Red white and blue buttons with Early Voting in black letters

In-Person Early Voting

You don't have to wait for State Primary Election Day on Tuesday, September 6th to cast your ballot!

In-person early voting begins on Saturday, August 27th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Town Clerk's office at 549 Main Street and continues Monday, August 29th through Friday, September 2nd from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The last day to register to vote, or change an address or political party for the Primary Election is Saturday, August 27th when the Clerk's Office will be open11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fish being off loaded onto a metal shoot from a fishing boat.

Interim License for Packing Bay

The Town is soliciting letters of interest from experienced entities to staff, operate, maintain, and manage that portion of the Chatham Municipal Fish Pier Packing Building known as the South Packing Bay from Sundays through Saturdays, during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through November 30, 2022, or such other hours as may be approved by the Harbormaster, and for December 2022 hours that best suit the needs of the commercial fishing fleet as approved by the Harbormaster, pursuant to a short-term License Agreement while the Town prepares a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for a longer-term lease of the premises. The term of the License will commence immediately upon award and run on a month to month or quarterly basis, as agreed by the parties. The Licensee would be eligible to submit a proposal for the longer-term Lease upon issuance of the Lease RFP by the Town.

The letter of interest should include a proposed license fee payable to the Town for use and occupancy of the South Packing Bay and other proposed terms of operation.

Attention of prospective respondents is called to the Regulations for Chatham Municipal Fish Pier .

Interested entities should submit a written letter of interest to the Office of the Town Manager, Town Hall, 549 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633 or by electronic mail to Shanna Nealy on or before 4:00 p.m. September 9, 2022.

Questions relative to the proposed License should be addressed to Shanna Nealy, subject line “South Packing Bay Questions”.

Map of traffic and parking restrictions around Chase Park and Cross Street August 18 -21

Festival of the Arts Traffic and Parking Restrictions

The annual Festival of the Arts craft show runs today through Sunday in Chase Park.

There will be ONE WAY traffic on Cross Street from Main Street to Stage Harbor Road. There will be enforced parking restrictions on Cross Street, Stage Harbor Road and Cedar Street. These traffic restrictions and traffic patterns will be in effect when the Festival is open. A shuttle bus will run between the Park, the Oyster Pond parking lot and the Community Center parking lot.

Police Officers will be stationed on Cross Street to assist with traffic.

We appreciate the patience of the residents in this area and the cooperation of vendors and downtown commercial traffic.

Hand holding a hose with watering nozzle

Updated Water Conservation Measures Voted August 10

The Cape remains in a Level 2 Drought. Please adhere to the Water Conservation Restrictions in place

The following are prohibited:

* Use of irrigation systems.

* Installation of new sod, seeding, and/or landscaping.

* Watering during or within 48 hours after measurable rainfall.

* Washing of hard surfaces (sidewalks, patios, driveways, siding); personal vehicles or washing boat hulls upon hauling. Boats may be rinsed to remove debris associated with fishing activities such as gutting, descaling, etc.

Outdoor watering is limited to Monday, Wednesday, or Friday by hand-held hoses or watering cans, between midnight and 7 a.m. or between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Exceptions to the restrictions include health and safety, agriculture and livestock, and core functions of a business, such as landscape/nursery centers.

Violations will result in: First offense – Warning, Second offense - $100 fine, Third offense - $200 fine.

We strongly encourage private well owners to adhere to these measures as we all draw from the same aquifer.

Register now for PARK Program

Back to School is quickly approaching for our Sharks! Registration is now open for the 2022-2023 Positive Afterschool Recreation for Kids (PARK) program. Students in grades 3-7 are eligible to enroll.

Sign-up online or if you are feeling "old school," registration and enrollment forms are available for download on the Community Center's website and hard copies can be picked-up in the Community Center lobby.

Narrow Land lunch and presentation at the Community Center August 24th

Basic Bike Fix-It Tips

A fun and informative demonstration on the use of a bike repair or "Fix-It" station is being offered by the Harwich Community Center and the Harwich Bikeways Committee on Tuesday, August 23rd at the Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street, Harwich.

Dr. Stephanie Soares, owner of Cape Cod Be Fit & Bike Fit, will go over basic bike maintenance tips and demonstrate of to use a repair station. The program is free and no sign-up is required.

Chatham's "Fix-It" station is located at the Old Colony Rail Trail parking lot off Route 137 in South Chatham.

Intersection Improvements Ahead

Improvements for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and pedestrian access/safety will be undertaken by Massachusetts Department of Transportation at the intersections of Route 28 and Route 137 and Route 28 and Cockle Cove Road beginning September 12th and is estimated to last approximately 4 weeks.

The work will include installation of new sidewalks and wheelchair ramps, crosswalk markings, and pedestrian crossing beacons. Work will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Temporary lane closures will be required. Plan your route accordingly!

No Select Board Meeting on August 23, 2022

The Mainsheet

The name of our e-newsletter was selected from submissions by our community.
In nautical terms a mainsheet is the line connected to the boom which allows a sailor to control the speed of a boat. We think that is fitting for an e-newsletter that can be used to quickly send out important information to our community or at a more leisurely rate for less pressing matters. It reflects Chatham’s maritime history, is reminiscent of the front page of a newspaper, and it is a fun play on Main Street, where you go to be part of all that is happening in Town!

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov