Columns

The Impact of the Credit Crunch on Small Business

Invited by Senator John Kerry, Mayor Carolyn Kirk spoke at a U.S. Senate hearing on "The Impact of the Credit Crunch on Small Business" in Washington, D.C. April, 2008

Mayor Kirk, Governor Patrick and Congressman Tierney

Mayor Kirk walks the Governor and Congressman along the working waterfront procuring state and federal partnerships. (Gloucester Daily Times)

16 City Unions Sign Health Insurance Agreement

Mayor Kirk along with leaders from city and school unions sign agreement on health insurance, saving the city and employees hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Gloucester Daily Times)

New Weekly Recycling Saves City Money

Mayor Kirk masters the art of the purple bag and recycles, recycles, recycles. With new, weekly recycling by new local contractor, the city can save $300,000 plus annually.

Main Street gets ﬁrst new pavement in decades

in a “visitor ready” action by Mayor Kirk for the summer shopping and dining season. Highly approved by the athletes in Gloucesterʼs First Triathlon & Block Party goers.

First SailGloucester Event Brings In Tall Ships

Mayor Kirk celebrates leading the Picton Castle, with Schooner Lannon and local boats, into Gloucester Harbor - a tourism and community boating collaboration.

Listening to Lessons from Lunnenburg and Other Ports

Mayor Kirk moderates morning event at SailGloucester with Dan Moreland, Captain, Picton Castle; Iain Kerr, Captain & CEO, Ocean Alliance; Bert Rogers, Exec. Dir., American Sail Training Association.

At Gloucesterʼs First Annual Triathlon

Mayor Kirk discusses race strategy with her Triathlon relay partner. This new event brought 800+ triathletes and hundreds of supporters to the city and raised money for GHS athletes and charities.

Thanking the Many Volunteers at The Visitorʼs Center

who remodeled and hosted the Visitorʼs Center. 52 volunteers answered the call to serve. Mayor Kirk and volunteers enjoy a light moment at the opening at Stage Fort Park.

Working Meeting with Lt. Governor Tim Murray

Proposed by Mayor Kirk, $800,000 down payment to purchase I4C2 was given to Gloucester by the Seaport Advisory Council, chaired by Lt. Governor Tim Murray. (Gloucester Daily Times)

Paint Factory Sold to Marine Research Group

Mayor Kirk celebrates with with historian and author, Joe Garland, and members of the Ocean Alliance on the occasion of the purchase of the Paint Factory on Rocky Neck. (Gloucester Daily Times)

At the Boards, Commissions and Committees' Meeting,

Mayor Kirk discusses The State of the City and introduces the Civic Participation and Public Information Committee (CPPI).

State of the City Neighborhood Meetings

Mayor Kirk started regular State of the City updates for resident discussions in all five wards twice a year.

Eastern Avenue Public Meeting: Crisis to Control

Mayor Kirk calls in National Grid officials, local and state ofﬁcials, and neighbors after house explosion incident.

Mayor Kirk Congratulates New Interim Fire Chief, Phil Dench

with wife, Francine Dench, after the swearing in ceremony which included new appointments in the Fire Department and special recognitions for heroism in the Eastern Avenue house explosion.

Health Insurance Agreement Signed

Deputy Fire Chief Steve Aiello, Gloucester High School teacher Andrea Pretzler and Mayor Kirk sign agreement on health insurance. (Gloucester Daily Times)

Gloucester Family Health Center

At the opening of the $1.3 Million Stimulus Package Relief for the Gloucester Family Health Center, Senator Kerry and Congressman Tierney meet with Mayor Kirk.

Congratulating Mike Lane

on his appointment to Interim Police Captain. Mayor Kirk also presented policemen with promotions and special recognition for the rescue of teens incident.

Cast of "In Harm's Way"

Mayor Kirk, Councilor Sefatia Romeo, and State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante take a bow. Mayor Kirk recommitted city to being a non-violence and domestic violence free zone.

"In Harm's Way"

Mayor Kirk participates with Gloucester High School students and residents as a cast member in the drama "In Harm's Way" at Gloucester High School.

Charter School Hearing

Mayor Kirk reads testimony off of a Blackberry from the Mayor of Salem, MA. (Gloucester Daily Times)

Gloucester Arts Festival 2009

At the 2nd Annual Arts Festival showcasing arts and performing arts by students in The Gloucester Public Schools, Mayor Kirk thanks volunteers and Gloucester Education Foundation for all their work.

Girl Scout Troop 6042

learns about the job of the mayor in The Mayor's Office.

Neighborhood Gatherings

Mayor Kirk talks with residents about their ideas for the city at neighborhood gatherings.

Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner 2009

Mayor Kirk greets Mike and Ann Marie Luster at the 2009 Chamber of Commerce's Annual Dinner at the Tavern. (North of Boston Living)

Ribbon Cutting - Seaport Veterinary Hospital

Mayor Kirk joins the Cahill family as they celebrate the grand opening of their new Veterinary Hospital on Eastern Ave. in Gloucester.

Man at the Wheel

Mayor Kirk celebrates the selection of Gloucester's Man at the Wheel statue to be featured on a US quarter. (Boston Herald)

Memorial Day

Mayor Kirk addresses Veterans and citizens at the Memorial Day services in Gloucester at the WWII monument at Kent Circle.

