Community Health E-Newsletter
Issue 6 | October 2025
| | Fall Into Wellness with Barnstable County! | |
Featured Article
Cold, flu, and COVID symptoms can overlap. Learn how to protect yourself and where to get vaccinated.
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Lower & Outer Cape Towns Launch Free Mental-Wellbeing Platform
Lower and Outer Cape residents now have free, confidential access to CredibleMind, a science-based platform for mental health and well-being resources.
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Halloween Safety Tips
Keep Halloween fun and safe!
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Daylight Savings Time Reminder
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 2—“fall back” one hour.
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West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
Mosquitoes can stay active until freezing temperatures arrive. Learn how to protect yourself from West Nile Virus and EEE.
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Take charge of your health—schedule regular mammograms, know your risk factors, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Preparing for Nor'easters
Learn how to stay safe during powerful coastal storms.
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Community Corner
Discover upcoming local health events and festive Halloween happenings.
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Cold, Flu, and COVID Information
The common cold, flu, and COVID-19 are respiratory illnesses with similar symptoms like cough, fever, and fatigue, but caused by different viruses.
Colds are mild, the flu is more intense, and COVID-19 can be severe with symptoms like headache and sore throat. All are contagious, but hygiene, vaccines, and staying home when sick help prevent spread.
Call the Barnstable County Immunization program to schedule your vaccines today: 508-375-6617
Barnstable County Flu and COVID Vaccination Clinic
When: Monday, October 27, 2025, from 12:30-3:30pm
Where: Harborview Conference Room
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Lower & Outer Cape Towns Launch Free Mental-Wellbeing Platform
Residents of Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet now have access to CredibleMind, a free, confidential, science-based online platform that helps people explore mental health and well-being resources before a crisis.
The platform offers hundreds of curated articles, videos, podcasts, apps, and books on topics such as stress, anxiety, sleep, parenting, grief, and substance use. Users can take self-assessments, save favorites, and connect to local supports—all anonymously. Participating towns receive only aggregated, de-identified insights to guide outreach and programming.
Explore CredibleMind
Learn More
Note: CredibleMind is for education and self-help and is not a crisis service. For immediate help, call 911 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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Keep Halloween Fun and Safe! Make this Halloween a night to remember by staying safe while you enjoy the spooky fun:
- Choose costumes that are visible in the dark — add reflective tape or glow sticks for extra visibility.
- Stay alert: walk on sidewalks, cross at corners, and always look both ways before crossing.
- Trick-or-treat with a group or trusted adult and never enter a stranger's home.
- Check candy before eating and stick to factory-wrapped treats.
With a little caution, you can keep the scares fun and the night frightfully safe!
See the Community Corner Section below for local Halloween and Trick-or-Treat events.
Learn More
| | | Daylight Savings Time Reminder | |
On Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 2 AM, clocks “fall back” one hour as Daylight Saving Time ends. It returns on March 8, 2026.
This change brings brighter mornings and an extra hour of sleep, but also earlier sunsets. Remember to update clocks that don’t reset automatically, like those in your car, kitchen, and around the house.
To adjust smoothly, start shifting your bedtime earlier, enjoy natural morning light, and create a calming evening routine.
Safety tip: Change your clocks, change your batteries! Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and review fire evacuation plans with your family, since fires are more common in colder months.
| | Breast Cancer Awareness Month | | |
Take charge of your health! Schedule regular mammograms and talk to your provider about a personalized screening plan. Know your risk factors, including age, family history, and lifestyle. Stay active, eat well, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol. Support matters, connect with local groups and wellness programs for strength and survivorship.
Local Resources
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Even as temperatures drop, mosquitos can remain active until overnight temperatures consistently fall below freezing or the first hard frost. Take these simple steps to stay protected:
Dress to Protect – Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active
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Use EPA-Approved Repellents – Apply repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Follow label instructions and reapply as needed.
Eliminate Standing Water – Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. Empty containers, clean gutters, and cover unused pools or boats to reduce breeding.
Know the Symptoms & When to Seek Help – Most mosquito bites are harmless, but West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) can be serious. Watch for:
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WNV: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, neurological issues (rare)
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EEE: Sudden high fever, stiff neck, headache, disorientation, seizures
- Seek medical attention if severe symptoms occur.
Stay Informed – Follow updates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, and Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project.
"Even though we are seeing less mosquitoes this time of year, the mosquitoes that are out between dusk and dawn are more likely to be carrying disease. It is important to remain vigilant and avoid mosquito bites until the first hard frost." -Gabi Sakolsky, Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project
Precautions should continue until the first hard frost. Stay covered, stay dry, and stay informed!
| | Nor'easter Season is Here: How to Prepare on Cape Cod | | |
While Cape Cod remains in hurricane season until the end of November, we are also transitioning into our next seasonal weather pattern: Nor’easters.
These powerful coastal storms can bring strong winds, heavy rain or snow, and coastal flooding. With our fully canopied trees in the fall, Nor’easters can still cause significant damage—as many of us remember from the autumn storm a few years ago.
The Barnstable County Emergency Preparedness Division has begun its annual outreach season, conducting discussions across the Cape to raise awareness of these weather threats and to help residents take simple, effective steps to stay safe.
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This section highlights local fall events and resources across Barnstable County, including health fairs, seasonal festivals, and Halloween activities. Check out what’s happening in your town this October:
Halloween & Trick-or-Treat Events:
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Halloween Fun: Party, Parade, & Trick or Treat, Mashpee Commons – Oct 25, 11 AM–5 PM More Info
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Trunk or Treat with Sandwich Police, Heritage Museums & Gardens – Oct 26, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM More Info
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Yarmouth Port Common Halloween Trick-or-Treat – Oct 31, 4:30–6:30 PM More Info
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Halloween Safe Trick or Treat, Hyannis Main Street – Oct 31, 4:00–6:00 PM More Info
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17th Annual Trunk or Treat Festival, Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre – Oct 31, 3:00–6:00 PM More Info
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Trunk or Treat, Cape Cod Church – Oct 31, 5:30–8:00 PM More Info
Other Local Events & Festivals:
Note: Some events may have fees or require registration.
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SandwichFest 2025 – Oct 4, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM More Info
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Witches on the Water Paddle Event, Chatham – Oct 4, 3:00–5:00 PM More Info
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Health Fair, Truro Community Center – Oct 16, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM, 7 Standish Way More Info
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Taylor-Bray Farm Festival – Oct 11 More Info
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Cape Cod Marathon Weekend – Oct 11–12 More Info
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Yarmouth Seaside Festival – Oct 11–13 More Info
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Oktoberfest in Chatham – Oct 18 More Info
For flu clinic information: Check the Barnstable County Department of Health & Environment Calendar and contact your local health department for flu clinic details and updates. Some Flu clinics may be restricted to town residents.
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