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Category Archives: Gloucester
Flying Hearts Over Gloucester <3
It was so captivating to see this beautiful heart cloud in the sky that I stopped driving immediately, practically in the middle of the road, to snap some photos. The heart didn’t seem as though it was moving too fast so I raced down to the harbor to capture a few more. Contrails appeared and if I had photoshop skills, I might have tried to draw an arrowhead for Cupid 🙂
I can’t decide which flying heart I like best, so here’s a bunch, in the order that it was dissipating <3
And they’re off! Lone Gull 10K Race from Good Harbor Beach
Running for a Cause – 100 percent (all proceeds) of the Lone Gull 10K go to support The Children’s Center for Communication / Beverly School for the Deaf (CCCBSD) — providing specialized education and support that enables deaf and disabled individuals to reach their full potential.
When you run the Lone Gull, you’re helping fund the programs, therapies, and specialized education that change lives across the North Shore and beyond.
Lone Gull 10k race course
Elephant Migration on Cape Ann!
What a lovely family of elephants! Made entirely of bamboo, this family looks to be part of The Great Elephant Migration that was recently seen in Boston.
Read more about The Real Elelphant Collective here.
Happy 100th Birthday Schooner Adventure!
Schooner Adventure’s 100th birthday celebration sail at the breakwater –
Catching up!
Dear Friends,
I hope you had a lovely end of summer and Labor Day. I feel so very grateful to have our home here in Gloucester, a home where our family wants to gather to share wonderful dinners, fun times, and explore all the beauty Cape Ann has to offer. We’re lucky that I love to cook, our son loves to cook, and husband Tom likes to grill, so there is no shortage of happy meals here. If I had to choose, September and the first half of October I think have to be the most exquisite time of year on Cape Ann, and this first week of September has proven to be true.
So much to catch up with. I want to first share about an outstanding organization, the American Oystercatcher Working Group, which is a co-operative network of biologists, researchers, and resource managers that is dedicated to the conservation of American Oystercatchers. Members work across the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the US, the Caribbean, and parts of Central and South America. The thing is, anyone can join! 
American Oystercatcher and 14 day old chick
I was recently contacted by Debra Reynolds, who is on the AMOY Working Group steering and leadership committee. She requested to share my short film about AMOY on their website. Here is the link: Award Winning Filmmaker Kim Smith Delights in American Oystercatchers. You can also find a fantastically detailed species account from Birds of World on their website here.
Methuselah Monarch
I don’t recall if I sent this link for a most impressive insect spotted while filming pond stories, Ammophila nigricans, a species of thread-waisted wasps. Their common name describes them to a tee! I am seeing many more butterflies this summer than in the previous several summers, including just this past week, a Orange Sulphur, Common Wood Nymph, and a first for me, a Yellowjacket attacking a butterfly. Yesterday Charlotte and I saw our first Methuselah Monarch of the season, one of the super generation of Monarchs migrating to Mexico. We have had so many Monarchs on our Common Milkweed, lots of good rainfall, warm days, and no super storms. I hope this all portends of a strong migration along the Atlantic. We can Hope!
Those green eyes and pink legs! Orange Sulphur
Every Labor Day weekend, Gloucester also celebrates Schooner Festival and this year was the 42nd! Here is a link to a time lapse video of the beautiful, beautiful Parade of Sail.
Friends have recently written requesting how to subscribe to my blog, where I can share more photos and videos than in emails. I’ve posted instructions here in case you’d like to subscribe. Please let me know if you encounter any problems.
I hope you enjoy these last few weeks of summer.
Warmest wishes,
xxKim
Congratulations to Mass Maritime’s Ernestina Morrissey, and Schooners Malabar X and Phra Luang – Gloucester Schooner Festival complete list of winners
Congratulations to the 42nd Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival race winners!
Mayor’s Race and Esperanto’s Cup for schooners in the large category
1st place: Ernestina Morrissey
2nd place: Adventure
3rd place: Tabor Boy
Ned Cameron Cup for schooners in the medium category
1st place: Malabar X
2nd place: Adirondack III
3rd place: Alert
Betty Ramsey Award for schooners in the small division
1st place: Phra Luang
2nd place: Green Dragon
3rd place: Eileen Marie
Ernestina Morrissey docked at I4-C2 Saturday morning
Snapshots from Sunday’s Parade of Sail
Simply Glorious Parade of Sail feat. Schooner Thomas E. Lannon
Schooners, schooners, schooners! Strong winds and gorgeous clouds made for one of the most exquisite Parades of Sail ever. The Lannon is the first schooner in the short film and you can watch the crew hoisting her sails at about twenty seconds in. Many of the schooners did not have their sails up in the inner harbor, I imagine because of the wind and risk of running into one of the smaller vessels. The wind also made for some camera shake but it was unavoidable.
