From August 7 to August 20, 2022, Camp Edwards on Joint Base Cape Cod is hosting Patriot Crucible, a combined training exercise. Since 2017 the MAARNG has hosted and has conducted a multi-echelon, multi-domain, combined training exercise with joint elements at Camp Edwards.  During this exercise the public can expect increased activities in the training area to include range firing, training simulator use, and Solider maneuvers in the Northern Training Area of Camp Edwards.

Patriot Crucible is an intense, two-week field exercise focused on preparing Army logistics and support units from across the northeast to participate in major combat operations against a near-peer enemy equipped with artillery, helicopters and trained troops. In previous years, more than 800 Soldiers from the Massachusetts and New Jersey Army National Guard have participated in the event. They include truck drivers, firefighters, chemical experts and military police.

Rep Peake has filed amendment #243 to H5007, the Economic Development Bill, that adds to the bill the transformative provisions of the Governor’s allocation of $200 million to Cape Cod to support municipal wastewater projects and to provide much needed support to Cape homeowners with the cost of sewer connections and septic upgrades. This is the most important and transformational proposal we have seen since the creation of the Cape and Islands Trust and we need to let the Ways and Means Committee know how important this is to Cape Cod. Please call the office of House Ways and Means Chair, Aaron Michlewitz tonight or first thing tomorrow morning at 617 722-2990 and voice your support for Rep. Peake’s amendment (see below)

Amendment #243 to H5007 Cape and Islands Water Protection
Ms. Peake of Provincetown move to amend the bill in section 2A, in item 1599-6079, by inserting at the end the following: “provided further, that $200,000,000 shall be expended for costs associated with planning and implementing water pollution abatement projects undertaken by towns who are members of the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund and which are subject to the 2015 Section 208 Cape Cod Areawide Water Quality Management Plan Update approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or a suitable equivalent plan as determined by the department of environmental protection; provided, that, in order to be eligible for funding in this item, projects must be deemed by the department to be consistent with the 2015 Section 208 Cape Cod Areawide Water Quality Management Plan Update or a suitable equivalent; provided further, that such projects must be included in a watershed permit issued by the department, or must be necessary to restore and protect water quality in impaired watersheds that are subject to a United States Environmental Protection Agency Total Maximum Daily Load allocation or alternative Total Daily Maximum Load prepared in accordance with United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, or an alternative load allocation identified in a Massachusetts Estuaries Technical Report or approved by the department based on a watershed specific scientific study; provided further, that funding shall be expended to support the Barnstable County Community Septic Management Loan program to provide 50% principal forgiveness to qualified borrowers whose income does not exceed 120% of area median income as defined by the latest census and 25% for qualified borrowers whose income does not exceed 180% of area median income as defined by the latest census”, and in said item by striking out the figures “$100,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the figures “$300,000,000”.

Cape Cod Commission and Town of Barnstable: Community Feedback for Complete Streets Prioritization Plan

For Immediate Release (July 8, 2022) – In January of 2022 the Town of Barnstable was officially recognized as a Complete Streets community. The Cape Cod Commission and the Town of Barnstable are working together to analyze the Town’s transportation network to identify opportunities to create a more connected, efficient, and accessible roadway network and are seeking community feedback on priority projects at upcoming village meetings.

As elaborated within the Complete Streets Introduction Video, a “Complete Street” provides accommodations for allusers, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users for people of all ages and abilities making streets safer, sustainable, and more accessible to promote a more livable community.

Staff is currently working to develop a draft Prioritization Plan which is a list of potential roadway improvements that incorporate Complete Streets design elements ranked by defined evaluation criteria such as safety, mobility, ability to implement and community support.

The Cape Cod Commission and the Town of Barnstable want to hear from you. Staff will hold five family-friendly village meetings open to the public. Residents are encouraged to stop by to learn more about this effort and share ideas for potential Complete Streets projects that would better support walking, biking and safe driving in the Town of Barnstable.  All residents are welcome to attend one or more of the following meetings:

Monday July 18^th 4:30 PM

Villages of Cotuit & Osterville
Osterville Village Library 43 Wianno Ave, Osterville

Wednesday July 20^th 4:30 PM

Village of Marstons Mills
Liberty Hall 2150 Main Street, Marstons Mills

Tuesday July 26^th 4:30 PM

Village of Hyannis
Barnstable Adult Community Center 825 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Hyannis

Thursday July 28^th 4:30 PM

Village of Centerville
Centerville Public Library 585 Main Street, Centerville

Wednesday August 3^rd 4:30 PM

Villages of Barnstable & West Barnstable

Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church 3055 Main Street (Route 6A), Barnstable

Based on feedback from the village meetings, Town of Barnstable and Cape Cod Commission staff will work together to develop a draft Prioritization Plan which will be presented at a public meeting to occur Winter 2023. The final Prioritization Plan will be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) as part of the town’s ongoing participation in their Complete Streets Program. Approved projects will be eligible for up to $400,000 in construction funding from MassDOT.

For more information visit the project website at https://www.capecodcommission.org/our-work/barnstable-complete-streets/ or contact: Colleen Medeiros, Transportation Program Manager, Cape Cod Commission: 508-744-1226 or Kate Maldonado, Assistant Director of Planning and Development: 508-862-4791.

View Town of Barnstable’s Complete Streets Policy HERE

Cahoon Museum

June 29 – October 30, 2022

This major exhibition presents the art and history of scrimshaw, a nautical folk art form created by whalers during the international whaling trade of the 19th century. The surprising history of this unique art form is explained and brought to life through the stories of the makers and recipients of these intricately detailed keepsakes. A wide range of decorative and utilitarian objects evoke connections to historic life on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and New Bedford and show the ways that people from diverse backgrounds expressed artistic creativity. New perspectives on the whaler’s life include the astonishing stories of local Wampanoag whalers.

This exhibition includes over 200 important examples from The Deitrich American Foundation, Heritage Museum and Gardens, The Mariners’ Museum and Park, Mystic Seaport Museum, Nantucket Whaling Museum, New Bedford Whaling Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, and private New England collections.

Scrimshaw: The Whaler’s Art is organized by the Cahoon Museum of American Art with Guest Curator, Dr. Alan Granby and Dr. Sarah Johnson, Executive Director of the Cahoon Museum of American Art.

Sponsored by:

Bilezikian Family Foundation

Donald C. McGraw Foundation

 R. Dudley Harrington, Jr. Foundation

Jean and John Entwistle

Rosemary and Keith Rapp

Cape Cod Five

Eldred’s Auctioneers

Cotuit 4th of July Parade

“We are delighted to announce that the Fourth of July Parade will be held this year. The Parade will be held on Monday July 4, starting at 11:00 a.m.  It will begin at its usual spot in front of the Post Office.  All antique cars, floats and walking groups must fill out the application form available below to  be able to participate.  Bike riders and walkers should gather at the Post Office parking lot and will be welcome to join in at the end of the Parade.   We hope that everyone who participates will decorate their cars, floats and bikes with a festive Fourth of July theme to enhance the celebration.

Remember that no items may be thrown by Parade participants into the crowd,  except that candy can be gently tossed to onlookers.  And no water may be sprayed or thrown by any entrants.”

Fourth of July Application Documents