“A popular Gloucester seafood restaurant known for its fresh seafood and harbor views has taken on a new role this winter as a temporary haven for people in need of daytime shelter, meals and other support.”
“This was the most selfless thing that anyone can do,” Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken said of Gloucester House owner Lenny Linquata’s willingness to welcome homeless people to “this beautiful waterfront function hall, [a place] that makes you feel like a princess when you get married there.”
– Mayor Romeo Theken, John Laidler Boston Globe article 1/29/2021
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Two wonderful feel good stories made news this week on the very same day.
DOLLY PARTON story UP FIRST
Headlines on November 17, 2020 concerned the promising results from Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine trials. Fans including researchers were enthusiastic about Dolly Parton being listed in the acknowledgements for helping to fund their work, “the Dolly Parton Covid-19 Research Fund”. Thanks to a long friendship with Dr. Naji Abumrad, she donated one million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help support Covid research.
plus don’t miss jAD aBUMRAD’S terrific PODCAST “DOLLY PARTON’S AMERICA”
His son, Jad Abumrad, creator of Radiolab, produced a chart topping podcast about Dolly: Dolly Parton’s America. Fans of Radiolab and Dolly learned about his father’s friendship with Dolly there. Before I read the name of the doctor friend I was hoping it might be him. Here’s an excerpt from the transcript with some of the marvelously rich and layered story telling about Dolly and his dad:
JAD: The memory that kept intruding was from almost exactly 20 years earlier. I’d gone to Lebanon with my dad for a wedding. This is when I was just getting into recording, so I had my recorder with me everywhere I went. And the day after the wedding, my dad had driven us up the mountains to show us the village where he was born and raised. A little village called Wadi Chahrour. It’s this little enclave where literally half the village has our last name. It’s high up in the mountains, actually the exact same elevation as the mountain where Dolly lives. The air sort of has that exact same kind of thinness to it. And when we finally got to see his house, it looked a lot like Dolly’s.
JAD: When I saw her house …
JAD: I told him about it later.
JAD: It reminded me instantly of your house in Wadi.
NAJI ABUMRAD: Yeah. It’s almost identical like Dolly. There was one bedroom. We were five kids and two parents, and so you put your floor mat and you sleep side to side. And when you wake up in the morning, you stack the floor mats in the corner.
JAD: Wow. So seven people in one room?
NAJI ABUMRAD: Seven people in one room.
JAD: Jesus. How did you even sleep?
NAJI ABUMRAD: You sleep. You learn.
JAD: God! Tell me who you are, just so I have your introduction.
NAJI ABUMRAD: What do you mean? I’m Naji Abumrad. I’m your father.
JAD: [laughs] And what do you do when you’re — when yeah, what do you do otherwise?
NAJI ABUMRAD: Right now, I’m a professor of surgery at Vanderbilt. And …
JAD: I didn’t expect to want to put an interview with my dad in an episode about a visit to Dolly’s Tennessee mountain home. But as I mentioned at the top of the series, I mean, I really couldn’t have even done this series without him.
JAD: Can I ask you a personal question?
DOLLY PARTON: I guess.
JAD: This is something — it’s something I’ve always been curious …
DOLLY PARTON: It’s not that personal.
JAD: No. It’s like, it’s more personal but — for both of us, I guess. I’ve never under — how did you meet my dad?
DOLLY PARTON: Well, your dad was — I had — first time I met him was years and years ago. I was having some health problems, and then I didn’t connect with him again ’til my friend Judy and I had a wreck …
[NEWS CLIP: Dolly Parton suffered a few minor injuries in a car crash in Nashville on Monday.]
DOLLY PARTON: … several years back.
[NEWS CLIP: Police say she was riding in an SUV that was hit by another vehicle.]
DOLLY PARTON: And so when they rushed me to the emergency room, he came to the emergency room. And then after that, we just kind of …
JAD: They became friends.
DOLLY PARTON: Friendship.
JAD: That’s cool.
DOLLY PARTON: He’s a good man.
JAD: I feel like I have to be completely transparent about this. Now I had always been really tickled and a little bit confused. Like, what could they possibly have in common? But then seeing how similar his house looked to hers, and then also thinking back to something she had told me in one of our conversations.
