The Pledge

January 22, 2026

I was especially honored to represent my son, Nicholas, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Massachusetts Gold Star Families as we led the Pledge of Allegiance tonight at the State of the State address in the People’s House. A moment I will carry with me forever. May God Bless America, our Commonwealth, and our fallen heroes.

Happy Thankful Thursday

January 22, 2026

I am filled with gratitude for Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod and the incredible work they do making dreams come true for people right here in our community.

This is also a joyful follow-up to the story of my wonderful friend Lisa. I first met Lisa two years ago when she was working full-time on Cape Cod, born and raised here, yet without a home of her own. At the time, she was living in a tent in the state forest in Sandwich. She asked me to come and visit, and that visit began a friendship that has lasted through the years.

Lisa’s strength, kindness, and perseverance deeply inspired me. Her story is one of the reasons I chose to join Executive Director Wendy Cullinan and serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod. I saw firsthand how working people can fall through the cracks—and how compassion, community, and commitment can change lives.

I am beyond happy to share that yesterday Lisa and her friend signed the papers for their brand new home in Wellfleet. They moved in, and this morning Lisa sent me a photo of her very first cup of tea in her new home. From living in a tent in the woods to sitting at her own table in a safe, beautiful, energy-efficient home that she and her housemate will enjoy for the rest of their lives.

This is what Habitat for Humanity does. This is what happens when donors, sponsors, volunteers, and believers in people come together to lift someone up.

Happy Thankful Thursday, Lisa—and happy Thankful Thursday to everyone who makes stories like this possible.

God bless!

Wind Turbine Failure in Bourne / Plymouth Area

November 8, 2025

State Representative Steve Xiarhos (R – 5th Barnstable) has issued the following statement:

While I was in Boston yesterday, I was informed of a serious incident involving one of the wind turbines on the town line between Bourne and Plymouth near Head of the Bay Road.

According to Plymouth Fire Chief Neil Foley, a neighbor called in the early afternoon after noticing one of the three blades on the 300 foot turbine was missing. Firefighters found the detached blade, about 75 to 100 feet long, several hundred feet away in a cranberry bog. Thankfully no one was hurt and the turbine shut itself down as designed.

We were fortunate this happened in an open area and not near homes, but it raises real concerns for nearby families and the environment. These turbines sit close to working cranberry bogs and wetlands. If a blade filled with contaminants breaks loose, it can affect water quality, farmland, and wildlife. Offshore, similar failures threaten marine life, fishing, and tourism. Cape Cod’s natural beauty and economy depend on strong environmental protection.

I have filed or co-sponsored several bills addressing these concerns, including safety, local input, emergency planning, siting near neighborhoods, and recycling turbines when they are no longer in use:

• H.3579 – An Act Providing for a Wind Farm Study
• H.D.4318 – An Act Establishing an Extended Producer Responsibility Program for Offshore Wind Energy Equipment
• H.3479 – An Act Relative to the Onshore Siting of Infrastructure Associated with Offshore Wind Projects
• H.3585 – An Act Establishing a Special Commission to Study the Potential Risks to Cities and Towns from the Onshore Electrical Infrastructure Supporting Offshore Wind Energy Projects

Public safety and environmental protection must always come first. I will be working closely with my colleague State Representative Michelle Badger, who represents the district bordering this area of Bourne and Plymouth, to make sure residents get answers and that this site is cleaned up promptly and safely.

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FOOD PANTRIES AND NUTRITION SERVICES ON CAPE COD

November 3, 2025

Cape Cod is a community that looks out for one another. Across every town, there are dedicated volunteers and organizations making sure that no one goes hungry. Below is a list of local food pantries and programs by town. Please share this information with anyone who may need a helping hand.

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BARNSTABLE

Cape Cod Community College Family Pantry

Building #7 (Grossman Commons Cafeteria)

Tuesdays 12–2 PM, Wednesdays 11 AM–1 PM

Open to all students, faculty, and staff

774-330-4857

First Baptist Church Pantry

486 Main Street, Hyannis

Tuesdays 9 AM–12 PM

508-775-1846

St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry – St. Francis Xavier Church

21 Cross Street, Hyannis

Tuesdays and Fridays 10 AM–12 PM

508-775-3073

Salvation Army Pantry and Soup Kitchen

100 North Street, Hyannis

Pantry by appointment Monday through Thursday 10–11:15 AM

Breakfast 8:30–9:30 AM, Lunch 11:30–12:30 PM

508-775-0364

Faith Family Kitchen

154 Bearses Way, Hyannis

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5:30–6:30 PM

508-775-5073

Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center Pantry

223 Stevens Street, Hyannis

Thursdays 9 AM–6 PM

508-778-1590

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BOURNE

Friends Food Pantry

121 Main Street, Buzzards Bay

Tuesdays 9 AM–12 PM

508-759-3351

Empowerment Center (JBCC)

1015 South Inner Road, Buzzards Bay

Monday and Friday 10 AM–1 PM, Wednesday 1–4 PM

(For those with base access)

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BREWSTER

Lower Cape Outreach Council Pantry

Brewster Baptist Church, 1848 Main Street

Mondays and Thursdays 10 AM–12 PM

508-240-0694

lcoutreach.org/pantry-hours

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CHATHAM

Lower Cape Outreach Council Pantry

St. Christopher’s Church, 625 Main Street

Tuesdays 4–6 PM, Thursdays 3–5 PM

508-240-0694

First United Methodist Church Pantry

16 Cross Street, Chatham

Thursdays and Fridays 11 AM–2 PM

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EASTHAM

Lower Cape Outreach Council Pantry

Eastham United Methodist Church, 3200 State Hwy (Route 6)

Monday 4–6 PM, Tuesday 10–12, Thursday 2–4 PM

508-240-0694

Community Fridge

2500 State Hwy, Eastham (between Town Hall and Police Dept.)

774-801-3229

Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Mobile Pantry

Eastham Elks Club, 10 McKoy Road

2nd and 4th Tuesdays 10 AM–1 PM

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FALMOUTH

Falmouth Service Center

611 Gifford Street

Tuesday 10–12, Wednesday 3:30–5:30, Thursday 10–12, Friday 10–12

508-548-2794

A Place at the Table – St. Barnabas’s Episcopal Church

91 Main Street

Hot lunches Tuesday and Thursday 11 AM–1 PM

508-548-3863

St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry – St. Patrick Church

511 Main Street

Tuesday and Friday 10 AM–12 PM and 1–3 PM

508-563-7775

Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Mobile Pantry

Falmouth AmVets, 366 Palmer Ave

1st and 3rd Tuesdays 10 AM–1 PM

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HARWICH

The Family Pantry of Cape Cod

133 Queen Anne Road

Tuesday 10–3:30, Wednesday 10–12, Thursday 10–7, Saturday 9–12

508-432-6519

Lower Cape Outreach Council Pantry

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 73 Main Street

Monday 1–3, Tuesday 3:30–5, Wednesday 12:30–2:30, Friday 10–12

508-240-0694

The People’s Fridge – Harwich Community Center

100 Oak Street

508-430-7509

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MASHPEE

Christ the King Food Pantry

5 Job’s Fishing Road

Wednesdays 9 AM–12 PM

508-477-7700

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Food Pantry

483 Great Neck Road South

Tuesday through Thursday 12–4 PM

508-477-0208 ext. 189

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ORLEANS

Lower Cape Outreach Council Pantry

Orleans Methodist Church, 73 Main Street

Tuesdays 10 AM–12 PM

508-240-0694

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PROVINCETOWN

Lower Cape Outreach Council Pantry

United Methodist Church, 20 Shank Painter Road

Wednesday and Thursday 10 AM–2 PM

Soup Kitchen in Provincetown (SKIP)

Same location

Monday through Friday 12:30–1:30 PM (November through April)

508-487-8331

Crop Swap – Provincetown Library

356 Commercial Street

Open during library hours

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SANDWICH

Sandwich Food Pantry

331 Cotuit Road

Wednesday 10–12, Last Wednesday 6–7:30 PM, 3rd Saturday 10–12

508-888-3816

St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry

322 Quaker Meetinghouse Road

Thursdays 9:30–12 PM

508-833-1555

Empowerment Center (Non-Base Access)

117 Route 6A

Monday and Tuesday 10–1, Thursday and Friday 12:30–4

774-205-7232

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SOUTH YARMOUTH

Cape Cod Community Food Pantry

845 Route 28, Unit 16 (Lighthouse Landing Plaza)

Tuesday and Thursday 5:30–6:30 PM

508-394-0880

St. David’s Episcopal Church

205 Old Main Street

3rd Wednesday each month

508-394-4222

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WELLFLEET

Lower Cape Outreach Council Pantry

Our Lady of Lourdes Parking Lot, 2282 Route 6

Monday and Wednesday 3–6 PM, Thursday 10–12 PM

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WEST YARMOUTH

Canaan Church Food Pantry and Community Garden

204 Route 28

508-266-1439

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TRURO

Truro Community Kitchen

Christian Union Church, 27 Shore Road

Deliveries on Tuesdays

508-514-1833

Lower Cape Outreach Council Pantry

Community Center, 7 Standish Way

Tuesday and Wednesday 10–12:30 PM

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Cape Cod’s food pantries are open and ready to help. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please reach out to one of these local programs.

If you have any questions, please email my office at Steven.Xiarhos@mahouse.gov

Rep. Xiarhos Announces Committee Approval of “Colby’s Law”

October 30, 2025

BOSTON – State Representative Steven Xiarhos (R–Barnstable) is proud to announce that Colby’s Law has received unanimous support from the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and will now move forward in the legislative process.

Representative Xiarhos expressed deep gratitude to House Chair Dan Cahill and members of the Committee for their support, as well as to the Lippincott family and the many friends, advocates, and community members who traveled to the State House in July, testified virtually, or submitted written testimony in support of the bill.

“We did it,” said Representative Xiarhos. “This is a big step forward — turning tragedy into triumph in memory of a young Sandwich man who gave his all. Colby’s Law will help keep the sport of BMX motocross going strong and safer for everyone.”

Representative Xiarhos also thanked his legislative colleagues who co-sponsored the bill and helped make this milestone possible — Representatives Paul McMurtry, Patrick Kearney, Margaret Scarsdale, and Richard Wells, along with Senators Patrick O’Connor and Dylan Fernandes.

“Your support means so much,” added Xiarhos. “Together, we’re honoring Colby’s spirit and making a real difference for riders and families across Massachusetts.”

Colby’s Law would require that organized BMX motocross tracks and events in Massachusetts implement basic safety standards, equipment checks, and emergency response protocols to better protect young riders and participants.

The legislation is named in memory of Colby Lippincott, a young man from Sandwich who lost his life doing what he loved — riding BMX motocross. The bill seeks to promote greater safety standards and awareness within the sport, ensuring that Colby’s legacy continues to inspire others.

FOR COLBY. FOREVER FOURTEEN.

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Representative Xiarhos Supports Legislation to Protect
Children Receiving State Services and in Foster Care

October 22, 2025

BOSTON, MA. – State Representative Steven Xiarhos (R – 5th Barnstable) today supported legislation designed to improve communication and coordination among state agencies working with the families of children in foster care or receiving state services.

H4644, An Act Enhancing Child Welfare Protections, was given initial approval by the House today with a 159–1 vote. Representative Xiarhos said the omnibus bill streamlines the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) reporting requirements, clarifying the role of the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), and transferring the Child Fatality Review Team from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to the OCA.

One of the key components of the bill concerns streamlining DCF’s reporting requirements, of which Representative Xiarhos noted that DCF currently reports to multiple agencies on various topics, but would now only need to submit a single annual report by October 31 each year detailing the agency’s performance during the previous fiscal year. This report would be made available to the public.

According to Representative Xiarhos, information in DCF’s annual report will include information on:

• Case counts, delineated by demographics, placement type, median placement length of stay, and rates of racial disproportionality;
• Case processes and outcomes, including educational well-being outcomes, fatalities, and the rates and timeliness of medical and behavioral health services; and,
• Operational overviews, including caseloads, staffing trends, the department’s budget, and details on any new or ongoing initiatives to improve practices, procedures, and policies.

To promote the educational well-being of children in DCF custody, H4644 establishes an education unit within the department to develop and oversee education policies for children in its care. DCF will also hire an education director to run this new unit.

Representative Xiarhos said the bill also clarifies the role of the Office of the Child Advocate, affirming that it will remain independent of any other executive office, state agency, or commission. The OCA will continue to focus on overseeing services provided to children, advising government officials, and recommending ways to improve those services. The bill also authorizes the OCA to request data from the Trial Court for research purposes and requires that critical incident reports include demographic information about the child involved.

During floor debate, the House adopted amendments to:

• Establish a special commission to study the development of a digital education portfolio system to support the stability and well-being of foster children and youth in the Commonwealth, with a report due by November 30, 2026; and,
• Add members to the Child Fatality Review Team, including the DCF chapter president or designee, along with other members selected by the co-chairs or a majority vote of the team for their relevant expertise.

“Protecting vulnerable children is one of the most important responsibilities we have as public officials,” said Representative Xiarhos. “This bill helps ensure that our state agencies are working together efficiently, sharing information, and doing everything possible to keep children safe, supported, and given the best opportunity to succeed. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to strengthen transparency and accountability in our child welfare system.”

H4644, as amended, now moves to the Senate for its consideration.

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