Falmouth Heights-Maravista
Neighborhood Association

2018 FHMNA Annual Meeting DRAFT Minutes are now available on our website.

Answers to questions posed at the Annual Meeting 8/4/18, provided by Sargent Jim Cummings, Police Liaison to the Heights and Maravista (jcummings@falmouthpolice.us
or 774-255-4527 x4561):

          Golf Carts.  Golf carts and other “Low Speed Vehicles” can now be registered and are assigned special LV plates by the Registry. These vehicles are subject to some restrictions in addition to the established “rules of the road”. They must also be operated by a licensed driver. If anyone has any concerns regarding the operation of a golf cart on public streets they should call the non-emergency number (774-255-4527), so that we can go out and address the issue.

          Neighborhood Watch: The term “neighborhood watch” has become a generic term that has many definitions based on the communities in which they exist.  In Falmouth, our neighborhood watch program is also referred to as the Community Liaison Program.  Approximately 30 neighborhood groups across town work with Liaison Officers in order to address issues and concerns.  There are several other neighborhood watch program models in use across the country.  In the past, members of FHMNA have inquired about enhancing the current program to include “citizen patrols” etc.

Sgt. Guthrie, coordinator for the FPD Community Liaison Program, can provide some resources for expanded programming. However, the administration of these additional programs would be left to the association. Sgt. Guthrie can be contacted via email at bguthrie@falmouthpolice.us.

2018 FHMNA Bylaws, as revised per the vote taken at the Annual Meeting, are now posted on our website (Paula add link:  )

Route 28 Master Plan: Some of our members have asked us at our Annual Meetings if we have information about the changes anticipated on Route 28 between Friendly’s and Stop and Shop.  Because both the interchanges at Falmouth Heights Road and 28 and at Worcester Ave and 28 are the main entrances to the Heights, we thought we should email the following link to you.  This is posted on the Falmouth town website and is a 72 page detailed plan for the Town of Falmouth provided in 2016 by McMahon Associates  (Transportation Engineers and planners).

As this vicinity is outside our “focus area”, FHMNA will not be tracking the story as it unfolds.  Please watch for relevant stories in the Enterprise, and relevant town meetings of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals on the town’s agenda web page.   You can also subscribe to receive automatic email notifications of agendas for any/all town committees.

If you’ve walked past the southeast corner of the ball field lately, you might have noticed the new water “kiosk” just installed by the Town with funds raised by the Falmouth Water Stewards (FWS) as part of the FWS’s “REfill REuse Falmouth initiative”.  These stations will have filtered water taps for refilling water bottles, a conventional water fountain and a water basin for thirsty pets.

We hope to join the FWS in a Saturday dedication celebration by mid-July and will announce the date when scheduled.

The water kiosk at Peg Noonan Park was the first water station installed, chronicled in the June 15^th edition of the Falmouth Enterprise.

Alan Robinson, member of the Falmouth Water Stewards, has given us the following information:

“Falmouth, we have a growing environmental problem – long-lasting, non-degradable, fresh water and marine ecosystem-impacting plastic litter. Walk along our beaches and roadways, what do you see?  Single use water bottles, soft drink and energy drink bottles, alcoholic beverage “nips”, coffee and drink Styrofoam cups, candy bar packaging – all made of plastic.   This plastic litter diminishes the appearance of our community.  When it gets into our estuaries and oceans, which much of it does, the impacts magnify.”

The Falmouth Water Stewards (FWS), a local non-profit organization focused on protecting Falmouth’s freshwater and marine environment, and Town government are partnering on an initiative – “REfill REuse Falmouth”. The initiative’s goal, enthusiastically endorsed by Falmouth’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee, is to reduce single-use water bottle use, thereby reducing litter and protecting our environment.  The goal is to install water bottle refill stations in areas such as Main Street, Shining Sea Bikeway, recreation facilities and beaches.

FWS is raising funds from businesses, non-profits, government entities and individual and group donors to purchase the equipment for the water stations which will be donated to the Town of Falmouth for them to install.  Volunteers will help keep them clean. Some of the funds raised were from a grant from the Falmouth Road Race.

“The water stations are designed to provide free, healthy, thirst-quenching Falmouth water to residents, vacation home owners and visitors alike. Their presence will remind us all that we can take individual action – use refillable water bottles, water pitchers filled with tap water, etc. – to achieve a public good – one that will result in less litter and protect the freshwater and marine environment.

“But, even if we are successful here (or rather when we are successful here), how will that change the world?  From small acorns grow large oaks.  Tens of thousands of people visit Falmouth from near and far.  What people see and experience here can spread.

“Where does change begin?  How about right here in Falmouth.

“For more information about the Water Station initiative and/or to sponsor via donation, please email refillreusefalmouth@falmouthwaters.org.”