How cute is Mark’s son Zachary?
Tag: Ed Collard
Oscar Messes Up Some Little Rat’s Evening and a Cat vs Rat Poll
The Turbine Now That It’s Up Poll
When I first heard of the turbine coming to Gloucester I was angry. I felt as though it was only going to benefit one company, the company that was installing it and the money to pay for it was money that taxpayers subsidized and that most of these green energy projects are simply advertising vehicles reaching out to liberal tree-huggers who would buy any thing at any cost as long as you slapped the “It’s Green” sticker on it.
I let our Ed Collard and Sarah Kelly take opposing editorial views in a post before hand and I was still skeptical. View That Post Here-
Anti Windmill vs Pro Windmill Two GMG Contributors Express Their Views- Sarah Kelly and Ed Collard
Then I read Mayor Kirk’s editorial in the Gloucester Daily Times in which she stated that the City of Gloucester would “conservatively” have 90% of it’s energy needs paid for by the partnership and that number would be conservatively $450,000 per year.
Read that post here-
Chickity Check It! Matyor Kirk Says City Will Conservatively Save $450,000 Per Year In Energy Costs
Posted on October 14, 2012 by Joey C
With that huge savings for the taxpayers of Gloucester my mind was changed. Now with the Varian one erected, looking at it doesn’t bother me at all. I mean not in the least. I actually think it looks kinda cool.
Now if we look back a year from when the thing kicks off and see that the City only gets a tiny fraction of what it think’s it’s going to get I will be supremely pissed and feel duped and I’ll rail against every phoney baloney green energy claim that comes down the pike but I’m going to be cautiously optimistic that we will indeed provide those savings.
Now that the Turbine is up and you can see what it looks like on the horizon and you know what we know about the projected savings would you say that the turbines at Varian and Gloucester Engineering are a good thing or not?
Please vote in the new poll-
On our last poll in which we asked if the City of Gloucester would get more or less that $450K in Energy Savings over two thirds of voters chose under.
I’m more optimistic and I hope Mayor Kirk once the energy audit from the first year comes out gets to say “IN YOUR FACE!” to all the doubters and we get well over $450,000 per year in energy savings.
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Anti Windmill vs Pro Windmill Two GMG Contributors Express Their Views- Sarah Kelly and Ed Collard
Sarah Kelly writes-
Massive 404-foot (that is FORTY STORIES) Turbines Are Coming!
The city of Gloucester is allegedly going to share in the excess electricity generated by two 40-story turbines, soon to be installed by the Gloucester firm Varian. Unfortunately, the residents of the rest of Cape Ann will have two 40-story structures to look at for the rest of our lives without accruing any of the benefits of the energy allegedly generated. And before people respond by saying how much they love the Earth and turbines, let me state for the record that I am very fond of the Earth myself (I even capitalize the word!) and I’m all for turbines, by which I mean the responsible use of appropriately-scaled turbines as a back up for conventional energy sources — sources which come in handy when the wind doesn’t blow or blows when you don’t need it, which, frankly, is much the case with wind — and why we don’t move freight around the world anymore via sailing ships.
All over the globe (especially in the American Midwest, English countryside and in Australia), there is a race to install massive, utility-scale turbines in what appears to be an effort to make a pile of money from tax credits while taking advantage of the public’s low-grade (or full-throttle) hysteria about replacing conventional energy sources before the polar bears all die. This well-intended, deeply-felt desire to use energy more responsibly is circumventing common sense, and the profiteers have seen an opportunity to make a whole bunch of money, tearing around the planet to install massive turbines and wind farms — which can sometimes mean hundreds of massive turbines placed too close to homes in a scattershot, absolutely inefficient manner — before the public understands anything about utility-scale wind. The facts about utility-scale wind technology indicate that wind is just not viable as a mainstream energy source, utterly unsuitable for mass distribution. The technology, such as it is, lends itself to micro-development. So if someone wants to mount a wind turbine on the top of their house (or a turbine in a fast-moving body of water running through his/her property for hydro power) to offset the cost of their electricity, fantastic. But wind turbines become less efficient the more you scale up, which begs the question: why are the Varian turbines so huge? Would an installation of 1.0 megawatt turbines — more along the lines of 200 feet, and more to scale with Cape Ann’s existing structures — have served Varian’s needs just as well? By installing two 40-story skyscrapers, Varian has irrevocably, for all practical purposes, altered a landscape that belongs to all of us. And land is the ultimate non-renewable resource. Once land is industrialized, it is not easily reclaimed, which is why rural areas are zoned differently from urban areas. And while the area where the turbines will be located is zoned as industrial, I would bet that no one on the Zoning Board in Gloucester understood “industrial” to include skyscrapers when the zoning laws were put in place.
