Essex
News, meetings, schools and sports from Essex.
Cape Ann Votes: Your guide to the Nov. 3 election is live
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Where and when to vote in each town, a Gloucester polling place map, every race on the Cape Ann ballot, the nine statewide questions and who is paying to pass or defeat them, all in one place.
Listen: the Essex Daily Brief
Monday, October 5 · 3:03
The Cape Ann Current's voter guide is live. Read by Kerry Jane. How we work More Essex episodes · Full Cape Ann brief
Latest
New: compare property taxes in Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester on one page
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Our new property tax page has a bill calculator for all four towns, 10 years of average bills, and state and Census figures that update on their own. Here is what it shows.
Woodman family foundation passes $1 million in giving, with two fundraisers this month
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Essex foundation started in 1988 as a single scholarship. It now helps Manchester Essex seniors, Woodman's student workers and local families. A restaurant day at The James and a Left Right Center night in Manchester are coming up.
Cape Ann this week: Plein Air turns 10, an Annisquam craft show and open studios next weekend
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The symphony's storm postponed concert is this afternoon. Then a week of painters at work outdoors, a free castle day for Gloucester residents, jazz in Rockport and two school building meetings in Essex and Manchester.
Weekly roundup: Gloucester field hockey reaches 8 and 0, and football wins on homecoming night
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Beverly visits the unbeaten Fishermen on Tuesday. Rockport and Manchester Essex meet three times this week, and Gloucester hosts Rockport in a soccer doubleheader Saturday.
Town news
Gloucester Republican wins Governor's Council ballot spot as a write-in
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
William Falcetano will face incumbent Democrat Eunice Delice Zeigler of Methuen for the 5th District seat on Nov. 3.
Meetings
Essex downtown forum: parking, a market and more to do top residents' wish list
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
At a chamber and town forum Sept. 29, residents and business owners traded ideas for the causeway, from a river shuttle and a walking trail to year round public restrooms. Officials also outlined a push for a $2 million study of causeway flooding.
Essex selectmen to take up a full time fire chief job description and a search for a town accountant
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The board meets Monday. Later in the week: the Bell Point subdivision returns to the Conservation Commission, and three boards meet on public works.
Essex looks for residents to review how the town is governed
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
A new committee will study the town's management structure. Applications are due Oct. 13.
Essex backs grant bids for causeway flooding and Chebacco Lake
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Selectmen also approved a load study for the Landing Road bridge and appointed three new firefighters.
Essex, Manchester and school district revive joint talks on sharing services
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
A shared senior van service was set to start this week. Leaders also floated sharing equipment and staff, and an early conversation with Rockport.
Manchester boards meet Monday to shape the special town meeting and hear from the school building committee
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Select Board and Finance Committee sit down together Oct. 5. Also on the agenda: the state election warrant, two short term rental licenses and the reappointment of the town's top finance officials.
Gloucester planners take up Sargent Street subdivision Thursday as council panels weigh police grants
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Also this week: Essex selectmen meet with public works and finance boards, and Essex's school community meetings are set for Oct. 8 and Oct. 13.
Public Safety
Essex fire department told to find $50,000 before town hires full-time chief
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Selectmen want to know by Oct. 5 whether the department can pay for a chief and two-person weekday shifts without a bigger budget.
Our new police log: what's in it, where it comes from and what we're learning
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Cape Ann's police calls are now searchable in one place, starting with Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport. We add more every day as departments send their logs.
License plate readers and Cape Ann: the crime numbers, the unions, the money and the questions to ask
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Automated license plate readers are spreading across the North Shore, but not on Cape Ann. Here is what local crime data, the research, police unions, Washington and the companies selling the cameras say about whether our towns should have them.
Schools
Essex school committee wanted to see possible cuts before setting a budget
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
At its Sept. 22 meeting the Essex School Building Committee declined to pick a target price for the new Essex Elementary School and sent a list of cost saving ideas to a working group.
Manchester leaders warn voters have not heard the tax bill for the Essex school project
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
With a fall town meeting vote weeks away, officials from both towns and the school district agreed on a fast schedule to put tax impact numbers in front of residents.
School calendar: committee meetings, an Oct. 7 half day and an Essex Elementary forum
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Manchester Essex students have a half day Wednesday, Oct. 7, and the Essex School Building Committee holds a community meeting the next night.
Manchester Essex School Committee to hear elementary school plans and the FY27 outlook Tuesday
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The principals of Essex Elementary and Memorial School present improvement plans, the building committee reports in, and a finance panel keeps talking about rental and student activity fees.
What's for lunch in October: every Cape Ann school menu, side by side
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Pizza Fridays in Gloucester and Rockport, fish on Fridays in Manchester and Essex, a new protein bowl at Rockport High, and no lunch listed on two Gloucester half days. All of it is free.
Sports
Manchester Essex boys soccer wins 4 to 0 at Hamilton-Wenham ahead of Newburyport test
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Hornets scored three second half goals and have lost only once this season. Next is a trip to unbeaten Newburyport.
Manchester Essex boys soccer holds unbeaten Newburyport to a 0 to 0 tie
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Hornets kept the Clippers off the board on the road. Rockport is next on Tuesday.
Manchester Essex boys hold unbeaten Newburyport to a 0 to 0 tie; girls fall 7 to 0 to the Clippers
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Hornets boys kept Newburyport off the scoreboard on the road. Both Manchester Essex teams play Rockport on Tuesday.
Scoreboard: Rockport visits Manchester Essex in field hockey, Gloucester soccer takes on Marblehead
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Four varsity games today after a quiet weekend, and Gloucester field hockey hosts Beverly Tuesday in a meeting of the Northeastern Conference's two unbeaten teams.
Scoreboard: Gloucester and Beverly field hockey meet Tuesday in a week of rivalry games
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
No Cape Ann varsity games this weekend after Friday's football. This week brings Rockport and Manchester Essex three times, Beverly at Gloucester and Salem at Newell Stadium.
Gloucester's Fiona Black and Mia Rodolosi top the area field hockey scoring list, with Hornets close behind
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Goalie Aleena Brown leads area keepers. Manchester Essex has three players among the leaders, and Rockport's goalie makes the list too.
Unbeaten Gloucester field hockey ranks ninth in Division 3 in the MIAA's latest power rankings
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Manchester Essex field hockey is 10th in Division 4. Gloucester football sits fourth in Division 5, in rankings counted before Friday's win over Winthrop.
Scoreboard: Gloucester football wins its homecoming game, 28 to 7, and Amesbury beats Manchester Essex
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Fishermen are 3 and 1 after beating Winthrop. The Hornets fell to 0 and 4. No varsity games for Cape Ann schools on Saturday, and field hockey's big one is Tuesday.
Winless Manchester Essex hosts Amesbury, the team behind its only league loss last fall
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Hornets are 0 and 3 and the Redhawks are 2 and 1. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. at Hyland Field in a Cape Ann League game.
Amesbury beats Manchester Essex 46 to 8
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Hornets fell to 0 and 4 at Hyland Field. They visit Hamilton-Wenham next Friday.
Scoreboard: Gloucester field hockey stays unbeaten at 8 and 0, plus Thursday's results and Friday football
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Fishermen beat Danvers 5 to 2 and host Beverly, the NEC's other unbeaten team, on Tuesday. North Reading beat Rockport girls soccer 5 to 1, and both football teams play Friday night.
College roundup: Gordon, Endicott and Salem State
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Endicott football rolled at homecoming and Gordon volleyball has won seven straight. Local players to watch include a Gloucester defender and a Manchester forward at Salem State.
Scoreboard: Gloucester boys soccer edges Saugus; Hornets football still seeking first win
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Short takes on the rest of the week's local high school results, Sept. 24 to 30, and what's next.
Manchester Essex field hockey posts another shutout; Rockport ties North Reading
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Hornets beat Newburyport 2 to 0 for their second straight shutout. Gloucester field hockey puts its perfect record on the line Thursday against Danvers.
Gloucester football ranks third in first Division 5 power rankings
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Fishermen are 2 and 1. Manchester Essex is 24th in Division 7.
Gloucester field hockey stays perfect as Hornets and Vikings set up a week of rematches
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The Fishermen are 7 and 0 after three straight shutouts. Football opens league play Friday against Winthrop.
Business
Ipswich River Craft opens its new Essex studio with a ribbon cutting Thursday
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The maker of hand painted nautical flag signs celebrates on John Wise Avenue Oct. 1. Also: a new manager at Beacon Bank's Gloucester branch.
Events
Topsfield Fair today: dock dogs finals, horse pulling and a lumberjack show
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The fair runs through Monday, Oct. 12. Sunday's program has sheep shows, racing pigs, State Police dogs and music on four stages from 10 a.m. into the evening.
Cape Ann Museum's October: a free day for residents, a Dogtown walk and a Folly Cove printing class
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
The museum is free for Cape Ann residents on Saturday, Oct. 10. Registration is open for a four-week block printing course and a guided walk through historic Dogtown.
This week on Cape Ann: plein air painters, a storm-delayed symphony opener and a Dogtown dog walk
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Picks for Oct. 1 to 7, including the start of Cape Ann Plein Air's 10th year and Gloucester's Community Safety Day.
DPW and Roads
Cape Ann water rules: Rockport bans outdoor use, Gloucester limits it, Manchester lifts its ban
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Rockport bans all outdoor water use and Gloucester allows hand watering only, while Manchester has dropped its restrictions and Essex asks only for voluntary conservation.
Budget and Finance
Essex school project nears $95 million as fall town meeting takes shape
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Voters will also be asked to pay a $26,000 snow plowing bill that arrived months after the fiscal year ended.
Harbor and Environment
More ospreys than ever north of Boston, and Gloucester's camera pair raised two more chicks
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Greenbelt counted 103 nesting pairs this year, up from 92. Annie and Squam, the pair on the OspreyCam behind Lobsta Land, fledged Sunny and Stormy.
Sunny and milder Monday, then a gusty, cooler Tuesday with a small craft advisory on the bay
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
A high near 67 today, then 58 Tuesday. A small craft advisory covers Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay from 3 p.m. today to Tuesday morning, and evening high tides run near 9.7 feet.
Mostly sunny Sunday, showers tonight, then a breezy, milder Monday
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
A high near 60 today, a 40% chance of showers this evening and a high near 66 Monday. Northwest winds pick up on the water Monday night, and evening high tides run near 9.7 feet.
Sunny and cool on Cape Ann this weekend, with showers possible Sunday night
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Highs near 61 Saturday and 59 Sunday under mostly clear skies. A milder Monday follows, and afternoon high tides run close to 10 feet.
Warm Friday with a chance of evening showers, then a crisp, sunny weekend on Cape Ann
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Highs near 74 Friday give way to the low 60s Saturday and Sunday. Afternoon high tides run near 10 feet.
Warm start to October, then a sunny, cooler weekend on Cape Ann
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Highs reach the low 70s Thursday and Friday before a chance of showers Friday night. Afternoon high tides run near 10 feet through Saturday.
Cape Ann mostly spared as nor'easter brings 61 mph gust and needed rain
Cape Ann Current Staff How we work
Weather service reports show strong gusts off Rockport and Gloucester Saturday night and up to about 2 inches of rain in Manchester, with little damage reported.
Official sources