Barnstable Association Recreational Shellfishing

APRIL 2026 BARS NEWS

We do not have a regular membership meeting in May.

That is the month that we have our Annual Dinner.

Once again it will be a clambake catered by Jake's Clambakes of Marston's Mills.

Please Come to the BARS Clambake

Where: The Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club

150 Annable Point Rd, Centerville, MA 02632

When:Tuesday, May 19^th

Time: Drinks at 4:30 PM – Dinner at 5:30 PM

Cash BAR

Admission is $65.00 per person

This will be catered by Jake's Clambakes of

Marstons Mills, MA

To reserve your place, send a check by May 14th for all the members of your party to:

BARS

PO Box 57

West Barnstable, MA 02668

OR, YOU CAN PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD USING THE LINK BELOW:

Click Here

Our April Membership Meeting was very brief and unfortunately we were unable to show the movie "The Perfect Storm" due to technical issues.

We are looking for members to help build up our new website. We want your photographs, short stories, information about community events, and other ideas that our members have to enhance the user's experience here. If you are interested in helping, please contact John Townes.

BARS Officers for 2026

President John Townes

Vice President Mark Norlund

Secretary Leigh Townes

Treasurer Joel Boncek

Directors

Betty Haviland, Lenny Clark, Murray Pearson,

Ron Martin, Carrie Wilson

President Emeritus Bill Shumway

BARS Honorary Clam Roll 2026.pdf

LINKS

DNR Shellfishing Maps

Click here to apply for a 2026 shellfishing permit.

A valid 2026 permit is required

The weekly quota of quahogs is 1 peck

Need a Rake Repaired?

Rickety Rakes Repaired by Fred Dempsey

Dempsey1935@gmail.com

The 23rd Annual BARS Blessing of the Rakes Ceremony will be held at the Bridge Street Landing in Osterville on May 9th at 11:00 AM Rain or Shine

Be sure to bring your rake(s) to be blessed for a bountiful harvest!

This community event is co-sponsored by the Barnstable Land Trust

BARS members can continue to support the Beach Cleanups in town on these dates:

The remaining 2026 schedule for Beach Cleanups per Kaitlyn Carpenter is as follows:

May- Keyes: 5/9 from 7-9 AM

June- Oregon: 6/6 from 7-9 AM

July- Millway: 7/11 from 7-9 AM

August- Loop: 8/8 from 7-9 AM

September- Covells: 9/5 from 7-9 AM

October- Kalmus: 10/3 from 7-9 AM

November- Veterans: 11/14 from 11 AM- 1 PM

December- Craigville: 12/19 from 9-11 AM

Please reach out to Kaitlyn Carpenter at: kaitlyn.carpenter@barnstable.gov

Natural Resource Officer, Aquaculture Specialist
Marine & Environmental Affairs Town of Barnstable

1189 Phinney's Lane Centerville, MA 02632
Office: 508-790-6272

BARS is a 501c(3) charitable organization and donations to BARS are tax deductible. We are proud of our record of Scholarship donations – We have given over $130,000 in college scholarships to CC students studying Marine and Environmental Sciences. (This goes to HS graduates and returning college students. In the recent past we supported a PhD graduate with scholarships!)

Our social gatherings are a lot of fun for our members. Our Annual Dinner in May - which has recently been a full New England Clam Bake, The Fourth of July Parade and the social gathering after-parade, The West Barnstable Village Festival, The Volunteer Appreciation event - held at a local brewery, Shuck@ Cape Cod Beer, and Our Winter Holiday Party, are some of our annual social events.

We also run the Town’s Redemption Shed at the Transfer Station. This is a major money-maker – so please donate your returnable bottles and cans, and bring them there in July - the month that BARS is running "The Shed".

We also volunteer for the Township’s Clamming for Kids Classes. BARS volunteers help the MEA with the Town's Quahog Propagation program, and the monthly beach cleanups.