Tag: John McElhenny

#BOOM! Coastal Living magazine calls Gloucester a "Coastal Dream Town"

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey,
More positive national media coverage for Gloucester: Coastal Living has a great article on Gloucester in next month’s issue. The article calls Gloucester a "Coastal Dream Town" and says Gloucester has a "rare combination of urban spirit and historic charm."
"An enthusiastic nightlife scene featuring live theater and local bands is bolstered by a restaurant renaissance," the article says about our city.

Great job by you and local Remax Realtor (and GoodMorningGloucester contributor) Kenny MacCarthy for talking with the reporter and providing colorful quotes in the story.
Matter Communications started talking with Coastal Living, one of the top lifestyle and travel magazines, about Gloucester two years ago so  it’s nice to see such a positive story finally come out! Matter works with the Cape Ann Chamber and local businesses to put the good word out about what a great place Gloucester is to live, work and visit.
Readers can see the Coastal Living story here: http://capeannchamber.com/Tourism/Coastal%20Living.pdf
Congrats, Gloucester!

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Bike Riders and the Horribles Parade From John McElhenny

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Legendary Head of Hair, Skinny Jeans Wearing, King of The YMCA Basketball Courts, HUGELY INFLUENTIAL  John McElhenny writes-

I heard some bike riders are going to have a posse riding in the Horribles Parade (see below). I’m going to pull some strings to get them riding in the middle of the road right in front of your GMG float, just to mess with you.

image001I want YOU!
To ride a bike.
July 3rd Horribles parade
GHS Parking lot * 5:00 pm
Wear a cape or a mask!
be a hero!
FAMILY FRIENDLY !

The Burnham’s Field Community Garden has a New Mural!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

John McElhenny submits-

 

Joey,
The Burnham’s Field Community Garden has a beautiful new mural designed and painted by the talented kids at Art Haven in Gloucester.  The mural was framed and put up at the garden over the weekend by volunteers Joe and Paula Axelrod, Aria McElhenny and Rocky Delforge.

The garden’s fence also features new vegetable sculptures that were designed and painted by the Art Haven kids with Rocky Delforge’s guidance. Public art by young local artists has officially arrived in central Gloucester’s largest green space!

The Burnham’s Field Community Garden just opened for its second season, part of a successful effort that is making Burnham’s Field cleaner, safer and more family-friendly. Come visit soon!
John McElhenny

Building the Frame
Building the Frame

Joe Axelrod (left) and Rocky Delforge build the frame for the new mural at the Burnham’s Field Community Garden.

Burnham’s Field garden sign team
Burnhams Field garden sign team

Volunteers Aria and Ruby McElhenny, Rocky Delforge, and Joe and Paula Axelrod stand next to the new mural.

Veggie sculptures on the fence
Veggie sculptures on the fence

Dozens of small sculptures of vegetables and flowers painted by Cape Ann Art Haven kids now decorate the garden’s fence.

Veggie sculpture sign

Veggie sculpture sign
A sign honors the young artists who created the sculptures.

Photos by John McElhenny

Burnham’s Field Backboards get a Facelift Submitted by The Super Stylish and Athletic John McElhenny

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey,
The four basketball backboards at Burnham’s Field got a fresh coat of paint over the weekend.

It’s part of a great volunteer effort that created a Community Garden in Burnham’s Field last summer, has organized several field clean-ups and is making Burnham’s Field cleaner, safer and more family-friendly. Thanks to Ben’s Paint on Railroad Ave. in Gloucester for generously donating paint and brushes for the paint project. Check out Ben’s here<http://www.benspaint.benmoorepaints.com/home/home/sb.cn>.

Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. It’s used a ton by youth sports teams and kids from downtown Gloucester – including many who don’t have yards of their own.

On Saturday, a man who’s lived near Burnham’s Field for 50 years and walks his dog there every day spotted the newly painted backboards and said he’s noticed that kids who play there seem to be taking better care of Burnham’s Field than they used to. Looks like the effort to improve the field is catching on!
John McElhenny

Hoop 2 Beforeimage

Hoop 2 After

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Hoop 4 Before

Hoop 4 before

Hoop 4 After

Hoop 4 after

Greg Bover & Frances Fitch on NPR today & Shalin Liu Tonight

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Well you saw it first right here on GMG.  Then the Artist of the week Video Series on gimmesound all last week.  Now Greg Bover and Francie Fitch are on NPR — SEE HERE.  BUT WAIT!  THAT’S NOT ALL.  You can see Francie play Greg’s magnificent harpsichord at Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport Tonight at 7:30 FOR FREE.  Don’t let the rain keep you home.  This is BIG!

