Dear ,

Happy Independence Day, and I hope you are enjoying a great start to summer.

June was a month of celebrations! Graduations were held across the district at Monomoy Regional High School, Nauset Regional High School, Cape Cod Technical High School and many more schools. Congratulations to our graduates from pre-k to high school on their achievements, and best wishes in your future endeavors.

This month, I was also honored to attend many statewide and local Pride month celebrations, as well as the commemoration of Juneteenth at the State House. From ceremonies at the State House, to local events at the first Lower Cape Pride weekend, it was wonderful to see such support of our diverse communities, friends and family.

I'm pleased to highlight two key legislative accomplishments by the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the past week.

On June 30, we passed our FY 2026 fiscal year budget which emphasizes a focus on financial health and protecting our most vulnerable Massachusetts residents. Our Commonwealth has collectively shown that we can be both fiscally conservative and socially responsible, with balanced and forward thinking as we brace for federal cuts.  

Included in the budget were three earmarks I secured: $25,000 to establish the first Green Crab Task Force, $25,000 for Lower Cape Outreach for refrigeration upgrading, and $25,000 for the Cape Cod Children's Place to continue family programming.

The House also passed a new joint house and senate rules agreement–the first updated set of rules since 2019. 

This bipartisan House and Senate leadership effort has resulted in more transparency and efficiency throughout the legislature. Some highlights include the following:

• Extends public notice periods for hearings from 72 hours to 10 days.

• Mandatory committee hearing live streaming and archiving, allowing the members of the public to participate in joint committee hearings virtually.

• Advances the reporting deadline for joint committees from the first Wednesday of February of the second session to the first Wednesday of December of the first session.

• Requires the recording and posting of committee votes on the General Court website.

• Requires joint committees to post summaries of each bill publicly prior to their hearing on the General Court website.

• Rules ensuring that the joint committees make written testimony publicly available.

Here is a link to their press release on the Joint Rules.

July Community Office Hours

Please join us at the upcoming offerings below. 

Friday, July 11, 11-12:30 p.m. Eastham Public Library

Thursday, July 17, 3:30-5 p.m. Eldredge Public Library

Saturday, July 26, 10-11:30 a.m. Virtual

Click here to join the meeting.

Zoom Meeting ID: 297 886 099 447

Passcode: w6kd9dg2

Dial in by phone

+1 617-865-5269,,23957350# 

Phone conference ID: 239 573 50#

Thank You for Your Support

Constituent Spotlights

I was honored to visit Earthstar Play School for their Moving Up celebration. 

Nola Glatzel is the founder and lead teacher at Earthstar. Inspired by her training and teaching experiences, she returned to Truro where she grew up and started Earthstar with 6 students. 

Nola was one of the first constituents to attend my community office hours, to discuss local childcare needs and her support of local town based and statewide

child care vouchers. In 2024, Earthstar became a 501(c)(3) non-profit, allowing the school to make these programs more accessible through grants, generous individuals, and local businesses and is striving to make early childhood programs more affordable and accessible for our community. Nola has also recently been awarded the Norm Edinberg for Excellence in Entrepreneurship from the Community Development Partnership. 

Bayberry Quilters were honored for their community partnership at the Cape and Islands Veteran Outreach Center’s (CIVOC) Scholarship and Recognition Event. 

These talented quilters create quilts to welcome every new resident in CIVOC’s veteran transitional homes. This year, Bayberry Quilters made a personalized quilt for each of the student scholarship recipients, with details based on the contents of their essay. Don't miss their upcoming Quilt Show at Cape Cod Technical School in Harwich, 7/30-8/1Bayberry Quilt Show - Bayberry Quilters of Cape Cod

Do you know someone who should be recognized for their service or special accomplishment? Please send your request to gracyn.rountree@mahouse.gov  

Community Tours & Visits

My team and members of the Cape & Islands legislative delegation have visited and met with many groups and organizations in recent weeks including 

• Chatham Harvesters

• Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center

• Center For Coastal Studies

• Duffy Health Center

• Orleans Conservation Trust

• Truro Fire Department

• Orlean’s Pond Coalition

• Provincetown Portuguese Festival

• Wayfinder ADU Tour

• Twenty Summers

Chatham Harvesters- I met with the Chatham Harvesters to discuss local seafood, our fishing economy and the work of local fishermen. This group delivers fresh local seafood right off their boats to the community through fish shares, and expands their mission to educating consumers about the importance of locally sourced seafood. Find them at farmers markets or learn about signing up for a fish share here.

Orleans Conservation Trust Trail Ribbon Cutting-I had the honor to attend the ribbon cutting for the Orleans Conservation Trust’s newest ADA accessible trail located at the stunning Window on the Bay Conservation Area. This 155-foot trail provides accessible parking, sitting areas, and beautiful views along the Pleasant Bay.

Truro Fire Department-Lieutenant Wescott gave us a tour of their facility, introduced us to several paramedics and firefighters on their force, and even gave us demonstrations of their state of the art equipment. It was a great opportunity to discuss challenges the department faces, such as nearby wildfire risks and difficulties finding local housing for the force. We even sat behind the wheel of the fire engine and fired the water turret ourselves!

Provincetown Portuguese Festival-Senator Cyr and I had a great time dishing out kale soup with the Provincetown Knights of Columbus and Lions Club volunteers. This weekend of events celebrates Portuguese heritage and history. This was the 29th Portuguese Festival and 78th Blessing of the Fleet. If you haven’t been before, don’t miss it! 

Wayfinder ADU Tour- The Lower Cape Housing and ADU Resource Center hosted the Cape’s first-ever (and fully mobile) Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Tour. Aboard a fun Funk Bus, 23 community, municipal, and regional leaders toured five ADU sites and learned about the costs, timelines, challenges, and the life-changing benefits of having an ADU. Participants also learned about promising pilot technologies being tested in Falmouth, efforts to expand regulatory pathways, and the broader implications for housing, economic development, and public health.

Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center 2025 Annual Scholarship and Recognition Event.

Two Cape Technical High School students were recipients of scholarships. Lily Gladkowski received the Captain Eric A. Jones, USMC Memorial Scholarship and Maxwell McGrady received the Corporal Nicholas G. Xiarhos, USMC Memorial Scholarship at the event. Congratulations to all scholarship recipients and organizations on their achievements!

Important Community Resources

Constituent Opportunities

This month, the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities(EOHLC) are inviting constituents to virtual listening sessions about the Seasonal Communities Designation. These will provide more information and give constituents the opportunity to help shape shape regulations and ask questions. 

Session Dates:

July 9 @ 6PM – Register Here

July 17 @ 11AM – Register Here

Questions? Contact eohlcseasonalcommunities@mass.gov 

Upcoming Community Events

Independence Day Celebrations 

There are so many events offered across our district and the Cape & Islands: https://www.capecodchamber.org/events/fourth-of-july/

Provincetown Fireworks- July 4th at dusk; MacMillan Pier

Chatham Parade- July 4th at 9:30 am; Main Street, Chatham

Orleans Parade- July 4th at 10 am; Main Street, Orleans

Provincetown Parade and Fireworks- July 4th at 11 am. and dusk 

Harwich Fireworks: July 4th, 9:15 pm. 3 Mini Barges off Wequassett Inn

Wellfleet Parade: July 4, 9:30 am. Town Pier.

Other Events:

• July is Plastic Free July- here's one way to get engaged!

• Cape Cod Baseball League is back. Be sure to check out your local team's schedule for a game! 2025 League Schedule | Cape Cod Baseball League

• "Ask a Public Health Nurse", July 9, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Truro Community Center. Lower Cape Outreach and Barnstable County's Public Health are collaborating to provide free services like blood pressure and glucose screenings, as well as nursing consultations and information on various health topics. 

• Eastham Veterans Rendezvous Cafe is being hosted by the Cape and Islands Outreach Council on July 10th at 9:30 am at the Eastham Senior Center. There will be a Military Trivia Competition and Do you Know your Jingles? game. Please RSVP to Barbara- Anne at 508-237-3349 if you want to attend.

• Harwich Cranberry Arts and Music Festival 2025 July Craft Fair, July 12^th and 13^th at Brooks Park 2025 July Craft Fair - Brooks Park Harwich Center July 12 and 13, Two Days! — Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music Festival
• Chatham Liberty Arts and Craft Festival, July 12^th & 13^th at Chatham Community Center Chatham Liberty Arts & Craft Festival
• Whale Camp for kids at Center for Coastal Studies, July 14^th – 16^th, Whale Camp
• Tribal Leadership in the Climate Crisis with Dr. Casey Thornbrugh at Highland House Museum, July 23^rd at 6PM to 7 PM Tribal Leadership in the Climate Crisis with Dr. Casey Thornbrugh | Truro Historical Society

• Barnstable County Fair is July 21st through July 27th at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in East Falmouth

• Summer Celebration Collaboration with programming by PAAM, 20 Summers, Castle Hill, FAWC & Wellfleet Preservation Hall, Saturday, July 26^th at 2 PM at Edgewood Farm, Truro Summer Celebration Collaboration! — Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill
• Orleans First Friday's start July 4  https://members.orleanscapecod.org/events/details/first-friday-s-in-orleans-14394
• Wellfleet "FIRSTs" events begin Saturday July 5 https://wellfleetculturaldistrict.org/events/wellfleet-firsts-saturdays

What's In the News?

Read more about local and national issues and efforts here:

Article on Recent State Lawmaker Shootings

Orleans Conservation Trust Trail Ribbon Cutting

Article on the Green Crabs

Article on the Maggie Hubbard Safety Act

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Please continue to reach out to me at Hadley.Luddy@mahouse.gov or Gracyn at Gracyn.rountree@mahouse.gov or to call my office at our phone number:

(617)722-2582 ext.8675.

We appreciate hearing from you!

Best,

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