos you would like. I appreciate  you coverage in the first place and it was nice to see you at The Farm the other day. Keep in touch homie your a real ass cat. -Jeffrey Cluett

 

Here is the interview with Jeff last summer on Madfish Wharf-

The Gloucester Patriots

Meet the players and families of the Gloucester Patriots!!  For more information on the Patriots visit their website  http://www.gloucesterpatriotsyouthprogram.com/

The Season starts Sunday, August 26th
Patriots vs. Tigers @ GHS
Chargers vs. Rockets @ O’Maley Middle School
Vikings vs. Hornets @ MEHS

 

Name This Schooner From Al Bezanson

Joey… Let’s see who can identify this speedy old schooner.  The photo is from GREEN DRAGON during a Gloucester Schooner Race.

Al Bezanson

Name this schooner

For more info about the Gloucester Schooner Festival Check Out The Chamber of Commerce website-

Gloucester Schooner Festival Information

Who’s the Serious Security Guy in this Blues Fest Video of the great Shemekia Copeland?

Here’s another video of Shemekia Copeland (Queen of the Blues) at the Gloucester Blues Festival with yet another powerful song that shows off her band as well as her remarkable voice (see yesterday’s post if you missed the song that gave me the chills).

Who’s that security guy walking in front of the stage at at about :30 seconds into the video?  He looks so serious! You wouldn’t wanna mess with him would ya?

Just in case you missed getting Shemekia’s excellent CDs signed at the Blues Fest, you can order one here and ask her to sign it next time you see her (see tour schedule).

It’s a testament to Gloucester’s stature as a music destination that we can attract major international recording artists, the caliber of Shemekia’s Copeland, for our very first Blues Festival.  Perhaps it’s because of the tremendously talented musicians who live here.

Don’t take them for granted.  Check Cape Ann’s live music schedule and go see them now.  Some day you may  have to drive an hour and pay a hundred bucks to see artists you can see this weekend right here on Cape Ann for free.

Meet the Artist Reception

If you missed H.A. Lind’s Opening Reception on 8/19, you still have a chance to see her exhibit and say hi to her while she is home visiting.  There will be a Meet the Artist Reception on Sunday, 8/26 from 2:00-4:00pm at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave., G3.  Come on by and say hi to H.A.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

The Biggest Hugest Most Ginormous Blue fin Tournament To Hit Gloucester In Decades Begins IS UNDER WAY! The Bluefin Blowout! Mile Marker 1 Is Gonna Be Off The Rails

Mile Marker 1 is Undoubtably Going To Be The Place To Be This weekend For The Weigh Ins For The Bluefin Blowout.  video coming

Follow the progress on twitter @BluefinBlowout

and on Facebook for leader updates /BluefinBlowout

Pics from Brianmoc

 

For updates click here-

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Is Joe-pye a Weed?

Sneezeweed, Butterfly Weed, Ironweed, Milkweed, Joe-pye Weed–these are names European colonists assigned to the wildflowers they found growing in North America. Is it any wonder these native beauties have long been overlooked for gardens. The name Butterfly Weed gives us a clue that what to the early settlers was a “weed,” is a pollinator’s dream.

“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.”

                                                     ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

For the past week, our blooming patch of six-feet-tall Joe-pye Weed has been covered in a bevy of butterflies including more Painted Ladies than ever I even imagined visiting our garden, dozens of newly emerged Monarch butterflies, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Question Marks, and thousands of bees.

The Eupatorium growing in the Harbor Walk Gardens is a lower growing species called ‘Baby Joe,’ and it too is as equally attractive to the pollinators.

Joey-pye Weed

Block Party rainbow; camera woes

Just at sunset during the latest block party, there was a mild rain shower, and this glorious rainbow appeared.  I managed to snap a shot, despite the fact that my camera was staring to malfunction.

This one came out OK, but many of my photos have started to be underexposed or just plain black  (despite being on the right settings, even in the automatic mode).  I need to either repair or replace the camera… Anybody know of a place nearby where I can get a Sony camera repaired? It’s not under warrantee anymore (it’s a year and a half old, and – silly me – I didn’t get an extended warrantee), so Sony will charge me a flat fee of $250 to repair it. Buying a brand new camera body of the same kind would cost $500.  I’m torn between repairing it – it’s a great camera! – and upgrading to a new model…

Fr. Matthew Green

Castle Hill Casino

Last night we were at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich. Beautiful night! Entrain was amazing as usual.

The grounds are incredible. This building is the casino. Here’s more info on Castle Hill.