Cape Ann lobstermen and fishermen held a protest boat parade Wednesday afternoon. The parade was organized to show support for local lobstermen in light of the recent temporary closure of lobstering grounds and new requirements to purchase special gear. The grounds are closed until May 1st, possibly until May 15th, to prevent gear entanglements during the endangered Right Whale migration through Massachusetts waters.
Under overcast skies, the lobster boats gathered at Ten Pound Island and headed in the direction of the State Fish Pier. The parade circled the inner harbor several times to the cheering and honking of supporters lining the shore. After a good showing of lobster boats, fishing boats, and supporters, the parade ended under clearing skies.
Traps are on their way from Maine! We can’t wait to get started building the 2020 tree!!! Swing down to the police station this morning and help us unload the 350 traps that will make up the tree! Truck will be here at 10am thanks to Three Lanterns and Brooks Trap!
We will be voting for Joe Kennedy for senator on Sept. 1 in the Democratic primary and ask you, our Democratic and unenrolled friends, to join us!
Six years ago, Ed Markey came to Gloucester to campaign for Senate. It was widely known that Markey refrained from signing on to any Massachusetts congressional letters supportive of the fishing industry. At the time, Markey explained that he had not been engaged in fisheries issues because they were not relevant to his congressional district, but that he would be supportive in the future.
Once elected senator statewide, Markey had an opportunity to find common ground between constituents on both sides of the fisheries issues. He did not take that opportunity. He has been invited to meet with lobstermen since the lobster tariffs went into effect. Markey has not responded.
As we have watched Joe grow up, we were proud of him, when:
He was elected congressman;
He defended the Affordable Care Act;
He described the foundation of public service, with a quote, which we and many others firmly believe in, “When I was hungry, did you feed me…”;
He came to Gloucester, years ago, to go on two dayboat fishing trips to understand the challenges our fishermen face, and;
He came to Gloucester well before the Senate race, to visit our health care clinic to discuss with Mayor Sefatia and our local officials his advocacy for community health centers, especially mental health.
From the day Joe announced his campaign, he has met with fishermen and Cape Ann residents, almost monthly to discuss their continued challenges.
We understand that some have heard Markey say that he got federal relief for fishermen. But larger shares went to Washington state and Alaska, even though Massachusetts hosts two of the largest fishing ports —New Bedford and Gloucester — which tells us who the real leaders of the effort were.
Additionally, the issues confronting the industry cannot be solved with money. If it were that easy, Senators John Kerry and Ted Kennedy would have delivered those dollars long ago.
Cape Ann deserves a senator who will show up, listen, and lead.
This year has been an exciting year for Massachusetts residents. We watched competent candidates for president compete on the campaign trail.
We would have thought that during a time when Elizabeth Warren and Seth Moulton were both out of state campaigning for president, Ed Markey would have been working hard, here in Massachusetts, to cover meetings Moulton and Warren couldn’t attend with constituents. However, as the Boston Globe reports Ed Markey was in Massachusetts fewer nights than Elizabeth Warren.
It’s been said that Kennedy and Markey have the same voting record, so what’s the difference?
If the difference is between Joe Kennedy, who will show up, engage his constituents, work with them to meet their challenges, and be a leader on issues important to the survival of Cape Ann’s economy and identity, or Markey, who will choose the simple path of signing letters, then Senator Markey’s inaction has made the choice easy for us.
It’s Joe Kennedy.
Ann-Margaret Ferrante
John Bell
Russell Sherman
Gloucestered market
Congressmen Joe Kennedy at the Boston Women’s March 2017
Note to the GP Walkers – Although there was no Greasy Pole due to coronavirus, I was hoping to have this long overdue short completed for the 2020 Saint Peter’s Fiesta weekend, just to cheer everyone up. My son broke several ribs on Friday and instead of editing over the weekend, I was taking care of my family. He’s on the mend and today was my first chance to finish editing. Better late than never I hope.
Viva!
Congratulations to 18 year old Derek Hopkins for winning Gloucester’s Greasy Pole Friday, Saturday, and Sunday competitions!
Derek is only the second walker to win the Friday, Saturday, Sunday trifecta, after Jake Wood (1999).
Derek’s Dad, Rich Hopkins captured the flag in 1996 and 1997. Derek and his Dad are the fourth father-son duo to win the flag.
Note about the music – Eh, Cumpari! or Hey, Goombadi! is a Sicilian song we hear playing often during Fiesta. Sung by Julius La Rosa and released in 1953, it is a cumulative song, in which each verse contains all the previous verses.
From wiki – a rough translation –
Hey buddy, [music] is playing.
What is playing? The whistle.
And what does it sound like—the whistle?
[vocalized instrument sound]
the whistle, [rhythm words]
.
u friscalettu = whistle [small flute]
u saxofona = saxophone
u mandulinu = mandolin
u viulinu = violin
la trumbetta = trumpet
la trombona = trombone
Eric Spear’s Greasy Pole Walker’s shrine this year is dedicated to Sunday Champion Anthony Matza Giambanco and Saturday Champion Russell Hynes. Go see, very low key but moving and beautiful.SaintPeter’s
Although St. Peter’s Fiesta has been canceled this year due to the global pandemic, if you would like to pray the novena to St. Peter, Day Nine is now available on YouTube.
The beautiful voices of the novena are Jean Marie Linquata, Ann Sanfillippo, Joanne Aiello, Nina Groppo, Grace Cusumano, Caryn Ryder, and Faye Quinlan
To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at [https://youtu.be/eWxUHbV2WSI]
If you would like to make a donation for future St. Peter’s Fiesta, checks may be made out to: St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee
Send to: St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee
PO Box 3105
Gloucester, MA 01930
See below photos from the 2019 closing night novena and procession to Beach Court
Although St. Peter’s Fiesta has been canceled this year due to the global pandemic, if you would like to pray the novena to St. Peter, Day Eight is now available on YouTube. My friend Patty wrote and said she is finding listening very soothing and I couldn’t agree more. Please share.
The beautiful voices of the novena are Jean Marie Linquata, Ann Sanfillippo, Joanne Aiello, Nina Groppo, Grace Cusumano, Caryn Ryder, and Faye Quinlan
To view, click on the arrow in the center of the video and share at [https://youtu.be/WVY51yyAWM8]
Photos below of Saint Peter’s Fiesta Sunday morning procession, 2019
Cape Ann lobstermen and fishermen held a protest boat parade Wednesday afternoon. The parade was organized to show support for local lobstermen in light of the recent temporary closure of lobstering grounds and new requirements to purchase special gear. The grounds are closed until May 1st, possibly until May 15th, to prevent gear entanglements during the endangered Right Whale migration through Massachusetts waters.