I don’t know how well you know him, but you can never know your parents like — like other people do.
DOLLY PARTON answers Jad, Dolly Parton’s America podcast, Neon Moss episode
JAD: To make a long story short, I decided to ask him some questions. And it turned out she was right. My dad and my mom left Lebanon same year that Dolly wrote My Tennessee Mountain Home. 1972.
…WELL, It’s a gorgeous listen. Go finish DOLLY PARTON’S AMERICA here
The SECOND HAPPY STORY involved baby Yoda.
Until now I had been immune to the charms of chia pets.I brought this Baby Yoda, “the child” in the beguiling floating pod from the Mandalorian Disney+ series, home from the 7-Eleven on Bass Ave.
Here are screenshots from the LIVE NASA video as the SpaceX new arrivals joined the Space Station 11/17/2020. Astronauts are all fist pumping and smiles at the “zero gravity indicator” baby Yoda in space.
Loved watching this feed (you can see the whole playback). I wonder if the crew already in residence had the time or inclination to watch any shows and if it was possible to see current content like the new Mandalorian season? In other words did those aboard get the cultural reference?
Two wonderful feel good stories made news this week on the very same day.
The first involved baby Yoda.
Until now I had been immune to the charms of chia pets.I brought this Baby Yoda, “the child” in the beguiling floating pod from the Mandalorian Disney+ series, home from the 7-Eleven on Bass Ave.
Here are screenshots from the LIVE NASA video as the SpaceX new arrivals joined the Space Station 11/17/2020. Astronauts are all fist pumping and smiles at the “zero gravity indicator” baby Yoda in space.
Loved watching this feed (you can see the whole playback). I wonder if the crew already in residence had the time or inclination to watch any shows and if it was possible to see current content like the new Mandalorian season? In other words did those aboard get the cultural reference?
Other headlines on November 17, 2020 concerned the promising results from Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine trials. Fans including researchers were enthusiastic about Dolly Parton being listed in the acknowledgements for helping to fund their work, “the Dolly Parton Covid-19 Research Fund”. Thanks to a long friendship with Dr. Naji Abumrad, she donated one million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help support Covid research.
plus don’t miss jAD aBUMRAD’S terrific PODCAST “DOLLY PARTON’S AMERICA”
His son, Jad Abumrad, creator of Radiolab, produced a chart topping podcast about Dolly: Dolly Parton’s America. Fans of Radiolab and Dolly learned about his father’s friendship with Dolly there. Before I read the name of the doctor friend I was hoping it might be him. Here’s an excerpt from the transcript with some of the marvelously rich and layered story telling about Dolly and his dad:
JAD: The memory that kept intruding was from almost exactly 20 years earlier. I’d gone to Lebanon with my dad for a wedding. This is when I was just getting into recording, so I had my recorder with me everywhere I went. And the day after the wedding, my dad had driven us up the mountains to show us the village where he was born and raised. A little village called Wadi Chahrour. It’s this little enclave where literally half the village has our last name. It’s high up in the mountains, actually the exact same elevation as the mountain where Dolly lives. The air sort of has that exact same kind of thinness to it. And when we finally got to see his house, it looked a lot like Dolly’s.
JAD: When I saw her house …
JAD: I told him about it later.
JAD: It reminded me instantly of your house in Wadi.
NAJI ABUMRAD: Yeah. It’s almost identical like Dolly. There was one bedroom. We were five kids and two parents, and so you put your floor mat and you sleep side to side. And when you wake up in the morning, you stack the floor mats in the corner.
JAD: Wow. So seven people in one room?
NAJI ABUMRAD: Seven people in one room.
JAD: Jesus. How did you even sleep?
NAJI ABUMRAD: You sleep. You learn.
JAD: God! Tell me who you are, just so I have your introduction.
NAJI ABUMRAD: What do you mean? I’m Naji Abumrad. I’m your father.
JAD: [laughs] And what do you do when you’re — when yeah, what do you do otherwise?
