Town Notes

West Chatham Village & Business Assoc. Public Forum announced

West Chatham Village & Business Association Public Forum announced

Guiding Chatham’s future while honoring its past

Come Join Us For A Public Forum On West Chatham and Neighborhood/Village Centers. The public forum will be held at 7pm on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Chatham’s Eldredge Public Library on Main Street in the Forgeron Meeting Room. The forum will feature a celebrated board of panelists to discuss the future of West Chatham.

Panel discussion to include:

• Chatham Selectman David Whitcomb — an eight-year member of the Board of Selectmen, former School Committee member and Boston University graduate
• Peter Polhemus and John DaSilva, principals of Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders of Chatham and Osterville--Polhemus, A.I.A, the firm’s president and founder, was educated at Harvard and Goddard colleges, and received a Masters of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; DaSilva, A.I.A, received a degree in Architecture from Princeton University and a Masters of Architecture from the Yale University School of Architecture
• John Lipman, former Chief Planner and Deputy Director of the Cape Cod Commission, now president of Lipman Development Strategies
• Sarah Korjeff, senior planner and historic preservation specialist with the Cape Cod Commission

The West Chatham Village & Business Associations is a volunteer organization of West Chatham residents, merchants and property owners. We seek to provide public forums to exchange ideas and to discuss related matters of interest and concern, and to provide a vehicle for conveying these opinions to town officials. Our mission is to help guide the development of West Chatham in an effort to preserve the seaside village character of our town in a way that makes for good planning. Your support and involvement in this public discussion is essential.

Preserving Chatham’s Unique Character Takes Vision & Hard Work:
Taming the traffic and improving the streetscape along Route 28 will create the proper environment for a neighborhood/village center in West Chatham. Priorities along Route 28 under discussion are: public safety upgrades, enhanced landscaping and period lighting, better traffic management for safer access to and from neighborhoods, a pedestrian friendly environment with a centerpiece village green, sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, a bike path extension into the neighborhood/village center, and bike lanes along Route 28 and underground utilities. With the upcoming sewer line and repaving project along Route 28, the time is now to incorporate traffic taming devices and streetscape improvements.

Courtesy of the West Chatham Village & Business Association.

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Brackett Road reconstruction in Eastham to resume; Harwich announces Buy-Down Program for First Time Homebuyers; Wellfleet Special Town Meeting Warrant now available

Brackett Road Reconstruction to resume week of October 5, 2009

The Town of Eastham will be resuming the reconstruction of Brackett Road between Route 6 and the Cape Cod Rail Trail beginning the week of October 5, 2009.  Work will include completion of drainage improvements, reconstruction of the pavement and installation of a sidewalk on the South Side of Bracket Road.

Work will be conducted between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. and is estimated to continue into November.   There will be access to local businesses at all times but motorists should expect delays. Questions on the project should be directed to the Eastham DPW at 508-240-5973.

Courtesy of the Town of Eastham.

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Harwich announces Buy-Down Program for First Time Homebuyers

Harwich Housing Authority is pleased to announce the Harwich Buy-Down Program for First Time Homebuyers.  Eligible applicants may receive up to $125,000 in grant subsidy.  Other price restrictions do apply.

All interest parties should attend one of the following information meetings at the Harwich Community Center on Oak Street:

• Tuesday, October 15, 2009 at 6 p.m. in Room 1
• Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 6 p.m. in Room 1

The lottery process, eligibility requirements, definition of first time homebuyer, income & asset limits, application and documentation by deadline date, deed restrictions, financing, and the mortgage application process will be discussed at the meetings.

Gross Income Limits (Household Size - Income Limits):

• 1 Person  - $43,450            
• 2 Persons - $49,700       
• 3 Persons - $55,900   
• 4 Persons - $62,100     
• 5 Persons - $67,050
• 6 Persons - $72,050

The application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2009 by 3 p.m.

Applications may be obtained at the Harwich Town Hall at 732 Main Street, during business hours; at the Harwich Community Center, Oak Street, during business hours and at the Harwich Housing Authority on Wednesday and Friday mornings; or by writing to the Harwich Housing Authority at P.O. Box 714, Harwichport, MA 02646 or by calling 508-430-2390 or by email at harwichha@verizon.net.

Completed applications must be returned to the Harwich Housing Authority, 38 Sisson Road; P.O. Box 714, Harwichport, MA 02646 by Tuesday,  December 1, 2009 by 3 p.m.

Courtesy of the Town of Harwich.

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Wellfleet Special Town Meeting Warrant available for download

The October 26, 2009 Wellfleet Special Town Meeting Warrant is available for download on the Wellfleet Town website here. The Special Town Meeting will take place on Monday, October 26 at 7 p.m. at the Wellfleet Elementary School.

Large print warrants are available at the Town Hall and the Council on Aging and will also be available at the Town Meeting.

Courtesy of the Town of Wellfleet.

