Good Morning Gloucester

Summer Picnic

Joey Ciaramitaro — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 03:50:00 +0000

Gary Dubinsky Photo

Junior Womens Seine Boat Champions Stroke Sisters

Pat D — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:25:00 +0000

The Stroke Sisters repeated as winners of the Junior Womens Seine Boat Champions with a strong performance at Friday’s Fiesta events. It’s very rewarding to see so many young women participating in this event! Here are a few shots from the winning team. More photos tomorrow.

Frank Neal Friday Greasy Pole Winner 2026

Pat D — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:09:00 +0000

As the first walker in the second competitive round of Friday’s Greasy Pole contest, Frank Neal decisively grabbed the flag and thrilled the spectators. He then walked back to his neighborhood where he was greeted enthusiastically. Here’s a quick view of the excitement. Great job done by all!

Salty Oars Repeat Womens Seine Boat Champions 2026

Pat D — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:00:00 +0000

A great race was run by the 3 Womens Seine Boat teams at Friday’s Fiesta events on Pavilion Beach. The race was close most of the way but Salty Oars prevailed in a very close finish with Boats and Barbells. Here are some photos from the finish. More to come tomorrow after I catch my breath from the excitement of the race.

Lobster Cove Glow

Joey Ciaramitaro — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Caitlin Smith Photo

1982 Seine Boats

Joey Ciaramitaro — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Jackie Bennett Photo

John Get in! Blues Brothers the Next Generation tonight. The Fools tomorrow. Ftd. at The Cut Fiesta weekend #GloucesterMA

Catherine — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:18:45 +0000

Viva Feva! St. Peter’s Fiesta 2026 is here!! #GloucesterMA hyped in the Boston Globe 2x this week: Billy Baker crowns St. Peter’s Fiesta as the best community festival bar none, and Cape Ann Museum reopening with a banger exhibition, Avery Rothko & Gottlieb not to miss!

Catherine — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:11:05 +0000

photos: 2026 June 26

“…So herein is my guide to a day trip to Fiesta (and my urging to do it once in your life; there really is nothing like it).
... The tide will be low all three days, which means you’ll have more room on the beach and the pole walkers will have more distance to fall. Both of these are good for you, because there will be thousands of people down there. Again, part of the charm. I’ve been taking my children since they were toddlers, and I’ve never felt any stress on the beach…”
Billy Baker “How and Why to go to St. Peter’s Festival” Boston Globe 2026 June 25

“The Cape Ann Museum Starts a New Chapter next week” Boston Globe

st.Peter’s Fiesta 2026 schedule and venmo– next year the 100th!— details for the sports, fair and entertainment, and the special Sunday mass and parade

2026 Fiesta 5K

Donna Ardizzoni — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:01:48 +0000

On Thursday night, Fiesta 5 K took place. There were 1800 runners and lots of supporters along the way. I went to the start to take a look who was running. As Pat D mentioned there was an impressive group running for Chris Daily. Enjoyed the young kids running and kids in strollers with four footed friends. Thank you everyone who sponsored and the committee who made this event a success.

Maine Moments

Paul Horovitz — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Roof in Bloom…

Paul Horovitz

Congratulations to our NEC Honorees from the Spring Season

Joey Ciaramitaro — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Greasy Pole Sail Bag From regina At Again and again. Currently For Sale At Alexandra’s Bread Co

Joey Ciaramitaro — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:22:21 +0000

Regina’s profile- https://www.instagram.com/againnagainsailbags/

Alexandra’s Bread Co is at 265 Main St Gloucester

Surfside Subs Today’s Specials are Here! 🔥

Joey Ciaramitaro — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

We’ve got delicious deals waiting for you today!

Lobster Roll Special – $18.99 + tax
Served with chips & pickles!

Pizza Specials
Buy any 18″ Pizza and get an 18″ Cheese Pizza for just $5
Buy any 16″ Pizza and get a 16″ Cheese Pizza for just $5
16″ Pizzas HALF OFF
Maximum of 2 half-price pizzas.

Excludes gluten-free crusts.
Pizza specials cannot be combined.
Excludes online orders.

2026 Friday Greasy Pole Walk

Pat D — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Frank Neal took home the Friday Greasy Pole flag in the second competitive round of over 40 walkers this year. Frank’s numerous attempts finally paid off and he will be walking with champions on Sunday from now on! Walker Chris Dailey was honored by several walkers and the Lily Jean crew was high on everyone’s mind as well. As usual, the spectators were treated to a number of colorful costumes and fancy moves across the pole and into the water. Congratulations to all the participants and organizers for this traditional event holding memories for many.

Fiesta 5K 2026 Is In The Books!

Pat D — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to the organizers (YMCA I’m talking to you), the volunteers (especially first responders) and the community for a wonderful Fiesta 5K for 1800 runners last night. It was an absolute mass of humanity especially along Rogers Street between runners and spectators out on a beautiful night for a run. I was especially impressed with the number of young people out there with friends and family, as well as with the impressive show of support for Chris Dailey. Well done people! Additional photos available at Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook if you are interested.

The Open Door FREE Summer Meals for Kids Program is Back!

Joey Ciaramitaro — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

June 26, 2026 ~ todtheopendoor ~

From left: Summer Meals for Meals Associates Erin Cole, Somer O’Brien, and Abby Dawson, with Nutrition Education Coordinator Rachel Orie. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)

The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids program is back! Local children and teens up to age 18 can get free breakfast and lunch meals at 16 locations across Cape Ann.

