Lower Cape TV News

What’s Happening Here! Rt 6A and Main St., Orleans

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 17:24:39 GMT

Is this building going away? Join us to find out What's Happening Here!

"I know it's a temporary discomfort for everyone ... but it's all worth it”

Amanda Constant

Banking Center Manager Cape Cod FIve Orleans

What is happening at the popular corner?

05 June 2025 – ORLEANS, MA – In this episode of What’s Happening Here, we peer past the fencing, cones, and warning signs at the long-term Cape Cod Five branch on Rt6A near Main St. in Orleans and ask what you’re asking … Is the building going away? Is the street changing? Watch the video to find out What’s Happening Here!

What will change?

The project is adding more than 2,000 sf of space to the Orleans downtown. The new space will house offices and conference space for Cape Cod Five and enable it to office its services in town from one location.

How long will construction last?

Construction should be complete by spring of 2026.

Brewster Blooms During Its Festival

Sat, 10 May 2025 01:09:19 GMT

9 May, 2025 – BREWSTER, MA – Brewster's daffodils sprouted the festival Brewster In Bloom.

"The fact that we have a very attractive arts and craft show that attracts a lot of people and then they spill out into the rest of the community and they spend their money in the restaurants, they spend their money in the retail and they stay in the inns and the B&Bs. We definitely get an influx of people that weekend.”

Kyle Hinkle

Executive Director, Brewster Chamber Of Commerce

What is Brewster In Bloom?

08 May, 2025 – BREWSTER, MA Friends Susan and Annie are chatting like friends do, sitting close together under one of Brewster’s blossoming cherry trees. The falling cherry petals means that early spring is behind us and summer is just around the corner and today they are enjoying Brewster's annual spring event: Brewster In Bloom. The annual festival with its parade floats and handmade local crafts has visitors setting up camp all along Main Street.

“It’s a great all-American fun event. The kids love it, they throw them candy. It’s really great,” said Susan.

“Yeah, everyone's in a good mood. Everyone's loving the town. it's a perfect event,” added Annie.

Every spring Brewster's Main Street is lined with blossoming cherry trees, tulips and daffodils. This year's annual Brewster In Bloom took place for the 39th year May 2-4.

How did the festival start?

“Well, it started in 1985 when a group of business people from Brewster decided that they needed to figure out a way to brighten up the town after winter when it's so cold and damp and gray all the time,” said Kyle Hinkle, Executive Director of Brewster Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the event.

“And so they went along Main Street and then sold daffodil bulbs to any of the homeowners and businesses along Main Street who were willing to buy them and plant them. So in the spring in 1986, all those blooms came up and of course then Brewster was like cloaked in yellow. And that's how Brewster In Bloom got started.”

What is the art show?

One part of today's festival is a traditional fine arts and craft show, which HInkle said had a steady stream of attendees strolling among the 86 different vendors. People traveled wide and far for the show.

“That's a juried show, so it's high quality, which is wonderful. If someone is new to the show and they haven't been at it before, then their work goes before a jury of two artists who will evaluate it."

What is Brewster In Bloom's parade?

An estimate of a total of 5,000 visitors came to the crafts show, but around midday on Sunday, the market area emptied of consumers. It was time for the parade. More than 40 floats competed for titles. The theme this year?

“‘Let's take a hike," said Hinkle. "We've had a lot of sea themed events over the last few years, and this time we decided let's keep it land bound this time around, which was good. We had some really interesting floats."

How doe the festival benefit the community?

Brewster In Bloom is funded mostly by sponsorship money and Hinkle says the influx of visitors spills out into Brewster's local businesses. “And the fact that we have a very attractive arts and craft show that attracts a lot of people and then they spill out into the rest of the community and they spend their money in the restaurants, they spend their money in the retail and they stay in the Inns and the B&Bs," said Hinkel. "We definitely get an influx of people that weekend.”

Brewster In Bloom has loyal visitors and participants, returning year after year to see the parade and art items and the festival itself remains true to its traditions. But for the big 40 coming next year, the Chamber of Commerce would like to turn things up just a little.

“We're still in the works of looking at that and how we want to promote it and what we want to do or how we want to change something that might brighten it up a little bit,” said Hinkle. “So that will be one of the first things that we do when we sit down to start planning.”

AmeriCorps Loses Funding – This Is What We KNow

Sat, 10 May 2025 00:42:40 GMT

Will the county save AmeriCorps Cape Cod?

"The program will continue, but we can't guarantee next year."

Sheila Lyons

Chair, Regional Board of Commissioners

What is happening with AmeriCorps Cape Cod?

09 May, 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – An immediate termination of federal funding to AmeriCorps - including AmeriCorps Cape Cod - triggered an outpouring of support with Barnstable County drawing on previously-budgeted funds to fill in the gaps through the end of the current program year this summer, although the longer term future of the program remains unknown.

On April 28th the federal government announced an immediate termination of funding for AmeriCorps Cape Cod. The decision shocked the county government which held an emergency public meeting two days later, May 1st. More than 100 participants attended the meeting, testifying about the need for and value in the AmeriCorps program on Cape Cod. Ultimatley the County Commissioners vote unanimously to keep funding AmeriCorps for the rest of the current program, which ends in July.

How is the funding gap getting filled?

“What they decided to do was use available funds, currently budgeted funds in order to maintain the AmeriCorps program throughout the program year,” explained Michael Dutton, County Administrator.

“The funding and their vote would allow us to continue the same kind of work, providing services for our service partners and be able to close out the program and make sure that the participants in this year's program complete their commitment, and we complete our commitment to them.”

How much does AmeriCorps cost?

AmeriCorps Cape Cod receives around $1M dollars annually, half from the county budget and half from the federal government. The federal funds arrive in a monthly reimbursement grant.

With the Trump administration's immediate termination of AmeriCorps, the county will not receive reimbursements for the final months of the current program year, May, June, and July. However, the county had a bit of luck on its side.

Since Covid, the number of applicants dropped significantly. For the current service year, which began in September, the county had budgeted for more than twice as many volunteers as the number that ended up participating. As a result, the AmeriCorp Cape Cod budget had surplus already allocated for the current cohort. In addition a gap in staffing, added to the surplus. As a result the county was able to not only vote in favor of funding through the program year, but also had money already in place to fill the estimated $80,000 gap left by the withdrawal of the federal government.

Why was the program cut?

The cut has left local officials scratching their collective heads.

“One of the frustrating things about this whole announcement and the termination of the grant mid-year is that there's very little information forthcoming ... we didn't get any explanation as to why these grant funds were being cut,” said Dutton.

“The next step is to get as much information as possible from the AmeriCorps program in order to figure out exactly how we should sort of step down this program and exit the participants.”

What might happen to AmeriCorp Cape Cod in the future?

After the post-COVID lull in applications, interest had already spiked for the next service year, beginning in September, 2025. And Cape Cod officials say they don't want lose that momentum.

After more than a quarter of a century of AmeriCorps service on Cape Cod, the county said the program is worth fighting for. It said it will seek $560,000 for fiscal year 2026, to transition the program out of AmeriCorps, but keep the service model on Cape Cod.

Sheila Lyons, Chair of the county government executive branch, the Regional Board of Commissioners, said they are looking at different routes such as keeping the program on a smaller scale.

“We voted it last week, so the program will continue, but we can't guarantee next year. So right now, we are engaging with our congressional delegation, our state delegation, is there any way the state could maybe help partner with this?” said Lyons.

“And I think that we should talk to the towns as well because they have been the beneficiaries of a lot of this work.”

What happens next?

The next step is for the county government to gather more information, to try to find funding partners and to figure out how keep program in a re-worked, post-AmeriCorp form.

Cape Cod Hospital Opens New Cancer Center

Mon, 05 May 2025 20:52:35 GMT

New 141,000 sf center triples cancer treatment space and adds cardiology and surgical suites.

This is an anchor institution.

Peter Barbey, Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust

What is happening with Holtec?

02 May 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – Thousands of gallons of radioactive water are evaporating from the former Pilgrim nuclear power plant on Cape Cod Bay in Plymouth as part of the Holtec-led decommissioning process. In response, 16 towns – mostly on Cape Cod – have put forth a ballot question in May asking the state to take action to stop this.

Why is water evaporating?

Decommissioning has been underway for six years; last year Mass DEP stopped Holtec’s move to release radioactive water into the bay. The company says it cannot prevent the water from evaporating into the atmosphere, and that it poses no harm to the public or the environment.

The current volume of waste water is estimated at about 844,000 gallons, down from more than 1 million gallons a year ago. Holtec is appealing last summer’s Mass DEP decision, with a decision expected around the end of this year. If it prevails, it plans to discharge the water into the bay, but in the meantime the evaporation continues. Holtec’s position is that evaporation is legal and poses no harm.

What is on the local ballot?

Cape Downwinders, an organization that has been critical of the plant since it was in operation, campaigned to put the citizen petition questions on the ballot, asking the governor to stop the evaporation. The group has also made appeals to the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel , a group meets monthly to advise the governor about plant shutdown activities. The Downwinders – and the ballot questions – argue that the gaseous evaporation is comparable to a water release and that both actions violate the Ocean Sanctuaries Act.

In Orleans, for example, the ballot question concludes:

“Therefore shall the people of the Town of Orleans direct the town government to communicate with Governor Maura Healey … to employ all means available to ensure that the law is enforced and to ensure further that Holtec immediately cease the gaseous discharge of the radioactively and chemically contaminated industrial wastewater at Pilgrim …”

Is the water harmful?

Holtec says the radioactive levels show no harm, but not everyone agrees. Some opponents cite public health while others point to potential environmental and economic impacts.

No studies have definitively identified specific harm from radioactive water in the bay. However, Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of Association to Preserve Cape Cod, points out that the Mass DEP decision did not depend on proof of harm. He contends, and Mass DEP agreed, that the law prohibits any industrial waste discharge into a designated ocean sanctuary such as Cape Cod Bay.

What economic impact could this have?

State Senator Dylan Fernandes – in whose district Pilgrim is located – points out that whether or not the discharge is safe for humans, the economy may be harmed by the public perception of radioactive water, with direct impact on fisheries and tourism.

“You have some real marketability issues if other people have fear around swimming in Cape Cod Bay because they know that nuclear wastewater is being dumped there or fear over eating oysters or other types of shellfish because they know they may have filtered nuclear wastewater,” he said. “Those are legitimate commercial concerns that businesses have. This isn’t just any business industry, this is literally the foundation of our entire economy.”

Ruck4HIT Hits 10th Anniversary With Biggest Run Ever

Mon, 05 May 2025 20:49:53 GMT

For the 10th year, more than 20 teams from across the country crossed the Cape to support Heroes In Transition.

We've had 20 teams including fire dept and police dept teams, teams from all over ...

Nicole Spencer, Co-Director Ruck4HIT

What is the Ruck4HIT run?

02 May 2025 - CAPE COD, MA - Fifteen towns, 200 miles, 20 teams and 250 participants - that's what it took to pull off the tenth running of the R4H annual spring run. The event raised more than $300,000 for military support organization Heroes in Transition , a nonprofit that provides services for military personnel and their families.

The first Ruck4HIT run ran from Ground Zero in New York to Cape Cod, and that event sparked a journey that has continue to grow every year since.

What was different this year?

This year, the run - which features participants wearing rucksacks in a nod to training with military rucksacks - incorporated a longer route that started and finished in Falmouth at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds. It passed through every Cape Cod town along the way.

The 250 runners also faced an array of new challenges including climbing the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown and the Chatham Lighthouse. This year teams literally came from around the country, and included many fire and police departments.

What is Heroes in Transition?

The nonprofit Hero3s in Transition was formed in honor of Capt. Eric Jones, who lost his life serving in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan in 2009. His parents wanted to honor his memory with concrete action. Today is offers 15 different programs for military couples, families, spouses, and veterans.

For more information:

Heroes in Transition

The Cape Needs Its River Herring

Mon, 05 May 2025 20:49:47 GMT

The annual herring run is underway. Find out why river herring are such a big deal for Cape Cod.

"I want people to understand that it's such an important part of Cape Cod's cultural history. People used to go hunting, shell fishing, fishing from the shoreline catching river herring and that feature is somewhat fading at least in some people's memories. Some people just don't have that experience, so they don't appreciate that going out to get these fish was an important part of the Cape Cod experience."

— Brad Chase, Diadromous Fish Project Leader, Division of Marine Fisheries

What is a herring run?

22.APRIL.2025 — CAPE COD, MA — The river herring run is well underway on Cape Cod. River herring—comprising of two species; alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis)—are small, migratory fish with deep ecological significance on Cape Cod. Every spring, these fish return from the Atlantic Ocean to the freshwater rivers and streams of Cape Cod to spawn, a journey known as the herring run . This spectacular migration typically peaks from late March through May and draws attention from locals and nature enthusiasts alike.

In this 12-minute short documentary, Lower Cape TV’s Coast & Climate reporter, Angela McNerney sat down with Brad Chase, the diadromous fish project leader for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to discuss these unique fish and their spring dance.

What is the spring migration?

Warming water temperatures trigger the spring migration . Adult river herring respond the the environmental cues and navigate upstream through fish ladders and natural channels to reach their natal spawning grounds in freshwater ponds and lakes. After spawning, the adults return to the ocean, while the young remain in the freshwater systems until they are strong enough to head out to sea in the fall.

Why do river herring matter?

Ecologically, river herring are keystone species in both marine and freshwater food webs. This means they serve as a critical food source for a wide range of predators, including striped bass, osprey, herons, seals, and larger fish like tuna. Additionally, their spawning migrations help cycle ocean nutrients into inland ecosystems, enriching freshwater environments.

On Cape Cod, conservation efforts are underway to restore herring populations, which have declined significantly due to overfishing, habitat loss, and physical barriers to migration. Many local communities and organizations monitor herring runs and work to maintain or restore stream connectivity to support this vital part of the region’s natural heritage.

Ballot Questions Seek to Stop Radioactive Release

Mon, 05 May 2025 20:49:42 GMT

Ballot questions in Cape Cod towns this month, if approved by voters, will urge the governor to stop radioactive water evaporation over Cape Cod Bay.

The issues become its impact around our economy. Tourism and marketability of our region is how we sustain ourselves economically ...

Dylan Fernandes, MA State Senator/ Plymouth-Barnstable

What is happening with Holtec?

Why is water evaporating?

What is on the local ballot?

In Orleans, for example, the ballot question concludes:

Is the water harmful?

Holtec says the radioactive levels show no harm, but not everyone agrees. Some opponents cite public health while others point to potential environmental and economic impacts.

What economic impact could this have?

Cleaning Orleans For Our Future

Sat, 03 May 2025 16:42:11 GMT

2 May, 2025 – ORLEANS, MA – What better day to spring clean Orleans beaches than Earth Day? The Orleans Pond Coalition and the Surfrider Foundation gathered over 50 volunteers to get our ponds and landings summer ready. Students and members of the award-winning Green Club at the Nauset Regional High School where at Nauset Beach to connect with the community.

"We do a ton of stuff within our school and the community. all things environmental. So we run a lot of beach cleanups ... Everyone in this club really wants to actually make a difference."

Faye Adams

Member, The Green Club, Nauset Regional High School

Are Orleans' beaches clean?

Trash travel far, Eric Spengler has seen it first hand on the Orleans Pond Coalition's annual beach cleanups. Every April the Coalition celebrates Earth Day by inviting the public to clean the most visited beaches and landings in town. Spengler, who has been Chair for the Coalition for four years, says the most unusual trash he has found had blown all the was from Boston to Lower Cape Cod.

I found that there was a lot of debris that was from a construction site in the Boston Harbor that ended up on our beaches here about three years ago," Spengler said. "And that was from the Seaport area. And to see that material like that can travel so far, I thought was extraordinarily impressive."

Earth Day 2025 was Tuesday 22 April, but the Coalition waited for the weekend to gather as many volunteers as possible. Saturday 26 April over 50 volunteers came to the meeting point at Nauset Beach to pick up tongs, buckets and bags to pick up trash at beaches such as Priscilla Landing, Crystal Lake and Skaket Beach.

Who are the Surfrider Foundation?

For the second year in a row Surfrider Foundation was collaborating with the Coalition to audit the volunteers' findings. Murali Sastry, Chair for the Cape Cod chapter , was on site.

"We categorize and log all of the items that have collected on the beach, whether it's plastics, bottles, cans. And what we do is we input that into our national database and we provide that to our corporate entity , which is located in California," said Sastry.

The data is used to lobby for policy reform at a federal level, but Sastry said it is at the local level they really see changes. Every year the Surfrider organize the Hill Day where they meet with state and federal local representatives for plastic regulations .

"And by doing that, we're at least educating not only congressmen and local representatives in terms of the impact that this trash collection has on our local communities, but not only the environmental aspect of it, but the health aspect of it to help them develop legislation to support some of these initiatives at the grassroots level,"

2 May, 2025 – ORLEANS, MA – What better day to spring clean Orleans beaches than Earth Day? The Orleans Pond Coalition and the Surfrider Foundation gathered over 50 volunteers to get our ponds and landings summer ready. Students and members of the award-winning Green Club at the Nauset Regional High School where at Nauset Beach to connect with the community.

Arts Weaving Orleans Together

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 02:03:43 GMT

25 April, 2025 – ORLEANS, MA – Nine days filled with poetry, theater. live art installations, exhibits, music and workshops. Orleans Cultural District wants there to be something for everyone during Arts Week Orleans.

"We try to bring things to the town that further the mission of culture and art, but also further influx of revenue to the town."

JoAnn Del Negro

Chair, Arts Week Orleans

What is Arts Week Orleans?

Arts Week Orleans from 18 to 26 April is jam packed with exhibitions, tours, concerts, poetry and workshops. This year is the second time Orleans Cultural District is organizing the event. JoAnn Del Negro, Chair of Arts Week Orleans says they deliberately aimed for as broad of a repertoar as possible. She says most of the workshops have been sold out.

"It's been wonderful. The community has just been so giving and thrilled really," Del Negro says.

And speaking of community, on the village green Orleans Eco Art has decorated the trees with bracelets, and surrounded by them is Sarah Thornington from Yarmouth. Thornington describes herself as an artivist, saying she uses her art as activism. She invites the community to come to the green to help weave local current history, one piece of marine debris at a time.

"I just wanted to have an event where t he community could get together and weave, kind of like an old time sort of quilting bee w here people come together, they create a little art, t hey talk," says Thornington.

"But in this case, what we're weaving with is all marine debris, all things that have been picked up off of our local beaches . In the times that we're living in, I think one of the most important things that we can do is to come together as a community. "

What is the Orleans Cultural District?

The Cultural District aims to bring culture and art to Orleans and support creative businesses. Many people feel that art events cultivates a sense of community pride, according to a study by the research organization Americans for the Arts. Such events generated almost $30 billion

in taxes to communities across the US in 2022. Attendees also tend to go out to restaurants and shop at local stores, contributing to the local economy.

"We chose this week specifically, it was a jam packed week because it was Easter, it was Patriots Day, Earth Day, and school vacation. We knew families would be here, we knew grandparents were having their grandkids here," says Del Negro.

"By doing that we'd also be bringing businesses traffic. So we try to bring things to the town that further the mission of culture and art, but also further influx of revenue to the town.

On Saturday, April 26th, Art Week Orleans goes out with a slam.

