My View of Life on the Dock
Cape Ann Veterans Services does a masterful job hosting and facilitating Memorial Day commemorations as well as partnering and offering year round support. Their office is located on 12 Emerson Ave.
The service was beautiful. If I find a video link I’ll add it here. Take a moment to listen to the youth involved–stunning National Anthem rendition sung by Alessandro Schoc, Governor’s proclamation red by Kinnery Muniz, ROTC Missing Man Table Ceremony, and more
Cape Ann Veterans Services reminder:
Come join in! Celebrate veterans and honor Armistice Day. The 2021 Veterans Day outdoor service begins at 9AM tomorrow at City Hall, followed with a car parade –with CATA trolley option– to Washington Street locations (Seacoast Nursing and Gloucester Healthcare) in support of veterans in assisted living.
Hosted by the Cape Ann Sportsman’s Club at Strangman Pond off Reservoir Rd., Dogtown.
In 1954, President Eisenhower signed the proclamation designating November 11 Veterans Day.
Scan of Gloucester Daily Times. Would love to see original photos by Marilyn Silveira (top) and Ralph Esty
photo caption: No fish story as photographer’s proof shows string of rainbow trout hooked by disabled veterans during Cape Ann Sportsman’s Club outing yesterday at Strangman’s pond, left to right are Robert Kwasnick of New Britain, Conn. and Chris Seros of New London, Conn. | Bottom photo: Battery of rods and reels on special-built platform at Cape Ann Sportsman Club site during disabled vets fishing carnival yesterday. Vets braved downpour to continue fishing for rainbow trout. June 1953 Gloucester, Ma.
Look for area businesses special notices like this one:
Beauport Hotel – Gloucester, MA
Offers 10 complimentary city-view rooms to any veterans who would like to come and have a little getaway. Once those 10 rooms are booked, any veteran can receive 30% off a room booked on Nov. 9 through Nov. 12.
Cape Ann Veterans Services building and grounds wrapped in lights
Two more – courtesy photos of Cape Ann Veterans Services shared with GMG
And more hope (courtesy photos shared with GMG) – another house one can view from Centennial and visible from Cape Ann Veterans Services
Today I have been thinking about family and friends who served or are active, and took a drive by Cape Ann Veterans Services. The staff and volunteers for the center upgrade the facility and grounds with a light touch and public art. Raymond Fisher fabricated the large silhouettes adorning the exterior.
On this Veterans Day 2020 I thought I’d ask Raymond Fisher some questions about his service with the military: When did he serve? Where was he stationed? What were his jobs and some of his duties? I’ll ask carving questions later :).
photos – January 2020 (snow) and Veterans Day 2020
Debris from the demo of the 13,500 SF property (and parking lot) on 206/209 Main Street, formerly known as Cameron’s restaurant, is being trucked away from sorted piles, scrap metal here, mixed materials there. Action Inc. and North Shore Community Development Coalition ‘s new apartment building will meld in a few street level commercial spaces. (Read about the latticework of buildings on this stretch of Main here and see photos then and now below. I think it will be both changeless and changing as the saying goes.) I’m confident the charm and great karma of Cameron’s meals and happy celebrations will carry forward for the residents and business owners coming to this corner of Main and Elm.
In the meantime I was delighted to find some (poor) snapshots with my mom inside Cameron’s. I’m sure there are more and better Cameron’s photographs out there!
photo snapshot captions – fuzzy glimpses of Cameron’s restaurant interior on St. Patrick’s Day 2009 (kids playing fiddles now in their 20s!) & 2010. There must be photos out there!
The eagle was removed, repaired and painted in 2017 in preparation for a new and most fitting site– flying high for Cape Ann Veterans Services. Who carved Cameron’s iconic eagle sign?
GMG reader David Collins shares the answer about the artist who hand carved the eagle as reported in the Gloucester Daily Times 2017. Carl Goddard of Nahant carved the eagle in 1967.
Artist studios across the street will have a front row for the construction progress.
A message from Nic & Cailtin Pszenny & Jim Frontiero, owners of Cape Ann Lanes
Looking to the Future…
You probably already heard our plans to add a larger kitchen and brewpub within the existing footprint of our business. Click here to read the GDT article.
(ed. note: and recent article in Cape Ann Beacon)
The last step in the approval process is to get a special permit for our brewpub from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Thank you to all of you that have show such amazing support since the GDT article was released last week. If we can get this approval, we can finally make this a reality.
