The City of Gloucester is offering one free two-hour parking session per day on Main Street this holiday season to support downtown businesses and make it easier for residents and visitors to shop, dine, and enjoy local events. From Thursday, November 27 to Wednesday, December 31, free parking will be available on the entirety of Main Street in Zones 2 and 6. Important Reminder Free parking is not automatic. To receive the free two-hour session, drivers must start a parking session at a kiosk or through the Flowbird app by entering their license plate information.
How to Activate Your Free 2-Hour Session At a Kiosk: Press the check mark (✔) button. Enter your license plate number. Press the check mark again. Press the check mark one final time to start your free session. No payment is required or accepted for the free session.
Using the Flowbird App: Log in to the Flowbird app. Select the appropriate Main Street zone (Zone 2 or Zone 6). Enter your license plate number. Confirm to activate your free two-hour session.
Rules and Limits: Free parking is available once per day per vehicle. The two-hour time limit will be strictly enforced. Free parking applies only to Main Street Zones 2 and 6. Vehicles parked longer than two hours may receive a parking violation.
Additional Information A free 20-minute parking session remains available in all other zones, where regular parking regulations will continue to be enforced.
Drivers are reminded to always check posted signs for zone information, time limits, and enforcement hours.
This initiative is part of the City’s broader effort to support downtown businesses and encourage residents and visitors to spend time in the heart of Gloucester throughout the holiday season.
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Looking for a fun night out? Whale Rock Art Studio’s paint nights are a blast! Come enjoy the creative vibes! Whalerockartstudio.com 27 Lexington Avenue, Gloucester, MA, United States, Massachusetts
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Ann-Margaret Ferrante passed away peacefully at her home in Gloucester on November 27, 2025, after a long journey with pancreatic cancer.
A lifelong resident of Gloucester, Ann-Margaret was born at Beverly Hospital on June 26, 1972, to Joseph and Frances (Giacalone) Ferrante. Her parents’ Sicilian backgrounds and the jobs they held during her childhood had a big influence on Ann-Margaret; Joseph was a fisherman, and Frances was a school librarian.
Ann-Margaret’s childhood was spent growing up in a tight-knit neighborhood of immigrant and immigrant-descended families and the kids of the “churchyard gang.” As a child, she enjoyed playing many sports, a love that carried into adulthood when she watched the Patriots and Celtics games with her mother.
After graduating from Gloucester High School as a member of the Class of 1990, she attended Tufts University, graduating with a double major in economics and international relations. She then earned her juris doctor at Suffolk Law School. Later, during her time as state representative, she attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and earned a Master’s in Public Administration.
Ann-Margaret’s legal and public service career prior to being elected began with working in State Senator Bruce Tarr’s office. She initially practiced law with Dwight Ware, whose office was on Pleasant Street in Gloucester. She then joined with Bob Visnick and Kevin Kiely to form the law firm of Kiely, Visnick, and Ferrante, later reforming as Kiely and Ferrante. She also practiced law on behalf of the Gloucester Seafood Auction and served with distinction as the first Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fisheries Recovery Commission.
Ann-Margaret was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2008. During her tenure, she served on a number of committees, eventually chairing the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses, and serving as the vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, the highest ranking committee in the House of Representatives.
Throughout her legislative career, Ann-Margaret worked to ensure that Cape Ann always had a seat at the table in legislative matters. She was focused on her fishermen, jobs and economic development, and helping those in need.
Ann-Margaret’s connection to the fishing industry through her father led her to be a lifelong advocate for the fishermen. She led the charge to end abusive practices taken by the federal government against fishermen and never stopped proposing and passing policies to support the fishing industry and the working waterfront.
Her mother’s job as a school librarian instilled a lifelong love of reading in Ann-Margaret. This love resulted in her paying for books to be distributed by the First R Foundation, bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Cape Ann’s children, and passing a law that would make a statewide Imagination Library possible.
