Robin & Jim Miller tonight at Cotuit Center for the Arts and other Barnstable Town Notes

Black Lives Matter, a series of consciousness-raising events and conversations with Robin and Jim Miller, kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. at the Cotuit Center for the Arts.

This 5-part monthly series begins with a presentation of “Restoring My African Soul”, a multi-media performance addressing an artist’s struggle from black shame to African American pride through art and poetry. It includes slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and racial harmony.

Robin and Jim, in collaboration with Cotuit Center for the Arts, will host four future events, one each month through the end of the year with a goal of engaging the local community in conversations and cultural experiences surrounding the specific challenges of racial diversity and inclusion on the Cape.

Robin Miller will be donating her share of all proceeds from this series to the Zion Heritage Museum in Hyannis.

Due to the coronavirus, seating will be limited. Events may be recorded and streamed at a later date. CCftA follows all safety protocols related to Covid-19 and may be viewed on our website.

Tickets are $30, $28 for seniors, and $25 for members. Details at www.artsonthecape.org/explore.

The number of new cases in Massachusetts reflects a slight uptick in recent weeks.

The state Department of Public Health said in its Friday report that the number of new coronavirus cases jumped by 320 statewide.

The number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases included 11 in Barnstable County, which has seen 1,794 confirmed cases since pandemic reporting began in March.

The number of cases confirmed statewide since pandemic reporting began now stands at 111,853, the public health report said.

According to the daily update, Massachusetts had 18 new coronavirus deaths, 11 of them in Barnstable County.

Statewide, the COVID-19 death toll stands at 8,488, including 157 in on Cape Cod.

The seven-day weighted average of positive molecular test rates reached 2.2% Monday, up from 2% July 29 and 1.7% in mid-July.

The positive test rate Monday was still a fraction of what it was during the pandemic's peak, when there were more than 1,000 new cases a day.

State public health officials said that as of last Saturday, the three-day average of COVID-19 deaths was 10, the lowest it has been since the pandemic peaked.

Hospitalizations for coronavirus fell below 400 a day in late July and have continued to stay in the 300-plus range.

The department reported 390 people with the coronavirus are hospitalized, including 69 patients in intensive-care units.

Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis had two coronavirus patients, neither of whom were in the ICU. Falmouth Hospital continued to have no such patients.

State public health officials said 24,376 residents and employees in 376 long-term care centers have been diagnosed with the virus.

Statewide approximately 65.3% of people, 5,512, with the coronavirus who have died have been residents of long-term care centers.

continue food distribution

As the Commonwealth adjusts to COVID-19 restrictions, YMCA Cape Cod, in partnership with Project Bread, has adapted existing programs to ensure Cape Cod children and families can continue accessing needed resources during the coronavirus pandemic.

“As food insecurity rises sharply due to COVID-19, many families are looking for additional resources to access food, said Stacie Peugh, CEO of YMCA Cape Cod. "In Massachusetts, 1 in 5 children is now experiencing food insecurity, nearly doubling pre-pandemic numbers. Federal unemployment benefits may also expire soon, leaving many communities worried about an influx of families looking for support. We are excited to be able to meet this need in our communities thanks to this partnership.”

In Barnstable, Sandwich, and Falmouth, YMCA Cape Cod has been providing summer meals since June, and has served more than 260 children per day.

Packaged meals are provided in a family grab-and-go style outside at eight local meal sites:

Cromwell Court, 168 Barnstable Rd., Hyannis, 02601. Meals served Monday through Friday between noon and 1 p.m.

Faith Assembly, 154 Bearses Way, Hyannis, 02601. Meals served Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (distribution for 7 days-worth of meals).

Camp Lyndon, 117 Stowe Rd., Sandwich, 02563. Meals served M-F during camp hours.

Village Green Apartments, 767 Independence Dr., Hyannis, 02601.

Sturgis Library, 3090 Main St. Barnstable, 02630. Meals served Wednesdays from 12-1pm

Camp 132, 2245 Iyannough Rd., West Barnstable, 02668. Meals served M-F from 12-1pm

YMCA Cape Cod Lyndon P Lorusso Early Education Center, 2245 Iyannough Rd, West Barnstable during camp hours.

YMCA Cape Cod Falmouth Day Camp, 113 Lakeview Ave., Falmouth during camp hours.

Any child 18 and under can receive a meal, and no registration or ID is required. Employees wear face coverings and maintain a proper safe social distance.

“Every day, I see the thrill and gratitude from children and families firsthand,” says Barbara Burgo, YMCA Cape Cod's Food Service Coordinator. “I would like to keep that going. We will remain open through the end of August and will work to continue feeding children into the fall if schools are closed.”

Join Tales of Cape Cod via Zoom on Monday for a retrospective of John Lothropp, with Gordon Lothrop.

The Rev. John Lothropp (1584–1653) was an English Anglican clergyman who became a Congregationalist minister and emigrant to New England. He was among the first settlers of Barnstable, Massachusetts.

Perhaps Lothropp's principal claim to fame was that he was a strong proponent of the idea of the Separation of Church and State (also called "Freedom of Religion"). This idea was considered heretical in England during his time, but eventually became the mainstream view of people in the United States, because of the efforts of John Lothropp and others.

All tickets $10. After your purchase, you will receive an email with your unique meeting login information for you alone. Details at www.talesofcapecod.org/programs.

Sweet Treat Thursdays

The past several months have been tough on everyone, but especially on our older residents in Barnstable. Every Thursday, the BCOA staff wants to give you a reason to smile!

At 1 p.m. each Thursday in August, please join us in the BACC parking lot for a sweet treat. Each week there will be a different treat surprise.

From a safe distance, and of course with masks in place, BCOA staff will be distributing a sweet treat to Barnstable residents over the age of 60. We all miss you, and look forward to seeing you!

A special thank you to the Friends of the Barnstable Council on Aging for their generous support of Sweet Treat Thursdays.

At Centerville Library

Kristen Kibblehouse presents Shark Smarts on Thursday, Aug. 13th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Learn about a wide range of topics, from public perception of sharks to the role of sharks in our marine ecosystem.

The ongoing white shark research taking place off the coast of Cape Cod is explained in detail, as well as how that research is connected to white shark conservation.

The program wraps up with a discussion on how the presence of white sharks close to shore has specifically affected the Cape community.

Kibblehouse is the Community Engagement Manager for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. She attended Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, where she studied marine science and aided in her university's shark research program.

For more info on ZOOM programs and updates on everything from curbside pick up to what's new in books, visit www.centervillelibrary.org.