.JPG/:/cr=t:12.77%25,l:0%25,w:74.46%25,h:74.46%25/rs=w:1209,h:1280)
OPINIONS
September 7, 2021: "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face."
by Dianne Eason
Those are the words often stated by my mother and grandmother when, as a young girl, I'd get angry at someone or something because they hurt my feelings or called me out on behavior that was less than was expected of me. My thoughts at that childish level of maturity was on getting even somehow but, thankfully, I've learned from those words. I'm much more measured with things that evoke a visceral reaction.
To me, that same angry, poor-me response by some in the employ of the citizens of Gloucester to Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken calling them out for not doing the jobs they were hired to do, or working against the interests of the taxpayers is, essentially, cutting off their (and our) noses to spite their face.
From the day Sefatia came on the political scene more than a decade ago, she has been exactly who she is today: determined, untiring, unwavering, dedicated, passionate, loud, loving, caring, generous, and she is unwilling to give up on doing the right thing for the citizens of our beautiful city. That may require stepping on a few toes at times. Being a leader isn't always sunshine and lollipops for those from whom much is expected.
But there seems to be a deliberate political hit job afoot, engineered by those who don't have nearly the balls or heart that Sefatia does. They seem to have gotten their feelings hurt, and don't know how to deal with that except by hurting us all by taking her down in some fashion.
Shame on them.
Not one candidate in the field for mayor can do a better job than the one we already have. If she wasn't doing the job, I'd be the first to be calling her out. That's not to say I always agree, but I see her love for all things Gloucester, her determination to make sure seniors and fishermen and all citizens are taken care of, and I respect the hell out of her.
The budget is balanced, the retirement plans are fully funded, the tourism industry is better than ever, the fishermen have a strong advocate, grants are being ardently pursued and received, our infrastructure is being addressed, our mayor is fully accessible, and runs herself ragged trying to honor and respect all citizens here. She loves this city from her core. She is Gloucester, Gloucester is her.
Why would you try to "fix" what isn't broken. Please, get out and vote for Sefatia Romeo Theken in the primary on September 14.
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face, please.
TOWN CRIER
August 30, 2021: Press Release: The Ten Taxpayer plaintiffs who are fighting to save Mattos Field have filed a Notice of Appeal with the Massachusetts Appellate Court. The plaintiffs and many of their supporters across Massachusetts strongly disagree with the Superior Court's ruling that permitted the City of Gloucester to proceed with the school project, CLICK HERE.
August 30, 2021: 88TH ANNUAL MEETING FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 4, 2022 | JACKSONVILLE, FL The American Mosquito Control Association's annual meeting is the premier education and networking event for researchers, educators, vector control professionals, industry representatives, and students in mosquito control. Every year since 1938, hundreds gather to hear the latest research, share ideas, and form collaborations. Our educational sessions and exhibit hall help to put attendees on the cutting-edge of this ever-expanding field! About - AMCA's 88th Annual Meeting (cvent.com)
August 20, 2021: Letter to West Gloucester Elementary families informing them of traffic patterns with strong advice to take the bus here.
August 17, 2021: This report is an earlier report from Urban Harbor Institute that suggests an innovation center at I4-C2. Created by Jack Wiggins it is a counter narrative to the theater proposal: http://gloucester-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/576/14-Norris-and-Norris---Urban-Harbors-Institute-a?bidId=
August 17, 2021: There is no lack of ideas for I4-C2. Here is one from 2014 - GMRI - Gulf of Maine Research Institute: https://gloucester-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3389/14_1024-GMIC-Final-Report_Screen?bidId=
August 17, 2021: Here is a link to the City's Harbor Plan website, there is a comment section where people can submit comments: Gloucester Municipal Harbor Plan (gloucester-ma.gov)
August 16, 2021: The race for councilor at-large is deep with seven candidates with years of experience pinned up against each other for a chance to clinch the title. Meet the candidates: Meet the candidates for councilor at-large | Local News | gloucestertimes.com
August 11, 2021: Link to the planned consolidated school building project on Webster Street: https://egsvetsbuilding.gloucesterschools.com/
August 11, 2021: Below link provides information on campaign fundraising efforts and results and totals for local elections in Gloucester: Campaign Political Finance Reports | Gloucester, MA - Official Website (gloucester-ma.gov)
August 10, 2021: Very informative and interesting historical local election data and results. Remember all this data reflects results before any mail-in ballot process was allowed. Things may different this time around: http://www.gloucester-ma.gov/885/Election-Results-and-Specimen-Ballots
GOSSIP WITH GERTI
Gertrude the Gull 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.