Happy Sailing <3
Music: “This is the Day” by The The
List of schooners participating in the 42nd Annual Schooner Festival 2026
Large Schooners 80′ of more length of deck: Adventure, American Eagle, Denis Sullivan, Ernestina Morrissey, Harvey Gamage, Tabor Boy
Medium Schooners 45′ – 79′ length on deck: Adirondack III, Alert, Ardelle, Malabar X, Spirit, Thomas E. Lannon, Tyrone, When and If
Small Schooners less than 45′ on deck: Bald Eagle, Blackbird, Eileen Marie, Elizabeth, Phraluang, Green Dragon, Isabella, Lewis H. Story, Redbird, Strombus
2026 Gloucester Schooner Fest Schedule of Events!
To view the complete event program including lots of great information and history about the Schooner Festival, along with a complete list of participating schooners see the complete program guide here.
From the 2025 Parade of Sail feat. the American Eagle – At about 2 minutes you can see the American Eagle crew hoisting her sails. The American Eagle was the last fishing schooner built in Gloucester. She launched on June 2nd, 1930 and was powered by both sail and engine. She now makes her home in Rockland, Maine, under the stewardship of Captain Tyler King, a Gloucester native.
Thursday – Community Day
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Maritime Gloucester Museum & Exhibits Open
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Schooner Challenge, Gloucester Harbor – Join our local Schooner Captains as they participate in a friendly competition putting their seamanship to the test over an “obstacle” course. Passengers will be given their own set of tasks to win the coveted Rum Bottle Award. Visiting schooners already arrived will join the event. The public is invited to purchase tickets aboard participating schooners. Ticketed passengers and crew will be invited to a post challenge awards party.
Friday – Greet the Fleet Day
All Day Arrival of Participating Vessels 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester Museums & Exhibits Open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Public Sails 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
“Greet the Fleet” Sail 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Chamber of Commerce Block Party
Saturday – Maritime Heritage Day
8:30 am – 6:00 pm Public Sails
10:00 am International Dory Races Learn more at: internationaldories.com
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Maritime Gloucester – Heritage Day Museum and Exhibits Open, Schooner Deck Tours Free to the public: schooner deck tours, music, food, crafts for all ages, skills demonstrations, community vendors, & family activities. $25 hourly schooner sails on Schooner Ardelle!
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Schooner Viewing & Deck Tours Schooner Floats – I4C2, 65 Rogers St *Ocean Alliance – 32 Horton St, Rocky Neck Thanks to generous support from our sponsors, we are again able to provide a visitor-based dockside experience that puts the public on schooners for deck tours. This is a free option for the public, but donations are always appreciated.
6:30 pm – 10:30 pm Fireworks Sails Witnessing the fireworks over historic Gloucester Harbor is a magnificent sight. Seeing it above you from the deck of a schooner is a breathtaking experience you do not want to miss. These sell out quickly, so don’t delay. Check various schooner websites for ticketing details
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Boat Parade of Lights This annual event showcases a parade of local private boats and begins at dusk in the Annisquam River.
9:15 pm Fireworks Display over the Harbor Time is approximate
Sunday – Race Day!
10:00 am – 11:30 am Parade of Schooners – Schooners proceed from the Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard and Stage Fort Park, to the race starting area off Eastern Point. Various non-profit and business organizations offer Parade of Schooners or Race viewing opportunities
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Maritime Gloucester Museum & Exhibits Open
10:30 am – 2:00 pm Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light From St. Anthony’s Church, Farrington Ave to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free of Charge courtesy of the Cape Ann Transportation Authority
1:00 pm Schooner Races
The start of Mayor’s Races for Esperanto Cup & the Columbia Trophy Off Eastern Point. The race course is decided the morning of the race by the Schooner Festival Committee at
Gloucester GHS Graduate Henry Hardy Tagging Oystercatchers in NYC!
Snapshots of Henry Hardy tagging American Oystercatcher chicks in his role as conservation biologist for the Rockaway Beach Endangered Species Nesting Area (RBESNA) with NYC Parks. His job entails coordinating a team that monitors Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers, and terns.
Thank you to Henry (and his Mom Alexandra, from Alexandra’s Bread) for sharing <3
See new short film here:
A Summer of Monarchs!
Have you noticed so many more Monarchs this summer than in a very many previous years? Not just Monarchs, but the Ladies, both Painted and American, Tiger Swallowtails, Pearl Crescents, and Summer Azures, too? Our milkweed and zinnia patch has half a dozen Monarchs daily and at every pond that I am filming at for my Pond film, winged beauties grace the water’s edge, sipping nectar from wildflowers growing along the banks of the ponds.