You can attend the public hearing THIS Thursday, January 31st at 7 PM in the Kyrouz auditorium at Gloucester City Hall (upstairs).
Some things that we want everyone to know about our plans:
-We will always be a family friendly candlepin bowling alley
-We already have a food establishment permit
-We already have our Federal, State and city license to have a Brewpub
-We already serve food and beer/wine, we are just looking to improve and increase capacity to serve our customers
-We need to improve our capacity and offerings for food and beverage to keep up with demand and other entertainment options
-We still run birthday parties for people of all ages and all kinds of events
-This will help keep locals on the Island to have fun AND attract people from off the island to increase revenue for the CIiy of Gloucester
-We love this city, this business and this community and we are here for the long haul!
Sincerely,
Nic & Cailtin Pszenny & Jim Frontiero
Owners of Cape Ann Lanes
Have you visited the Major Fred W. Ritvo Veterans Center headquarters for Cape Ann Veterans Services?
Last year Cape Ann Veterans Services completed an inviting renovation. Adam Curcuru, Director of Cape Ann Services, said that the Compensated Work Therapy Program (CWT), a veterans construction team from Bedford, “did an excellent job. They really took ownership of the program and the building. CWT helps veterans seeking treatment who are not prepared to step back full time into work and putting health first.”
– exterior wall to be future site of the monumental eagle carving from Cameron’s
Lucia Amero pointed to the original thank-you poster listing the people involved with getting the building ready for veterans services back in 1994-95. “Ritvo (the building’s namesake) worked to involve high school students like those taking classes in the electrical shop. Naturally, more work was done over the years to maintain the building.”
The 1995 thank you poster text:
Continue reading “Look inside! Major Fred W Ritvo Veterans Center Gloucester Mass.”
Local vendors showcased a variety of wares –including patriotic items, fine art, original designs, artisan crafts, and services– and for a good cause: raising awareness for Cape Ann Veterans Services Welcome Home Initiative. This award winning model program helps local veterans adjust to life back home. The event was hosted by the Elks, The Bridge and Pauline’s Gifts. Partipating vendors included
The creative response to military service is vast.
Several Gloucester and Cape Ann artists and writers were veterans officially engaged as combat documentarians and/or military artists, like Larry O’Toole (1908-1951), marine artist, official USCG artist and WWII Veteran.
Addison Center’s 1866 portrait of Ulysses S. Grant is to the left upon entry in City Hall. (On the right is a 1946 memorial commission by Marguerite Pearson to 5 WWII marines: Sherman B Ruth, Ralph Greely, Wilfred Ringer, John M. Sweet, and Robert M. Maguire.)
Others created art in response to their service experience like fine artist, Robert Stephenson (1935-2013).
Good Morning Gloucester readers have been following an indeliable original illustrated series, Stories from Vietnam, with illustrations and writing by David Hussey. The Gloucester Writers Center established a Veterans Writing Workshop in the fall of 2013 and published a compilation book, The Inner Voice and the Outer World, launched in December 2017. Cape Ann Veterans Services brought copies of the children’s picture book, Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood, and super volunteer readers, into local Kindergarten, first and second grades to read aloud in the classes. Copies of the book were gifted to the classroom libraries. (Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood ©2012 is by Valerie Pfundstein with illustrations by Aaron Anderson and foreword by John Vigiano Sr., a Marine Veteran and retired FDNY Captain, who honors his sons’ memories –both lost on 9/11– by volunteering his time and resources to Gold Star families and wounded heroes.) Gloucester native and Gold Star mother, Anita Coullard Dziedzic, helped support this outreach through Cape Ann Veterans Services, to honor her son Sgt. David J Coullard.
NEXT MONTH, Rocky Neck Cultural Center will present a visual arts group exhibition featuring artists who are currently active or served in the military curated by fine artist and veteran Ken Hruby:
IN WAR AND AFTER: The Art of Combat Veterans, Curated by Ken Hruby
May 17 – June 24, 2018
Courtesy photos credit info and press release below from Rocky Neck.
