GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA Top Stories

NOAA eyes 22% cod limit cut

2012-02-13T00:32:55-05:00

The acting head of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is signaling that his agency would allow a 6,700-metric ton catch limit for Gulf of Maine cod as a one-year interim figure for the new fishing year that begins May 1.

Kirk eyes adding economic director

2012-02-13T00:32:54-05:00

Mayor Carolyn Kirk has proposed adding a number of new positions as part of an economically-driven restructuring of the city's Community Development Department.
Those positions would include an economic development director, a marketing and events project manager, a visitors center coordinator, city planner, and two additional project managers. The current Community Development Department has 10 positions, including that of department head Sarah Garcia.

The trouble with Fuller

2012-02-13T00:24:12-05:00

As city and school officials wrestle with how they'll use Fuller School for in the coming years, one thing is certain, they say.
The nearly half-century old building, constructed by the Archdiocese of Boston as the former St. Peter's High School, needs more and more maintenance and care as it is, and will need significant repair and renovations for its next use — whether as a school or some other purpose.

MBTA riders face more bridge issues

2012-02-13T00:21:01-05:00

Gloucester and Cape Ann commuter rail riders will be experiencing up to half-hour delays on weekends starting Feb. 25 due to construction on a failing drawbridge on the Newburyport/Rockport line — but the bridge pegged for repair isn't the one local commuters might expect.

Kirk asks for new cod study

2012-02-11T06:00:00-05:00

Speaking to a group of New England fishery leaders Friday in Portsmouth, N.H., Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk joined a call for the federal government to carry out a new assessment of Gulf of Maine cod stocks before ratcheting down catch limits that would have a dire effect on the fishing industry.

Manchester's Kehoe leads salute to Eagle Scouts

2012-02-11T05:56:00-05:00

When the Yankee Clipper Scout Council hosted close to 400 people last week at a gathering to honor the 177 Boy Scouts who earned their Eagle badge last year, an Eagle Scout from more than four decades ago served as featured honoree, and could talk firsthand about scouting leading to community leadership.

Grand Isle comes home

2012-02-11T02:00:03-05:00

After seven months in dry dock in Baltimore and 10 days at sea for training exercises, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Grand Isle is finally home.
While repairs were only scheduled to take eight weeks and cost $1.6 million, the work wound up taking 30 weeks and costing $2.7 million.

Talk of the Times: Whale watching comes to harbor, Rocky Neck

2012-02-11T01:56:17-05:00

Whale watching isn't a regular activity around Rocky Neck and the Inner Harbor.
But a handful or two of local residents and visitors were able to do just that for a few hours Thursday afternoon.
Donna Marchant and her husband Dick were the first to call the Times to report that one or possibly two right whales — obviously lost, not visibly in distress — could be seen first around the area off Smith's Cove, and then across the harbor off Cruiseport Gloucester and the Americold building, behind Gorton's and then off Harbor Loop.

4 new members join harbor oversight panel

2012-02-11T01:30:00-05:00

With a major proposal for a floating boating marina on the horizon, Mayor Carolyn Kirk on Friday appointed four new members to the city's Waterways Board, adding two new economic development seats to the panel and filling vacancies left by Arthur "Sooky" Sawyer and Dave Murray.

Swampscott nips Gloucester in defensive struggle

2012-02-11T00:28:41-05:00

GLOUCESTER— Swampscott girls basketball coach Jack Hughes called Friday's Northeastern Conference tilt between Gloucester and the Big Blue "one of the most intense regular season games he has ever been a part of."