Tucked away amidst a cluster of cottages on historic Rocky Neck in Gloucester sits an iconic gem called the Rudder. It’s tough to find, but an exciting discovery once you do. The restaurant sits in the middle of America’s oldest continuously working art colony, a place that was a haven for famous artists like Edward Hopper, Milton Avery, Nell Blaine, and Winslow Homer; even writers Louisa May Alcott and Rudyard Kipling spent time there.

Established in 1957 by the vivacious Evie Parsons, the Rudder has had a loyal following for decades. Now, with a renovation completed in 2010, the waterfront deck overlooking Smith Cove—guests can actually dock their boats right by the door—seats guests comfortably through rain or shine. The view that inspired decades of painters is as big of a draw as is the seafood, with sailboats and sunsets providing the backdrop for a lively evening.

Known for spectacularly fresh lobsters from Captain Joe and Sons, the Rudder also serves up quintessential summertime cocktails. Once such sipper has been a staple on the menu for 10 years and is what bartender and Rudder veteran Tony Wright says they are known for—the Ruby Red Martini. Its recipe has evolved between former staff and current bartender Laurie Logrande. It fuses grapefruit-flavored vodka and tart grapefruit juice with a touch of sweet orange liqueur. The addition of a dry, sparkling Prosecco balances the cocktail and adds a touch of effervescence. And who doesn’t love a sugared rim? The Rudder is open seasonally and is always busy. Plan your visit well in advance, especially if you’ll be arriving by boat. rudderrestaurant.com.  —Brandy Rand

Ruby Red Martini: Makes one serving
2     parts Absolut Ruby Red Vodka
1     part orange liqueur (Patron Citronge or Cointreau)
1     part ruby red grapefruit juice
Prosecco to top

Shake all ingredients vigorously in a shaker filled with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar. Top with a float of Prosecco and garnish with a wedge of red grapefruit.

A magnificent and elegant 10-acre waterfront castle situated on Gloucester’s rocky coast, the Cape Ann dwelling known as Seawinds enjoys a harmonious and timeless existence and a rich pedigree. Dating back to the early 1900s, the home has historical ties to the Boston China trade fortune. Today, its lineage links directly to Hollywood through its owner, a film producer whose current project is an upcoming film starring Brad Pitt. But, as often happens in Hollywood stories, the current chapter in Seawind’s history has come to an end; the sprawling home is on the market, its owner’s time completely beholden to the production of a major motion picture.

But then again, drama is part of the effect here at Seawinds. Acres of untouched woodlands—scrub pine, oak, and birch; perennial gardens; a spring-fed pond; and rolling lawns provide seclusion from the rest of the world. Through 12-foot Palladian windows, the panoramic views of Ipswich Bay and Wingaersheek Beach stretch as far north as the Isle of Shoals. If captured on film, the Academy’s nod for visual effects might just be a shoo-in. Yet somehow, with all of its opulence, this historical estate manages to disarm rather than offend.

The illustrious background of this Normandy-style castle began in the early 1920s with a family whose fortune was made in the Boston China trade. For shipping merchants, importing silk, tea, porcelain, and other luxury items from China in return for spices, silver, and seal fur from America proved to be a promising livelihood. Boston and Salem had the fundamentals for successful international trade: active seaports, appropriate ships, and experienced captains.

The highly esteemed Boston architectural firm Adden, Parker, Clinch & Crimp was commissioned to design a home in the grand style of 11th and 12th century Normandy. A slate roof houses 14 dormers and among the home’s most magnificent features is a circular tower that stands tall, designating the front entrance, reminiscent of Normandy period homes built as miniature castles. A dramatic front door’s handle and heavy knocker are shaped into fish made of wrought iron, serving as lasting tributes to the local fisherman and their conquests. A 17-pound brass Navy bell is mounted in a dormer above the door.

Once inside, the lighting is romantic and the space dramatic; 18-foot-high ceilings yield effortlessly to 12-foot Palladian windows. Two decorative oak beams extend the width of the living area. A hand-operated elevator retrieves dry wood from the basement for the nearby fireplace, itself a piece of art, surrounded by antique Moorish tiles. French doors off the living area open to a tree-shaded patio and infinite views. An alcove gives way to three more sets of French doors overlooking meticulously manicured gardens and a large granite patio. The library has been updated with custom nine-panel pegged oak doors, made to match the original doors in the house. This room, too, contains the Bicard of Paris hardware and custom rope molding. A full bath with a marble sink top counts as one of the home’s four full baths, in addition to its three half baths.

The dining room at Seawinds is where the history lesson begins. There is the custom-built bar, set into a cherry countertop with beveled glass cabinets and recessed display lighting. The French doors offer outdoor access, and there is flooring made from 10-inch-wide extra-long oak floorboards. Entrance to the room is via a door accented with hardware from Bicard of Paris. It is the paneling in this room that brings its visitors into the Tudor dynasty. The paneling has the unique distinction of having been carved during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The same paneling was once installed in the bedroom of the noted British historian, Arnold Toynbee, and Crowther of Syon Lodge in Richmond, England purchased and installed the paneling in Seawinds in 1987. The paneling is also illustrated in the book, Period Details.

Today, nearly 85 years later, the home’s original beauty, integrity, and functionality remain intact. When the seven-bedroom home was purchased as a summer residence in the mid-90s, intense love for the residence, the town of Gloucester, and the breathtaking scenery turned summer sojourns into year-round living.

“We were drawn to the house initially because of its amazing French Norman architecture, massive granite, and dramatic site,” its owner says. “We knew a bit about Gloucester, but Gloucester slowly revealed itself over time to us as an even more interesting place than we first imagined because of the diversity of its people, its beauty, and the various artists and lovers of art who live there.”

The new owner restored the home, combining modern amenities yet thoughtfully maintaining the original character. The master bedroom boasts a herringbone walnut floor, a working fireplace, and an updated bathroom with handmade tiles from Motawi Tileworks in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “Motawi makes historically inspired hand tiles. Each tile is pressed in individual molds, hand-trimmed, fired to bisque quality, hand-glazed, and fired for final finish,” says Dave Browne of Rocky Neck Associates, Inc.

Browne and Rocky Neck Associates, Inc., along with Sheldon Knowles, have been responsible for the renovations and maintenance of the property for the current owners. The master bath floor, according to Browne, is made from local Cape Ann granite taken from a quarry in Bayview—approximately a mile away—specifically for the master bath. “Radiant heat is installed under the floor so the granite is warm—it’s like walking barefoot on the granite ledges that are warmed by the sun,” said Brown.

Seawinds, it seems, from the time of its inception in the early 1920s, has the rare ability to continuously exude a sense of inviting and forbidding promise. “It’s a really special property and I would not be selling it if I even spent a week here every year, which I can’t do now because of our film schedule,” said the producer. “We used to enjoy our “picnic rocks” on the shore–unusually flat granite ledges–where we could have wine and cheese and watch the sunsets. I also used to launch and land a fleet of kayaks there, and swim and snorkel,” the producer said.

For now, however, on this scene in the story of Seawinds, it’s a wrap. Contact Lanse Robb, principal, LandVest, 617-357-8996,  lrobb@landvest.com.

The Crew Of The Trapper John Get It Done!

Chris Orsillo- Skipper Of the Trapper John Lobster Boat

Crewmembers Steve and George Unload The Tanks and Race To Get Them Onto The Dock Before Freezing

Captain Chris Works To Chip Ice Away from The Hauling Block

Click here for the video chopping away at the ice encased boat

Gloucester-based McDougall Interactive Marketing spearheaded the idea of Internet marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) after the dot-com boom in 1995. Headed by Internet marketing and advertising guru John McDougall, the company’s mission is to create and guide dynamic websites for clients looking to maximize their presence online.

“Internet marketing has revolutionized the marketing and communications world forever,” says McDougall. “I think people are finally starting to fully appreciate it and take their web presence more seriously.”

Over the past 14 years, McDougall Interactive has built more than 200 websites for clients like the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, Comcast, the Atkinson Resort & Country Club in New Hampshire, and Gordon College in Wenham.

McDougall Interactive’s mission is to drive traffic toward a company’s website using SEO and social media. Plus, when built by an expert team of Internet specialists with more than 15 years of experience, a dynamic website can create more leads and rankings on the Internet, McDougall says. “Since my staff are all specialists in something very specific, they have time to keep up to date on their own channels.”

Along with building a dynamic website, McDougall suggests that the key to Internet marketing is “creating and documenting a comprehensive strategy before you design and build a site.” McDougall Interactive works with clients to create an Internet marketing strategy that is based on clients’ goals. To ensure the highest productivity and ranking, the company conducts an analysis of a client’s website. After a thorough analysis, the company takes every possible angle and strategy to revamp the website’s productivity, including monitoring user traffic and implementing user blogs, e-mail newsletters, and site design. McDougall Interactive makes it easy and enjoyable for consumers to explore its clients’ websites while still keeping them engaged.

