Cape Ann Current Podcast

Cape Ann Current
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Cape Ann stories, local government, history, data and community updates, in audio. From the Cape Ann Current, a free source of public information for Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    The Weekly Current: Nov. 2 to 7. The election results, the Essex school vote plan, and Applied Materials in Gloucester

    Dru Tarr keeps the Fifth Essex seat, and how Cape Ann voted on all nine questions, town by town. How the Nov. 16 Essex Elementary School votes will run in Essex and Manchester. And what Applied Materials has bought and is building on Dory Road in Gloucester. The Weekly Current is the Cape Ann Current's Sunday recap. Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel go through the week: what we covered, why we covered it, what it means for you, and what gets decided this week. Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel are the Current's voices. Their stories about life on Cape Ann are part of the show. Every fact about Cape Ann comes from public records and government data. How we work: https://capeanncurrent.com/standards/#how-stories-are-made The Three Election results: how Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester voted, every race and all nine questions by town: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/04/election-results-cape-ann/ Tarr wins the Cape Ann seat, leading in all four towns: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/04/tarr-wins-fifth-essex/ Gloucester counts late arriving mail ballots in public Monday, Nov. 9: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/28/gloucester-late-mail-ballot-count-nov-9/ Election guide: https://capeanncurrent.com/elections/ Essex and Manchester officials map out the Nov. 16 school votes: room for 600 and 800, a two page handout, and what happens if one town says no: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/07/essex-manchester-mersd-joint-meeting-nov-5/ Manchester Essex School Committee votes to borrow up to $95.3 million for the new Essex Elementary School: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/05/mersd-school-committee-oct-20/ Manchester Essex schools cannot mail the Essex Elementary booklet to homes, state campaign finance office says: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/06/mersd-school-committee-nov-3/ Essex school building committee says a spring revote would add about $4.5 million: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/04/essex-school-building-committee-oct-27/ Essex selectmen back all 19 fall town meeting articles as the Finance Committee holds off on public works spending: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/04/essex-selectmen-nov-2/ Applied Materials has bought $23.6 million of Gloucester land and is building about 431,000 square feet more: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/02/applied-materials-dory-road-groundbreaking/ What Applied's filings with the city show about the 306,400 square foot Dory Road logistics center: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/07/applied-materials-11-dory-road-what-the-filings-show/ Gloucester council committee backs six utility petitions, including a fiber line for Applied Materials; National Grid plans 1.5 miles of covered power lines on Washington Street: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/06/gloucester-planning-development-nov-4/ The Desk Gloucester's retiree health care bill is now $181 million on the books, and the city has set aside 2 percent of it: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/07/gloucester-budget-finance-nov-5/ Gloucester shopping cart ordinance heads to the full council with a 50 cart exemption and a Nov. 24 hearing: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/04/gloucester-ordinances-shopping-carts-nov-2/ Gloucester schools lose 83 students in a year; special education count corrected to 25.3 percent: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/06/gloucester-school-committee-nov-4/ Gloucester's $55.8 million school budget: who decides, what it pays for and what was cut: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/02/gloucester-school-budget/ Manchester shows four ways to fix the Bennett Street intersection; survey open until Nov. 27: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/06/manchester-bennett-street-forum-nov-4/ Manchester accepts its harbor plan as a working document and lets harbor and well contractors start at 7 a.m.: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/04/manchester-select-board-nov-2/ Rockport planners send

  2. Nov 1

    The Weekly Current: Oct. 26 to 31. Gloucester's tax split, Rockport's water emergency, and Election Day Tuesday

    Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel go through the week on Cape Ann: Gloucester's City Council keeps the 1.03 tax split 8 to 1, Rockport declares a water emergency to siphon about 3 feet of water from Steel Derrick Quarry, and Election Day is Tuesday with all nine ballot questions explained. Plus the Lobster of Gloucester's year round license, 573 private roads, the week's scores, who turned the heat on, and every meeting that matters this week. The Weekly Current is the Cape Ann Current's Sunday recap. Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel go through the week: what we covered, why we covered it, what it means for you, and what gets decided this week. Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel are the Current's voices. Their stories about life on Cape Ann are part of the show. Every fact about Cape Ann comes from public records and government data. How we work: https://capeanncurrent.com/standards/#how-stories-are-made The Three Gloucester keeps the same tax split for homes and businesses, 8 to 1, after a push for a single rate fails: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/28/gloucester-city-council-oct-27/ Rockport declares a water emergency so it can pull about 3 feet of water from Steel Derrick Quarry: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/27/rockport-dpw-commissioners-oct-26/ Election 2026 guide, all nine questions and the candidates: https://capeanncurrent.com/elections/ Fifth Essex voter guide: https://capeanncurrent.com/elections/fifth-essex/ Question 1, public records: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/27/question-1-public-records/ Question 3, one primary: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/28/question-3-all-party-primary/ Question 4, Election Day registration: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/29/question-4-election-day-registration/ Question 5, the state tax cap: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/29/question-5-state-tax-cap/ Question 6, the Nature for All Fund: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/30/question-6-nature-for-all-fund/ Question 7, 5,000 square foot lots: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/28/question-7-5000-square-foot-lot/ Question 8, recreational marijuana sales: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/30/question-8-recreational-marijuana-sales/ Question 9, the 2024 firearms law: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/31/question-9-2024-firearms-law/ Friday was the last day of early voting; Election Day hours and places: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/30/early-voting-last-day/ Gloucester will count late arriving mail ballots in public on Monday, Nov. 9: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/28/gloucester-late-mail-ballot-count-nov-9/ The Desk The Lobster of Gloucester wins the city's last year round liquor license: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/29/the-lobster-of-gloucester-liquor-license/ Gloucester Licensing Board, Oct. 26: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/28/gloucester-licensing-board-oct-26/ Manchester planners release Cell Signaling's $250,000 site bond and set a Dec. 3 forum on the business district: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/28/manchester-planning-board-oct-26/ Is your Gloucester street public or private? 573 private roads, 80 miles: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/29/gloucester-public-private-roads/ Gloucester's most dangerous roads: 266 crashes on Washington Street: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/27/gloucester-traffic-crashes/ Gloucester's Historical Commission hunts for money for a Lanesville historic district: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/28/gloucester-historical-human-rights-oct-26/ Rockport Select Board approves New Year's Eve plans with a midnight ball drop at Dock Square: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/31/rockport-select-board-oct-20/ Centennial Avenue bridge in Gloucester closes after the morning school commute starting Monday, Nov. 2: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/11/01/centennial-avenue-bridge-work/ 35 years later, remembering the six men of the Andrea Gail: http

  3. Oct 25

    The Weekly Current: Oct. 19 to 24. Manchester's senior center vote, Gloucester's tax split, and Essex sets its warrant

    Manchester's Finance Committee voted 3 to 4 against the senior center article, Gloucester's council committee backed the same tax split for homes and businesses ahead of Tuesday's hearing, and Essex set its Nov. 16 town meeting and Dec. 10 school vote. Plus the week's scores, the crash records, and what gets decided this week. The Weekly Current is the Cape Ann Current's Sunday recap. Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel go through the week: what we covered, why we covered it, what it means for you, and what gets decided this week. Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel are the Current's voices. Their stories about life on Cape Ann are part of the show. Every fact about Cape Ann comes from public records and government data. How we work: https://capeanncurrent.com/standards/#how-stories-are-made The Three Manchester Finance Committee votes 3 to 4 against the senior center article: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/23/manchester-finance-committee-oct-22/ Manchester sets its Nov. 16 warrant but holds back on the $95 million school article: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/21/manchester-select-board-oct-19/ Gloucester committee backs keeping the same tax split for homes and businesses: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/24/gloucester-budget-finance-oct-22/ Essex signs fall warrant: Nov. 16 town meeting, Dec. 10 school vote: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/22/essex-selectmen-oct-19/ Essex Planning Board backs all six zoning articles for Nov. 16: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/24/essex-planning-board-zoning-hearing-oct-21/ The heat Heating oil on Cape Ann, $6.18 a gallon and where to get help (Oct. 14): https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/14/heating-oil-prices-cape-ann/ Heating oil calculator: https://capeanncurrent.com/business/economy/heating-oil-calculator/ Fuel assistance check: https://capeanncurrent.com/heating-help/heap-check/ The Desk Cape Ann businesses received about 5 cents of every $100 the state spent: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/23/cape-ann-state-spending/ State Spending Explorer: https://capeanncurrent.com/business/state-spending/ Rockport Public Library: longer hours, a food pantry and the busiest shelves on Cape Ann: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/24/rockport-public-library-profile/ Gloucester arts grants drop by about half: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/20/gloucester-cultural-council-grants/ Gloucester landlords who skip rental registry face court: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/19/gloucester-board-of-health-rental-registry/ Cape Ann's four towns start the Comcast cable renewal with a survey of 202 residents: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/22/cape-ann-cable-advisory-oct-21/ Cape Ann's most dangerous roads: 2,500 crashes in four towns: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/21/cape-ann-crash-records/ UMass marine station pitches a shellfish research network; Little River open: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/24/gloucester-shellfish-commission-oct-20/ Eighty years on Flat Ground: remembering the Liberty ship Charles S. Haight: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/24/charles-s-haight/ Scores, Oct. 19 to 23 (from the MIAA; winner first) GFH Final: GHS 6, SWHS 1: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/21/scoreboard/ GFH Final: GHS 4, SAHS 0: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/23/scoreboard/ FB Final: GHS wins by forfeit over SAHS: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/19/saugus-forfeits-gloucester-football/ BSOC Final: GHS 3, PVMHS 2: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/20/scoreboard/ BSOC Final: SHS 2, GHS 1: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/22/scoreboard/ GSOC Final: PVMHS 6, GHS 0: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/20/scoreboard/ GSOC Final: SHS 4, GHS 0: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/22/scoreboard/ GSOC Final: GHS 4, WRVT 0: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/23/scoreboard/ GVB Final: GHS 3, GEHS 0: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/20/scoreboard/ GVB Final: GHS 3, WRVT 0: https