The past few years I had gotten away from raising butterflies but this year Charlotte really wanted to. So we brought indoors a few eggs, which quickly blossomed into a dozen and a half caterpillars as I had forgotten to check for eggs tucked into the buds on the sprigs of milkweed. Each time we cut fresh milkweed to feed the caterpillars, we discovered more eggs. Note- You have to separate out the leaves with eggs and teenies so that the caterpillars that are older do not inadvertently devour them.
Newly eclosed Monarchs
We were hoping to have a butterfly release day with Charlotte’s friends but the last two batches have emerged so early in the morning that they are ready to fly before breakfast. All in all, including the five remaining chrysalides, we have had fifty or so Monarchs emerge from eggs and caterpillars in our garden.
I think perhaps hot weather spells interspersed with some good amounts of rainfall have awakened our local butterfly populations, and steady winds coming from the west are moving traveling Monarchs in our direction.
Notice below that included in the captions along with the names of the butterflies are the wildflowers that are providing loads of nectar and they are all wonderfully garden worthy plants. #plantandtheywillcome!
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) and American Lady Butterfly
The tiny Summer Azure butterfly with a mere 7/8 inch wingspan, drinking nectar from Joe-pye
Monarchs and Ironweed
Monarch and Joe-pye
American Lady and Joe-pye
Pearl Crescents
Bobcats on Cape Ann!
You may have a neighbor who has seen one or you may have been fortunate enough to see your self, but I think it’s super exciting that there have been numerable reports and sightings of Bobcats in neighborhoods we don’t usually see them perusing. Friends are having face to face encounters in Manchester, Essex, and the back shore of both Rockport and Gloucester. My friend Karen took these snapshots through her screen door at 9:30 in the morning several days ago.
Do Bobcats eat pets? Bobcats are carnivorous and will eat freely roaming cats and small dogs however, their preferred food is rabbits, rabbits, and more rabbits. They also eat mice, squirrels, skunks, opossums, muskrats, birds, and snakes. Occasionally they will take down a deer but that may be because the animal is sick, injured, very old, or very young.
Bobcats are common in the central and western part of the state and they are expanding their range through the northeast and southeast. You can easily recognize them as they are typically twice as big as a housecat and have a shortened, or bobbed, tail.
Please write if you see a Bobcat in your neighborhood and share photos and videos if you would like. Thank you!
You can read more about Bobcats in Massachusetts here Learn About Bobcats https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-bobcats
All photos courtesy Karen Thompson
A tender-hearted honor to fishermen lost at sea
Gloucester honored her fishermen, wives, and families at the annual Gloucester Fisherman Memorial service at the Man of the Wheel statue, and then onto the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial statue to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the statue, which was built by Cape Ann sculptor Morgan Faulds Pike.
Hundreds of people gathered at the afternoon service to lay wreaths, listen to words of comfort from local dignitaries, commemorate the addition of names to the cenotaph, and think of their loved ones as they tossed flowers into the sea.
Gloucester was devastated this past winter at the loss of seven fishermen when on January 30th, the FV Lily Jean sank 30 miles off the coast. These are the names of the fishermen and (one) fisherwomen newly engraved on the cenotaph: 2015 Captain David R. Sullivan, 2020 Nicolo Vitale and Michael Porper, Jr., 2026 Captain Gus Sanfilippo, Paul Beal, and son Paul Beal, Jr., John Rousindis, Freeman Short, Sean Therrien, and Jada Samitt.
At both the memorial service at the Man of the Wheel statue and the rededication of the Fishermen’s Wives statue, Lilliana DiMercurio and Allesandro Schoc lifted their beautiful voices in song and music to honor the fishers and their families.
Alice in Wonderland Montage
Congratulations to Heidi Dallin, Cast, Crew, Mr. Presti, and the Cape Ann Y for a wonderfully delightful presentation of Alice in Wonderland. I apologize to the soloists at the beginning, and White Rabbit for missing her big number, as I was backstage helping with costumes.
A montage to remember the show by –
You’re Late! If you have yet to purchase your tickets for Alice in Wonderland <3
Tonight is the last chance to see this wonderfully fun production of Alice in Wonderland. Directed by Heidi Dallin and playing at the Cape Ann Y, the show tonight is at 5pm and you can get your tickets HERE and at the door.
Heidi Dallin is a Cape Ann treasure! I don’t know how she puts together these amazing shows in just three weeks. She brings the best out of every single one of these young actors and every person is made to feel as though they are a very important part of the show.
