Rockport Morning Current, Thursday, October 8

Transcript

Good morning, Rockport. It's Thursday, October 8. From the Cape Ann Current, I'm Kerry Jane, with your Rockport Morning Current. Today, fire officials remind us of fire safety following the recent blaze on Broadway.

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

It is Fire Prevention Week. The week brings a fresh reminder of what a fire can take, following the blaze at 19 Broadway less than three weeks ago. The fire destroyed 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. Three online fundraisers are helping the families and the restaurant's staff. The links are in our Fire Prevention Week story. 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.

The state drought task force meets today at 9:30 a.m. The region is currently in a Level 1 mild drought. Rockport still bans all outdoor water use.

In town meetings today, the Rockport Housing Authority meets at 5 p.m., and the Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6 p.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 Saturday, the Rockport Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Harvey Park. Later that day, the Rockport Art Walk takes place at downtown galleries from 4 to 7 p.m.

In high school sports, the Rockport field hockey team fell to Ipswich 5 to 0 yesterday. Today, the girls soccer team travels to Ipswich for a 4 p.m. game, while the boys host Ipswich at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Rockport soccer heads to Gloucester for a doubleheader, with the girls playing at 4 p.m. and the boys at 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service expects a chance of a shower this morning, then a mostly sunny and breezy Thursday with a high near 68. A small craft advisory is in effect until 11 a.m. High tide in Rockport is just before 10:09 a.m. and 10:32 p.m. 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.

That's the Rockport Morning Current for Thursday. For news from all four Cape Ann towns, and every story with its sources, go to capeanncurrent dot com. I'm Kerry Jane, the Cape Ann Current's newsreader. Catch the Morning Current again tomorrow. Keeping Cape Ann current.

Stories in this episode

• Fire Prevention Week: check your alarms, charge with care and give space heaters room this winter
• Morning shower chance, then sunny and cooler into the weekend
• Long weekend on Cape Ann: art shows, open studios, Magtoberfest and two big Rockport concerts
• Scoreboard: seven games today, including Gloucester volleyball and Rockport and Manchester Essex soccer

Hear the full Cape Ann Morning Current · All Rockport Morning Current episodes and ways to listen