NAJI ABUMRAD: Right now, I’m a professor of surgery at Vanderbilt. And …
JAD: I didn’t expect to want to put an interview with my dad in an episode about a visit to Dolly’s Tennessee mountain home. But as I mentioned at the top of the series, I mean, I really couldn’t have even done this series without him.
JAD: Can I ask you a personal question?
DOLLY PARTON: I guess.
JAD: This is something — it’s something I’ve always been curious …
DOLLY PARTON: It’s not that personal.
JAD: No. It’s like, it’s more personal but — for both of us, I guess. I’ve never under — how did you meet my dad?
DOLLY PARTON: Well, your dad was — I had — first time I met him was years and years ago. I was having some health problems, and then I didn’t connect with him again ’til my friend Judy and I had a wreck …
[NEWS CLIP: Dolly Parton suffered a few minor injuries in a car crash in Nashville on Monday.]
DOLLY PARTON: … several years back.
[NEWS CLIP: Police say she was riding in an SUV that was hit by another vehicle.]
DOLLY PARTON: And so when they rushed me to the emergency room, he came to the emergency room. And then after that, we just kind of …
JAD: They became friends.
DOLLY PARTON: Friendship.
JAD: That’s cool.
DOLLY PARTON: He’s a good man.
JAD: I feel like I have to be completely transparent about this. Now I had always been really tickled and a little bit confused. Like, what could they possibly have in common? But then seeing how similar his house looked to hers, and then also thinking back to something she had told me in one of our conversations.
I don’t know how well you know him, but you can never know your parents like — like other people do.
DOLLY PARTON answers Jad, Dolly Parton’s America podcast, Neon Moss episode
JAD: To make a long story short, I decided to ask him some questions. And it turned out she was right. My dad and my mom left Lebanon same year that Dolly wrote My Tennessee Mountain Home. 1972.
I checked in with Jane Deering to hear more about the show and how opening day went for this affordable art show/young collector boost and during a pandemic.
“The idea came to me about a year ago while thinking how I might make art more affordable for the many young people who’ve come to the gallery, expressed how much they admire the shows but were not able to purchase, even something at $100. Then COVID struck and I needed to get creative to stay alive.
As you know, Catherine, I’ve been living in London a long time. This sparked my memory of how the Royal College of Art started something back in 1995 called Absolut Secret (sponsored by Absolut Vodka — get it?) which raised money for scholarships to the RCA by offering small works (signed by the artist on the back) for a tuppence. Buyers wouldn’t know who the artist was until they bought the work and turned it over. One lucky buyer snapped up a David Hockney! So … I confess I stole my idea for Absolute Secret 2020 from the RCA. Sometimes theft can bring good?
Anyway … I contacted all the artists I’ve worked with over the years and asked each if they’d donate a small work. The outpouring of YES! was heartwarming. Oh, the wonder of artists. Such generosity and goodwill. I’m so grateful to all of them. Works have come from the many who have studios here on Cape Ann and parts throughout Massachusetts, but also New York, Maine, Vermont, California, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Barcelona.
Yesterday’s opening was also a wonder. One of my favorite stories was of a young man (27 maybe?) who emailed back and forth with me for days over his obsession with a particular work. He asked if coming to stand in line by 12:30 would be too late? Ha! He was first in line (working all the time on his cell phone), first in the door when we opened at 1 o’clock, and first to get his special piece. Good for him!
Lots of conviviality. Lots of cheer. Some disappointments, of course; especially those who sent requests via email only to hear that their pics had sold. Can’t please everyone so my apologies to all who may have missed out. There are still many marvelous pieces to be had and several artists have brought me additional works to put up as the show thins out. Again, the generosity of artists!
Oh!…I’ve been asked ‘Why $20?’ Well, it’s the dreadful year 2020 so I thought I’d put the number 20 in a more upbeat light. And — back to the affordability factor — I wanted all those who find art beyond their purse strings to be able to have something wonderful. This show was meant for them.
And I hope that those who have the means, will return and support these wonderful artists (and the gallery) by buying art at a fairer price.
Thanks to all!”
Jane Deering, Jane Deering Gallery, October 16, 2020
The invitation for this wonderful show- through November 3, 2020
Maybe I can leave $20 for a twenty something art fan? Artists are so generous.
