GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

Local News

Related Photos

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE CHANGES IN POLICY: Commenters are required to have a username with a valid and verified email address. Gloucestertimes.com reserves the right to ban the IP address of any commenter (person) found using multiple aliases under multiple e-mail addresses in a deceptive manner. Posts that do not meet site standards, which can be found here, will be removed.


If you are experiencing problems logging in or posting comments, please contact Disqus' help center by clicking here.
comments powered by Disqus
May 30, 2008

ROCKPORT RAMBLINGS: Actress wooed by 'sailor's valentines'

By Jonathan L'Ecuyer

ROCKPORT — It wasn't until actress Sandra Bullock placed her seashells and sailor's valentines on the counter for purchase at Captain Steve's Seashell Shop that Gerald Greco, a frequent customer at the Bearskin Neck Shop, realized he was in the presence of a major Hollywood star.

The actress, most famous for her roles in "Crash," "Speed," and "Miss Congeniality," took time out from shooting Disney's "The Proposal" in Rockport earlier this month to purchase several seashell-based keepsakes for herself and members of the film crew, according to shop owner Stephen Squillace.

"She got a custom made sailor's valentine featuring Motif No. 1 for her director," said Squillace, who's owned the 30 Bearskin Neck business for 12 years. "She liked it so much, she wound up buying three."

Squillace explained a sailor's valentine is an eight-sided, framed piece of art featuring a variety of seashells. In the old days, sailors would collect shells from different parts of the world and use glue made from fish to create the intricate works of art.

Bullock was expected to drop by the store yesterday to pick up her final custom-made valentine, Squillace added yesterday morning.

Squillace and Greco were both struck by how nice Bullock was during the visit.

"My wife loves her, I told (Bullock) that my family wouldn't believe me," Greco said. "I can't convey or express enough how down to earth she was, she was very classy."

Squillace described Bullock as "very unpretentious" and "just unbelievable." Squillace wouldn't reveal just how much money Bullock spent when she handed over her Visa card that day, but he did admit "she dropped some bucks here, it was a good boost, especially where the season hadn't started yet."

Bullock is not the first celebrity to drop into Captain Steve's Seashell Shop; when "The Love Letter" was in town shooting scenes a few years ago, Gwyneth Paltrow's mother — actress Blythe Danner — shopped for shells by the Rockport seashore.

Bullock, who was riding in a rented SUV with her husband Jesse James when it was struck by a drunk driver in Gloucester last month, is expected to return to Manchester in the coming days to film a few additional scenes.

Sketch sells for $250,000

A pencil sketch sold for about $250,000 at John McInnis Auctioneers this weekend, almost twice as much as a previous sketch by the artist sold for at the Amesbury auction house.

The winning bid for a pencil sketch by Lilian Westcott Hale was $220,000, plus a premium fee, said local historian Jay Williamson. He said the drawing of a woman standing next to a table and holding a flower drew attention from dealers outside of the usual area.

"It was kind of exciting to see," Williamson said.

In 2003, the auction house sold a Hale sketch for $160,000.

Before the auction, the sketch was conservatively estimated to fetch $60,000 or more.

Quick hits

r Residents are invited to attend the monthly gathering at the Cape Ann Time Banks' May potluck today at the Rockport Community House from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The time bank is a network of people who exchange services using the currency of time, in which an hour of service equals one time dollar. The current membership is 143 people, 29 of whom are from Rockport. They help each other with computer support, house cleaning, pet care, rides and lots more like art lessons and kayaking trips. The idea is to build community through service. The event will feature an introduction to time banking and a way to meet those involved. For more information, visit www.capeanntimebanks.org.

r A $1,000 scholarship is being offered by the Rockport Garden Club in memory of Rena Kurth. The scholarship is offered to a graduate of Rockport High School who has successfully completed one year at an accredited institution pursuing studies in horticulture, ecology, environmental science or conservation.

A letter of interest should address career plans, a summary of school and/or community activities during the previous year, employment summary and/or a summary of volunteer work completed since leaving high school.

A copy of final grades for the first year should be included with the letter. Applications addressed to Phyllis Krenn, 5 High St., Rockport, should be postmarked by Friday, June 23.

People in the News

A reception for John Tomasz, outgoing director of Public Works, will be held Wednesday, June 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Rockport Community House, located on Broadway. Tomasz is leaving Rockport June 29 to assume the same position in the town of Hamilton.

"We are having the open house for John to thank him for his 10 years of service and wish him well in his new position," Public Works Board of Commissioners Chairman, Robert Burbank said yesterday.

Anyone wishing to extend their best wishes is welcome to attend, Burbank added.

r A public reception honoring retiring Director of Guidance, George Ramsden III, will be held Sunday, June 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Rockport High School. Ramsden is retiring after 44 years of dedicated service to the Rockport Public Schools as teacher, coach, guidance counselor, class advisor, mentor and colleague.

A brief formal program will be held at 2 p.m.

"All are welcome to drop by and extend best wishes and thanks to a gentleman who has been such a positive presence in Rockport for so many years," said Ramsden's former secretary off 22 years, Bonnie Gray.

r James M. Perry, Jr., a graduate of Rockport High School, Class of 2004, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston University on May 18 with a bachelor of science in business administration and a minor in Spanish. While at BU, Perry was awarded the University Scholarship, was a member of the School of Management Honors Program and inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.

During his junior year, Perry studied abroad spending six months in Burgos, Spain and was active all four years in both the student government and a Capella communities at BU. Most recently, Perry was honored as one of 45 students out of a class of 4,000 with the Scarlet Key Award in recognition of leadership, scholarship and contribution to campus life.

Duplicate Bridge Club

Saturday, May 17: First place, Milt and Helen Lauenstein, 49 1/2; second, Greg Hannifan and Cynthia Bjorlie, 48 1/2; third, Molly Foster and Elaine Luongo, 44.

Tuesday, May 20: First place, Milt and Helen Lauenstein, 64; second, Bill and Kate Holloway, 63; third, Greg Hannifan and Agnes MacQuade, 59 1/2.

Thursday, May 22: First place, Molly Foster and Lyn FitzGerald, 52 1/2; second, Muriel Davis and Barbara Beyea, 46; third, Marge Baker and Elaine Luongo, 45.

Saturday, May 24: First place, Bill and Kate Holloway, 47; second, Milt and Helen Lauenstein, 46 1/2; third, Marge Baker and Barbara Beyea, 45 1/2.

Tuesday, May 27: First place, Elaine Luongo and Muriel Davis, 64 1/2; second, Alex McKenzie and Leonie Cochiarella, 60 1/2; third, Lynn Crain and Ann Millar, 56 1/2.

Thursday, May 29: First place (tie), Muriel Davis and Barbara Beyea and Marge Baker and Elaine Luongo, 54 1/2; second, Yvonne Anderson and Agnes MacQuade, 41 1/2; third, Molly Foster and Lyn FitzGerald, 39.

People interested in joining the Duplicate Bridge Club can contact Mrs. Davis at 978-546-7386. A background in duplicate scoring is not required.

Rockport Ramblings is compiled each week by reporter Jonathan L'Ecuyer. If you have an item for Ramblings, call L'Ecuyer at 978-283-7000, ext. 3451, or e-mail jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
ROCKPORT RAMBLINGS: Actress wooed by 'sailor's valentines'
by By Jonathan L'Ecuyer , , Fri May 30, 2008, 10:36 PM EDT
Local News

Pictures of the Week
Your news, your way
Comments Tracker
AP Video Network