TOWN CRIER
June 15, 2021: The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway is a 90-mile roadway that links 14 coastal communities from Lynn to Salisbury and features scenic views, period architecture, historic sites and recreational opportunities: https://coastalbyway.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ecsb_report_summary.pdf
June 13, 2021: The newly formed Gloucester Cultural and Civic Center has a plan to build The Gloucester Forum, a proposed 76,000 square foot state-of-the-art cultural and civic center that includes a main stage theater, studio theater, rehearsal rooms, conference center, as well as offices for maritime and nonprofit arts organizations. Mark Bobrowski will provide research and legal services related to the zoning issues for the parcel. He will advise the board members and make recommendations for a strategy for success. This may include
researching previous zoning exemptions for businesses such as the Beauport Hotel, GMGI and Cruiseport. Drawing on his depth of knowledge of municipal zoning, Mark will be invaluable to their work as they lead up to their 2022 request to the Gloucester City Council. Click here to see their presentation.
June 13, 2021: Conservation Commission meeting June 16 at 6 PM, may be a big night. Of particular interest to the public, Notice of Intent (NOI) 28-2776 for 11 Webster Street and Request for Determination (RDA) for 1703 Salt Island: SKM_28721061112180 (gloucester-ma.gov)
June 13, 2021: Community Preservation Committee meeting Tuesday June 15 at 6 PM, applicant presentations, round 1: SKM_28721060913420 (gloucester-ma.gov)
June 13, 2021: City Council O&A sub-committee Monday June 14 at 6 PM regarding CC order #2021 - 12 presented by Scott Memhard to consider adopting pilot changes in 2019 Beach & Stage Fort Park regulations relating to surfing at Good Harbor Beach. Flexibility will be discussed to accommodate surfers. This is a good initiative. SKM_28721060909110 (gloucester-ma.gov)
June 13, 2021: Regarding mosquito control in Massachusetts, the group Safe Mosquito Control, https://www.facebook.com/safemosquitocontrol.ma, thanks you for your recent support of the Mosquito Control Municipal Opt-Out Application process.
The State is reviewing 34 completed Municipal Opt-Out applications. We now await review and approval by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and Department of Public Health.
According to Craig Gilvarg, EEA Deputy Communications Director, opt-out applications will be “reviewed with consideration of historical arbovirus risk, the impact of the opt-out application regionally, and the implementation of an alternative mosquito management plan.”
If any applications are deemed deficient for approval, there needs to be comments returned to the municipality for amendment and resubmission to the State. Declination by the State should not be an option.
ACTION NEEDED:
Please contact the following and request the approval of all Municipal Opt-Out applications:
Caroline Higley at the EEA caroline.higley2@mass.gov
State Senator and State Representative: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Mosquito Task force for the 21st Century https://www.mass.gov/.../comments-for-the-mosquito...
Additionally, as a courtesy, you can find two form letters here the group has created for your convenience when contacting EEA or your elected officials.
June 10, 2021: Ordinances and Administration Committee meeting on June 14 at 6PM Councilor LeBlanc's CC Order 2020-03 requests a review of the city charter: SKM_28721060909110 (gloucester-ma.gov)
June 10, 2021: GLOUCESTER MEANS BUSINESS
June 7, 2021: For a better understanding of the chain of command in Gloucester please see the City's organization chart. It's noteworthy who really is in charge . . . Read more . . .
June 7, 2021: City Council meeting June 8 at 6:00 PM. It's a public hearing regarding 11 Webster Street for building in excess of Sec 3.2 limits and building heights in excess of 35 feet in the R-20 District: SKM_28721060408550 (gloucester-ma.gov)
June 7, 2021: Over the weekend Patti Amaral shared a letter she had submitted for a Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review regarding Mattos Field and its proposed appropriation for a new school. Read More . . .
June 4, 2021: Fiscal 2020 Comprehensive Annual Report http://www.gloucester-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7505/City-of-Gloucester-CAFR-2020?bidId=
June 2, 2021: Planning Board will meet Thursday June 3 at 5:00 PM
on the agenda is a continued public hearing for the proposed Upper Banjo Cluster Development: SKM_28721060111380 (gloucester-ma.gov)
June 2, 2021: Special Events Committee meets Thursday June 3 at 2:00 PM
Click here for a full list of events planned for this season in Gloucester: SKM_28721060111310 (gloucester-ma.gov)
“I have yet to be convinced that blanketing the state with pesticides is a good public health strategy,” said Julia Blatt, executive director of Massachusetts Rivers Alliance. “It seems crazy to me that we’re asking water suppliers to spend millions of dollars to remove PFAS from public water supplies to make them safe, while continuing to spread pesticides, some of which we know contain PFAS.”
In Gloucester, there were other concerns, especially from the lobster industry:
Patti Page, an outspoken resident who works for a local lobster business, noted that mosquitoes and lobsters are both arthropods and vulnerable to the same threats.
“What kills a mosquito kills lobsters just as effectively,” she said.
Before the new law took effect, she noted, Gloucester didn’t allow spraying and has seen no reason to change.
“This took away all local control,” she said. “This was very concerning to me.”
GOSSIP WITH GERTI
Gertrude hears a lot, some of it's rumor, some of it's not. All of it is what she thought she heard, after all she's just a bird.
June 13, 2021: The North Shore Alliance for Economic Development, https://northshorealliance.org/communitypages/gloucester/, is marketing 65 Roger Street, better known as I4-C2. NSAED states "Given its highly visible and attractive location on the waterfront, this property has great value in its ability to attract activity." Gerti wonders just what the heck that means, ability to attract activity - not industry, not economic development but "activity" in a Marine Industrial (MI) zone protected and encumbered by Designated Port Area (DPA) restrictive uses: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/czm-port-and-harbor-planning-program-designated-port-areas ?
