Labor Day Closures

Chatham Town Offices, the Community Center, and the Center for Active Living will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in recognition of Labor Day. The Transfer Station will be open regular operating hours.

Heading to North Beach Island?

If you plan to visit North Beach Island, please familiarize yourself with the complete Rules before setting out for the Island and watch this short video for important information!

Use of the public areas of the Island is governed by the North Beach Island Rules as approved by the Park & Recreation Commission. These rules are in place to ensure that this remote beach may continue to be enjoyed in a manner that is respectful of private property owners, its pristine habitat, and fellow beach goers.

Key provisions of the Rules include:

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
Gatherings of 20 or more people require a permit from the Chief of Police, applied for at least 48 hours in advance.
Open fires on the beach require a permit from the Fire Chief.
From March 15 thru September 15 all dogs must be leashed at all times unless below the high tide mark.
Violations of the rules are subject to fines of $50 to $300.

Aerial view of the Stage Harbor entrance channel from August 2024

Dredging Begins in Stage Harbor

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) hopper dredge, Murden, is scheduled to arrive today August 29th to begin maintenance dredging of the entrance channel to Stage Harbor.

The Murden will be dredging daily for approximately 13 days using 24 hr. shifts with crew changes at 6:00 a.m. and then 6:00 p.m. The dredged material will be placed in the designated disposal site offshore of Harding’s Beach. Existing water depths and channel widths are restricted in the entrance channel and mariners should exercise caution when navigating around the operating dredge. Note that navigation buoys may be temporarily relocated during dredging operations.

If you have questions or need additional information regarding this project, please contact the Coastal Resources Director, Ted Keon at (508) 945-5176 or email tkeon@chatham-ma.gov. Contact the Chatham Harbormaster, (508) 945-5185, for maritime related operational updates or questions.

Red white and blue buttons with Vote written on them in the middle

State Primary Election Tuesday Sept. 3rd

The MA State Primary is Tuesday, September 3rd> The polls will be open at the Community Center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters enrolled in a political party will be provided that party's ballot upon check-in. Unenrolled voters, sometimes referred to as Independent, will choose the ballot they wish to vote upon check-in.

Artist rendering of the proposed upweller at 90 Bridge Street

Special Town Meeting Sept. 16th

A Special Town Meeting will be held on September 16th at 6 p.m. in the Gymnasium of the Monomoy Regional Middle School, 425 Crowell Road, to consider one article seeking $4,000,000 for the purpose of paying costs of the design, renovation, and construction of waterfront infrastructure and facilities for the continuation of improvements at 90 Bridge Street including new piers and floats for use by recreational and commercial boaters, along with the return and repurposing of the historic Stage Harbor Coast Guard Boathouse as a shellfish upweller.

The warrant for the Special Town Meeting is available online.

If you are not already a registered voter in Chatham, the last day to register to vote in the Special Town Meeting is Friday, September 6th until 5 p.m. You can register to vote at the Town Clerk's office, 549 Main Street or on-line through the MA Secretary of State's website.

Childcare is available at the Special Town Meeting for ages 3 & up by reservation. Drop off begins at 5 p.m. in the Middle School Library. Please email Sharon Stark with your name, address, contact phone number, child's name, age and any medical issues no later than 12 noon on Friday, September 13th.

Transportation to the Special Town Meeting is available by appointment through the Center for Active Living. Call 508-945-5190 to reserve your seat no later than 12 noon on Monday, September 16th.

Three yellow school busses lined up in a lot.

Take Care to Look for Sharks!

Students are heading back to school next week, and that means kids waiting at bus stops in the morning and being dropped off in the afternoon! Slow down, stay alert, and remember, it’s illegal to pass a stopped school bus with its lights flashing!

The first day of school for Monomoy Sharks is Tuesday, September 3rd for grades 1-12, and Thursday, September 5th for kindergarten!

Upcoming events at the Center for Active Living

September's FLASH TV

For a complete rundown of all the programs and services offered by the Council on Aging at the Center for Active Living, watch the September edition of FLASH TV featuring Programs and Communication Coordinator Anna Milan. This month Anna chats with Council on Aging Outreach Coordinator Kerri Kelly and Chatham's Recovery Coach Kelly Connolly.

Catherine Ricks seated at a desk in front of a window.

Welcome to the Team!

Join us in welcoming Catherine Ricks as Chatham’s newest Assistant Conservation Agent reporting to Director of Natural Resources, Greg Berman.

