Morning Current, Thursday, October 8

Transcript

Good morning. It's Thursday, October 8. This is the Morning Current, from the Cape Ann Current. I'm Kerry Jane. Today we break down the new Essex town budget, mark Fire Prevention Week, and look at a change in leadership at the Gloucester Police Department. Plus, what Hurricane Isaias means for our weekend, and a look at weekend events.

The Morning Current is free, and supported by local businesses. To sponsor it, visit capeanncurrent dot com slash advertise.

In May, Essex voters approved a 24.5 million dollar budget for the year that runs through June. That is a 2.9 percent increase from the year before. To pay for it, voters passed 2 overrides of the state property tax limit on Monday, May 11. The Finance Committee says it is the first override for town operations in more than 20 years. Town departments will grow 8.1 percent, driven mostly by employee health insurance and the fire department. The fire budget is up 68 percent to add the town's first full time fire department employee. Schools remain the largest cost, making up a little over half of everything the town spends.

It is Fire Prevention Week, and local fire officials are reminding residents to check their smoke alarms. The week comes less than 3 weeks after a fire destroyed the building at 19 Broadway in Rockport. The fire took the Rockport House of Pizza and the homes of the families who lived upstairs. No one was hurt, but the families lost nearly everything they owned. As part of the week, Manchester by the Sea firefighters will host a chili cook off on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The American Red Cross installs up to three free smoke alarms in Massachusetts homes, for renters and owners. Our checklist and free calendar reminders are at capeanncurrent dot com.

In Gloucester, Lieutenant Michael Gossom became the acting interim police chief on Tuesday. The mayor's office says Gossom will serve until further notice. He takes over from Michael Williams, who had led the department as acting chief since March. The city has not said why the change was made or what happens to Williams. Former Chief Ed Conley retired early this year. The city is using a search firm to help find a permanent chief.

Several boards meet today. In Gloucester, the Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 7 p.m. In Rockport, the Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6 p.m. In Essex, the Board of Selectmen meets, and the School Building Committee holds a community meeting at 6 p.m. In Manchester by the Sea, the Board of Health meets at 8:30 a.m. The state drought task force also meets today at 9:30 a.m.

In the race for state representative in the Fifth Essex District, Gil Frieden of Essex is the first of the three candidates to answer the Cape Ann Current's questionnaire. His answers on housing, the working waterfront, climate, school funding, transportation and all nine ballot questions are now in our voter guide at capeanncurrent dot com. Democrat Dru Tarr and Republican Christina Delisio have until October 16 to send theirs.

Looking ahead to the long weekend, the Annisquam Arts and Crafts Show opens Friday night in Gloucester. On Saturday, the Essex River Cultural District festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. And on Sunday, October 11, Magtoberfest takes over Lexington Avenue in Magnolia from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In high school sports, the Gloucester boys soccer team won 3 to 0 over Winthrop on Wednesday. The Winthrop girls soccer team won 4 to 0 over Gloucester. In field hockey, Manchester Essex won 3 to 0 over Amesbury, and Ipswich won 5 to 0 over Rockport. In cross country, the Manchester Essex girls beat Amesbury 19 to 38, while the Amesbury boys beat Manchester Essex 26 to 31. Today, the Gloucester volleyball team hosts Saugus at 5:45 p.m., while the Rockport boys soccer team hosts Ipswich at 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service expects a mostly sunny and breezy Thursday, with a high near 68 and a 30 percent chance of showers between 9 a.m. and noon. A small craft advisory is in effect until 11 a.m. Forecasters say Friday will be sunny with a high near 65. Saturday is expected to bring more sun and a high near 60. High tides in Gloucester Harbor are predicted to reach near 10 feet late morning on Friday and Saturday. Hurricane Isaias is headed for the northern Gulf Coast and will not bring storm conditions to Cape Ann this weekend. Forecasters expect a dry, sunny Saturday, then say the storm's leftovers could bring rain showers Sunday night into Columbus Day, with no flooding or damaging winds expected.

We also remember Sherrill A. Beaulieu, 86, of Gloucester.

That's the Morning Current for Thursday. Every story, with its sources, is at capeanncurrent dot com, along with short editions for each town. I'm Kerry Jane, the Cape Ann Current's newsreader. Every story comes from public records and is listed with its sources on our website. Catch the Morning Current again tomorrow. Keeping Cape Ann current.

Stories in this episode

• Essex's $24.5 million budget, line by line
• Fire Prevention Week: check your alarms, charge with care and give space heaters room this winter
• Lt. Michael Gossom is Gloucester's new acting police chief
• Morning shower chance, then sunny and cooler into the weekend
• Scoreboard: seven games today, including Gloucester volleyball and Rockport and Manchester Essex soccer

All Morning Current episodes and ways to listen