September Spotlight:
Coastal Resilience Through Partnership
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Strengthening Cape Cod’s Coastal Resilience Together
Life on the ocean defines Cape Cod — it gives us beauty, culture, and opportunity. But it also means our towns face rising risks from storms, flooding, erosion, and other climate impacts.
September is a timely moment to focus on these challenges: it’s the peak of hurricane season, the start of a new school year, and National Preparedness Month — a reminder that planning today strengthens our safety and resilience tomorrow. The best way forward is by working together.
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The Cape Cod Commission provides towns with technical assistance throughout the FEMA-certified hazard mitigation planning process — facilitating meetings, updating hazard and climate data, reviewing bylaws and regulations, and assessing vulnerabilities — while ensuring communities remain eligible for federal funding.
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Barnstable County’s Cape Cod Cooperative Extension delivers education, training, and resources that help translate planning into on-the-ground action.
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Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Sea Grant contributes coastal science and research, strengthening data and best practices for hazard planning.
Together, these regional partners are helping Cape communities anticipate risks, strengthen resilience, and secure resources to prepare for the future.
We’ve built a dedicated page highlighting this partnership, with links to each organization and ways you can stay informed and involved.
Explore the Coastal Resilience Spotlight page
| | Regional Emergency Response | | |
County Resources for Storms and Emergencies
In August, Hurricane Erin passed offshore but still brought strong winds, high surf, rip currents, and minor coastal flooding to Cape Cod and the Islands.
Did you know? Barnstable County’s Emergency Preparedness Division, led by Emergency Preparedness Specialist Chip Reilly, supports all 15 Cape towns during these types of events. The County operates the Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC), which is activated during major emergencies to coordinate resources and information among towns, utilities, and state partners. The County also oversees the regional shelter system, ensuring facilities can be staffed and opened when needed.
During Hurricane Erin, Chip appeared on AccuWeather to share an update on the conditions Cape Cod was experiencing and the potential impacts for our region.
| | Countdown to the Barnstable County Open House | | |
The countdown is on to the Barnstable County Open House!
- Wednesday, September 10 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Barnstable County Complex, Barnstable Village
- Free & Open to the Public
- Join us for a civic celebration featuring:
- Health Fair • County Departments • Guest Speakers
Featuring:
- Phineas Fiske, Tales of Cape Cod – On the 1685 founding of Barnstable County, the Olde Colonial Courthouse, and local resistance to the Intolerable Acts
- Nancy Rubin Stuart, author of The Muse of the Revolution – On West Barnstable’s own Mercy Otis Warren, pioneering political writer of the American Revolution
Stop by our history table to:
- Enter for a chance to win a Barnstable County history book!
- Step back in time with a costumed portrayal of Mercy Otis Warren
- Learn about her remarkable story—and see her statue on the front lawn alongside her brother, James Otis
We hope to see you there!
Learn more at: Open House - Barnstable County
| | County Leadership & Governance | |
Commissioners Advance Charter Reform to 2026 Ballot
At their August 13 meeting, the Barnstable County Commissioners first discussed initiating an elected Charter Study Commission. Two weeks later, on August 27, they voted to place the question on the November 2026 ballot. If approved, voters would also elect 15 members—one from each town—to review the County Charter and propose changes.
The commission would have up to 18 months to hold public meetings, gather input, and recommend updates for potential placement on the 2028 ballot. Commissioners emphasized the importance of early public engagement, beginning in 2025, to ensure residents understand the process and how they can participate.
Learn more about the Charter Study Commission process
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County Urges Engagement on Coast Guard Buoy Proposal
On August 20, Barnstable County welcomed the Coast Guard’s decision to extend its review of a proposed plan to remove navigational buoys across New England. Thousands of public comments, including strong opposition from both the Commissioners and the Assembly of Delegates, prompted the Coast Guard to revise its plan and reopen public input this fall.
County leaders emphasized that reliable navigation aids are critical for fishing fleets, recreational boaters, and coastal communities. Residents are encouraged to participate in the upcoming comment period to ensure Cape Cod’s perspective continues to be heard.
Read the County’s joint letter
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Commonwealth Launches Biodiversity Goals in Barnstable
On August 21, Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll unveiled Massachusetts’ first-in-the-nation 25-year Biodiversity Conservation Goals at Mass Audubon’s Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable. The plan sets ambitious targets to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030, restore 75% of critical habitats by 2050, and expand access to green spaces. Massachusetts also became the first state to join the International Union for Conservation of Nature. All three Barnstable County Commissioners attended the launch. County programs in water quality, habitat restoration, and conservation education align closely with the Commonwealth’s new goals and will benefit from expanded partnerships and resources.
Read the Governor’s announcement
| | Public Health & Environment | |
Big Things Coming to the
Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC)
Earlier in August, Commissioner Mark Forest, AquiFund Program Manager Alice Ryan, County Administrator Michael Dutton, Department of Health and Environment Director Jay Gardner, and Director of IT Bill Traverse visited the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) to learn more about its ongoing work and how the County is preparing for the launch of the expanded Clean Water Center. MASSTC, which was officially established in 1999, is a premier third-party wastewater testing and research facility operated by the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, performing industry-standard certifications, research, and development of innovative/alternative (I/A) onsite septic technologies.
