Mother Earth Day!

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Mother Earth Day Coincides with the Signing of the Paris Agreement

This year, Earth Day coincides with the signing ceremony for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which will take place at UN Headquarters in New York. The Agreement was adopted by all 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at COP21 in Paris on 12 December 2015. In the agreement, all countries agreed to work to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and given the grave risks, to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius. The signing ceremony takes place on the first day that the Agreement will be open for signatures, marking the first step toward ensuring that the Agreement enters into legal force as quickly as possible.

The General Assembly, recognizing that Mother Earth is a common expression for the planet earth in a number of countries and regions, which reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit, and noting that Earth Day is observed each year in many countries, decided to designate 22 April as International Mother Earth Day in 2009, with resolution A/RES/63/278.

2016 Theme: Trees for the Earth

Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1970 and is organised by the Earth Day Network.  Its mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations. With this year’s theme, looking forward to its 50th anniversary, it sets the goal of planting 7.8 billion trees over the next five years.

Why Trees?

Trees help combat climate change.
They absorb excess and harmful CO2 from our atmosphere. In fact, in a single year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced by driving the average car 26,000 miles.
Trees help us breathe clean air.
Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.
Trees help us to counteract the loss of species.
By planting the right trees, we can help counteract the loss of species, as well as provide increased habitat connectivity between regional forest patches.
Trees help communities and their Livelihoods.
Trees help communities achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability and provide food, energy and income.

Save the Date!

BLT Logo

It took a village and beyond to make this happen but we can now proudly say that the woodlands surrounding Lowell Park have been protected.
It’s time to celebrate!
  
Barnstable Land Trust invites you to
a family-style barbecue
featuring grilled favorites, 
games and music.
Mark your calendar for
June 11, 2016
 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ropes Field, Cotuit
 
For more details, stay tuned.
  
RSVP requested
508-771-2585 or events@blt.or

Upcoming Precinct 7 & Town Meetings April

Town Manager Screening Committee – Friday April 1, 2pm, Osterville Public Library

Town Council Committee to Assess Homelessness – Tuesday April 5, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Town Manager Evaluation Committee – Thursday April 7, 5pm, Town Hall

Town Council Meeting – Thursday April 7,  7pm, Town Hall

Precinct 7 Monthly Meeting – Wednesday April 13, 3-5pm, Cotuit Library

Water Resources Advisory Committee – Wednesday April 20, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Town Council Committee to Assess Homelessness – Wednesday April 20, 6pm Barnstable Police Station

Town Council Charter Review Committee – Thursday April 21, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Town Manager Screening Committee -Thursday April 21, 6pm, Town Hall

Town Council Meeting – Thursday April 21, 7pm, Town Hall

Town Council Roads Committee – Monday April 25, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Town Council Committee to Analyze Effects of Illegal Substances – Tuesday April 26, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Town Council Committee to Assess Homelessness – Thursday April 28, 5pm, Town Hall

 

 

 

SPRING WALKS

Patriot’s Day Holiday Walking Weekend

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April 15th – 10:00 am – Elissa Crowley

Walk to Great Marsh Audubon

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April 15th – 5:00pm – Sean Kortis

Sandy Neck Spring Wetlands

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April 16th – 10:00 am – Red Bansfield

Old Neck Lane

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April 16th – 8:00 am – Mary Richmond

Hathaway’s Pond

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April 17th – 9:00 am – Phyllis Miller

Santuit Preserve

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April 18th – 10:00 am – Farley Lewis

Barnstable Village

Proposed Great Thicket

 A Cooridated Response to Wildlife Decline in the Northeast

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New England Cotton Tail

A Bunny’s Tale!

To restore young forest, conservationists harvest trees with trunks exceeding two inches in diameter during the winter time, leaving the root systems intact. In the spring, these roots sprout new trees, and conservationists seed with native shrubs and create brushpiles to shelter wildlife. Invasive plant species are also removed to clear the way for native plants that evolved alongside New England.

