My View of Life on the Dock
The iPhone 5 can do marvelous Panoramas but when my nose is as big as Joey’s head something horrible has happened. Really, it’s that big? (Click to embiggen if you are masochistic.)
Mayor Kirk explaining to Rubber Duck the newly minted Gloucester DPW Duck.
Melissa Cox brought a platefull of cute penguins made of olives complete with a shark which was devouring them as quickly as the party participants. Rubber Duck knew when the party had jumped the shark. 
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-
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-
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.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Gloucester, MA – Due to uncertainty surrounding the path of Hurricane Sandy and the potential severity of the storm in the community, Mayor Carolyn Kirk and the City of Gloucester announce that all residents are encouraged to celebrate Halloween “trick or treating” on Sunday, October 28th between the hours of 4pm and 6pm.
Weather forecasters are predicting favorable conditions on Sunday afternoon and early evening prior to the possible arrival of a storm on Monday and Tuesday. With Halloween falling on Wednesday, October 31, state and local public safety officials are concerned about the potential impacts of Sandy.
Depending on Sandy’s track, by Halloween, the city and residents may possibly be facing widespread power outages, downed limbs, and lingering rainfall.
“Every child in the city and their families want to enjoy a safe Halloween tradition without the concern, confusion, or fear that a favorite holiday will be jeopardized by the storm, so we are urging neighbors to have children celebrate early in good weather, without concern for public safety issues that might arise as a result of the storm,” said Mayor Kirk.
As an alternative to trick or treating, there is a Halloween Party on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm at the Rose Baker Senior Center on Rogers Street. The party is free to all of Gloucester’s children between the ages of 1 and 8. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and there will be crafts, games, face painting, freeze frame dancing, and prizes for best costumes. The party is sponsored by the Gloucester Downtown Association.
The City made the decision to celebrate Halloween early in consultation with Gloucester public safety officials and after receiving an updated weather report from the National Weather Service. City officials have remained in contact with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency on Friday to ensure the most up-to-date information related to Hurricane Sandy.
Tomorrow, Sunday, at noon is the dedication of the Gus Foote Park. Following the dedication, I will be giving a mini-talk about the butterfly gardens planted along the Harbor Walk. A yummy clam chowder tasting is planned, provided by the Gloucester House Restaurant. At 12:45, we’ll Walk the Walk with Mayor Kirk. The theme of Sunday’s walk is Gloucester’s maritime heritage.
Sunny skies are predicted for tomorrow–perfect weather for strolling through the gardens while listening to sea stories. I hope you’ll come join us!
~
Gus Foote, now 82 years young, is a retired Gloucester City Councilman. He represented Ward 2 for more than three decades. In 2011, Gus was reappointed by Governor Deval Patrick to serve another five-year term on the Gloucester Housing Authority. Gus Foote Image Courtesy GMG 2009
Cambridge Seven Associates Gloucester Harbor Walk Team. From left to right: Peter Sollogub, Principal; Ethan Lacy, Chris Muskopf, Tim Mansfield, and Rosie Weinberg
The HarborWalk grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Kirk and Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray is this coming Thursday, August 9th. The festivities will begin at 1 pm at The Wharf at St. Peter’s Park.
The Gloucester HarborWalk is a self-guided tour through 42 story moments granite posts. The 4-day celebration, August 9th through 12th, is devoted to the HarborWalk; each day of the event’s “Walk the Walks,” hosted by Mayor Kirk, will feature different aspects of the city’s storied maritime and cultural history.
As many of you may know I designed the horticultural master plan for the HarborWalk. The new gardens are planted with nearly 100 percent North American native wildflowers and have quickly become a pollinator’s paradise. Once fully established, the gardens will require minimal maintenance.
Sunday, August 12th, at noon, there will be a re-dedication of Gus Foote Park (now part of the HarborWalk Gardens) where I will help in giving a guided tour of the butterfly gardens. I hope to see you there!
Schedule of Events
Thursday, August 9th at 1:00pm at St. Peter’s Park. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Friday, August 10th, at 12:00 noon at St. Peter’s Park. Mayor’s Walk, focusing on literature and art.
Saturday, August 11th, at 10:45 at City Hall. Especially intended toward families, and featuring the works of Virginia Lee Burton.
Sunday, August 12th, at 12:00 noon at Gus Foote Park. Re-dedication of Gus Foote Park, with a focus on Gloucester’s maritime heritage. Guided tour of the gardens.
| GLOBE STAFF
JULY 19, 2012
GLOUCESTER — Among the weathered docks and fishermen’s shacks of this renowned port lives another Gloucester: a world of sea serpents and seafaring stories, world-renowned artists and beloved cultural icons.
The problem has always been how to find it. The working waterfront that supplies the city’s lifeblood also presents a maze of piers and industrial lots that are as difficult for visitors to navigate as they are crucial to Gloucester’s economy.
Next month, the city hopes to solve that problem with the opening of Gloucester Harborwalk, a 1.2-mile loop that brings to light previously hard-to-find historical and cultural lore and reunites the city’s main streets and its seaport. It does so with a network of 42 markers that is accompanied by a virtual tour that can be downloaded onto a smartphone.
City officials see the Harborwalk as a way to lure visitors who stop by for lobster, whale watching, or a trip to the beach into longer stays that will help drive the local economy.
Click here for the entire story and larger photo
The photo with the Man at the Wheel shows the Horribles Parade route, at 8:00 this morning, less than twelve hours after tens of thousands camped along the boulevard to view the parade and fireworks. The entire route is spectacularly clean as is the Fiesta fairgrounds. Thank you Mayor Kirk and the city’s public works departments for working so hard to keep our downtown looking sparkly clean during the back-to-back events of Fiesta and Independence Day celebrations!
Happy Fourth of July!
Mayor Kirk writes-
Homie walked across the wet concrete!
Mayor Carolyn Kirk got the short end of the wishbone and joins Kory to help with today’s Turkey Day trivia question.. Gobble gobble!
Ok, so have you gotten all the trivia questions, if not click here to see all the video clues. Be ready for Friday’s final clue and instructions.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks @LolaDimarco for forwarding me the link
If you are in any way involved with Gloucester’s Tourism industry or if you just want to know what is going on behind the scenes at the meetings where the planning takes place to coordinate how all the pieces work together, tune in all this week for a 10 part series featuring videos and links to many different resources available to you in this-
Tourism Week On GMG
Just Some Quick Photos With Videos To Follow (until I ran out of memory on my camera)
Kudos to Mayor Kirk for getting all the players to the table to work COLLABORATIVELY for the better of the entire City. Also big ups to Sheree DeLorenzo the host at Cruiseport who gives a ton back to the community.
Local citizens attend the City Council Meeting last night in support for the Newell Stadium Renewal Project
GFAA presented the plan for the renewal project along with Mayor Kirk’s support.
Enthusiastic applauses from the crowd came after the council approved their support.
Mayor Kirk and some of Jimmy T’s fans watch survivor at the Cape Ann Cinema.
Cheers came every time Jimmy appeared on the screen.
It’s was a great place to watch our local hero Survive Episode One.
Industrial Lot Four – Commercial Lot Two [I4C2]
Two major projects for Gloucester Ribbon cutting for I4C2 and the Paint Factory in the background with Mayor Kirk.
Photos below of Louis Elisa Director of Development for Seaport Advisory council and others on hand for the Ribbon Cutting for I4C2.
Good Morning Gloucester 