While many companies are using Facebook as their sole marketing tool, McDougall suggests that a diversified group of tools—a combination of Facebook, Twitter, and Google, for example—be used in order to ensure the maximum volume of user traffic. After all, the more traffic a website gets, the higher its ranking on Google and similar sites. Other top tactics to consider, McDougall says, are paid search marketing, mobile marketing, e-mail marketing, online public relations, link building, and content development.

Navigating their way through the somewhat esoteric industry of online marketing, McDougall’s clients can rest assured that his company keeps its finger on the pulse of the business, helping theirs, in turn, to flourish. mcdougallinteractive.com

The Right Site
Five key factors in creating an effective website.

1. Make it easy for first-time visitors to ascertain what you do with a quick glance. “Taglines, headlines, and photos should all explain your business versus just burying your soul in the text that many may never read if you don’t make a powerful first impression.”

2. Have a clear unique value proposition. Lowest price or best quality, etc.

3. Have clear calls to action. A “contact us” form, e-mail newsletter signup, “shop now” buttons, or “view this video,” etc. “Don’t make them guess,” says McDougall.

4. Encourage people to engage. Add social media buttons to key content, like “Share it on Facebook”/ retweet icons, or ask questions after blog posts to encourage comments.

5. Focus group. Sign up today for three videos of users explaining what they like or don’t like about your site at usertesting.com for $87. —John McDougall

Winter is upon us, which means a fire in the fireplace, snow on the lawn, and, with a little luck, the occasional day off from work or school. More importantly, it also means a whole new crop of substantial winter brews to choose from at local markets, bars, breweries, and pubs.

Cape Ann Brewing Co. in Gloucester, for one, is once again slinging its own seasonal beer, Navigator, a German-style Doppel-bock that’s available bottled or on draught. Jeremy Goldberg, the brewery’s founder, owner, and head brewer, who is a Wall Street transplant and self-proclaimed “beer nerd,” describes his Winter Reserve as “malty, with bread notes and a sweet flavor.” That hint of something sweet, Goldberg says, helps balance the beer’s slightly higher alcohol content (its ABV is seven percent). Finally, he says, “It’s not very hoppy, and it has a nice caramel note to it.”

Enjoyed just fine on its own, Navigator also pairs well with particular fare. Aim for something hearty, says Goldberg, like steak, lamb, or game. “It’s perfect with strongly flavored cheeses, or foods you’d pair with a Cabernet Sauvignon.” A perfect antidote to the winter chill, like a good red, Navigator, says Goldberg, “is good for the season and warms the cockles.”

At the time of our October visit, Cape Ann Brewing Co. lacked a kitchen to churn out such rich winter foods, but the company was just weeks away from a move from its modest Commercial Street space into the former Doyon’s building on Rogers Street. This new, larger location would mean an expanded capacity and space for food-prep facilities, plus direct water views and outside seating on a harborfront deck, putting the brewery in prime position to become one of Gloucester’s most sought-after summer spots.

In the mean time, however, Cape Ann Brewing Co.’s Navigator is the perfect guide to help get you through the winter months. 27 Commercial Street, Gloucester, 978-281-4782, capeannbrewing.com.

Ciaramitaro launched GoodMorningGloucester.com in late December of 2007 and hasn’t stopped posting since. His inspiration? A small message board thread he started on Cape Ann Online that generated enough interest for him to branch off and create a blog about the highs and lows of life on the dock. Ciaramitaro and contributors cover everything from restaurant openings and parties to personal profiles and more.

Having grown up on the docks of Gloucester while working for his family’s fishing company, Ciaramitaro took over the business once they retired and is now co-owner of Captain Joe & Sons. Networking locally has allowed him to develop personal relationships with the people and companies that make Gloucester tick. The end result: consistent, hyper-local content for his blog.

“Being someone who really loves people coupled with my love for technology and gadgets was unique,” he says. “When you can put all that together, blogging was a natural fit.” Ciaramitaro calls his blog “a labor of love.” A lack of revenue is the least of his worries, he says, as promoting the best aspects of his hometown is rewarding enough, especially when 2,500 to 4,500 sets of eyeballs check out his blog daily. When asked how long he will continue to write this blog he simply replies, “I can’t picture my life without it.” —Lauren Carelli, Photograph By Jared Charney

Web Slinging
How to start your own blog.

Kim Gobbi, founder and editor of Newburyport-Today.com, has a few tips on how to get started in the hyper-local blogging world.

1. Know your audience. You have to know who you’re communicating with. That’s the biggest mistake some blogs make. They try to do everything.
2. Give your readers what they want. Local residents must embrace, read, and enjoy it.
3. Network locally. Gobbi formed partnerships with local organizations to help develop content for the blog. It’s a win-win. It drives content and readership and it makes my life so much easier.
4. Evaluate your tech savviness. Are you comfortable with a content management system? If, not you’ll have to outsource it.
5. Invest in a good camera. Gobbi uses the 14.7 megapixel Canon Powershot G10, which includes a video camera that allows her to take great shots, as well as video when she needs it.
6. Live somewhere that’s interesting. If it’s a quiet town with not much happening, then expect the same reaction to your blog.

That includes the dory upkeep, maintenance, and dockage.  Where else can use a boat and get down on the harbor all summer long for a measly $50?

Here’s the link on how you can get involved-

International Dories

Pictured are junior rowers Kyle Edmonds and Joey Ciolino-

Captains Courageous Festival- March 6th

seARTS is organizing another fantastic cultural event with the Captains Courageous Festival.  There will be exhibitions, readings and events at many of Gloucester’s cultural centers including The Cape Ann Museum, Sawyer Free Library, Cape Ann Art Haven,Cape Ann Community Cinema and The Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center.

All except the movie screening at the end of the night are completely free.  I can’t think of another single event which would lead you around the city to learn so much about Gloucester’s Schooner history in the span of a day. 

There are activities for children, including mapping, work with rope and learning about different tools used on schooners with actual tools from schooner times.  This is a hands on literary and cultural experience not to be missed.  The best part is that you you can come and go and participate in as much or little as you would like.

Check out this video with organizer Ann Robinson for more details-

Let the video load by pausing and letting the red line load before resuming play.

You may want to make arrangements to spend the night in Gloucester and dine downtown as well.  For Gloucester accommodation info you can contact The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce here

Written by Lauren Carelli

Photographs by Brianna Moore

Colorful surfboards, robots, and abstract rock posters are probably low on the list, but that is exactly what Jon Conant and his wife Karen are going for as they move their funky and upbeat art gallery, The Hive Cape Ann, into the Art Haven Gallery in Gloucester.

Originally opened in Rockport in the summer of 2009, The Hive is a small studio and art gallery where Conant displays his work along with 15 other artists. With just one step into the Rockport gallery, you could find everything from neon-colored skulls to laughing fish to dancing robots, but there was one thing missing: people. The studio was small, and typically the only ones found inside were the Conants.

“It was a rude awakening,” says Conant. “The community wasn’t receptive and didn’t have an appreciation for non-traditional work.”

With the jump to the new location, the Conants hope to expand the gallery and see more exposure, but more importantly, they want the community to be impacted by the art. The Conants are very supportive of the young, active community around them, having hosted several movie nights, open-studio nights, and sometimes local beach cleanups. Conant says that the move to Gloucester, along with expanding the space to include more artists, will show North Shore visitors and residents that it is okay to be non-traditional, to have an open mind, and to think outside the box.

“We want to reach people who aren’t jaded already and who are young at heart,” says Conant. “The people who are willing to give back and be open—that’s who we’re trying to reach with our gallery.”

They only hope their vision and excitement for art on the North Shore will catch on at the new location and inspire others to become involved. 108B Main St., Goucester, 78-546-8300, thehivecapeann.com.

These are the tales of lost souls said to have spooked North Shore travelers and residents for decades. Who are these restless spirits and what do they want? By Lauren Danahy. Photographs by Christopher Churchill.

“When I was young, ghost stories were as essential to my group of neighborhood friends as the bikes we used to investigate them. I knew the “Gates of Hell” legends of Maudslay State Park were ridiculous at best, but the prickling sensation I felt as I got off my bike to take a look for myself had an effect all its own. The story of the human heads said to be propped up by the spikes of the gate was enough to keep me peddling near the head of the pack on the ride home. These ghosts lived and lurked in the woods we explored, so while we listened to the stories, we experienced them, too.

It’s this kind of upbringing that makes locals privy to ghost stories that otherwise fall below the radar. The historically rich buildings of the North Shore seem to validate the ghost stories harbored there and for good reason, it turns out. From college residence halls to the local Town Clerk’s office, ghosts have come to inhabit all types of local places. But why?

“Older buildings are more comfortable for a spirit to reside,” says Denise Bilodeau, vice president for student development at Endicott College. Nearly 29 years of involvement with student and residence life has molded Bilodeau into quite the expert on Endicott’s very own ghost. She suspects buildings today are made of materials that fail to “create an atmosphere where energy would thrive, like a spirit, like a ghost.”

