The Eastern Carpenter Bee

3 minute video featuring the Eastern Carpenter Bee. The music is the opening movement of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

The Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) is an important pollinator for many open-faced spring flowers including the blossoms of fruiting trees—crabapple, apple, pear, peach, plum, and wild cherry—as well as holly and brambles. X. virginica has an especially bad reputation with blueberry growers because they have strong mouthparts (capable of boring into wood), which will easily tear flowers with a deep corolla—blueberries and azaleas, for example. In the video you can see the bee probing into the sides of, and in some instances tearing, the petals to gather nectar from the blossoming Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica). The damage done to wood is usually minimal and cosmetic.

Carpenter Bees are regularly mistaken for bumblebees. Their shiny black abdomen most easily distinguishes them. Male and female carpenter bees can easily be differentiated at a glance. The male has a patch of yellowish-white cuticle at the top its head; the females face is entirely black.

Male Eastern Carpenter Bees are aggressively territorial. They will fly at you noisily and vigorously when in their territory, but it is all just show—they are incapable of stinging!


Why do they call this the Kenny Neal(s) Band?

Why the (s)?  Watch the video and see how long it takes you to figure it out.  If you don’t get it after 20 seconds, have another cup of coffee . . .

Kenny will be at the Gloucester Blues Festival.  It won’t be long before the sun heats things up around here and you’ll be at the beach, Fiesta, whatever … where you might forget that you can save $12 by getting tickets ahead of time, so get tickets now and stop worrying.

If you don’t remember who’s playing, click here for our video introducing the performers.

Our local music scene is already hot with 10 live music choices tonight (more really, because Nights on the Neck alone has 6 live shows between 5 and 8:45 and we only list them once — see their full schedule here).

And let’s not forget Bradley Royds begins his Thursday Night Series at Giuseppe’s.

We’ve been getting new listings all week long so click here to see the new updated music lineup.

Thursday Night Blues Party @ The Rhumb Line to Host Mario Perrett with Ed Scheer on drums.

Thursday – 9:00 to 12:00 ~ Dave Sag’s Blues Party

 

 

Dave says,

We had so much fun last week with Ed Scheer on board that i’ve decided to have him back this week to play along side his old teammate Mr. Mario Perrett. Cutie-pie saxist, former Playgirl© pinup, teen idol and magnificent vocalizer, Mr. MP has what it takes to raise any bar. For years he was the sexaphonist in the Love Dogs as well as in Madhouse. It’s always a pleasure to have both these guys around. They play, they sing, they wear my shirts and steal most of my songs, too. Anybody seen my wallet?
We always manage to pull out all the stops as well as your leg and your finger. With gootar-king and milliner Mr. Greg t. and myself aboard, we’re hoping to have a rousing good time. So bring your dancing shoe and your stump and hobble waddle doodle all night long!
N.B. If you have any friends or enemies who might like these minor missives, just send their addresses along to me. Always looking to spread the joys of music!

MACtivate Group Fitness

The Manchester Athletic Club has got me from 187lbs 3 weeks ago to 177 today and my strength and endurance while doing my exercises has gone up considerably.

I’ll be in bikini shape in no time Smile

For more info- 978-526-8900

And Now for Something Completely Different

Learn the Crab Dance by the GMG Crew for Tonights First of the Year Nights on the Neck.

CLICK HERE FOR TONIGHTS SCHEDULE

I love EJ’s Nurses outfit, Donna’s Cat suit  and Kim Smiths Angel wings!

Joey enters the video at about the 33 sec. mark

McDonald’s in Gloucester being reborn!

Back at the end of April, I posted about the demolition of the McDonald’s on Maplewood Ave., in preparation for a complete rebuilding. This is the photo I posted at the time.

I took another photo at the end of May. The old building is completely gone, and the new one is coming up:

That was quick! I hope they are back up and in business soon.

She seemed displeased when I told her I had buffalo wings for dinner.

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sent in by Kathleen from Big Mike’s Bikes

Specializing in used bicycle sales and service.
New and used parts and accessories.
978-222-3737
http://www.bigmikesbikes.org

Kudos To McDonalds Gloucester

The reconstruction is well under way.

The building looks like it is mostly made of brick which blends in 100 zillion times nicer than the old building which was painted the most ghastly of primary colors of bright red, harsh yellow and glossy white.

Hopefully when the finishing touches are made that they use some tasteful accenting colors to the brick.