Fire Chief McKay Retires

Mayor Kirk extends a gift from the City and best wishes to Fire Chief Barry McKay. (Gloucester Daily Times)

Horribles Parade

The Kirk for Mayor float in the Horribles Parade captured the spirit of the grass roots campaign.

Kristian Hoysradt and Carolyn Kirk

Carolyn Kirk and 2007 Campaign Manager Kristian Hoysradt, a graduate of Gloucester High School

East Gloucester Elementary School Playground

Carolyn Kirk shows off the East Gloucester Elementary School Playground for which she led the fundraising efforts of $50,000 to build it.

Sound of Music 2008

Mayor Kirk makes cameo appearance in the Annisquam Village Players summer production "The Sound of Music" - another long-standing Gloucester political tradition.

Ladies Night on Main Street

Mayor Kirk celebrates Ladies Night on Main Street with friends and local celebrity!

Gloucester Mayor's Wish List 2009

Rudy Macchi of Gloucester listens to the Christmas wish list of Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk. (Cape Ann Magazine)

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Events

Sat., Oct. 17: Gloucester House

Conversations With Kirk:
Q&A Meeting Schedule

9/23	East Gloucester - Harbor Room	7pm- 8:30pm
9/26	Lanesville - Community Center	9am- 10:30pm
9/26	Annisquam - Village Hall	11am- 1:30pm
9/27	Magnolia - Library	3:30pm- 5pm
9/28	Downtown - Cape Ann Community Cinema	6:30pm- 8pm
TBD	Morning Glory Coffee Shop	TBD

On the Web

« Previous Entries

Weekly Update—September 19

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

This past week I was happy to help cut the ribbon at Gloucester Crossing. My team and I am proud to have supported this project in a couple of important ways.
The city worked with the Governor’s office, and Mass. Development to secure a $2.5 million MORE jobs grant. Gov. Patrick personally made the [...]

Weekly Update—September 12

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

Remarks to 300 North Shore Business Leaders
North Shore Chamber of Commerce Annual State of the Region Address,
given Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Good Morning. My name is Carolyn Kirk, and I am the Mayor of the city of Gloucester. I would like you all to know that I have only been the Mayor for 20 [...]

Weekly Update—September 5

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

After 20 months in office, I am up for re-election so in the spirit of fairness, the Gloucester Times has decided to suspend The Mayor’s Desk and instead allow me to express myself through a “My View” periodically. In some ways, a “My View” column gives me more freedom than the Mayor’s Desk column where [...]

Mayor Kirk’s Weekly Update – “So what exactly do I get for paying those high water rates?”

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard over the past week, “We pay some of the highest water and sewer rates in the country. For what?”
A good and legitimate question if ever there was one. The total budget for running the city’s water system is just about $6 million. [...]

Signs of a Gloucester Renaissance

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

From the Mayor’s Desk…
by Mayor Carolyn A. Kirk
August 15, 2009
(Reproduced from the Gloucester Daily Times)
There are rumblings of a renaissance in Gloucester. A resurgence. A revitalization. A reawakening — all words that describe renaissance.
Tonight, we have a Block Party on Main Street. There is a resurgence of Gloucester’s downtown and Main Street. Begun last [...]

Saluting Our Latest Public Safety Leaders

Friday, August 7th, 2009

From the Mayor’s Desk…
by Mayor Carolyn A. Kirk
August 7, 2009
(Reproduced from the Gloucester Daily Times)
Last week, we held a badge ceremony in City Hall.
Newly promoted or appointed public safety officers were officially sworn in, took their oath of duty, and formally received their badges. City Hall was filled with proud families and friends of [...]

A Time to Pause and Ponder Gloucester’s Magic

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

From the Mayor’s Desk…
by Mayor Carolyn A. Kirk
August 1, 2009
(Reproduced from the Gloucester Daily Times)
It’s summertime and the living is easy — especially in Gloucester on a warm, breezy, and sunny day.
I’ve managed to carve out some time to relax with my family. Last weekend, I did one of my favorite things which was [...]

City Has No Option but to Make the Most of ‘Option Taxes’

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

From the Mayor’s Desk…
by Mayor Carolyn A. Kirk
July 25, 2009
(Reproduced from the Gloucester Daily Times)
The debate about whether or not to raise the meals tax and the hotel or motel room tax has begun.
Estimated revenue for Gloucester is roughly $500,000 per year and can be used for any municipal purpose. Beacon Hill passed this [...]

Captains Urge Collective Vision for Gloucester’s Waterfront

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

My View
Sarah Buck
(reproduced from the Gloucester Daily Times)
Three captains — Dan Moreland of the barque Picton Castle, executive director Bert Rogers of the American Sail Training Association, and Iain Kerr, CEO of the Ocean Alliance — perched on stools before a crowd of about 75 people on a rare sunny morning this past Monday.
Organized by [...]

The making of Sail Gloucester

Saturday, July 4th, 2009

From the Mayor’s Desk…
by Mayor Carolyn A. Kirk
July 4, 2009
(Reproduced from the Gloucester Daily Times)
Earlier in the spring, I was talking with Ally O’Connor about the difficulty Sail Boston seemed to be having in dealing with the city of Boston over the handling of the tall ships event.
She said, “Why don’t we set up [...]