Talk of the Times: GHS' Docksiders bound for Disney stage

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Peter "Spike"Wademan, an artist from New Zealand who recently moved to Gloucester, kneels next to his painting of the USS Missouri. He has donated the painting, worth about $3,500, to be raffled off to benefit the city's World War II Memorial. David Le

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April 14, 2012

Talk of the Times: GHS' Docksiders bound for Disney stage

By All Hands The Gloucester Daily Times Sat Apr 14, 2012, 05:58 AM EDT

Gloucester High School's acclaimed stage band The Docksiders are hitting the road again next week — and returning to the scene of some of is earlier triumphs.

The Docksiders are leaving for a week-long trip to Orlando, Fla., next Wednesday and returning following the second of two scheduled performances on the Waterside Stage in Downtown Disney on April 23.

The 27-piece concert band, under the direction of David Adams, will also perform April 20 on the Waterside Stage, and will play for the first time at Sea World Orlando on Sunday, April 22, at 1:30 p.m. There, The Docksiders will play in Arctic Plaza outside Shamu Stadium, home of the park's famed killer whale shows.

The trip, backed by a $45,000 fund-raising effort that has included support from several local businesses, will be The Docksiders' third Disney trip in nine years; the group also performed at the theme park complex in 2004 and 2008.

Spring cleaning and recycling idea

It's spring cleaning time — and Julie LaFontaine, executive director of The Open Door food pantry and human services agency has some ideas about what residents can do when they clear items out of their cramped closets, overflowing attics or packed basements.

"Donate to Second Glance, where old stuff finds new life and supports (our) hunger-relief programs," she says.

The Second Glance store and donation center, located on Pond Road in Gloucester, supports The Open Door program and will be open on Monday, the Patriots Day holiday, LaFontaine said.

The store's regular hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donations of clothing, household items, collectibles, books and furniture should be clean and good condition. Furniture pickup is available by appointment through calling 978-283-4298.

A $5K boost for Pathways

BJ Wholesale Clubs Charitable Foundation has donated $1,055,400 to 166 nonprofit organizations in 15 states — and one of the recipients is Gloucester's own Pathways for Children.

Pathways, based on Emerson Avenue, has been named to receive $5,000 through the foundation's grants, with $371,400 distributed to 49 nonprofits such as Pathways whose mission includes preventing and alleviating hunger.

The foundation distributed more than $1 million overall.

Drawing for USS Missouri portrait

There are a few raffle tickets remaining for the ship portrait of the USS Missouri, a benefit for the Gloucester World War II Memorial in Kent Circle.

The drawing will be held Tuesday, April 24, at the State of the Art Gallery on 18 Pleasant St. in Gloucester. The painting is on display in the store's window.

British-born artist Peter "Spike" Wademan donated the painting, valued at an estimated $3,500, to benefit the memorial. The famed American battleship came to Gloucester on Aug. 12, 1946, when 4,000 residents visited the 48,000-ton vessel in its post-war tour of American cities.

Roger Armstrong of State of the Art Gallery in Gloucester came across Wademan's ship portrait and was stunned by its accuracy and beauty.

Raffle tickets are $10 for one or three for $25. Raffle tickets are available at The Gloucester House, or the Veterans Center at 12 Emerson Ave. in Gloucester, or call Mel Olson at 978-283-3501.

Honored veterans

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1624 is honoring the families of some World War II veterans with memorial bricks placed at the memorial located at Kent Circle on behalf of Gloucester Post 1624.

These bricks are a result of donations given during the VFW golf benefits and poppy drive: Donald Amero, Charle Amero, Bob Bunce, Leo Downey, Albert Hemmer, Robert Hemmer, John Martell, James Oneill, Richard Sutherland, Marsh Riggs, John Morse, Earl Nason, Bud McKinnon, and Broneslaus Zywusko,

Also, the flag at the Veterans Center will fly this week in honor of World War II veteran Walter Willard Carter.

Born April 1, 1916, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on April 14, 1942, and was discharged Dec. 7, 1945.

The private first class served with 1103rd Army Air Force Base Unit.

Carter was awarded the American Area Campaign Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal.

He died March 1, 1950.

The flag was requested to fly in his honor by the Office of Veterans Services.

Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran can call the Office of Veterans Services at 978-281-9740.