Not a believer? Pay a visit to some of these places before making up your mind. But regardless of your beliefs, the spirits of Massachusetts’ past are embedded in the landscape and thrive today as their stories are passed on by others like Bilodeau. “And hopefully there will always be someone to pass them on to,” she says of the stories, “because they are rich in history and culture.”

Saugus Town Hall, Saugus

At the Town Clerk’s office every election season, a ghost makes his presence known by way of cigar smoke. “We had a man come to the counter one day,” says Town Clerk Joanne Rappa, “asking, ‘OK, which one of you ladies is smoking a cigar?’” As for the ghost’s identity, theories include a building inspector who passed away while in office and a philanthropist named Charles Bond—both known to enjoy a good cigar. Regardless, the spirit is welcome among the employees and is fond of them, too. The smoke was last detected when long-time employee Patty Flickinger visited the office while on leave. “I’m convinced he came by to see how Patty was doing and to say, ‘Keep up the good work,’” says Rappa.

The Garrison Inn, Newburyport

Ask a Newburyport native and you’ll find that room 408 is said to be haunted by Sarah White Banister, the heir to the building’s original owner. Staff members have seen her there in the past. Recently in a nearby room, a woman staying there alone described talking with a little girl. Another occurrence caused the housekeeping staff alarm when they heard what they thought was rushing water from a third floor room. No guests were scheduled to be there, but inside they found the the television blaring static. Even now, the television can be heard turning on when guests and staff pass by the closed door in the hallway.

Old Hill Burial Ground, Newburyport

The stones of this impressive Newburyport cemetery jut out awkwardly from the grassy hills in all directions. Established in 1729, this cemetery has earned quite the grave-robbing reputation. The infamous Pierce Tomb has suffered three known break-ins, the last of which prompted the crypt to be tightly sealed by a wall of brick. The tomb is rumored to be haunted by a man and a woman who have been spotted leaving it in the evening, only to return late at night.

The Charles Street Schoolhouse, Newburyport

The ghost of the all-boys school brought the city of Newburyport national attention in 1872. On one occasion, the small white hand of a child appeared at the window, but when teacher Lucy Perkins raced outside, she found no one. An excerpt of Perkins’ account appeared in the Springfield Republican, where she described the ghost as a neatly dressed boy, but when she reached out to grab him, “he seemed not like a boy but vapory. . . like a thin cloud scudding across the room.” Reporters churned out pamphlets on the ghost, fabricating the story of a student severely beaten and left in the schoolhouse cellar. The excitement soon dispelled when a group of boys came forward admitting to the hoax, though some believe unanswered questions remain.

Maudslay State Park, Newburyport

It is well known that this park was once the estate of the wealthy Moseley family, who settled in Newburyport in 1805. Part of the foundation still remains, but otherwise, the family is somewhat of a mystery. A young woman is said to haunt the mansion’s foundation in the evenings. More common, though, is an uneasy feeling that you can’t quite put your finger on. Some describe it as a sensation of being watched, or the slight raising of the hairs on the back of your neck that can occur on the warmest of days.

Dungeon Rock, Lynn

After a pirate ship landed in Lynn harbor in the summer of 1658, four men rowed its treasure chest to a place now known as Pirate’s Glen. British soldiers captured and hanged three, but one, known as Veal, escaped, making the natural cave his home. Years later, Veal was said to be killed in the cave during an earthquake. But word of the treasure lingered, and in 1852, Hiram Marble, an avid member of the Spiritualist Church, believed the spirits within the cave would lead him to it. On a quest to validate his Spiritualist beliefs, he spent the remainder of his life digging, inviting local mediums to guide his way until his death. Despite his son’s additional efforts, the treasure was never found. Today, some argue that the story negates the validity of the Spiritualist faith, while others think the spirits were having some fun of their own while leading Marble astray.

Howard Street, Cemetery Salem

The old Salem jail looms beside the Howard Street Cemetery and is said to be the site of Giles Corey’s death during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Corey refused to admit his guilt, and as a result, he was pressed to death with stones—a method intended to force out his confession. Rather than confess, he demanded more weight be added, earning him the title of “Man of Iron.” Corey’s ghost is said to have haunted the cemetery ever since. Some say he placed a curse on the town in his last breath, while others claim to have felt the cool touch of a hand when visiting the burial ground. Regardless, the brutality of the story is spooky enough on its own and effectively haunts the minds of those who hear it.

Hammond Castle, Gloucester

Hammond Castle is no stranger to the paranormal. Psychic fairs and galleries frequent the structure today, just as they did when it was the home of inventor John Hays Hammond and his wife, Irene. Frequent sightings of Hammond’s ghost give merit to the rumors, particularly in the balcony area that overlooks the Great Hall. During a school field trip, the ghost was spotted here by a little boy who accurately described Hammond’s appearance down to his favorite tie. While preparing for an event at the castle, Jeffrey Noonan Justice, a psychic and medium of Salem, says an image appeared to him in a mirror. In what he describes as a “flickering instant,” he saw a female face that he later would identify as Irene Hammond. He describes feeling “enveloped in peace and confidence,” as if he had received  “a big thumbs up from the other side.”

Kent’s Island, Salem

According to Justice, this island is “extremely haunted.” In October of 1935, novelist John Marquand purchased Kent’s Island, where he built a mansion. Marquand’s property was sold to the state after his death, where a lack of funds caused decay. Justice believes there is something deeper at play, pointing out that none of the homes built on the island has survived. According to his experiences, the island is haunted by Native Americans who died there. He paid a visit last year and says of that day, “Messages came saying don’t come back, and  [they were] directed at me.”

Dogtown Commons, Gloucester

Tammy Younger and Judith Rhines, just two of the alleged witches from Dogtown’s infamous days, may be among the spirits that linger on the grounds today. Dogtown is said to be haunted by a woman dressed in black, but Ron Kolek of the New England Ghost Project didn’t see her during his investigation here. Instead, he found the town to be a mysterious “dead zone” where electronic equipment failed and “an eerie calm overtook the landscape.”

Stillington Hall, The Buswell Estate, Gloucester

Caretaker Ginger Evans couldn’t shake the feeling that she was not alone in Stillington Hall, prompting the Cape Ann Paranormal Society to investigate last fall. In the changing room under the stairs, a recording captured a whispered “Yes” in response to a crew member who asked if a spirit was still following them around. Other activity from the investigation included the mysterious ringing of the bell tower, and an apparition caught on camera in the cemetery.

Winthrop Hall, Endicott College, Beverly

A young merchant sailor and his bride once resided here. With candles lit in each window, the wife spent her evenings on the widow’s walk watching for his ship. A brutal storm caused the ship to wreck on the rocks miles from the harbor one night as the wife looked on. Grief-stricken, she hanged herself. “And to this day, she still roams the halls,” says Denise Bilodeau. The “pink lady” makes certain a particular picture in the foyer is always upside down. Students in the past have practiced a ritual on Halloween—they light candles in each window, explore the widow’s walk, then wait by the picture, having turned it upright, to see “the pink flowing dress coming down the stairs” to turn the picture upside down again.

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Portsmouth, NH

Jeremy D’Entremont, operations manager of the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, says his wife was the first to hear a man’s voice in the lighthouse. Ross Tracy also heard it, as he painted the lantern room. The voice asked, “What are you doing?” Others have heard the voice, which could belong to Joshua Card, a former lighthouse keeper. In recent years, different paranormal groups have investigated the tower, finding various levels of activity.

Ten Center Street, Newburyport

Aside from veteran staff of this chic restaurant, few have heard the ghostly rumors that circulate at the night’s end as bartenders close up shop. Former bartender Lenny Pearl remembers one night when he encountered a ghost. Darkness fell as he turned out the last set of lights, and that’s when he “felt a breath on the back of my neck, almost like a whisper in my ear.” Another bartender had similar experiences at closing time, where sets of lights turned themselves back on again on two separate occasions—the ghost, like the rest of us, vying for just one more round. Some say a young girl and boy do the haunting, though the stories shift, from a mother-daughter duo to a pair of young boys, depending on the teller. To avid ghost chasers’ dismay, you’re not likely to see the ghost during bustling business hours, though rest assured, seated at this bar, you never drink alone.

Windward Grille, Essex

“You always feel there’s something here,” says owner Tim Kennefick of the spirits that reside at the Windward Grille. Built in 1685, this farmhouse-turned-restaurant is no stranger to the paranormal. Customers and staff have watched unruly cutlery and plates jut across table tops while waiting for their meals. Others have spotted a woman wearing a white gown in the loft above the bar. Kennefick’s wife Vicky has seen some odd things, too. She was vacuuming near a dish of peppermints when, Kennefick explains, a “piece of candy came flying out of the dish,” and rested next to her feet. Though the Kenneficks know nothing of events in the building’s history that might explain the haunting, two psychics, on separate occasions, claimed the ghost’s name is Alice, and felt her presence in the same small room near the office.

