Mission Statement | History

The Gosnold-Cuttyhunk Climate Action Network ("The CAN")

HISTORy

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[With a brief 2025 update: CAN's steering committee, composed  of Alden Anderson, Michell Carvahlo, Jon Winet, Stewart Young and Allison Thurston meet via Zoom on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 pm Eastern Time. The meetings are open to all]

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AS noted on page 42 of the 2021 Town of Gosnold Annual Report:

IN conjunction with a grant to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the Gosnold Selectboard asked for volunteers interested in forming a working group focusing on environmental sustainability and climate warming issues.  Gosnold Climate Action Plan (G-CAP) now holds monthly meetings by Zoom with the goal of completing a long-term action plan that includes the challenge of sea rise and the potential breaching of the harbor, while developing short and medium term initiatives to address environmental issues in everyday life in the Town of Gosnold.

 

A sub group of G-CAP, The Gosnold-Cuttyhunk Climate Action Network (Cuttyhunk CAN) will focus on mitigating the cost and scale of Gosnold’s solid waste disposal; discourage single use plastic water bottles through the distribution of reusable water bottles, and filling stations; native plantings;  composting;  and recycling; and  provide engaging and informative materials for residents and visitors; create events  (beach cleanup, etc.), and informal presentations on related topics of interest; native plantings; composting; and recycling.

 

To achieve its goals, the Board of Selectmen and Network anticipate using the completed plan (July 2022) to garner public and future financial support for its continuing collaborative efforts.
 

Gosnold CAP and Cuttyhunk CAN welcome broad community, intergenerational participation. Questions, ideas, want to join or help? Contact Jon Winet, gosnold.cap@gmail.com

BELow - our 2024 annual report preopared for the 2024 Town Report presented at the May 19, 2025 Town Meeting

 

Gosnold-Cuttyhunk Climate Action Network 2024 Annual Report

 

2024 marked "the CAN’s" fourth year collaborating with Gosnold on climate action initiatives.
 

In the fall we redesigned our internship program to include specialized projects, following one by college student James Magill under Steering Committee Member Allie Thurston’s supervision to research and develop a survey map, photography and drone footage to identify and locate plant species along Church’s Beach. It will serve as a resource for planning dune protection and remediation.

 

 Our work with the Select Board and Town stakeholders provided vital input on waste management and how the Transfer Station might be a central piece of our collective efforts to reduce municipal costs and increase the benefits of our environmental goals.
 

Concurrently, in collaboration with the STEAM Academy, successful pilot vermiculture and composting pilot programs to limit green waste going into the costly waste stream yielded impressive results.
 

Our website [www.cuttyhunk-can.net], social media presence, monthly meetings and mailings grew, with plans to create an online bank of informational resources for our initiatives.
 

Public information and graphics supported Allie Thurston’s two Gosnold Cultural Council-funded Walk ‘n Talks, with an additional CAN one.
 

Grants from the Gosnold Cultural Council, CARE, and generous support from the Cuttyhunk 5K Walk/Run event along with private donations continue to fund our largely volunteer efforts


Our thanks to the Town of Gosnold Board, staff and Cuttyhunk Community.