Chatham Town Offices, Community Center, and Center for Active Living are closed November 27 & 28. The Transfer Station is closed November 27.

Woman with dark hair wearing a light tan sweater and pearls smiling

I’m Turkey trotting tomorrow morning...

A Note of Gratitude

As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, I want to extend my appreciation to all of you who make Chatham such a special place. This season reminds us of the importance of connection, kindness, and appreciation for the place we call home.

I am very thankful for the dedication of our Town staff (Team Chatham) who work every day and some 24/7 to serve our Town. Your commitment ensures that our community continues to thrive and remains welcoming to all.

On behalf of the Town of Chatham, I wish you a joyful and safe Thanksgiving!

Jill R. Goldsmith, Town Manager

Map showing the route of the Annual Turkey Trot 5K walk/run

Traffic Alert – Turkey Trot

The 21st Annual Turkey Trot steps off from the Oyster Pond parking lot at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The route follows Stage Harbor Road south to Champlain Road, turning onto Battlefield Road, then onto Cedar Street, where the runners will complete a loop on Capri Lane, before heading back onto Cedar Street for the return to Stage Harbor Road and the finish line.

The Oyster Pond parking lot will be closed to parking overnight through the duration of the event.

This family-friendly 5K fun run/walk, benefiting the Lower Cape Outreach Council, is an extremely popular event and holiday tradition for many. Last year just short of 2000 individuals officially participated!

If you must travel on or near the race route on Thanksgiving morning, please use extra caution.

Shop Small/Shop Local This Saturday

Show some love for our local merchants by spending the day exploring all that Chatham’s small businesses have to offer.

Shopping locally supports our neighbors, creates jobs, and keeps our economy going, especially in the winter months. Whether it’s a cozy sweater, handcrafted jewelry, or a gift card to a favorite restaurant, every purchase makes a big difference.

Dinghies on a beach next to a red sign noting when watercraft need to be removed from the area

Last Call to Remove Watercraft

Last Call! Five days left to remove your dinghy, canoe, kayak, rowboat, and/or other watercraft stored along the shore from Town-owned properties.

Per Harbormaster Regulations Section 1022(5) and Town Landing Regulations Section 13, they must be removed by November 30th unless in active use by the owner.

The Harbormaster Division will remove remaining watercraft from Town landings and other Town-owned property in December.

Stuff A Cruiser event on Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Ocean State Job Lot parking lot to benefit Toys for Tots

A black dog wearing a blaze orange vest in the woods

Deer Hunting Season – December 1st

Deer hunting by shotgun begins Monday, December 1st and lasts until December 13th. Deer hunting by primitive firearm (black powder) takes place from December 15th -31st.

No hunting is permitted in Massachusetts on Sundays.

Please protect yourself and your canine companions when venturing into the woods by wearing blaze orange during these hunting seasons.

December Flash Available Now

The Center for Active Living’s monthly newsletter, The Flash, is available now!

Don’t miss out on any of the festive events planned for the month of December. Many programs and transportation opportunities are limited by space and require registration. Spend a few minutes looking over the many choices this weekend and call 508-945-5190 to secure your space!

Select Board seated at the dais in the large meeting room

Select Board Action - November 25th

The Select Board opened its November 25th meeting by approving a new seasonal all alcoholic beverages restaurant license for Diana’s Kitchen & Bar LLC dba Diana’s Kitchen and Bar, Jodi-Ann Kay Grant, Manager, for the establishment at 643 Main Street.

The Board granted several Special One Day liquor licenses for wine & malt beverages only to area businesses for holiday events.

Mark Forest, President of the Cape and Islands Municipal Leaders Association (CIMLA) discussed the role of the organization as a forum for elected local officials to discuss regional issues, discuss various solutions and exchange information and ideas to improve the quality of municipal and regional government on Cape Cod and to solve problems and engage with one another to advance the interests of their respective communities. Several areas of priority of CIMLA were discussed.

Principal Projects and Operations Administrator Terry Whalen introduced an update on the most recent adjustments to the Eldredge Public Library Site Master Plan project by Jay Olmstead, Olmstead Designs, and Sean Riley, Tighe & Bond, who reviewed the design plans including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, lighting, and parking improvements. The Board supported the project plan.

