Nominate Your Favorite Local Businesses for the Gloucester Zip Trip August 4th!
Boston 25 News, in collaboration with the City of Gloucester, is bringing aZip Trip to Gloucester on August 4, 2023! The Zip Trip team wants to showcase some of Gloucester’s locally-owned restaurants and small businesses, and we want to hear from you — which businesses do you consider staples of our community? Nominate your favorite restaurant, and your favorite business inthis nomination form, and the top 3 in each category will be shared with the Zip Trip team to highlight in August! Pleasesubmit your nominationbyWednesday, May 10 at 12:00pm.
Breaking news! New category! We’re looking for some fun households or businesses along the Boat Parade of Lights route to light up their houses or restaurants. Chris McCarthy, Katelyn and Charleen will be judging and have some prizes for first and second place.
We are just a few days away from the Boat Parade. We are getting some new inquiries. There is no pre-registration, you just show up with your boat, ready to go by 7pm at the north Jones Creek entrance. A volunteer will be keeping track of the boats and will be on VHF Channel 6. Review the Map and details on the Facebook page posting. It’s that easy! Please pass this post along…
With support from an organizing group of civic and faith-based community leaders, a public gathering will convene on Tuesday, November 16th at 7 pm to organize volunteers and identify resources to assist several refugee Afghan families resettle in Gloucester and neighboring Cape Ann towns. The group, to be known as “Allies of Our Afghan Allies” in acknowledgment of the support many of these refugees gave to American efforts in Afghanistan during the past twenty years, will meet in Rockport at the Congregational Church on 12 School Street.
Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Reverend Rona Tyndall and Reverend Alice Erickson (both of the West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church, UCC), former Mayor Bruce Tobey and others have held a series of planning meetings to lay the framework for this gathering. “We came together because we recognized the need to help families who find themselves in our country after fleeing their native land with little more than the shirts on their backs,” said Mayor Romeo Theken. “Ours are communities that help those in need, and now is the time to step up.”
“The Afghan refugee families are temporarily living on U.S. military bases waiting for processing and clearance. When they leave the bases, they will face a tight housing market,” added Rev. Tyndall. “The national median rent rose to $1,302 in September, up 15% from a year ago, and costs are even higher here on Cape Ann.”
Rev. Erickson, who brings hands-on experience in refugee resettlement to this effort, understands the support that must be mustered. “Funds are needed to cover housing costs, including rent, utilities, and furnishings, as well as for education, employment training, clothing, food, medical care, transportation, and legal fees for family reunification.”
Any and all who can help this effort in any way are urged to attend this meeting, where fundraising, volunteer solicitation, and resource identification will be discussed. Masks and social distancing are required at this in-person gathering, which can also be live-streamed either at “Rockport UCC” on Facebook or at the “Old Sloop” YouTube channel.
“These families and their children deserve the same opportunities for success our communities offer to our kids and grandchildren,” said former Mayor Tobey. “This is our chance to be there now for those who stood with us as our allies. As they struggle to rebuild their lives, please join us in this effort.”Those who wish to donate immediately to the on-going “Allies of our Afghan Allies” GoFundMe campaign may do so either by visiting https://gofund.me/6ddd185e or by mailing a check, with the notation “Refugee Resettlement” in the memo line, to the West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church, 488 Essex Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930.
TRADES GATEWAY PROGRAMWe’re happy to announce our exciting new Trades Gateway Program! Students will be able to train for the trade of their choice, including plumbing, electrical, welding, HVAC, and more. Visit our website for more details.
HARBOR VILLAGE MURAL PROJECT Check out this video for updates on Gloucester’s newest public art and sign up to vote on your favorite mural concept.Are you an artist interested in creating a mural? Apply here by May 16th!
ACTION INC. FEATURED IN NATIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION REPORT!
Action Inc. has been recognized nationally for our quick response to the pandemic and for successfully fundraising for and launching the Cape Ann Emergency Relief Fund.