Here’s what Greg says about the interview:

Dear Friends,

Thanks to an introduction made by John McElhenny of Matter Communications, Francie and I were interviewed yesterday by Andrea Shea of NPR affiliate WBUR. The interview will be broadcast this afternoon about 3:50 on the show Radio Boston and may be on All Things Considered later. We will be discussing tonight’s 7:30 concert at Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport celebrating the completion of the harpsichord I’ve been working on for 25 years.  

As John McElheny says, “Nice to see such a positive Gloucester story in the news.  Congratulations, Greg and Francie!”

Gloucester named one of 5 Eco-Friendly Towns in America

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

John McElhenny of Matter Communications writes:

Joey,

Good news: Rand McNally and USA Today have just named Gloucester one of 5 Eco-Friendly Small Towns in America! It’s a nice honor for our city. The article is here.

Rand McNally asked on Twitter this week for nominations of eco-friendly cities. When we tweeted back Gloucester’s designation as a “Green Community” in 2010 – and this GoodMorningGloucester post about it — the editors liked it and included Gloucester in their Top 5 list. As usual, when something positive is happening in Gloucester, GoodMorningGloucester is involved!

Gloucester is still in the running for Rand McNally’s Most Beautiful Small Town in America 2012. If you haven’t voted already, click here and hit the green “Review and Vote” button. Let’s make Gloucester #1!

Well Well Well, My Boy John McElhenny’s Company just named to Boston Business Journal’s List of Fastest Growing Boston Private Companies!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

BBJ names 2012 ‘Pacesetters’: Boston’s fastest-growing private cos.

The Boston Business Journal Tuesday announced the 2012 Pacesetters — a list of the region’s fastest-growing privately held companies. To make the list, a company had to report a three-year growth rate of 10 percent.

“Fast-growing private companies are at the core of Boston’s economic strength,” said Chris McIntosh, publisher of the Boston Business Journal. “Our Pacesetters list is a celebration of local innovation and business leadership.”

This year’s Pacesetters, in alphabetical order, are:

Matter Communications

Check out their website here

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What Community Is All About- Burnham’s Field Clean Up

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

John McElhenny writes-

Joey,

Seventeen people came to Burnham’s Field on Saturday morning to make the largest green space in central Gloucester a more beautiful place. Mission accomplished! They fixed a fence, erased graffiti, picked up litter and trimmed brush. Local businesses got into the act, too. Paulo, Catherine and Mauro from CleanPro, the Gloucester cleaning company, volunteered two hours of their time. Mamie’s Kitchen, a great little restaurant on Pleasant Street, gave free coffee and cookies to the volunteers. Ben’s Wallpaper & Paint donated paint.

Many of the volunteers came because they had seen the announcement on the blog – yet another example of GoodMorningGloucester bringing people together to do good things for Gloucester. A short time after the volunteers finished the clean-up, more than a dozen kids were playing on the newly cleaned up courts and field.

Thanks to all who came out!

John McElhenny

Holly picks up litter

Holly Makowsky, a School Street resident, picks up litter alongside the basketball court at Burnham’s Field.

Melissa hauls brush

City Councilor Melissa Cox, whose ward includes Burnham’s Field, clears dead brush from next to the fence.

CleanPro guys sweep court

Mauro Silva (left) and Paulo Ferrari, Gloucester residents who work for CleanPro, sweep up broken glass on the basketball court.

Ed fixes the fence

Ed Collard fixes a fallen fence with help from Rich Bean (left) and Ron Gilson (in back). Ron was born in Gloucester during the Great Depression. Rich moved to Gloucester seven months ago. They met on Saturday and worked together to clean up Burnham’s Field.

Group shot

Some of the volunteers who cleaned up Burnham’s Field on Saturday. Front row: Patti Amaral, Melissa Cox, Ron Gilson, Donna Ardizzoni. Back row:  Rich Bean, Ed Collard, Bill Cox, Lindsay Welch.

Must Read: John McElhenny’s Piece In The Gloucester Daily Times

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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To the editor:

Thank you for the Rev. Rona Tyndall’s beautifully written Midweek Musing (Opinion page, the Times, Wednesday, Feb. 8) about changes under way in the Fort neighborhood.

I don’t think what makes Gloucester special is any collection of buildings or single neighborhood.

When the houses along the harbor side of Stacy Boulevard were cleared a century ago, some people didn’t like the change. Today the Boulevard is one of the most beautiful places in Gloucester, bringing people together every day for exercise, walks with family and to see old friends.

In the 1940s and ’50s, a neighborhood of small houses grew up in Burnham’s Field. Eventually the houses fell and were removed.

For the entire piece click here

The Burnham’s Field Gardener Series- Kathy Hegarty of St. Ann School

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Burnham’s Field Gardener Series

Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. There’s been a resurgence of pride in Burnham’s Field, including a new 20-plot garden. GoodMorningGloucester is running a series of video profiles of the Burnham’s Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.

