Good Morning Gloucester

Vive la différence…

Mayor Greg Verga to join partners to celebrate Season 2 of Project: Pop up Gloucester

Mayor Greg Verga, with partners Action Inc. and UpNext will host a ribbon cutting for Season 2 of Project: Pop-Up Gloucester at 206 Main St. in Gloucester on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 11 a.m.

The renewed program highlights the success of the concept for the city’s downtown. It began as a creative solution to bring retailers back into physical store space and continues to offer opportunities for small businesses. Businesses have the chance to operate at the prime downtown spot for several weeks at subsidized rates. After the set time, another “season” of business owners move in. 

“I am looking forward to season two of Project: PopUp in Gloucester and to welcoming two new small businesses to our downtown,” said Mayor Greg Verga. “We get to build on the success of our first round of businesses and continue to bring new life to Gloucester’s Main Street. I am proud of this successful partnership and collaboration and our work providing opportunities for these creative small businesses.”

This season welcomes two artists.  Ornelie Mukadi creates handmade Ankara accessories bringing a piece of the Congolese culture for her customers through her business TehillahS. 

She explained, “TehillahS started as a way to bring the Ankara fabric into rooms where it didn’t always belong. We strive to make our accessories wearable every. Project: Pop-Up allows me the opportunity to venture into the world of brick and mortar without the anxiety of a long-term lease. I hope to gain knowledge on how to not only survive but thrive in a business like mine.”

Sustainable designs will be sold at the second business called Detali.  Founder Natalia Douglass said, “This opportunity will give us a chance to show the world of upcycled design here in Gloucester as well as get together as a community who cares about ocean health.”

This grant-funded initiative allows time to test their business models in the city without the commitment of signing a lease or buying a property.  The entrepreneurs are also given resources to help seed their success through funding in part from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development and the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development.

call 978-515-7386

An addition to The Studio’s end-of-season Halloween event on October 30: Sous Chef Sal Valenti of Peabody recently got an adorable dog, Trager AKA “T-Roy” (photo attached), who has quickly become his best friend and family. At only ten months, Trager must have an unexpected surgery on his leg. The Studio is rallying around Chef Sal and little Trager to help pay for the required $8,000 surgery by auctioning off a baseball signed by recent Hall of Fame inductee, David “Big Papi” Ortiz, as well as a signed Patriots jersey by running back, LeGarrette Blount. Both items will be available for bidding onsite on October 30 and all funds will be donated directly to Trager’s surgery expenses.  

For those who are unable to attend the event but would still like to support “T-Roy” in his upcoming surgery, Chef Sal has set up a Facebook Fundraiser page and is beyond appreciative for anyone who might want to help: https://www.facebook.com/donate/640271754202885/?fundraiser_source=external_url.

I recently realized October 2022 marks our 5th anniversary as Good Morning Gloucester contributors! Time really does fly. I have been reflecting on how far I have come along as a contributor and podcast participant and I want to thank each of you for your support and especially for your comments. Sometimes we meet you in our daily routines and you kindly comment on the posts or the podcast. We really appreciate that! It’s always gratifying to know someone is out there listening or reading. Thanks also to those who take the extra steps to comment on Facebook, the podcast or the blog. It means more to each of the contributors than you might realize.

Special thanks to our Boss Joey and all the Castaways: Chris, Nichole, Scottie, Paul, Drew! And to the other contributors especially Donna, Nichole, Paul H., James, Manny and others past and present.

To celebrate the randomness of everyday life here on Cape Ann, here’s today’s offering. An apparently abandoned cute little Adirondack chair sitting roadside near the Good Harbor Beach footbridge just begged to be part of the blog’s history. And Keith and Aretha joined in the fun. As you may know, Keith is a wreath (follow #KeithIsAWreath on Instagram) and Aretha is his companion. They like to have their photos taken around town for fun.

Here we go!!!!!!!

WHAT: Our first 2 dates for pre-order and pick up, coffee rolls only for these dates. Gluten Free available. $4.75 each

WHEN: Pick up OCT 30th from 9am-11am

(update Oct 23 is full no longer taking orders)

WHERE: Parking lot of 23 East Main St, Gloucester.

HOW to order: email the following info to mamieskitchen22@gmail.com

Name:

Quantity of rolls:

Date and time of pick up:

Venmo @mamieskitchen or cash on pick up

Are you ready to get this party started?!

Last night (Oct 17) a makeshift surgical team — including two nurses — rescued a baby cormorant that had become entangled in some fishing hooks, line and sinker.  The cormorant was found on the edge of the road at the corner of Beach and Granite at 8:30pm in Rockport. It was barely able to walk because the fishing line was wrapped around the bird’s wing and right leg. One hook was in his foot and one in his wing. Part of the fishing line had grown into the wing, but it was not infected  After more than 30 minutes of “surgery,” the cormorant’s right foot and wing were freed from two hooks, some line and a large sinker.  It was then released at Back Beach where it immediately walked to the water and swam away.  Surgical team members included Mike & Paula Giblin, Elizabeth Fox and Ken Nolet of Rockport, and Peter Rosamilia of Gloucester; cell phone video was taken by Anne Jones, who also did some timely Cormorant handling research. 

Late Bloomer…

http://www.extremegloucesterfishing.com/

https://www.gloucestersalt.org/