The Alice in Wonderland company are fantastic in every way. Mr. Presti does a great job as music director, Sarah VanDerpool created super fun choreography for the troupe, and stage manager Matthias Kostecki and assistant stage manager Scarlet Lee are just lovely with the 40 plus kids. Anna McCoy created charming “Flowers of the Golden Hour” and bee costumes that the kids just look sassily adorable in. Our Charlotte is in the show and she just loves the crew! A fast paced delivery of witty lines and knowing their cues just makes this a must go-see stellar family friendly production, not to be missed <3
Maya Silva stars as Alice, supported by Giuliana Cannavo as Tallification Alice and Charlotte who plays Small Alice.
Piping Plover Event at the Rockport Public Library!
Dear Friends,
I hope you will join me Saturday, August 1st, at 11am, at the Rockport Public Library for a public screening of The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay. Following the screening, we’ll have a Q and A and an update about our local Plover populations. Link to register: https://rockportlibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/the-piping-plovers-of-moonlight-bay-film-screening-with-live-q-a/
Here on Cape Ann we can be proud of the excellent work we as a community have accomplished. However, as our local Plovers are once again caught in political crosshairs and being bandied about on social media, I urge anyone who would like to learn more about these vulnerable birds that nest on our Cape Ann beaches to please join us. I created the documentary to help people better understand the life story of the Plovers and why working together to safeguard their nesting habitat is a good thing. So whether you already love Piping Plovers, or take issue with, please come!
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And, I just discovered buried in my office a box of Plover Lover tees. We will have those available as well!
North Shore Lion’s Mane Jellyfish Alert!
From Revere to beaches all along the north of Boston coast, Lion’s Mane Jellyfish are turning up in great swaths. Not just north of Boston beaches but the South Shore and Cape and Islands, too. We have been seeing some good sized ones, but this morning’s Lion’s Mane takes the cake and was approximately two feet in diameter. It was glowing fiery orange in the morning sun and that color is what tells you it is a Lion’s Mane. Lion’s Mane Jellyfish are the largest in the world and can grow up to three feet in diameter, with mane-like tentacles that can surpass 100 feet long.
Lion’s Mane Jellyfish
In Massachusetts we are most likely to see two types of jellyfish. Moon Jellies, which are saucer shaped and cloudyish transparent white, are virtually harmless. Their tentacles are too weak to penetrate human skin.
Lion’s Mane Jellyfish are found in a wide range of sizes in Massachusetts waters and dead or alive, their stinging tentacles can be very painful.They are not poisonous but the sting of a Lion”s Mane can cause a severe allergic reaction. Tell your kids not to touch the dead ones washed up on the beach and keep on the lookout when swimming.
If stung and any tentacles remain on the skin, remove with tweezers, not your bare hands. Flush immediately in seawater and then rinse with white vinegar. Shower in hot water, or even better, soak in the tub with hot water. If experiencing an allergic reaction such as dizziness, trouble breathing, headache, nausea, fever, or fainting, call your physician.
When my friend Chris Cefalo finds a Lion’s Mane on the beach, he encircles it to help warn folks to keep away.
Happy 250th Gloucester!
Gloucester firework’s finale from Smiths Cove
The Beautiful Fiesta
Sorting through photos and footage from the 99th Saint Peter’s Fiesta and I can’t help but think – Beautiful Fiesta, Beautiful Community.
Buona Festa <3 See you at the 100th!
Summer Sunrise Sequence
Trying out a different dedicated video camera, which has an amazing image sensor. The sensor is twice as large as what I am familiar with and it is going to be fantastic I think for scenes with low light.
Chase Sargent Walking for Loved Ones
Your Saint Peter’s Fiesta 2026 Saturday Greasy Pole Champion Chase Sargent, walking for former teammate Chris Daily.
Frankie Neal Your 2026 Friday Greasy Pole Champion!
With great gobs of grease flying, Frankie Neal took the flag on the the first walk out of the second round (after the courtesy round). Reportedly, this was Frankie’s 20th time walking. Video to come <3
Because Every Princess Needs to Wear Her Pink Party Dress While Running the 5K Road Race!
Each year the Cape Ann Y sponsored 5K race grows in popularity, with an additional 200 runners in 2026. The crowds cheering on friends and family are so proud of the runners and it’s a joy to see.
The Pink Princess made it to the finish line, with a little help from Mom!
#18 Chris Dailey Honored at the 5K
Many people were wearing Chris Dailey t-shirts at the 5K. The shirts were designed to honor beloved community member Chris Dailey
Gloucester’s Emergency Team at the 5K
These gentlemen keeping the peace and at the ready for any emergency- Thank You!