My View of Life on the Dock
My dear friend Bridget Mathews Shares her amazing photos of Sunday Greasy Pole Champ Mark Allen and Saturday winner Kyle Barry capturing the prized flag made by brothers Thomas and Peter Favazza.
Click see more for photo gallery Continue reading “St. Peter’s Fiesta 2014 Saturday & Sunday Greasy Pole Winners Up Close & Personal”
Photo by Amy Powers Smith
Click see more for photo gallery Continue reading “2014 Fiesta Friday Jr. Girls Seine Boat Champs Xtra “Oar”Dinary””
Click see more for Photo Gallery Continue reading “Fiesta Friday Senior Women Seine Boat Race Winners “Oar’Dacious””
Brenda Barry Taormina Shares~ Lil Leonardo Taormina III and his friends ready to walk the pole! Cracking up at Cam Decoste as St Peter!
Maryann Kilman Shares~ My son the chef, GREAT COSTUM GUYS for the greasy pole. Viva !
To View Part I and The Rest of Our Saint Peter’s Fiesta Coverage Click Here
Tommy After Capturing The Flag
The stand used to carry St. Peter through the streets of Gloucester
Click see more for more photos from last night festivities, Novena Prayer Service, Mass, & Procession to Beach Court Opening Ceremony and St. Peters Club Continue reading “St. Peter Novena Day 9 The Mass & Procession Returning St. Peter to the Club Window”
You wanna talk history? You wanna talk about passion? Listen as the Tommy and Peter Favazza talk about the years of dedication they have given as makers of the Greasy Pole Flags and Fiesta Committee members. This is what it’s all about: the complete giving of time and energy so everyone gets to enjoy the pageantry and tradition kept alive by families like the Favazzas.
Last nights rosary ended with one of my favorite novena songs Padre Pio #2… “The Godmother” had the crowd waving their hands to the beat of the music!….Rosie Verga’s statement,during the closing prayer… “That song was a treat for all of us here tonight and a perfect way to end tonight’s rosary.”
The American legion Hall was quickly cleaned and reset for tonight’s last 2014 St. Peter Novena and Ceremonial Rosary Mass after last nights Novena
Continue reading “St. Peter Novena Day 7”
Last night Daughter Amanda sends my husband (AKA St. Barry) this text message at 9:45 pm…”Dad did you make my seine boat seat? I need it for 5:30 am practice.” Guess what St. Barry found himself doing 10pm last night….???
The St. Peter Fiesta Seine Boat crew members can easily be identified walking around St. Peter Square, and the Beach Court area, this week sporting; taped hands, rowing gloves, custom designed crew shirts, wooden plank cushion seats, and bed pillows. For “Seine Boat Rowers,” having the “right seat” is an absolute necessity. At the beging of practice week, rowers except the known fact of their likelihood of rowing race day with blistered hands, but the thought of racing with a blistered bottom is the one thing all rowers commonly share a fear of, and don’t want to become their painful reality to have to deal with. One of the first recommendations shared by senior crew members is the importance of having a comfortable seat that will protect your bottom and get you to race day without blisters. Having the perfect seat cushion and gloves are crucial to rowing a successful race. Each rower will fasten their “custom cushion” to their personal “liking” immediately upon boarding the boat. This ritual takes president over other preparations of adjusting footboards, taping hands and the tying in of oars. You will notice in the photo below some rowers, like my daughter Amanda, use wooden planks under a cushion to raise them up off the boats bench. Some fasten a cushion directly to the bench with duck tape, and others, wrap their cushion in a slippery fabric or trash bag before fastening it to the bench of the boat, with the hope of lessening the friction caused by the repetitious back-and-forth rowing motion. The Senior Crew members are really great about guiding the younger crews through the week of practices. Their love for the sport and passion to keep the “Fiesta Races” thriving for future generations is what drives them to teach younger crews all the special tips they have learned over the years. Their spirit is infectious… Viva Sam Pedro!