Who You Gonna Call

They’re not quite the ghostbuster but if you need to explain the unexplained, these local paranormal experts can help.

J. M. and Kristie Jones

For the Joneses of the Cape Ann Paranormal Society, ghost investigations are all about finding hard evidence. The team has expanded to some 200 members since becoming affiliated with The Atlantic Paranormal Society. Most investigations point to quirky household utilities, but the thrill they get when unmistakable evidence is found, such as a voice caught on tape, is enough to keep them going. Gloucester, 978-335-9092, capeannparanormalsociety.com

Jeffrey Noonan Justice

Justice hails from a family of psychic mediums. His grandmother detected his gift when he was young and encouraged him to develop it through the Spiritualist Church. Justice gives readings through a technique he calls automatic writing, where he writes the messages he receives verbatim. Tarot and palm readings are among other services he provides, in addition to instructional courses. Salem, 978-745-8086, jeffreyjustice.com.

Ron Kolek

Founder and lead investigator of the New England Ghost Project, Kolek will travel as far as Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to investigate a haunting. Even better, he invites the public to tag along and experience an investigation firsthand. If you’d rather stay at home, you can read about Kolek’s various experiences with psychic/trance-medium partner Maureen Wood in their new book The Ghost Chronicles. 1176 Merrimack Ave., Dracut, 978-455-6678, neghostproject.com.

Debbie McGee

“It’s not what I know. It’s what they’re giving me,” says psychic medium McGee. While always aware of her gift, she didn’t focus on “working the muscle” until after her mother’s death. She says we’re all born with psychic abilities, but developing that gift takes work. Also a trained Reiki healer, McGee offers a variety of services and instructional courses noted on her website. The Energetic Connection, 100 Cummings Center, Beverly, 978-618-3569, theenergeticconnection.net.

Gloucester is celebrating its 25th anniversary of the Schooner Festival this Labor Day Weekend, featuring deck tours, a boat parade of lights, fireworks display, and the Mayor’s race. Twenty one vessels will venture to Gloucester to compete for three trophies, including the Esperanto Cup, the trophy from the first international race in 1920, but also the most desired trophy of the race.

However, if you’re prone to seasickness the weekend offers plenty of land activities as well.  Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center will host its 7th annual Heritage Day celebration having live music and free exhibits. Also, the Cape Ann Museum, Whale Center of New England, and Stellwagen Marine Sanctuary will provide plenty of activities for children and adults.

Whether you’re a captain at heart of simply interested in the historical town there will be plenty of excitement throughout the weekend to satisfy any desire. For more information and a full weekend schedule visit capeannvacations.com/schooner or contact the chamber at: 978-283-1601.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Friday, September 4, 2009

All Day Arrival of Participating Vessels.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center visiting hours.

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Reception for invited guests.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

10:00 a.m.
Skippers Meeting for all Traditional Small Craft, at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Deck Tours aboard the Adventure and Children’s Activities dockside at Cruiseport Gloucester.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bluenose II Open House at Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Gloucester Maritime Heritage Day at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center on Harbor Loop. Free to all.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.

12:00 noon – 4:30 p.m.
Open House at US Coast Guard Station, Harbor Loop.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Start of Sailing Races for Traditional Small Craft, off Eastern Point Light.

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Search & Rescue Demonstration by the U.S. Coast Guard off Harbor Loop.

6:00 p.m.
Festival Crew Party for invited guests. Gloucester House Restaurant.

7:30 p.m.
Boat “Parade of Lights”.

9:15 p.m.
Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor. (following Parade of Lights, time approximate)

Sunday, September 6, 2009

8:00 a.m.
Skippers Meeting for all Schooners sailing in Mayor’s Race at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.

9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light, from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Avenue) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free of Charge.

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Parade of Sail as Schooners proceed from Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Deck Tours aboard the Adventure and Children’s Activities dockside at Cruiseport Gloucester.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center visiting hours.

11:00 a.m.
Start of Mayor’s Race for Esperanto Cup, Ned Cameron Trophy and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Reception and Awards Ceremony for contestants and invited guests at the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.

Monday, September 7, 2009

“Rain Day” for recovery from postponements caused by inclement weather. ONLY IF REQUIRED.

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center visiting hours.

Tuesday-Saturday, September 8-12
North Shore Art Association’s Schooner Festival Wet Paint Exhibition will be on display September 8 -12. NSAA artist members will be out painting throughout the entire Schooner Festival. For a detailed list of the artists’ painting dates, times, and locations please visit NSAA’s website at nsarts.org.

July 1st, 2009 the Chamber will hold their exchange networking event from 5pm to 7pm.

Network with fellow business people as you roll a strike (or a gutter ball), conquer an arcade game, or simply relax and have fun. Appetizers and beverages will be served, and great door prizes will be offered. The cost is just $10 for members.

For reservations, please call the Chamber office at: (978) 283-1601, or email: info@CapeAnnChamber.com.

Cape Ann Lanes features family fun seven days a week and “Cosmic Bowling” Fridays and Saturdays, where you can bowl to the beat of your favorite music while the high-tech light show surrounds you.

For more information, please call: (978) 283-9753, or visit: www.funbowling.com

Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2009-07-01
End Time: 19:00

For additional information, please contact the chamber at: (978) 283-1601.

Start Date: 2009-09-05
End Date: 2009-09-06

The festival will also host the “Tortuga Marketplace” for vendors offering pirate clothing, prop weapons, accessories, jewelry, food, refreshments and more.

The show will feature a scripted daylong storyline with several interactive scenes with characters drawn from literature and a different time.

Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students, seniors and guests with a military ID and $8 for children 4-12.

For additional information, please contact David Stickney at: (781) 346-1028.
Start Date: 2009-06-20
Start Time: 10:00
End Date: 2009-06-21
End Time: 17:00

For tickets or additional information, please contact: boxoffice@gloucesterstage.com

Date: 2009-08-06

For more information, please visit: www.capeannvacations.com
Start Date: 2009-07-30
Start Time: 9:00
End Date: 2009-08-01
End Time: 17:00

For more information or for reservations for the reception or the luncheon, please call the Chamber office at: (978) 283-1601, email: info@CapeAnnChamber.com, or visit: www.capeannchamber.com/smallbusinessweek.pdf

Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2009-06-01

By Dinah Cardin

The stubbly-faced iconic fisherman in the yellow slicker conjures the same thought the world over: Gorton’s of Gloucester, as in Gorton’s fish sticks. The built-in marketing through this single image is as effective as the Jolly Green Giant and the Pillsbury Dough Boy, who were among the cartoon foodies recently featured dining together in a MasterCard ad, along with the famous fisherman. A few years ago, the Gorton’s marketing department even spliced together a tape of pop culture references to their brand icon which was featured in television shows such as The West Wing and Late Night With David Letterman, as well as the Bewitched movie. To top it all off, sitting in the main office on Gloucester’s working waterfront is a sculpture of the famous Gorton’s fisherman made out of more Legos than one would care to count, left over from an in-store display. This brand recognition? Simply priceless.

To say that the folks at Gorton’s get a kick out of the attention is an understatement.

“The number one thing that happens to me is people sing the jingle,” says CEO and President of Gorton’s Inc, Judson Reis. “That’s the first thing that happens when I tell them I work at the company. It’s a wonderful reinforcement that people know the brand and that those fond memories of Gorton’s still live in them.”

One of the biggest misconceptions of this well-known company is that fishing vessels pull up outside Gorton’s and of-float their catch on the pier, to be taken into the plant and processed, then sent out to consumers. This isn’t exactly how it happens anymore.

The seafood is now caught in waters around the world, with the majority from Alaska and the Bering Sea. Turnof- the-century promotions of Gorton’s involved stories of adventures at sea and shared recipes. Not much has changed when it comes to selling the product through the romance of the sea. The company website features photos of a scruffy, handsome fisherman and a handwritten fisherman’s log with entries that give coordinates of the fishing vessel Abigail Kay in Nova Scotia. The entries are stories passed down through generations of Gorton’s fishermen.

“The fisherman is sort of an amalgamation of those who work around the world,” says Reis. “It’s a romanticized version of the fisherman’s life, based in fact.”

It’s these fishermen who have historically supplied the company with abundant amounts of fish. In fact, if you were to line up end to end the products produced over the course of one year (including the famous fish sticks) at the Gorton’s plant in Gloucester, you would circle the earth four times.

However, Gorton’s—one of America’s oldest continually operating companies, turning 160 years this August—is about much more than frozen fish sticks. First of all, it’s internationally owned. Gorton’s is a subsidiary of Japanbased Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd., known as Nissui.

