Top Gloucester Stories of 2011- GMG Style

Joey's favorite

Judith Monteferrante Photo

This morning I was contemplating doing a top ten list of the year’s best stories but it always seems so daunting.

But then I read another list which seemed so damn depressing and it didn’t seem to represent to me at all what the top Gloucester stories of 2011 and once we started putting the list together over The Worlds Greatest Coffee Rolls, Ed and I put this list together.

I should note that the depressing list was the one from the Gloucester Daily Times but God bless the Times and what they do because they have the responsibility of reporting the puss and if they weren’t getting paid to do it who would ever want to?

Here’s the Gloucester Daily times version and the inspiration for the GMG one

(note there are no numbers as they are all of different order of importance for different people) We’ll use letters in no specific order.

I’ll list them and then link to the stories underneath each listing

A) seARTS Effort gets Gloucester Recognized As #3 Small Arts City In The Country

Gloucester Voted #3 Small Arts City In The Country

B) City of Gloucester Under Carolyn Kirk’s Stewardship Once Again Raises Our Bond Rating

From the Gloucester Daily Times-

The Mayor’s Desk: Moving the city forward into the new year

C) The Passing of Joe Garland and Harriett Webster Two Great Lovers of Gloucester

The Joe Garland Tribute Post
In Memorium – Harriet Webster

D) The Removal of Blight and Installation of Community Park From Cape Ann Museum

Cape Ann Museum Pocket Park New Sculpture Photo From Bob Hastings
Cape Ann Museum New Pocket Park Panorama

E) Jim Davis Buys Birdseye and Renews Potential For Growth Downtown

Breaking News!!! Here’s the Official Scoop On The Birdseye Property From Sheree DeLorenzo

F) Bhuddist Monks Liberate Lobsters Fun

Audio We Talk About The Liberated Lobsters On The Bob and Sheri Radio Show In Charlotte

G) Temple Ahavat Achim Opens It’s Doors To the Community

Up On The Roof- Temple Ahavat Achim Views Of Gloucester and Construction Video

H) The Greasy Pole Toppled and Is Being Reconstructed

GMG Greasy Pole Reconstruction Coverage

I) Burnham’s field Community Garden Beautifies the Heart of The City

Burnham’s Field Community Garden Coverage on GMG

J) GMG Takes Home CBS Boston’s Most Valuable Blogger Award (biased, who me?)

HOLY GUACAMOLE BATMAN!!!! THIS JUST- IN WE WON THE CBS BOSTON’S PEOPLE’S CHOICE MOST VALUABLE BLOGGER AWARD!!!!!!!!!!!

Updated List: Rocky Neck Plunge- The Pledge List, The Chance To Win $100 Azorean Gift Card, The Food Drive and the $8.99 All You Can Eat Passports Pre-Plunge Breakfast

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Erik at Passports Is Offering Up an $8.99 Breakfast Buffet Pre Plunge!  We plan to meet there at 10AM, come eat with us!

If you enter your name here on GMG beforehand, get listed as a pledge to plunge and do it, we will enter your name into a hat and pick one of the GMG listed plungers post plunge for a $100 Azorean Gift card. Card was donated by our Terry Weber.  No entries will be accepted on the scene of the crime, you have to put in a comment here or contact me ahead of time to confirm you are on “The List”.

If you pledge to plunge and then bail out for ANY REASON, that gives us free license to ridicule you for the entire year!

I can tell you it is incredibly invigorating and the very best way to start your year. It sets you up to overcome a fear and once you do it the rest of the year you feel like you can and will do anything!

The plunge goes off at noon on Oaks Cove Beach on Rocky Neck.

The List

Joey C, Donna Ardizzoni, Rick Moore, Ed Collard, Paul Morrison, Rick Paolillo, Melissa Cox, Dr. Ray Cahill, Colleen Apostolos-Marsh, Lotus Marsh, Lukas and Lasse Struppe, Owen, Henry, and Jon Hardy, Alexandra Rhinelander, Charles Du Deaubien Gaspien (or something like that), Ericka Hyam, Steve LeBlanc, Jamie Verga, Kevin Ryan, Patrick Ryan, Denny Cunningham, Carolyn Kirk, Bill Kirk, Amanda Nash, Tom Robinson Cox, Mike and Eva DiLascio, Amandacakes and Beasley, Keara the chick with the heavy green eye shadow (I forgot her last name), Vickie Van Ness, Greg Bover, Brian O’Connor, Skip Montello,Kane Oshiro,Barry “Cuda” Pollack, Charles Rodgers, Lindell Willnow, Terry Weber, Jason Grow, Maisey, Jeamima and Matilda, Karen Ristuben, Wendie Demuth,Scott LeVasseur ,Tony Goddess,Mike Nicastro, Alicia Pensarosa, Nicole, Ben and Emma Duckworth,Lily Steiner, Chelsea Audin, Malena Lund, Jennelle Rhodes,Jim Dowd and Rebecca and Treely Dowd, Kellie Rich, The Del Vecchio Family,Bob and Andrea Ritchie, Sonja, Evelyn, Daniel and Edward Merz .

Food Drive

Carol McCarthy is organizing a food drive for the Open Door Food Pantry.  Here’s the deets-

Just a heads up that I am organizing a food drive the day of the Plunge… PLunge will be at Noon and the food drive is to benefit The Open Door..  They are in real need this year and Its time we give back on the Neck..   I asking everyone to bring what is needed by the Pantry.. I emailed Judy Cox and she is posting in the newsletter this week.. We need to make a HUGE push for the food pantry… What is desperately needed!!!!   Barrels will be set up at the entrance of Oak Cove Beach for the non-perishables.. Thanks Joey..

Cathy McCarthy  8978 317 2352

TUNA, Peanut Butter, Pasta Sauce, 100% Juice, Baking Items, Breakfast Cereal…

2011 Rocky Neck Plunge Video From InterMurph

Paul Frontiero’s Video From 2011’s Plunge-

EJ’s video

2011 Christmas in Rockport Photos From Tina Ketchopolos

Tina Ketchopolos Shares her Photos From Christmas Morning In Rockport

Joey:  Here are a few photos I took on Christmas morning at Dock Square in Rockport where Santa arrived!

It was a very happy scene in the beautiful town of Rockport!

Happy New Year!

Tina

Introducing The Latest Good Morning Gloucester Contributor- Snoop Maddie Mad

What, you thought I was gonna waste time getting a camera into her hands?

See there’s always an ulterior motive.  Get her a camera for a Christmas present and put her to work right away.  Boom.  That just happened.

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Greasy Pole Reconstruction Photos From Betsy Goldman

Hi Joey,

I tagged along with Aaron, Tiger, and Chad for a few hours work on the Greasy Pole reconstruction a couple weekends back (Sunday, December 11th) and took some pictures.

It was a beautiful, crisp day in the harbor.

Enjoy!

Cheers, Betsy Goldman