Keep reading to learn more

Calling All Artists to Create Public Art

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UIUC's Art in Public Places course displays their sculptures on the main quad and outside Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Each piece is a large-scale and site-specific construction made entirely from cardboard and glue. Art 305 - Art for Public Places "All That Is Good, True, And Beauty" by Teresa Wei, Molecular & Cellular Biology.

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Mid-Cape Cultural Council
GMD, 3rd FL, ATT: Melissa Hersh
367 Main St.
Hyannis, MA 02601

Media Release
For Immediate Release​​​​​​March 14, 2016
Contact: Becky Lawrence, Project Coordinator
midcapecouncil2@gmail.com, 508-775-1022

Artists Sought for New Art Walk Being Planned for Downtown Hyannis

The Mid-Cape Cultural Council, in cooperation with the Town of Barnstable, seeks professional artists to design works for the Hyannis HyArts Cultural District to create a public art Discovery Walk. The artworks should invite interaction, allowing people to walk in, over, through or under them; touch them; make sounds from them; or move elements within them to discover text, images or objects. Visitors may come upon the artworks by chance or by following clues available through a mobile phone app. The treasure hunt approach will be particularly appealing to families with children.

Up to five artists or artist teams are being chosen through a request for qualifications process. The deadline to submit qualifications (not designs) is April 11, 2016.

Interested artists should go to http://www.mass-culture.org/mid-cape for full details and an online submission form.

Questions about the project may be emailed to midcapecouncil2@gmail.com. Selected artists will receive a design fee and be asked to complete their design proposals by Nov. 14, 2016. The designs will be exhibited in the Barnstable Town Hall for public comment and used for a fundraising campaign. The plan is to inaugurate the Discovery Walk early in 2018.

The Mid-Cape Cultural Council is one of 329 local cultural councils working in partnership with the Massachusetts Cultural Council. It serves the towns of Barnstable and Yarmouth by supporting and promoting local projects in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences. It is administratively attached to the Town of Barnstable. Funding for the design phase of this project is from the Massachusetts Cultural Council with in-kind support from the town’s Growth Management Dept.

 

 

 

DPW Storm Update

February 9, 2016 01:00 AM – Radar shows that the accumulating snow has ended. DPW main road crews are conducting final scrapes of their routes, and then will treat their roads a final time with material for the night. Secondary road crews are cleaning up and pushing back their routes. As the vast majority of the crews have been working for 22 hours, and will be close to the 24 hour mark when the above is completed, we then will end operations for the night. A limited crew will be in at 7 AM to deal with complaints, and prep for sidewalk snow plowing.

February 8, 2016 10:00 PM – The storm keeps hanging on, with periodic bands of snow, some of which are heavy. DPW crews are still out plowing main and secondary roads.

February 8, 2016 4:00 PM – We are in a lull.  Forecasts are predicting we will be still getting light snow for the rest of the evening.  DPW plows are continuing to work to get caught up from the heavy snows.  If the snow does remain light we will be able to begin to clean up, widen out roads, and push back corners later this evening,

February 8, 2016 12:00 PM – We are experiencing bands of heavy snow, gusting winds, and periods of limited visibility. The plows are all out, working hard to keep the roads passable. If you are able to, please stay off the roads.

February 8, 2016 08:00 AM – With the snow starting to accumulate, main road plows have begun their routes. Secondary roads, and parking lot plows will be starting their routes shortly. With the predictions of blizzard conditions and significant snowfall, please stay off the roads if you can.

February 8, 2016 05:45 AM – Due to the impending blizzard, Barnstable Town Offices will be closed today.  Non-essential Town Employees are not required to report to work.

February 8, 2016 04:30 AM – Good morning, another winter storm is at our doorstep. The latest forecast is calling for snow with gusty winds, which could lead to blizzard conditions at times. The DPW has mobilized and pretreated the main roads this morning. Plowing of mains and secondary roads will begin as the storm dictates. We will update this site throughout the storm.

February 8, 2016 04:30 AM – Due to the storm, the Transfer Station at 45 Flint St., Marstons Mills, will be closed Today!