The neighbors across the street must be thrilled.  I figure that on top of not having to look at the hideous old building they each will see the values of their homes go up by $15-$20,000 just by getting rid of that old primary color harsh yellow, red and white from the old building.

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VIDEO INTERVIEW- THE SUMMER RETREAT 2012 PREVIEW WITH LINDSAY CROUSE and RICK BLUE

click below for the interview

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The eight annual Summer Retreat is just a couple of months away!

For More Info- www.thesummerretreat.org

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The Retreat is a rare opportunity for people to take a break from their busy lives and experience something wonderful. It’s a chance to:

Rest and revitalize with life-changing happiness teachings from world-class teachers and master practitioners – including the amazing Lama Marut, author of A Spiritual Renegade’s Guide to the Good Life.

Enjoy meditation, yoga at all levels and community in the beauty of pastoral New England.

Understand how to live in happiness for six days…so you can be happy the rest of your life.

The retreat is led by Lama Marut — an American Buddhist monk whose teachings are both profound and completely engaging. He will make you laugh. He will make you think. He will probably change your life.

You can check out his podcasts – including podcasts from last year’s Summer Retreat – on iTunes.

Thanks to Joey and Good Morning Gloucester for supporting the Summer Retreat!

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Update On City Hall Restoration and a Request For Photographer’s City Hall Photos from Maggie Rosa

Hi Joey

Can you post these photos that were recently taken of the restoration project of City Hall? As your site is so popular this is the best way to keep everybody informed as to the progress of the project.

The project has started in earnest but as the work being done is going on behind the green shrouding it’s not easy to detect the progress. These photos were taken of the small towers (ventilator towers) last week.

Craig Herrmann will be posting these photos on our website www.restoreourtower.com and we will be sending you more as we get them.

And I’d also like to invite people who are also taking photos to send them to me so that we can post them on the website as well as keeping a record of this project for posterity’s sake.

Thanks

MAGGIE ROSA

Tea Party Ships Now Partially Rigged Photos From Kathy Chapman

Progress report: Tea Party Ships Eleanor and Beaver are nearing completion in Boston.

Photo © Kathy Chapman 2012

http://www.kathychapman.com

TPartyByChapman

Discover Gloucester Weekly From Linn Parisi

Hey, Joey!

Fancy meeting you at the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Lock Up fundraiser at LobstaLand yesterday!

Pilar Garro from the Beauport Sleeper-McCann house on Eastern Point (which is open for the season, btw) recommended that I get "arrested" for the truly good cause- Thanks, Pilar!

I had a great time at the event. The best part is that so many friends and family members contributed to my "bail" ahead of my being "arrested" that I didn’t have to make phone calls. Thanks to all who donated to help put a halt to this  horrible disease. We raised nearly $2400!

Thanks to Corey and his crew at LobstaLand for hosting the event and feeding all the participants.

The pics attached are of me being served my warrant by Manny Simoes’ nephew, Officer Simoes; getting into the police car to be driven to the Lock Up  (my first and last time in the back seat of a cruiser :); yours truly behind bars; Pam Macaurelle from CruisePort making desperate calls for bail; and Joey bringing Pam a bail check. Too fun!

The last and totally unrelated picture is a UK Travel Channel TV show called "American Times" filming the star/host, Julian, eating a lobster in the rough at Roy Moore’s on Bearskin Neck- in the pouring rain on Monday. Everything we tried to do that day for their show, which was about fish & fishing, lobsters & lobstering, was derailed due to the nor’easter. Not a fish to be found in the City; too rough to go out on the water. They managed to get enough footage done, but it took us hours and we were drenched and cold at the end of the long day.

Thanks to all of the Discover Gloucester partners who tried to help during the day, and did help to get the job done.

Another TV show film crew will be here on Sunday. This one is from Italy, RAI 3- like our PBS channel 2.

This time the media FAM is about art, culture and history. Hopefully, no rain on Sunday- please?!