“The one thing that a lot of people are surprised to learn is that sitting up here in Gloucester is the nation’s leading brand of seafood that competes with major consumer package goods in the US and Canada.” says Paul Coz, Vice President of Human Resources, “It has methodologies and talented people that rival any major food company in the US, but also has a very small, entrepreneurial culture. People may think of us as fairly traditional and then they’re quite surprised at our business practices.”

Those business practices include a new sustainable fishing policy, introduced this past spring, through a partnership with the New England Aquarium. The study looked into fishery management practices and ways for Gorton’s to improve.

“Most of the fish come from very well managed sustainable fisheries,” says Reis. “We’re too big to take chances with those that are not sustainable . . . There’s a self-serving nature here. It’s not like we’re going to switch to chicken or beef.”

So, why should you “trust the Gorton’s fisherman”? The company claims stricter quality standards than the government’s voluntary Seafood Inspection Program and that includes 40 more checkpoints than what is federally mandated. Gorton’s also follows closely the constantlychanging issues surrounding illegal antibiotics and chemicals added to food.

Last year, the New England Aquarium was studying the sustainability of the species used in Gorton’s products, including pollock, salmon, tilapia, shrimp, haddock, sole, and cod from both wild-caught and farm-raised sources. The economic benefit and increased consciousness on the part of both consumers and corporations is resulting in better environmental practices on the water, says Heather Tausig, Director of Conservation at the New England Aquarium. Large companies like Gorton’s can use their buying power, she says, to impact the future of the fisheries.

“Our mission is ocean conservation and we have been discovering strategies for major companies to find economic benefits,” says Tausig. “We’ve definitely tried to identify those companies that have the leverage to really affect change.”

One issue is traceability—being able to track where the product comes from, engage suppliers, ask more questions, and demand improvements, she says. According to Tausig, Gorton’s may be able to implement something that’s being done in another part of the world and it will affect change all the way down the supply chain. As a result of the study, Gorton’s has publicized a policy of their commitment to the environment. A list of pledges begins:

“As a global leader in frozen seafood, Gorton’s is committed to protect and enhance the sustainability of seafood resources and is acting responsibly to address this by pur-chasing from environmentally responsible fisheries, farms, and suppliers, and eliminating unsustainable products.”

Another, perhaps more tangible form of conservation, is the way in which the company loads as many boxes as possible on their trucks by using new packing procedures—something many American manufacturers are now striving to do. As the company looks to reduce energy consumption in all operations, Gorton’s has reduced packaging and recently shifted from cartons to resealable pouches, which are more recyclable and save in shipping and transportation costs. While Gorton’s is a nationally and internationally recognized company, it is quick to participate locally. A quick snapshot of the company’s community involvement ranges from participation in a fundraiser for the International Dory Race Committee, to giving to the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association, to the new $1.4 million Gorton’s Specialty Care and Cancer Center. In 2004, the company helped support the arts by selling, at a reduced price, an old storage building in Smith’s Cove to the Gloucester Stage Company.

Much of the science and market research that the compnay now utilizes was not necessary or even available, for that matter, when Gorton’s began in 1849. The Gorton’s lore, a compressed, if not exaggerated tale of 160 years of history, goes something like this: In 1849, John Pew and Son is founded and the US fishing industry is born in Gloucester. Later, a surprise fire burned down the Annisquam Cotton Mill, forcing 240 people—including Slade Gorton—out of work. Margaret Ann, Slade’s wife, ran the rooming houses for unmarried mill employees. Out of work, Slade helped his wife catch fish and packed items for Margaret Ann to salt, smoke, and serve to the workers. In 1868, his fishing business began in Rockport.

Slade’s sons Nat and Tommy soon came on board and urged the company to widely advertise boneless codfish, becoming the first to display it in one-pound black and white wooden boxes, which would become an American tradition.

In 1906, Slade Gorton & Co., John Pew & Son, David B. Smith & Co., and Reed & Gamage combined to form the Gorton-Pew Fisheries Co. Gloucester was already established as the largest fish producing port in the country and the second largest in the world. The combined company now had a fleet of 39 vessels, the largest fleet of fishing vessels operated by any company on the Atlantic Coast.

These days, Reis is the new captain of the ship, having taken over the helm in April, when former President and CEO Steve Warhover retired after 23 years.

When out and about in the community, Reis and others at Gorton’s are routinely asked whether the famous Gloucester statue, the fisherman at the wheel, seen when tourists drive into town, has anything to do the Gorton’s fisherman in the yellow slicker.

Reis explains that the Gorton’s fisherman is based on a painting by artist A.W. Bueller, acquired by Gorton’s in the early 1900s. The painting sits today in the president’s office. In the 1920s, when the Gloucester community wanted to build a memorial to the fishermen who died at sea, they selected the same imagery. Many mistake it for the Gorton’s fisherman, Reis says, “A lot of people have lost their lives fishing for Gloucester. There’s no disrespect intended. Both groups just have been using it for over a hundred years.”

Both Reis and Coz enjoy seeing Gloucester visitors taking pictures under the massive Gorton’s sign outside their headquarters—another measure of brand recognition. People even stop by the lobby on some kind of pilgrimage to the food company they’ve known their whole lives.

Gorton’s has considered opening a visitor’s center, but generating tourism is not their focus. There are plenty of places to go for that, says Coz, namely the Cape Ann Museum and the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center. “Our history,” he says, “is very much linked to Gloucester’s history.”

Both Reis and Coz enjoy seeing Gloucester visitors taking pictures under the massive Gorton’s sign outside their headquarters—another measure of brand recognition. People even stop by the lobby on some kind of pilgrimage to the food company they’ve known their whole lives. Gorton’s has considered opening a visitor’s center, but generating tourism is not their focus. There are plenty of places to go for that, says Coz, namely the Cape Ann Museum and the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center. “Our history,” he says, “is very much linked to Gloucester’s history.”

The Portfolio

Founded: 1849
Number of Employees: 425
Gorton’s fried and frozen codfish, the first modern, frozen food, is invented: 1952
Gorton’s fisherman appears on TV for the first time: 1975
Most Popular Products: Beer Batter Filets, Value Pack Fish Sticks, Grilled Tilapia Filets
Contact: 128 Rogers St., Gloucester, 978-283-3000, gortons.com

The breakfast theme will be, “Get Hooked on Health,” and feature three local wellness practitioners.

Lin Chandler, LMT, from 222 Arts & Wellness Center will discuss “Six Areas of Wellness”, Richard Sagall, MD, Needy Meds will address the question “What is Real Medicine?” and Malcolm Henderson, BA, BTh, Living Alive will talk about “Living Passionately”. Rich Healey of Iron Rail Gymnastics will be the moderator.

There will be a table for Health & Wellness Division members to display their literature as well.

The Breakfast Club will include such regular highlights as the introduction of new Chamber members, special salutes, and the chance to mix with business colleagues and elected officials. The meal will be served promptly at 7:30am and the program will conclude by 8:45am.

Tickets are $20 and may be reserved by email at: info@CapeAnnChamber.com or by calling the Chamber office at: (978) 283-1601.

For more information, please visit: www.capeannchamber.com

Start Time: 7:30
Date: 2009-05-15
End Time: 8:45

The afternoon promises a good time for all with a shot gun start at 1pm. Play will follow a best ball scramble format, so golfers of all abilities can be accommodated. The $175 golfer registration fee includes a cart, green fees, club house facilities, special gift and a gala buffet awards dinner in the newly renovated clubhouse.

Prizes for Gross and Net, closest to the pin, longest drive, and closest to the line will be awarded. Two lucky players will have a shot at making $2,500 in the Putting Contest. The grand prize for the first hole-in-one on the second hole is a new Pontiac Solstice compliments of Sudbay Motors.

Golfers may register as individuals or in a foursome.

Six levels of sponsorship are offered to area businesses. Tournament sponsorship levels range from $75 to $2,000 with several options in between. The Cape Ann Chamber is also pleased to announce Sam Park and Company, LLC has agreed to be a Platinum sponsor for the event. Prospective golfers and sponsors should call the Chamber office at: (978) 283-1601.

For additional information, please visit: www.capeannchamber.com

Start Time: 13:00
Date: 2009-05-04

Description: Karen MacDonald appears on stage in Gloucester this summer following her Gloucester Stage debut as the director of last season’s The Woman in Black. The American Repertory Theatre actress will play all three female roles in Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers.

Gloucester Stage Artistic Associate David Zoffoli directs Simon’s classic comedy about love, sex and seafood. The performance schedule for Last of the Red Hot Lovers is Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 8pm, Friday, July 3rd at 7:30pm for a special performance followed by fireworks and Sunday, July 5th at 4pm; Wednesday, July 8th through Saturday, July 11th at 8pm; Wednesday, July 15th through Saturday, July 18th at 8pm, Saturday matinees on July 11th and July 18th at 3pm & Sunday performances on July 5th, July 12th and July 19th at 4pm.