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Brewster Selectmen seek input on elementary school re-org; Ideas sought for Dennisport Center re-design; Orleans seeks funding requests from local human service agencies; Affordable housing in Eastham

Selectmen to seek input from Brewster residents on proposed elementary school re-organization

In anticipation of a Town Meeting Article on the October 19, 2009 Fall Annual Town Meeting Warrant, the Brewster Board of Selectmen will hold a joint public hearing with the Brewster School Committee at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24th, 2009, in Rooms A & B of the Brewster Town Office Building at 2198 Main St, Brewster, MA, to discuss the potential of merging grades K-5 in the Stony Brook School, relocating the Town Offices in the current Eddy Elementary School and selling the current Town Office Building to the Lighthouse Charter School (grades 6-8). 

Read the full release at CapeCodKidz.com here.

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Ideas sought for Dennisport Village Center re-design

Help re-design Dennis Port Village Center!  Bring your ideas and suggestions to a community workshop on Thursday, October 1 at 6:30 pm at Our Lady of the Annunciation on the corner of Depot Street and Upper County Road. 

Join us and together we can build a new downtown that works for everybody! 

Visit www.dennisportrevitalization.org or visit Dennis Town Hall for a schedule of events.

Release courtesy of Dennisport Revitalization.

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Orleans seeks funding requests from local/area human service agencies

The Town of Orleans is currently soliciting requests from local/area human service agencies for funding in Fiscal Year 2011 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011).

Organizations serving the citizens of Orleans are invited to submit funding proposals in accordance with the Orleans Board of Selectmen’s Charge to the Human Services Advisory
Committee.

Application materials are available on the Town we site (Human Services Advisory Committee page), or call 508-240-3700 x415.  All funding is subject to May 2010 Town Meeting appropriations.

Completed requests must be returned to the Town Administrator’s Office, 19 School Road, Orleans MA 02653 on or before December 11, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.

Release courtesy of the Town of Orleans.

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Eastham affordable housing plan development meeting in October

Learn about affordable housing needs in Eastham and provide input into strategies for the Town's Affordable Housing Plan. Presented and facilitated by Karen Sunnarborg, Housing Consultant.

The meeting will take place on Monday, October 5, 2009  at 5:30 p.m. in the Earle Mountain Meeting Room of the Town Hall.

Release courtesy of the Town of Eastham.

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Orleans flushing begins Monday; Car and booster seat check point in Dennis; Brewster road work notice; Mashpee resident flu clinic; Chatham resident flu clinic

Car and booster seat check point this Saturday

The Dennis Fire and Dennis Police Departments will be sponsoring a child and booster seat check point on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at the Dennis Fire Department Headquarters from 10am to 2pm.

Have your child's car or booster seat checked for:

• Proper installation
• Proper car/booster seat for his/her age and size
• Car/booster seat recalls
• Car/booster seat age/expiration date

The members of the Dennis Child Safety Seat Team are Officer Sullivan, Officer Reinold, Firefighter O'Connell, Firefighter Anderson, Firefighter Larkowski, Officer Winn and Officer Mei.

The Fire Department Headquarters is located at 883 Main Street (Route 28) in West Dennis.

The event is open to all.

Release courtesy of the Dennis Police Department.

Brewster Police issue road work notice

The Stony Brook Road Mill project will begin on Monday, September 21st.  The construction project will cause traffic delays and detours in the area of Stony Brook Road and Satucket Road.  Work will be between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is expected to last 6-8 weeks.  Motorists should use caution when driving in the area, or use alternate routes when possible.

Release courtesy of the Brewster Police Department.

Orleans water main flushing to begin Monday, September 21st

Orleans has announced that the town's semi-annual water main flushing will begin on Monday, September 21st. All flushing will be done between 8am and 4pm, Monday through Friday and is scheduled to take place through Thursday, October 8th.

Signs will be posted in flushing areas in addition to reminders on 99.9 WQRC, Ocean 104.7 and on channels 17 & 18 on cable.

The complete schedule of dates and neighborhoods is available on the Town's website as a PDF.

Release courtesy of the Town of Orleans.

Town of Mashpee seasonal flu and pneumonia clinic

The Mashpee Board of Health, in cooperation with the Visiting Nurse's Association of Upper Cape Cod and the Mashpee Council on Aging, will hold a free influenza vaccination clinic:

• Monday, October 19, 2009 from 9am to 12pm, for Mashpee residents age 65 and older (and those with chronic illness)
• Monday, November 2, 2009 from 9am-12pm, for ALL Mashpee residents 18 years of age and older.

Both clinics will be held at the Christ the King Parish Center on Jobs Fishing Road in Mashpee.

Individuals enrolled in Medicare B must bring their cards with them for registration and reimbursement purposes.  Participants without Medicare B are still eligible to receive the flu shot.

