Cape Ann Today

Kory Curcuru and Heather Atwood hosted Daisy Nell and Mike Costello from Gloucester Schooner Festival live on Cape Ann Today. Daisy Nell details the maritime festivities over Labor Day Weekend and Mike Costello speaks on founding the event over 38 years ago.

Ethan Forman from the Gloucester Daily Times tells Heather Atwood a Gloucester resident is facing criminal charges for allegedly selling drugs from their scooter. Gloucester Police Chief Ed Conley said, “We are committed to helping those battling substance use disorder find treatment, but we are also committed to holding those who profit from substance use accountable for the toll that these substances take on our community.”
 
Ethan also talks to Heather about an emergency Gloucester City Council meeting regarding MBTA crossing gates and recent news from the Cape Ann Transportation Authority.

Manchester Historical Museum Director and Curator Bob Booth joins Kory Curcuru to talk about a new exhibit “Manchester 1772” now open to the public. Booth tells Kory the exhibit examines the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea from 250 years ago when fishing and farming were the leading industries. Visit the Manchester Historical Museum to walk through the exhibit for free!

Erika Brown from The Cricket joins Kory Curcuru to talk about all things happening in the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea. The Manchester-Essex Mariners lost the 2022 Intertown Twilight League championship series to the Hamilton Generals. Erika also reviews the fallout from the Manchester Athletic Club (MAC) closing. The family owned health and fitness center is exploring new ownership but plans remain to close on September 30, 2022.

Ethan Forman from the Gloucester Daily Times talks to Heather Atwood about the process to name Gloucester’s new elementary school. After hearing from the public, students have selected ten possible names. The list of names is available of Gloucester Mayor Greeg Verga’s Facebook page: https://bit.ly/3QSjNj0 
 
Ethan also updates Heather on the brush fires on Poles Hill and Woodland Acres. Annual drought conditions have created a fire season on Cape Ann.

Editor for The Cricket Erika Brown joins Kory Curcuru to talk about the closing of the Manchester Athletic Club (MAC). After fifty years, the MAC will close on September 30, 2022. The closure follows a recent sale of the land to a Danvers-based biotechnology firm.
CEO of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Ken Riehl is retiring at the end of the year. After serving the business community on Cape Ann for nine years Riehl says he plans to spend more time with his family.

Ethan Forman from the Gloucester Daily Times updates Kory Curucur on Cape Ann Works, a new initiative launched this summer with the help of Senator Bruce Tarr and other Cape Ann leaders. Ethan says the program has been running for a few months and has been successful. 
 
Ethan also talks about the controversy over a taco food trailer  at Plum Cove Beach. Forman says some Lanesville residents have complained about noise from the trailer’s generator. A community meeting was held where an overwhelming majority of residents turned out in support of the local business.

Documentary Filmmaker & Photographer Kim Smith joins Heather Atwood to talk about two endangered species on Cape Ann. Kim shares photographs of piping plovers nesting on Good Harbor Beach and beautiful monarch butterflies in Gloucester. Smith tells Heather there are only 700 pairs of piping plovers in Massachusetts.

Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga joins Heather Atwood to discuss homelessness in Gloucester and Congressman Seth Moulton’s recent visit to Cape Ann. According to the Gloucester Police Department Community Impact Unit and the Grace Center, the city’s homeless  population is estimated to be between  14 and 20 people across the city. A recent rumor related to the fires on Poles Hill are unfounded. 
 
*Clarification from Mayor’s office: Homeless numbers mentioned in this interview do not include those in shelter beds.

Erika Brown from The Cricket talks about redistricting in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Kory Curcuru was set to interview State Representative Jamie Belsito from the 4th District this week, but Erika explains Manchester is now part of the 5th District with the rest of Cape Ann. 
 
Erika highlights two community stories. First, Manchester’s eldest male resident, Gordon MacDougal, gave the signature Boston Post Cane to the Manchester Historical Museum. Lastly, A Manchester resident successfully swam the English Channel.