Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL: NEXT WEEKEND!

~ Joey Ciaramitaro

This year’s Gloucester Schooner Festival will set a record for number of schooners participating. Twenty five schooners will descend on Cape Ann to participate in the 32nd annual Festival.

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In the large schooner category, Columbia returns to defend her  title as fastest schooner in the fleet, while Adventure, Roseway, Lettie Howard, American Eagle and Liberty Clipper will attempt to dethrone last year’s champion. Adventure is particularly excited about this year’s race as it seeks to celebrate its 90th birthday with a win on Sunday. 

We welcome five schooners that have not been here before, or have not been here in some time. These vessels include Ishmael, Principles and Tree of Life in the mid-sized schooner category, and Ishtar and Malabar II in the small schooner category. A complete list of participating schooners is included with this press release.

“This is my favorite weekend of the year,” says Tom Ellis, long-time schooner captain and one of the patriarchs of the local schooner community.

The celebrations begin Friday evening. The City will be hosting a Block Party on Main Street and Maritime Gloucester, host of the Schooner Festival, will host its annual Gala, Evening Under the Spars at Gloucester’s new Beauport Hotel (sold out).

Festivities on Saturday start at 10:00 am on Harbor Loop under the First Ipswich Pavilion Tent at Maritime Gloucester. Maritime Heritage day celebrates our fishing and schooner heritage with an array of organizations offering interactive exhibits as well as local vendors and artists who will be in attendance. Heritage day is fun for all ages and is a great way to kick off Schooner Festival Weekend. Maritime Gloucester’s museum will be open free of charge throughout the day. Schooners will be located around the Harbor and information about the schooners and their locations will be available at Heritage Day. For example, the Schooner Adventure will be located at the State Fish Pier and will be open for deck tours.

Additional Saturday activities include a lobster bake at the Gloucester House Restaurant followed by the Boat “Parade of Lights” which kicks off at 7:30pm and Fireworks over Gloucester Harbor around 9:15pm

Sunday’s Parade of Sail Kicks off at 10:30 am, proceeding from Gloucester’s Inner Harbor past Stacy Boulevard to the starting area of the Mayor’s Race on Eastern Point. Key viewing areas include the Boulevard and Stage Fort Park. The Mayor’s Race starts at 1:00pm. The race is a remembrance of the rekindling of the schooner race of the 1920’s off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia between the Canadian Schooner Delawanna and the U.S. Schooner Esperanto.  A press boat is available for a limited number of photographers.

Lead sponsors of the Festival include: First Ipswich Bank, the City of Gloucester, Market Basket and Institution for Savings. For a full list of sponsors, go to the Schooner Festival website. The Festival raises much needed funds from the community by offering a raffle in addition to corporate underwriting support. Please purchase raffle tickets at Maritime Gloucester or during Maritime Heritage Day.

Maritime Gloucester is a 501(c) (3) non-profit institution whose mission is to inspire students and visitors to value marine science, maritime heritage and environmental stewardship through hands-on education and experiences. Its one-acre campus is located on Gloucester Harbor at 23 Harbor Loop, adjacent to the Coast Guard Station. For more information go to www.maritimegloucester.org or like us on Facebook.

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Author of Granite Cove Mysteries, Gloucester native, releases third book with Cape Ann setting

~ Joey Ciaramitaro
Hi Joey:
I wonder if you could find space to mention my 3rd Granite Cove Mystery, Laugh ’til You Die. 
The “sleepy fishing village” of Granite Cove is based on Gloucester and Rockport, where I grew up. Although Gloucester is many
things, “sleepy” is not one of them.) In any event, the North Shore is the setting for these humorous and suspenseful mysteries.
Last month the Gloucester Daily Times (where I used to write) and Salem News (where I write a humor column) did a story on the release:

 

On September 20 I will be interviewed by John Ronan for The Writer’s Block.

I am a Gloucester native although I now live in Beverly Farms, not far away. In fact, up until a couple of years ago I had a writing/art studio at the Blackburn Building in the West End for 12 years. I’m also a cartoonist/illustrator who did all 3 covers of my Granite Cove Mysteries.
I would appreciate any space you can spare.
Best regards,
Sharon Love Cook

Trash/Recycling Update: 8/26/16 4:00 PM

~ Joey Ciaramitaro

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Trash/Recycling Update: 8/26/16 4:00 PM

We would like to thank the residents for their patience and understanding during this past week. All trash routes for the week are complete.

Currently we are running 2 days behind in the recycling routes. Wednesday’s recycling in the down town area,(Maplewood Ave and surrounding side streets) is complete. They are currently working in the Wheeler’s Point Area. We hope to complete the Wheeler’s Point section. In the event that it is not completed, this will be the first area that gets picked up tomorrow morning. They will then continue with Thursday and Friday’s recycling routes.

City Offices are currently closed. If you would like to report a missed trash or recycling stop, please use our See Click Fix feature and city staff will be notified.

Again, we would like to thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter and will keep you updated as new information becomes available.
— 

Rose LoPiccoloExecutive Secretary to

The Director of Public Works


City of Gloucester

Department of Public Works

28 Poplar Street

Gloucester, MA 01930


Phone  (978)281-9785

Fax     (978)281-3896


www.gloucester-ma.gov



Public Records Law

Please be aware that all communications pertaining to City of Gloucester Massachusetts matters, including e-mail sent or received, are a public record subject to disclosure under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. If requested, e-mail may be disclosed to another party unless exempt from disclosure. E-mails are retained by the City of Gloucester in compliance with Massachusetts Public Records Retention Schedule. All Electronic messages sent through the City of Gloucester system are archived in conformance with the Massachusetts and federal Public Records law. 

Mums 2016

~ Joey Ciaramitaro

THIS IS OUR TIME TO SHINE

ESSEX COMES ALIVE EVERY FALL WITH MUMS EVERYWHERE

LET’S DECORATE THE TOWN

LET’S MAKE MAIN STREET COME ALIVE

LET’S ADD SOME DRAMATIC LOCAL COLOR

LET’S ATTRACT SOME ATTENTION

LET’S SHOW SOME LIFE…SOME TOWN SPIRIT

LET’S MAKE THIS A GREAT EVENT

THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY  TO LOOK OUR VERY BEST

The Essex Merchants Group, the Essex Division of the Chamber of Commerce, the Essex Enhancement Committee and the Essex River Cultural District will be sponsoring this event again this year. Thousands of colorful potted mum plants will be delivered to the parking lot of Main Street Antiques on September 19th. These locally grown plants will be sold for $5.00 each to those taking part in the MUMS THE WORD campaign. (Checks payable to Essex Merchants Group)

Decorate your store front, porch and yard. Everyone is invited. Please let us know that you, your business or organization will be participating and how many plants you want us to order for you. In addition, if you are an individual, a business or an organization and would like to adopt a site or make a donation to the Mums Fund you can send it to

For more information call Bob Coviello (978-768-7039) or email robertcoviello@hotmail.com 

www.VisitEssexMa.com