Month: October 2026

Gloucester Fire Chief Eric Smith is the special guest at Story Time this Wednesday, October 28 at 10:30 AM at Sawyer Free Library — with a fire-dog craft. Ages 2 and up, siblings welcome, and no registration needed. See the library’s post here: https://www.facebook.com/SawyerFreeLibrary

We celebrated our birthdays by returning to a familiar favorite spot on Lexington Ave in Magnolia: 525. As always, we were greeted warmly and said hello to a number of friends. GMG Jim ordered chicken parm and I had cajun haddock tacos. Each was delicious but I hold a soft spot for the chicken parm as it is served exactly the way I prefer it! Since we were celebrating, we ordered Jim’s favorite carrot cake. A cobbler was presented with a candle and the Happy Birthday song as a surprise and to add to the celebration. The Irish Coffee was sent over by friends and that was my favorite part of dessert! PS the fall sangria hits perfectly on these fall evenings…….

Today’s marine forecast for the coastal waters east of Ipswich Bay and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, from the National Weather Service.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON

TODAY: N winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt, diminishing to 5 to 10 kt this afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 4 ft at 6 seconds.

TONIGHT: N winds around 5 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NE 3 ft at 8 seconds and NW 2 ft at 4 seconds.

WED: N winds around 5 kt, becoming SW in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 8 seconds and N 1 foot at 4 seconds.

WED NIGHT: SW winds 5 to 10 kt, increasing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 3 seconds and SE 2 ft at 8 seconds.

THU AND THU NIGHT: SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 3 seconds and SE 2 ft at 8 seconds.

FRI THROUGH SAT NIGHT: S winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 4 seconds and E 2 ft at 7 seconds. Seas are reported as significant wave height, which is the average of the highest third of the waves. Individual wave heights may be more than twice the significant wave height.

Source: National Weather Service, Boston/Norton.

Tuesday’s the cold one — sunny but only hitting 50, feeling more like 40 out there, and downright chilly in the morning. Time to break out the fleece-lined beanies and pom caps. That fleece lining is what makes them so warm — $25 each, or pick any 4 for $80. Order online at Gloucester Apparel: https://gloucesterapparel.square.site/product/beanie-4-pack-pick-any-4/3MYDA245YGDWRB7VNXDWMKTT

Downriver…

Home

From the City of Gloucester:

Reminder that the trash forms are now live. If you would like to request a senior discount, swap sizes, opt out of the program, or sign a new residence up to receive service, go to: https://gloucester-ma.gov/1659/Forms

These forms are available until October 31st, 2026. If you have trouble making an account on OpenGov to access the form, the City’s website has a step-by-step walkthrough, and there’s a visual walk-through in the pinned post on the City’s Facebook page.

If you are requesting different cart sizes, you will not get your new carts until after the forms are completely closed and the requests are processed. Swapping will start the week of November 9th, so do not expect your new trash and recycling cart sizes until then.

For questions about the new program, reach out to the Department of Public Works at (978) 325-5600.

City post: https://www.facebook.com/cityofgloucester/posts/pfbid025KBjLZUALyqVGYyuNHRNnn4urKr2hNe1gPpG19PHmLfx8tjmCXArP1GKJcc4AuXLl

From the City of Gloucester:

Starting Monday, November 2nd, MassDOT will be working on the Centennial Ave Bridge. The bridge will be closed and traffic will be rerouted after the school commute. The bridge will reopen at 2:00 PM to facilitate the commute out of GHS. This work is expected to take a couple of days, so the City thanks you for your patience.

City post: https://www.facebook.com/cityofgloucester/posts/pfbid021ivSL5BwwbS84qdszK7QHN9S9YncmfvGUCE1bQ32rvobLAFJGQNLHm4NjdMFCVmDl

Start your week off with some delicious deals at Surfside & Long Beach Dairy Maid! 🤩

🔥 TODAY’S SPECIALS – MONDAY 10/26 🔥

🦞 $13.99 + tax Lobster Roll served with chips & pickles!

🍕 Buy ANY 18” Pizza, get a 2nd 18” Pizza HALF PRICE!

Limit 2 per customer

🍕 16” Pizzas HALF PRICE!

Limit 3 per customer

🍔 $3.99 Cheeseburger served with chips & pickles!

🥪 $6.99 Any Turkey Sub

🥪 $6.99 Any Meatball Sub

🥪 $6.99 Italian Sub

🍦 LONG BEACH DAIRY MAID MONDAY MADNESS! 🍦

Buy ONE ice cream and get your SECOND ice cream HALF PRICE! 🍨

Equal or lesser value

⏰ TODAY’S HOURS:

🌊 Surfside: 11 AM – 9 PM

🍦 Long Beach Dairy Maid: 2 PM – 9 PM

🍁 Great food, sweet treats, and unbeatable Monday deals! Come see us and make your Monday a little better! ❤️

⚠️ Excludes gluten-free and online orders. Pizza specials cannot be combined.

Congratulations to Captain Heath Ellis and all involved with the Thomas E. Lannon for a well deserved 2026 Tourism Industry Award for Frontline Hospitality!! Their sailing season is now closed until spring but you should definitely put it on your bucket list for 2027.

Today’s marine forecast for the coastal waters east of Ipswich Bay and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, from the National Weather Service.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING

TODAY: SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 3 seconds and E 2 ft at 10 seconds.

TONIGHT: NW winds 10 to 15 kt, becoming N 15 to 20 kt after midnight. Gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 9 seconds and NW 3 ft at 4 seconds.

TUE: N winds 15 to 20 kt, diminishing to 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 4 ft at 5 seconds.

TUE NIGHT: N winds around 5 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 5 seconds and NE 3 ft at 8 seconds.

WED: NE winds around 5 kt, becoming S in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 8 seconds and NW 1 foot at 4 seconds.

WED NIGHT: SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 3 seconds and SE 2 ft at 7 seconds.

THU THROUGH FRI NIGHT: NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Seas are reported as significant wave height, which is the average of the highest third of the waves. Individual wave heights may be more than twice the significant wave height.

Source: National Weather Service, Boston/Norton.

It’s still mid-autumn, but nature is setting up for winter.