As Orleans gets ready to vote on a home rule petition to reduce pesticide use, some younger citizens have taken the lessons of local government to heart, using the political process to work for a change that directly impacts their future

The petition appears as an article on the October 16 special Town Meeting and would enable Orleans to set its own guidelines for pesticides rather than defaulting to the state guidelines. The process begins in Orleans but then moves to the statehouse, and the cycle could take several years.

Learn More: https://www.lowercapenews.org/environmental-future-in-orleans-engages-all-ages

The National Seashore's Beech Tree Forest in Provincetown just joined a very special group. In October, it was inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network, a selection that recognizes the forest's role as the only remaining old growth forest in Barnstable County. The ceremony included a blessing by Toodie Coombs of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and a trail tour and Q&A with Cape Cod National Sea Shore staff.

Learn More: https://www.lowercapenews.org/beech-tree-forest-inducted-into-old-growth-network

his fall AmeriCorps celebrated its 30th birthday ... and enrolled its 25th Cape Cod cohort. The program's 579 Cape alumni say the program changed them, while community partners say the work done by AmeriCorps members impacts the Cape in positive and long-term ways. The national service program brings young people to the Cape for 11 months of natural resources, community, and environmental projects.

Full Story: https://www.lowercapenews.org/americorps-brings-on-25th-cape-cod-cohort

In a growing trend toward twice yearly town meetings, on October 16 Orleans residents have a chance to vote on 33 articles, including investment in the fire department, several energy and environment decisions, and a home rule petition addressing pesticide use.

Orleans, like many other municipalities, needs a fall town meeting to address issues and budget items that have come up since the Annual Town Meeting in the spring. Based on the structure of the town, many town issues require Town Meeting votes to move forward.

Full Story: https://www.lowercapenews.org/fire-pesticides-and-energy

Brewster Fire Department brought in close to $250K in grants to help train new firefighters and implement new tools and techniques. The multiple FEMA grants address training and development needs triggered by short staffing and new recruitment efforts.

Scientists at the Cape Cod National Seashore shared results from their projects - ranging from eel grass to pine beetles - which impact the both seashore and the surrounding Cape.

In this episode of Legislative Update, State Sen. Julian Cyr talks about budget, priorities, and wins for Cape Cod.

With both Cape Cod Canal bridges ready for replacement, this fall's effort focuses on completing an environmental impact statement and funding Phase 1 construction at the Sagamore Bridge. Lower Cape News caught up with John Bechard, Deputy Chief Engineer for Project Development at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to learn the latest on the project.

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Firefighters sit at an elevated risk for skin cancer, says Dr. Christine Kannler, who lost her firefighter brother at age 36 to occupational-related cancer. She has been working with fire departments - including the Brewster Fire Department - to educate and screen for skin cancer risk.

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Jim Reese from We Need a Vacation says it's not lower visitor levels that lay behind the reported vacancies. Reese also discusses the outlook for this fall.