June 10, 2021: From the office of Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Mass Cultural Council's list of fiscal year 2021 grants as of April 6, 2021: Ferrante_FY21.pdf (massculturalcouncil.org)
June 7, 2021: In the recent State Port by Port report https://www.mass.gov/doc/port-by-port-profiles-and-analysis-of-the-massachusetts-commercial-fishery/download the state strongly recommends a public hoist - which was recently reported in the GDT. Let's hope this is one of the improvements that will be implemented.
June 7, 2021: During the P&D meeting of June 2nd Ward 2 Councilor Barry Pett announced the City will be making some upcoming changes to St. Peter's Square parking area and providing parking for fishermen there. Who has these plans? What are these changes?
June 2, 2021: Deep Poop on the local mainstream media: The Cape Ann Beacon will no longer be published after July 25, 2021. All legal notices will need to be published in the Gloucester Daily Times.
June 2, 2021: Deep Poop on parking: There are new rules around parking for residents in GDT: https://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/city-limits-beach-area-parking-to-residents/article_2df3fbd7-dd03-5a64-926d-282bc6217149.html
June 1, 2021: Deep Poop on city hall security: The gatekeeper at city hall has left.
May 30, 2021: Deep Poop on the harbormaster's building: Gertie just heard that the newly renovated harbor master's complex has already accommodated a number of training programs for the waterfront community . . . and it's looking pretty nice. Read More . . .
BOOK REVIEW
LIVE NOT BY LIES
Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents Penguin Random House LLC, 2020, Rod Dreher 229 pp. $27.00
If you are alarmed about the rise of Leftist progressive ideologies, the cancel culture of wokeness, and the suspension of civil liberties (freedom of speech and freedom of worship in particular), this book explains how we got to this point, and more importantly, what can be done about it. While the fire storm of cultural revolution swept the nation last summer, Dreher was in the process of publishing this book. According to Dreher, the United States has long been sliding into what he calls “soft totalitarianism”. And Christians are in the crosshairs.
In the first section, Dreher provides historical context for the rise of totalitarianism in the Soviet Bloc and interweaves it with interviews of Christian dissidents who survived it. He points out how much of what happened then, corresponds to what is happening in our country now. What can be done?
The answer is to “live not by lies” as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn exhorted before he was exiled in 1974. Drawing on lessons learned from resistance heroes, Dreher outlines steps to surviving and living in truth: form small groups, strengthen family, reclaim religion (even if the church is shuttered) preserve cultural memories and stand in solidarity. It may be a long resistance, but he says, “we are still here…where there is memory and desire there is hope.”
Senior editor at The American Conservative, Dreher lives in Baton Rouge, LA. He has written and edited for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and National Review, and is the bestselling author of The Benedict Option.
Juanita Rivera
OPINIONS
Invitation to Freedom Protest and Rally 12:00 PM Stage Fort Park, June 19, 2021
by Dianne Palmer Eason
I'm afraid of what quality of life future generations are going to have because of the choices, actions or, worse, inactions I choose. I'm an old woman and the loss of freedoms won't alter my life much but it will, indeed, affect your children and mine.
We have much more in common than not, yet often we find ourselves bogged down in the differences. If, like me, you ask why and how we got to this point, and what can be done to stop the direction of our country, I invite you to join us on Saturday, June 19, in a Freedom Protest and Rally at Stage Fort Park, beginning at noon. The event welcomes all -- Democrats, Republicans, Independents, those with no affiliation, and those who aren't the least bit political. Anyone who cares about the future country we're leaving for our kids is welcome. We can all come together to enjoy just being free of the encumberments of the past year and to celebrate life.
All those little moments we took for granted that were missing will be represented. There will be live music, children’s games and activities, and a host of speakers. The line-up includes guest speakers and freedom supporting candidates such as Constitutional attorney Marc Randazza, Constitution of States, Camp Constitution, Mass Stands Up, Health Rights MA, GOUSA founder John Paul Moran, local small business owners Ashley Sullivan, Sylvie Lockerova, Peter Sklivas, and so many more. It is a chance to hear what they have to say, look them in the eye, and learn who is the person for the job at this critical point in our children's and country's path forward.
The event, hosted by the Gloucester Republican City Committee and 40 families from all beliefs and walks of life, is intended to bring us together in a peaceful gathering to stand up for the freedoms that are quickly being eroded and will ultimately affect the long-term rights and quality of life for our kids. We can talk, laugh, share, and be the Change We Want to see.
Everyone, regardless of where they stand, is invited and encouraged to come and pack up a picnic, load up the grill, and enjoy the great sense of coming together as a freedom-loving community after a very long last 15 months of many trials.
If you are a freedom supporting candidate or organization and would like to be part of this event, please contact the GRCC committee chair Ashley Sullivan at 978-879-6560.
Dianne Eason is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
She is a gardener, a planner, patriot and lifelong resident of Gloucester.
BIRDWIRD by Hillygene
The Crèche
Cuthbert & the Eider Duck
Perhaps the animal most associated with St Cuthbert today is the eider duck, or Cuddy duck (Cuddy being a shortened form of Cuthbert).
ABOUT US
Robin Hubbard: PUBLISHER
(978)290-2462 robinjeanhubbard@comcast.net
Patti-Ann Page: CONTRIBUTOR
Hilary Frye: ILLUSTRATOR
You can find her along the waterfront.
Juanita Rivera: EDITOR and GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
Gertrude: ANONYMOUS LIKE AA . . .
A Noble Vision of Gulls: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/a-noble-vision-of-gulls/