Views looking in
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Next time you’re heading in the direction of Wolf Hill, Good Harbor Beach or Rockport thank E. Raymond Abbott when you pass Day’s Pond, a historic man made pond in Gloucester about 1 acre in size. In 1978 Abbott wrote about his family’s association with the pond:
2018 new engineered wall, railing (sidewalk pending) – read more about Gloucester DPW work here
“On reading a recent article in the Gloucester Daily Times (July 1979) which made reference to the ‘so-called’ upper Day’s Pond off Eastern Avenue it occurred to me that the people of Gloucester might be interested in a brief history of the pond.
Years ago there were two Day brothers who owned a large tract of land which extended from the beaches and marshes all the way up to the old Rockport Road. This land, including the upper Day’s Pond, was later sold to a lawyer named Webster who lived in and owned a hotel on Pleasant Street. Later on the Webster property which also included land around Cape Pond in Rockport, came up for sale at a public auction. My father, James Abbott, bought it in June of 1905 and went into business which was later known as the Cape Pond Ice Company. In 1922, my father retired and I took over the ice business.
I will always remember a young girl, Harriet Wonson, who lived just above the upper Day’s Pond, coming to me asking if she could beautify the pond by planting water lilies in and around it. Of course, I gave my consent.
In 1943, I decided to sell the Cape Pond Ice Company. However, before doing so, I gave the upper Day’s Pond to the city of Gloucester so that the children always have a place to skate in the winter, in the summertime provide a pond for fishing, as well as a beautiful subject for our local artists to paint. It was during this same period that I was able to acquire most of the land around Cape Pond and later gave my interest to the town of Rockport to be used as a water shed.
It is my sincere hope and desire that the upper Day’s Pond will continue to provide as much enjoyment for the children of the future as it has in the past.
E. Raymond Abbott, Gloucester Daily Times Letter to the Editor, July 16, 1979
Twenty years later, Gloucester dredged Day’s Pond “as part of a watershed management plan to stabilize the pond’s ecosystem.” Massachusetts Department of Environmental Mangement awarded $2500 for the project in 1998. Marilyn Myett wrote a persuasive My View column about the pond’s vital impact in the neighborhood.
Whether as sculptor, painter, muralist, mixed media or assemblage fine artist, Gloucester-born Jason Burroughs works across media with a signature touch. Can’t wait to see what happens from this residency. Follow him on Instagram- he’s been doing a weekly sketch on his instagram page @jazzyjburroughs
What would Jason do here?
Ever since I saw his inventive stepped paintings pre 2017, I wonder what would Jason do here-
2017 – inventive sculpture paintings stepped away from flat and vertical surfaces
or just about anywhere! I’ve written about the monumental walls at O’Maley ideal for professionally trained artists that are former Gloucester O’Maley grads–like Jason– at the start of their careers. Murals are common public art attractions. To date I have not seen one mural initiative with that focus. Clandenstine street art and graffiti art can break through. (Some practitioners are diametrically opposed to that commercial conceit.) Elite global street artists and muralists command hundreds of thousands of dollars through private and corporate sponsorships. Commissions this scale for young artists with degrees begin at $16,000. That’s a great our town endeavor/grant investment.
ABOUT GOETEMANN GLOUCESTER INVITATIONAL ARTIST RESIDENCY –
Established in 2015, this one month residency is offered by committee invitation to an inspiring and highly deserving Gloucester artist. It is understood that artistic inspiration can be difficult to attain when work and family take precedence. The artist is provided with a live-work studio for one month.Read more here about Goetemann juried and invitational artist residencies
The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck is open Thursday-Sunday. Seasonal Hours are: June through August 12-6pm, September through May 12-4pm.
Gallery 53 at Rocky Neck, 53 Rocky Neck Avenue is open seasonally May – October, seven days a week, 11am-6pm, Thurs-Sat until 8pm.
Congratulations to Jamie McDonald, aka Adventureman, for his momentous, inspiring solo-run achievement across America~ And to his team! Little kids in the crowd sported red capes. GMG photographers are out in full force so great coverage will be coming like it’s St. Peter’s Fiesta.