August 30, 2021: Is Dogtown being poached? The Dogtown Preservation Commission meetings
have just recently reconvened. Chris Leahey, former Audubon, who is on the DPC, was overheard speaking with others about Dogtown: ' . . . this is an amazing property. I mean, this is a, this is a place of state-wide significance . . . regional. This isn't just a Cape Ann thing.'
August 17, 2021: Why in Gloucester did we just spend $3.5 million - $1 million on floats and $2.5 million on building renovations - and not get anything for community use? How did that happen? Particularly, let's remember, that community boating has been championed in Gloucester for four years?
"For 75 years, the Boston institution has kept a prime piece of Boston's waterways from becoming a playground for the rich." CBI sailing center
"After all this time, the nonprofit is still single-mindedly—even radically—pushing to democratize Boston’s waterways, keeping them from becoming a playground for the haves."
August 17, 2021: This sounds like an interesting event found here on Cape Ann Cosmos: Cape Ann Cosmos
SPECIAL SEPTEMBER 11 Event:
ROCKY NECK IN THREE DIMENSIONS: ART COLONY, MARINE RAILWAYS, AND THE RUDDER, 1950s-1990s, including a slideshow of vintage photos and talks by six women with rich memories and intimate knowledge of Rocky Neck’s history: Judy Walcott, who will provide a brief introduction touching on Bayliss and his writer friend Peter Anastas, who grew up on Rocky Neck; Sally Bradshaw and Suzy O’Hara Kadiff, daughters of the painters Robert Bradshaw and Tom O’Hara, who were active in the summer art colony; Viking Gustafson, former general manager of the Gloucester Marine Railways; Susan Baker and Paula Parsons, who ran the famous Rudder restaurant (Bayliss’s “Starboard Gangway”) on Rocky Neck for many years. “Rocky Neck in Three Dimensions” is a free program sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum, The Jonathan Bayliss Society and the Rocky Neck Art Colony. Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant St, Gloucester. Registration is required.
NOW AND THEN
I4-C2 NOW
I4-C2 AS PROPOSED
I4-C2 AS PROPOSED
Is this the view we want to give up as a community?
What is this iconic view worth if leased or sold?
From this to that . . .
I4-C2 AS PROPOSED
I4-C2 AS PROPOSED
I4-C2 AS PROPOSED
In the Gloucester Water Portal schematic, city hall is dwarfed.
HEROES OR ZEROES
July 1, 2021:
She's one of a kind . . . our Sefatia.
We all know unique people. Sefatia may be one of the most unforgettable people you will ever know.
How do you know Sefatia?
Based on her background, what would you expect Sefatia to be like?
What is an instance of Sefatia's unique behavior?
What is another instance?
What is a third instance?
How would Sefatia handle a real crisis?
How would she handle a big win?
Do all people see Sefatia as you do?
What has Sefatia taught you about life in the City?
What should be engraved on a stone commemorating her service to the City?
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
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
POOP SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
POOP SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
A forum for Cape Ann Residents for expressing views with a focus on issues of interest that IMPACT to our community. All submissions subject to rejection or editing for content and appropriateness.
Submission Guidelines for Poop:
Send electronic submissions only to robin@robinhubbard.com
All submissions must be in editable text files: include name, address, phone number, email and date at the top of text.
Poetry: Include name, address, phone number, email and date at the top of text.
Visual Arts Files: Must be original material and be submitted as a .jpg
· Photography: Include location, date taken.
· Cartoons/creative art include medium used.
Calendar Events at least two weeks before event: Include a brief description of event, organizer contact information, date, and location
Town Crier: Specific information related to local governance and issues of interest, 50-word limit. Include links to public notices.
Heroes & Zeros: Highlight people who need a shout out and why, 50-word limit.
Book Reviews: Author, title, publisher, and number of pages. Include a short bio of the author with your review, 250-word limit.
Opinion: 250-word limit
Local Interest articles: 500-word limit
If you wish to submit anything that does not fit any of these categories, submit a short spec to the editor. All of the above subject to exceptions.
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/
Robin Hubbard: PUBLISHER
(978)290-2462 robinjeanhubbard@comcast.net