Seven Villages, Janet Joakim

See related links at the bottom of this post….
This week’s Barnstable Patriot includes a story and a particularly harsh and personal letter to the editor about the upcoming meeting of the voters that each leave out important information about this meeting. 

The petition that was turned in to us compelled the council to take actions that were outside of the parameters of the charter. There was discussion about whether we could argue that the petition itself was invalid.

During a council meeting we had a discussion in a “committee of the whole” where we Continue reading meeting of the voters *is* a meeting of the people…

The organization “Common Cause” has awarded Barnstable distictions for open government for  Continue reading barnstable awarded “stars” from common cause, for open government…

Save GAS! Support your local merchants!     Shop Local Day is

Continue reading support your local merchants! shop local day is may 10th…

The “meeting of the people” is now scheduled for May 6, at 6pm at the Knight Auditorium in Barnstable High School.

The meeting will be facilitated by Continue reading meeting of the people scheduled for may 6, at 6pm…

Our Last Chance!
(from our friends at SOS) Continue reading last chance to tell mms that we don’t want a private corporation developing nantucket sound!…

The petitioned “meeting of the people” has been tentatively scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, May 6 at the Knight Auditorium at Barnstable High School.

The meeting is open to all residents of this town who are welcome to come and speak about the questions on the petition as well as ask questions or make comments on any issue that is within the purview of the town council.

Bruce Gilmore, a town meeting moderator, has been asked to act as facilitator of the meeting that will include Continue reading meeting of the people scheduled…

HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL’S ASH INSTITUTEANNOUNCES TOP 50 INNOVATIONS IN GOVERNMENT

and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School today announced the Top 50 Programs of

the 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards competition. Selected from a

pool of nearly 1,000 applicants, these programs represent the best

Continue reading harvard kennedy school press release…

Harvard institute hails six innovative government programs in Mass.

 April 15, 2008 07:26 PM      by Boston Globe Staff

A Harvard institute has included six Massachusetts programs on its list of the top 50 innovative government programs in America.

The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation singled out:

– The town of Barnstable’s efforts to deal with residential growth;
– A Boston program designed to prevent foreclosures;
– A Boston schools program designed to prepare excellent teachers;
– A Suffolk County program designed to prevent teen prostitution;
– A state program to simplify the paperwork for affordable housing developments; and
– A state program under which state facilities agree to reduce their electrical demand when the electrical grid is under stress.

“We commend the innovative initiatives of

Continue reading another reason to take pride in our town!…

UPDATE — in a word, NO - they voted to approve the project and found that, according to their charge, the project “did not do not substantially adversely affect the public health, safety, welfare, comfort or convenience of the community.”
Clearly, there are many of us who disagree and are extremely concerned about the traffic this high-volume liquor store will create. The allowed usage, an office or bank, would certainly not create this level of traffic. This is, according to each annual citizen’s survey, the NUMBER ONE complaint by this town’s residents, and is addressed in our LCP as well as each village’s plan.
The ZBA forms their opinions based on the zoning code as written pertaining to the highway business district — this is the section that applies:
“Conditional uses. The following uses are permitted as conditional uses in the HB District, provided that a special permit is first obtained from the Zoning Board of Appeals subject to the provisions of § 240-125C herein and subject to the specific standards for such conditional uses as required in this section: (1) Any use permitted in the B District not permitted in Subsection A herein, subject to the following: (a) Such uses do not substantially adversely affect the public health, safety, welfare, comfort or convenience of the community.”

This code can be found in full, here:
http://www.e-codes.generalcode.com/codebook_frameset.asp?ep=fs&t=ws&cb=2043_A

(This meeting will be replayed on channel 18 or can be watched live streaming or downloaded from the town’s channel 18 website )

This Wednesday evening, the Town of Barnstable’s Zoning Board of Appeals will take a vote on whether to allow a project that will effect any of us who travel rt 28 between Hyannis and Mashpee.

This is one of those rare times where mitigation hasn’t worked, and the Z.B.A. needs to do the difficult and “right” thing and vote to NOT approve this project.

Over two years ago the owners of Blanchard Liquors, now at the Cape Cod Mall, purchased the Continue reading this wednesday night the z.b.a. will vote on our safety - will they do the right thing?…

You spend 2 1/2 hours on a rainy Saturday working around the house stopping every 10 minutes to check on the rain delay…

After waiting 2 1/2 hours, you realize watching a very short 4 outs accomplished by Jonathan Papelbon and his Continue reading you know you’re a red sox fan when ……

Anyone who has been involved in Memorial Day or Veterans Day events, would recognize Larry (Sid) Chase. He is a constant presence as a support to our local veterans.

During his State of the Town address, Town Manager John Klimm recognized Sid then showed a video with recognitions from fellow Vietnam Vet, Senator John Kerry, and several others including Congressman Bill Delahunt.
John Klimm described Sid’s dedication:

Continue reading his dedication discovered and recognized, sid chase is a veteran’s veteran…

The Barnstable Patriot, one of the biggest fans of Cape Cog, made the following report in their April 4, 2008 town notes section. 

Continue reading a long, lingering, farewell…… but is it really, “goodbye gadfly?”…

Barnstable High School Set to “Rock the Smock”

Barnstable High School will open its 2008 Senior Art Show called “Rock the Smock” on Friday, April 11, from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Guyer Barn Arts Center, 250 South Street, Hyannis. The show will Continue reading art show - see the amazing talent of our town’s young artists…