Aerial no filter straight up phone video from rooftops across Gloucester Harbor. It was heartwarming to hear voices carry — from this height and battling wind–, to see the crowd stream past, pause by the Leonard Craske FisherMan at the Wheel memorial, then off to Pavilion beach by Beauport Hotel (site of former Birdseye factory) so Jamie could touch the water and conclude his generous journey.
David Cox in position
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Local businesses step up for local schools and organizations! Save the dates
In case you’re wondering what’s happening at Market Basket on October 28th 8:30-3pm:
The BAKE SALE at Market Basket is a fundraiser for O’Maley 8th graders annual special trip to Washington, DC. “This important fundraiser is to provide financial assistance to
those who need it most for the trip.” Items can be dropped off at O’Maley on October 27th or at Market Basket at 8:30 on October 28th. Contact Allison Cousins for more details or if you’d like to help out on Saturday, October 28th email Allison acousins@gloucesterschools.com. Donations and sponsors for the popular calendar raffle are also underway. Here’s a link to last year’s calendar if you’re interested in participating. You’ll recognize those generous sponsors!
In case you’re wondering what’s happening with GHS soccer raffle tickets:
Soccer players are raising money for the soccer banquet, gifts for senior players, and the soccer program. Raffle tickets are $10 each and each packet has 10 tickets. The prizes are listed on the tickets and are for sale through October 29. Winners will be announced at the fall banquet (date/time TBD)
JV2 has a soccer game at O’Maley today at 4pm. Varsity has a big game — Here’s their record “going into tomorrow night’s match vs Salem. Big game!!!!”
In case you’re wondering what’s happening at Jalapeno’s on November 6th:
Save the date for Jalapeno’s Night fundraiser for O’Maley Academy on November
6th. Dine in or take out at Jalapeno’s and a portion of their proceeds goes to O’Maley Academy!
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Great story by Hattie Bernstein in the Globe today gives a shout out to Walter McGrath in Gloucester.
“If you go to a cemetery on Memorial Day, you’ll see flowers and flags planted everywhere and a lot more visitors than usual.
What won’t be obvious on this holiday dedicated to military veterans who died fighting in wars are the efforts of Northborough’s Beth Finch McCarthy, 53, Gloucester’s Walter McGrath, 83, and Jordan Hurley, 15, who lives in Middleborough.
The three are among an uncounted battalion of volunteers across the region who share a common pursuit: maintaining their communities and ensuring that those buried there aren’t forgotten.
McGrath, a retired engineer with a long list of interests…
Cigarette butts are right up there as the most common and yucky litter. Gloucester offers a quick ride right into our ocean waters. We were required to clean our sidewalk daily in front of our business or be fined. Some smokers would flick one right in the midst of our dustpan and broom without missing a step.
Smoker trash is just an unfailing source of __________. You fill in the blank. There’s a big blind spot.
Business owners, employees, property owners, tenants: a lot of what we pick up downtown are piles of the same cigarette brand. Case in point:
Award for BUTT FIEND on Parsons goes to a proud Parliament smoker. Residents including kids are out here with gloves picking up your butts. We’re not talking the random passerby flick. We’re talking regular and routine breaks where you just sit there dropping.
Big shout out to Dan Leaman and Mike Carter today with Dan Leaman Landscaping. Thank you for coming back again to help with Parsons Street.
Our fearless leader, Super K, Donna Ardizzoni, Melissa Cox, John McEhenny and many more volunteer to brave the dunk tank in order to raise money for Relay for Life!
#cancersucks
What an amazing crew for an amazing cause! We all have been affected by cancer in such a way we will do anything for the cause!
I first met Jackie as part of our founding group of Block Party organizers. I can tell you this- there was never a doubt that we couldn’t have done what we got done without Jackie clearing the way to make them such a hit.
Never a doubt that Jackie always put the city and her constituents best interests first. She was a councilor who did what was right for the city and put the decision making based on what was right and not on politics.
A great Gloucesterite and one of the best City Councilors ever. Thanks for all you’ve done to make this a better place Jackie.
God bless you and our thoughts are with your family.
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