Ms. Ricks comes to Chatham with extensive experience as a project manager and project engineer in coastal waterfront engineering and permitting. She has worked as a Permit Specialist, Engineer, and Hazard Mitigation Grant Assistant in Massachusetts, Florida and Louisiana. Catherine currently works with local Conservation Divisions, including Chatham’s, and is well respected in the Conservation field.

Ms. Ricks has a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Lehigh University, is a Licensed Professional Civil Engineer, holds certification from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners (MACC) and is a member of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA).

Welcome Catherine!

Graphic of woman blowing nose with virus icons around her

COVID-19 Test Kits Available

Pick up your free COVID-19 test kit from the Health Division office, located in the Annex, 261 George Ryder Road, and keep yourself, your loved ones, and our community safe as we enter the fall.

Man standing at the Permit office counter

Fall Sticker Office Hours

Beginning Tuesday, September 3, 2024, the Sticker Office will reduce its operating schedule to two days a week, Tuesdays & Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rear view of a white F150 Ford Pick-up with a Chatham EV decal

We Are Driving Change

The Town recently added an all-electric Ford F-150 pick-up truck to our fleet!

This brings the total number of electric or hybrid Town vehicles to five.

The F-150 will be used primarily by the Community Development Department’s Inspections Division. Its higher ground clearance makes it ideal for traversing dirt roads and job sites.

Section 35-6 of the Town’s General Bylaws, adopted by 2021 Annual Town Meeting (Article 58) requires the Town to prioritize the purchase or lease of zero emission or plug in hybrid electric vehicles unless there is no commercially available vehicle capable of the functions required by the Town or it is likely that the total lifetime cost of such a vehicle would materially exceed the total lifetime cost of a conventional vehicle.

Youth flag football for grades 4-7 runs on Sundays from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 15 thru Oct. 6.

Tall Ship LYNX under sail in Stage Harbor in 2023

Return of the Tall Ship Lynx

The Tall Ship LYNX, hailing from Nantucket, will make her second visit to Stage Harbor, Chatham on September 8th.

The LYNX will arrive on the tide at the harbor entrance at approximately 3:00 p.m. Weather permitting, LYNX will carry as much sail as possible on her arrival and will sound her guns. She will be tied up at Old Mill Boatyard until September 12th.

LYNX will be open to school groups tours in the morning hours of the 9th, 10th and 11th then open to free public deck tours from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the 9th, and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the 10th and 11th. Interested schools should reach out to Captain Peacock at www.tallshiplynx.org for scheduling.

LYNX, launched in 2021 at Rockport Marine, in Rockport, ME, is a near interpretation of a War of 1812 Privateer. Lynx is preparing for America’s 250th anniversary event Sail 250 in 2026 by visiting ports not traditionally visited by tall ships along the east coast. The Lynx Educational Foundation operates the vessel.

Movie Poster for The Cowboy and the Queen

Orpheum Fundraiser for Emerald Hollow

The Chatham Orpheum Theater is holding a special fundraising event benefiting Emerald Hollow Therapeutic Riding Center on Thursday, September 12^th with a preview screening of the inspiring and moving new film, The Cowboy and the Queen. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available online.

The film, from Academy Award Nominee Andrea Nevins, features the unlikely friendship between Monty Roberts, a nonviolent horse trainer who rejected traditional "breaking" methods, and Queen Elizabeth II. Bonding over their shared love for animals, they overcome Monty's doubters to broadcast his gentle approach globally. This uplifting film shows how trust can build a better world for both horses and humans.

Emerald Hollow Therapeutic Riding Center in Brewster is the first Premier Therapeutic Riding Center on Cape Cod accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. Their aim is to offer a positive experience through equine-assisted services that address each participant’s strengths and weaknesses to build opportunities to help them reach their goals. In addition, their therapeutic program assists countless riders with special needs. The diagnoses they work with include Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Down Syndrome, and Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Chatham Light Tours

Don't miss your opportunity to tour Chatham Light with members of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-1.

The last tours of the season are scheduled for Wednesday, September 4th and Wednesday, September 11th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and are free of charge.

Please keep in mind that children must be a minimum of 45" tall and accompanied by a responsible adult. Closed toe shoes are highly recommended and backpacks are not permitted in the Lighthouse.

Next Select Board Meeting - Sept. 10, 2024 @ 5:30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend and participate in our open and public meetings. The agenda for each meeting is posted 48 business hours prior to the scheduled meeting time and can be accessed through the Select Board’s webpage.

Attend in-person at the Town Office Annex, Large Meeting Room. Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#.

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!

Subscribe to The Mainsheet

Subscribe today to have the latest issue of The Mainsheet delivered directly to your inbox each week! Sign-up through Notify Me! by entering your email address and clicking on the envelope icon next to the "Government" subscription list.

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov