$463,141: City Council okays 14 CPA grants for 2016. Info meeting for 2017 application February 8th

Congratulations to the 2016 (round 7) awardees!  Their final presentations were at City Council on Tuesday.

 

Since Gloucester voted to approve the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in 2008, the city has administered 7 rounds of funded projects throughout our community. Have a look at who you helped fund in 2016

  1. North Shore CDC and Action, Harbor Village *missing this photo but great presentation!
  2. Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association, Wheeler School House & GFD Riverdale Hose, No 2
  3. Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Civil War Monument
  4. Generous Gardeners, Stacy Boulevard Gardens
  5. Stage Fort Park Advisory Committee, Welcome Center Renovations
  6. Community Development Dept., Stage Fort Park Beautification Project
  7. City Clerk’s Office, Archives Initial Storage Project, Phase I
  8. Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove Cemetery continued restoration
  9. Gloucester Committee for the Arts, “Out of the Shadows: Gloucester’s historic Depression Era Mural” preserve & restore murals with refined project scope,discovery and schedule of work
  10. Historic New England, Beauport Museum, outer building roof replacement
  11. Sargent Museum, Preservation of porch, granite steps & retaining wall
  12. Gloucester Writers Center, Preservation of Maud/Olsen Library & GWC Archives
  13. Maritime Gloucester, Rehab & Restoration of the railway
  14. Friends of Burnham’s Field, Continued rehab of Phase I of Burnham’s Field Restoration

Safe bet you might know someone assisting one of these projects. Who else helps?  The volunteers on the Community Preservation Committee are fantastic: Catherine Bill Dugan, Catherine Schlichte, Henry McCarl, David Rhinelander, John Feener, Barbara Silberman, Heide Wakeman, Ellen Preston, and Scott Smith. There’s no break for this committee. From start to finish the process from an applicant’s perspective takes nearly a year. Depending upon the project, it will involve assistance from the Community Preservation Committee, City staff and various departments, City Council, City Council sub committees, and the administration.  Just as one round winds down, the next year’s process and round of applicants gears up. Visit the Community Preservation Committee page on the City website to learn more about the CPA and to see prior projects.

Save the date:The Community Preservation Committee will be hosting an information meeting for prospective 2017 applicants at Sawyer Free on  February 8, 2017 at 6pm. Applications are due April 17, 2017.

Debbie Laurie, a Senior Project Manager in the Community Development Department who manages Grants and CPA for the City writes about the info meeting: “We want to help guide applicants through the process and answer any questions you may have before filling out an application.  We can also determine if your project is actually eligible or not.  Please pass the word around if you know of anyone that may be interested. “

Phyllis A Marine Assoc Fall Art Show & Sale @ Marine Railways

In case you missed the one day art show for the Phyllis A Marine Assoc good cause, here’s a link to their current  fundraising campaign. The photographs indicate some of the participating artists–look for their work!

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more than one hour at a time and always smiling

Carpenter Bee Butt

carpenter bee butt

They are big, industrious and often confused for bumblebees, but you don’t have to fear their butts.  Male carpenter bees can be very aggressive but are harmless since they have no stinger, and females have stingers but are docile so seldom sting unless caught in the hand or harassed.  They do not eat wood but do excavate tunnels to nest and lay eggs in.  This carpenter bee is checking out the hull of this boat at the Marine Railways as a  possible nesting site.

E.J. Lefavour

http://www.hobbithousestudio.com

Propellor Department

On Rocky Neck in Gloucester sits the Gloucester Marine Railways, in operation since 1859. Large vessels can be hauled out of the water for repair, painting, or tied up to the piers. Even a casual stroll through the "Railways" yields interesting photos. Schooner Adventure is also berthed there.
On Rocky Neck in Gloucester sits the Gloucester Marine Railways, in operation since 1859. Large vessels can be hauled out of the water for repair, painting, or tied up to the piers. Even a casual stroll through the “Railways” yields interesting photos. Schooner Adventure is also berthed there.

Harry Cusick Wharf Dedication at Marine Railways

harry cusick wharf dedication

Some photos from this afternoon’s dedication of the new Harry Cusick Wharf at Gloucester Marine Railways – the completion of a 9 year project involving cutting through a myriad of government agency red tape and paperwork by Alice (I’m so sorry Alice, I forgot your last name).  Even a harbor seal and the Ardelle came by to check it out and holler congratulations (Harold, not the seal).  Viking gave a great speech thanking all involved in the process.  It is a really beautiful wharf, and if you haven’t been to the Railways lately, you should go by and check it out.

E.J. Lefavour

Doodads and Gadgets

doodads and gadgets

There was a boat at the Railways yesterday sporting all these strange looking doodads and gadgets.  Does anyone have any idea what kind of boat it might be and what all those doodads and gadgets are for?  I assume they are navigational things, but I don’t recall seeing anything looking quite like this before.

E.J. Lefavour

Adventure Hauled At The East Gloucester Marine Railways

Mary Barker Writes-

Hi Joey,

The Adventure got hauled out on the Marine Railway on Monday, 1.14.13, so
some planks could be replaced.  I was invited aboard, as the Adventure’s
photographer, to get a unique perspective on the process.  This is my very
naïve, non-technical explanation of the process. The guys on the docks and
on the Adventure first had to move the Adventure from her berth over to the
railway.  This was done mainly by manpower using brute strength, ropes and
tide assist.  Donny King did add a bit of motor support with the Scotia Girl
in the beginning.  Once the Adventure got around the end of the pier and
was moved into place along the Railway cradle (with direction by the Railway
coordinator), the guys cranked up the cradle supports to secure the
Adventure.  The scuba diver then went down to check that everything was set
up properly with the supports.  Once he gave the okay, the Railway
coordinator signaled the engine house to start up the engines which drive
the chain winch, which took the Adventure on a forward and upward
trajectory.  Although I’ve seen this done before from just outside the
engine house, it was so powerful seeing it all up close (literally hanging
over the edge of the vessel at times).  I never cease to be inspired by and
in awe of these guys and what they do.  These folks have always taken the
time to welcome me and to educate me.  My hats are off to everyone at the
Marine Railway and the Adventure.  Here are a few photos.
Mary Barker

Gloucester At Dawn- 4:54AM 4/30/12 Salvation Star, Providenza and Francesca & Carlo- Railway To Railway

This shot was taken alongside the Railway at The Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center looking out across the harbor to the East Gloucester Marine Railway.

The amount of light in this shot is deceiving because the shutter was left open for a good long time to try to collect as much light as possible to burn in the colors. Obviously this type of shot with such little available light is not possible without the aid of a tripod.

Click the photo to see it larger and the details on the Adventure and boats tied up at The East Gloucester Marine Railway all the way across the harbor.  I like this shot a lot especially considering the very little light available to use.

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Below is what it looked like to the human eye without the long exposure-

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