Good Morning Gloucester

Well it’s the perfect time to come check us out because it’s Mass Beer Week! So come on down to Laneside Pub & Brewery, grab a pint and celebrate with us. New beers released this week. 🍻

It was almost springlike recently when I took a little walk around the park area including the Fitz Henry Lane House and the Fitz Hugh Lane statue. I am walking the line between the 2 names best known for the local artist born Nathaniel Rogers Lane in 1804 and legally changed his name to Fitz Henry Lane in 1834. You can be forgiven for confusion over the name Fitz Hugh Lane which apparently was erroneous. (More info on that here from the National Gallery of Art) The Gloucester Harbor Walk provides further information here, as well as fellow blog contributor Catherine Ryan’s post from March 2019 which can be found here. Further information on the Fitz Henry Land house and Fitz Hugh Lane statue can also be found here from Cape Ann Museum.

Regardless, all that background info isn’t really necessary in order to enjoy the paved walkways, benches and tables in this park area. And, of course, the Alfred Duca statue overlooking Harbor Loop is most striking. I am not sure how all the pine cones ended up nearby but they don’t detract from the statue’s beauty. There were families and couples enjoying a little quiet time and scenery while I was there. Maybe don’t worry too much about Henry vs Hugh and just enjoy the surroundings while you are there.

DownRiver Ice Cream in Essex is one of my touchpoints in seasonal change. Coming again soon!

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Gold Leaf…

Purchase GHS Hoops Tournament Tix

Mayor Greg Verga announces that the City of Gloucester has entered a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to perform facility improvements and secondary treatment updates at the City’s Water Pollution Control Facility on Essex Avenue.

This decree cements the City’s commitment to improving water quality in Gloucester, and represents the City’s largest investment in the plant since it opened in 1984. Upgrades will bring state-of-the-arttreatment processes and increase resilience at the existing facility.

The plant will operate throughout construction.

“This project is a major step toward improving our infrastructure in our community,” Mayor Verga said. “This is an incredible investment in our residents and environment. I am proud to take this project on to do the most good for the most people over the most time. This is also a major investment into economic development; these upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility will make Gloucester a more inviting and attractive location for current and future businesses.”

Under terms of the decree, the City must:

• Submit to the EPA and DEP a formal timeline of preliminary design, permitting, construction phasing and funding authorizations by May 15, 2023;
• Submit to the EPA and DEP final design plant for the plant by Dec. 31, 2024;
• Finish construction by March 31, 2028.

The plant’s outflow currently is sent several miles out into Massachusetts Bay. Secondary treatment will result in improved effluent water quality, thereby providing benefits to the coastal environment.

Last fall the City received a $2 million federal appropriation to study options for plant improvements, which was secured by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey.

It is believed the project could cost $100 million. The City is actively engaging with state and federal agencies to identify infrastructure funding opportunities, including the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The City intends to use $10 million in ARPA funding for plant upgrades.

The Department of Public Works will oversee the project. Environmental Partners Group, LLC, is serving as Owner’s Project Manager.

Project updates will be provided regularly on the City’s website.

Welcome to the 2023 Bluefin Blowout!
Captain: Junior Dunne
Boat: Easy Scrapin

Registration is now open!
https://bit.ly/2023CaptainRegistration

July 24 – Bluefin Bash Fundraiser
July 25-27 – Bluefin Blowout Tournament
*Tournament dates subject to change

We had a lovely stroll around Newburyport a few days ago. One of our favorite stops is the Oldies Marketplace at Rear Water St. It recently reopened for the season with limited hours. It’s a large barn kind of building with several stalls offering up a wide variety of “oldies”. You can lose yourself for hours. I am always looking for Gloucester history and sometimes find I have better luck finding it when I am NOT in Gloucester. Though I did not find Gloucester that day, I did find Rockport represented in an old glass bottle. It can be a little chilly in there so be prepared if you stop by. I did find several little items that caught my eye. It’s a fun way to spend some time.

Don’t bring any makeup, dresses, high heels, just bring shorts, bikinis and flip flops.

Current situation:

March 1st was the beginning of Meteorological spring. We’ll see if Punxsutawney Phil is right that there will be no spring until after the Vernal equinox on March 21st.

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