My View of Life on the Dock
Charlotte and I had a fantastic time at Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day, with much, much climbing in and out of the giant lobster pot, seeing friends, art activities, exploring the touch tank, and getting to know a Boa Constrictor 🙂
Captain Heath Ellis and crew of the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon
Hosted by the Schooner Festival Committee and Lenny Linquata of the Gloucester House Restaurant, the schooner fest captains and crew members were treated to a delicious and hardy breakfast this morning. Originally offered for a modest price, a rousing cheer was heard when it was announced breakfast was courtesy of the Schooner Festival Committee!
Thanks to the Schooner Festival Committee and to all the volunteers for all they do to bring this glorious event to Gloucester!
Schooner Lynx Captains Alex and Donald Peacock, Captain Tom Ellis, Mike Costello, and Schooner Committee Chairperson Daisy Nell
Host Lenny Linquata and Captain Tom
Gorgeous morning brings big crowds to the boulevard for Gloucester 34th Annual Schooner Festival Parade of Sails. Color announcing is always excellent Photo Left to right: Laura with blue phone- assuming husband Jim spotting and calling in- major intel and committee work from both; Daisy Nell-great musician, singer, author and maritime gloucester historian – no wonder her color is so crisp and clear; and Mike Costello, former Cape Ann Chamber Pres. and co founder pushing event to Labor Day weekend. The city, Schooner Festival committee and sponsors do a remarkable job! Look for 1623 Studio broadcast (Cape Ann TV)- will add link here when available
Jim and Laura at last year Mayor’s Reception
The Mayor’s Schooner Festival Welcoming Reception was a fantastic success and wonderful fun. Maritime Gloucester’s dock was overflowing with Schooner Fest friends, well-wishers, and organizers. I think it was the most well attended ever and speaks to the growing success of Gloucester’s Schooner Festival (and to our Mayor’s charisma!).
Mayor Sefatia welcomed Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Karen Polito, Schooner Bluenose II Captain Phil Watson and both Representative Ann Margaret Ferrante and State Senator Bruce Tarr were in attendance.
Schooner Bluenose II Captain Watson and Captain Mark Ring of the FV Stanley Thomas
The Schooner Festival Committee is simply amazing. Below are listed the members of the committee. When you see any one of these super heroic volunteers around town, tell them thank you for the tremendous job they are doing in producing annually Gloucester’s uniquely beautiful and spectacular Schooner Festival.
Peter Bent, Daisy Nell, and Captain Stan
Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee:
Daisy Nell, Chair, Tracy Arabian, Peter Bent, Alan Bezanson, Ed Boynton, John Borzerelli, Harold Burnham, Jim Caulkett, Elizabeth Carey, TJ Ciarametaro, Charlie Clark, Stan Collinson, Michael Costello, Jo-Anne Crawford, Lee Cunningham, Michaell De Koster, Carol Decker, Stefan Edick, Heath Ellis, Tom Ellis, Chad Johnson, Michael Lipton, James Lowell, Laura Lowell, Amanda Madeira, Allie McCarthy, John McCarthy, Judith Nast, Barry Pett, Christopher Ramsden, Brett Ramsey, Courtney Richardson, Ken Riehl, Suzanne Silveira , Russ Smith, Chris Stepler, Mary Kay Taylor, Brenda Treuhaft.
The Gloucester Schooner Festival committee thanks the following organizations for their tremendous support.
Art Harbor, b*true promotions, Beauport Hospitality Group, Brown’s Yacht Yard, Cape Ann Brewing Company, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, Cape Ann Museum, Cape Ann Transportation Authority, Cape Ann YMCA, The Causeway Restaurant, City of Gloucester, MA, The Cricket Press, Cruiseport Gloucester, Eastern Point Yacht Club, Essex Radio & TV , Essex Shipbuilding Museum, First Ipswich Bank, Gaybrook Garage, The Gerondelis Foundation, Gloucester DPW, The Gloucester Fund, Gloucester Harbormaster, Gloucester Police Department, Gloucester Rental Center, Good Morning Gloucester, Gorton’s of Gloucester , Intershell, Jodrey State Fish Pier, Maritime Gloucester, Market Basket , Mortillaro Lobster, Donald Mosher Gallery, North Sails, The Pewter Shop, Rose’s Marine , Russell Orchards, Ryan & Wood Distilleries, Schooner Adventure , Schooner Ardelle , Schooner Thomas E. Lannon, Sea Scouts North Shore Ship 5, Seafood Display Auction, Seaside Graphics, The Shed, TD Bank, Turtle Alley, USCG Cutter Grand Isle, USCG Sector Boston, and USCG Station Gloucester.