For more information, please visit: www.gloucesterstage.com

Date: 2009-07-02

The Show could not go on without generous sponsors:  Thanks to  Platinum Sponsor: The Curtain Shop, Three Gold Sponsors: Building Center, Roy Spittle Associates, Inc., Precision Roofing Services of New England, Three Silver Sponsors: G. Everett Mahony Insurance, Windover Development, LLC, BankGloucester and the Shows media sponsors: North Shore 104.9, Northshore Magazine and the Gloucester Daily Times.

The creative minds of John Dugger, Judd Wilson, Ed Collard and Tony Corrao, designed and built an interactive Energy Efficient Showcase with a focus on saving energy in the home used materials from many of the exhibitors. Martin Ray did an excellent job both inside and out welcoming over 1,500 people to the Show with beautiful gardens featuring his work with granite and plants from Wolf Hill and Corliss Brothers.

David Marsh and Peter Webber also deserve a special thanks for working so hard as the “sign men” helping to get the word out by putting up signs all around Cape Ann. The committee is looking forward to planning the next Home & Garden Show in 2010.

The ride is a 28 mile bike-a-thon that starts in Lynnfield rides through Middleton, Danvers, Beverly, Manchester and ends at stage Fort park in Gloucester. The ride is in support of the fight to Eliminate cancers striking young adults.

To ride, volunteer, or otherwise be a part of this event, please contact Director Lorraine Sacco at: (781) 632-2025.

For more information, please visit: www.reidsaccofoundtion.org or www.reidsride.org

Date: 2009-07-19

Patrick Parent grew up in a world filled with plants, fun, and a family that had the highest regard and respect for the green industry. Patrick learned what true excellence meant by working hand and hand with his father, Paul Parent from an early age. Patrick earned his Associates degree in Horticulture of Woody Ornamentals from Stockbridge School of Agriculture and his Bachelors degree in Urban Forestry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Patrick’s talk “Waking Up Your Garden for Spring” will be at 1pm on Saturday, March 28th, 2009.

A lifelong resident of New England, David Epstein has been a gardener his entire life. David has been fortunate to be able to put together his love of gardening and, as a Channel 5 meteorologist, his knowledge of the weather. He hosted Garden Makeover on WCVB for over three years and brought scores of weekly tips to viewers throughout the region. Now, with the ability to put video on the internet, he started www.growingwisdom.com and can do video tips from almost anywhere. David will be speaking at the Show on Sunday, March 28th, 2009 at 1pm.

Dave Zarella of Scotts Lawn Care Products, Natalie Hildt of NationalGrid, local landscape designer Martin Ray, and Dan Ottenheimer of Mill River Consulting are on the schedule to offer expert advice in their field. The Boston Globe’s Handyman on Call, Peter Hotton, will be on hand both days from 10am to 4pm to help find solutions to all your home project problems.

For a full schedule of Show events, sponsors, exhibitors and a $1 coupon off the $5 entry fee, go to www.capeannchamber.com/homegarden

For more information, please call: (978) 283-1601.

Start Date: 2009-06-24
Start Time: 00:00
End Date: 2009-06-28
End Time: 00:00

For more information, please call: (978) 283-1601, or visit: www.capeannchamber.com

Start Time: 17:30
Date: 2009-06-24

“This is how I like to eat,” says Ken Duckworth, chef and owner of the French-American bistro in Gloucester, who prefers to order a few small plates rather than a full entrée when he dines out. “This way, you don’t spend too much and you get to try a lot.”

In today’s tough economy, the restaurant business is a difficult one to maintain with success, but according to Duckworth, the former executive chef of Boston’s famous Maison Robert which closed its doors in 2004, falling stock prices and a national mortgage crisis, among other issues, have yet to deter customers from walking in his front door. In fact, business in this small hideaway at 197 East Main Street has been booming.

“I’ve been fortunate,” Duckworth says of his success. The benefit of having the name Maison Robert under his belt has more than paid off. Once the word was out about his new location in Gloucester, former Maison Robert patrons would travel from Boston and all over the North Shore because they heard the chef at Maison Robert opened a restaurant.

“The Maison Robert name got the patrons in, but it is my job to make sure they come back,” says Duckworth.

Duckworth’s Bistrot is a home away from home not only for its patrons but also its employees. Cathy Crawford, one of two managers, has garnered 12 years of experience in the former restaurants run in that same location. She says she was ready to retire before Duckworth came along but once he shared with her his vision of the bistro, she couldn’t refuse his offer to stay on as day manager.

“It was the best thing I ever did,” she says of agreeing to work with Duckworth and his wife, Nicole. “They’re amazing people and both are talented, great friends. They’d do anything for you.” The modest space that seats 13 tables and 36 mission-style seats will never expand, as long as Duckworth is owner. Unlike many restaurant owners, he has had smooth sailing in this venture, and says he doesn’t want to “mess with his karma.”

Although his good looks, charm, and artful presentations of French-American recipes could have landed him a role on the Food Network, Duckworth, at age 36, is happy in the home life he’s built in this fishing town. It’s not his style to climb the celebrity ladder. In fact, he divides most of his time between the kitchen and his family.

After dropping off his son at preschool, Duckworth usually heads home to his Gloucester apartment in a building that connects to the bistro. He’s modest, even shy, but once he gets comfortable, conversation flows. In his element, he shares his past influences, present contentment, and possibilities of his future as one of the best-known chefs on the North Shore.

Raised in Chicago by his Cuban mother and English father, along with his grandparents and great-grandmother, he says cooking simply and cost-effectively was an everyday event.

“They were always cooking classic Cuban dishes, such as Picadillo [a type of beef hash] made with olives, tomatoes and rice, and Ropa Vieja, a shredded braised beef, like pulled pork, or Bakala, a salted cod.” —Charlene Peters

duckworthsbistrot.com

The seminar is designed to help those Chamber members who are taking part in the Home & Garden Show on March 28th-29th at the Gloucester High School Field House. During the interactive session guests will learn how to leverage time, money, and energy by having a specific plan and specific goals. They will also learn how to engage prospects and get them to talk and open-up, and how to separate their own business from the competition.

Space for the seminar is limited, and registration is recommended.

For reserve a space, or for more information, please contact the Cape Ann Chamber at: (978) 283-1601, email: info@capeannchamber.com, or visit: www.CapeAnnChamber.com

Start Time: 16:30
Date: 2009-03-09
End Time: 18:30

The ride will take place at Gloucester High School, 32 Leslie O Johnson Road in Gloucester on May 31st, 2009 at 6am.

To donate, volunteer, or for more information, please call: 1 (888) 342-2383, or visit: www.tour.diabetes.org

Start Time: 06:00
Date: 2009-05-31

The debut culminates a yearlong effort on the part of the chamber and the award winning, Gloucester advertising company, Bait & Tackle. “Cape Ann is Calling!” captures both the beauty of region and the richness of its culture. Chamber Chairman of the Board Steve Kaity said, “distributing this video is the most significant step the chamber has made to drive traffic to Cape Ann since we launched our website.”

To view clips from the video, please visit: www.CapeAnnVacations.com

For more information about the video and/or Chamber, please call: (978) 283-1601, or email: info@CapeAnnChamber.com

Date: 2009-01-30

On January 3rd, 2009 the Gloucester fishing boat Patriot burned and sank, taking the lives of Matteo Russo and John Orlando. Matteo Russo, 36, leaves behind a pregnant wife and four year old son.

Gloucester blogger and outdoor photographer Steve Borichevsky will present his video, Walking about Gloucester, Images from America’s Oldest Seaport showing pictures of Gloucester and its wildlife set to music.

For more information, please visit: www.gloucesterstage.com
Start Time: 07:00
Date: 2009-01-28

Ron Newton , manager and director at Cape Ann Community Cinema will be presenting a collection of his grandfather’s vintage Gloucester Postcards on The Big Screen. Rockport based photographer , surfer, and web designer John Hintlian is honored to share a slide show of his pictures , “Never the Same Place Twice: The Many Moods of Cape Ann.”

Tickets for this event are Adult tickets (including Senior Citizens): $15 and Youth tickets (18 years old and under): $5.00.

Snow Date for this event: Sunday, January 25th, 2009 at 2pm.

For more information or to reserve tickets, please call: (978) 281-0543.
Start Time: 02:00
Date: 2009-01-24

For more information, please call the Cape Ann Chamber at: (978) 283-1601.
Start Date: 2009-01-30
End Date: 2009-02-01

Description: Unwind after the holidays at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Businesswomens’ Holiday Winedown. Elliot’s at the Blackburn, in downtown Gloucester, will host the Twenty-first Annual Winedown on Monday, January 12th,2009 from 5pm to 7pm.

The event is an opportunity for all area businesswomen and friends to make new contacts and learn more about the Chamber Businesswomens’ Division. Meet the Chamber’s new Executive Director, Bob Hastings, and welcome in the New Year at one of downtown Gloucester’s finest restaurants.

Tickets are $25 per person and includes two complimentary glasses of wine and a variety of appetizers.
Reservations suggested.

