Tag: nature

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and Stop & Shop Launch the Search for “Shark Marty”

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro


Stop & Shop to release Limited-Edition White Shark Marty plushies with portion of proceeds supporting shark research, education, and conservation.

(June 22, 2026) Chatham, MA â€“ The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) is kicking off the 2026 white shark research season with a search to find a shark to name “Marty.” AWSC researchers announced they will name the first, newly identified great white shark of the 2026 season after Stop & Shop’s iconic in-store robot Marty as a salute to the local grocer’s renewed partnership and ongoing commitment to supporting AWSC’s shark research, education, and conservation efforts.

Stop & Shop will celebrate the occasion by releasing limited-edition White Shark Marty plush toys and donate 20% of the proceeds from each White Shark Marty to the AWSC. White Shark Marty plushies will be available in all Stop & Shop stores beginning June 22nd and are only available while supplies last. 

“This partnership is a fun and engaging way to connect people to white shark research happening right off our coast,” said Cynthia Wigren, Co-Founder and CEO of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. “Each summer brings new discoveries, and we’re excited to invite the public to follow along on the research team’s Marty mission to tag the season’s first newly identified shark. AWSC works to advance the conservation of sharks through science, education, and outreach. By helping people recognize the vital role sharks play in healthy ocean ecosystems, we strive to foster informed coexistence and inspire appreciation for these remarkable animals.” 

The AWSC encourages all beachgoers across Cape Cod and the Islands to be “Shark Smart” this summer by downloading the Sharktivity app and following recommended safety practices, including paying attention to flags and signs on the beach, staying close to shore when in the ocean, and avoiding areas in the water where seals are present. 

In-store signage in Massachusetts Stop & Shop locations will highlight the campaign and include QR codes directing customers to AWSC’s Sharktivity app and website, encouraging public engagement with shark safety, research, and real-time sightings.

“This is our second year partnering with AWSC to celebrate the summer season on the Cape & Islands, where it’s important to help raise awareness around shark safety and conservation,” said Roger Wheeler, President of Stop & Shop. “I’m personally excited to add the White Shark Marty plush to my collection and to follow along as AWSC’s researchers hit the waters to find the real ‘Shark Marty’.” 

AWSC’s research program focuses on advancing scientific understanding of white sharks to improve public safety and support long-term conservation efforts. Headquartered in Quincy, Stop & Shop ranks as one of the largest corporate philanthropic contributors in Massachusetts. In addition to this important environmental research, Stop & Shop supports regional efforts focused on combatting food insecurity.

About the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
Since 2013, AWSC has worked in collaboration with shark science experts, community partners, public and government officials, researchers, donors, friends, and followers to augment scientific research, improve factors that affect public safety, and educate both the local and broader community to inspire a greater understanding of white sharks and conservation of the species.

AWSC supports multiple long-term research projects in collaboration with scientists from Canada to Florida that seek to increase our collective knowledge of white sharks. Through AWSC’s public education programs that reach thousands of young people each year, the nonprofit provides science-based, hands-on learning opportunities that have lasting impact. Every season, thousands of Cape Cod residents and visitors from across the country learn about white shark research and shark conservation at AWSC’s Shark Center in Chatham, Massachusetts. For the latest white shark news, follow AWSC on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

City of Gloucester Expands Staff to Strengthen Community and Economic Vitality

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

New Beaches and Parks Operations Manager and Economic Development Coordinator will enhance the city’s open spaces and support local business growth.

GLOUCESTER – Mayor Greg Verga is pleased to announce the hiring of Kansas Ricci-Munn as the City’s Operations Manager for Beaches and Parks and Emily Sloane as the City’s Economic Development Coordinator.

“Emily and Kansas bring a wide range of knowledge and experience to the team, and I’m confident they’ll make a real difference in their new roles,” said Mayor Greg Verga. “Our open spaces and local businesses are among the most important parts of our community, and these two new positions will play a key role in advancing the initiatives that strengthen and support them.”

Ricci-Munn, a Gloucester resident, has been a valued member of the City’s lifeguard team for nearly two decades, bringing experience and creativity to the role. He has worked as Lifeguard Coordinator for the City of Gloucester since 2022 and has been instrumental in the development of the program and team. Through his leadership of the lifeguard program, he has prioritized training, staff engagement, and communication.

“It brings me great joy to serve the City of Gloucester,” said Ricci-Munn. “ We have a special community and I’m proud to be part of it”

As the City’s new Operations Manager for Beaches and Parks, Ricci-Munn will be responsible for the care and oversight of some of Gloucester’s most well-used public spaces. From maintaining the safety and accessibility of our shorelines to supporting the upkeep of our parks,  including Stage Fort Park, he will help ensure these areas remain welcoming and enjoyable for residents and visitors. He will play a key role in the implementation of Gloucester’s Beach Management Plan — ensuring our beaches are safe, well-maintained, and welcoming for all residents and visitors.

