Nanopress

A daily brief of everything local

Daily brief · Gloucester, MA

One-stop permits for solar, battery projects begin

October 1, 2026

Top story

Gloucester begins accepting consolidated permits for small clean energy projects

Starting today, the city is accepting single consolidated local permit applications for qualifying small clean energy facilities, including solar, battery storage and certain transmission and distribution projects, under state regulations issued under the 2024 Climate Act. The city must issue a decision within 12 months of receiving a complete application, and applications not decided in that window may receive constructive approval. The City General Counsel will oversee the process, and city staff are still evaluating whether to adopt a local permitting bylaw.

City of Gloucester

Planning Board subcommittee takes up open space and tree rules today

The subcommittee meets Thursday, October 1, at 3:30 PM in the City Hall Council Conference Room. It will continue discussing a draft open space residential development ordinance and tree protection regulations.

City of Gloucester

Board of Assessors meets this morning at City Hall

The board meets Thursday, October 1, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at City Hall, 9 Dale Avenue.

City of Gloucester

Flamenkora plays The Cut tonight

The group performs Thursday, October 1, at 8 p.m. at The Cut, 177 Main Street; doors open at 7 p.m. It blends Senegalese kora and vocals with flamenco guitar and improvised trumpet.

The Cut

Mollydooker wine-pairing dinner at Beauport Hotel tonight

The four-course dinner runs Thursday, October 1, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Luke Marquis is slated to discuss the wines; reservations are required.

Discover Gloucester

Board of Health meets tonight at 5:30

The board meets Thursday, October 1, at 5:30 p.m. in the Harbor Master's Conference Room, per the city's 2026 meeting schedule.

City of Gloucester

West Gloucester church pumpkin sale open this afternoon

The West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church's pumpkin sale runs Thursday, October 1, from 3 to 6 p.m. at 488 Essex Ave. Proceeds are shared with the Navajo Nation.

Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

Artist Fiona Brehony gives closing talk at Ocean Alliance

Brehony discusses her Gloucester Harbor residency Thursday, October 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ocean Alliance, 32 Horton St.

Rocky Neck Art Colony

Gloucester field hockey hosts Danvers at 4:30 p.m.

The Gloucester High varsity team hosts Danvers today, Thursday, October 1, at 4:30 p.m.

MaxPreps

Gloucester volleyball visits Swampscott tonight

The varsity team plays a conference match at Swampscott on Thursday, October 1, at 6 p.m.

MaxPreps

Water-based oils painting workshop this afternoon

A workshop on color and light with water-based oils runs Thursday, October 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 3 Centennial Avenue.

Discover Gloucester

Hammond Castle hosts candlelight spiritualism tours tonight

The 55-minute guided tours run Thursday, October 1, from 6 to 10 p.m. at 80 Hesperus Avenue. They explore the Hammonds' interest in supernatural communication and astrology.

Discover Gloucester

Get the Gloucester brief in your inbox every morning, free.

Get the morning brief

All Gloucester briefs