Continue reading “The Seine Boat Seats…”
Huge thanks to the Linquata family for allowing us into their home and sharing their story of family, love and tradition. It is families like this that make it all so special for all of us to enjoy. So many stories, so much love, so much passion, and who wins? Everyone in our close knit community. The people who think the Fiesta is about the carnival and the rides are missing out. They have no idea how much work goes in behind the scenes by beautiful families like the Linquatas. Thanks for all you do to make it the most special time of year for so many.
Your labor of love and dedication will not go unnoticed if we have anything to say about it.
Look for tomorrow’s video with the Favazzas who make the Greasy Pole Flags. GMG behind the scenes for Saint Peter’s Fiesta 2014.
Videos Part I and II
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Photo by Bridgett Mathews
Christopher Quinlan, grandson of Marie Linquata, is the man behind the scenes faithfully helping out each night. Christopher assists guests in and out of the elevator, assembles extra tables and chairs as needed, and keeps the activity in the kitchen running smoothly for “Novena Coffee Time”. He is the perfect role model for our younger generation. Chris is committed to doing his part to keep this deep rooted Sicilian Tradition of “novena” alive for future generations by stepping up to the plate and getting involved. Hat’s off to Christopher! Thank you for all you do.
Each evening during the opening prayer service Rosie Verga, talks about the Children, and how important it is to bring the younger generation to the St. Peter Novena. Rosies words are so very true. Our children are the future of the Feast of St. Peter, and of all our deep rooted Sicilian Traditions. It is vital to the tradition they we expose them and keep them involved. Last night two little blessings, Dante Linquata and Phoenix Curcuru entertained us with their dancing and sweet voices of laughter as they played together during the rosary.
Click see more for photos from last night Novena Continue reading “St. Peter Novena Day 5”
Maryjane Carollo, owner of Elite Nail Salon, is truly a master nail technician. Maryjane has been fancying up the finger nails of her clients with her amazing skills and nail art for over 23 years. A few days ago Maryjane, posted the photo and comment shown below advertising her latest works of holiday nail art on Facebook…I called immediately for an appointment and had my nails done yesterday! Thank you …I love them!
Continue reading “Fiesta & 4Th of July Nail Art at Elite Nail Salon”
Day 4 St. Peter Novena
To hear songs “Piu Presso a te” and “San Pietro Santo” from St. Peter Novena click link below
Photo by Bridgett Mathews
St. Peter Novena Day #3
The warm weather didn’t stop the faithful women of Gloucester from filling the American Legion Hall for last nights St. Peter Rosary.
Last nights head table leading the rosary from left, Rosalie Liaichino, Grace Favazza, and Mary Russo
To hear “Madonna del mare” a song from last night click video below
It’s customary for the rosary women to gather around a table of homemade Italian Pastries, Cookies, and coffee after the prayer service each night.
Judith Monteferrante Writes~ Same bird attacked my car near Beauport on Eastern Point and now traveling to the Enclave to check out my bird feeders. Lonesome devil! Always alone! Judith
Photos sent in by Judith Monteferrante
Sista Felicia~ He was originally walking with 4 other turkeys on field of grass when we first noticed them on our way to the breakwater for a walk. As we drove past the field leaving Eastern Point, the aggressive Turkey left his friends in the grassy field and attacked our truck. It was a crazy scene, one like you see on TV. with hidden camera crews filming undercover. I didn’t want to hurt the bird, but every time I tried to drive away it chased and pecked the sides of the truck and its tires. When we finally managed to drive away from the aggressive turkey he chased us from behind…It was an experience we will be talking about for awhile….so many laughs!
Last night I was invited to speak about my personal journey of writing my first cookbook “Gifts Of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia, Harvest” with the members of the Holy Family Parish guild’s monthly meeting. What a fun we had! Thank you ladies for inviting me. It was a pleasure talking about old recipes, and my families altar for the upcoming Feast of St. Joseph with you all!
Good Morning Gloucester 