So I’m wondering: how is it that Varian can install two skyscrapers without a period of public comment from their non-Gloucester neighbors? Where’s the nearest 40-story structure? A city, of course. In Boston, 248 skyscrapers make up the cityscape, only 27 of which are taller than 400 feet. But no longer will you have to go to Boston to experience the joys of seeing one of those 27 structures. We’ll have our very own skyscrapers, a view of which we’ll have from practically every window in downtown Gloucester, Lanesville, Annisquam, Rockport and Pigeon Cove.
Another factor is that these two 2.0 megawatt turbines, although in an area zoned for industry, are still potentially located too close to residences. International recommendations for the installation of utility-scale wind turbines vary, but the general consensus in Europe is that industrial scale turbines should not be installed within 1.5 miles of a residence, due to shadow flicker and low frequency vibrations that can cause serious health problems for some people. This is no joke, a fact to which people who have been made sick by living too close to massive wind turbines can attest. This situation may be great for Varian, arguably great for Gloucester (we’ll see if the estimations of energy generated actually materialize), but what about the rest of us?
Ed Collard writes-
Windmill Musings
So the windmills are coming to Gloucester. I am of mixed thoughts on this but I’d have to say that overall I’m in favor of this. With the high cost of energy in dollars, the environment and human lives. I believe that we have to make some changes regarding our energy sources and windmills seem to be a clean, domestic and economical choice. Varian has put in a lot of time and money researching alternatives for their energy needs and would not be spending their money without careful consideration of the return on their investment. We have charged our elected officials, for one thing, to be prudent with our money and they have come to the conclusion that this will save us, the taxpayers on the city’s energy needs. Regarding the visual aspect I for one will look at them knowing that we are being pro-active in our exploration for alternative energy sources. I don’t like telephone polls but I sure do like my phone and cable. There will be many discussions about this in our coffee shops in the months to come but I think we can be proud of the fact that our city is doing something regarding our energy needs.
Any comments that are not civil on this post will not be approved.
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2012 Schooner Festival Pics From Ed Collard
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As You Can See They Assigned Ed A Critical Volunteer Position At Blues Festival: Port A Potty Security
Ed
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Thank You to Our Sponsors, Our Float Builders, Our Walkers, Our Music and The Parade Organizers- GMG- Winner Most Creative Float
Sista Felicia writes up the thank yous-
Barry, best husband and kindest man in the whole world, he has supported my crazy creative projects for many years and always does it with a smile, never complains , never looks for thanks or credit, very much likes to stay under the raider………if it were not for him this year this float would have never happened…I really mean that…. he worked hard hauling lumber in and out of his truck, for days, splitting used pallets of wood up, removing bolts and nails with the sawzall for hours cutting measuring nailing painting & the list goes on and on…. absolutely crazy what he did for us this year to make this happened… their was no possibly way we could have afforded to buy all that wood & would have never been able to pull my giant plan for this huge pot off with out MY BARRY ….
