My View of Life on the Dock
Covid-19 queue control at Trader Joe’s- a fun and clever waiting gesture keeps customers and staff safe and calm! Thankful for the smile.
(I hope people post images of the dancing–all levels!)
Selection of signs of the times, May 2020. Gloucester, Ma.
Signs of the Times seen March 25, 2020
Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Public Library weekly Story Time with Christy resumes despites Covid-19 closure. Christy Russo is the Director of Children’s services at the library. She effortlessly brings a Mister Rogers kind flair and expertise to programs. See the first week’s video below focused on friendship. The production quality is well done, and the emoji adds feel sweet and festive. This episode format includes a greeting and “visit” with garden friends, stories*, and activities.
*We Are Brothers We are Friends by Alexandra Penfold and Little Elliot Big City by Mike Curato (Macmillan publishing, both)
Also of note: Now in its 18th year, the annual Poetry without Paper competition, co-founded by Russo with poet John Ronan, is open to children in grades K-12.
Manchester Public Library is offering story times as well via social media (including Facebook LIVE). Look for upcoming events here
Weekly Tuesdays at 6:30pm PJ Story Times with Carol Bender, another stellar children’s librarian on Cape Ann, began April 14th, 2020. “Remember to wear your PJ’s and bring your special animal friends for a Facebook live story time!” Upcoming April 21, 28 and May 5
Great signs! Thatcher Road, Gloucester, Mass.
Signs of the times-
Main Street/downtown: Passports, Mark Adrian Shoes, ToodeLoos!, Design of Mine
Further out: Cape Ann Motor Inn
A lovely message and clarion request from Dierdre Savage, a Gloucester resident who grew up in New York City:
“Sitting in my too quiet home in Gloucester at 10AM last Sunday morning I was struck and comforted by the sound of church bells coming from up the street. Sure, there would be no usual gathering, but the bells rang. I felt an eerie sense of calm, as if it was a regular Sunday.
Later the same morning, I live-streamed Mass being held in a small chapel at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in NYC.
The endless sound of sirens coming from outside could not be missed. It was utterly heartbreaking.
Here’s a thought – lets get all the church bells in Gloucester – and beyond – ringing in unison on Easter Sunday morning. If you agree — please share this request far and wide.” – Dierdre Savage, Gloucester, Ma
Please consider asking your churches to participate. People across the country have already responded saying their churches are in on the idea — bells will ring across the country on Easter Sunday at 10AM!
Good eggs Messages from Sugar Magnolia’s 112 Main Street Gloucester, MA
978-281-5310
We hope everyone is staying safe. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this community my whole life and I am so grateful for the support and success of Sugar Magnolia’s. During these uncertain times I would like to be able to give back. We are starting the #Sugarmagssoupinitiative sugar Magnolias will be making three rotating soups per week in the hopes to nourish Sugar Mags fans but also those in need. So with every 4 quarts of soup sold we will donate 1 quart of soup to the The Open Door food pantry!!!! 
If you are interested in purchasing, your orders must be placed Monday for Wednesday, and Wednesday for Friday. That would give me time to place the order for what I need delivered in time to make all of the soups. The soups will be ready to be picked up between 2 and 5 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays, at Sugar Magnolia’s, 112 Main St., Gloucester♥️♥️♥️
If you are interested please message me (via sugar mags facebook) with your phone number and your order. You will receive a phone call back and we will take payment over the phone with a credit card. Once you get a call back and payment is received you order is confirmed.
vegetarian soup $12/quart
corn chowder $12/quart
non-vegetarian $12/quart
add corn bread for extra $3.00
soups will be posted on sugar magnolias FACEBOOK, MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS
🥕🧅🧄
🥔
PLEASE SHARE XXOO
The #sugarmagssoupinitiative has exploded!!!!! We have 45+ quarts already for next weeks donation!!! Best community ever! Today we are donating our first 20 quarts of soup to the open door. So excited to be helping our community xxoo
The soups today are
They are going fast so get your orders in. Also let me know if you were adding cornbread. Soups are sold by the quart they are $12 per quart if you add corn bread a quart goes up to $15 
For the little ones and young at heart, more and more windows in homes and shops are kindly decorated with stuffed animal teddy bears for a welcome and safe distance distraction. There are a few rainbows. Have I missed a street or your favorite?