By John McElhenny
Burnham’s Field Gardeners – Kathy Hegarty of St. Ann School

Kathy Hegarty is a 5th grade teacher at St. Ann School, across Pleasant Street from the Burnham’s Field Community Garden. St. Ann students have a plot in the garden, which they visit almost every day to see how their plants are doing and learn where the food they eat comes from. “A hundred children have had their hands in this dirt,” Hegarty says. “It’s really making quite an impression and developing some lifelong gardeners.”

St. Ann School students around their garden plot at the Burnham’s Field Community Garden.

Twitter Faceoff- Battle Of The PR Titans John McElhenny (@JMcElhenny) vs Ariane Doud (@ArianeDoud)

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Video The Burnham’s Field Gardener Series Girl Scout Troop 523 From John McElhenny

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. Recently there’s been a resurgence of pride in Burnham’s Field, including a new 20-plot garden. GoodMorningGloucester is now running a series of video profiles of the Burnham’s Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.

 By John McElhenny

Burnham’s Field Gardeners – Girl Scout Troop 523 in Gloucester

Members of Girl Scout Troop 523 in Gloucester (left to right) Courtney Ashwell (16), Kelly Biondo (14), Emma Thomas (15) and Sage Frankenstein (15) show how to add personality to a garden plot. (Hint: it involves several cans of brightly colored paint.) The girls, along with Troop Leader Diane Wolff-Thomas and fellow Scouts Emily Moore and Jessi Silva, are learning about gardening firsthand with their own garden plot.

 

Burnham’s Field Gardener – Barb Collins

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. Recently there’s been a resurgence of pride in Burnham’s Field, including a new 20-plot garden. GoodMorningGloucester is now running a series of video profiles of the Burnham’s Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.

By John McElhenny

Burnham’s Field Gardener – Barb Collins

Barb Collins, who grew up on a farm in Excelsior, Minnesota, describes what she’ll grow in her Burnham’s Field garden and why she’s excited about it. This video was shot a few weeks back when the garden was first created. The plants are about 100 times bigger now than they were then!

The Burnham’s Field Gardener Series Part III- Gina Curcuru

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Burnham’s Field Gardener Series Part III

 Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. Recently there’s been a resurgence of pride in Burnham’s Field, including a new 20-plot garden. GoodMorningGloucester is now running a series of video profiles of the Burnham’s Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.

 From John McElhenny

 Burnham’s Field Gardener – Gina Curcuru

 Gina Curcuru reveals her secret technique for keeping birds out of her garden and her strong family ties to Gloucester’s most famous holiday. “Emotionally it’s a good thing to grow something from seed,” she says.

Burnham’s Field Gardener – Mary Kay Filos From John McElhenny

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Burnham’s Field Gardener Series

Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. Recently there’s been a resurgence of pride in Burnham’s Field, including a new 20-plot garden. In some ways, the Burnham’s Field Community Garden represents what’s best about Gloucester: a close-knit, hard-working community that cares for its neighbors. GoodMorningGloucester is now running a series of video profiles of the Burnham’s Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.

 By John McElhenny

 Burnham’s Field Gardener – Mary Kay Filos

 Mary Kay Filos explains why she joined the Burnham’s Field Community Garden and reveals her secret for how to create a lush, beautiful flower garden in just a few days.

Introducing: The Burnham’s Field Gardener Series From John McElhenny

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. A century ago, it was used as a dumping ground. Today it’s an area of green grass, play areas and ball fields where kids play and families socialize. Recently there’s been a resurgence of pride in Burnham’s Field, including a new 20-plot garden. The gardeners have gotten to know each other and built a small community in addition to a place to grow vegetables and flowers. In some ways, the Burnham’s Field Community Garden represents what’s best about Gloucester: a close-knit, hard-working community that cares for its neighbors.

Starting today, GoodMorningGloucester introduces a series of profiles of the Burnham’s Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.

By John McElhenny

Burnham’s Field Gardener – Paula Shevenell

Paula Shevenell describes her secret bug defense technique and how gardening revives fond memories of her dad and mom and the family gardens of her youth. “It really feels good to get my hands in the dirt,” she says.

PR for Gloucester is Getting Gloucester Noticed

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

BellRinger award plaquePR for Gloucester, the effort to promote Gloucester and boost our economy through positive media coverage, recently won two awards that highlight how well it’s working and the great articles that have been written about Gloucester in the past year.

You may remember PR for Gloucester was started by Tracey Muller, owner of the Bass Rocks Ocean Inn, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Hastings and other Gloucester businesspeople. They hired the public relations firm Matter Communications to take back control of Gloucester’s image.

