Association to Preserve Cape Cod |
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Bassett Pond, Yarmouth. Photo by Sue Machie |
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| Showing Up Matters by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director |
Spring town meeting season is upon us. Over the next six weeks or so, all the big decisions will be made about what land is purchased and preserved, which clean water projects are funded, and how well environmental departments are funded. All these important decisions are made by a select few: those who show up. Most of us, Falmouth and Barnstable being the exceptions, live in towns with an open town meeting form of government. What that means is that resident registered voters can attend, participate, and make a difference. The environment is always in need of more defenders, especially when it comes to spending money.
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All you need to do to be an effective participant is get a copy of your town meeting warrant at town hall, in your local paper, or on line. Read the warrant. Identify the issues that are important to you and get educated in advance. Ask questions if something doesn’t make sense to you. It is probable that other people have the same question you do and are afraid to ask, so you do it. More important than anything else is just showing up.
Open town meetings are a mixed bag. The weakness is that single issue voters can show up and vote something up or down and then go home. The strength is the flip side of that coin, that anyone can attend and make a difference. The request here is that you use this open forum to show up and support the environment and to stay for the whole thing. You will leave with a better sense of how your town works, who stands where on certain issues, and perhaps you will get the bug and become a committed participant in town affairs.
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APCC Staff were recently out and about... |
Let the Herring Counting Begin! |
Last week, Dr. Jo Ann Muramoto, APCC science program director and MassBays regional coordinator, and Dr. Julie Hambrook, APCC pond programs manager, presented at Friends of Herring River herring monitoring training event in Wellfleet. |
Air temperature and water temp haven’t yet reached 10 degrees C, so no herring were running last week in Wellfleet. Mature river herring undertake an upriver spawning migration in the spring. In Massachusetts waters, alewives spawn in late March to mid-May when water temperature reaches about 51ºF (10.56ºC). Blueback herring spawn later in the spring (late April through June), when water temperature reaches about 57ºF (13.89ºC). |
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Thanks to the herring monitors who came out to the other trainings and for your volunteer commitment to this data collection now through June 15th. |
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From Marshes to Swamps: Tackling Mosquito Control on Cape Cod
Thursday, April 11th at 12:00-1:00 p.m.
APCC is pleased to host a presentation by Gabrielle Sakolsky, entomologist and superintendent of the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project. Gabi will answer your questions about biting insects, and you’ll learn how the county program manages mosquitos, so you don’t have to! To register, CLICK HERE.
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Hosted by Sustainable Practices LTD Stormwater Risk, Part 2 Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m.
Andrew Gottlieb, executive director, Association to Preserve Cape Cod will discuss what municipalities on the Cape can do to mitigate stormwater impacts to water quality. Q&A will follow the presentation and the event will conclude at 7:30 p.m.
Registration is free and available through this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jfnPslzESjufkC0EPBFUHA#/registration
This is part of a two-part series on Stormwater Risk. The first event features Richard Claytor P.E., principal, Horsley Witten Group, on April 11 at 6:30 p.m. |
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Resilient Roots hosts APCC's education director, Kristin Andres |
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Now accepting applications for these positions: |
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| Eco-landscape Audit Program Manager
APCC is seeking a qualified individual who is passionate about native plants and ecological landscapes to be the team leader of APCC’s Eco-landscape Audit Program. It will be the second year for the program designed to offer ecological landscape consultations for homeowners. The program team will consist of one or two summer interns and the manager will be the team leader. Read more...
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| State of the Waters Intern - full-time, seasonal position We are seeking a college- or graduate-level intern to assist with our “State of the Waters: Cape Cod” project. Tasks include: - Collection and organization of water quality data for coastal embayments, ponds, and public water supplies.
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Data analysis, scoring and grading of water quality data using established Excel formulas.
- Conducting statistical analyses to summarize results using Excel.
- Collection and analysis of drinking water Consumer Confidence Reports.
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Preparation of data summaries, coordination with APCC’s GIS contractor, and participation in team meetings.
- Assist with other projects as needed.
Minimum Education Requirements: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., water resources, hydrology, limnology, natural resource management, etc.) and experience and skills as described here. |
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The 2023 State of the Waters: Cape Cod report content can be viewed on this dedicated website: CapeCodWaters.org |
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Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes - an APCC publication |
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The Guidelines gives homeowners steps they can take in the design and maintenance of their properties that will support pollinators and birds, manage stormwater, conserve water, and protect the Cape's water quality. This 40-page booklet is beautifully illustrated by Marcy Ford with content that is easily digestible and supported by numerous resources for additional learning.
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Thank you for this important book! Hopefully everyone of us with a yard will read it and put it to use! - Vicky Titcomb of Titcomb Bookshop |
We've enjoyed creating it and hope it will help you with ideas to help you steward your piece of Cape Cod and maybe foster an environmental ethic in the decisions we all make in our own managed landscapes. Get your copy here—and maybe one for a friend?
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We are grateful for the several retail shops that are partnering with us to make this publication more widely available: Brewster Book Store, Birdwatchers General Store, Crocker Nurseries, Wellfleet Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Cape Abilities Farm, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, the Cape Cod Lavender Farm, Heritage Museums and Gardens, Titcomb's Bookshop, Sea Howl Bookshop, Soares Flower Garden Nursery, and Eight Cousins Bookshop.
If you are a retailer and would like to sell this publication at your store, contact Kristin at [email protected]. |
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The Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod is a group of organizations promoting native plants and pollinator-friendly land care practices to create a boat load of safe oases for our native bees, butterflies and a whole host of other pollinators that are crucial to the health of our ecosystems.
Join us! It's easy. There are no fees. You just need to pledge to ADD native plants, SUBTRACT a little lawn, AVOID yard chemicals, especially pesticides, and LEAVE the leaves. And, help us spread the word. Please get on the map to show your support of pollinators on Cape Cod!
You can purchase now your 9-inch aluminum Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod sign at Hyannis Country Garden, and Cape Abilities Farm.
If you are a retailer, and you would like to sell the signs, you can order online here, or email [email protected]. |
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| APCC Caps are available for purchase! $25 includes shipping & handling
Click here for more information and to order.
This is one great way to show your support for APCC's work. |
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| Rain Barrels for Cape Cod
Order online from Upcycle Products $122 each
includes FedEx shipping to your door APCC receives a portion of the proceeds. For more information, click here. |
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A Cape Cod Native Plant-selector ~ to help you choose the perfect native plants for your garden. |
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| Sundial Lupine Lupine perennis |
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| APCC Enewsletters. Our weekly newsletters are archived on our website and easily shared.
You can find past newsletters and share with your friends to sign up for future enewsletters HERE. |
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Are you thinking of going solar? We hope so!
In partnership with E2 SOLAR in Dennis, APCC receives $500 for every solar installation when APCC is named as referral. |
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| Thank you to the homeowners who just contracted to install solar panels through E2 Solar. May the sun always shine for you! |
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Expressions Gallery, 578 Main Street, Chatham
CLICK HERE |
Expressions Gallery donates 20 percent of its profits to APCC's work.
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Thank you to our business sponsors |
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APCC is rated four stars by Charity Navigator and 2023 Platinum by Candid (formerly Guidestar). |
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