September 11th Memorial Garden in front of the Chatham Fire Station

September 11 Remembrance Ceremony

Join members of Chatham's Fire Department, Police Department, Harbormaster Division, Town administration and representatives of the United States Coast Guard for a remembrance ceremony to honor the lives lost during the 9/11/01 attacks on Monday, September 11, 2023 at 9:00 am.

The ceremony will be held in the 9/11 Memorial Garden in front of the Chatham Fire Department Headquarters, 135 Depot Road.

United States Air Force Brigadier General (Retired) Anthony “Kimo” Schiavi will be the guest speaker. Light refreshments will be available after the ceremony.

Rendering of proposed Center for Active Living at 1610 Main Street

Community Forum Tuesday

Don't miss the open community discussion on the proposed Center for Active Living at 1610 Main Street this Tuesday, September 12th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. 

The meeting will be held in the large meeting room on the lower level of the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road. Remote participation will also be available through the link in the agenda posted on www.mytowngovernment.org.

Those who are unable to attend or who prefer to submit their questions or comments in writing may email "communityforum@chatham-ma.gov" no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, September 11th.

Tall Ship Lynx to Visit Stage Harbor

The Tall Ship Lynx is planning a visit to Stage Harbor, arriving Tuesday, September 12th, weather permitting, around 1 p.m.

The ship will be open to the public on Wednesday, September 13th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on the morning of Thursday, September 14th it will host students from local schools.

The ship will dock at the end of the trap dock pier at the Old Mill Boatyard. Parking will be limited at the Boatyard but some additional spaces will be made available and additional parking is available a short distance away on Bridge Street. Carpooling and drop-offs are encouraged.

Visit the ship's website for more information.

In Case You Missed It

Finance Director Alix Heilala's August 29, 2023 presentation to the Select Board on the Town's debt and debt capacity is available for viewing on Chatham TV's YouTube channel.

The presentation covers the different categories of existing debt service, authorized/unissued debt, offsets to the Town's debt, and estimated debt projections.

Special Town Meeting Information

A Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, September 18, 2023 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Monomoy Middle School gymnasium, 425 Crowell Road, to consider 8 articles, including the design & construction of a Center for Active Living at 1610 Main St. You must be present at the Special Town Meeting in order to vote on these articles.

Special Town Meeting warrants are available for viewing and downloading on the Town's website. Hard copies are available at Town offices, the Community Center, the Center for Active Living, and Chatham Post Office branches. If you pick-up a hard copy of the warrant before the Special Town Meeting, please bring it with you on September 18th. Hard copies of the warrant will be available at the Special Town Meeting as well.

In addition to the lots at the Middle School, parking is available in the lot on Stepping Stones Road, and at the Department of Public Works (DPW) facility on Crowell Road. CERT volunteers will be on hand to shuttle individuals by golf cart/ATV to the school from the DPW lot. Parking is not allowed on the west side of Crowell Road.

Transportation is available from your home to the school by appointment. Please call the Center for Active Living (508-945-5190) to reserve your seat no later than 12 noon on Monday, September 18, 2023.

Multiple check-in stations will be open to check voters in and issue electronic voting devices. Please enter the lobby to queue up at a station. Check-in will begin at 4:45 p.m.

Childcare is available for ages 3 & up by reservation. Please email Susan Mabile with your name, address, contact phone number, your child's name, age, and any medical issues no later than 12 noon on Friday, September 15, 2023. Drop off begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Middle School Library.

Watch the Special Town Meeting Preview Show Here

Sergeant William Glover in a Chatham Police cruiser in July 1986

Sergeant Glover - July 1986

Celebrating Service

September 1st marked the 42nd anniversary of Sergeant William Glover III's service to the Town!

Sergeant Glover began his career with Chatham Police Department on September 1, 1981. Please join us in thanking him for his tireless and dedicated service to our community.

Aerial of North Beach and North Beach Island

Nauset Beach? North Beach? North Beach Island?

Discussions of Chatham’s complex and constantly shifting system of barrier beaches, inlets, and islands can cause confusion for newer residents and visitors who are not familiar with their history.

Nauset Beach is the barrier beach extending south from Orleans. Chatham refers to the portion of the barrier beach that crosses the town line into Chatham as North Beach because it is just that – the barrier beach to the north of the inlet formed in 2007 (North Inlet). To make things more confusing Orleans often refers to their portion of Nauset Beach south of the Nauset Beach main parking area to the Chatham town line as South Beach.

This stretch of coastline is actively managed by staff from its respective towns to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines for protection of threatened and endangered shorebirds (shorebird monitoring) and with Nauset Beach Rules and Regulations including the provisions of the Nauset Beach Agreement between Orleans and Chatham. The beach is accessible via Orleans by permitted over sand vehicles (OSV).

North Beach Island was formed in 2007 when a break occurred, and a new inlet formed directly opposite Ministers Point in North Chatham. This created an island between North Inlet and South Inlet which initially formed in 1987. It is not actively managed, except for shorebird monitoring. North Beach Island is only accessible by watercraft.

Town of Chatham is hiring two clinicians

Town of Chatham Mass seal noting incorporation date of June 11, 1712

Wetlands Regulations Brochure

The Conservation Commission has created an informational brochure for Chatham property owners on the State and Town wetlands regulations.

The brochure describes protected areas, outlines what types of alterations require approvals, and notes that unapproved changes have consequences. It also provides information on the three processes available for alteration approval.

Dark Sky Festival at National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore welcomes Cape Cod Astronomical Society as a cohost of the park’s second annual “Dark Sky Festival” on September 15 and 16. This free event will provide presentations and activities for the public at Salt Pond Visitor Center during the day and a “Star Party” night sky viewing event at Marconi Beach parking lot in Wellfleet.

The Dark Sky Festival is a great opportunity to learn about the characteristics of the night sky for all ages. Throughout the day on Friday, September 15 and Saturday, September 16, there will be scientific presentations and family-oriented activities exploring the scope of our galaxy, storytelling, and constellation crafts. The evening of September 15 will conclude with a “Star Party” at Marconi Beach parking lot from 7 to 9:30 pm. Members of the Cape Cod Astronomical Society will join park rangers to explore the night sky through telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes and with the naked eye. The rain date for the “Star Party” is Saturday, September 16.

Presentations are courtesy of the Cape Cod Astronomical Society. Dr. Larry Marschall, a professor of physics, has taught astronomy, physics, and science writing for over 43 years. Henry Ricci started his passion for astrophotography at the age of 12 with a multi exposure of a partial solar eclipse to emulate photos seen in a Golden Guidebook. Jonathan Hatch serves as the secretary of the Cape Cod Astronomical Society after restarting his involvement with amateur astronomy, as well as photography. Dr. Frank Isik, a local from Wellfleet, loves the challenges of astrophotography, joining his passion of photography and astronomy. The presenters will inform the audience about amateur astronomy, amateur astrophotography, and the impacts of satellites on our experience of the night sky.

IF YOU GO TO THE STAR PARTY: Dim your vehicle lights when entering the Marconi Beach parking lot. Follow signage and ranger instructions for parking spots. Bring a flashlight and meet a ranger at the orientation table to receive red cellophane to protect participants night vision. Bring binoculars, a chair or blanket, if you desire.

For the full list of events and details, visit: https://www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/dark-sky-festival.htm

Next Select Board Meeting - Sept. 19, 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