Tag: Peter Todd

2017 Call for Applications for Gloucester’s 5th POET LAUREATE is OPEN!

Posted on by Catherine

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 9

Links for: 2017 Poet Laureate application (digital format) or 2017 Poet Laureate application (PDF format submit 5 copies).

The City of Gloucester’s Committee for the Arts announces the release of the 2017 Call for Applications for the four year position of Gloucester Poet Laureate. 

The position of Gloucester Poet Laureate is dedicated to building community through poetry and encouraging a love of poetry among people of all ages.  The position was most recently held by the late Peter Todd, appointed in 2014.  During Peter’s time as Poet Laureate, he generously shared his talents with his beloved City of Gloucester. 

Under City Ordinance, the process to select the Poet Laureate is administered by the Committee for the Arts and will involve a Selection Panel including representatives from the local literary community thanks to Eastern Point Lit House and The Gloucester Writers Center.  A recommendation from the Selection Panel will be forwarded to the Committee for the Arts for review and then forwarded on to the Mayor for nomination, subject to confirmation by the City Council.

The Call for Applications is available for download at the Committee for the Arts page on the City website: http://gloucester-ma.gov/index.aspx?nid=102.  Copies also are available at the Sawyer Free Library, the City of Gloucester Mayor’s Office, Eastern Point Lit House, the Gloucester Writer’s Center, and other locales.  Applications must be submitted by 12 pm on Friday, June 9th , 2017. Contact Judith Hoglander, Committee for the Arts with any questions.

gloucester CFTA City Hall WPA mural

 

Tomorrow Mayor Romeo Theken #pocketpoem by Peter Todd

Posted on by Catherine

What poem will you select to carry and share tomorrow for National Poem in Your Pocket Day  April 21, 2016?

Mayor Theken selected Little Child, a poem by Peter Todd, Gloucester Poet Laureate 2014-15.

Peter Todd Poem_ Little Child

City of Gloucester Mayor Romeo Theken National Poetry Month

Mayor Romeo-Theken encourages Gloucester students to send their original poem to the Office of the Mayor, 9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930 at any time throughout the year. She promises to read them! Students should include their name, which Gloucester school, their grade and teacher’s name.

For arts and culture, add your name to sign up sheets that are happening NOW or  email sefatia4arts@gloucester-ma.gov.

 

More Poem in Your Pocket around Cape Ann 

Rockport 2016

 

Tribute to FOB Peter Albert Todd

Posted on by Alicia Unleashed

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Photo by: Mary Barker

 

Our FOB and Ward 2 Councilwoman, Melissa Cox, has informed us of the passing of Peter Albert Todd. Earlier today Peter lost his very long battle with cancer. Peter Albert Todd was named Poet Laureate of the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in August, 2014.

Often referred to as the City Poet Laureate of Gloucester, Peter had been a life-long resident of the city that he loved.  He celebrated his love of everything Gloucester in his deeply personal and moving poems. His poems centered around such diverse topics as the Gloucester City Council, the city’s rich history, the fishing boats and working waterfront, Gloucester landmarks, individuals who have made Gloucester great, his adored family, and his deep personal Christian faith.

He was active in the Masonic Order for most of his life, Peter is twice Past Master of Tyrian Lodge, twice Past Master of Acacia Lodge, Past Master of Ashler Lodge, Past Master of Charles C. Dame Lodge, Past Worthy Patron of Martha Washington Chapter #21, OES, and was a faithful and loving Rainbow Dad for many years.  In 2004 Pete was honored with the Joseph Warren Medal for long and faithful service by order of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.  He celebrates his love of the Order in many of his poems.

Peter lived with the angel of his soul and the love of his life, his wife of over thirty years, Barbara. He has one daughter, Jenice; a granddaughter, Ashley; and two great-grandsons, Nathaniel and Daniel.

Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken will lower the flag in front of City Hall on behalf of Peter.

Peter and his wife Barbara would visit us daily at Mamie’s Kitchen and when Peter was not sipping his hot chocolate with us he headed over to see his long time friend, Dean Salah of Georges Coffee Shop. We often heard the untold stories of Gloucester’s past and he brought copies of his poems to coffee shop to share with everyone. Peter had the most positive attitude towards life and the picture below says it all.

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TIME

Time is a gift that one can spare
To help those who are in need
Just the knowing someone cares
Is a God given gift to all indeed
Time is also sharing flowers in view
Taking in their pleasant scents
Beneath the skies of heavenly blue
Rich of knowledge time well spent
As the years go by time does fly
Memories seem to all disappear
But as sure as the stars in night sky
Through God we have no fears
So treasure this gift in life each day
Share it with those you love
For does not the good book say
Trust in God beyond the sky above

by Peter Albert Todd

 

Annual Day in April is Simple Yet Profound – Kids Clutching Poems…

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Catherine Ryan submits ~

unnamedQueuing and sharing. Poem in Your Pocket Day fell on April 30. The power of poetry and listening was unforgettable. Try it yourself next year—bring extra Kleenex.

Mayor Romeo-Theken encourages Gloucester students to send their original poem to the Office of the Mayor, 9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA. She promises to read them! Students should include their name, which Gloucester school, their grade and teacher’s name.