After discussion, the Board voted to authorize a Statement of Claim for 32 Mill Hill Road in the amount of $51,875.50 and directed staff to record a lien on the property and process it for addition to the tax roll. This action was taken to recoup the cost of court-authorized solid waste removal at the property.

The Board approved a Successor Employment Agreement with Fire Chief Justin Tavano dated December 1, 2025- June 30, 2029.

The Board appointed Don Drinkwater to the Summer Residents Advisory Committee as a full member until June 30, 2026 and Steve West as an Associate member until June 30, 2026.

Stephen Oleksiak and Wendy Oleksiak were appointed to the Independence Day Parade Committee until June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027 respectively.

Town Manager Jill Goldsmith reviewed the monthly report for October 2025. She noted the temporary restrictions at Barn Hill Road landing due to bulkhead deficiencies and efforts to address them as quickly as possible, the results of the recent Tree Warden hearing on trees at Kate Gould Park, the ribbon cutting at the new garage at the Transfer Station, Department Life Safety Awards to members of the Harbormaster Division and Police Department, and recent grant awards to various Town Departments. She noted current milestones in housing efforts for the lottery to purchase 558 Crowell Road and the disposition of Stepping Stones Road property for homeownership development. She said the Center for Active Living Building Working Group will present recommendations to the Select Board on December 3rd. She noted employee longevity anniversaries.

The public is encouraged to watch the meeting in its entirety through Chatham TVs on-demand archive.

Practice Gratitude

What better topic for Wellness Weekly to focus on this week than gratitude.

Even when life is hard, practicing gratitude helps you to find positive things to focus on. Showing gratitude for the good things in life can help give you the strength you need to keep pushing forward through life’s challenges.

Explore the resources at https://lowercape.crediblemind.com/topics/gratitude for more information about gratitude!

Town seal with the silhouette of a speaker at a podium in the center

Upcoming Public Hearing

The Select Board will hold the following public hearings during their regularly scheduled meetings on Tuesdays, beginning at 5:00 p.m., in the large meeting room at the Town Office Annex, 261 George Ryder Road.

December 9

To consider a petition from NSTAR Electric d/b/a Eversource Energy to install 47 feet plus or minus of 1 to 4 inches conduit and one new handhole 23/HA10 on Bridge Street necessary to provide new underground service to the customer located at 322 Bridge St., Chatham.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend in-person or through the link in the posted agenda.

Excise Abatement Information

In order to receive an abatement to a motor vehicle or boat excise bill, you must apply and provide certain documentation to the Office of the Assessor.

Applications for Motor Vehicle Excise Abatements and Boat Excise Abatements are available on the Town's website.

If you have any questions after reviewing these forms, call the Office of the Assessor at 508-945-5103.

Session 1 of youth skating lessons start December 6. Contact Recreation and Beaches at 508-945-5158 for information

Two arched bridges over the Cape Cod Canal

Federal Environmental Impact Statement

Cape Cod Bridges

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has filed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges under the National Environmental Policy Act. This filing of the comprehensive document represents a significant milestone in the advancement of the Cape Cod Bridges Project.

The DEIS is now available for public review and a 45-day public comment period through January 5, 2026.

The public is invited to visit the interactive summary site to view the DEIS in an interactive format, learn about the proposed improvements, and review key findings.

A PDF version of the chapters, sections, and appendices that make up the DEIS can also be found online. Public comments can be submitted through the interactive summary site or through the online comment form.

MassDOT will also host a public hearing regarding the DEIS at Admiral's Hall at Mass Maritime Academy on December 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. At this public hearing, MassDOT will provide information and key takeaways and accept public comment.

Visit the Cape Cod Bridges project webpage for more information.

Annual Community Screening

The Chatham Orpheum Theater will host its annual free community screening of It’s a Wonderful Life on Thursday, December 11th at 7 p.m.

This holiday classic is not to be missed on the big screen. Get your free ticket exclusively at the Theater Box Office, 637 Main Street.

See more about this and other upcoming events at the Orpheum on their website.

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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.