Over the last year, PR for Gloucester and Matter landed 46 positive articles about Gloucester and dozens of our businesses, reaching a total audience of 127 million people. Stories about Gloucester appeared in USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, The Huffington Post,CapeCodToday.com, PlanetEyeTraveler and a bunch of other outlets. People around the country read these stories and then come shop in our stores and go out on our whale watch boats and eat in our restaurants. This kind of coverage is good for all of our businesses.

People are noticing PR for Gloucester’s success. This week, PR for Gloucester and Matter Communications won a Bell Ringer award, which is given by the Publicity Club of New England to successful PR campaigns. It’s the second award in two weeks. Last week, PR for Gloucester and Matter also won a Communicator Award, a national prize that honors excellence in communications.

The best part about all of this is it’s an effort that Gloucester businesses and the Cape Ann Chamber started themselves to put out a positive image of Gloucester, bring visitors here, and help all of our businesses. If you want to donate to help keep PR for Gloucester going, contact Bob Hastings at the Chamber at h@capeannchamber.com.

BellRinger award with Bob and Traceys certificates

Burnham’s Field Community Garden Photos From John McElhenny

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

St. Ann School of Gloucester representin’

Marigolds

Twine planting grid

Tomato towers

Community Plots Coming Along At Burnham’s Field

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Here is MouseyDew’s Photo of her plot-

Dew writes-

My plot is mostly focused on things that can be used in soup or pasta sauce: cherry and slicing tomatoes, yellow onions, garlic, cabbage, chard and celery. By using creative stakes on the tomatoes, it will help maximize what I can harvest from the space. I’ll probably replace the chard with kale later on to have a little more roughage for the fall. Be sure to bring the Bean by for a visit!

You can follow along the Burnham Field Community Garden Posts on Twitter by following this hashtag- #BFCG

John McElhenny Reports-

Joey,

The plantings are in the ground at the Burnham’s Field community garden! On Saturday, the gardeners finished building the 20 raised beds, put up a fence to keep pets out, and began the really fun part: growing vegetables and flowers to harvest in the months to come. A small sample of “crops” being planted includes bell peppers, zinnias, carrots, strawberries, lavender, watermelons and marigolds. Thanks very much to the Gloucester DPW for delivering two trucks full of donated compost.

Here’s the area of the Burnham’s Field community garden last week before the garden was built.

Burnham's Field garden - Before

Here’s how the garden looks now.

Burnham's Field garden - After

Paula Shevenell uses twine to build a grid to organize her garden plot. One of Paula’s plantings is a lavender plant that kids can touch and smell.

Burnham's Field garden - Paula Shevenell

Community Garden Launched at Burnham’s Field Photos and Captions By John McElhenny

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

John McElhenny writes-

Joey,

The Burnham’s Field Community Garden has been officially launched! On Saturday, 25 volunteers laid down geotextile landscaping fabric, built 4’ x 8’ garden boxes, filled wheelbarrows full of compost and raked fine-looking garden plots that’d make a Midwestern farmer proud. Twenty individual garden plots are planned, along with a low fence to protect the garden from critters. Thanks go out to the volunteer gardeners for their energy and awesomeness, the Building Center for donating materials, J. Harrison of The Food Project for his direction, Steve Winslow and the City’s Community Development Department for their support, and Donna Ardizzoni and the One Hour at a Time Gang for sprucing up Burnham’s Field on Saturday morning before the gardeners arrived.

John McElhenny, Allen Street

Gloucester

A truck dumps steaming compost for the community garden at Burnham’s Field. It took 25 volunteers about 2 ½ hours to shovel the compost into 4 x 8’ frames for individual garden plots. Twenty plots are planned.

Community garden - compost

Becky Thompson spreads compost in one of the 4 x 8-foot boxes specially built for the Burnham’s Field community garden. Thompson, who lives right by the field, is one of several Gorton’s employees who’ve volunteered to work in the garden.

Garden - Becky Thompson

Gardeners Barb Collins (left) and Marie Rodriguez fill a wheelbarrow with compost. Rodriguez is part of a group of teachers from St. Ann School who plan to use their garden plot to teach children about growing fresh flowers and vegetables.

Community garden - Barb Collins and Marie Rodriguez

Tim Burnham from the Building Center delivers wood to the garden site. The Building Center generously donated materials for the construction of the community garden.

Community garden - Tim Burnham

Gardener Gina Curcuru spreads compost onto the geotextile fabric beneath the garden. Curcuru is one of the many gardeners who live close to Burnham’s Field and can walk to their plots.

Community garden - Gina Curcuru

Thanks John for getting us the pictures and the rest of the volunteers and folks who donated time, money and energy to make it happen!  You all should be very proud!