Upcoming Precinct 7 & Town Meetings February

NEW Water Resources Advisory Committee – Wednesday February 3, 5:30pm, Airport Conference Room

NEW Town Manager Screening Committee – Thursday February 4, 4pm, Town Hall

NEW Town Council Committee to Analyze Effects of Illegal Substances – Thursday February 4, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Precinct 7 Monthly Meeting – Wednesday February 10, 3-5pm, Cotuit Library

Town Council Charter Review Committee – Thursday February 11, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Town Council Meeting – Thursday February 11 , 7pm, Town Hall

Cancelled Town Council Appointments Committee – Tuesday February 16, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Water Resources Advisory Committee – Wednesday February 17, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Town Council Roads Committee – TBD

Town Council Homelessness Committee – Thursday February 25, 5:30pm, Town Hall

Town Council Meeting – Thursday February 25, 7pm, Town Hall

Town Manager Evaluation Committee – TBD

DPW Update

Jan 24, 2016 6:00 AM – The snow has effectively ended with the exception of some sporadic snow showers. The roads are generally open and in good shape. DPW crews are continuing to work to clean up any remaining problem areas, widen the roads, and push back corners. We expect this process to continue for another couple hours.
Jan 24, 2016 1:00 AM – The main and secondary roads plows are still at it. The snow has lightened up considerably (reports show it snowing lightly until approximately 7:00 AM), and the combination of material and continuous plowing is starting to really show on the mains. Most are pushed back, and many are showing a lot of bare pavement. Efforts to improve the condition on secondary roads, and further clean up main roads, will continue until well after sunrise.

Jan 23, 2016 10:00 PM – The main and secondary plows are still out working on their routes, and drivers have reported that during this recent period of lighter snowfall they have been catching up. With a recent application of material on the mains, the inspectors are reporting that some are melting to pavement. Even so, it is predicted that we will get additional bands of heavy snow, so it is best if you can stay off the roads, and refrain from parking on Main Street Hyannis between midnight and 6:00 AM

Winter Storm Jonas

DPW STORM UPDATE!

Jan 23, 2016 3:00 PM – Good afternoon, Winter Storm Jonas is upon us. The DPW pretreated the main roads this morning. Plowing of main and secondary roads has begun. Latest forecasts indicate that there will be significant snow fall after dark, with between 1-3 inches an hour. If at all possible, please plan to be off the roads. The Town will update their website throughout the storm.

 

Lowell Land Preserved

 

Courtesy of BLT

Photo Credit BLT

The surrounding woodlands of famed Lowell Park in Cotuit have  been preserved.  On December 18, The Barnstable Land Trust purchased 19 forested acres surrounding Lowell Park and conveyed 3 acres around the playing field to the Town of Barnstable.

The ambitions goal of $1.8 million was met thanks to donations from individuals, families, businesses and foundations, together with the Cotuit Fire District and the Town.

Thank you for helping to protect this environmental, cultural and community treasure. Now the forested acres surrounding the park will be forever preserved!

Reminder: Vessel Storage Deadline Approaches

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The Harbormaster’s office reminds residents that no vessel shall be stored or placed on any Town property between November 15 and April 15 without written permission from the Harbormaster. Any vessel placed or remaining between those dates shall be considered abandoned property and will be removed by the Town. The Town of Barnstable shall not be responsible for damage to or theft neither of any vessel placed nor for loss of property considered abandoned under this Town’s regulation. Questions? Contact the Harbormaster at 508-790-6273.

 

Be Heard Tonight!

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)  is coming to the Cape Cod Community College tonight at 6:30PM in the Tilton Arts Theater (Capital Conversations Flyer ).

MassDOT will have representatives from each Division, (Highway, Roadway Maintenance, Bicycle and Pedestrian, Aviation, Registry of Motor Vehicles, Rail and Transit).  They will sit down with each individual and discuss your ideas.

They are preparing their five (5) year Capital Plan and they want your input on funding.

If you can’t make the meeting, you can post your ideas at mass.gov/massdot/capitalconversations or email comments tomasscip@state.ma.us