Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Photos from Len Burgess-

August 22, 2019

Stage Fort Park Advisory for Saturday, August 24

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (August 22, 2019) – The City of Gloucester has issued an advisory for Saturday, August 24 in and around Stage Fort Park (SFP) for the Riverfest Seaside Music Festival. The festival is scheduled from 12 PM – 6 PM and additional event details can be found here: https://theriverboston.com/attend/riverfest/.

Residents should be aware that general event parking will be available at SFP, at the Little League parking lot and lower lot adjacent to The Cupboard Restaurant. Free parking is available for residents with a beach parking sticker at SFP, O’Maley Innovation Middle School, Magnolia Woods, and Gloucester High School. Free shuttle service will be provided from O’Maley and Magnolia Woods. The City is encouraging the use of taxi’s and or ride-sharing services (Uber, Lyft) from any MBTA station. CATA will be running its standard Saturday routes, including shuttle service to SFP, downtown and beaches.

For the safety and enjoyment of all residents and guests visitors should take a moment and review SFP’s rules and regulations. That complete list can be found here: https://gloucester-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5647.

Local traffic and access will be managed with lot attendants, posted signs and police details. Lane shifts and/or alternating one-way traffic may be required and implemented based on the work and direction of the detail officers. By mid-morning Hough Avenue will be restricted to one way, beginning from the Stacey Boulevard entrance.

The Gloucester Police Department will be implementing a traffic management plan that will mitigate traffic and pedestrian impact on the community and that will facilitate a safe and orderly egress at the conclusion of the event. “No concert parking” signs will be posted at the beginning of more than a dozen streets in and around the SFP Area. Officers will be out enforcing traffic and/or parking violations.

Residents should follow the City of Gloucester and Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken Facebook pages. Traffic, parking and event updates will be posted periodically throughout the day.

At times, traffic may be extremely congested. As always, drivers and pedestrians should exercise caution and patience navigating through and around Stage Fort Park. The City of Gloucester appreciates everyone’s patience and cooperation.

About the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts

As America’s oldest seaport, the City of Gloucester is known as an authentic, working waterfront community, a place of spectacular natural beauty, and home to a diverse population of approximately 30,000 residents. Its sharp focus on economic development has helped build its reputation as the ideal location to live, work, and play. An important center for the fishing industry, the City is also proud of its vibrant cultural life and rich art heritage. Gloucester is a destination for thousands of visitors who come to the harbor and its beaches during the summer months. The City will be celebrating its 400th Anniversary in 2023. For more information, please visit: www.gloucester-ma.gov.

MEDIA ALERT – Stage Fort Park Advisory for Riverfest.pdf

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State Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) today announced the availability of $300 in annual household electricity savings through JOE-4-SUN, the state’s largest Low-Income Community Shared Solar program.

The initiative from Boston-based Citizens Energy Corporation, launched earlier this month, offers discount solar credits to about 2,000 low-income Massachusetts families each year.

“This is a terrific new program from my good friend, former Congressman Joe Kennedy, who has been helping low-income families in Massachusetts, the U.S., and around the world meet their energy needs with innovative programs for over 40 years,” said the six-term representative. “I encourage Gloucester families to look into this program before the subscriptions fill up.”

As a participant in the state’s SMART (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target) initiative, Citizens Energy is building five solar arrays on capped landfills around the state – in Bridgewater, Ayer, Springfield, Spencer and Ashland.

The 16 megawatts of electricity generated from the five projects will produce bill credits to be sold at a 50% discount to subscribers. As the largest Low-Income Community Shared Solar initiative in Massachusetts, JOE-4-SUN will offer guaranteed savings of about $10 million to 35,000 low-income Bay State families over the course of its 20-year lifespan.

Ferrante, a strong supporter of clean energy, played a key role in marshalling support for the legislation creating the state’s Low-Income Community Shared Solar programs.

“Rep. Ferrante has been a great advocate for renewable energy and finding ways to bring low-income families into the green revolution,” said Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II. “I welcome her support of JOE-4-SUN and our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and extend the benefits of renewable energy to low-income households while cutting their electricity costs.”

In order to be eligible for JOE-4-SUN, renters or homeowners must be R-2 discount customers in the National Grid or Eversource service territories. Subscribers will continue to receive their R-2 discount on top of the savings from JOE-4-SUN. Citizens Energy will enroll households in the JOE-4-SUN program for at least 12 months.

Households interested in subscribing to JOE-4-SUN must apply on-line by visiting the Citizens Energy website at http://www.citizensenergy.com/joe4sun. If questions arise not answered on the website, they can call the toll-free number 855-JOE-4-SUN (855-563-4786) or send an email to JOE4SUN@citizensenergy.com for further information.