"We are ending the entire week's events with what we call the story slam . It's from The Mosquito , which is created in P-Town by Vanessa Vartabedian," says Del Negro.

"And you get to stand up if you have a true story. Five minutes, no notes. And our theme is Fresh Starts and New Awakenings. So you can take that theme any way you'd like to. And that's gonna be at the Town Cove Tap House, which is the greenhouse section of Snow's. And we're gonna have food truck there. So that'll be a really fun event from seven to nine."

You may also like:

Sarah Thornington's Marine Debris Art

For More Information:

Arts Week Orleans

Human Trafficking Charges Increase By 700 Percent On Cape And Islands

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:54:19 GMT

Human trafficking is far from new on Cape Cod, yet court charges increased by almost 700 per cent in the Cape and Islands' Superior and District courts between 2023 and 2024. The DA Robert Galibois attributes it to the past year's focus and cross-region collaborations on tackling the crime. Last week, a state-wide human trafficking conference gathered survivors, law enforcement and the hospitality industry to go from awareness to action.

"We brought 321 charges in 2024 ... I don't say this for shock value. It's not like the Cape and Islands has an outbreak, if you will, in human trafficking ... but we are now starting to put a focus on it, and because of that, we're seeing the docket grow."

Robert Galibois

Cape and Islands District Attorney

What is human trafficking?

On April 10th and 11th the Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office held a state wide conference on human trafficking. Through a state-funded grant, the District Attorney Rpbert Galibois invited almost 200 attendees to the Emerald resort and conference center in Hyannis. At the conference, called "From Awareness To Action," the 38 speakers included sex trafficking survivors, representatives from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney General’s office. We spoke with DA Galibois a few days after the conference.

"Our goal was to try to pull together certainly those that work in law enforcement,
but also those that work in the hospitality industry, the transportation industry. And I believe we may have had some secondary educators there as well," said DA Galibois.

Is there human trafficking on Cape Cod?

In January 2024 the DA received a grant of $97,000 earmarked to combat human trafficking on Cape Cod and the islands. A portion of the money went to train hospitality staff in recognizing signs of human trafficking.

"It's a little more challenging in our area than other parts of both Massachusetts and across the country, because a lot of our motels, hotels are independent owners as opposed to chains," said DA Galibois.

"So we are trying to get the message out there to our hospitality folks, and in particular hotel and motel owners. But because of the nature of the industry down this way it involves a little more work to get the word out.

What does human trafficking look like on Cape Cod?

It’s been a little over a year since the DA started focusing on human trafficking on Cape Cod. The subject had never been on his radar until Cape Cod PATH (People Against Trafficking Humans) invited Robert Galibois and Orleans' Police Chief Scott McDonald to PATH's annual human trafficking awareness event. It was an eye-opening experience after which the DA put together a region-wide human trafficking task force group as well as a human trafficking unit within his office. No one that LCTV spoke with a year ago could tell how wide-spread human trafficking was on Cape Cod, so what has the DA learned about the subject since then?

"What I know today is there is a ground swelling of support amongst a whole bunch
of stakeholders in our community. And we've been fortunate to grow our relationships with those stakeholders to be out there promoting social awareness," said DA Galibois.

"I've also gotten to know that law enforcement truly does care about this issue, and they are dedicating the resources within their various circles to target perpetrators so we can prosecute the offenders."

How widespread is human trafficking on Cape Cod?

Between 2022 and 2023 the number of human trafficking charges on the Cape and Islands increased by 31 per cent. In 2020 there were zero human trafficking charges, in 2021 there were seven, in 2022 there were 21 charges and in 2023 there were 41. According to the DA’s annual report , last year there were a total of 321 human trafficking charges. It’s important to note that one defendant in one trial can have several different charges in one case. For example there would be a separate charge for each person the perpetrator has trafficked. The number of charges does not indicate how many human trafficking cases or prosecutions there have been on the Cape and Islands.

"I don't say this for shock value. It's not like the Cape and Islands has an outbreak, if you will, in human trafficking. It's going on everywhere, but we are now starting to put a focus on it, and because of that, we're seeing the docket grow."

The DA is planning to apply for another grant to further increase resources to carry through more human trafficking prosecutions. Labor trafficking is prevalent on Cape Cod, especially during the tourist season, which the DA would like to focus more on.

"We're just starting to exhale, the conference was just last week. We wanna go back and review what were the pros and cons of doing this conference?" said DA Galibois.

"I definitely think it was a lot more pros, but we are gonna gather in the next few weeks to say, okay, time to regroup and what are we looking to do for next year?"

Watch the Video NewsReport

Scroll up to watch the video to watch "Hundreds Attend Human Trafficking Conference."
Or click here .

For more information

Truro Finally Breaks Ground on Cloverleaf Rental Housing

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:51:52 GMT

Almost a decade in the making, new rentals in Truro move forward.

This is about giving workers hope they can live where they work or live close where they work, its about creating space for families to grow not just visit ...

Julian Cyr, MA State Senator, Cape & Islands

What is happening with housing in Truro?

18 April 2025 - TRURO, MA - A nearly-decade long process to create affordable rental housing in Truro finally broke ground this week. The 43-apartment project with a mix of affordable and market rate units expects to be open for renters by the end of 2026, according to Truro’s acting town manager Kelly Clark.

Why are the rental units needed?

“This project really matters,” said State Sen, Julian Cyr who grew up in Truro. He noted that a household needs to make more than $240,000 a year to afford a home in the town.

Like most of the Cape, Truro has limited year round housing for low to moderate income people. According to the Cape Cod Commission’s Housing Report, the 2023 median sales price of a home in Truro was $830,000. The vast majority of housing – 67% according to the same report – is used for seasonal/recreational/occasional use and only 1.9% of the housing stock is accessible to low-to-moderate income household, far below the state’s recommended 10%.

"This is about giving workers hope that they can live where they work, or close to where they work,” Cyr added.

How long has the project been doing on?

In 2017, after years of work, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts turned over unused state land near Rt 6 to the town for express purpose of developing affordable housing. Since then, the project weathered a pandemic, a lawsuit, and other bumps in the road. This month’s ground breaking marks the project’s movement from planning to construction.

Acting town manager Kelly said the town is now celebrating the project moving forward - and sees it as an example of what is to come with the proposed housing work at the so-called Walsh property next up in the housing queue.

For more information:

Cape Cod Commission Housing Profile: Truro

Town of Truro Cloverleaf information .pdf

2017 Deed signing ceremony - full ceremony

Lower Cape TV reporting on the state deed transfer in 2017

https://vimeo.com/689831507

Cold Brook Preserved Gets Excellence in Conservation Award

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:46:46 GMT

Mass Land Trust Coalition gives nod to Harwich restoration project.

"We kept our focus, we kept concentrating on this ..."

Tom Evans, Conservation Trustees President

What was the 2025 Excellence in Conservation award?

08 April 2024 - HARWICH, MA - The Harwich Conservation Trust received the prestigious Excellence in Conservation award from the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition in recognition of its transformative Robert F. Smith Coldbrook Eco Restoration Project. This initiative, spanning over a decade, successfully revitalized a once-overgrown cranberry bog into a thriving ecological habitat. The central focus of the project was the restoration of Cold Brook, a crucial local waterway, as well as the improvement of regional water quality through the reduction of nitrogen pollution.

What made the project successful?

The project's success was largely driven by a combination of innovative engineering solutions by award winning Inter-Fluve and strong community involvement. Through strategic planning and collaboration, the Trust navigated environmental challenges and implemented sustainable restoration techniques. These efforts not only brought new life to the ecosystem but also contributed to broader environmental goals, such as improved groundwater health and enhanced biodiversity.

Trust Executive Director, Michael Lach says the recognition of this project highlights the powerful role grassroots organizations can play in environmental stewardship. He said the Harwich Conservation Trust's achievement serves as a model for how local action, informed by science and supported by community engagement, can lead to meaningful environmental change and receiving the award underscores the long-term value of investing in nature-based solutions and preserving ecological integrity for future generations.

You might also like ... Profile on the Cold Brook Restoration Project (January 2024)

https://vimeo.com/899869297

New Paragraph

Ten Rs Can Change the Planet

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 15:59:24 GMT

Looking at waste reduction and the role individuals can play on this Earth Day and Earth Month 2025.

We The People have power, we have power, and we need to use our power for the good of the environment.

Meg Morris, Chair, Brewster Waste Reduction and Recycling Commission

Can individuals make a difference for Earth Day?

18 April, 2025 – BREWSTER, MA - At its 55th Anniversary this year, Earth Day continues to remind us to pause and consider how we treat our little blue marble of a planet – and drives awareness and action from Cape Cod to the entire globe.

In Brewster, the renamed Waste Reduction and Recycling Commission says one aspect of care for our planet lies in reducing waste in all its forms -- and this type of small but vital activity represents an aspect of environmental care where individual actions do make a difference.

What is Earth Day?

At the inaugural Earth Day in April 1970 an estimated 20 million people nationwide responded to the call to fight for environmental causes and oppose environmental degradation – this year, EarthDay.org https://www.earthday.org/ says it expects more than 1 billion people world wide to mobilize to champion the health of our shared planet Earth.

Meg Morris, Chair of Brewster’s newly renamed Waste Reduction and Recycling Commission says that locally on Cape Cod her commission and others in the region are taking this month to reflect on how every individuals make a difference, by rethinking and responding to the growing waste-stream of plastics and other materials we pour into our planet.

What role does waste play in the environment?

“A couple yours ago we started getting more intense about waste reduction, we got into composting, we got into bottle bans thing like that -- all those things reduce waste. And it finally occurred to us that people didn’t understand, they just thought were all about recycling so we decided to put it in our name, that we are the Waste Reduction and Recycling Commission” she added.

The name change – a move away from the generic recycling committee of old - represents part of a larger message about care of our planet and its work to focus on one aspect of environmental care where individual choice can make a difference.

How are the “Rs” changing?

The words “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” ring out in song and in the collective mindset, but Morris says they tell only one part of the story. While Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle still matter, today they’ve been joined by handful of new Rs, like refuse and regift – with recycle itself coming in at the end, as number 10.

What are the new “Rs”?

The new list being with Rethink , which Morris describes as a call to action to rethink what and how we consume, as well as the power of each individual decision.

The next R, Refuse , asks us to take what need. Do we need a plastic straw? Do we need a shopping bag for one single item? Refill encourages people to refill existing containers rather than generating new waste with an endless stream of new containers. Together, these actions focus the effort on Reduce , so that we have less waste from the beginning.

Cousins Repurpose and Regift say we can find other uses for items, rather than discarding them and that items often have another home. Repair reminds individuals that items don’t need to automatically tossed and often can be fixed for continued use.

The value of Rot

With an estimated 30% of the waste stream taking the form of organic material, like food scraps, the concept of Rot has really taken root. Home composters and municipal compost stations offer a path for organic waste to leave the trash and transfigure into soil amending gold.

Finally, Recycle

Then, at the end of list – after all other options – comes Recycle , as a last (but still important) resort.

These steps might seem like small decisions points, but collectively – said Morris – they make a real difference and a difference that each individual has the power to enact.

“We The People have power,” she said. “We have power, and we need to use our power for the good of the environment.”

For more information:

Earth Day.org website

This day in history, Library of Congress, April 22

Town of Brewster Waste Reduction and Recycling Commission

Plunging For Teen Addiction

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 02:59:53 GMT

11 April, 2025 – HARWICH, MA – From November through April the Atlantic's freezing waters harvest more than fish. Behavioral Health Innovators challenges winter dippers to raise funds for teens with substance use challenges. One of the dippers is Janis McGrory in Harwich, who lost her daughter Liz to the opioid crisis. Janis says the image of who an addict is needs to change.

"People's vision is a bum in an alley in New York City. That's an addict. So when I look at my daughter's picture and I speak about this, I say, 'no ... that girl right there is your addict.'"

Janice McGrory

Winter Dipper & Board Member, BHI

What Is Cold Plunging?

It's the fourth winter that Janis McGrory is cold plunging in the Atlantic. She has completed 71 winter dips in celebration of her daughter's life. Every 6 January, the date her daughter died, Janis invites others to undress in the freezing temperatures and brave the waters. All in the name of love and fundraising to support teens with substance use challenges.

"First of all it's honoring... I think about Liz." says Janis. " It's just so cold,And as somebody once told me, going into that cold water is very hard to do, it's a challenge. Just like perhaps staying clean and being in recovery."

What Is Substance Use Disorder?

Early January on Cape Cod means pelting, biting winds. Janis has a bath towel around her waist, her legs are red from the cold. She puts her shoes next to a big placard with her daughter's picture. A young woman with long blond hair, smiling at the camera, a dimple on her left cheek. "Elizabeth LeFort" is written above the picture, "4-7-1987 to 1-6-2011" under it.

Around 20 people have gathered on the beach in Harwich. The dippers stand out with their bright pink hats. Before walking out into the water, Janis thanks everyone for coming. As if to instill courage in the dippers she tells them about the mission and about Behavioral Health Innovators, the nonprofit behind the fundraising. BHI fills a gap in resources for young people on Cape Cod struggling with substance use. The nonprofit has preventive and interventive programs in 17 Cape Cod high schools and middle schools.

"We don't have many programs like that on the Cape," Janis tells the small crowd. "So this is really a worthy cause. If Liz perhaps had a program like that when she was going through this in high school, then she might be dipping with us."

Who Is A Drug Addict?

There is another incentive awaiting the dippers – in Janis' kitchen there is a big pot of chowder simmering, waiting to be shared by the group.

In Janis' and her husband's house Liz is everywhere. She is one of the first faces you lay your eyes on in a collection of photo frames on a table by the front door. Always smiling, hugging her mom, her sister. She looks like any teenager, she looks happy. "She is high in this photo," says Janis and points to one of the frames. "This is at the sober house, we were visiting her."

Liz was a cheerleader, she graduated 10th in her class in high school, she was a soccer player, she was on National Honor Society, she played basketball. She was liked by her friends.

"She was one that you would never think would get involved in
substances, and she did," Janis says. "She always thought that she could quit and she said, 'mom, I'll never be that person.' And she became that person who ended up living on the street, who ended up in many, many detoxes and recovery homes. The drug was bigger than she was. The drug owned Liz. Liz no longer had control of her own life."

Drugs has an especially hard grip on teenagers. Liz's drug of choice was opioids. Janis believes her daughter started using in junior high. By the time Liz graduated she was using heroin.

"She had a presidential scholarship to college. I deferred that until she was clean, till when I thought she was clean, but she was never clean. And then she went to school for one semester. She was on the dean's list while she was using drugs," Janis says. "Then she kind of disappeared."

Liz got involved with someone. Her parents did not know where she was.

"And then from that point on, she never came home," Janis says.

Is There Help For Substance Use Challenges?

Liz tried to get help, but during the second wave of the opioid crisis around 2010 there were a lot of gaps in substance related services for young people on Cape Cod.

"One being that when Liz wanted to go into detox, she had to be high to get into detox. So we had to get her drugs so she could get high and then they would accept her into a detox program," Janis says.

"And the detox would typically be five days because that's what insurance covered."

BHI collects data in clinical assessments of students enrolling in their programs. Stephanie Briody, CEO, says BHI sees substance use among kids as young as fifth graders. So far 292 teens have come through BHI's high school program. A total of 61 percent had substance use problems, 84 percent had mental health challenges and 61 percent showed signs of both. Of the 31 middle schoolers who have finished the program 25 percent had substance use challenges. For Stephanie the correlation between young people's substance use and mental health is clear.

"I think really the substance use primarily shows up as self-medicating
and really the kind of the tail of the dog rather than the dog anymore," Stephanie says.

Lana Atamian was one of them. She describes a kind of social anxiety dominating her self-image as a teenager.

"I always felt like a sense of dis-ease with myself.I always felt like I was comparing myself to other people around me. You know, that sense of just like uncomfortability with myself," Lana says.

"And when I did that drug that day, I walked into school like everyone was my friend that day. I was like smiling and waving to everybody."

Lana had never tried alcohol or drugs up until two months before her 16th birthday. She was into sports, poetry and dancing. She had a crush on a kind boy. One morning at the back of the school bus she tried opioids, painkillers, with him. She instantly thought, was this what she had been missing?

Can You Get Sober From Drugs?

Lana couldn't self identify with the image of drugs the adult world portrayed. She did not get addicted immediately, and she did not experience withdrawal. The painkiller she took on the school bus came from her mom's toilet cabinet prescribed by a doctor. Lana says she did not think that could be dangerous, it seemed safe.

"It's a progressive disease and that's what they should tell you. They should tell you you're gonna like it and you're gonna wanna do it again. And you might do it a couple hundred times before it turns into your life. But they don't tell you that," she says.

Two months later she tried heroin for the first time. But it wasn't until her last year of college that she realized she couldn't stop and that she needed help. Her mom had kicked her out of the house, she was working at a strip club, she overdosed around four or five times, until "something clicked" and she decided the last time was the last time.

"I'm going into sober houses. I wanna be clear, I didn't go to treatment," Lana says.

Just like Liz, Lana's insurance did not cover detox programs. Lana went in and out of sober houses, staying clean for a couple of months at a time before relapsing.

"I just had like a moment of clarity. (...) Every time since the first time I came to recovery, using got harder. When you have a little bit of recovery, you do have like a little bit of wow, there really is some hope.
If I really wanna stop, maybe I could do this thing."

Today Lana has been in recovery for 11 years. She has opened her own sober houses for women and girls on Cape Cod.

"You never think the first time that you're going to use that you're going to be that person, right? No one aspires to be a drug addict or alcoholic, right? None of us planned on it. Nobody actually wrote that in our yearbook," Lana says.

"A lot of people think that drug dealers are like, you gotta go to the corner and go and get your drugs," she says. "That's not where people get their drugs from the first time. You get your drugs from the first time from your friends.

Janis also wants to change that stigma, denial and stereotyping.

"People's vision is a bum in an alley in New York City. That's an addict," Janis says. "So when I look at my daughter's picture and I speak about this, I say, 'no, that is your addict today. That girl right there is your addict.'"

For More Information

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Plunging For Teen Addiction" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Soup Bowls Return to Combat Cape's Food Insecurity

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 21:20:20 GMT

Iconic fundraiser to combat hunger on Cape Cod brings together community at Cape Cod Tech.

"There is a woman I met last year that had been to every single one of them and had one huge hutch with nothing but the bowls from all the years of soup bowls...."

Christine Menard, Executive Director, The Food Pantry of Cape Cod

What is Soup Bowls for Hunger?

10 April 2025 - HARWICH, MA - The Cape's iconic Soup Bowls for Hunger returned with its strong collaboration between the Cape Cod Potters, Cape Cod Tech School, and The Family Pantry. For almost four decades, this annual event brings the community together to eat soup from handmade bowls to help support the work of The Family Pantry.

How Does Soup Bowls for Hunger Work?

All year long, the Cape Cod Potters create small soup bowls. Students at Cape Cod Tech culinary program prepare and serve soup and bread. Attendees select a bowl and enjoy soup bread, and fellowship and then take the bowl home with them.

Is there Hunger on Cape Cod?

The Family Pantry's executive director Christine Menard says that food insecurity on Cape Cod is an issue that has continued to grow over the decades. This year, she said, has seen growing demand. The Soup Bows for Hunger fundraiser raises both awareness about and funds to help combat hunger on Cape Cod.