Ed……..The man that does what ever is asked of him & always with a smile, for his assistance with the construction and guidance too many things to list and for putting up with me…
Craig…..helped with construction & painted the logo…Outstanding job! Wow he has talent….& just a really great guy
Deanna Ouderkerken… ..as always the best neighbor ever….painting, building,sewing crafting assembling driving to NH to get the confetti launchers and being our lead dancing Hommie! Best Hommie 2nd year in a row
Joe Santisi……… helped painting wood and splitting up pallets along with removing nails
Ma……..cutting letters,crafting,sorting candy, shopping for supplies with me ,packing up the tailgate supplies ,ironed for hours…was my second set of hands
BJ……… helped with construction, removing bolts splitting pallets,shopping for candy, hauling supplies in and out of the house for days, filled all water supplies loaded car withs with tools supplies, candy, food, squirt gun patrol, in charge of confetti launching
Amanda……… crafted shopped for supplies, helped with construction, cleaned Uncle Joes Truck for hours, prepared last minute food for tailgate sorted and organized candy with grandma, was my assistant with what ever I needed at the moment( Basically my kids need a break from hearing me yell their name…knowing another task i needed help with
Frank Ciolino……. picking up the trailer with Ed, packed all the coolers with drinks & ice, loaded all the tailgate food into his truck and helped the guys with the last minute construction, did pretty much what ever was need to help us leave the house, followed the float to make sure it made it through the streets ok ( also thank you to Joes Wife for stopping by to help load the cars and coolers)
Steve Noble……. from Noble Electricians , rewired giant lobster eyes
Joey Marcantonio………. Squirt gun patrol, to keep the pretty girls along the Rt cool, fog machine assistant, and confetti launcher
Caylee DeSilver…….. helping load the trucks with candy and supplies,costumes, walked the parade handing out candy, helped me with last minute cooking
Donna Ardizzoni painting………helping with assembly and crazy Dancing Homie!
Ron Gilson…….painting the back side of the giant lobster, and helped at my house for 2 days assisting anyone who needed something…really sweet man
Paul Frontiero…….T-Shirt Printing
Kim Smith…… getting last minute things at the grocery store for me… helping Ma cut out last minute letters, helping pack up the food for the tailgate party
Jeremy Frost …….Barrys" Wing Man" last minute construction at the high school, he was the man in charge of "everyone stuff in the truck".. From cameras, to lipstick to keys, extra shoes, pocketbook’s, and He was my sticker man, My Candy Man, and my confetti launcher man, helped get the float back to the house,and unload the aftermath of the float, parade and tailgate party in my truck all back into my house
Rick Ardizzoni….. Donna husband helping with last minute assembly at the high school
Vicki……. for sound, and last minute decorating on float at the high school
Marlie Melvin……. candy girl, helped with last minute decorating
Micayla Ciolino…… help load supplies and food onto trucks, packed coolers with drinks, walked in parade on candy partol
Niko……. Frank Ciolino nephew … great kid so helpful …super sweet assisting at high school to do what ever was need to finish the float and pack up the taigate stuff, also was on candy duty dressed up in a lobster costume!
Kyle Frost….. squirt gun patrol, to keep the crowd cool ! fog machine assisant, confetti launcher
Tanya Frost……. Keeping me Hydrated along the parade Rt.. and completed last minute decorating, helped set up and break down the food for the tailgate party, was my spotter for kids safty along the parade RT
Talor Frost …..Candy girl
Jolie Frontiero…… The dancing Candy girl
Joanne Frontiero……. spotter for kids safety along the parade Rt..
Eloise Mad Pie & The Mrs……… Candy girls
****Huge THANK YOU….to our Sponsors for their very generous donations
Please patronize these GMG Approved Community Minded Businesses
gimmesound.com — local live music listings. Find every live music show in Gloucester and Cape Ann — listen to music on-line & download — all for free.
The Lone Gull is a family owned coffeehouse located on Main Street in historic downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts. Our ideal location makes us a great place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat, to chat with friends, or to have a business meeting. We offer free wi-fi to our customers, extremely comfortable couches and chairs, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Stones Pub
Stones is a small comfortable neighborhood pub in Gloucester, MA, America’s oldest seaport! We offer homemade soups, sandwiches and desserts all made on premises before your eyes in the open kitchen. The delicious smells welcome when you come in the door to a warm greeting.
Ed Collard House Doctors Handyman Services
Noble Electricians
978-283-0750
Steve Noble who does so much community work donating his time toward many great causes.