Last year, The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids program distributed 17,389 meals, all prepared in-house. The program has sites in Gloucester, Rockport, and Ipswich, and continues to add new locations each year.

Full schedule below:

Gloucester Walk-Up Locations

The Open Door at 28 Emerson Ave. From June 29-Aug. 28. Meals available for pick-up Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Riverdale Park at 1A Veterans’ Way from June 29-Aug. 28. Meals available Monday-Thursday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and Fridays from 11 to 11:45 a.m.
Willowood Gardens at 40 Willowood Rd. from June 29-Aug. 28. Meals available Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Pond View Village at 23 Lepage Lane from June 29-Aug. 28. Meals available Monday-Friday from 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Field Days at Burnham’s Field (with East Gloucester Community Church) from July 9-Aug. 27 on Thursdays, 11 to 11:45 a.m.
Story Hour at the Sawyer Free Library (with Backyard Growers) at the Saunders House Lawn on 88 Middle St. from July 9-Aug. 27 on Thursdays, 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Enrolled locations in Gloucester include: Gloucester High School, O’Maley Academy, Camp Spindrift, GPS Extended School Year at East Veterans, Literacy and Math Summer Learning at East Veterans, and Gordon STEAM Camp at East Veterans.

Ipswich Walk-Up Locations

Ipswich Community Food Pantry at 00 Southern Heights in Ipswich from July 1-Aug. 27. Meals available Wednesday-Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Three Sisters Garden Project at 2 Washington St. In Ipswich from June 29-Aug. 28. Meals available Monday-Friday from 12 to 1 p.m.

Enrolled location: Winthrop Elementary School.

Rockport Walk-Up Location

Rockport Public Library at 17 School St. In Rockport from June 22-Aug. 28. Meals Available Monday-Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The full schedule is also available at FOODPANTRY.org and will continue to be updated through the summer.

For the second year in a row, Summer Meals for Kids is being entirely funded by The Open Door. Previously, the program received federal funding. Today, it continues thanks to donations and sponsors of The Open Door.

About The Open Door

The mission of The Open Door is to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. We use practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in need, and to engage others in the work of building food security.

Founded in 1978, The Open Door is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit and community food resource center for low-income residents of Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, Boxford, Rowley, Topsfield, Wenham, and Georgetown. In 2025, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 12,780 people from 5,718 households through the distribution of 2.48 million pounds of food over 136,851 visits.

For more information, visit FOODPANTRY.org.

The Open Door FREE Summer Meals for Kids Program is Back!

Fiesta music 1983

Joey Ciaramitaro — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:30:00 +0000

Jackie Bennett Photo

Ahoy!

Joey Ciaramitaro — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Caitlin Smith Photo

Battle of Gloucester 1775 — pat morss

patmorss — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:50:00 +0000

Last weekend I spent Saturday at Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park watching the reenactment of the ‘Battle of Gloucester,’ and on Sunday Anne-Lise and I were aboard Thomas E Lannon for a different angle on the repeated reenactment. Capt John Lindsay, commanding the British sloop of war HMS Falcon, was on assignment to seize supplies and food from ships and farms along the coast to support the British troops occupying Boston. He sailed Falcon into Gloucester Harbor on Aug 8, 1775 accompanied by a captured American merchantman schooner (reenacted by Ardelle), while chasing another (Lewis H Story). The second schooner purposely ran aground to avoid capture. Capt Lindsay sent longboats to refloat her, and a separate “distraction” crew ashore to set fire to the town. The Gloucester militia thwarted all of his actions.

Stage Fort Park, with the town (L), and white tents (R) where the reenactors spent the night.

HMS Falcon sent longboats in to silence the Gloucester militia which was firing from shore.

Members of the town militia fired over the seawall at the longboats.

While others shot from behind the rocks on the beach.

British marines and sailors returned fire.

One of the longboat crews boarded the grounded American schooner to, unsuccessfully, refloat and capture her. Militia fire from shore killed 3 of the British and pinned down the rest.

Capt Lindsay ordered his naval prize schooner, with a British crew and American impressed (captured) sailors, to assist.

A town militia officer, during our lunch and reenactor-public interaction break.

A quiet moment in the British encampment, before the staged land battle.

Capt Lindsay bombarded Gloucester from Falcon and sent more forces ashore to burn the town. The impressed Americans exploded the powder early before setting fires, and the militia captured the British.

Gloucester’s fighting force of townspeople was ready to take on the king’s Royal Navy.

They met the British marines emerging from the beach.

Superior British firepower forceed the militia back through town.

The Americans knew the terrain, regrouped, and pushed the British back twice.

The third time, they routed the British down to the beach, their boats, and to Falcon to withdraw.

The score: Gloucester recaptured both American schooners, took 24 prisoners, freed American sailors impressed by the British, and lost 2 lives. HMS Falcon departed having accomplished none of her goals, losing American crew, and leaving 3 dead behind. This recounting of the battle at Stage Fort Park on June 20 and 21, 2026 is a combination of historical information, and how the reenactment was actually staged. They differ, particularly regarding the land battle.

This is it folks. Prime time Gloucester. We’ve been waiting all year for this! Let’s get after it

Joey Ciaramitaro — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000