New Paragraph

Thousands Support Local Economy At Meet The Farmers

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 16:31:27 GMT

4 April, 2025 – HARWICH, MA – After a post-pandemic hiatus, Meet The Farmers gathered visitors and animals alike in Harwich for all things local. But what is the state of agriculture on Cape Cod today, and how do our farmers impact the local economy?

"A lot of farmers donate to local programs, local food pantries. We can help keep our food system strong and healthy by supporting farmers and then also support them in all the good work they do for our community."

Tara Racine, Buy Fresh Buy Local

What Is Meet The Farmers?

Smooth honey, crisp produce, seafood fresh from the Atlantic and pasture raised meat made their way from farm to table through 40 vendors and almost 2000 visitors at Meet The Farmers, in Harwich Community Center, 29 March.

"We really do still have farming on Cape Cod," says Gretel Norgeot, President of the Orleans' Farmers' Market and co-organizer of Meet The Farmers.

"It's the start of the season for a lot of the markets, and it gets people in the mood, I think for shopping local."

Buying food straight from the farmers strengthens not only nutritional health but boosts local economy. Norgeot says Orleans' Farmers' Market has acted as an incubator for new businesses, wanting to try the state of demand for their products before going full scale.

"Over the last 30 Years since 1994, we've had over 130 different farm businesses go through the farmer's market," says Norgeot. "A lot of the farms were much smaller then, but because of the people shopping and the demand, it increases their business."

Is Farmers Markets Important?

Agriculture has deep roots on Cape Cod, with its signature crops such as Falmouth strawberries and Eastham turnip. What do our farmers mean for the regional economy today? Francie Randolph, Founding Director of the nonprofit Sustainable Cape explains how buying local food trickles down into our towns.

"When we have a farmers' market in a town center, there's something called the economic boost. So it draws a lot of people there and all of the surrounding businesses get a bump in that day," says Randolph. "So for instance at the Truro Farmers' Market, we know that there's a local store right adjacent to the market – that store considers our Monday just like a weekend day. The sales are measured with a Saturday and a Sunday. So now we've brought increased business to the surrounding businesses just by being there."

Cape Cod's agriculture also means better food security. Francie Randolph says there 20,000 Cape Codders experience food insecurity, the majority of them are children.

How Many Farms Do Cape Cod Have?

There are 349 land farms and 241 aquaculture farms on Cape Cod, according to 2022 census. A third of Cape Cod’s 600 farmers are women. The land farms make up seven percent of the state's agricultural sale. Between 2017 and 2022 Cape Cod had an increase of nine new farms, but the acres of farmland decreased by 40%

Agriculture drives regional economy substantially, according to Tara Racine, Program Coordinator for Buy Fresh Buy Local by Barnstable County.

"A lot of farmers donate to local programs, local food pantries. We can help keep our food system strong and healthy by supporting farmers and then also support them in all the good work they do for our community," Racine says.

"The state of Massachusetts defines aquaculture also as being part of agriculture. (...) It's an important part of our economy and brings millions of dollars to the state agricultural economy as well. I know that statewide it's over 600 million in agricultural goods in the value of agricultural goods. And then in Barnstable County alone,
it's 400 million annually, so a lot of our economy is driven by our food production."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Thousands Support Local Economy At Meet The Farmers" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Cut That Knotweed!

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:42:36 GMT

Invasive plants threaten local ecosystems, but gardeners can fight back.

What we're talking about is non-native to New England, plants that were here after the European settlement.

Erik Sechler, Ecologist, Native Plant Trust

What are invasive plants?

04 April 2025 - BREWSTER, MA - They came, thrived, and now home gardeners might be the best line of defense. The Native Plant Trust shared the habits and habits of the region's most invasive species with more than a hundred gardeners and conversationists in Brewster this week.

Native Plant Trust's Erik Sechler defines invasive species at plants introduced after European settlement, plants not native to the region, and plants which thrive at the expense of other native plants.

Why does controlling invasive plants matter?

Gardeners can fight back, said Sechler. Japanese Knotweed is one example of an invasive, he said, to widespread insider laughter as he asked how widespread it was on the Cape. Hint: it is very widespread and very invasive.

While it can seem overwhelming, gardeners can work to manage invasive plants. This matters because invasive plants will change the chemistry of the soil, drive out native plants, impact pollinators and birds, and essentially change the ecological balance.

To cut or not to cut?

Cut, definitely cut, according to Sechler. "If you do only only one cutting and mowing a season that does not help," he said. "If you really want to control and knock back the species, what you're doing is trying knock its ability to photosynthesize by removing leafy material .... knock it back, it comes again, knock it back. Every time you do that it starts to lose its momentum and starts to give up. It's a lot of work but it can be successful."

For more information

Visit Native Plant Trust website

Watch full presentation:

https://vimeo.com/1072531592

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Lease to Locals" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Fishway Opens for Incoming Herring

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 21:35:41 GMT

Brewster welcomes herring and finds an historic sluice-way

"Just in the first year we've housed 55 people..."

Alex Morse, Provincetown Town Manager

What is happening at the Stony Brook herring run?

04 April, 2025 - BREWSTER, MA - Migratory herring will have an easier time returning home to Brewster's Herring Rive this year, as the town completes work on the herring run. According to the Brewster's Natural Resources Director Chris Miller, the town completed work on four weirs in time for this year's piscine visits. He said the remainder should be completed this fall.

What is the town repairing?

The project's focus lies in enhancing fish passage for the herring, which migrate from the salt water back to their freshwater spawning place to themselves spawn. The infrastructure helps the fish move upstream and return to their ancestral home.

The larger project also shored up a 100-plus year old retaining walls and walks. Miller expects trails and walkways to be open by summer.

What caused a delay?

Along the way, workers uncovered a previously-unknown wooden sluice-way under the pond. It's discovery was shared with the Mass Historical Commission as part of a process triggered by archeological finds. The current historical mill, which still grinds corn, is likey the fourth or fifth mill at Stony Brook.

According the Miller, early European settlers saw the elevation of the site as unique on the Cape and in 1600s had already developed the first of what would be multiple different mills there. The wooden sluice-way was a forgotten artifact of one of these many mills.

When will the project complete?

The town says that the project should be complete by late fall, with walking trailing reopening this summer.

For more information:

Stony Brook Gristmill

Alewife Committee in Brewster

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Lease to Locals" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Meals-On-Wheels Delivers More Than Just Food

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:41:32 GMT

31 March, 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – Meals-On-Wheels is a life save for its senior recipients, who often live alone. So far federal funding cuts have had minimal impact on Cape Cod's programs for seniors and vulnerable people, but what do our representatives anticipate?

14% of Massachusetts' seniors experience limited or uncertain access to adequate food, and that seniors make up a fourth of the state's population – 25% of them live alone ...

Meals-On-Wheels America

What Is Senior Nutrition?

March is National Nutrition Month, and good nutrition is a pillar in being able to age at home. Meals-On-Wheels America, funded 1954, delivers ready meals to more than 2 million seniors across the us. Targeting senior hunger, the program is about more than food.

"One guy said it's a lifesaver for him because he is stuck in his house. He says 'if it wasn't for this I either couldn't stay here, or I wouldn't have any food." says Mark Kelleher, volunteer driver for Meals-On-Wheels in Harwich.

Mark has just returned from today's route to the kitchen at Harwich Community Center where the meals are delivered from. He has been a volunteer driver for three years. Once a week he delivers to 20 Harwich seniors. On 19 March he had two passengers in his car; State Sen. Julian Cyr and Representative Hadley Luddy came along for the ride.

Are Funding Cuts Impacting Seniors?

"The Meals-On-Wheels line item is something that I've championed in the Senate budget," says Sen. Cyr. "So we know how critical this program is. We're facing strong headwinds. We're worried about federal cuts to a whole host of services that provide essential care to older adults and a whole host of vulnerable people."

The regional aging services access point, Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands say almost 2,500 Cape Codders received Meals-On-Wheels last year. This year, ESCCI believe they will serve 390,000 meals, an increase of 100,000 compared with 2019. They're also anticipating a budget deficit of $3 million for the fiscal year 2025. About 95% of their budget comes from federal funding, some comes from donations. The rest is a small reserve to cover delays in reimbursements. ESCCI states very hard decisions would have to be made if heavy funding cuts would become a reality.

"I feel like everything is on the line right now, so it's a really critical time to speak up and especially for seniors to speak up about their needs and make sure that we're not cutting services for people that are trying to age in place," says Rep. Luddy.

"We're really proud of Massachusetts for the system we've been able to build," adds Sen. Cyr. "We gotta work to strengthen it, of course. But what's being talked about at the federal level is simply catastrophic.

Can the state fill federal funding gaps?

Sen. Cyr says that would be impossible. "There's no way that Massachusetts will be able to fill these funding gaps. Massachusetts receives over $16 billion in our budget from the federal government, we just don't have the resources to fill it," he says.

According to data from the Cape Cod Commission, the population on the Outer and Lower Cape is significantly older than the region and the state, "ranging from 17 to 23 years older than the state median age." Meals-On-Wheels states that 14% of Massachusetts' seniors experience limited or uncertain access to adequate food, and that seniors make up a fourth of the state's population – 25% of them live alone. One of them is 79-year old David Ricketts in Wellfleet

"I get vegetarian meals, so it's allowed me to continue to eat well. I can do some shopping for myself, but it's t is not easy. So this is a life save," David says.

David was a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels for several decades, first in New York 1978, following volunteering in Wellfleet and Truro, before finding himself in need of the service in 2017.

"So I saw the effectiveness in a rural area like Truro and Wellfleet," he says. "You become friends with the people you deliver to, just as I become friends with the drivers here."

In rural upstate New York in the 70s and 80s houses were few and far between. "So I saw it firsthand where people living on their own back in the woods," David says. "And I've walked in to houses where people have been on the floor and I'm the first person who saw them since they fell out of bed that night."

How Is Home Delivered Food A Life Save?

Because of prostate cancer and three fractured vertebrae, David relies on home delivered food for all of his meals. Federal funding cuts is something he thinks about often.

"I worry for everybody," he says. "I think it's something that should be an automatic obligation of a society, that you take care of those people who are less fortunate than, for whatever reason."

When asked what they would like to say to vulnerable Cape Codders worried about funding cuts, Rep. Luddy answered:

"I guess I'd say we're all extremely worried, and that it's a really serious time, and we're doing everything that we certainly can on the state level. And I think it's really time for our community members to be coming together to also look at every possible way in which we either can reinforce our safety nets or find alternative ways of doing things if we do face cuts," she says.

"But it's hard to minimize the seriousness of the situation that we're facing."

How Will Funding Cuts Impact Meals-On-Wheels?

Meals On Wheels is growing with wait lists on Mid and Lower Cape. On March 27th the US Department of Health and Human Services announced a "reorganization of the Administration for Community Living." Its programs, which include home delivered meals, will be split across other agencies. ESCCI states "at this time [the government is] saying that the changes will not affect the delivery of services, but that could change. While we don't know what will happen with the government funding over the coming months, we do know community support and awareness will be critical in enabling ESCCI manage any disruptions of services that are essential to all of us who are aging on the Cape and Islands.

Scroll up to watch "Meals-On-Wheels Delivers More Than Food" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Portraits of Cape Artists: Grace Hopkins

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 00:06:21 GMT

In this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists, Wellfleet artist Grace Hopkins explains how abstract snapshots become abstract art.

"I really loves the square, I've always done squares. ...”

Grace Hopkins

Artist

Portraits of Cape Artists: Grace Hopkins

25 MARCH 2025 -- WELLFLEET, MA -- Grace Hopkins travels the world to capture abstract images and reproduces them in various mediums - from canvas to glass, emphasizing color, form, and composition. Her unedited photographs reflect spontaneity and are influenced by her travels and Quakerism, seeking layers and depth.

Scroll up to watch the this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists: Marian Roth

Scroll up to watch this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists in which Marian Roth shares how she creates the concept of village. Or click HERE to open it in a new window.

You Might Also Like ...

Check out the full collection of Portraits of Cape Artists at Lower Cape TV's ArtsLight.org

Three Projects, Three Approaches to Orleans Housing

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 23:45:13 GMT

After years of effort Orleans gets ready to go live with its housing efforts

"The cost of housing in most communities on the Outer Cape is in excess of a million dollars - in terms of median home price - and that takes a household income of over $300,000 in order to afford that kind of housing. We have this huge gap. And what we call that is attainable housing. "

Jay Coburn, CEO Community Development Partnership

What is Orleans doing for affordable housing?

28 March 2025 - ORLEANS, MA - This spring Orleans will see years of planning work becoming newly-opened housing at two different locations in town, bringing 74 affordable housing units to the market, while a third project makes continued progress on the "missing middle.

This month the lottery for the West Road apartments has opened, the 107 Main St is close to opening, and the former Governor Prence Inn continues moving forward.

When are West Road apartments and townhouses available?

Over on West Road, at the former site of the Cape Cod Five headquarters and next to the Shaw's plaza, 62 units of housing are opening. People earning 80%, 60% and 30% of the average income on the Cape can apply to the lotter for an apartment or townhome. Penrose Properties developed the project and full information about income guidelines, units rents, and the lottery application process appear on the Orleans website.

What is happening a 101 Main?

A smaller number of units will soon be coming online at the site of the former Masonic Temple at 101 Main Street. Housing Assistance Corp used a modular build process to create buildings it says are consistent with the neighborhoods traditional face.

What is coming at the former Gov. Prence Inn?

Jay Coburn, CEO of the Community Development Partnership, says part of the focus of the work at the former Gov. Prencce Inn focuses on what he describes as attainable housing, and what Orleans defines as the "missing middle."

With house prices so steep on Cape Cod, people who once could have afforded a home remain priced out of the market - but make too much for traditional subsidized housing, creating a significant gap. Coburn says they hope to apply creative thinking to help create some solutions for bridging that gap.

For more information:

Orleans Housing Plans and Studies page

Orleans housing lotteries

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Lease to Locals" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Lease to Locals Hits Housing Milestone

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 21:16:12 GMT

Innovative program delivered immediate housing relief to Provincetown - and will continue into a second year

"Just in the first year we've housed 55 people..."

Alex Morse, Provincetown Town Manager

What is Lease to Locals?

20 March 2025 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - Provincetown’s Lease to Locals program is just wrapping up its pilot year as a resounding success - so successful that the town announced it is moving forward into a second year with a second cohort of property owners and renters.

During its pilot year the program brought 33 year-round leasing housing 55 people and impacting 45 local businesses - all funded from the short term rental funds.

How does Lease to Locals work?

The concept is relatively straightforward – quickly create year-round housing by connecting property owners with year round tenants and underwriting the gap between seasonal and year round rents.

Part of the challenge with year-round rentals on Cape Cod lies in value of its seasonal rental market; owners can charge substantially more for weekly rentals in season than for year-round monthly rents. Lease to Locals uses a combination of paying owners a subsidy plus allowing the property to qualify for residential tax credits it encourage owners to rent to year-round locals rather than weekly vacationers.

How quickly can Lease to Locals generate housing options?

While Provincetown has been investing in town-owned affordable housing, building takes time.

"What is interesting about Lease to Locals is it doesn't involve putting a shovel in the ground," said Alex Morse, Provincetown Town Manager.

He noted that within the first year, 45 businesses were able to retain employees and 55 people found a place to call home. While programs like Lease to Locals can't solve all the housing challenges, they do bring a short term solution and address immediate needs.

Have other places used the concept?

The Lease to Locals concept has proved itself in other resort communities already. In fact, Provincetown partnered with a company called Placemate to establish and run the program. Placemate had existing programs running in places like Truckee, CA, and also has a privately-funded version running on Nantucket. The partnership let Provincetown create the framework that worked for Provincetown while letting Placemate manage the nuts and bolts of property verification and tenant vetting.

How does the town pay for it?

Morse said that all the funding for the program came from the seasonal tax rental fees - no bonding or borrowing required. "About $1.5 million a year goes right into the housing from from taxes from hotels and short term entals and all the mone we are using for the program is paid for out for that revue."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Lease to Locals" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Lower Cape Pride Plans Unity in Community

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 21:11:34 GMT

New June festival celebrates LGBTQ+ and the Lower Cape community

You want to make there sure there's no air so they're filled in nice and smooth and plenty of filling ...

Danielle, pie baker at Marions

What is Lower Cape Pride?

21 March 2025 - ORLEANS, MA - Lower Cape Pride says it is planning a multi-day celebration in June. Unity in Community includes the gentle small town joys of a multi-generational BBQ, inclusive pride parade, and afternoon of music and performance.

From a Friday night social in Orleans through a parade on Saturday ending at the artist shacks in Orleans to an afternoon of music, art, and performance at Cape Rep Theatre in Brewster, organizers say the weekend will celebrate its LGBTQ+ community and the community at large.

Why Unity in Community?

"So much goes on in Provincetown and there's a lot that goes on in Hyannis and Falmouth but there is this kind of of area that isn't really being served or celebrated," said Katie Castagno, member of the event's programming committee. "Especially now, politically, it is a really important time to come together as a community and show that we celebrate you and we are you and you're safe here."

What will happen during Unity in Community?

Organizers say the weekend will kick off with a social in Orleans Friday evening, an informal parade from the Library to the Artist Shacks in Orleans, and an afternoon of performance including Castagno's Our Queer Elders songwriting project, a series of narratives, and a nod to drag art. Sunday brings interfaith services, as well as programming from various partners including libraries and local businesses.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Unity in Community" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

A Single Squirrel Makes A Forest

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:02:02 GMT

21 March, 2025 – EASTHAM, MA – At Wild Care in Eastham spring kicks off with the arrival of baby squirrels. There are more to these critters than meets the eye – they have built some of our most beloved forests of maple trees, oaks and pines.

“They're actually a really important part of the ecosystem. A lot of our oak trees and our maple trees were probably planted by squirrels ..."

Stephanie Ellis

Executive Director, Wild Care Cape Cod

Are Squirrels Signs Of Spring?

Herring runs boats in the water and returning ospreys are typical Cape Cod signs of a change of season. But at Wild Care Cape Cod in Eastham, the first signs of spring are somewhat smaller and fuzzier. Every March marks squirrel baby season.

Only a week old, four squirrel brothers and a sister, arrived at the wildlife rehabilitation Wednesday 19 March. The first babies of the season, but not the last. Wild Care receives 120 squirrels every year, from spring through fall, most of them babies.

Animal rescuers attempt to reunite mother and babies, but it's not always possible.

“We wouldn't leave squirrel babies overnight for the mom 'cause a predator might get into the nest,” says Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director at Wild Care.

The animal rescuers make sure the babies are warm and fed over night to wait for the mom patiently the next day. “But if it's been more than two days, typically we won't try to re-nest,” says Ellis.

Are Squirrels Native To Cape Cod?

These babies are eastern gray Squirrels native to Cape Cod. They will nurse for 10 to 12 weeks, then it's time to wean them. Ellis waits until the babies are furred and have their eyes opened before she and her staff transfer the squirrels to kennels. Once ready, they go from there into large cages with wooden squirrel boxes. The staff gives them nuts they can bury in the ground and behave like squirrels in the wild.

Besides trees, squirrels build their nests in attics, chimneys, and walls. If you find a nest with babies you should look around immediately. “Do you see a mother? Do you see where the nest potentially fell from? And then give us a call from that location,” says Ellis.

