A collection of news items about Gloucester people and events.
A Gloucester-born cartoonist will visit the city this coming week, even as his strip celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Cartoonist Mark Parisi will sign his new 2013 page-a-day cartoon calendar Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Weathervane shop on Main Street in Gloucester, starting at 6 p.m., during the annual Ladies Night Shopping event.
Parisi is the creator of the award-winning syndicated cartoon feature, “Off the Mark,” which appears on the Gloucester Daily Times’ comics page.
This year, Parisi won the Best Newspaper Panel Award from the National Cartoonist Society. This is Parisi’s fourth nomination (2004, 2006, 2009, and 2012) and second win (2009 and 2012).
This year also marks the cartoon feature’s 25th anniversary.
To view Parisi’s archive of more than 7,000 cartoons, visit www.offthemark.com.
Parisi was born and raised in Gloucester, where his parents, Nick and Fran Parisi, and brother’s family still live.
He graduated from Salem State University and now lives in Melrose with his family.
Local man helps
in NJ after Sandy
A city man is one the volunteers deployed by the American Red Cross to states devastated by the superstorm Sandy.
Ron Beckley of Gloucester, who specializes in disaster services technology, has been deployed to New Jersey. Disaster services technology specialists are responsible for all the technology that is deployed on disaster relief operations. Beckley and other DST volunteers set up satellites where all phone and Internet services have been disrupted, they set up computer services in remote locations for Red Cross caseworkers and often have to repair equipment in crisis situations. The American Red Cross has mobilized more than 14,900 disaster workers from all over the country who have supported relief efforts. Volunteers have served more than 7.6 million meals and snacks so far, and have handed out more than 5.5 million relief items. Beckley, in accepting this deployment, is gaining more experience working with Red Cross experts throughout the U.S. When he returns to Massachusetts, his knowledge will help better inform the local Red Cross chapter’s efforts, and help make the region stronger. If you are interested in training to become a disaster volunteer, or funding this long-term relief effort, call 1-800-REDCROSS or visitRedCross.Org.
17 local artists at benefit sale
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is once again gearing up for the Museum School Art Sale which runs today and tomorrow.
The sale is an annual destination for art collectors and art lovers who want to discover innovative works by the students, faculty and alumni, including 14 artists from Gloucester.
“Thousands of pieces in all media are on a changing rotation, priced by the artists and sold to benefit student scholarships. The sale’s eclectic mix of media and impressive roster of artists draws visitors back year after year,” according to a press release.
The Cape Ann artists are Coco Berkman, Yhanna Coffin, Erica Daborn, Leslie Eliet, Phyllis Feld, Marie Gallagher, Gordon Goetemann, Judith Steele Goetemann, Ruth Mordecai, Mary F. Rhinelander, Dawn Southworth, Jeff Weaver, Rachel Perry Welty and Claire Wyzenbeek from Gloucester; Maria Malatesta and Jill Whitney Armstrong from Rockport; and Juni Van Dyke of Manchester.
Honored veteran
The flag at the Veterans Center will fly this week in honor of World War II veteran Jerome Joseph Frontiero. Born May 22, 1919, he entered the U.S. Navy on Oct. 23, 1942. The boatswain’s mate first class served with the Amphibian Force on the Tank Landing Ship LST 354 in England.
He was discharged Sept. 28, 1945, and died Dec. 2, 2007.
The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his wife, Caterina Barbato Frontiero of Gloucester.
Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran can call the Office of Veterans Services at 978-281-9740.
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