Robert Heidt
The new executive director of the Chamber of Commerce says that Good Morning Gloucester does so much for the community that he wanted to personally be a sponsor of the 2012 GMG horribles parade float
Circle Consulting
Donna Ardizzoni and Rick Moore
With Circle Consulting, small and mid-size companies can cost-effectively leverage world-class technology experience. We keep up with the latest developments in the rapidly changing technology sector, so you can focus on your core business. Let us do what we do best so that you can do what you do best.
Gloucester Bytes
Tim Blakeley From Gloucester Bytes the man who made the Gloucester Webcam project possible!
Greg Harris Brierwood Landscaping (978) 281-7564
for letting us use his trailer
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Preparations are Under Way For The 2012 GMG Horribles Day Float and Props To Our Sponsors!
Sista Felicia and Ed are 100% in charge of building the float but are looking for FOB’s to come help make this the best GMG Horribles Float to date! Huge thanks to our sponsors listed below the pics!
Props to our awesome sponsors!!!!
Please patronize these GMG Approved Community Minded Businesses
gimmesound.com — local live music listings. Find every live music show in Gloucester and Cape Ann — listen to music on-line & download — all for free.
The Lone Gull is a family owned coffeehouse located on Main Street in historic downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts. Our ideal location makes us a great place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat, to chat with friends, or to have a business meeting. We offer free wi-fi to our customers, extremely comfortable couches and chairs, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Stones Pub
Stones is a small comfortable neighborhood pub in Gloucester, MA, America’s oldest seaport! We offer homemade soups, sandwiches and desserts all made on premises before your eyes in the open kitchen. The delicious smells welcome when you come in the door to a warm greeting.
Ed Collard House Doctors Handyman Services
Noble Electricians
978-283-0750
Steve Noble who does so much community work donating his time toward many great causes.
Robert Heidt
The new executive director of the Chamber of Commerce says that Good Morning Gloucester does so much for the community that he wanted to personally be a sponsor of the 2012 GMG horribles parade float
Circle Consulting
Donna Ardizzoni and Rick Moore
With Circle Consulting, small and mid-size companies can cost-effectively leverage world-class technology experience. We keep up with the latest developments in the rapidly changing technology sector, so you can focus on your core business. Let us do what we do best so that you can do what you do best.
Greg Harris Brierwood Landscaping (978) 281-7564
for letting us use his trailer
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Passports Breakfast Can You Guess Which Plate Is Mine and Which Belongs To Ed?
Video- Miss Zoe Rocks Our Vegan Cupcake World
Check out Zoe’s blog here-
http://themisszoe.wordpress.com/
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Videographer Rich Lee Directs Ed Collard Behind The Scenes
Check out the Rich Lee wikipedia page
Rich Lee is an American music video and commercial director signed to DNA in Hollywood, California and Flynn Productions in the United Kingdom. He has directed music videos for Eminem, The Black Eyed Peas, Norah Jones, Michael Bublé and The All-American Rejects. Rich Lee started his professional career as a sculptor and fabricator for broadway shows in New York City. He later moved on to computer graphics and created 3d previsualizations for big budget hollywood feature films such as The Pirates of the Caribbean I, II & III, I Am Legend, Minority Report and Constantine. From the encouragement of feature film directors he moved into directing music videos and commercials
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A big thanks to Fisherman’s Outfitter…
Adam Bolonsky writes-
A big thanks to Fisherman’s Outfitter who contributed 250-yards of bluefin tuna monofilament line to the upcoming aerial video project Ed Collard, Bill Whiting, the National Fish and Wildlife Service, the Thacher Island Organization and I are planning at Thacher Island this spring!
Watch GMG for the footage….
http://www.thacherisland.org/
http://www.fishermansoutfitter.com
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Ed Collard’s Housedoctor’s “Blinded By The White” Bikini Speedo Dodgeball Team Ready To Turn Maestranzi Brothers “Red White and Blue Balls” To Black and Blue Balls
Jon Vizena, Erica Mitchell, Austin Souza Shannon McCarthy and Matt Souza
Check Out The 2012 Speedo Bikini Dodgeball Facebook Page Here and Like it!