Visit the Gloucester Schooner Festival website here.
Thank you to all the generous people and organizations who added so much to the CAAA program this year.
Her Honor, Sefatia Romeo Theken, Mayor wears a stole from the Mayor of Gloucester, England as she greets us in her office at City Hall! We were fortunate to visit when such a special dignitary was in town, and she invited us to visit “the other Gloucester.” As always, Sefatia was a wonderful host.
Morgan Faulds Pike, Sculptor, gave us not only the history of her own Fishermen’s Wives Monument and the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association but also the stories of Anna Hyatt Huntington’s “Joan of Arc,” Leonard Craske’s “Man at the Wheel” and Walker Hancock’s “Triton.”
Maggie Rosa, whose civic passion helped us to save City Hall and its iconic tower, took us up to see the bell which rings the hours in the city. The sight of Gloucester from this vantage is breathtaking. On the way up, Maggie introduced us to the citizen portraits of A. Piatt Andrew, Charles Olson, John Hayes Hammond, and Clarence Birdseye.
Daisy Nell, folk singer/sailor extraordinaire, taught us the song she wrote for all Cape Ann children to know: “A Heartbeat from the Ocean.” Daisy accompanied us in our performance at the Shalin Liu.
Artist and Art Historian, Susan Erony, showed us the beautiful Charles Allen Winter murals at City Hall and gave us the background of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal and the Works Project Administration (WPA) which supported the artists during the post-Depression era.
Sarah Flanagan, Education Coordinator at the Cape Ann Museum, was our guide to the Museum’s holdings regarding maritime Gloucester, with special attention to the late 19th c. diorama, the Fresnel lens, and the Native American artifacts.
Saying hi, meeting artists, having a ball. They draw a crowd
Gloucester Schooners – The Adventure, Thomas Lannon, and Ardelle
2018 Gloucester Schooner Festival Friday August 31st to Monday September 3rd
The Cape Ann Reads inaugural reception celebrating original children’s picture books by local artists and writers was held at City Hall in Gloucester, Massachusetts, January 27, 2018. Linda Bosselman of Sawyer Free Library was the official photographer for the packed event and she captured all its positive energy and people. An upcoming group exhibition featuring these participants will travel to the four Cape Ann communities. As you can see from the celebration pictures, the touring exhibition and its related receptions and readings will be worth a visit! Cape Ann Reads is an initiative by the four public libraries of Cape Ann.
The Cape Ann Reads reception and awards ceremony opened in style – thanks to the red-ribbon cutting courtesy of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and Ken Riehl.
City Hall is a gorgeous venue for an art fair. Linda photographed all the local artists and writers at their individual picture book display booths. Effort was high. Kind friends manned booths for participants who were unable to attend: Ashley was there for Steven Kennedy and Victoria Petway, and Sinikka Nogelo represented Gail and James Seavey.
Awards ceremony program began with a warm welcome of support for the arts from Mayor Romeo Theken and opening remarks by the Library Directors and special dignitaries
Deliberations were held at Cape Ann Museum and Beauport Hotel.
Cape Ann Reads convened a nine member selection panel that included representatives from each of the public libraries: Justine Vitale Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library; Carol Bender, former Children’s and Teen Librarian, Rockport Public Library (now at Manchester); Kate Strong Stadt, former Head of Youth Services, Manchester-By-The-Sea Public Library; Ann Cowman, Young Adult Librarian, Manchester-By-The-Sea Public Library; and April Wanner, Assistant Librarian at the TOHP Burnham Library, Essex. Joining these talented library staff members were three artists and award winning children’s book author-illustrators: Pat Lowery Collins; Giles Laroche; and Anna Vojtech. Bob Ritchie proprietor of Dogtown Book Shop provided another crucial area of book world expertise. Cape Ann Reads is grateful for their time and considerable talents to help the participants and the process.
Each library and the Cape Ann Museum designated one child representative for the second jury — a thoughtful panel of children: Eli Porter, Alycia Hogan Lopez, John Recroft, Lucas Rodi, and Josie West. They put in tremendous effort to read every entry, prepare notes, and come together for discussion. They were tasked with close reading and instructions to let us know any books that were favorites or that they wanted to compliment. Several came to assist the event as junior staff.
Don’t miss this wonderful celebration, the first of what is hoped to be a recurring fair. Cape Ann’s four library directors and Mayor Sefatia are planning a fantastic reception for the attendees, authors, and artists in what promises to be a super fun and unique new event. The fair will take place at Kyrouz Auditorium at City Hall from noon to four with the award ceremony scheduled for 1:30. See the list of authors and artists in the flyer below, but I just want to draw attention to several of my very favorite local artists, names that you will surely recognize, that are participating–Daisy Nell, Mary Rhinelander, Juni VanDyke, Sarah Kelly, Mary Faino, Alice Gardner–I think you get the idea of the caliber of work that is going to be exhibited. Shoutout to Catherine Ryan for all that she is doing to make this fantastic and original celebration possible. When you see her, please give her a huge thank you.
