Day: January 28, 2025

Oak To Ember:

incoming / introducing :

new S N A C K B A R menu

our new “happy hour” on specialty snacks. bar only, Monday through Friday, 4 till 530pm.
tasty bites with a price that’s nice.

“I’ve been in this job for just over three years—less than one percent of Gloucester’s history—and we’ve done incredible work,” said Verga. “I was born and raised here and I ran with a sense of duty to take the best of Gloucester, which is considerable, and make it better. Our record speaks for itself, but my work isn’t done. With the team we now have in place: our managers and our front line employees across every department—schools, public safety, public works, all of them—I’m successful because they’re talented and committed, and they know what they’re doing. Just as important, we all have a common goal: To make Gloucester a better place than it was yesterday and the best place it can be for all of our tomorrows.”

Having reached his 1,100th day in office earlier this month, Verga says he is most proud of how he spent funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, largely because the outcomes were based on input solicited from citizens around the city. Gloucester’s ARPA-related outlays directed millions to city structures, systems and services, parks and open spaces, schools, housing and community initiatives, in addition to hundreds of thousands into arts and culture, public health and economic development. A complete accounting of ARPA spending and Gloucester’s funding dashboard can be found by visiting https://arpa.gloucester-ma.gov/

In a third term, Mayor Verga identifies his biggest priority as breaking ground on Gloucester’s new wastewater treatment plant to remain on pace for a scheduled 2028 completion date. His other mission-critical goal is to maintain core services for businesses and residents as best as the city is able in a fiscal era that won’t include tens of millions of dollars in federal support. Verga is determined to “do more with less” and “ensure every dollar that comes in is put to its best use, doing the most good for the most people over the long term.”

Mayor Verga adds that he remains committed to strong support of coastal and cultural tourism, recreation and hospitality, performing and visual arts and marine-related construction and transportation, in addition to advancing seafood research and Gloucester’s fishing industry as the region adapts to a changing climate. 

“I’m not a career politician and I don’t plan on staying in this role forever, but I do believe we have more work to do to build on our successes,” said Verga. “The job of mayor is not a glamorous one by any means, but it’s immensely rewarding. It’s the best job I’ll ever have because we can make a difference in people’s day-to-day lives in big ways and small. I really do enjoy getting up every day to go to work and that’s a 24-7, seven-days-a-week commitment.”

Verga points to wide-ranging accomplishments during his first term and a half, including technology upgrades at City Hall and the Rose Baker Senior Center, making meetings of city boards, committees and commissions hybrid, interactive and recorded, and spearheading advancements that continue in parks and open spaces, schools, streets and sidewalks and in Gloucester’s attention to its carbon footprint. 

He also notes improvements to beach traffic mitigation, the courthouse and police station, the American Legion building, volunteer boards and the Affordable Housing Trust, which seeks to create entry-level housing for new residents and for the sons and daughters of Gloucester natives.

“We’ve welcomed new businesses, widened our tourism base and initiated a comprehensive wayfinding system for navigating the city,” said Verga. “Our new Harbor Plan is awaiting final state approval and will allow us to make important changes to our waterfront, resulting in economic development opportunities both on and offshore. You will continue to see improvements to our infrastructure, including roads and sidewalks and the underground utilities we often take for granted. You will benefit from an increasingly diversified economy, based on respectful use of our unique resources.” 

Mayor Verga will begin a ward-by-ward, State of the City update on January 30 at Gloucester High followed by the Rose Baker Senior Center (February 6), Beeman School (February 13) and West Parish School (February 20). Check the city website calendar for further details. 

Oyster Bed…

I’ve made it a goal for us to get to each of the 10 Serenitee group restaurants over the course of the winter. First up is the Hale St Tavern on Hale St (surprise) in Beverly Farms. We met our friends Susan and Leo there. Susan celebrates a January birthday AND has a Serenitee Rewards account so she was entitled to a free entree and dessert. **If you don’t have a Serenitee Rewards account, I highly recommend it. It’s easy to enroll and it’s a very generous reward program. ** The atmosphere is easy going and warm. They have several daily specials and the food was very good.

We ordered fried pickle chips, Sushi, Birria Melt, Reuben and blackened haddock tacos and finished our meal off with the chocolate chip skillet cookie as the birthday dessert. Everything was delivered as expected, delicious and freshly made. Our server was helpful with suggestions and patient while we figured things out. It was a delightful experience and I look forward to my next Winter Serenitee experience.