For more information, please call: (978) 283-1601, or email: info@CapeAnnChamber.com
Start Time: 05:00
Date: 2009-01-12
End Time: 07:00

The winds blow from the westin the countryside of San Miguel, the largest of nine islands in the Azores, a thousand miles west of Portugal, of which they are a part. San Miguel is where the beauty of Switzerland, New Zealand, and Hawaii converge into what King Charles of Portugal, in 1901, called “the most beautiful landscape in the world.”

With a maritime climate where the temperature never falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and seven wondrous crater lakes and the Furnas hot springs, San Miguel offers an island of majestic proportion and culinary delights that beckon visitors to explore and emigrants to come home to.

Driven out by the poor economy, many Micaelense left more than 50 years ago; some headed to Canada, while others moved to the United States. Many settled in Peabody and Gloucester. Today San Miguel has a population of 110,000, and many residents travel back and forth to Massachusetts to visit relatives. Luis Nunes, one of my tour guides, visits his relatives on occasion in New Bedford, where many have the surname Medeiros (pronounced “Madayroshe” in San Miguel) – my maiden name.

I traveled to San Miguel to explore my family roots, and made connections at every turn. At the Ponta Delgada airport Maria Medeiros helped my travel companion with her lost luggage. Two days later, my tour guide, Ana Silva, told me her mother’s maiden name is Medeiros. To put this in better perspective: the phonebook at my hotel had two-and-a-half pages of listings for Medeiros – and not a single Smith.

I have discovered the land of my people, and enjoy connecting with the land where my grandfather was born, in the tiny village of Arrifes. After my return to the US, a chance encounter with Ana Patuleia Ortins, a Portuguese cookbook author who lives in Peabody, revived memories of my trip. She has just returned from a visit to Portugal and her cookbook, “Portuguese Homestyle Cooking,” is scheduled for its third printing in August.

Between the many North Shore Micaelense and Portuguese connections we discuss, all I really want to talk about is how to fulfill my quest to savor more of the pureed vegetable soups I enjoyed in San Miguel. “The soups originated from the mainland,” says Ana, who then reads off a list of specialty ingredients from her recipes — chourico and linguica (Portuguese smoked sausages) that can be found on the North Shore, in Peabody at Tremont Market and at New England Meat Market.

Sausages are not my favorite food, but I like to explore all options. In the eastern area of San Miguel, Furnas is one of the last places the Micaelanse settled, as they believed the many active hot springs represented hell on earth. Ironically, it is now the most beautiful and popular area for tourism, and there has been little activity since the last eruption in 1613. It is here that I experienced my first taste of a blood sausage.

The “underground stew” at Terra Nostra, a restaurant in Furnas surrounded by active hot springs, was an experience to remember. Cooked for six hours in a pot under a steamy ground of high temperature soil, lunch was an assortment of beef, chicken, pork, white and sweet potatoes, carrots, cabbage, kale, red sausage, and black (blood) sausage, the latter a local favorite of coagulated animal blood mixed with pork fat. I could have lived a full life without ever having tried this sausage. The soup, or sopa, is what I want more of on the North Shore.

On Ana’s recommendation, I visit the Azorean Restaurant in Gloucester, where I am catapulted back to San Miguel through the Azores-inflected staff, food, wine and décor offered. When I make dinner reservations and speak with the manager, Jesse Correia, he tells me,“When you walk in here, you don’t see Gloucester anymore.” When I arrive, I know he was right. Hand-painted murals on the walls lead me back to San Miguel, hiking along the iron-rich soil that marks the curving trails lined with Japanese cedars and fragrant African lilies, hydrangeas, and azaleas in bloom. Aside from the Azorean décor, the restaurant offers authentic Micaelense cuisine mixed with American favorites, such as stuffed haddock, always a great choice. When he opened the restaurant almost two years ago, owner Cliff Braga wanted to offer patrons a chance to visit San Miguel and experience the Portuguese way of life. Even the menu covers are made of cork, as a reminder that Portugal is the largest producer of these harvested oak trees.

Viniculture is a large part of Portugal’s economy, and at the Azorean Restaurant, a wine cellar is stocked with Portugal’s many wine offerings, made in the tradition of foot-stomped grapes. San Miguel has but a few vineyards, but offers many wines of Portugal. My memories float back to the black, fine sand beach at São Roque and the orchestra of nearby birds and crashing waves. The beachside Pó Pu Lo Café was where I first sipped on a 2005 Castello D’Alba, from the Douro region of Portugal. This ruby red wine offers a sweet velvet texture with oak undertones and plum overtones in a robust finish. The wine list at Azorean offers a 2003 Castello D’Alba Reserve, and it is splendid.

A mystical land where its inhabitants once struggled to survive, today, San Miguel is the perfect vacation spot. I never did make specific connections with my own extended family during my stay on San Miguel island, but as a whole, the island and its people offered me a connection to my roots — with the bonus of experiencing heaven on earth.

IT SEEMS AS IF EVERYWHERE YOU TURN IN GLOUCESTER, there is a reminder of its long history as “America’s Oldest Seaport.” Not just in the buildings, not just in the waterfront, but in the fiber of the town itself. It’s something all residents are aware of, and it’s a big part of why I’ve made Gloucester the place I live for 25 years.

It’s a place where lore and reality collide, but it’s mostly all true. You can’t talk about Gloucester without talking about fishing. How it was then…how it is now. At any moment, you may be transported back in time by reading a headline as recently as March 26, “Dragger sinks, crew is rescued.” I imagine that same headline, written 100 years ago. I hear the city’s collective sigh of relief to know that these descendants of history, those who keep Gloucester’s fishing tradition alive, are safe. Yet the city is in the middle of a major struggle, trying to embrace the new while preserving the past.

Dichotomies are everywhere. A  Hinckley Picnic Boat moored yards from a rusty scalloper in Lobster Cove.  Cocktail party yachts passing “Dirt’s Dogs” floating hotdog stand. Dozens of partiers rafted together off Wingaersheek at 6 p.m. Saturday, and a solitary kayaker paddling quietly past that same beach at 6 a.m. Sunday.

Pick a random street and you’ll be amazed by the diversity of year-round residents: writers, fishermen, software engineers, photographers, politicians, artists, lobstermen, plumbers, lawyers, and doctors.

As I write this, I’m sitting in my car in St. Peter’s square. A truck pulls up, and two young men get out. “Off to a night at Elliott’s Pub.” I think. But they pen the back of the truck, pull out two sets of oars, seats and footrests, and head down to the public landing for an evening row in their dory. I chuckle to myself. These scenes are around me all the time, every day. No wonder Winslow Homer tucked himself into that little island in the middle  of the harbor for a year, watching the  light and the life of this precious jewel  on the coast of Massachusetts.

The mornings by the sea are the best. Before the beachgoers, before the boats. When it’s warm early in the morning, and the sea is glassy pale blue and the waves make almost no sound as they break on the sand. The beach is mine alone, and there is no place quite like it. This is where I live.

Gloucester ID
History of Settlement: Gloucester was settled in 1623 Date of Incorporation: As a town, 1642. As a city, 1873.
County: Essex
Zip Code: 01930
Population: 30,273
Mayor: Carolyn Kirk, Gloucester’s first elected woman Mayor
Median Household Income: $47,722
Median Price Paid in 2008 for a waterfront home: $905,000.
Politics: 60% Unregistered (Independent)

Notable Past Residents
Sterling Hayden, Actor and author Anne Hyatt Huntington, Sculptor, founder Brookgreen Gardens, SC John Singer Sargent, Impressionist portrait and landscape painter Phil Weld, Publisher, Merrils Maurader, OSTAR winner at age 65 Fitz Henry Lane, American Luminist Painter Roger Babson, founder of Babson College Alpheus Hyatt, founder Woods Hole Oceanographic Society Howard Blackburn, fisherman and adventurer  Clarence Birdseye, founder of the modern frozen food industry  Vincent Ferrini, Gloucester’s Poet Laureate, Know Fish Emil Gruppe, Impressionist-style painter  John Hays Hammond, Jr., inventor, “The Father of Radio Control” Walker Hancock, sculptor, including the monumental  Stone Mountain bas-relief Paul Manship, sculptor of the Prometheus statue in New York’s  Rockefeller Plaza Charles Olson, poet, Maximus Poems Herb Pomeroy, jazz musician

Did You Know That:
“Captains Courageous” was written about Gloucester by Rudyard  Kipling in 1897 and was made into a movie staring Spencer Tracy.

In 1883, while rowing in an open dory, Fisherman Howard Blackburn was caught in an offshore winter storm and separated from his mother ship. His dorymate died, but Blackburn curved his freezing hands around the oars and rowed for five days with virtually no food or water, until he landed at Newfoundland. The annual Blackburn Challenge rowing race around Cape Ann is named after him.

The Crow’s Nest bar in “The Perfect Storm” was a replica constructed on a wharf across the street from the actual bar.

