Meetings are held remotely. From wellfleet-ma.gov, hover over a date on the calendar on the right of the screen and click on the meeting you’re interested in to open its agenda and find out how to view and take part remotely.
Thursday, March 18
- Housing Authority & Local Housing Partnership joint meeting, 5 p.m.
- Natural Resources Advisory Board, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23
- School Committee, 4:30 p.m.
- Select Board, 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 25
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Select Board Likes Nauset Renovation
The select board unanimously voted to recommend the Nauset High School renovation project on March 9.
“As a member of the first class when the school opened,” said member Justina Carlson, “I know firsthand how old the school is now — there’s few better uses for our tax dollars than to educate our young.”
Chair Michael DeVasto noted the years it has taken to put the project together and get it to this point. “We have historically low interest rates to bond this project,” he said. “We have $35 million from the state and a chance to have a state-of-the-art renovation. A ‘no’ vote on this project would eliminate that grant.”
Townspeople will vote on two items for funding the project on Tuesday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Council on Aging.
One Fish, Two Fish
At last, the Northern Hemisphere’s vernal equinox arrives this week. Could this be the year to unleash your inner naturalist? Are you curious about the lives of river herring? Perhaps it’s time to volunteer for the herring count.
Friends of Herring River will host a virtual presentation for new and returning volunteers on March 20 from 10 to 11 a.m. The workshop, presented by Barbara Brennessel, a biochemist and clerk of the Friends board, will delve into the natural history of herring and the New England Fisheries Management Council’s latest herring management plan.
With the herring population in decline, said Brennessel, the state put a moratorium on harvesting in 2006. For the last 10 years, with the exception of last spring, the herring count in Wellfleet has collected population data throughout April and May. (Last year the count was one week shorter, due to the pandemic.) So far, a population rebound hasn’t been detected, but by gathering data, said Brennessel, managers hope to one day reopen the fishery. Herring are considered excellent bait.
The workshop will provide volunteers with Covid-19 protocols and information about entering data. Go to friendsofherringriver.org and click on News & Events for details on how to participate virtually. —Tessera Knowles-Thompson