“We get calls all the time at Wild Care starting now, where people have squirrels nesting in their attic. (…) And so the first important thing is don’t seal up the holes that they've gotten into or cap the chimneys unless you know that the mother and all the babies are out,” she adds.

Without the mother, the babies will be trapped and die, spreading an unpleasant smell in your house. Squirrels like quiet, cozy places, so make sure your attic is the opposite: Play loud music, flash lights up into the attic, place ammonia and vinegar to make mama squirrel an unhappy tenant.

“The other important thing is never trap and relocate any wildlife. In Massachusetts, it's illegal,” says Ellis. “And what happens is, for example, if you were to trap a squirrel right now in your attic and release it in another town, there's probably babies in your attic. So now there are babies left behind. So it's illegal and it's inhumane, honestly.”

Tree Felling Harms Nesting Animals

Other early spring signs are cleaning up your yard and taking down trees. Stephanie Ellis says it's typical to find squirrel nests with newborns on the ground after having cut down a tree.

“So right now we have owls nesting, they either have eggs or young. And then the squirrels are nesting. And so if you absolutely have to fell a tree right now, you should really check and make sure nothing's nesting in it,” says Ellis. “An then it only gets more intense, honestly, because bird migration is about to begin and our migratory birds will be nesting in trees. So we always tell people, do your tree felling in the late fall and winter. And I know it's no fun to be out there, but just think: save a tree, save a life.”

In fact, a single tree cannot make a forest, but squirrels can.

“They're actually a really important part of the ecosystem. A lot of our oak trees and our maple trees were probably planted by squirrels because they have this process where they store nuts and seeds, and they can't remember where they stored all those nuts and seeds,” says Ellis.

“And so now we have our new forests that are growing because of squirrels. So they're really important, what we call forest regenerators. So we have them to thank for our forests.”

Scroll up to watch the "One Squirrel Does Not Make A Forest" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Seasonal Influenza Unprecedented

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:07:12 GMT

14 Mars 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – This year is seeing higher than normal activity of the seasonal influenza. Several hundreds of people have died in Massachusetts, including children. LCTV spoke with the Cape and Islands’ epidemiologist about the situation.

"We generally see that kids aren't our most severe manifestations of influenza. Usually it's our older population, and so certainly it's alarming to see children hospitalized with seasonal flu, and the manifestations that have been reported by providers include encephalitis in these really severe situations nationwide."

Lea Hamner, Contract Epidemiologist,

Barnstable Department of Public Health

What Is The Seasonal Influenza?

There has been a lot of attention on the avian flu this winter, but at the same time – perhaps somewhat under the media radar – this season is seeing higher than normal activity of the regular influenza. Several hundreds of people have died, including children.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has "observed a possible increase in the number of cases of children with influenza with neurologic complications compared to prior seasons." Since July 2024 ten children have died from complications. State epidemiologists and health authorities are in the midst of analyzing why this year’s influenza activity has been exceptionally severe with an unusually high number of hospitalizations and deaths.

“We certainly have seen a pretty high burden of folks sick going to emergency departments and in hospitalizations on the Cape, and it's still ongoing,” says Lea Hamner, Contract Epidemiologist for the Barnstable Department of Public Health. “We sometimes do see more severe illnesses for infectious diseases because we have more medically fragile people. But that also is our kind of underlying population as we have an older population here on Cape Cod."

How Many Have The Flu?

The first week of February, at its peak, over 11,000 people had positive lab tests for the seasonal influenza in Massachusetts. That number does not represent the number of people who are not tested or whose tests are not submitted to the state laboratory, nor all the people with influenza-like illness but who do not see their health care provider for their symptoms.

“We're not ever gonna be able to capture all the flu burden in our community. But instead we look at the data sources that we have for trends over time. And so the data sources look at emergency department visits, hospitalizations, also outpatient visits from a random sample of provider sites to see kind of how many people are presenting with influenza-like illness,
which is fever and sore throat, or fever and cough,” says Hamner.

How Many Have Died?

The latest data , updated by the MDPH every Thursday, shows a decrease of infections in Massachusetts, however on Cape Cod the assessment of the activity is still very high. A total of 352 people have died from complications, ten of the deaths were children under 18 years of age.

“We generally see that kids aren't our most severe manifestations of influenza. Usually it's our older population, and so certainly it's alarming to see children hospitalized with seasonal flu, and the manifestations that have been reported by providers include encephalitis in these really severe situations nationwide,” says Hamner.

Why Do Children Die From Influenza?

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , every season up to 13% of the pediatric flu deaths have had neurological complications. This season is on the higher end of that spectrum. Neurological symptoms in children with the flu may be seizures causing inflammation of brain tissue. Symptoms can also be meningitis and inflammation of the spinal cord. Massachusetts department of public health refers to studies suggesting that pre-existing neurological conditions make children more vulnerable to these complications, as are children who are unvaccinated against the flu.

“There's a lot to tease through in these cases. And epidemiologists do that very systematically, going through the records, going through the risk factors, capturing that information, and then applying statistics to see is this actually indicative of this being the reason or is it a multitude of reasons or can we not figure it out right now and we need more information,” says Hamner.

What About Flu Vaccination?

The MDPH states that this season the vaccine rates are lower than usual for people under 65, which they believe contribute to the high number of infections. The first week of February, 10 percent of hospitalizations and almost 12% of health care provider visits were related to the flu, compared with a baseline of only 2 percent.

“The most important things I want the public to know is that respiratory disease is preventable and we can take precautions to prevent ourselves from getting sick, our family members from getting sick, our loved ones from getting sick,” says Hamner.

She adds that vaccination is important as well as staying home when sick and masking when going out with symptoms.

“Good hand washing is as important as it always has been, we definitely have a lot of cooties that are going around this time of year that handwashing goes a long way," Hamner says. "Soap is king. Soap is the sngle greatest human invention to save lives in human history. And so if we can wash our hands more often, it does make a difference.”

Scroll up to watch the rembranced "Seasonal Influenza unprecedented" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Cape Cod Loses Champion: Tom Cahir Remembered

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:26:53 GMT

Sad farewell to key community member who shaped the Cape

Together. Yes, together. Together was a key tenet in how Tom worked.

- Teresa Martin, editor CapeCodNews.org

Who was Tom Cahir?

14 March 2025 - CAPE COD, MA -

Cape Cod lost a true champion this week when Tom Cahir, administrator of the cape cod regional transit authority died suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 12.

Thomas S. Cahir, 72, helped shape policy politics and interactions on Cape Cod wearing many hats over the decades : member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for 14 years - representing the 3rd Barnstable District - deputy secretary for transportation programs in the statehouse, and - for the past 16 years - administrator of the CCRTA

Over the decades in his varied roles he shaped commuter rail expansion and infrastructure improvements, proved seasonal rail service could be a resounding success, and led the CCRTA toward a zero emissions future.

He was a perfect example of the kind of person who weaves together experiences in ways that create a magnificent tapestry:
A child of Bourne deeply rooted in cape cod.

A baseball player who never forgot the value of team.

A politician who believed in the democratic process.

A public servant who proved that policy can make people and places stronger and healthier together.

Yes. Together. Together was a key tenet in how Tom worked. I don't think we ever did an interview in which he didn’t take time to thank and credit his team - singling out each person and citing their contributions. It was never about him. It was always about the collaborative us.

He took that same approach to all of the projects he worked with across the community, finding ways to solve problems by uniting people into a shared effort for the betterment of all of Cape Cod.

Through that work he built - as he liked to say - an Integrated, multi-modal transport network - one that worked to seamlessly connect bus, train, boat, and bicycle traffic. In doing so he dared to be creative, collaborative and show how cape cod could lead the way.

Perhaps his work stands not only as a series of quantifiable achievements, but also as a metaphor for the potential of a Cape Cod that he believed in, a cape cod he knew we could all build together.

We will miss you, Tom, and thank you for everything you’ve done.

Scroll up to watch the rembranced "Cape Cod Loses a Champion" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Happy Pi and Pie!

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:15:56 GMT

Celebrating mathematics through tasty pastry

You want to make there sure there's no air so they're filled in nice and smooth and plenty of filling ...

Danielle, pie baker at Marions

What is pi day?

14 March 2025 — CHATHAM, MA — What better way to celebrate the magical number 3.14 than at Marion's Pie Shop! Pi day began in 1988 as a tongue in cheek way to celebrate mathematics and the beauty of that magic ratio, 3.14... Along the way it embraced its homonym, that flaky tasty PIE as its emblem.

What is pi?

Pi (vs pie) is the mathematical constant that represents the ratio between a circle's circumference and its diameter. That number just happens to be 3.14 .... It's a ratio with a history, one that's been in play for more than 4000 year. Modern middle schoolers learn about it and ancient Egyptian and Babylonian mathematicians and engineers worked with it.

Who started pi day?

In 1988 Larry Shaw from the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco Francisco came up with the idea of using the date 3-14 celebrate the iconic pi ratio 3.14… and the wonder of mathematics. The link to the pastry pie proved a natural link - and people have been enjoying the word play and the ratio ever since.

What about the pie?

Today we get to enjoy both pi and pie- with a glimpse behind the scenes of the making of the pastry version at Chatham iconic Marion's pies, home to the pie process since 1947. -

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Celebrting Pi and Pie " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Defibrillators Arrive in Orleans

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:59:56 GMT

Updated life-saving devices join Orleans Fire

The units we were using were from 2008 ... it was time ...

Chief Goef Deering, Orleans Fire Department

What happened at the Orleans Fire Department?

07 March 2025 - ORLEANS, MA - A vote at the last Town Meeting in Orleans set aside funds for a four new defibrillators; these potentially life-saving devices got their first test drive this week at the fire department.

Why did the town need new defibrillators?

Cardiac monitors have been used as part of life-saving technology since the 1970s and like other technology it improves dramatically over time. In addition, like any other computer devices, the defibrillators have a limited life span. Orleans Fire Chief Geoff Deering says the last defibrillators dated from 2008. "It was time," he said.

Why do defibrillators matter?

The devices save lives. With hospital a half hour or more drive away, having the devices at points for first response make a significant difference. "One of the capabilities that our EMTs have is to interpret an EKG" said Deering. "We can recognize that here in Orleans and communicate that information to Cape Cod hospital. What that does is sets up a whole line of events that gets people to cardiac care they need that much sooner."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Tax Season Tips " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For More Information:

IRS FreeFile

How Does Bird Flu Affect People

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:12:00 GMT

7 March, 2025 – CAPE COD – Unprecedented among wild birds, but Massachusetts' domestic birds and cattle have been relatively spared from infections. There have been several hospitalizations following the spread of the avian flu, however, the number of infected people in the U.S. is very low and zero in Massachusetts. State Epidemiologist updates us on what to consider.

Nobody has seemed to have gotten avian flu just from being outside in the same place that ducks and geese were. That really does not seem to pose a risk ...

Dr. Catherine Brown

MA state epidemiologist

Massachusetts has been relatively spared from the bird flu virus, though it’s still wide spread in wild water birds along our shores, and state authorities are preparing for potential mutations and spillovers. Dr. Catherine Brown, State Epidemiologist at Massachusetts Department of Public Health, says testing people for the current strain is daily routine.

"While this continues to really be a bird disease and not really a human disease (...) we also have to be prepared," says Dr. Brown. "And so we've been doing surveillance through our routine flu surveillance that we do. We're looking for people who have H5 infections. We have not identified any."

A total of 70 human cases since last year in the U.S. and zero cases in Massachusetts makes the avian flu a low risk virus for the public. The vast majority of those infected contracted the virus through close contact with domestic poultry or dairy cattle.

"I don't want people to be so nervous that they feel like they can't go outside as the weather gets warmer and go watch wildlife? We're not at that point," says Dr. Brown.

In most cases the symptoms are very mild, but some people have been hospitalized and one person died in January this year.

"It becomes a, a pulmonary, a lung infection and may even turn into pneumonia. That's really contrasted with what we have seen with the relatively kind of mild cases where they have had
sometimes almost no symptoms," says Dr. Brown.

The most common symptom is conjunctivitis, red and swollen eyes. The virus spreads through bodily fluids. What if you walk your dog through an area where there have been infected birds, and you or your dog accidentally step in bird dropping?

"This is the thing everybody's worried about and is one of the things I would like people to try
to just relax about," says Dr. Brown. "Nobody has seemed to have gotten avian flu just from being outside in the same place that ducks and geese were. That really does not seem to pose a risk."

Dr. Brown believes the likely reason would be that there is not enough virus in those environments to infect people and dogs walking through. Cats however should be kept indoors, as they are prone to become very ill once infected with avian flu.

Based on how avian flu historically has behaved, authorities expect positive cases to start declining over the next few months as the weather starts warming up.

"I think what is keeping us a little bit optimistic is that avian flu viruses, just like human flu viruses tend to be more active in the winter," Dr. Brown says. They do better in that type of weather."

So, report sightings of sick or dead birds and keep enjoying the natural beauty Cape Cod has to offer.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "How Does Bird Flu Affect People?" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Need advice? Call Massachusetts Department of Health 24/7 helpline: 617 983 6800

For More Information:

Barnstable Public Health Advisory on the avian flu

Avian Flu information by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Report sick or dead wild birds here

Report sick or dead domestic birds here

Tax Season Tips

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:29:18 GMT

Tax season is upon us! Check out some tips from enrolled agent John Warren.

In 2024 we're playing by the rules that Congress set in motion in 2018 ... 2025 has the same tax rules as 2024.

John Warren, enrolled agent

When is tax time?

28 February 2025 - ORLEANS, MA - As tax time arrives, enrolled agent John Warren shares some tips for filing your 2024 returns and planning for the upcoming tax year. With the April 15 filing deadline right around the corner and the IRS accepting returns, Warren says it's go-time.

Will federal policy change for this year's planning?

Both the 2024 current filing and the 2025 year in planning should be very similar, said Warren. That's because we are in the final two years of legislation put into place in 2018. This means the same general guideline for planning last year will be in place for the current year as well. The next year 2026, will likely bring some sort of change.

What should people be aware of with children and tax filing?

One area around which Warren advises awareness is the age of your children. Both federal and state taxes offer credits for children, but the amount varies with the age of children. A common place people trip up is forgetting to plan that your child is reaching an age threshold that triggers changes in your taxes, such as turning 13, 17, or finishing college.

Will I get a refund?

Another point of awareness is the withholding structure, which changed from the traditional simplified options that often ended up with extra tax withheld and refund at year's end. The current structure tried to more accurately predict withholding - but changes to your withholding could also translate into an unpleasant tax surprise. While your take home pay might be larger, you could end up owing taxes rather than getting a refund. "Don't assume your withholding was the same as it was the previous year, " Warren saaid.

How else can you check your filing?

If you file your own taxes, Warren suggests visiting the IRS FreeFile section - https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-free-file-do-your-taxes-for-free. He also recommends comparing last year's filing to the one in progress, using it as a check list to be sure all reported items are there and that the numbers make consistent sense from one year to the next.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Tax Season Tips " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For More Information:

IRS FreeFile

Your Bird Flu Questions Answered

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:18:26 GMT

28 February, 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – The avian flu is still widespread in Massachusetts and Cape Cod, but how does it spread? What does it mean for the wild bird populations? Should you take down your bird feeders? We asked Andrew Vitz, State Ornithologist, these questions and more.

There hasn't been much evidence that bird feeders are playing a role currently with the spread of high path avian influenza ... that could change ... our recommendation is always to bring in your bird feeders ... there are other ways to attract birds ...

Andrew Vitz

State Ornithologist, Massachusetts Division Of Fisheries And Wildlife

What Is The Avian Flu?

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, HPAI or the avian flu, is a highly transmittable virus naturally carried by migratory birds, primarily water fowl. The new strain, H5N1, entered the U.S. in late 2021 and in 2022 the first infected wild birds in Massachusetts were detected on Cape Cod. It has spilled over onto domestic birds and dairy cattle, from which humans have caught the disease. There have been no known human cases in Massachusetts to date. Dairy cattle have been routinely tested in Massachusetts once a month since August last year. Only one poultry farm in the state – with 30 birds in Plymouth – had to be euthanized in late January 2025.

Where is the avian flu?

The v irus is still widespread in Massachusetts and on Cape Cod, though the numbers of reported wild birds have declined. This can be expected when the weather starts

to warm up since viruses thrive in cold and wet climates, nevertheless, this current outbreak of H5N1 has been the biggest one to date. "We've had a colder winter than we've had in the last couple. We've had more ice, fewer areas of open water," says Andrew Vitz, State Ornithologist at Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. "So a lot of birds have been congregating in smaller areas, and that just facilitates the spread of the virus. We think that's why we're seeing this larger scale outbreak this year."

What Should The Public Do About The Avian Flu?

Despite declining numbers of cases among wild birds, the public guidelines remain the same. "People shouldn't be panicking," says Vitz but emphasizes the the public should keep a few things in mind.

"Taking the precaution seriously when you are in an area where there have been sick and dead birds, one reporting to MassWildlife those reports so we can respond accordingly. (...) Keeping your dog on a leash, if you have a a domestic cat keeping it indoors." Vitz adds that cats are especially susceptible to the virus.

Should I Take My Birdfeeders Down?

One of the most common questions MassWildlife gets regarding the avian is: Should people take their birdfeeders down? Though Vitz says birdfeeders are currently not a big player in spreading the avian flu, that could change. MassWildlife's standing recommendation is always to stray away from feeders, especially seeds, since they attract other less welcome wildlife such as rodents.

"If you feed birds at a bird feeder, it just increases the chance for disease spread, and that includes high path influenza. The risk goes up if there are any domestic birds in the vicinity," Vitz says.

"We don't know how it's gonna play out going forward. Our recommendation is always to bring in your birdfeeders. There are other ways to attract birds."

In the wild the avian flu has mostly spread among Canada Geese, swans and other waterfowl.

Songbirds have been mostly spared, but Andrew says they are not immune.

"It does not seem to be moving much through the songbird community, but we know that they can get it. And mostly it's been in birds that have a tendency to pick on carcasses. So, crows have gotten it. Blue jays. (...) T hings like chickadees will do the same thing. "

How Are Vulnerable Bird Species Affected?

For vulnerable species like bald eagles the virus could pose a reason for concern. "That's what we're trying to figure out, how much of an impact it's having. The eagles will be easiest for us to determine that, we monitoring them closely. (...) So we'll be putting an extra emphasis on monitoring those eagle nests to get a better handle of is this affecting eagles at a population level," Vitz says. "The other thing is are they developing a resistance to it?"

The answers could indicate how other species are handling the virus as well. Some birds like mallards seem to be fighting the virus off much better than swans and geese. A sick bird can be spotted by unusual behavior. "I t is a neurological virus. It affects the brain. What you see with sick birds is that they often are disoriented, they're stumbling around, they lose their ability to balance very well. Some of them are twisting their necks, swimming in circles. And mortality seems to occur pretty quickly," Vitz says.

Are Backyard Flocks Safe?

Can I still eat meat, eggs and dairy?

According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention cooking beef, poultry and eggs all the way through kills the virus. For eggs and poultry meat that means an inner temperature of 165°F. Ground beef should be heated to 160°F and whole cuts of beef should reach 145°F then rest for 3 minutes. Pasteurized milk is safe.