Here are some of the bears we found on merry drives in Gloucester, Mass., this last week in March 2020, connecting during covid-19. (Click or pinch to enlarge)
Friends are sharing rainbows and heart family art projects from their windows and homes– messages of hope and gratitude for community and caregivers. Have you seen the Rainbow Connection Google Map in New York?
one more shared with GMG (from Arlington)
Long Beach Dairy Maid, 137 Thatcher Road, Gloucester, Mass. (978) 281-1348
While you’re waiting and if you missed it, here’s a great article about one of the ice cream coldmaster servers! Gloucester Daily Times article Students Raise Money to serve children in Ghana https://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/local_news/students-raise-money-to-serve-children-in-ghana/article_6bd429b7-c43b-54fe-bed7-7de90f45b575.html
Jeff’s Variety 71 Eastern Avenue Gloucester, Mass.
MBTA crew disinfecting train station stop, Gloucester, Mass.
Wolf Hill sign – Closed Stay Healthy & Safe!
(author’s note: Signs of the times updated as I add signs to the original 3/25/2020 post, most recent at top. Gloucester, Mass.) Continue reading “Signs of the times”
Message from Wenham Museum, offering arts programming for the little ones:
(author’s note: Signs of the times updated as I add signs to the original 3/25/2020 post, most recent at top. Gloucester, Mass.)
3/28/2020
Jeff’s Variety “Because of Limited Staff” signs
3/27/2020
MBTA crew disinfecting train station stop, Gloucester, Mass.
George’s Coffee Shop of Gloucester corner of Washington and Centennial sign- Take Out Available (978)281-1910
Wolf Hill sign – Closed Stay Healthy & Safe!
Continue reading “Signs of the times”
mine
My son loves the caprese. My mother in law loves the chicken salad. Great vodka cream sauce! I also grab their bread and sauce and dips at area supermarkets, too. Virgilio’s makes fresh bread next level. As in All. Day. Long.
“Bread of the Fishermen” since 1961
29 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
VirgiliosBakery.com
Alexandra’s Bread, 265 Main St, Gloucester, MA 01930
Call the day before for your favorite loaves, rolls, cookies, scones and other sweet treats. They have been busy and selling out, and can make more if they know the orders ahead of time. A surprise at this time: people have been buying new dish towels and vintage ware (washable!), and greeting cards to go.
What’s your favorite bread at Alexandra’s?
p.s. If it lasts that long, their french bread freezes well and makes fantastic overnight french toast.
Is your supermarket busy? Here’s the Stop & Shop crush 6pm yesterday with lines for cashiers and self-checkout wrapped all around.
The essentials – one shopper’s cart last night -ice cream and water!
Not just UK apparently- here’s the toilet paper aisle at BJ’s today. Courtesy photo with note- “The shelves are empty here. The economy will be fine.”
Beyond health and safety conversations with family and friends, at this early week mark, I’m seeing discussions about which industries may be impacted disastrously or pick up. Ditto public services: public meetings will be postponed, but could roadwork ramp up as more people stay home and off the road? One friend canceled a party this weekend, signing off with some black humor – stay healthy and send suggestions for staying cooped up with kids. Another friend sparked a debate about sending students home from college (many untested):
“We are missing a huge opportunity as a Nation. Given that we have barely conducted 6000 tests in two weeks, when compared to South Korea which conducts 20,000 test A DAY! We clearly need to ramp up! Our college kids are healthy, pretty indestructible, and well educated. They could run tests, assist in research, help out in medical settings, even help in transforming hotels or other spaces into medical ready facilities. But we are sending them home, to sit on couches and play video games. Why?” – Linda
Responses back ranged from the difficulties of such close quarters in dorms to alternative approaches in the works (like the Univ. of Washington appealing to grad students to do just that, and Colgate keeping kids on campus).
Healthy wishes to all and feeling grateful for the work that will be undertaken by so many–and at risk– to keep us safe.
Good Morning Gloucester 