Talk of the Times: Whale watching comes to harbor, Rocky Neck

Whale watching isn't a regular activity around Rocky Neck and the Inner Harbor.

But a handful or two of local residents and visitors were able to do just that for a few hours Thursday afternoon.

Donna Marchant and her husband Dick were the first to call the Times to report that one or possibly two right whales — obviously lost, not visibly in distress — could be seen first around the area off Smith's Cove, and then across the harbor off Cruiseport Gloucester and the Americold building, behind Gorton's and then off Harbor Loop.

"We hadn't seen a dorsal fin, so we think it's a young right whale," Donna Marchant said.

Meanwhile, posters on the GoodMorningGloucester.com blog, run by lobster broker Joey Ciaramitaro and featured as one of the community blogs on the gloucestertimes.com website, thought the visitor was a fin whale, perhaps about 25 to 30 feet long.

Alas, Times photo chief Allegra Boverman and reporter Stephanie Bergman raced to the scene off Harbor Loop, and hooked up with the Marchants. But Donna Marchant said that, at that point, the whale or whales had not surfaced in some time — and they didn't again. There were no reports of any sightings Friday, either.

Hopefully, that means the whale or whales found safe passage out of Gloucester Harbor — sadly, without knowing the magical enjoyment he, she, or they provided a few spectators.

'Super' fund-raising effort goes on

Yes, the Patriots lost the Super Bowl last Sunday.

But the Gloucester guys who caught the miskicked football that allowed New England's team to even make it that far are carrying on their winning effort to raise money for the young son of the late Gloucester police Patrolman Aran Patrican.

First, Terry Oder, who grew up in Gloucester, is now a doctor in Hartford, Conn., and came away with the ball when Ravens' kicker Billy Cundiff shanked it into the Gillette Stadium stands three weeks ago tonight, got to go to the Super Bowl and presented the ball to Patriots owner Robert Kraft the day before the big game. And while Oder has not talked about any donation Kraft or the Patriots contributed to the fund for 1-year-old Thomas Patrican, the presentation raised more awareness for the Patrican fund here.

Now, the local drive is continuing as well, with a fund-raiser planned at Jalapenos Restaurant on Main Street on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 4:30 p.m. until closing.

That night, 10 percent of Jalapeno's total receipts will be sent to Rockport National Bank for the educational fund for little Thomas, police Chief Mike Lane said in an email this week. And there will be a number of door prizes and raffle prizes, all donated by local residents.

While Oder went to the Super Bowl with friends from Connecticut, he was joined at the AFC Championship game and in reeling in Cundiff's epically wild field goal attempt by old Gloucester friends John Dana Perry, Vaughn Shannon and Robert Bouchie — all of whom got together at Patrican's funeral last month and vowed to do something fun after seeing one another only at sad occasions.

Oder and the Gloucester men agreed to use the football to stir interest in a fund-raising drive to benefit Patrican's son.

Those who wish to donate can go to www.thomaspatricantrust.com and follow the links, or send donations to Thomas Patrican/Missed Field Goal Fund at Rockport National Bank, care of Kelly Kirkman.

Ronan's stage work in New York City

Willie "Loco" isn't the only Cape Ann artist being showcased in the Big Apple.

Author, poet, and community TV host John Ronan's play "The Yeats Game - A Farce of Improbable Darkness," which had its world premiere in Gloucester in 2007, will open in New York on Feb. 29.

The comedy, Ronan notes, is not about the famous Irish poet, but was inspired by his line: "I am still of the opinion that only two topics can be of the least interest to a serious and studious mood — sex and the dead."

The play runs through March 25 at The Producers' Club, 358 W. 44th St. For information, to go TheYeatsGame.org. Tickets: Smarttix.com or 212-868-4444.

Among other titles and honors, Ronan served as Gloucester's poet laureate in 2008-2010.

Willie 'Loco' in Greenwich Village

Cape Ann music regular Willie "Loco" Alexander is getting some play in New York's Greenwich Village these days, and he's drawing Gloucester and even the Times into the spotlight with him.

Esopus Space in the village just opened a new show titled "Willie Alexander: Wall Works," an exhibition of never-before-exhibited, large-scale collages by the rock 'n' roll musician. Among the items included in this show are a selection of Alexander's Gloucester Daily Times features and several of his tour journals.

An opening reception will be held Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m., which Alexander will attend.

Esopus Space is an exhibition and performance venue located in central Greenwich Village. For more information, visit http://www.esopusmag.com/gallery.php?Id=3776.

Honored veteran

The flag at the Veterans Center will fly this week in honor of veteran Ralph Kelly Brown.

Born Aug. 10, 1940, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps on Sept. 11, 1958, and was discharged Aug. 3, 1962.

An engineer equipment operator, the private first class served with Headquarters & Service Company, Headquarters & Service Battalion Third Force Service Regiment in Laos and the United States.

He died Dec. 9, 2010.

The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his wife, Cora Brown.

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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