Do not feed your pets raw poultry or raw pet food.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Avian Flu Widespread on Cape Cod – What to Know" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Need advice? Call Massachusetts Department of Health 24/7 helpline: 617 983 6800

For More Information:

Barnstable Public Health Advisory on the avian flu

Avian Flu information by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Report sick or dead wild birds here

Report sick or dead domestic birds here

More Than Mousers

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 02:40:54 GMT

Two sibling kitties show that shop cats bring benefits to Dennis and Orleans Agway stores.

"They are part Maine Coon and part Norwegian Forest Cat - they're very sweet, they're very good with customers, kids ... they wander around ... and customers love them!

-- Kristin Williams, Agway

Who are Rooster and Biscuit

28 February 2025 - DENNIS, MA - Rooster and Biscuit form the feline squad at the Orleans and Dennis Agway stores -- patrolling, greeting, sharing a friendly meow and carrying on a long tradition of shop cats.

What is a shop cap?

Store cats, shop cats, or bodega cats (if you're in New York City!) have been around pretty much as long as their have been stores. They fend off pests, entertain customers, befriend store staff and in general bring a compelling feline presence that weaves itself around both shoppers and staff like a furry comforting hug. And now Cape Cod boasts two more shop cats: Rooster and Biscuit.

How did the cats find a home at Agway?

This feline place their paw prints at the Dennis and Orleans Agway stores. According to Kristin Williams, Agway Merchandising Supervisor, a serendipitous interaction with a customer led to the store's embrace of its furry staff. Two baby kitties needed a home; did anyone at Agway know of anyone looking for a cat? Inspired, the stores said yes.

The brother kittens moved in, applied that well-known cat charm, and will be celebrating their first birthday on April 1st comfortably ensconced among the cat toys, dog food, and garden tools. Rooster rules the roost in Dennis, while Biscuit hold court in Orleans.

What do the cats do at the stores?

Like shop cats from time immortal, Rooster and Biscuit bring a smile to the face of customers, generate conversation and connection, and - in Agway's case - even help demo products like cat toys and treats.

But it's Rooster and Biscuit’s empathy that makes them the real stars of the store. From customers missing their furbabies to employees having a rough day, a kitty-snuggle makes all the difference. And for these shop cats, a meow, a purr, and loving head bump are just part of a good day's work.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "More than Mousers" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Rooster and Biscuit's own Instagram account - biscuit_rooster_theagwaycats

Ken Fulk and the Mary Heaton Vorse House

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 02:04:17 GMT

Ken Fulk restored a piece of Provincetown's art and cultural history and returned it to its place as an arts hub.

" We took it apart board by board, literally ..."

Ken Fulk, artist/restored Mary Heaton Vorse House

What happend the Mary Heaton Vorse House?

20 February 2025 -- PROVINCETOWN, MA -- Ken Fulk shares his journey of restoring historic Mary Heaton Vorse house in Provincetown, highlighting the challenges of maintaining the house's integrity while addressing structural issues. The restored house now serves as a community asset, hosting artistic residencies and events, and honoring Vorse's legacy in the local arts scene. Ken envisions it as a vibrant center for creativity and community engagement.

Scroll up to watch the Ken Fulk and the Mary Heaton Vors e House

Scroll up to watch the story behind the restoration of Provincetown's Mary Heaton Vorse House. Or click HERE to open it in a new window.

You Might Also Like ...

Check out the full collection of Portraits of Cape Artists at Lower Cape TV's ArtsLight.org

Grief 101 – Do's And Don'ts When Someone Is Grieving

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 01:56:50 GMT

21 February, 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – Grief is an innately human experience, touching each and every one of us. Yet, it is often an isolating one. Through a series of educational presentations across the Cape and islands, the nonprofit Sharing Kindness is hoping to make us better companions for those around us who are grieving. Attending one of the organization's peer support groups is Autumn Cardello who lost her son in 2023. She wishes for everyone to learn about grief to dissolve fear and stigma, so that we all can find support when it is our turn to grieve.

“... I've realized in my life, losing a lot of people ... the only way through a scary and hard situation, is to learn about it
and come together as humans and your community ... even if you don't know the person and you heard or saw that they lost a loved one ... even a smile ...”

Autumn Cardello

George's Mother

What is grief?

When Kathleen Shine-O'Brien, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Director of Clinical and Community Services at Sharing Kindness, a nonprofit for suicide prevention and grief support, is asked what grief is, this is how she describes it: "It morphs and it changes. It's like clay. It's like if you had a wheel and you were a potter, and there are various things that you can do to this piece of clay. And some days it can look beautiful and some days it can look awful, and it might actually collapse, but it'll never be that same ball of clay that it was the very first day that you threw it on your wheel. That's kind of what grief is."

Can You Learn To Grieve?

Grief touches everyone. It's an innately human experience we all have in common,
and yet it's often an isolating one. In a series of presentations across the Cape and Islands, Shine-O'Brien is hoping to increase our grief literacy. If stigma and fear can be lifted, we can become better companions for grieving persons – regardless if the grief is caused by someone's death, an accident, losing a job or a house, divorce, or something else.

"Part of what these presentations do is sort of diminish that fear of the unknown and put things out on a level playing field, that anybody can companion the bereaved," Shine-O'Brien says.
"This doesn't need any particular expertise. Every human has the capacity to be a companion to the bereaved."

And, Kathleen says, though grief is complex, companioning a griever is simple. "It lacks judgment, it lacks the shoulds, and it's really just a heart connection. And sometimes the more quiet we are and the more gentle we are, the more successful we are in companioning that person."

How Can I Support Someone Who Is Grieving?

Autumn Cardello, mother of three, has experienced profound loss. Early in her life she lost her dad, then her brother and her grandparents. It made her interested in understanding her own feelings of grief, and when she was 21 she studied mortuary science and went into the funeral industry. In July 2023 her son George suddenly died, 25 years old.

"The one thing we have in common as human beings is love and loss," Autumn says. "And you don't have to have the right words sometimes. All we want is just someone to sit with us. That's it."

When asked about her son, Autumn smiles through her tears. "Georgie was an amazing boy.
And he was funny and he was charming, and he had an amazing balance. He could ice skate at two years old. He played hockey in New Hampshire for a very long time. He went to the penalty box a lot 'cause he just wanted that puck."

What Do I Say When Someone Has Died?

In all of her years in the funeral industry Autumn had never heard of the so-called secondary losses, a kind of domino effect following the primary grief. It can be loss of income, loss of a home, or loss of relationships.

"The second losses have come with, you know, people often are too nervous to sit with me and my grief, even if it's for 10 minutes," Autumn says. "Tears are uncomfortable for people. Grief is uncomfortable for people. And what I've realized in my life, losing a lot of people, is the only way through a scary and hard situation, is to learn about it and come together as humans in your community.

Kathleen Shine O'Brien believes people innately mean well, but do not know what to say to support bereaved persons. "I like to think of it as 'what to say when you don't know what to say'", she says.

Platitudes are a no-no. "'They're in a better place'. 'God needed an angel'. And in another situation: 'Why are you sad? You guys were divorced for 10 years. You have no right to grieve'. So we don't wanna say any of those platitudes," she says.

"What we might wanna say is: 'I can't know how you feel, but I want you to know that I can be here for you and I can be here with you. I know that you probably don't know what you need, so I'm just gonna throw out some things and just ask if that would be helpful.'"

Autumn emphasizes to not be afraid to mention the person who has died. "We want to talk about the person we lost I wanna talk about my son. I wanna hear his name," she says. "A couple of his friends, they'll find a video on their phone They'll come across it and send it to me and it takes my breath away at first and it makes me cry, but I'm so grateful."

She says even being there from a distance means a lot to a grieving person. "Even if it's just a sticky note on their car: 'Hey, I did a drive by to tell you I love you.'

What Is Grief Literacy?

Kathleen Shine-O'Brien says as a society our grief literacy is that of a third grade level. "If I were reading on a third grade level, there's a lot of books that are going to be beyond me, beyond my reading comprehension, beyond my ability to even know what the familiarity of these words are, that it's really just very basic," she says. "And I think that's how we've been as a society for a really long time. And so to increase grief literacy would bring people from that third grade level up to a high school graduate level, where you're able to understand the depth and the complexity.

Autumn is a curious person at heart with a science driven mind, eager to learn and gather knowledge. She has recently started attending Sharing Kindness’ peer support groups – a place where it is safe to let her grief be as "messy" as she wants.

"My first instinct when I got outta the car was I need to learn from these other moms how they do this. Like, how do they get up in the morning and do this? I was looking to the elder grievers, so to speak," she says. "One mom said, 'I'm five years in grieving', and I just kind of stared at her like, I need to get some sort of clue. So I was watching this woman, and I'm thinking, this is it. This is what she does. She sits here with all of us. That's her thing. That's what's helping her. And it clicked to me, I just need to come back. That's what I need to do."

"You can learn a lot from a griever. They're great friends because they won't take anything else for granted anymore. Great and loyal people to have in your life. They know what means something and they'll never take you for granted."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Grief 101 – Do's And Don'ts When Someone Is Grieving" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For More Information:

Is Your License Cleared for Takeoff?

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 01:00:21 GMT

TSA's new REAL ID requirement kicks in this May - are you ready?

"We're asking people if you need it for travel in May to apply by April 1st .... "

-- Colleen Ogilvie, Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles

What is REAL ID?

21 February 2025 - ORLEANS, MA - Starting May 7, 2025 TSA will begin requiring airline passengers to show either REAL ID version of their drivers license or a valid passport in order to board the plane. According Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie 56% of drivers have made the leap but the other 44% remain on the countdown clock.

Why is REAL ID required?

The federal REAL ID requirement arose from the security measures put in place after the September 11, 2001 airplane hijacking and terrorist attacks. In 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID Act which recommends that the government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” Only IDs that meet these standards will be accepted for boarding airplanes, and accssing nuclear power plants and other federal facilities.

When does REAL ID begin?

After a variety of delays, the REAL ID requirement goes into effect May 07, 2025. From that date forward, only a a REAL ID version of your state driver's license or a valid passport will let you board a commercial plane.

Is updating a driver's license mandatory?

Massachusetts will issues two types of licenses, one that remains the way it is today and one that complies with REAL ID. The choice to upgrade is up to the individual. However, the standard driver's license can no longer be used to clear airport security, although an active passport remains a valid airport identification option.

How do I get a Massachusetts REAL ID?

Registrar Oglivie says getting a REAL ID version of your license is straightforward: Gather documents, make appointment, submit, receive REAL ID in the mail. If you license is within 1 year of renewal, you can do an early renewal at no cost. Otherwise, there’s a $25 one time license reissue fee.

Where to I get a Massachusetts REAL ID?

To get a REAL ID license or identification card, sign up for an appointment at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, https://www.mass.gov/info-details/real-id-in-massachusetts According to Oglivie, both Yarmouth and Plymouth registry offices have ample appointent slots.

What documents do I need for a REAL ID?

For most people, the RMV requires four documents to qualify for a REAL ID. The first proves your US status - such as a passport or birth certificate. The second verifies your full social security number, such as your social security card. The final two prove you live in Massachusetts, such as a utility bill.

Two possible stumbling blocks people have encountered as they apply for a REAL ID include lamination and name changes. For many years the government suggested people laminate their social security card, but a laminated social security card won’t be accepted for REAL ID. In addition, if your name has changed you’ll need to also have the documents showing the each change, such as marriage or divorce certificates.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Is Your License Cleared for Takeoff? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

RMV Online Service Center

When Truro Started A Love Story

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 03:11:08 GMT

14 February, 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – During the pandemic, a Cape Cod love story unfolded in Truro and Provincetown. A heartfelt movement connecting people despite emptied public places. Two friends found themselves documenting this piece of local modern history.

“... This is a collective of all those emotions. It represents different times, different places. And we've had people break out in tears when they see it ...”

Suz Karchmer

Photographer of Take Heart – A Cape Cod Love Story

What is Take Heart – A Cape Cod Love Story?

During the pandemic in 2020, a Cape Cod love story unfolded in Truro and Provincetown, a heartfelt movement connecting people despite emptied public places. The two friends and photographers, Suz Karchmer and Rachael Sokolowski found themselves witnessing and documenting this piece of local modern history.

"We started independently both drawn to the fact that something was happening in, specifically, Truro and Provincetown," Suz remembers. "And there were these hearts. And we knew at the beginning it said 'thanks to the essential workers, thanks to the frontline people.'"

How Did The Hearts In Truro Start?

It was a reaction to the pandemic and the lockdown, people paying homage to the essential workers keeping society afloat. But soon a chain reaction took off: hearts appeared on walls, on lampposts, outside public buildings, schools, and in restaurant windows.

"You would see, especially the pallets started showing up on Route 6 in Truro. Some were beautifully done, some were slap dash, you know, throw some paint on," Suz says.

She says some of the hearts were very simple, "just an outline in red on a piece of cardboard leaned up against a telephone pole, or very elaborately sort of constructed, like in that picture, it's up on a telephone pole. That took some effort," Suz says and points to a photography taken by Rachael Sokolowski. A photograph Rachael worked hard for, standing on the highway in the dark, waiting for a car to pass under the telephone pole to capture both the illumined heart someone had attached to the pole, as well as the characteristic red streaks of car lights with low shutter speed.

Were The Hearts Taken Down?

Remarkably, the hearts were left untouched, some for years, withered, but still standing strong against winter storms and salty humidity. The two photographers, also defying Cape Cod's moody weather, soon had a big collection of documented anonymous hearts. They looked at each other one day and said, "Hey, I wonder if this is something that we shouldn't let go of because it expresses something from an era." And Rachael said to Suz, "Hey, do you wanna do a book?" "And I very naively said, yeah," Suz recalls.

They both knew they had recorded something special. "I'm thinking about it as extraordinary things that were done by ordinary people, right?" Rachael says. "So we have this like mass amount of community that came together and connected in a way that they were able to do during a time when we couldn't be socially together."

Who Painted The Hearts?

Suz and Rachel started looking for the anonymous heart creators, to interview for the book and a documentary Suz started making. "We were able to talk to the two school teachers in Truro that created the ones that went outside of the Truro Central School," Rachael says. "Why did they make the hearts? Because they wanted to connect with the kids. The kids couldn't go to school and they wanted to put the hearts out there, with different messages on the school sign every day, so that there was this human connection that they were unable to have in the classroom."

Where Is The Exhibit?

The exhibit Take Heart – A Cape Cod Love Story will be at the Brewster Ladies Library until February 27th, when it will move to the Provincetown Commons.

"We have found that when the show is opened to people and they come in, they don't know what to expect," Suz says. "And one person said, a friend of ours, 'I had not realized how much I had shut down my emotions during the pandemic to feel the loneliness less.' Because this is a collective of all those emotions. It represents different times, different places. And we've had people break out in tears when they see it."

Whatever the future for the hearts movement is, Rachael and Suz will be there to document it once again. "Where it'll end. I don't know. The future's uncertain, right?" Rachael says. "Will more hearts come out? Will there be something else that will create this community response? We don't know, but if it happens, we'll be there to continue on."

A time of much uncertainty reminded us how much we need each other. People in Truro and Provincetown took heart to withstand a storm blowing so hard that a virus traveled around the world, all the way into the heartfelt communities of Cape Cod.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "When Truro Started A Love Story" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For More Information:

Suz Karchmer and Michael Karchmer's Website

Rachael Sokolowski's Website

Cape Cannabiz Evolves

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:03:31 GMT

How will state and national policies impact local Cape cannabis industry?

"Massachusetts has a very strong robust regulatory environment for marijuana, a great industry has developed, and hopefully we get left alone .... "

-- Zach Ment, Owner, The Piping Plover

What is happening with "cannabiz" on Cape Cod?

14 February 2025 - WELLFLEET, MA - Since Massachusetts approved recreational marijuana in November 2016, "Cannabiz" has sprouted into an industry on Cape Cod. As the business evolves, dispensary industry pioneer Zach Ment from Wellfleet's The Piping Plover shares how state and national trends might impact the sector's future.

Will national policy change the industry?

Ment expects that at national level, little will change within Massachusetts cannabiz industry -- although in states without an existing structure it could be a different story.

"There was a lot of hope that things would get descheduled .... in other states people will continue to go to jail unnecessarily, people will not have access to the medicine they need. But in Massachusetts I think its going to be at least four more years of the same."

Will there be state updates?

The regulatory environment in Massachusetts has continued to evolve as the models for both medical and recreational use have also evolved. "We're created this template over the past 8 years ... and they are continuing work on it," he said, noting that after some growing pains this has now become a positive process.

"In 2018 everyone was promised the world, if you got to be an owner of a cannabis business you were going to have generational wealth ... and that always seemed a little unrealistic to me," he said.

One big issue that has now been worked through involved municipal fees. The original state legislation taxed recreational sales at 20%, with 3% going to the municipality where the dispensary was located. Towns also had the option of asking for up to an additional 3% in community fees to offset other expenses - to go toward things like drug use prevention programs, parking management, and the like. This second 3% quickly became mired in controversy with questions over where those dollars actually went, but over the past two years additional legislation clarified the structure.

What is the future of the cannabiz industry on Cape Cod?

The future looks very much like the future of many other local businesses. "You saw some stores closing, others opening," Mant said. "Things were shaking out where people were deciding which businesses they wanted to support, and which businesses will survive into the future and which won't."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Cape Cannabiz Evolves " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

February for Hearts

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:42:15 GMT

Valentine's Day represents the metaphorical heart - but February also plays a role in physical heart heath awareness.

" The last 10 years have been really exciting with a revolution in terms of our tools that we have to both evaluate and treat and intervene ..."

-- Dr. Lawrence McAliffe, Cardiologist, Cape Cod Healthcare

What has been happening with heart health in the US?

14 February 2025 - CAPE COD, MA - Valentine's Day represents the metaphorical heart - but February also plays a role in physical heart heath awareness. Cardiologist Dr. Lawrence McAulifee shares tips for healthy hearts, updates on significant breakthroughs in cardio-vascular health techniques over the past decade, and warning flags for using today's injectable weight loss drugs.

What is cardio-vascular health awareness month?

February is cardio-vascular health awareness month - and Dr. McAulifee says that cardio-vascular disease continues to represent the number 1 cause of death across the industrialized world. That's why he - and others participating in national awareness month - want to stress what he describes as the importance of identifying cardio-vascular disease before it even starts. This ranges from learning CPR to making core lifestyle changes toward a healthier diet and more physical activity.

What has changed in last 10 years for heart health?

Over the last 10 years, we have seen a revolution in both diagnostics and treatment, said Dr McAulifee. Newer, non-invasive tests and techniques can identify cardio-vascular health issues, enabling early treatment. The treatments themselves have evolved dramatically as well, both tools and technlogy as well as pharmacology.

What is the relationship between weight loss drugs and the heart?

However, one of those new breakthroughs may not be as miraculous as it seems at first blush. New weight loss drugs like semaglutide may counter the risk factor of obesity, but theydon't bring a magic solution.

Dr McAulifee said that while they may at first they seem exciting in terms of bringing down weight, alone they do not represent a long-term solution. Lifestyle change lies behind the lasting risk reduction. He cautioned using the drugs to lose weight without also changing diet and exercise behavior might provide a jumpstart on weight loss, but that's only the first step; accompanying lifestyle change remains key. He noted that he often see patients start on weight loss path, only to lose momentum and end up with no meaningful changes.