I hope to see you there!
Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee Chair Daisy Nell and Stan Collinson’s Schooner Redbird
Fair winds and a joyous tribute to Helen and Joe Garland made for a spectacularly beautiful 33rd Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival. We wish to extend a most sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee members for an outstanding Schooner Festival. I imagine it is a year round job planning this magnificent event for which the entire community enjoys. Thank you for all that you do to make these beautiful and treasured schooner days possible.
The Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee Members, from the festival’s website:
Daisy Nell: Chair, Amanda Apicelli, Tracy Arabian, Tom Balf, Peter Bent, Alan Bezanson, Ed Boynton, Steve Brown, Liza Browning, Harold Burnham, Jim Caulkett, Charlie Clark, Michael Costello, Jo-Anne Crawford, Tom Daniel, Carol Decker, Nancy Dudley, Stefan Edick, Tom Ellis, Robert Lepere, James Lowell, Laura Lowell, Amanda Madeira, John McCarthy, Jay McLauchlan, Patti Page, Barry Pett, Brett Ramsey, Suzanne Silveira, Devan Smith, Russ Smith, Mary Kay Taylor, Carol Thistle, Brenda Treuhaft, and Peter Webber.
Members of the Festival Committee and Chair Daisy Nell at Maritime Heritage Day
Miranda Russell and her band play a wide variety of repertoire from jazz to folk-rock invasion to contemporary gems. Critics routinely praise Miranda for her dynamic vocal range and unique treatments of celebrated songwriters such as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, as well as standards from the American Songbook. You will also hear at least one song from one of Miranda’s favorite artists: Prince.
Tickets are still left. Best available seats are in the balcony. Get Them Here.
The Band:
David Sparr – keyboards
Justin Piper – guitars
Joe Kessler – fiddle and mandolin
Dave Landoni – acoustic upright bass & bass guitar
Leo Ciaramitaro – drums
Special Guests:
Folk Singer Daisy Nell
Singer Cecelia Russell
A professional opera singer
Trumpeter Tom Palance
Note about the Larcom Theatre : The owners of the Larcom Theatre have put it up for sale. We are working to preserve this historic treasure as a performing arts venue rather than see it go condo. If you would like to help us in this endeavor, please call Vickie or Peter at 978.525.9093 or contact us here.
Register here. For more information: contact Deborah Kelsey, Director, Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Public Library kelsey@sawyerfreelibrary.org. The libraries will be hosting informational help sessions as needed and requested leading right up to the contest submission deadline which will fall in November 2016.
Thursday, May 12, DAISY NELL, 6pm, TOHP Burnham Library, 245 Western Avenue, Essex Local author, singer, songwriter discusses the creation of her three picture books
Saturday, May 21, MOTIF#1 DAY, Building Poetry with Picture books, 9AM-5PM. Visit the Rockport Public Library to design, photograph and display poetry created by stacking together picture books.
Saturday June 4, Round -trip double Story Walk, 10am-2pm, Manchester public Library and Manchester Historical Museum. This self-guided story walk of two great picture books will be available starting at 10 and will be accessible throughout the day. Picture book lovers of all ages are invited to walk and read and act the route together. Featured books: Stella, the Star of the Sea by Mary Louise Gay and Storm Whale by Benji Davies.
For the complete list of events for the year and all the latest information check the website capeannreads.wix/picturebooks. Additional programs may be added to the calendar.
Cape Ann Reads is a collaboration among the Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library, Manchester Public Library, Rockport Public Library and TOHP Burnham Library in Essex.
Hi Joey ___
REDBIRD’s long migration from San Francisco via Portsmouth, VA is now complete. She is now a year-round resident of Cape Ann. This beautiful schooner had been kept in the builder’s family until Daisy Nell and Captain Stan brought her to town for the first time last Saturday.
Welcome!
Al Bezanson
GREEN DRAGON
Check out this video of Daisy and crew at One World a couple of years ago
Big night for music with 10 live shows Cape Ann starting at 6:30pm. See full schedule here.
Our Friend Daisy Nell Has Written a book about The Essex Schooner Ardelle.
Here is a video we did a couple of years back in which Daisy explains the term “Schooner”
Daisy Nell Defines The Term Schooner
There is someone chatting away in the background for the first half of the interview. The audio is much better toward the halfway mark.
Good Morning Gloucester 