Look for Poem in Your Pocket Day each April. It’s free and simple to participate. Carry a Poem. Share a Poem. For more information, search for Poem in Your Pocket Day (PIYP Day) Academy of American Poets (www.poets.org) or New York City’s excellent web site, http://www.NYC.gov/poem. PIYP Day started in NYC in 2002 inspired by theFavorite Poem Project established in 1997 by Robert Pinsky, former Poet Laureate of the United States. East Gloucester Elementary initiated PIYP Day in 2012 because it always celebrates literacy and arts. Students are encouraged to submit poems to the Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library’s Poetry without Paper contest.

The honorary post for the Gloucester Poet Laureate was created in 1998. There have been four poet laureates: Vincent Ferrini was the City’s first, then John Ronan, Ruthanne Collinson, and the current Poet Laureate, Peter Todd. The Committee for the Arts helps select a new Poet Laureate every four years.

Special thanks to the students; Mayor Romeo-Theken; East Gloucester Elementary school teachers and staff– especially Literacy Coach Melissa Francis; EGS PTO; poet laureate, Peter Todd, and former laureates John Ronan and Rufus Collinson. Student Cal White read Peter Todd’s poem, Friendship, for morning message. Visit Gloucester’s website for more information and to read the poems shared by the poet laureates.

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Peter Todd Fundraiser

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Lucinda Seigel writes that Peter Todd, Gloucester’s poet laureate, is currently in the hospital facing an uncertain outcome. She forwards along the fund rasing information: Any checks going into the account will have to be made payable to Peter Albert Todd Fundraising Campaign only.  Checks can be sent or delivered to the bank.  Any questions can be directed to Shannon Randazza at the Bank of Gloucester:

Shannon Randazza

Customer Service Representative

srandazza@bankgloucester.com

160 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930

978-283-8200 Ext. 213 Fax 978-2817283

GloucesterCast 103 Featuring Couples In Love Who Have Moved To Gloucester Taped 11/9/14

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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GloucesterCast 103 Featuring Couples In Love Who Have Moved To Gloucester Taped 11/9/14

Topics Include:The Rullis, The Scheetz, Jess and Dennis Brand, Lucinda Seigel, Kim Smith and Rich Bean with random appearance by Niece Amanda, What brought you to Gloucester?, Few Young Professionals On Commuter Rail, The progression Of The Scheetz on GMG from getting engaged to married to buying a house in Gloucester, Erin Rulli misses the saltiness of the old GMG, the storied history of Gloucester, The Beans moved to Gloucester after living in Medford forever, Gloucester Pride Today vs Gloucester Pride 20 years ago, Trying to remind people about the cool Gloucester landscape and seascapes, White Ninja, the inevitable backlash, Getting the Rullis back to Playa Del Carmen, Kimberley Scheetz looking forward to volunteering to clean the HarborWalk, Dinner Dealer 2015, North Shore Food and Gift Emporium, Amanda Pops In Wearing a Duck Outfit, Why Dinner Dealer Decks Are No-Brainers, Peter Todd Fundraiser, Shock Over Bottle Bill Election Results, Joey’s Mini Rant – The Rational Behind To-Go Containers Made Out Of Non-Microwavable Tins, Is there anything that is done at Willow Rest not exactly spot-on?, Willow Rest please open up a location in East Gloucester too!, Music Listings On GMG, Eliminating Penny Conversation, Emerson Brand Named After Emerson College, Kimberley Scheetz Responsible For Hundreds If No Thousands Of Train Derailments, Rechargeable Battery Discussion, Goddamn Bacon Donuts Are Driving Me Nuts,What is the rationale behind not retweeting or Facebook liking a complimentary post on someone’s business social media account?

podcasticon1GMG Couples podcast ©Kim Smith

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More Community Goings On

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Updates from Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team, Peter Todd at the Sawyer Free Library and Giggles Gloucester tonight at CACC.

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2014 11-13-14 PETER TODD POETRY2

Logos.AIRick Roth from Cape Ann Vernal pond Team writes:

We had a very nice pumpkin carving session at the Get Outside Center on October 25th. I know that was a long time ago, but I’ve been busy and I’m a little behind on my correspondence. Anywho… good crowd, lots of cool pumpkins. Check out photies on the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team Facebook page.

Here’s a cool thing:
We have an intern this year. His name is Ben Alger and he is a senior at Manchester/Essex Regional High School. He is a member of the Green Team and he has chosen CAVPT to work with. He is already at work on a long-awaited power point presentation, and those of us who are technologically impaired are looking forward to using his expertise in updating our website and working on our Facebook page. Welcome Ben.

As far as presentations and field trips go, this is a slow time of year. However, there’s lots to do. We need volunteers for:
Office critter care- frogs, salamanders and turtles. We can train you.
Fundraising- we need people to work on this, ideas. We have a lot of expenses.
We need board members- Secretary, treasurer, director.
Now that we have a nice facility on Main Street in Gloucester, it would be real nice if we could have people there to answer questions and show people some of our animals. I’m at my real job during those hours and I just can’t really spend much time there.

And… one really cool organization, Cape Ann Wildlife Inc., is having a fundraiser on Wednesday November 12th at Jalapenos Restaurant, 86 Main St., Gloucester from 4:30pm til closing. 10% of proceeds go to CAW. Please help support these great rehabilitators of Cape Ann Wildlife, eat fabulous food, maybe have a beverage, and rub elbows with other people who are interested in the natural world. See you there.

On line auction for CAVPT and Kestrel is still in progress. New items will be showing up soon. Bidding closes on December 7th. Check it out, there’s cool stuff on there.

Please consider volunteering for some aspect or another of CAVPT’s activities.