People may not always want to hear it, but the way we live remains a key risk factor and no magic medicine has changed that, regardless of marketing messages. "I can remember back in 60s President Kennedy launched a 'get fit' program throughout the nation at high school and middle school levels to establish benchmarks for physical activities. That's 60 years ago ... " he said. "With new modalities, simple things like diet and activity has been pushed to the wayside."

Do genetics play a role?

Genetics do play a role in heart health as well. For those with a family history pf cardio-vascular disease, it becomes more important to not only focus on diet and exercise, but to also track risk factors and become proactive guardians of the heart.

More information:

American Heart Association's American Heart Month

Cape Cod Health Care Be Heart Smart

Scroll up to watch the news feature "February for Hearts? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Quakes Shake Cape Cod

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 23:10:32 GMT

That earth shaking was real. We visit with a USGS earthquake expert to find out what happened and if it will happen again.

"Up in New England you can have ground motions that travel great distances, much further than on the west coast .... "

-- Oliver Boyd, Geophysicist, USGS

What happened with the Cape Cod earthquake?

07 February 2025 - CAPE COD, MA - You weren't imagining that shaking and quaking earth on Cape Cod the other week! We visit with earthquake expert Dr. Oliver Boyd at the USGS to understand what happened, why, and if it will happen again.

Does New England have earthquakes?

Boyd say not only will it happen again, but is has been happening all along. Over the last 30 years New England has averaged 10-15 magnitude 2 or greater earth quakes - and people feel them regularly. Larger earth quakes do happen, but are much rarer.

Why do does Cape Cod feel small earthquakes?

A smaller earthquake centered in Maine or New Hampshire might be felt as far away as Cape Cod. According to Boyd the make up of New England's geography - they type and structure of its geographic base - means smaller earth quakes travel further and are felt more widely than earthquakes on the west coast.

The northeast does indeed have repeated earthquakes - but because they are smaller we may feel them, but not recognize them for what they are. For example, in the most recent earthquake people in from Barnstable to Brewster said they felt like a train might be rumbling on the tracks or that a really big truck might be nearby.

Is Cape Cod safe from earthquakes?

Boyd also said that modern building codes have been designed for stresses of nature and incorporate seismic features, so by and large the region's building should stay intact. During an earthquake, the best action for safety is to get underneath a sturdy object- which can protect people from falling items - and hold on until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, people can then assess the situation.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Quakes Shake Cape Cod? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Do Valentine Oysters Make Restaurants Smile?

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 22:38:40 GMT

Love is in the air, but is it spreading its arms around local restaurants too?

"It's a major holiday for restaurants.... we get a 50, 60 percent boost in our reservations .... "

-- Sebastien Taffara, General Manager, The Wicked Oyster

Do Cape restaurants Get a bump on Valentines Day?

07 February 2025 - WELLFLEET, MA - Love is in the air, but is it spreading its arms around local restaurants in that epicenter of oyster culture, Wellfleet? And is it providing an opportunity for the Cape's restaurant industry during a traditionally slow season?

On Cape Cod, in the epicenter of oyster country, Wellfleet restaurants say they feel positive about the holiday and the bump it gives to the Cape Cod restaurant industry. "Its a major holiday for restaurants" said Sebastien Taffara, general manager of The Wicked Oyster. "We see it in our reservation. We get a 50-60 boost in our reservations."

What do restaurants expect for this Valentines Day?

This year may turn out especially fortuitous for restaurants, in part because the holiday falls on a Friday. Chef Garret Smythe says that can create an extra pop because people tend to eat out more often on a weekend than a weekday.

February also represents one of the slowest parts of the year for Cape restaurants, so the boost comes at time of greatest need. Over the past several decades, the Valentine's dining experience morphed from tables-for-two into more of a gathering day, with tables, of 4, 6, and 8 increasingly common, which also helps the seasonal bottom line.

An added oyster boost?

Purveyors of the alleged aphrodisiac bi-valve get an extra leg up too. Popular holiday orders inlcudue oysters, sharable items, and extra desert sales, says chef Smythe who expects his restaurant to see increased order in both oysters and sweet treats.

While the myth of the love factor of the oyster itself might remain unproven, the love that the holiday brings for local restaurants proves itself over and over every year. "It is a good step toward gearing up toward a new season, said Taffar, "It is a beach of hope for the spring."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Do Valentines Oysters Make Restaurants Smile? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Valentine from the Earth

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:37:34 GMT

02 February 2025 - CAPE COD, MA - Celebrate Valentines Day with A Love Letter from our little blue marble.

"I give to you a gift, fresh bright winter days.... "

-- Jeff Norgeot, poet

Valentine from the Earth

02 February 2025 - CAPE COD, MA - Celebrate Valentines Day with A Love Letter to our little blue marble. Poem by Orleans poet Jeff Norgeot, set to the songs of the earth by Coast + Climate reporter Angela McNerney.

I give to you a gift fresh bright winter days

Followed by a spring of blue and sunny rays

I'll bring you summer comfort with soft and cooling breeze

For fall I'll give you wonder by the color of the trees

I'll decorate with clouds

Have birds sing just for you

I'll stay here by your side

With everything you do

Take a long deep breath

Feel the ground below

Remember that I love you

more than you can know ...

All I ask is one thing

For all I give to you

See me with your heart

And always love me too

Your friend,

The Earth

Scroll up to watch the postcard feature "Valentine from the Earth " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Avian Flu Widespread on Cape Cod – What to know

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 20:29:41 GMT

07 February, 2025 – CAPE COD, MA – The increase avian flu cases represents the biggest the U.S. has seen to date. Although Massachusetts has no known human cases, state and local authorities say following public guidelines will mitigate spillover and limit the risk of mutations.

“We have not seen human to human transmission, and if you have not handled or been around the direct environment of sick or dead birds, your risk for being infected with avian influenza is still very low at this time”

Lea Hamner

Contract Epidemiologist, Barnstable Health Department

What Is The Avian Flu?

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, HPAI or the avian flu, is a highly transmittable virus naturally carried by migratory birds, primarily water fowl. The new strain, H5N1, entered the U.S. in late 2021 and in 2022 the first infected wild birds in Massachusetts were detected on Cape Cod. It has spilled over onto domestic birds and dairy cattle, from which humans have caught the disease. There have been no known human in Massachuetts to date. Dairy cattle have been routinely tested in Massachusetts once a month since August last year. Only one poultry farm in the state – with 30 birds in Plymouth – had to be euthanized in late January 2025.

How many people have been infected in the U.S?

In the U.S. a total of 67 people have been infected since 2024, 24 through domestic birds, 40 through cattle. For three people the source could not be traced. “We have not seen human to human transmission. and if you have not handled or been around the direct environment of sick or dead birds, your risk for being infected with avian influenza is still very low at this time,” says Lea Hammer, Contract Epidemiologist for Barnstable Health Department.

What are the symptoms?

For most people the symptoms are very mild, resembling a flu or a cold, sometimes with red and swollen eyes. In January 2025 one person died. “Folks with underlying medical conditions that have a hard time fighting off respiratory infections could consider themselves to potentially be a higher risk group,” Hamner says. She adds that people on immunosuppressive therapies vulnerable to infections could also have a harder time with the avian flu. The number of people infected to date is to small to assess risk groups, Hamner says, and draws her conclusions of seasonal flu patterns.

Authorities stress to stay away from dead or sick birds, but to report any sightings of groups of five dead birds or any number of dead or sick raptors. John Herbert, director of bird conservation at Mass Audubon, says you do not have to be a birder to be able to spot the illness. “The avian flu affects their cognitive ability. So you can often see if they're struggling to fly, if their head is moving in odd directions, or if they’re not acting right, they can’t fly right, they’re not walking right,” Herbert says. “That’s when we ask our members and the public to report those sightings to the state of Massachusetts.”

Why is there an outbreak now?

The new strain is called H5N1 and entered the U.S. in late 2021 via wild birds. In 2022 the first infected wild birds in Massachusetts were detected on Cape Cod. John Herbert says he usually sees an uptick in avian flu cases during the winter months when birds normally congregate closer together, but MassWildlife believes that because this winter has been colder than recent years it is causing the birds to flock even closer in less and smaller areas of open water, leading to the unprecedented wide spreading we are seeing now, both in number of infected birds as well as geographically.

It is difficult to know how many wild birds have been infected, but state authorities estimate between 500-1000 birds with suspected – not preliminary positive – avian flu have been reported this season.

Are Backyard Flocks Safe?

According to Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources 138 million domestic birds have been impacted since 2022, leading to a rise in egg prices. Any flocks of under 3,000 birds count as non-commercial, there are several hundred backyard flocks in Massachusetts. According to MDAR, the state’s policy is to cover the costs of depopulations of commercial flocks.

All domestic poultry flocks on Cape Cod are backyard flocks. Owners are urged to keep their animals in an enclosure to limit contact with wild birds, and report any signs of illness to MDAR. What about consuming meat, eggs and dairy? According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention cooking beef, poultry and eggs all the way through kills the virus. For eggs and poultry meat that means an inner temperature of 165°F, for ground beef 160°F and whole cuts of beef should reach 145°F then rest for 3 minutes. Pasteurized milk is safe.

Pets, especially cats, tend to become seriously ill, according to state authorities, keep cats indoors and dogs on leash. Do not feed your pets raw poultry or raw pet food.

Can the virus mutate?

The more people that are affected the higher the risk of the virus getting used to humans and mutating. The risk of the virus spreading among the general public is low. If a person who has not been in contact with sick or dead birds has flu-like symptoms, it is unlikely the avian flu. However, if somebody has been handling birds and is showing symptoms it is important to let your health care provider know, so they can order test kits specifically designed for the avian flu. “The thing about flu is it’s pretty crafty. It can move and adapt and shift,” says Lea Hamner. “Reducing the opportunity for it to do that is pretty critical. And so reducing the number of human infections for it to mutate within a human to become more adaptable to humans is important.”

How Can I Help Sick Raptors

Bald eagles have died in the state and the U.S. due to the virus, MassWildlife says raptors are especially exposed to the virus since they feed on carcasses. They believe robust populations will be able to deal with the virus and remain stable, but Mass Audubon says reports from the public help them monitoring and plan ahead for vulnerable bird populations.

This article was amended 28 February for clarification. The backyard poultry in Plymouth are the only domestic flock to have been euthanized in Massachusetts – they are not the only backyard flock in the state.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Avian Flu Widespread on Cape Cod – What to Know" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Need advice? Call Massachusetts Department of Health 24/7 helpline: 617 983 6800

For More Information:

Barnstable Public Health Advisory on the avian flu

Avian Flu information by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Report sick or dead wild birds here

Report sick or dead domestic birds here

Portraits of Cape Artists: Marian Roth

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:29:16 GMT

In this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists, Provincetown artist Marian Roth explores the concept of village and the evolution of her art.

"I'm finding ways to incorporate different images... I feels almost like a voice ...”

Marian Roth

Artist

Portraits of Cape Artists: Marian Roth

31 January 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - In this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists, mixed media artist Marian Roth shares how she explores the concept of village

Scroll up to watch the this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists: Marian Roth

Scroll up to watch this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists in which Marian Roth shares how she creates the concept of village. Or click HERE to open it in a new window.

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Check out the full collection of Portraits of Cape Artists at Lower Cape TV's ArtsLight.org

Warm Wellfleet Winters

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:14:31 GMT

Preservation Hall brings soup socials for warmth and community from January through March.

"It's really just to et everyone together in these crazy times on a cold night ... "

-- Kristi Griffin, Preservation Hall Co-Chair

What is the soup social in Wellfleet?

31 January 2025 - WELLFLEET, MA -Preservation Hall holds monthly soup socials from January to March to bring some savory light to the long winters. The free event's sole goal is to bring people together and enjoy some warm soup on a cold night.

What happens at a soup social?

Preservation Hall co-chair Kristi Griffin said the social brings an opportunity for people of all walks of life in the Cape community to come together and socialize. During the Cape winter many restaurants and gathering places close - but the social provide an antidote to the sense of desolation that can sometimes set it. "It's just nice to have a place to get out," she said

When are the soup socials?

The soup gathering began about two years ago. The free pop-up event announces itself on social media and through word of mouth every few weeks between the holidays and the start of spring.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Warm Wellfleet WInters? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Preservation Hall website
Preservation Hall Facebook

What's Happening Here, Orleans' Rock Harbor?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:38:36 GMT

31 January, 2024 – ORLEANS, MA – This week, in our ongoing construction series, we are asking the Town of Orleans: What's happening at Rock Harbor? The nine million dollar project is halfway through its revitalizing and securing of the commercial area of the harbor for fishers to dock and unload and for the public to view to watch the catch of the da y.

"If you were visiting from states ... or the world that aren't on the seaboard, they're interested when they see lobsters or shellfish coming off the boats, they have questions for the fishermen and a lot of them visit Cape Cod and are interested in having local food."

Nathan Sears
Manager, Natural Resource Department, Town of Orleans

What is happening at Rock Harbor?

Rock Harbor in Orleans is currently a hard hat area. If you’ve been passing by or entered the limited parking you may have wondered – what’s happening here? So have we, so we asked Nathan Sears, manager for natural resources for the town of Orleans – what is happening here.

Sears told LCTV that we are seeing the fruition of a nine million dollar project that has been in the works for six years. A project Nathan Sears is hoping will reinvest in the town for many years to come.

What improvements are being made?

Not only is the commercial part of the working waterfront getting a total makeover, but the vision is for the harbor to be a landmark for visitors. Nathan Sears says the majority of the activity in the harbor is commercial, but yet improvements to the commercial area have been neglected and the commercial fishing fleet has been disregarded. Local fishers raised safety concerns, and last May the town of Orleans voted to address them.

What are the moving parts?

Workers are moving the existing bulkhead 20 feet into the parking lot, commercial fishers will have back-end slips for end-in docking instead of tying the boats side to side, meaning they no longer will have to be tied to the inside of other boats and coordinate with all other fishers to come and go.

The underground gasoline and diesel tanks pose an environmental risk with rising sea levels, and will be replaced with above ground fuel tanks.

By the unloading dock, people will now have a safe public viewing platform to watch the catch of the day be loaded onto wholesale trucks backing up to a lifting boom.

And, though not a part of the original planning, there are osprey nests to move to more feather-friendly tree tops.

Eight of the nine million dollars come from tax payers and one million in a grant from the State of Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council.

Little Rock Harbor has points of contacts all over the world as it funnels loads of bluefin tuna through Orleans onto the international market. Nathan Sears also hopes the project will make Orleans stand out when visitors choose their Cape Cod destinations.

Construction started November 2024 and the finishing date is planned for the last day of April this year, just in time for the summer season.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "What's Happening Here, Rock Harbor? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

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What's Happening Here, Harwich Park & Ride?

What is that Cough?

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 21:30:10 GMT

Highly contagious whooping cough joins flu, colds, and COVID in Cape Cod's winter air.

"We should accept that COVID is part of the landscape just like influenza and other respiratory disease.... "

-- Dr. Marie Constant, OCHS

What is making people sick this winter?

24 January 2025 - WELLFLEET, MA The cold and flu season has arrived with a vengeance and the health community is on high alert - including responding to a state advisory on the highly contagious whooping cough.

What is whooping cough?

As cold and season bears down full force on the Cape, the state has issued an advisory for whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial respiratory disease that appears to be spiking this season. While many of its symptoms mirror colds, flu, and COVID its distinctive the cough with what health care providers call a "barky" sound make it stand out.

Whooping cough - also referred to as pertussis - has increased in Massachusetts and now exceeds pre-pandemic levels, especially among adolescents. In August the Commonwealth issued a clinical advisory and last month Barnstable County issued an alert , noting this was already the worst season for whooping cough in more than a decade and six times higher than last year.

Why is whooping cough of concern?

Whooping cough is extremely contagious and also contagious over a long period of time. The infectious period can begin when symptoms first start and continue for as long as 21 days.

According to Dr. Constant from Outer Cape Health Services, the sound of the whooping cough cough raises a red flag and indicates that not only the immediate patient but also the entire inner circle family should receive antibiotics to prevent wider disease spread. She also also recommends five days of isolation to prevent transmission.

What about COVID?

Constant also pointed out that COVID hasn't disappeared either, although the "new normal" sees COVID as a less-scary disease with lower death rates and somewhat milder symptoms. "We should accept that COVID is part of the landscape just like influenza and other respiratory disease" she said.

Hiding away all winter doesn't solve the problem. Health care providers encourage Cape Codder to go forth and interact, but to remember the basics of prevention. Constant reminds us that prevention starts at home - and with your hands.

The lessons of the pandemic shouldn't be to hide away from all human contact, but to remember to wash hands thoroughly, to cough in the elbow and not into a room at large, and to stay home when sick to avoid spreading disease.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "What is that Cough? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Barnstable County whooping cough alert
November state alert about pneumonia and whooping cough
Five things to know about whooping cough from the American Lung Association
Whooping cough in adults fact sheet from Mass General Brigham
Upcoming TDaP vaccination clinic in Eastham Feb 05 2025
Access your own vaccination records through Commonwealth of Massachusetts

New Exhibition Highlights Human Trafficking On Cape Cod

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 20:22:12 GMT

24 January, 2025 – HYANNIS, MA – A new art exhibition at the Guyer Art Barn in Hyannis displays incarcerated women's thoughts and experiences with human trafficking on Cape Cod. Many female inmates have experienced being trafficked, the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office says that is no coincidence.

"It certainly goes on here. We might be a little different in the following way ... many people that come to our shores to work ... are sometimes exploited ... we are now pivoting to also include doing investigations on labor trafficking."

Robert Galibois
Cape And Islands District Attorney

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month and Cape Cod kicked it off with an art exhibition at the Guyer Art Barn in Hyannis last Friday.

"We very much believe in the raising awareness about human trafficking. I still feel like on the Cape there is so much education that still needs to happen," says Barbara Clarkson, Chief of Inmate Services and Programs at the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office. "I think if you took a poll tonight out of the people that were here, I think the majority of them would be shocked by what they heard."

Human trafficking is a reality on Cape Cod, it exists in two forms: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. According to the nonprofit organization Polaris, labor trafficking is "the crime of using force, fraud or coercion to induce another individual to work or provide service. Common types include agriculture, domestic work, restaurants, cleaning services, and carnivals."

The Cape And Islands District Attorney's Office has created a region-wide human trafficking task force, reaching over county borders to reach victims and conduct successful prosecutions. DA Robert Galibois says though the work to end human trafficking on Cape Cod at first centered around sex trafficking, the office is now pivoting to investigate labor trafficking too.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "New Exhibition Highlights Human Trafficking On Cape Cod" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Support:

Call the Cape Cod hotline: 774-822-0632
Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text: 233733

Ayuda En Español

Obtenga Ayuda
Teléfono Confidencial 1-888-373-788
Mensaje de Texto 233733

More information about this topic

Sewer Grants for Phase 1 Connections

ryanincles@gmail.com — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 19:13:18 GMT

As Orleans moves closer to its mid-March Phase 1 sewer connection deadline, the town just reached into the past to find some incentives to move residents over the current finish line.

"We were really looking for a way to help people .... "

-- Alexandra Fitch, Director Health & Human Services Town of Orleans

What are Orleans' sewer grants?

