By All Hands
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If Gloucester's most prominent and most threadbare high school sports venue could be reborn, what could it look like?
The Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association will try to answer that question Wednesday at brainstorming session on plans for Newell Stadium renovation titled "Re-Newell."
At 7 p.m. at the Gloucester High School lecture hall, the GFAA intends to release its own preliminary plans for refurbishing the facility — including its dilapidated grandstand and neglected track — while soliciting new ideas from the community.
"We want to get as many people as possible engaged in this," said GFAA President Dick Wilson this week.
While the Wednesday forum is focused on what Newell Stadium could become, the issues of how to pay for it are never far behind.
The GFAA is still working on mix of potential public and private funding sources for the Newell project.
One of the few
There only a few more than 700 in the world, and one lives right here in Gloucester.
Deputy Fire Chief Miles J. Schlichte of the Gloucester Fire Department has successfully completed the process that awards the professional designation of "Chief Fire Officer" (CFO). The Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) met on July 23 to officially confer the designation upon Deputy Chief Schlichte, who is one of only 722 CFOs worldwide.
The designation is given to fire officers who have demonstrated excellence and outstanding achievement throughout their career and assures departments that their leaders have the educational and technical competencies necessary to meet the demands of today's society.
The designation is good for three years, at which time Schlichte will need to re-apply.
Cool images for hot weather
Feeling the heat? Next week, you may want to take in "Wild Alaska - Wildlife Images of Alaska," an exhibition of photos by the award-winning Richard Seely, a Gloucester resident.
The show opens Thursday, Aug. 12, at the Rocky Neck Gallery, 53 Rocky Neck Ave., in Gloucester, and runs through Aug. 18. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Seely's work features images taken on two recent trips to Alaska, where he photographed wildlife in Denali National Park, Katmai National Park, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and several other locations. His unique focus is to capture wildlife families during intimate interactions.
Meet GOP candidates
The Gloucester Republican City Committee will sponsor a free community day Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Stage Fort Park. Attending will be many Republicans running for statewide office, including gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker and state Rep. Karyn Polito, who is running for state treasurer.
The public is welcome to meet incumbent politicians, including state Sen. Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester, and the candidates. Food and entertainment available. More information is available by calling Luke Noble at 978-394-1648.
Honored veteran
The flag at the Veterans' Center will fly this week in honor of Korean War veteran John Lester Newman.
Born Aug. 10, 1932, he entered the U.S. Navy on Aug. 25, 1952. The gunner's mate first class served with the U.S.S. Tarawa and the U.S.S. Midway.
Newman was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Occupation Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was discharged Aug. 24, 1956, and died Dec. 9, 1991.
The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his wife, Jeanette Newman.
Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran can call the Office of Veterans' Services at 978-281-9740.