Russel Crouse and Howard Lindsay wrote the book for the musical The Sound of Music in Annisquam.

When Geoffrey Richon and a small group of people started up the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center in 1999, he said it was a practical thing: in a city full of historical and art museums, none were dedicated to Gloucester’s industrial marine heritage. What’s more, the oldest continuously operating marine railway in the country, a historical landmark that hauls fishing boats and other deep-draft vessels, was in danger of demolition. To jump-start what is now one of the best tourist destinations on Gloucester’s waterfront, he mobilized the citizenry, bought the marine railway, and raised money “the old fashioned way – asking people.” He took people to the state fish pier and told them, “If you like the way the harbor looks now, you need to help me.”

Just as the Geoffrey H. Richon Company is well known for high quality construction work, its owner is well known as a peerless community organizer who doesn’t know the word `quit.’ Largely because of his efforts, Gloucester can boast about its professional theater, about the sensitive historical preservation of a number of downtown buildings, the nurturing of arts on all levels, the encouragement and support given to marginalized members of the community, and about the joie de vivre Richon brings to them all. It’s his spirit that makes him so well liked, unusual for a person who does this much good.

Soon the Center’s new addition will provide a dramatic showcase for exhibits that examine and interpret Gloucester’s relationship with the sea. The evolution of Gloucester’s fishing industry is a classic American story of enterprise, innovation and immigration. Opening in July the Center’s first exhibit in its new addition, called “Fitting Out,” recalls the old days when 80 active businesses operated in the Harbor Loop neighborhood including sail lofts, spar sheds, ice houses, chandleries, cooperages, blacksmith shops and a foghorn manufacturer. Fishing took place at sea, but the edge of the harbor pulsated with energy and productivity.

Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center
HOURS: Memorial Day to Labor Day: Daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
23 Harbor Loop
PHONE: 978.281.0470
hwebster@gloucestermaritimecenter.org

First-timers to this highly praised restaurant often have difficulty finding it. Although its address is on East Main Street, it’s off the beaten path in a part of town that’s more residential than commercial. In fact, the husband-and-wife business partners own the building and live with their two small children above the restaurant.

Five days a week, Nicole Duckworth gets up early to go downstairs to the small restaurant kitchen to bake her signature desserts – chocolate cake, banana cake, crème caramel, profiteroles, and cheesecake – while Ken minds the kids. In the afternoon, they trade places, and Ken preps for the evening crowd, working solo until his small staff – an assistant and a dishwasher – arrive.

The Duckworths have been at this for four years, following their dream of running a small neighborhood restaurant where they can, as they say, “serve customers as if they are guests in our home.” As a result, Duckworth’s Bistrot receives consistent high marks for its French cuisine, and deservedly so. But what reviewers seem to have overlooked is that in addition to serving fine food, the Duckworths have also successfully created an authentic French dining experience.

On the night that we visited, we were welcomed cordially by Colleen, a hostess who has been with the Duckworth’s since the beginning. We watched her greet regulars by name and bring them their “usual.” Patrons, a cross-section of ages, chatted casually and comfortably across tables in an intimate environment with candles and fresh flowers.

Colleen is well versed in the menu and at ease making recommendations. She explains that all of the entrées, and many of the wines, are available in half- and full-size portions. While the half-size entrée option is perfect for smaller appetites, it also makes dining out on high quality French cuisine more affordable.

I chose two half-portions, the Bell and Evans chicken breast with broccoli rabe, mashed potatoes, and braised shallots in red wine sauce ($12/22) and the seafood stew ($14/26). My dining partner went for the coquilles St. Jacques (12) and the half-portion of the seared duck breast with sautéed apples and fennel in a sweet and sour cider sauce ($15/28).

Our immediate reaction to the dishes, beyond the artistry of their presentation, was at their size. “People are always very surprised about our portions,” Colleen says. “They’re very generous. In fact, the lobster and vegetable risotto dish is so large that I always steer people toward the smaller portion. It could be overwhelming.”

It was difficult to choose our favorite among the four entrées. The seafood stew was just that, a stew, not a chowder or a soup. Large fresh chunks of lobster and fish, shrimp and clams, doused with rich fragrant broth, vied for space in an overstuffed bowl. The playful addition of mushrooms in the classic coquilles added an earthy flavor to the buttery sweet scallops. The melt-in-your-mouth chicken and the cooked-to-perfection duck were graced with robust sauces so well prepared they mark the skill and technique of a truly accomplished French chef.

In true bistro fashion, the Duckworths are not culinary-school trained. Ken Duckworth started cooking at age 16 in Tampa, Fla., and eventually made his way to Boston, where he worked for the renowned Maison Robert. The Robert family sent him to Paris for immersion training. While Chef Duckworth certainly has the classic skills to carry on the legend of a large formal French restaurant, he likes how he’s balanced his life and work. He’s not interested in opening other restaurants or becoming a celebrity chef. “I just wanted to open a place where I would want to eat,” he says. You can’t get any more French than that.

Duckworth’s Bistrot
197 East Main Street, Gloucester
Tuesday – Saturday 5:00 – 9:30 p.m. (subject to change in the summer)
978.282.4426
www.duckworthsbistrot.com

Now Latitude 43, the former McT’s, is making a splash on the Gloucester waterfront with its dramatic nautical chic décor, admirable sustainable architecture, local art, fresh fish, and sushi chef extraordinaire Wing Lam.

The troika of chef Jeff Cala, Jenny Grammas, and Mark McDonough is out to make the Rogers Street complex a destination restaurant. “When you’re from away, you want to go to `a place,’” says McDonough. “We created both sides of Gloucester.” It’s a working-class town, but it’s a colorful center of culture, too. “So we’ve got the fried fish and the traditional New England comfort foods like prime rib and whipped potatoes, and we’ve got the high-end sushi bar and the local art.”

McDonough is as “green” as they get. He is a huge proponent of the sustainable economy, serving with several nonprofit organizations devoted to the environment. He sees

Latitude 43 as a teaching tool for showing how eco-friendly design can be cool and economical.

The awnings on the deck, for instance, are part of a solar hot water heating system. “This is an example of doing design right. It’s not only blocking the sun but it’s turning the sun into an energy source.

Juxtaposed to the awnings’ efficiency is the interior’s exotic sense of drama with its “under a pier” theme. Note the antique rescue boat’s hull breaking through the ceiling near the open display kitchen, Chris Williams’s octopus sculpture hovering over the sunken sushi pit, and the shell-encrusted wavy modern lamps strategically placed throughout the dining room and the entry “living room.”

A mural painted by local artists Lena Fransioli and Brooke Sheldon focuses on the ever-changing light, air, and water. The Luminist seascapes of Gloucester maritime painter Fitz Hugh (Henry) Lane inspired them.

Natural materials are used throughout. The concrete floor contains a radiant heating system. Kirei board and plyboo are two new plywoods made of renewable plant materials. The granite used in the fireplace and the harbor walk was quarried from Cape Ann.

One key factor, however, is not local: sushi master Wing Lam. Lam, recruited from San Francisco, was one of five finalists in last year’s California Sushi Masters Competition. “I call him our Iron Chef,” says McDonough. “Everywhere in New England, when you order sushi, you’re given drawings in Plexiglas. We’re the only place on the East Coast where you have to read the menu to know what you’re ordering.”

If the menu holds the possible itineraries, then waiter John was our indispensable tour guide on our gastronomical adventure. “To start I suggest the enormously complex and perfectly balanced ratatouille-ish fish stew – rock solid with chunks of fresh swordfish, halibut, and calamari in a light red sauce.” At $8 a bowl, it lived up to John’s introduction.

“Next I suggest as a transition point and palate cleanser. the kaiso `toy box’ seaweed salad with wild tosaka seaweed, shaved hearts of palm, mizuna, organic red spinach, white asparagus, artisan goat cheese, and blueberry-walnut vinaigrette.” It was presented as a box, and as John noted, it is “the most architecturally complex item on the menu.” The price was $12. John translated the foreign ingredients and assured us that this seaweed salad is far afield from the sesame-seeded slimy sort we’re used to locally.

When it came to experimenting with the sushi courses John led us on a progressive tasting starting with the tame Latitude 43 roll, consisting of crispy tempura tuna, avocado, cucumbers, mango, and more ($18); moving to melt-in-your-mouth blue fin tuna ($6/16); and ending up in the “where the wild things are” category: uni (sea urchins) and quail eggs on tobiko (flying fish roe) ($5/15).

Sure, there’s meatloaf and shepherd’s pie too, but your mom can whip up those comfort foods on any given Sunday. On a visit to Lat 43, throw caution to the wind and go for salmon toro (seared salmon belly) and some sake served in a wooden box – made from a renewable source, no doubt.

Latitude 43
25 Rogers Street, Gloucester
978.281.0223
www.latitudefortythree.com
High season 11:30 – midnight; off-season 11:30 – 10 p.m.