MKL replay, maritime yarns, Hyannis Main Street rezoning, Town Notes
Bronwen Howells Walsh
Hyannis Main Street zoning
The Town of Barnstable is proposing revisions to the zoning in Downtown Hyannis in support of residential and mixed-use redevelopment and "infill" development, in a form consistent with the area’s historic and maritime character.
Barnstable Planning and Development staff will host a follow-up virtual public meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. to review the proposed changes.
The meeting will offer an overview of the proposed zoning, how the proposal has been updated since it was first released for comment, and a summary of how the proposal varies from current zoning.
Join the Zoom meeting at: https://zoom.us/j/91942161091 or dial in toll-free: 888-475-4499.
Give blood Tuesday
The Barnstable Police Department will host a blood drive Tuesday at Cape Cod Hospital's Lorusso Boardroom between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Book online at: www.capecodhealth.org/give-blood or call 508-862-5663.
Spring planting
Cape gardeners can start their spring planning now by pre-ordering native plants and seedlings through the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. The plant materials available include young plants, rooted cuttings and seedlings.
“Native plants are essential for our local ecology; they provide resources for wildlife and maintain biodiversity. The Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Native Plant Sale aims to educate the public about our local native plants and encourage use in the home landscape,” the sale announcement said.
The plant sale is on a pre-order, first-come, first-served basis, and orders must be received by March 18. Payment is checks only, made payable to Barnstable County. All plant material must be picked up on April 29 or 30 at the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Farm Office at 3675 Main St., Barnstable, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
For a brochure and order form, visit: www.capecodextension.org/aghort/news/
Batters up
The Cape Cod Senior Softball League is looking for new players for the 2022 season. This is a friendly and competitive slow-pitch league for anyone age 50 and over. Players are eligible if they reach the age of 50 anytime during 2022. Application fee is $125.
More information and an application can be found at capecodseniorsoftball.com League play begins in mid-May and continues twice a week Monday through Thursday through Labor Day. There will also be Saturday morning playing opportunities during the summer. Appropriate safety and distancing precautions will be in place at all times.
Childcare summit
The League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area and the Cape and Islands Chapter of the Common Start Coalition will present a panel discussion highlighting how parents, childcare providers, members of the business community, and Massachusetts lawmakers have worked together to develop model legislation that addresses the need for affordable childcare and a “common start” in life for all Massachusetts children.
Scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m., the panel discussion will cover why passing this pending bill is important. Cape lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Moran (D-Plymouth and Barnstable) and Rep. Kip Diggs (D-Barnstable), along with childcare providers, business leaders, parents, state agency representatives and educators will share their viewpoints on the Common Start legislation’s funding proposals, workforce impact and professional development.
The virtual program is open by advance registration. Spanish and Portuguese translation available. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/Common-Start-Forum
Office hours
State Rep. Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable) will hold office hours on Friday, Jan. 28, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the West Barnstable Fire Department, 2160 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable. If you are unable to attend but wish to meet with Rep. Xiarhos, please email his Legislative Aide, Stuart, at: stuart.daniels@mahouse.gov or call 508-681-9673.
Open seat
The Hyannis Water Board seeks a commercial ratepayer to fill an open seat on the five-member board chaired by Stephen O'Neil. Send a letter of interest to Town Manager Mark Ells. The board's next rate hearing is scheduled for March 22 at 3 p.m.
COVID test kits
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests from USPS.com. Limit of one order per residential address. Place your order at www.usps.com. Orders will ship free starting in late January.
MLK replay
The Federated Church of Hyannis' Facebook page caries a video of last Sunday's commemoration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his ongoing work for justice, peace and reconciliation. Music by the Groovalottos accompanied the service. The Rev. Bill Hughes, former president of the Cape Cod Council of Churches, filled in for the Rev. Derek White, who is recovering from COVID.
On Monday, WGBH aired "Legacy of Love," a 30-minute documentary on how Martin and Coretta Scott first met in Boston in the early 1950s, when King was pursuing a doctoral degree at Boston University and Scott was a student at the New England Conservatory of Music. And members of the King family marched in Boston for voting rights.
Artists' reception
The Cotuit Center for the Arts invites masked and vaccinated patrons to stop by Saturday between 3 and 5 p.m. for the opening of its winter art show, "In A Mood," exploring how artists convey mood in various art forms.
Keeping younger arts patrons in mind, the show will be displayed at a height of 4 feet – right at children’s eye level, and some of the artists themselves will drop in to discuss their works with the students as they tour the exhibit. On view through March 5.
At the Maritime Museum
Tune in to the Cape Cod Maritime Museum on Sunday, Jan. 30 for a free lecture on The Maritime Dimension of the Underground Railroad by Timothy Walker, professor of History and Fulbright Program Advisor at UMass Dartmouth.
Maritime escape episodes figure prominently in the majority of North American fugitive slave accounts. While past scholarship on the Underground Railroad has focused on overland escape routes, Walker will discuss how freedom was achieved by sea, and what the journey looked like for many African Americans.
Register online at www.capecodmaritimemuseum.org or watch on Facebook Live. Registered participants will receive a link and promo code to buy Walker's book at a 30% discount with free shipping from UMASS Press.