Keep in mind that your National Grid bill is divided into two sets of charges, one for supply and one for delivery. The Gloucester CEA program will only impact the supply portion of your bill. This is identified on your National Grid bill under Supply Services. The program does not affect the delivery or transmission portions of your bill which are substantial. Additionally, summer rates have been historically lower than winter rates. For example, the National Grid residential rate for summer 2018 was 10.87 cents/kWh. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF SAVINGS
The primary intent of the program is to provide price stability and savings over the duration of the 36-month term. National Grid’s rates for electric supply change every six months for Residential and Small Commercial customers and every three months for Industrial customers. Thus, National Grid Basic Service rates may drop below the program rate during any subsequent period.
Keep in mind that your National Grid bill is divided into two sets of charges, one for supply and one for delivery. The Gloucester CEA program will only impact the supply portion of your bill. This is identified on your National Grid bill under Supply Services. The program does not affect the delivery or transmission portions of your bill which are substantial. Additionally, summer rates have been historically lower than winter rates. For example, the National Grid residential rate for summer 2018 was 10.87 cents/kWh. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF SAVINGS
The primary intent of the program is to provide price stability and savings over the duration of the 36-month term. National Grid’s rates for electric supply change every six months for Residential and Small Commercial customers and every three months for Industrial customers. Thus, National Grid Basic Service rates may drop below the program rate during any subsequent period.
Gloucester Finalizes New Community Electricity Aggregation (CEA) Program
GLOUCESTER –The City is pleased to announce the launch of its Community Electricity Aggregation (CEA) program,designed to provide an opportunity to reduce and stabilize the cost of electricity for residents and businesses, and to promote the utilization of locally generated renewable energy. By purchasing bulk electricity from an alternative supplier, the City is able to provide a more cost-effective, stable, and responsible alternative to utility electricity rates for participating consumers.Gloucester’s CEA program is the result of a multi-year collaborativeeffort, which has been carefully considered. Gloucester and more than 60 other Massachusetts municipalities are taking advantage of state enabled aggregation programs.
“This is an exciting opportunity to provide savings and predictability to Gloucester residents, while advancing our Gloucester Green community goals. I hope residents will take advantage of this important program,”said Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken.
Effective as of December 2018, the City has committed to purchasing aggregated electricity for a period of 36 months. The negotiated rate of $0.11085 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is 20% less expensive than National Grid’s released winter rates ($0.13718 per kWh). Moreover, this rate incorporates 5%more renewable energy than required by state law. Residents and business owners also have the option to purchase 100% of their powerfrom renewable energy generated within Gloucester’s City boundaries. Although individuals may opt-out from the program at any time, all National Grid customers will automatically be enrolled in the program, excluding those that are already engaged with alternative suppliers. Even though the City’s energy will be purchased through an alternative supplier, billing and infrastructure maintenance will remain with National Grid.
Residents and business owners will receive program details via mail, as well as instructions on how to opt-out of the programshould the recipient not wish to participate. Over the next few weeks, representatives from Good Energy LP will present the program at meetings and other events on behalf of the City. Please visit the program’s official webpage (https://gloucester-cea.com/), for more information. If you have further questions, please contact Good Energy LP at (866) 456-8232, or Direct Energy at (866) 968-8065.
The City of Gloucester is pleased to announce the launch of the Gloucester Community Electricity Aggregation program for residents and businesses beginning in December 2018 and going through December 2021. The primary goals of the program are to provide a cost-effective, stable and responsible alternative to utility electricity rates for participating consumers. The program will also offer participants exciting renewable energy options from which to choose. The program was approved by the City Council and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.
You will receive the notification letter in the mail. This letter is the ONLY authorized mailing from the City of Gloucester regarding the Gloucester CEA program. To enroll in the program, no action is required. Any mail you may receive requesting you to mail in an enrollment form is NOT affiliated with the Gloucester CEA program. Please return the enclosed card…
Cape Ann Community 