On August 27, the Barnstable County Commissioners voted to establish the Barnstable County Clean Water Center as an expansion of MASSTC. The new Center will build upon MASSTC’s nationally recognized wastewater innovation work while expanding into a hub for research, education, and workforce development—a development supported by state, federal, and global partnerships and coming ahead of the September 26 unveiling.
Learn more about the Clean Water Center
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Public Health Education in Action: August Highlights
August was a busy month for the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, with staff working to keep residents and visitors informed about health and safety issues across Cape Cod.
Back-to-School Vaccines at Touch-A-Truck
The Public Health Nursing Division provided 100 catch-up vaccines to children at the Touch-A-Truck event in Hyannis on August 20. The effort was a collaboration with Barnstable Public Schools, the Hyannis Youth & Community Center, and Hyannis Fire, alongside partners such as the Red Cross and Duffy Health. Families were able to combine an engaging community event with access to essential immunizations before the school year.
Vibrio Warnings in Coastal Waters
In mid-August, local and state health officials confirmed a rare case of Vibrio vulnificus infection in a swimmer with an open wound at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth. Barnstable County’s Department of Health and Environment disease case investigators, working with the Falmouth Health Department, promptly reviewed the case. While Vibrio infections are extremely uncommon in Massachusetts, certain groups—such as people with liver disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems, chronic illness, pregnancy, older adults, and young children—are at higher risk of severe illness.
There is no advisory or closure at Old Silver Beach. Health officials recommend simple precautions: avoid seawater exposure with open cuts, cover wounds with waterproof bandages if necessary, rinse wounds promptly with soap and fresh water after contact, and seek medical care if symptoms develop. Vibrio infections remain rare in the Northeast but are more likely in late summer and early fall when coastal waters are warmest.
Tick Talk: Pop-Up Education Series
The County launched its “Tick Talk” Pop-Up Education Series on August 7. Public health staff visited farmers’ markets, libraries, and trailheads to share prevention tips, demonstrate effective tick checks, and connect people with tick testing services. The series, supported by the Public Health Excellence grant, is being delivered in partnership with 12 Cape towns to expand awareness of tick-borne disease prevention.
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AmeriCorps Cape Cod Graduation & Year in Review
We thank Falmouth Community Television (FCTV) for covering the graduation of nine dedicated members of AmeriCorps Cape Cod’s 26th cohort at the Tilden Arts Center. Their video highlights the voices of staff, alumni, and graduates, capturing both the challenges and accomplishments of the year as well as the program’s resilience in the face of funding uncertainty.
This year, AmeriCorps members completed an impressive 152 land and water conservation projects in our region, from removing invasive plant species to cutting and maintaining trails and assisting with prescribed burns. This small but mighty corps gave their all, making a visible impact across all 15 Cape towns.
With Year 26 wrapped up, recruitment for Year 27 has already been a whirlwind—and we can’t wait to see what the next cohort will accomplish!
AmeriCorps Cape Cod (ACC) is a Barnstable County–operated AmeriCorps program that has served Cape Cod since 1999. Managed by the county as both host and fiscal agent, the program recruits, houses, and supports AmeriCorps members who serve in environmental stewardship, disaster preparedness, and community engagement roles across all 15 Cape towns. Unlike most AmeriCorps programs—which are run by nonprofits or educational institutions—ACC is administered directly by county government, making it one of the few of its kind in the country.
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Funding Expands Trauma-Informed Training for Clinicians
In August, Children’s Cove, Barnstable County’s Child Advocacy Center, announced new funding to expand trauma-informed care. A $75,000 grant from the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation to the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance will train 30 clinicians in Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), an evidence-based treatment proven to reduce trauma symptoms and prevent long-term effects like PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Children’s Cove is recruiting 15 local mental health and social work professionals to participate in training this fall, increasing access to effective care for children and families across the Cape & Islands.
Learn about Children's Cove
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Barnstable County Remembers Lives Lost to Overdose
On August 18, the Barnstable County Department of Human Services hosted a remembrance event to honor community members lost to overdose. Families placed purple flags on the lawn of the Superior Courthouse, each representing a life gone too soon, and signs across the County campus shared messages of hope and information about resources for individuals and families affected by substance use disorder.
The gathering was part of International Overdose Awareness Day, observed globally each year around August 31, to remember those lost, support grieving loved ones, and raise awareness about prevention and recovery.
View the photo gallery
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Human Rights Commission Reports Rise in Immigration Concerns
The Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission reported an increase in immigration-related concerns, with 24% of recent intakes involving immigrants—up from about 10% in prior years. Cases often involve harassment based on perceived national origin and heightened anxiety around enforcement activity. In response, the Commission is distributing “Know Your Rights” materials, offering multilingual resources, and partnering with community groups and schools to provide outreach and legal support
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Learn more about the Human Rights Advisory Commission
| | 👇 Public Contracting Opportunities | | |
Upcoming County Events – September 2025
(click on event for details)
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