March 4th at The Farm Bar and Grille – Be There For Dodgeball Armageddon!!!
Ed Collard’s Housedoctors “Blinded By The White” Bikini Speedo Dodgeball Team is ready to turn the Maestranzi Brothers Red White and Blue Balls into Black and Blue Balls.
The Brackets
These are the organizations- Mamies Kitchen Muffin Tops, Passports Canadian Bacon, Good Morning Gloucester Rubber Rippers, Sugar Magnolias Team Shameless, The Farm Bar and Grill Ass with Class, Saving Private Ryan and Wood, North Shore Cross Fit Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle, , Ed Collard’s House Doctor’s Blinded By the White, Jungle Silkscreening Jungle Fever, Beverly Athletic Club Kiss Our BACsides, another Farm Team Swiss Farmy Knives, Maestranzi Brothers Red, White and Blue Balls, Muffy White Organizings Hot mess, Cape Ann brewing Nacho Libre, Cross Fit Cape Ann With Two Teams- Buns and Guns and Power Snatch, Dog Bar’ American Bacon and Beach Gourmet’s Drop It like It’s Hot.
If any other teams have pre tourney pictures they want to submit I’ll run ‘em ASAP!
All of the profits from the sign-ups of the Tournament are going to Next Step, an organization that provides support, education and resources for teens and young adults coping with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. www.nextstepnet.org
click here for Cape Ann Brewing Coverage Team Nacho Libre
North Shore Cross Fit Team Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Captain Tracy Conley
Maestranzi Brothers Red White & Blue Balls Team Captain Frankie Gwynn
Our Hosts The Farm Bar and Grille check them out the Farm’s Facebook Page here
Farm Team Name- Ass With Class With Captain Ryan Cox
Here are the other squads signed on
We have a Ryan and Wood Distillery sponsored squad (best damn spirits you can consume on the planet) check out their website and live distillery webcam
Sugar Mags is putting a yet to be named team together- check the breakfast artistry that is Sugar Magnolia’s and like their Facebook page. Also did you know Sugar Mag’s does catering?
Cross Fit Cape Ann should be the early favorites, we will see if their elite training will put them over the top. Check out their blog here
Beverly Athletic Club’s Team will look to contend with the cross fit athletes from Cross Fit Cape for the top seed.
Team Name- Kiss Our BACsides
I will be sponsoring GMG Team Rubber Rippers featuring our boy Kurt Lubbers and a team of maniacal Coasties.
Passports Canadian Bacon Team Captain Erik Lorden
and Ed Collard’s House Doctors Handyman Repair Services
Team Name Blinded By The White
check out Jungle’s website here
Mamie’s Kitchen’s Muffin Tops has signed on to the Farm Bar and Grille Good Morning Gloucester Bikini Speedo Dodgeball Tournament!
Team Name Mamie’s Muffin Tops
Check out the delectable dishes from Mamie’s Kitchen here
Team Name- Hot Mess
Here’s her website- http://www.muffywhite.com/
Beach Gourmet Catering
Matt Beach will be opening up shop after last year’s horrible Washington St fire in the location of the former Connors Pharmacy and check out the progress at the reconstruction here
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Praise for Good Morning Gloucester
Hi Joey, I thought readers might want to see what was in my inbox this morning:
“Dear Kim,
Thank you for turning me on to Good Morning Gloucester. Every city (and town) should have an equivalent. What a great way to communicate enjoyments, appreciations, concerns, and complaints.”
We are truly blessed as a community to have a resource like Good Morning Gloucester. Thank you Joey and GMG team for all the good you have created, and continue to do, for our beloved community.
Our Fearless Leader
Good Morning Gloucester Team Members and Friends of the Blog
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Boston Tea Party Museum Beaver Replica At East Gloucester Marine Railways, Photos from Ed Collard
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Heidi At Fort Square Café Knows A Little Something About Makin’ Seafood Chowder
Our Guy Ed Collard Sends In These Pics-
Ed also said there was more than enough to fill him up…and THAT’S saying something!
Good Morning Gloucester 