One of Ann-Margaret’s proudest achievements was the creation of the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute and Gloucester Biotechnology Academy. GMGI is the prime example of her focus on economic development and job creation. She was delighted that cutting edge fisheries and life science research was being conducted on Cape Ann and that students from Cape Ann were being trained for well-paying careers in the field.
Ann-Margaret is survived by her mother Frances, aunt Grace Ann (Douponce) Giacalone, godparents John and Gerry Willette, many cousins and 14 godchildren. She was predeceased by her father Joseph, aunt Kathleen Giacalone, and uncle John Giacalone.
A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in St. Ann’s Church, Holy Family Parish, 74 Pleasant Street, Gloucester on Thursday, December 4, 2025, followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated at 1:00 p.m. A private burial will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ann-Margaret’s name to the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at https://labs.dana-farber.org/halecenter/donateor the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute to support the Ferrante Postdoctoral Fellowship at http://gmgi.org/donate-now/.
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Kick off the season in festive Rockport style! Join us for Holiday Shopping Night and enjoy an evening of cheerful lights, local treasures, and holiday spirit. Start at Dock Square, where shoppers can pick up a free Christmas in Rockport tote bag filled with a list of participating businesses, special coupons valid all season long, and a bonus raffle ticket. As you explore Rockport’s charming shops, you’ll find festive treats and refreshments offered by many local retailers and be serenaded by strolling musicians bringing holiday magic to the streets. Every purchase at a participating store earns you an extra raffle ticket for a chance to win one of three exciting prizes. End the evening at the after party and live raffle drawing at Brackett’s Oceanview Restaurant where the celebration continues with good company, great prizes, and plenty of holiday cheer!
To kick off the season, GHS Hockey will be doing something special and holding a raffle with some incredible prizes (see flyer and click on post for all details). ALL proceeds from this will be donated to the Christopher Dailey Memorial Fund. Thank you to local businesses and families for your generous donations to this! A list of “thank yous” will be posted soon.
Venmo is below. If you would like to enter and do not do Venmo, the phone number to inquire is 978-821-1414. Thank you all!
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Dear Gloucester Cultural and Civic Center board members, former board members, donors, supporters, allied professionals, and those who opposed our endeavor,
After valiant efforts and due consideration, the Board of Directors of Gloucester Cultural and Civic Center, Inc. have decided to cease pursuit of the organization’s dream of building and operating a cultural and civic center in the heart of Gloucester and to close our non-profit organization.
Until December 15, 2025, you can still view our website and plan, at which point it will be taken down.
We will be going through the legal process of closing our non-profit corporation with distribution remaining funds to a worth organization or organizations that will carry on our mission of enhancing the cultural and civic life of Gloucester.
I thank you all for your support and loyal opposition to our project over the last 6 years.
Very best wishes,
Tom Burger
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It’s almost here! Makes time to come downtown anytime Thursday December 4 to check out downtown merchants and restaurants. 44 Main St will be open by 11 am for the duration.
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Wildlife Out Your Window with Brad Timm Thursday, December 4 | 5:30–6:30 PM Community Room | Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester
Discover the extraordinary wildlife hiding in plain sight! Join the Sawyer Free Library for a lively and educational presentation with author Brad Timm, who brings the natural world to life through surprising insights and engaging stories inspired by his book Wildlife Out Your Window.
During this fun, family-friendly talk, Timm will share fascinating wildlife factoids, including:
Blue Jay feathers aren’t actually blue
Some foxes can climb trees
Certain frogs create their own natural anti-freeze
He’ll also explore simple ways we can support and protect the wildlife that lives all around us — in our yards, neighborhoods, and city green spaces. You’re guaranteed to walk away seeing the natural world with fresh eyes!
After the presentation, Brad will be available to chat with attendees, answer questions, and sign copies of Wildlife Out Your Window, which will be available for purchase.
27 Lexington Avenue, Gloucester, MA, United States, Massachusetts
Good Morning Gloucester 