Linn Parisi
Discover Gloucester The Seaport Gloucester DMO
PO Box 6103  Gloucester, MA  01930
978-290-9723 Twitter: @DscvrGlstr  FB: Discover Gloucester

Community Stuff June 7th, 2012

SkepticsListing

Volunteer Opportunities At The Trustees of Reservations Long Hill

VOLUNTEER

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The Flower Field Program for Teens

Weekly June – August (call 978-921-1944 x1825 for days and times)

Ages 13-17

Get outside this summer and work side-by-side with your peers. Easily increase those community service hours here at Long Hill.  Join the Garden Educator and help in the Flower Field, Demonstration Gardens and the Children’s Garden.  We have a range of projects available for all abilities from planting, weeding, and staking, to deadheading, seeding, labeling, and much more.  Weekly commitment working outdoors.  Opportunity to work with the public during PYO Flower Field hours.  You can cut your own FREE bouquet after each morning of work.

Email bogrady@ttor.org for more info.

Flower Field Volunteer Hours

Weekly  March – Oct  9AM – 11AM

We need your help to prepare and plant and maintain Long Hill’s Pick-Your-Own Flower Fields.  We’ve extended our garden this year to bring even MORE fresh flowers to the community!  We have a range of projects available for all abilities from planting, weeding, and staking, to deadheading, seeding, labeling, and much more. Opportunity to work with the public during PYO Flower Field hours.  Dig in and have fun with a great group of fellow volunteers! You can cut your own FREE bouquet after each morning of work! Email bogrady@ttor.org for more info.

PYO Flower Field Shifts

July 12 – Oct 13

Thur 3pm-5pm, Fri 12-5pm and Sat 10am–5pm

We need your help to cover the shifts of the PYO Flower Field.  The garden will open July 12th and close Oct 13th.  There are 6 volunteer shifts per week that need to be covered by a Long Hill volunteer.  Thur 3-5, Fri 12 – 5, and Sat 10 – 5.  A 2 to 3 hour commitment each shift. You will be greeting the public and assisting them with scissors, water and information about the garden. You will be required to do light work in the garden while it is open.   Training will be provided and is mandatory.  You can cut your own FREE bouquet after each shift!Email bogrady@ttor.org for more info.

Beverly Farmer’s Market Assistant

Every Monday starting July 30 – Sept 20

The Trustees of Reservations is looking for enthusiastic individuals or families to set up and manage our Long Hill PYO Flower Field table at the Beverly Farmer’s Market.  Every Monday starting at the end of July and going through September you will be selling annual cutting flowers from our own annual cutting garden.  We are eager to participate in the local farmer’s market this year but can not send staff at this time.  Do you love fresh, locally grown flowers and hope that more people can have access to the bounty of our local fields? Then this is the position for your summer volunteering!  Email bogrady@ttor.org for more info.


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The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Businesswomen’s Committee is now welcoming applications for the Carolyn O’Connor Scholarship. Established in 2005, this non-traditional $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a woman who is looking to change careers or re-enter the workforce and would require some form of continuing education or training. 

The Carolyn O’Connor Scholarship, named after the first chairperson of the Businesswomen’s Committee, honors Carolyn’s dedication and involvement with the committee and the Chamber through the years. Organized in 1986, the Businesswomen’s Committee aids in the growth of Cape Ann businesses and the professional development of the Chamber’s women members.

Contributions to the Businesswomen’s Scholarship Fund may be sent to the Chamber Businesswomen’s Committee, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, 33 Commercial Street, Gloucester MA  01930. Checks should be made out to the Businesswomen’s Scholarship Fund.

The deadline for submitting the scholarship application is Friday, June 29. Applicants must have a high school degree or its equivalent, be a legal resident of Massachusetts, and be accepted to an accredited college, university or job training program.

Applications are available at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce office, online at www.capeannchamber.com, or contact Sharon Bragg at Sharon@capeannchamber.com.

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June 2012
The Newsletter of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce
is now online!
Start Reading!

In This Issue:

Small Business Week
25th Annual Auction
Rockport Booth Opens
Scholarship Information
Membership Spotlight
Business After Hours
Matter Communications
Road and Bridge Report
Upcoming Events
Business Tips & Tricks

and much more!

Video Interview- Meet Goetemann Artist in Residency Program Artist Of The Month Ekaterina Smirnova

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Check out her work at the Goetemann Artist in Residency Studio (GRS) at 51A Rocky Neck Avenue.

Check out her website here- www.katapostrophe.com

Gloucester At Dawn- 4:50AM 6/2/12 Good Harbor Beach

click photo to see larger version

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Bob Represents From Sturgeon Bay Light Station

Ann Kennedy forwards-

Lake Michigan…fun, big water, good fish, lots of boats, nice art and music…but it’s not Gloucester.   Here’s Bob representing from Sturgeon Bay light station.

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