  4. Oct 18

    The Weekly Current: Oct. 12 to 17. The Essex school vote, Manchester's fire engine, and early voting starts

    Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel go through the week on Cape Ann: the Essex school building committee's 10 to 0 vote on a $95.4 million design, Manchester's Finance Committee on the fire engine, the school share and the senior center, early voting in the Fifth Essex race, and who turned the heat on first. The Weekly Current is the Cape Ann Current's Sunday recap. Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel go through the week: what we covered, why we covered it, what it means for you, and what gets decided this week. Kerry Jane, Ana Lucia and Mateo Daniel are the Current's voices. Their stories about life on Cape Ann are part of the show. Every fact about Cape Ann comes from public records and government data. How we work: https://capeanncurrent.com/standards/#how-stories-are-made The Three Essex school building committee OKs $95.4M design, 10 to 0: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/essex-school-building-committee-schematic-design-vote/ Manchester backs fire engine money, delays senior center vote: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/manchester-finance-committee-fire-engine-school-senior-center/ State rep race, where Delisio, Frieden and Tarr stand: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/fifth-essex-candidates-league-interviews/ In his own words, Dru Tarr: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/dru-tarr-in-his-own-words/ In her own words, Eunice Zeigler: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/eunice-zeigler-in-her-own-words/ Fifth Essex voter guide: https://capeanncurrent.com/elections/fifth-essex/ All nine ballot questions: https://capeanncurrent.com/elections/#questions The heat Heating oil on Cape Ann, $6.18 a gallon and where to get help: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/14/heating-oil-prices-cape-ann/ Heating oil calculator: https://capeanncurrent.com/business/economy/heating-oil-calculator/ Fuel assistance check: https://capeanncurrent.com/heating-help/heap-check/ The Desk St. Peter's Landing, traps off by Nov. 15: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/gloucester-waterways-board-st-peters-landing/ Dogtown survey, $300,000: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/gloucester-dogtown-survey-open-space-committee/ Kondelin Road waste station: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/gloucester-kondelin-road-waste-station-conditions/ Railroad Avenue housing grant: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/gloucester-housing-subcommittee-railroad-ave-zoning/ Scoreboard, Oct. 17: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/scoreboard/ Weather and tides, Oct. 17: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/weather-and-tides/ Cape Ann Veterans Services office closed Oct. 19 to 21: https://capeanncurrent.com/2026/10/17/cape-ann-veterans-services-closed-oct-19-21/ Know Before It's Decided, Oct. 19 to 27 Mon. Oct. 19: Manchester Select Board, final town meeting warrant Wed. Oct. 21: Gloucester Conservation Commission (Long Beach lot, Kondelin Road) Thu. Oct. 22: Gloucester Budget and Finance Committee (Railroad Avenue grant); Manchester Finance Committee (senior center) Tue. Oct. 27: Gloucester City Council; Planning Board housing subcommittee, 1 p.m., Zoom Meeting Finder: https://capeanncurrent.com/meetings/ Questions for next week: news@capeanncurrent.com Sources: City of Gloucester meeting recordings and agendas; Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea Finance Committee video and agenda; Essex School Building Committee video and agenda (MERSD); MIAA scores; National Weather Service; NOAA tide predictions; Mass.gov drought status; Massachusetts DOER weekly heating fuel survey; Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth candidate list; League of Women Voters of Cape Ann interviews; candidate questionnaires submitted to the Cape Ann Current. Transcript and sources: https://capeanncurrent.com/podcast/weekly-current-2026-10-18/

  5. Season 1 Trailer

    Welcome to the Cape Ann Current Podcast

    What this podcast is: Cape Ann civic matters, budgets and history explained in plain language, with a transcript and sources for every episode. The Cape Ann Current Podcast takes one subject from Gloucester, Rockport, Essex or Manchester-by-the-Sea and explains it plainly, with a full transcript and a list of sources for every episode. Free public information every day at capeanncurrent.com (https://capeanncurrent.com/). Get the Morning Current email (https://capeanncurrent.com/subscribe/). Transcript and sources: https://capeanncurrent.com/podcast/welcome-to-the-cape-ann-current-podcast/

  • 1 Trailer
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About

Cape Ann stories, local government, history, data and community updates, in audio. From the Cape Ann Current, a free source of public information for Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Information

  • Creator
    Cape Ann Current
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cape Ann Current
  • Show Website
    Cape Ann Current Podcast