A spectacular day of racing for rowers and fans at Niles Beach, Gloucester

Yesterday morning, rowers of the International Dory Racing Committee took to the water to compete for the right to represent the US in the upcoming International races (June 18th @ Jodrey State Fish Pier Gloucester, MA).  But first they had to wait out the fog that kept rolling in and out off the beach.  The first heat included two new tandems to the Mixed Doubles race in Alex Pizzamenti/John Francis and Rachel Cecilio/Bill Edmonds. While both teams showed fast boat speed to the flags, a bad turn by Cecilio/Edmonds opened the door for Pizzamenti/Francis to take the lead and the victory and will move on to face the Canadians.  In the second race of the day we had new comers Malarie McGilvrey/Jaclyn Innis face off against new pairing of 2015 US Mixed Double champ Lily Jean Sanfilippo and Three time US Women’s champ Amanda Palazzola.  Both teams showed good form and steady boat speed to the flag.  McGilvrey/Innis made it out of the turning flag first and pushed it home to the finish boat for the win and right to face the Canadians.  The last heat of the day in the 1/2 mile course was the Over 50 Division featuring 2015 US Champ Alex Thomas and new comer David McWillim against multi-time US Over 40 champs John Scola/Mike Harmon.  John and Mike out lasted the former champ and partner and will move on to International competition

On the mile course the Men’s Open Division held 7 teams in 2 heats to narrow down the field to Monday night’s final (6 PM at Niles Beach, Gloucester, MA).  The first heat pitted multi-time International champs Jimmy Tarantino/Joe Cominelli and Joe Sanfilippo/Mark Duval facing Mark/Chris Giacalone and youngster Peter Taormina/(two racer) Mike Harmon.  With the teams jockeying at the starting line causing multiple attempts to start the race, finally the horn sounds and the race was on with the veterans Jimmy/Joe getting out to an early lead and held it the whole way to the finish with Joe/Mark and Mark/Chris battling back and forth the whole mile for second and third and with Peter/Mike rounding out the field.  In the second heat, multi-time International champs Glenn Harrington/Erik Dombrowski faced off against former US champ Vito Giacaline with brother Nick Giacalone and youngsters Sam Taormina/Vincent Tarranova.  The wind picked up just in time for the second race to start.  With a quick start Vito/Nick jumped ahead by a couple boats with Glenn/Erik and Sam/Vincent following.  All three boats pushed the pace all the way to the flags but the wind forced all boats a little off course.  Vito/Nick still held their lead at the turn and kept the lead all the way to the finish line and the win with Glenn/Erik and Sam/Vincent battling for second and third the whole way home.  With the win Vito/Nick Giacalone will face off against Jimmy T/Joe Cominelli Monday night @ 6 PM off Niles Beach.  With only seconds between the two races we look forward to a great final elimination race Monday night to crown the US Men’s Open champ.  Overall, it was a great day of racing for participants and the fans crowding the beach to route on the rowers.  Special thanks to committee support staff who make these races possible:  Joe Novello, Geno Mondello, Glenn Harrington, Billy Edmonds, Rick Medico, Janelle Dombrowski, Gus Sanfilippo, Jimmy Tarantino & Alex Thomas along with all of our loyal supporters.

Saturday, June 11th at 10:00a.m.

Take a leisurely walk past select Gloucester houses made famous by painter Edward Hopper.

Guided walking tours are held rain or shine and last about 1½ hours; participants should be comfortable being on their feet for that amount of time. $10 members; $20 nonmembers (includes Museum admission). Space is limited; reservations required. Call (978)283-0455 x10 or email info@capeannmuseum.org for details. Tickets can also be purchased online at Eventbrite.

Not a member of the Museum? Join now and get discounted tickets to all our events!

American realist painter Edward Hopper is known to have painted in Gloucester on five separate occasions during the summer months in the years 1912, 1923, 1924, 1926 and 1928. His earliest visit in 1912 was made in the company of fellow artist Leon Kroll. During his second visit to Cape Ann in 1923, Hopper courted the young artist Josephine Nivison. He also began working in watercolor, capturing the local landscape and architecture in loosely rendered, light filled paintings. In 1924, Hopper and Nivison who were newly married returned to Gloucester on an extended honeymoon and continued to explore the area by foot and streetcar. During his final two visits to the area, in 1926 and 1928, Hopper produced some of his finest paintings. This special walking tour will explore the neighborhood surrounding the Museum, which includes many of the Gloucester houses immortalized by Hopper’s paintings.

Image credit: Edward Hopper, American, 1882-1967. Universalist Church, 1926. Watercolor over graphite on cream wove paper, 35.6 x 50.8 cm. (14 x 20 in.). Princeton University Art Museum. Laura P. Hall Memorial Collection, bequest of Professor Clifton R. Hall x1946-268. Photo: Bruce M. White.

11^th Staged Readings:  10-Minute Plays at Rocky Neck Cultural Center

Six ten minute plays written by participants in M. Lynda Robinson’s workshop at the Gloucester Writers Center will be presented at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center on Sunday, June 12, at 6pm with a reception to follow.  The playwrights are:  Shep Abbott, Jeana Grady, Ann McArdle, David McCaleb, Flinda Nix, M. Lynda Robinson, and Stan Spencer.

The GWC welcomes this opportunity to bring together writers and audience as a community event.  The writers and professional local actors will present a lively show and are looking forward to response and feedback from the audience as part of developing their works from page to stage.  Providing a space in the community for voices to be heard through writing, dialogue, and the artistic process is a big part of the GWC’s mission.  Suggested donation for the event is $10, $5 for students, and no one turned away for lack of funds.  Find out more about the Gloucester Writers Center at www.gloucesterwriters.org

Weather permitting, the Gloucester Area Astronomy Club and HPSP present the first summer star party of 2016 at the Halibut Point Visitor Center, from dusk to 10:00 pm on Saturday night, June 4. There is no cost.

The club will have telescopes set up for the public to look through; we’ll see Jupiter and its moons, Mars, Saturn, summer star clusters and galaxies, colorful binary stars, and more. Come on out and say hello to Summer with a guided tour through your wonderful dark Cape Ann skies.

Please park in the paved lot off of Gott Ave, and walk the short distance up the hill to the Visitor Center. If it’s overcast we’ll try again on July 9.

The Gloucester Area Astronomy Club meets on the first Friday of the month from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm at the Lanesville Community Center, 8 Vulcan Street in Lanesville. All are welcome; parking is free and there are no dues or fees. No special knowledge or equipment is needed to have a great time. For more info on the club please see the web page, at http://gaac.us, the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/gaacpage, or you can follow the club on Twitter, @GAACster.

Thursday, June 2, 2016 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

The “Gloucester Wears Orange” events are being coordinated by Amanda Cook and Rose Sheehan. A vigil at 7:30 PM is being hosted by the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church.

You can help spread the word by wearing orange and lighting the night with orange. If you would like to light your business orange to show support let us know! Contact us at https://www.facebook.com/events/1808640406032023/