Sloane, a native of Gloucester, brings over 20 years of experience driving economic growth, strengthening the workforce, and empowering communities. Most recently she supported studies intended to promote global food security as Markets Advisor at Tetra Tech, following nearly a decade of experience in international economic development and humanitarian program management work — specifically within the nonprofit or international NGO (INGO) sector. As Economic Development Coordinator, she will play a key role supporting Gloucester’s economic growth and long-term community goals. She will focus on implementing many of the City’s recently completed strategic plans, including the Municipal Harbor Plan, Local Rapid Recovery Plan, and Comprehensive Plan, while advancing the creation of a Downtown Business Improvement District (BID).

“After two decades of working on economic development projects worldwide, I am truly excited to be focusing on my home community. Gloucester has so many smart, engaged residents, and I look forward to partnering with them to build a stronger economic future for us all,” said Sloane.

In this role, Sloane will also work to support Gloucester’s existing maritime industry while helping to guide opportunities in the emerging blue economy, ensuring that Gloucester continues to honor its working waterfront heritage while preparing for a sustainable economic future.

Sloane and Ricci-Munn officially started with the City of Gloucester on October 6, 2025.

My Pen in the Air | RIP poet Mary Oliver

Posted on by Catherine

Mary Oliver (1935-2019)

I Happen to Be Standing

I don’t know where prayers go, / or what they do. / Do cats pray, while they sleep / half-asleep in the sun? / Does the opossum pray as it /crosses the street? /The sunflowers? The old black oak / growing older every year? / I know I can walk through the world, / along the shore or under the trees, / with my mind filled with things / of little importance, in full / self-attendance. A condition I can’t really / call being alive. / Is a prayer a gift, or a petition, / or does it matter? / The sunflowers blaze, maybe that’s their way. / Maybe the cats are sound asleep. Maybe not. / While I was thinking this I happened to be standing / just outside my door, with my notebook open, / which is the way I begin every morning. / Then a wren in the privet began to sing. / He was positively drenched in enthusiasm, / I don’t know why. And yet, why not. / I wouldn’t persuade you from whatever you believe / or whatever you don’t. That’s your business. / But I thought, of the wren’s singing, what could this be / if it isn’t a prayer? / So I just listened, my pen in the air.

surfing through rainbow sprays #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

Looking out over Long Beach from Gloucester side, November 10 2017, chilly and pretty surfing for a couple of dozen surfers, mesmerizing for onlookers

surfing through rainbows wave spray

Continue reading “surfing through rainbow sprays #GloucesterMA” →

Gloucester motif Monday: sky sand

Posted on by Catherine

From where I was standing, thinking about elegance and simplicity and finding a whole world or universe.

5:36 AM

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Dogtown Sumac

Posted on by Matthew Green

 

 

I love sumac at this time of year! Great colors, textures and lines. From a photo walk in Dogtown with the participants in my photography workshop.

– Matthew Green

Barred Owl Eating A Snake At Ravenswood Pics from Terry Weber

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Last Sunday I received a call from Ramona Latham at the Cape Ann Discovery Center (Ravenswood). She told me that a Barred Owl had set up a nest for her babies in one of the treetops. While I was snapping photos of the baby owls, the Mama* owl stopped by with lunch for her children. A nice plump snake! I have never seen an owl in real life, so this bit of luck was a special treat. Some quick facts about the barred owl:

¡    Commonly referred to as a “Hoot Owl.” Listen to its call here: http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/Song/h3680so.mp3
¡    A Barred Owl’s wingspan can reach 44 inches.
¡    They typically hunt at night or at dusk by sitting on a high perch, looking and listening for prey, which they catch with a short flight or drop to the ground.
¡    Adult Barred Owls swallow their prey whole. Their stomach acids digest the soft parts, and then they regurgitate a pellet containing the bones and hair.
¡    Barred Owls sometimes go fishing. They will wade knee-deep in water and catch fish with their feet.
¡    Barred Owls generally live alone except when mating or raising young, and are known to find the same mate every year.

Thanks to Ramona for her phone call. If you want to visit the Discovery Center or Ravenswood, click here for more info:  http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/ravenswood-park.html. Ramona runs a variety of fun and educational programs for children and adults throughout the year. Don’t miss out!

*This owl may have been the Papa owl too, no disrespect intended! J

Spring has sprung, with fragrant flowers and beautiful butterflies

Posted on by Matthew Green

This fragrant bush attracted both the butterfly and me... It is in front of a house next to the post office on Dale Ave.

-Fr. Matthew Green