Those individuals eligible for the first clinic must meet the following high risk requirements:

• 65 years of age and older.
• Have chronic cardiac or pulmonary conditions, including asthma or that smoke.
• Have regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year for diabetes, renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies or suppressed immune systems.
• Have any condition (e.g. cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders including neuromuscular) that can compromise respiratory function.
• Pregnant women.
• Health care workers in direct care of patients.
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children < 6 months old.

WARNING:  Some people should check with a doctor before taking influenza vaccine:

• Persons with an allergy to eggs
• Anyone who has ever been paralyzed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• Women who might be or are pregnant
• Persons who are ill and have a fever should delay vaccination until the fever and other temporary symptoms are gone.
• If you are taking antibiotics at the time of the flu clinic you cannot receive a flu shot.

If you have any questions, please call the Mashpee Board of Health at 508-539-1400 x555. Please do not contact the church for information.

Release courtesy of the Town of Mashpee.

Chatham Resident Seasonal Flu Clinic

Chatham has announced a seasonal flu clinic for residents 55 and over. Both clinics will be from 9am to 12:30pm and will be held at two different locations:

• Thursday, October 22 at the Chatham Community Center, 9am-12:30pm
• Thursday, November 5 at the First Light Church, 9am-12:30pm

Pre-registration is required. Pick up your pre-registration forms available Tuesday, October 13th at the Chatham Council on Aging on 193 Stony Hill Road.

Release courtesy of the Town of Chatham.

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Chatham officials monitor shark sightings; RMV in Eastham closes; Name that conservation land contest; Joint selectmen meeting scheduled in Orleans; Eastham transfer station closed Labor Day; Orleans flu clinics

Chatham officials monitor shark sightings

Town of Chatham officials have been closely monitoring the reports of recent shark sightings by the State Division of Marine Fisheries. Although sharks have always been present in Chatham waters, this concern is being taken very seriously by Town officials.

Chatham beaches will remain open. However, Chatham beach patrols and Harbormaster patrols are being instructed to be extra vigilant in watching and monitoring for any shark sightings. Additionally, all boaters are being asked to immediately report any shark sightings to Chatham authorities, so conditions can be evaluated. Should any shark sightings or new reports present a danger to the public, any affected beaches will be closed immediately.

For beach information, contact Chatham Parks and Recreation Director Dan Tobin at 508-945-5158. Shark sightings should be called into the Harbormaster's Office at 508-945-5185.

Courtesy of the town of Chatham.

Registry of Motor Vehicles in Eastham closes

The Eastham branch of the Registry of Motor Vehicles at the Town Hall in Eastham is now closed.  Several other branches across the Commonwealth were also closed. Currently, the only RMV branch on the Cape is in South Yarmouth at 1084 Route 28. For more information regarding RMV services and locations, call 800-858-3926.

Courtesy of the town of Eastham.

Name that conservation land

The Town of Mashpee and the Mashpee Conservation Commission are having a contest to find a suitable name for the recently purchased 78.67 acre Vinhaven Parcel off Route 130.  The parcel (a former church campground called Vinhaven) is located just past Pickerel Cove Road on the right if you’re heading towards Sandwich.

The parcel extends from Route 130 to the shore of Mashpee/Wakeby Pond and encompasses a large tract of pristine upland forest.  This project was funded through a Taxpayer Debt Exclusion, Community Preservation Funds, and a Conservation Restriction purchased by the Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife Department, which guarantees no commercial development and encourages passive recreational use.  A parking area has recently been completed and plans are in the works for access improvements and passive recreational projects.

Once the winning name has been selected, a sign will be created and placed at the Route 130 entrance to the parcel.

Please respond to Andrew McManus, Conservation Agent.  A name will be selected from all entries after 30 days.

Courtesy of the town of Mashpee.

Joint selectmen meeting announced

A joint meeting of the Boards of Selectmen from the towns of Orleans, Eastham and Brewster has been scheduled  for Thursday, October 10, 2009 at 7pm. The meeting will be held at the Orleans Council on Aging at 150 Rock Harbor Road. The members will discuss the future of the Tri-Town septage facility in Orleans.

Courtesy of the town of Eastham.

Eastham transfer station closed on Labor Day

The Eastham transfer station will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2009. Regular hours will begin again on Tuesday morning at 7:30am.

Courtesy of the town of Eastham.

Orleans (residents only) flu clinics announced

Two flu clinics have been announced:  Monday, October 5th and Monday, October 19th both from 1pm-4pm at the Orleans Senior Center, 150 Rock Harbor Road.

Pre-registration is required.

To register please call the Orleans Senior Center at 508 255-6333 between the hours of 9am and 4pm. Walk-ins will not be scheduled.

Eligibility for flu vaccine at these clinics is limited to the following:

• Orleans residents only;
• All adults aged > 60 years;
• Residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities;
• Individuals aged 18 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions;
• All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
• All health care workers who provide direct patient care and emergency first responders;
• Out of home caregivers and household contacts of children six months and younger.

Please bring your Medicare B Card to the clinic.  Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine will also be available at these clinics.

Release courtesy of the town of Orleans.

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