22 January 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - As Orleans moves closer to its mid-March Phase 1 sewer connection deadline, the town just reached into the past to find some incentives to move residents over the current finish line. Earlier this month, it announced it had received state approval to use a decades old pool of septic funds to offer $7500 grants to help year-round homeowners complete the mandatory connection.

Why are there sewer grants?

According to the Town of Orleans online Sewer System FAQ fact sheet, the cost for connecting to the sewer varies widely and expenses includes permitting and engineering, as well as actual construction, installation, and hook up. It suggests a property owner could spend anywhere between $7000 and $40,000 depending on the specifics of the site – a not insignificant investment.

Alexandra Fitch, the town’s director of health and human services, said the town wanted to find ways to help residents who were struggling financially with the connection requirement

Where do the sewer loans come from?

Decades ago, the town had a pool of state funds to help with the cost of Title V septic compliance. The fund still contained just under $200,000 and - as connecting to sewer became the replacement for Title V septic treatment - the town wondered if these funds might be part of a solution.

Fitch said the town received state approval to apply the funds for sewer connection costs and on January 6 Orleans opened up its new sewer grant program. The program will accept requests for up to $7500 until the funds have been disbursed.

Who can apply for a sewer grant?

Applicants for the connection grant need to meet three qualifications: First, they need to be under the official order to connect – in other words, their home is within the Phase 1 zone, which roughly mirrors the Orleans downtown district. Second, they must own and occupy year round a single family home. And third they must have been pre-approved for Barnstable County’s Cape Cod Aquafund loan program .

How can Orleans residents apply for the grant?

According to Fitch, the application form is available both online and at the town's health department. Residents should complete the short form and return it to the health department. The grant process will remain open until all the funds have been awarded.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Can Cape Cod Burn? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Orleans Sewer Information page
Orleans sewer FAQ page
Cape Cod Aquafund information page

Cape Fire Risk?

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:06:25 GMT

Could the Cape burn like California? We visit the Orleans Fire Department for more insight.

"As a fire department we're constantly watching the weather .... "

-- Geof Deering, Orleans Fire Chief

Could Cape Cod burn like California?

17 January 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - Could the Cape burn like California? The devastating LA fires have people looking close to home in a new way and we visit with Orleans Fire Chef Geof Deering to learn what could happen here.

Possible not probable

While watching home turn in cinders in seconds and eyeing the pitch pines of Cape Cod, one can't help but nervously ask ... could this happen here?"

"To me it's beyond comprehension" said Olreans Fire Chief Geof Deering, describing his reaction to the multiple fires that roared across Los Angeles, wiping out urban and suburban neighborhoods and licking the Pacific Ocean.

But while we saw many large fires this fall in Massachusetts, Deering said our region's dynamics differ from the West Coast. "Possible sure, but probably unlikely," he said in assessing the likelihood of watching our Cape Cod dunes burn.

Don't complain about the rain!

The Cape does carry a fire risk, but we also have one thing in our favor: wet soggy weather. Wind played a significant factor in the spread of the California fires, but our routine intense winds pack a different profile.

"One of the biggest differences is our weather," said Deering. "When we have 70 and 80 mile an hour winds many of the times here on Cape Cod there is also wind-driven rain."

Risk factors?

That doesn't mean the Cape is fire safe, though. Indeed, the increase in homes in and close by wooded areas, the build up of woody debris, and the on-going state-wide drought means the Cape can't ignore burn risks.

Last fall, as wildfires popped up across Massachusetts, the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shared that 45% of Massachusetts homes were in or near areas of wildfire risk. And in the fire-filled month of October alone the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services reported 196 brush fires - soaring about the typically average of 15 and nearly 4,000 acres in the state burned in 2024.

Prevent and prepare!

Deering say this region focuses on preparing and - most importantly - preventing. Departments watch weather, and ensure that response skills, training and equipment are ready but the deepest work lies in taking action that prevent large scale fire. On that cape that means removing overgrowth and trimming dead trees that could burn, spark, and transmit fire. Local fire department working with both local conservation departments and the state conservation department to take on measures like controlled burns to remove and manage the debris.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Can Cape Cod Burn? " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Portraits of Cape Artists: Allie Richards

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:53:37 GMT

In this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists, fine art photographer Allie Richards tackled the Northern Lights over Cape Cod with dramatic effect.

"My job is to translate the beauty of the Cape into print...”

Allie Richards

FIne Arts Photographer

Portraits of Cape Artists: Allie Richards

16 January 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - In this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists, fine art photographer Allie Richards tackled the Northern Lights over Cape Cod with dramatic effect. (Correction - the app Allie uses most is called Glendale App.)

Scroll up to watch the this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists: Allie Richards

Scroll up to watch this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists in which Allie Richards shares how she made dramatic images of the Northern Lights over Cape Cod. Or click HERE to open it in a new window.

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Check out the full collection of Portraits of Cape Artists at Lower Cape TV's ArtsLight.org

Record Year For Eastham's Feathered Patients

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 23:04:47 GMT

17 January, 2025 – EASTHAM, MA – Winter on Cape Cod may be quiet in terms of tourism, but other unique visitors come here in abundance, some traveling thousands of miles to reach our shores. Every year wildlife rehabilitators at Wild Care in Eastham see more and more migrant seabirds are currently filling the rehabilitation kennels and pools at Wild Care in Eastham, and they believe climate change could be one of the reasons for the record number of patients.

"Taking care of a sea duck is an arduous task, and we are here for it."

Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director
Wild Care Cape Cod

Winter on Cape Cod may not see many tourists, but there are other visitors flying thousands of miles every off-season to reach our shores. This winter has proven to be a real duck year for Cape Cod and at Wild Care in Eastham, the rehabilitation kennels and pools are filled with sea birds. Stephanie Ellis, executive director says each year sets a new record of feathered patients.

"Right now we have a surf scoter in our care, we e have two white winged scoters, two black scoters, and so that represents the three species of Scoter actually in North America," says Ellis.
"And then we have a long tailed duc, three Cory's Sheerwaters."

The latter, Ellis explains, are pelagic birds meaning the spend their lives out at sea. They breed outside Portugal and come to feast in Cape Cod's nutrient-filled waters in the winters.

Though these species are common here, it is very uncommon for Wild Care to have this many of them at once. Ellis believes the weather has something to do with the record number. "What typically brings these birds in is Northeast storms. That's when we (...) get the bathtubs ready, because we're gonna get a lot of seabirds."

But how do you take care of ducks? Well, you gotta make sure to have them all in a row, you know, figuratively.

"Taking care of a sea duck is an arduous task, and we are here for it," says Ellis. "So what we do is when we get these ducks (...) they get an exam and (...) x-rays, and then we hydrate them, and then we can begin providing nutrition based on their body condition."

When the birds are showing signs of strength, it is time for swim training – a key component in getting them to start waterproofing their feathers.

“When they're feeling well, they will naturally preen their feathers, which means they align them, the feathers zip together to repel water. But also, birds have a gland on their rump that secretes oils, and so they squeeze that and they rub it on their feathers, and it maintains the integrity of the feathers. It waterproofs them, it deters parasites," Ellis explains. "And so when they're not feeling well, they're not preening.

The rehabilitators don't release the patients until water is rolling off of the duck's backs, literally.

"My staff look at their waterproofing and actually dig through the feathers. There are very different layers of waterproofing, and so we just need to make sure that no water is penetrating their or saturating their feathers at all," says Ellis. Water saturating the feathers means hypothermia in the feathered world.

"The water should make beads on the duck's back and literally roll off. We also fly the ducks. And what I mean by that is my staff holds them and allow them to flap."

Once the birds "check all the boxes" Ellis and her staff look for places rich in the species being released. "And right now, the sea ducks are everywhere. It's wonderful."

We are nearing the end of the coastal waterfowl hunting period in Massachusetts, but Ellis has promised her patients that they will be released into the wild once the hunting period is over. These feathered friends are safe this season.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Record year For Eastham's Feathered Patients" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Helltown — Fact or Fiction?

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 02:18:21 GMT

Once there was a settlement beyond Provincetown. They called it Helltown.

Herring Cove

What was Helltown?

01.08.2025 -- PROVINCETOWN, MA -- Every once in awhile you'll hear one of the elder Cape Codders speak about Helltown. It was said to be a mysterious fishing encampment active from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, located near Herring Cove and Race Point at the end of Cape Cod, MA.

The settlement was comprised of Provincetown cod fishermen and seamen from surrounding areas and served as a rustic home base during the harsh winter months. These living quarters provided quicker access to the sea and grew into a place full of myth and legend.

Verifiable historical evidence is scarce, but what remains, paints a picture of a rugged and isolated existence. Over time Helltown has become a blend of fact and fiction, with local Cape Codders providing accounts of what life may have been like there.

Was Helltown real?

The very name "Helltown" still evokes curiosity and intrigue among locals and visitors alike. According to local authors, historians and natives, this small fishing encampment at the end of Cape Cod is said to have existed near Herring Cove and Race Point, just beyond Provincetown.

From the late 1800s into the early 1900s, "Helltown" served primarily as a seasonal campsite for Provincetown fishermen, as well as other seamen from the surrounding areas. In the harsh winter months, this close proximity cut the time it took to get to the fishing grounds, making it an ideal for cod fishing.

This uncompromising outpost functioned much like a type of hunting lodge for those willing to endure the unforgiving elements while making their livelihoods on the waters of Cape Cod in the winter. Historians say it likely did exists - but just where the line lies between folklore and fact may not be quite so clear as to what went on out there.

Educator and Author, Stephan L. Cohen talks about the scarcity of historical records on Helltown and said that the legends of the area persists in local folklore, and books about the area, making it a fascinating part of Provincetown's storied past regardless of where that line may actually lie.

What was Helltown like?

According to various accounts, life in Helltown was far from idyllic. Fishermen were said to live in crude, makeshift shelters, battling both the harsh winters and the isolation of their environment. Some stories suggest that the inhabitants of Helltown were a tough, almost mythical group of individuals, whose lives were shaped by the sea and the dangerous work it entailed.

The combination of physical hardship and isolation of the camp likely bred a culture of self-sufficiency and toughness, qualities that have become embodied in the lore of the area. In the short documentary, local writer and conservationist Dennis Minsky and Provincetown historian Lisa King recount tales of this settlement, sharing some of the tales that continue on to this day.

How do we know about Helltown?

Over the years, the line between fact and fiction has blurred, with much of what we "know" about Helltown coming from oral histories passed down through generations of Cape Codders. While concrete evidence of its existence is elusive, the tales of this mysterious encampment continue to intrigue those with an interest in Provincetown's past. Today, visitors to the area can still feel the echoes of Helltown's rugged history when they explore the windswept beaches of Race Point and Herring Cove.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Helltown" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

You might also like this short history documentary, Old-Timers Remember Fishing:

Sustainability of Elementary Schools Explored

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 01:18:46 GMT

What does the future hold for Nauset's elementary schools? Towns receive a $150,000 grant to explore the question.

" There was an acknowledgment on all our parts that our elementary schools in particular were dealing with challenges around enrollment, pressures on operating expenses, and some need to invest in infrastructure.

"

-- Peter Lombardi, Brewster Town Manager

What does the future hold for Nauset elementary schools?

09 January 2025 -- BREWSTER, MA -- In December, local officials announced Brewster, Orleans and Eastham received a $150,000 state grant to study elementary and middle school efficiency and sustainability. The one-year study, set to begin later this year, will examine Stony Brook, Eddy, Orleans and Eastham Elementary, as well as Nauset Regional Middle School. According to officials, results will influence how the towns approach the potential regionalization and consolidation of school resources moving forward.

What will the grant be used for?

By the end of the first quarter, the towns will select consultant to work on gathering and analyzing data about the elementary schools. The grant will support the work of the consultants and the public processes that will lead to a set of recommendations for best structure of elementary education in the Nauset School District.

What is the timeline?

The grant has been awarded. The next step, selection of consultants, is currently underway and should be completed by the end of first quarter. The town expect the research and analyze process to take about year, with a set of recommendations in the first quarter of 2026. The exact recommendations will then have their own implementation timelines thereafter.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Sustainability of Elementary Schools Explored " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Snuffy The Leaf Blower Rides The Trails

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 02:49:14 GMT

10 January 2025 – BREWSTER, MA – Nickerson State Park visitors and Cape Cod Rail Trail wayfarers alike have probably spotted "Snuffy" as it snuffles dried leaves from local paths and byways - and we wanted to learn more about this odd looking machine, starting with the way "Snuffy The Leafblower" earned its name from the way it snuffs up leaves and shares a certain resemblance to Mr. Snuffleupagus, the Sesame Street resident.

"We get more questions on Facebook posts than anything else. It's more of kids asking, what is it doing? Why are you out here doing this? And we'll explain that to people."

Susie Johnston

Forest and Park Supervisor of Nickerson State Park and the Cape Cod rail Trail

If you've been enjoying the Cape Cod Rail Trail between Yarmouth and Wellfleet, chances are you've crossed paths with an odd looking, zero turn, close quarters leaf blower. It does not have a wheel, but behind the control sticks you will usually find Susie Johnston, Forest and Park Supervisor of Nickerson State Park and the Cape Cod rail Trail, managing paths and trails for the Massachusetts’ Department of Conservation and Recreation.

“This is a Grasshopper 900X. It's got a Buffalo Turbine on the front of it and it does a very wonderful job blowing leaves off of campsites, off of roads, off of trails,” says Johnston. When she is asked what the Grasshopper is called she laughs. “I call it the Snuffleupagus. It doesn’t look like a grasshopper or a buffalo. It looks like a Snuffleupagus.”

Named after Mr. Aloysius Snuffleupagus, the Sesame Street resident, Snuffleupagus – Snuffy for short – the machine share certain physical features with the muppet: a curved tube resembling an elephant’s trunk, blowing leaves rather loudly, keeping wayfarers and furry friends safe from slipping.

“So the Snuffleupagus, we use it all over. We use it here at the park on the campsites, blowing off tick habitats. We use it on the bike trails in the park. We use it on the roads within the park, blowing them off for cyclists. Walkers. Special events that are happening in the park. And we use it out on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, 26 miles of it. Goes from Homer Park up to Wellfleet Hollow State Campground,” says Johnston.

Twenty six miles in Snuffy’s small cabin makes for an uncomfortable ride, so the park supervisors usually divide it into two days. “On days where we have like after a windstorm or any big rainfall kind of thing, it can take a full day to get up to one end and back.

Johnston, who just finished her 19th camping season with the DCR maneuvers Snuffy, a zero turn machine, as if she's born to do it. “Zero term means you're not using a steering wheel. There's two control sticks (…) you can make yourself spin in circles really fast. (…) It's really something you wanna sit and spend time with before you're going out on the trails and being around people,” says Johnston.

The leaf blower has surpassed its fluffier four and a half year old namesake in age. Five years have passed since the DCR received the machine, and since then Snuffy has been roaming Cape Cod alone. But in November last year, the family got bigger: Snuffy got a sibling.

“So my machine is a Kubota and I love this machine,” says Terri Souza, Forest and Park Supervisor for the Cape Cod Rail Trail, at the DCR. She points to a fan-looking add-on at the front of the Kubota with a small tube pushing the air, turning the Kubota to a leaf blower too. “This attachment is a blower, so it works very much like the Snuffleupagus as it will blow the leaves off the trail,” says Souza.

“We have a bed in the back that tilts up. So last year we built 250 picnic tables and we used mainly this to take them out,” she adds. “We also use it a lot if we need to get wood, move wood or debris and stuff like that. So it's great. Plus you can be inside and it's heated.”

Terry Souza retired after 30 years in banking and took up supervising in Nickerson State Park and the rail trail. A decision she has not regretted. “Oh, it's beautiful. It's gorgeous. Just being out here in nature, being able to enjoy all that Cape Cod has to offer, and especially Nickerson State Park. We're very lucky to have this,” says Souza. “And the rail trail, it's priceless. Twenty six miles that you go through different towns, different ecological places. You can be next to the bay, you can be next to a cranberry bog, ponds. We’re so lucky to have it.”

This dynamic duo – or should we say quartet – is dedicated to to making sure Cape Codders can keep feeling lucky and enjoy local gems in the Cape’s great outdoors all year round.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Snuffy The Leaf Blower Keeps Cape Codders Safe" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Recycle Old Holiday Lights

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 04:27:07 GMT

Don't toss those old tree lights - Barnstable County says there's a better way with the Holiday Strand Light Program.

“I's really all access for any member of the community regardless of a transfer station sticker..."

Kari Parcell

Barnstable County

What can you do with old holiday lights?

19 December, 2024 - BARNSTABLE, MA. Don't toss those old tree lights - Barnstable County says there's a better way with the Holiday Strand Light Program. The Cape-wide program collects holiday lights for recycling across all 15 towns at all transfer stations, no dump sticker required.

What is the Holiday Strand Light Program?

For the past seven year, Barnstable County in partnership with AmeriCorps turns landfill-bound old holiday lights into materials for new electronics. The program collects holiday lights at transfer stations at all Cape Cod towns; after collection they go to a firm in Dennis where a recycling process strips metals out of the light strands for eventual use in electronics.

What does the program cost?

There is no cost to recycle lights. Anyone - with or without a dump sticker - can drop off old light strands in the special holiday light recycling bins any any of the region's 15 transfer stations.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Recycle Holiday Lights " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Barnstable County holiday lights recycling page

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One Storm Away

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 04:37:17 GMT

The forces of erosion loom large - and more than one house could lie just a storm away from the ocean's all-consuming power.

“On Cape Cod Bay, the erosion rate is about a foot a year..."

Mark Borelli

Coastal Geologist, Center for Coastal Studies

What is coastal erosion doing?

17 December 2024 -- WELLFLEET, MA -- Cape Cod has been telling the story of erosion for thousands of years. LCTV interviewed Coastal Geologist Mark Borrelli from the Center for Coastal Studies, who explains how erosion works within the unique geology of the Cape. One house in particular may be just one storm away from seeing the consequences of building on the coast.

What is an example of erosion in action?

For thousands of years Cape Cod has been the palette upon which the seas have painted the story of erosion. According to Coastal Geologist Mark Borrelli from the Center for Coastal Studies, one Wellfleet house in particular may be just a single storm away from seeing the consequences of building on the coast - and this house forms a case study for how erosion moves relentlessly.

What is the history of the house?

The Wellfleet property, once owned by Mark and Barbara Blasch, was built in 2010 - less than 15 years ago. It drew attention not just for its size and location but for its vulnerability. Situated just north of the narrow strip of sand known as "The Gut," the house has been fighting an ongoing battle with the forces of nature since the day it was built.

The coastal bank beneath the property has eroded at an accelerated rate of six to seven feet per year, according to a 2020 estimate. Now, the foundation of the house lies mere inches from the eroding edge, and the prospect of continued coastal erosion raises questions about its future; on the bluff or in the sea.

What fight have the homeowners made against erosion?

Despite what appears to be dire circumstances for the house's future the owners (first the Blasches, then John Bonomi Jr.) have been pursuing various ways to stabilize the property. None of these options has been more controversial than a proposed rock revetment .

The proposed seawall-like structure intended to protect the house from the inevitable erosion of the bank was repeatedly rejected by the Wellfleet Conservation Commission - and according to coastal geologist Mark Borrelli - it was rejected for good scientific reasons. The commission's decision to deny the rock revetment a second time was recently upheld in court by Barnstable County Superior Court Judge Michael K. Callan on October 2, 2024. Sea walls provide protection for a home owners property but end up negatively impacting their neighbor's property where the energy of the water is redirected.

