Fireworks at Veterans Field, July 2nd

Keep you fingers crossed for any rain to hold off for Fireworks & Fun on Sunday night at Veterans Field.

The festivities begin at 6 p.m. with kids activities, followed at 7:45 p.m. with entertainment by the Singing Trooper Dan Clark. The fireworks will go off at dusk, around 9 p.m.

Please leave fireworks to the professionals. Massachusetts law prohibits the possession, use, and sale of fireworks by unlicensed individuals, even if they are bought legally in another state.

Can't make it to Veterans Field on Sunday? Check out the list of professional fireworks displays throughout the Commonwealth this summer on the MA Department of Fire Safety's website.

Town Offices Closed & Transfer Station Closed on July 4

Town Offices, the Community Center, and the Transfer Station are CLOSED on Tuesday, July 4th. Reminder: the Transfer Station is closed on Wednesdays year-round.

Parking restrictions on Hitching Post Road

July 4th Parking Restrictions

The following parking restrictions will go into effect at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4th for Chatham's Independence Day Parade:

No Parking – Tow zone – Main St from the Rotary to Shore Rd. on the south side
No Parking – Tow zone – Main St from the Rotary Seaview St. on the north side
No Parking – Tow zone – Main St. from Tale of the Cod to Shore Rd.
No Parking – Tow zone – Crowell Rd to Tip Cart
No Parking – Tow zone – Hitching Post, Tip Cart, Depot Rd.
After 2:30 am, chairs etc. can be placed on Main St. in the downtown area in the marked streetside parking areas. Anything placed prior to 2:30 am will be removed. The Town is not responsible for anything left on Main Street.

At 7:00 a.m. Shore Road will close, with access for Parade and local traffic only. Access will be one way to allow parade participants to line up and prepare. Officers will be in place to assist.

At 8:00 a.m. Main Street (downtown) from the Rotary to Shore Rd. will be closed to vehicle traffic.

At 9:00 a.m. Main Street (downtown) from the Rotary to Crowell Rd. closes to all traffic.

At 9:30 a.m. the Parade steps off! Enjoy!

Summer Clothing Drive

Chatham FD is proud to partner with The Family Pantry of Cape Cod as a collection point for a summer clothing drive.

The Pantry distributes clothing directly to clients through its on-site boutique, and also operates a higher-end thrift store called Second Glance in Harwich, where all sales are a direct donation to the Pantry's food program. Both sites are in dire need of MEN'S and CHILDREN'S SUMMER CLOTHING. We are accepting donations of new or lightly worn (clean) clothing. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Chatham Fire Department at 135 Depot Rd. in Chatham starting today and continuing throughout the month of July.

Please consider donating to this vital and outstanding organization which provides food and clothing assistance to 12,000 people annually across Cape Cod!

Seal Safety This Summer

As our local seal population continues to grow, more opportunities for interactions with humans are created.

When seals associate humans with food, either through intentional or unintentional feedings (such as through the release of fish from boats or fly fishermen near shore), they may seek out easy meals putting themselves at risk of boat strikes and the fishermen at risk of being bitten. Please do not feed seals intentionally or unintentionally! And if you are releasing fish in an active seal feeding area, use caution!

Do not swim when seals are present.

It is normal for seals to rest alone on the beach, however, if you suspect a seal is injured, keep at least 150 feet away and call the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Stranding Hotline at 508-743-9548.

Dr. Florence Seldin Preschool Family Support Applications

Applications are now available for the Dr. Florence Seldin Preschool Family Support Program for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Program provides up to $5,000 in pre-school tuition for 3 year olds and up to $10,000 in pre-school tuition for 4 year olds with enrolled pre-school providers. Payments are made directly to the providers on a monthly basis. Proof of residency is the only requirement for students to participate in the program.

In its first year, 27 students were enrolled with 11 participating providers saving those families almost $124,000 in tuition costs and providing the students the educational, social and emotional skill they will need to enter elementary school.

We thank the voters of 2023 Annual Town Meeting for approving the replenishment of funds for this important and, we hope, growing program for young families in Town.

Public Notice

The Town of Chatham hereby announces its goal of 6.65% for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation on Airport Improvement Program (AIP) contracts at the Chatham Municipal Airport for federal fiscal years 2024 through 2026. The proposed goal and rationale are available via electronic posting on the Town of Chatham’s website. Comments on the DBE goal will be accepted for 30 days from the date of this notice and can be sent to the following:

Ms. Jacklyn Marks, Airport Planner

Gale Associates, Inc.

6 Bedford Farms Drive, Suite 101

Bedford, NH 03110

jcm@gainc.com

Cartoon images of spray cans and bottles containing household hazardous waste.

Hazardous Waste Collection

The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection will take place next Saturday, July 8th at the Harwich Transfer Station, 209 Queen Anne Road, Harwich, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Bring your old, unwanted oil based paints, polishes and stains; fertilizers, weed killers, pesticides; pool cleaners and chemicals; cleaners, disinfectants, degreasers; brake & power steering fluid, bug & tar remover, fuels & gasoline.

Disposing of household hazardous waste safely protects our local drinking water!

Free Hand Drumming at Hardings Beach

Discover new cultures through hand drumming on July 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the second parking lot of Hardings Beach with the Kane School of Drums.

A variety of drums will be provided for up to 25 participants and you are welcome to bring your own personal percussion too! Please RSVP to Tim Kane via text to 774-757-7636 or email and bring a lawn chair. No experience is necessary to participate in the program, sponsored by the Chatham Cultural Council.

Next Select Board Meeting - July 11, 2023 @ 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!

Town of Chatham website www.chatham-ma.gov