PRESS RELEASE – “The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) proudly presents “IN WAR AND AFTER: The Art of Combat Veterans”, a multi-media, juried exhibition of over sixty works by more than thirty combat artists from the military services and by veterans making art from their experiences in zones of combat…Congressman Seth Moulton of the 6th congressional district of Massachusetts, himself a Marine Corps veteran of four tours in Iraq, states of this exhibition, “The ‘incommunicable experience of war,’ as Oliver Wendel Holmes once described it, indeed often defies explanation by words alone. That veterans can share some of their experience through art can help us all better understand what they went through. And as a veteran myself, who returned to war with a camera after I left the Marines, I know how cathartic art can be for those of us who were there. The work of combat artists is important for civilians as well, to deepen their understanding of the lives of our service men and women, and their families. “In War and After” is an a very important exhibition for both communities.”
Few people are aware that when US military forces go to war, some of them carry, in addition to their weapons, their sketch pads, graphite pencils, watercolor brushes and cameras. These are combat artists, tasked to not only serve the combat mission but to record that mission in ways only an artist can.
Continue reading “IN WAR AND AFTER: The Art of Combat Veterans curated by Ken Hruby at Rocky Neck”
hosted by the Elks, The Bridge and Pauline’s Gifts
Save the Date- just about a month away! Friday May 11, 4:30-8pm at Gloucester MA Elks Lodge #892
🇺🇸”Join us as we raise awareness for Cape Ann Veterans Services’ “Welcome Home Initiative”- a program that helps local veterans adjust to life back home. Local vendors with patriotic items and crafts. it will be as American as mom & apple pie, Stay tuned for more details and features!” 🇺🇸
Gloucester and Cape Ann’s generous community join together to pull off this awesome, model initiative. Numerous volunteers prepare for and host on site. The welcome home bundles are loaded up with community business gift certificates and support.
The organizers– Adam Curcuru, Vionette Chipperini, Jayne Morse– and Mayor Romeo Theken welcomed attendees. The guest speaker, Lt General Mark O.Schissler (USAF Retired), and Marcia (Deacon) Schissler retired here. Marcia grew up in Gloucester. Their enthusiam and positivity are a delight–say hi when you see them! The Lt General urged Veterans to stand on their service, reminding them who they are: “You make sacrifices. You willingly give of yourself and give up time to serve in the military…Hold on to it and move forward…the skills and confidences you build up a little bit over time will be great here and going forward. You’ll help make communities stronger–as strong as they can be…As you prepare for other chapters in your life, you will carry these skills and capabilities in to your next chapter… and the next, always. We honor you today and join together to celebrate and give thanks for your service and talent. This event–look around you…We’ll be there for you, take care of you now…”
Final note from Adam Curcuru, Director Cape Ann Veterans Services
“Great day at the Gloucester MA Elks Lodge #892 for the 4th Annual Cape Ann Veterans Welcome Home Initiative. Welcome Home to all our Veterans and thank you to all our Volunteers, local businesses, and community for supporting our Veterans.”
Gloucester Elks Lodge #892 was recognized for the community work they do for Cape Ann’s returning veterans, receiving the Edward Spry trophy for being the #1 Lodge in the Commonwealth for veterans activities. Jayne Morse won the Elk’s Volunteer of the Year Award. The Cape Ann Veterans Service office gives guidance and helps with information for the returning veterans. ‘Welcome Home to Cape Ann- We Left the Light on For You’ outreach for Returning Veterans is such an inspiring national model. It couldn’t happen without leadership, support and volunteers. Lots of good eggs here!
all photos are from Elks Lodge #892 and Adam Curcuru
photos from last years Welcome Home To Cape Ann – welcome home family event hosted by elks, free for all returning veterans and their families, lots of nice donors and We Left the Light on for You local & generously filled swag bag
Cape Ann’s First Annual Veterans Flag Football Army/Navy
High Noon land and sea Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Newell Stadium Gloucester High School– easy back and forth from Middle Street Walk and the game. Austin Dorr & Mayor Romeo Theken have the coin toss. Carlos Goulart and Daniel Collins are the refs. GHS boys soccer is ‘kicking in’ some Gatorade and water support.
Sunday December 10, 2017, 1PM, at the Gloucester House
Book launch for THE INNER VOICE AND THE OUTER WORLD: writings by veterans and their families from the Cape Ann Veterans Writers Workshop, a Gloucester Writers Center project, supported by Cape Ann Veterans Services (also stunning outreach and programming)
Photos of candlepin bowling league from Pauline- on Thursday nights it’s Cape Ann Veterans at Cape Ann Lanes, Gloucester, MA. Contact Adam Curcuru, Director Cape Ann Veterans Services about the fun league. Contact Cape Ann Lanes about the other nights: it’s a happening spot! Thanks for sharing photos, Pauline and Adam!
Worcester, MA, is the place where Candlepin started, mid 1800s and roughly the same time period as interest in golf spread. Unlike golf which spread everywhere, candlepin stuck around New England. Some people feel that’s because it’s harder than 10 pin. Who remembers Candlepin Bowling competitions on Channel 5 (1950s-1970s), later other channels (1970s-1990s), one of the most hidden watched sports on TV? It may have been on in the ‘background’, but it was a staple. Did they have bars then? Here’s some vintage inspiration, one with sportscaster Don Gillis 1992
Continue reading “Cape Ann Lanes candlepin bowling: Thursdays Veterans League”
Commander Mark Nestor welcomed the city’s Tourism Commission to the Capt. Lester S Wass American Legion Post 3, Gloucester, MA. Gloucester Congressman A. Piatt Andrew (1873-1936) founded the American Field Service and was instrumental in forming the National American Legion at this post. It’s the third oldest in the country, and its 100th anniversary in 2019 is fast approaching.
It was pushed along by the requests for an on line drive to support legionnaires suffering as a result of recent hurricane Harvey/Irma.
The building and legion accommodate thousands of visitors annually. The building itself was constructed ca.1844 and is one of the greatest examples of residents crowd sourcing together to purchase a municipal building. The architecture serves an enduring patriotic role: first as a Town Hall, then school, and since WW1 the Legion Post 3.
Nestor expressed gratitude for the city. This past summer they restored the wood floors, which brightened the space from the everyday black/brown grime of the past 20 years. They’ve greatly improved the space and display. A museum mount for the handwritten contemporaneous Official City Clerk copy of the WW1 army and navy register is a high light. A writer has already relied on it for original research.
The Legion is open to the community and rented for private events. There is a private recreation room for veterans which is under renovation. Upkeep and care of the building is ongoing.
Can you help identify the WWII naval vessel? The bell belonged to Reverend John J. Sheehan who was a Navy Chaplain. “It’s believed the bell was from the vessel he served on, but the ship remains unknown.” Sheehan’s cousin donated the ship bell to the Post. From the Legion’s plaque:
“After World War I, Reverend Sheehan served as Director at Camp Stella Maris for more than 40 years. It was a summer camp for youth located in West Gloucester. Its name is inscribed on the bell. Reverend Sheehan was also the National Chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also served as Pastor in a number of Catholic parishes on the north shore. The bell was dedicated to a Stephen Chamberlin. Stephen Chamberlin was a Ret. Lieutenant General who served in the army during WWII and was the Asst. Chief of Staff,G-3 in General Douglas Macarthur’s General Headquarters in the southwest Pacific area. His relationship to Reverend Sheehan is unknown.”
The commemorative coin celebrating the Capt Lester S Wass Post No. 3 100th anniversary and the Cape Ann Veterans Services coin are for sale.
Adam Curcuru, Director Cape Ann Veterans Services, attended the meeting and remarked how great it was “to see our Veterans organizations being utilized to support our great communities.”
Adam Curcuru writes: “Very excited to have received our first batch of Cape Ann Veterans Services Challenge Coins! Thank you Paul Krueger for your help in design and ordering –they came out great!”
The Cape Ann Veterans Services original ‘we left the light on for you‘ logo was designed by Pauline Bresnahan
Sweet voices lifting on the wind. Video from Adam Curcuru, Director Cape Ann Veterans Services, 2017 installation Stacy Boulevard Flags, Gloucester, MA.
Bridgette Matthews beautiful installation photographs
Saturday May 6, 2017 is the official ribbon cutting re-opening of Stacy Boulevard by Mayor Romeo Theken. Thanks to the Mayor, Mike Hale and all Gloucester DPW, GZA, Essex County Landscape Assoc, Gloucester Community Preservation Act, Ann Giraldi Johnson, GFWA, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and groups like the Seaport Economic Council and Dir Carolyn Kirk, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Joe Lucido, Ed Parks, Mike Linquata, Donna Ardizzoni and One Hour at a Time Gang, Ringo Tarr, Bobbie Turner, YMCA and summer help, Wolf Hill, Generous Gardeners, and other volunteers!
Tulip Festival and bonnet parade Saturday 10AM
Ribbon Cutting 11:30AM
Party at Mile Marker Restaurant 6-10PM
Continue reading “Stacy Boulevard Part 7: expanded garden plans Tulip Fest May 6” 
Good Morning Gloucester 