Why was a revetment rejected?

The Blasches first requested permission to construct a 241-foot rock revetment in December 2018, but their request was denied. Coastal Geologist, Mark Borelli explained that redirecting the energy of the water not only impacts neighboring properties, but can also accelerate the loss of beach. A revetment doesn't actually stop erosion.

In 2021, despite an appeal, the Wellfleet Conservation Commission again refused to approve the plan. The reasoning behind the rejection was twofold: first, there were alternative solutions available, including the possibility of moving the house back from the bank, and second, the rock revetment could disrupt the natural flow of water and sand, potentially causing more harm than good to the surrounding ecosystem.

Borrelli agreed, saying that particular stretch of land provides a "source" of sand for other parts of the Cape's coastline.

How did the legal battle over the revetment end?

The legal battle continued. In February 2019, attorney James Hoeland filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Blasch family trust against the conservation commission. Despite selling the house to Bonomi in 2021, the lawsuit continued under the new owner.

On October 16, 2024, the decision was appealed once more and this time, according to local media sources, the owner is required to either move the house or demolish it. The property now sits in limbo, with no clear resolution on the horizon. As of late November 2024, the house is no longer listed for sale.

What is the science behind erosion?

So why is this property so vulnerable to erosion, and why is the revetment such a controversial solution? Borrelli explained that the location of the house virtually guarantees an erosion problem.

The nearby “Gut” is what is called a "nodal point for high-velocity water flow" - in other words. the site sits adjacent to a spot on the coast where currents split and carry sand in different directions. This means that sand gets pulled away from the area without being replaced, leading to inevitable erosion along the coastal bank.

The Blasches' initial efforts to combat erosion involved dumping large amounts of sand in front of the property, a method known as "sacrificial sand." From 2013 to 2019, the couple placed over 5,000 cubic yards of sand at the base of the bank. Soon after that sand was washed away, making the strategy largely ineffective .

What is the current status of the house at 1440 Chequessett Neck Road?

Currently, the property stands teetering on the edge of its own destiny. Since the last appeal for a stone revetment was denied in October 2024, the owners are required to remove the structure or demolish it. The turret on the house was removed but no further action has been taken.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "One Storm Away" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more LCTV stories on Cape Cod erosion check out:

Losing Ground

For more information:

StormSmart Coasts Program
Coastal Processes and Ecosystems Laboratory at Center for Coastal Studies
Barnstable County's Flood and Erosion education section

Food Really Is Medicine

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 03:55:34 GMT

The Food is Medicine program in Truro matches local agriculture with health care delivery - and a makes positive impact on patients.

“Generally speaking, what we are needing is a paradigm shift in how we think about health,..."

Leo Blandford

Director of Health Equity, Outer Cape Health Services

What is the Food is Medicine program?

16 December, 2024 - TRURO, MA - A partnership between Sustainable CAPE and Outer Cape Health Care brings "food is medicine" to patients with 8 different diagnosis while at the same time supporting local agriculture. The work will become part Mass Health programming in January and could serve as a model state-wide.

Is food medicine?

According to both Sustainable CAPE and Outer Cape Health Care, the linkage between food and health has long been well established. For the eight diagnoses - which includes illness such as cardio-vascular issues and diabetes - targeted by this program, food truly has proven to be an effective medicine, creating measurable positive changes in patient outcomes.

The work has proven so beneficial, say program proponents, that MassHealth will be incorporating it in January. Sustainble CAPE founding director Francie Randolph, said that Food is Medicine could even serve as a model for elsewhere in Massachusetts or the country.

How does the Food is Medicine program work?

The program matches Outer Cape Health Services patients who have both one of the diagnoses and a participating health insurer with a customized bag of locally grown vegetables and proteins, as well as recipes, cooking tips, and information about the farmer who produced the food. Health insurance covers the cost of the food, much as it would cover the cost of any other medicine.

Meanwhile, on the farmer's side, Sustainable CAPE sources the vegetables, fish, and meat from regional growers building an additional year-round predicable market for the products.

Is the idea of food as medicine new?

The concept of using food as medicine in a modern "prescriptive" concept has been tested in different locations over the past decade -- but the relationship between food and heath reaches back into history. The very roots of a connected food/health relationship reflect ancient ideas whose time has come again, said OCHS's director of health equity Leo Blandford.

"Generally speaking, what we are needing is a paradigm shift in how we think about health," he said. "So while while we need medications, we need these interventions through specialists, I think there are also ways that we have traditionally done things that we kinda' have strayed away from. So this partnership with Sustainble CAPE allows us to have an exploration .... this is not new information - in a lot of ways we are are returning to what we knew".

Why use local food?

A unique element of the Cape program lies in the way it connects locally produced food and health care. Food grown locally packs a bigger nutritional punch than food grown for its shipping attributes, said Randolph. The use of local producers also returns health care dollars into the regional economic ecosystem. The net result is both healthier people and a healthier community.

"What the research is showing is tht if these kinds of programs were scaled across the United States, we would be saving millions of lives and billions in health care costs," she said "If we can do that AND support our local farmers AND create a strong and more resilient food system that's local for all of us, it's beyond a win-win."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Food Really IS Medicine " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Food is Medicine Massachusetts - state wide initiative
Food is Medicine project from the federal Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Sustainable CAPE

You might also like ... Unlocking Health Through History (November 2024)

Santa Paws In Brewster Brought Hundreds Of Visitors

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 22:21:16 GMT

Don't believe in Santa? Well, now there is evidence. Last Sunday at the third annual event Santa Paws in Brewster Dog Park, hundreds of two and four legged friends waited for a photo op with the bearded midwinter visitor.

"People love their dogs. We love our dogs. Any way that we can celebrate them"

Jessica Thomas

Vice President, Friends of Brewster Dog Park

8 December 2024 – BREWSTER, MA – Guru, AKA The Mayor, the three year old Keeshond has been coming to Brewster Dog Park every day since it opened in 2022, when Guru was only five months old. “A lot of people call him the mayor just because he just walks around and has a presence about him,” says owner Matt Rust. “He just loves to see all his friends.”

What is Santa Paws

And 8 December, Guru was seeing more friends than usual with several hundreds of visitors eagerly filling the dog park. Santa had arrived. And for those who don't believe in Santa, there is photo evidence. Seventy five dog families were waiting in line for a photo op with the bearded midwinter visitor. One of the four legged portrait-savvy participants was 10 year old Otto, the Great Dane. Otto who is, let us say, vertically gifted, had borrowed his owner’s Christmas sweater for the occasion.

What is the Friends Of Brewster Dog Park?

Among the hustle and bustle, barking and wail tagging, Jessica Thomas, Vice President of the nonprofit The Friends of Brewster Dog Park, was coordinating the event. “We have an amazing silent auction here today, in addition to the pet photos with Santa (…) with probably a thousand dollars or more worth of beautiful goods,” said Jessica. “All of the proceeds generated today all go straight to the Friends of Brewster Dog Park.” Jessica said she is hoping the funds will make a long-wanted expansion of the park happen. “We're really hoping one day to be able to utilize some of the land that we have here to add a training area,” she said.

New visitors find their way to the dog park every year thanks to Santa Paws. "What I think is really awesome is when we get the word out there... And I have someone that just signed up and she said 'I've never been here before. This place is absolutely amazing. I'm gonna start coming all the time.' That is a huge win," said Jessica. "And those people end up turning into great supporters for the park."

The third annual event Santa Paws is all about community. “What stands out to me at events like this is just the community. People were looking forward to this. People love their dogs. We love our dogs. Any way that we can celebrate them, take them to the park here, make their friends, a lot of the dog owners become friends with each other,” said Jessica. “You know, you bring your kids to get your pictures with Santa taken, so people want their pictures with their dogs taken. it’s just a fun thing.”

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Four Legged Friends Welcome Midwinter Visitor To Brewster" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

SLIDESHOW

Cheers to the Pumpkin Libation

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 03:05:52 GMT

Pumpkins make a festive holiday drink - and dreaming up the libation is all part of the art of mixology.

"To me it is creating flavors, it's creating an experience, sometimes it's creating a mood, it's also a piece of art to me. I feel that every cocktail I put out I want it to evoke some kind of emotion or feeling or memory for somebody. It's very sensory ... it's a creative outlet ...”

Paula Ribeiro, bar manager at Las Chinas

What's in a pumpkin martini?

2 December 2024 -- ORLEANS, MA -- Pumpkin Pie isn't just for Thanksgiving, it's for drinking! Las Chidas owner Meredith Gallant shares her journey in the restaurant industry and her love for tequila - and how the art of mixology creates a cocktail menu highlighting tequila and mezcal, moving beyond traditional drinks. Working with bar manager Paula Ribeiro, they duo prepare for a seasonal mixology class featuring a pumpkin pie martini, using vegan alternatives and fall flavors to enhance the experience.

Scroll up to watch Pumpkin Libations and the Art of Mixology or click HERE to open it in a new window.

You Might Also Like ...

Check out the full collection of Portraits of Cape Artists at Lower Cape TV's ArtsLight.org

Hanging up the Keys

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 01:53:28 GMT

The average person outlives their ability to drive by 7 to 10 years. During Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, Mass DoT and the Registry of Motor Vehicles talk about planning for the inevitable conversation about hanging up the keys.

“Driving truly is a very complex task..."

Michele Ellicks

Community Outreach, Mass Registry of Motor Vehicles

What is Older Driver Safety Awareness Week?

06 December 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Drivers 75 years old and older have a higher rate of accidents per mile driven - and during Older Driver Safety Awareness week, Mass DoT and the Registry of Motor Vehicles say planning and open conversation can keep everyone safer.

How long can people drive?

According Michele Ellicks from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, people can drive as long as they have the physical and mental ability to drive - age alone isn't the determining factor. But on average by about 75, many people have experienced health issues that could impact driving - and the data reflects that in the accident rates. That's why Massachusetts requires drivers over the age of 75 to renew their licenses in person and take an eye exam rather than auto-renewing online or by mail. The Registry has a special dedicated phone number specifically for helping older drivers make appointments: 857-368-8005

What are some signs of driving challenges?

A host of signs could suggest some type of impairment that could impact driving. These might include inappropriate speed (either too fast or two slow), difficulty seeing road signs or people along the side of the road, difficultly seeing in the dark or at dusk, or forgetting how to get from place to place on a familiar route. Underlying causes might be physical weakness, cognitive decline, or prescription side effects that could change response and reaction time, vision, or ability to brake and steer. The Registry's website includes a special section highlighting what to watch out for.

What is driving retirement planning?

This year's awareness week focuses on retirement planning - for driving. Eventually, everyone reaches a point where driving is no longer safe and it will be time to hang up the keys. For many people, they see this happen first with their grandparents or parents - and they may be the ones to have the uncomfortable conversation about hanging up the keys.

Pre-planning provides a way to make those conversations a bit more planned. When both the driver and their family pre-plan approaches to car-free transportation the transition can be far less jarring. Ellicks points to local senior centers as key to this planning; they offer both transportation resources as well as, in some cases, transportation services as well. Tips for getting around vary from community to community and situation to situation, but planning offers a saner path to finding those resources than waiting until a driving crisis hits.

What about technology?

In-vehicle technologies, like crash avoidance and lane tracking, bring a new suite of safety tools for drivers. Research shows that these features make a difference - but the catch is they need to be used. Another tip for older drivers is to take the time and ask the questions to learn how to use these technologies; they might be new and unfamiliar, but using them can add up to safer road use.

How should driving challenge be addressed?

Ellicks says that one of the most effective ways to understand an older driver's change in abilities is to simply drive with them. If risk factors seem apparent, the observed drive can be a specific way to ask questions - at a neutral time, not in the middle of the drive! In addition, health care providers, other adults who have left behind driving, or different friends and family might be conduits for the conversation. If all else fails, law enforcement can also help.

The bottom line in Massachusetts is that each driver is responible for keeping the roads safe. Judgement on "keeping the keys" lies with each individual - and together we all make the roads a place where other drivers, pedestrians, and bicycles can safely co-exist.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Turning in the Keys " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

RMV website section on older drivers
RMV's your health and driving website
RMV info phone line for older drivers - appointments and information: 857-368-8005
Cape Cod RTA free/reduced bus fares for seniors
Cape Cod RTA SmartDart service
Information for health care providers about older driver at AOTA

Beware Cryptocurrency Scams – How Cape Codders Can Protect And Heal

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:13:18 GMT

Cryptocurrency fraudsters scammed American seniors out of more than $3.4 billion dollars last year - and Cape Cod is no exception.

“Many people, whether they're disabled or not, but primarily people with disabilities, some of them might not be able to exit their home. So it's important to give them a time and a space where they can make their voices heard."

Patrick Phipps

Disability Rights Advocate, CORD

6 December, 2024 – ORLEANS, MA – Cryptocurrency has gone from the fringes of society to the very center of it. In Orleans alone seven cryptocurrency ATM kiosks are registered on Google Maps, appearing in stores such as Cumberland Farms, Stop & Shop and Shaw’s. Because crypto is decentralized and harder for law enforcement to trace it is increasingly used in financial scams.

What Are Financial Scams?

This year the Orleans police have seen a small increase in reported cryptocurrency scams targeting Cape Cod’s seniors. Although it isn't rising at the same rate as national scams, the Cape isn't immune, either.

“We haven't seen a lot of variations of it, here in Orleans at least,” says Andrew McLaughlin, Lieutenant at the Orleans Police Department. He says the cryptocurrency scams in Orleans have followed a typical pattern: The phone rings, an imposter says they are from the bank’s fraud department, someone is trying to steal money from your account and the bank believes someone from inside the bank is involved. They say: do not call the bank or law enforcement. Would you be willing to help us solve this case?

“And of course they’re gonna say yes,” says Lt. McLaughlin. The fraudsters emphasize urgency and emergency, putting the victim in a state of heightened emotions. Because the brain’s natural stress response is to lock in on the threat, it cannot access rational thinking, a biological response the scammer make full use of.

What Do Financial Scams Look Like?

The victim is told to withdraw a large sum of money from their account, go to a cryptocurrency ATM machine and deposit it via a QR code. Once deposited, it is divided into many different digital wallets, making it difficult for law enforcement to find it.

Are There Financial Scams On Cape Cod?

Orleans police have had at least 8 reported scams in Orleans in 2024, with total losses of around $30,000. Lieutenant McLaughlin says that because the fees at the kiosks are high - up to 20%- a large reason for using them would be to hide traces of the scammers through the nature of crypto currency.

What is being done to stop these scams?

The AARP is lobbying for states to ban the kiosks. The Federal Trade Commission calls the kiosks "a payment portal for scammers." So how do you protect yourself? It starts with awareness, say experts.

“Educate yourself,” says Lt. McLaughlin. He points to the Federal Trade Commission’s website , Town websites and the Police Department's website and social media . He says removing as much information about yourself as possible from the Internet can also be a protective measure.

“It can be exhausting seeking out this information,” he said. “If somebody's calling you, telling you that you need to do this, and if you don't, these are the consequences – stop. Take a breath. If it is in fact true, there is no major rush of dealing with this things.” He adds that nobody is immune to scams.

Who Falls For A Scam?

In fact, everybody is vulnerable to scams, but in different ways. At FINRA Investor Education Foundation research shows that peoples’ viewpoints of the world makes us prone to believe in different types of scams.

“For instance, individuals who believe that wealth is earned through lucky breaks (…) are more likely to be victimized in opportunity scams like sweepstakes, lottery and investment scams,” explains Christine Kieffer, Senior Director at FINRA Foundation. “On the other hand, individuals who have a strong sense of duty to authority, where they believe that it's their civic duty to believe authority and follow authority and follow the rules, are more likely to be victimized by authority based scams like scams that tell us they're helping us with our account (…) or even a grandparent scam where someone's claiming that they are an authority in another country, and you need to pay to help your grandchild.”

Who Is Targeted In Financial Scams?

All types of people may lie on the receiving end of the scams, but older people seem to sit in the center of the target, especially for certain forms of scamming. According to Kieffer, “Older populations are victimized more frequently in certain types of scams that target fear, grandparent scams, these account takeover scams where the scammer is pretending to help them, and tech support scams. These are really, really devastating to older populations. And sometimes individuals are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars."

How Many Financial Scams Are There Every Year?

The Elder Justice Initiative by the Department of Justice targets financial fraud exploiting our seniors. The FBI Office The Internet Crime Complain Center , IC3, receives 2 and a half thousand reports every day. The biggest portion is from folks aged 60 and above. In 2023, 100,000 people above 60 reported losses of over $3,4 billion.

Who Are The Victims?

“I hear all the time: I cannot believe I fell for this,” says Lt. McLaughlin. A lot of these people (…) are extremely intelligent. They've owned their own businesses. (…) They're extremely well educated, have multiple degrees. I've talked to these people and they cannot believe they fell for it.” When a person is in a state of heightened emotion they are indiscriminately unable to access rational thinking. The scammers have hacked the human brain’s stress response, a so called amygdala hijacking.

“Fraudsters love to manipulate our human emotions our human nature,” says Kieffer. “There are many neuroscientists that study the way we react under stress. And oftentimes our brain goes right to our sort of our primitive brain, right to the amygdala. And the amygdala is the center of the emotion. And so in many cases, the scam is something that individuals call an amygdala hijacking, whereas they hijack our emotional state and suspend our rational state in order to have us succumb to their desires.”

How Can You Get Help After Financial Scams?

Not every crime is reported to the police - but Kieffer urges victims to report the scam, as well as reaching out to friends and family, advocate organizations such as FINRA and their victim support collaboration project Give An Hour .

She says telling someone will break the spellbound state; this is especially true while the scam is ongoing. Fear-based scams are very efficient she says because “it encourages us to act now before our rational brain can kick in and before we have an opportunity to tell someone else. When you've been approached by someone who's raising your emotions about an emergency related to money, telling someone else is one of the most important things you can do. (…) This secrecy adds to the effectiveness of [the scammers’] pitch. And (…) it keeps us from getting the help that we need to walk away from the scam.”

Financial scams are particularly steeped in shame and victim-blaming. “If you've been a victim of a scam, it's important for you to know that you are not at fault,” says Kieffer. “The scammers manipulated your emotions, they've manipulated your benevolence, your desire to help someone, your desire to protect your accounts, and they are to blame. It's very important that you take the steps you need to get help with the emotional aftermath of a scam. (…) Remember, it's not your fault.”

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Beware Cryptocurrency Scams – How Cape Codders Can Protect And Heal" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Support:

VictimConnect Resource Center 855-484-2846
U.S. Senate’s Committee on Aging Fraud Hotline 855-303-9470
Securities Helpline for Seniors 844-574-3577

Back To The Roots At Eastham's Turnip Festival

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:07:40 GMT

Last weekend, Eastham went back to the roots with its 21st turnip festival. To show just how far and deep those roots stretch, members of the wampanoag nation were there to sing, dance and teach their craft.

“People are very receptive to songs and getting up and moving and learning about the people whose land that they are upon, because this is our ancestral homeland."

Kitty Nanaweeta Hendricks-Miller

Manager, Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers

29 November, 2024 – EASTHAM, MA – Last weekend, Eastham went back to the roots with its 21st turnip festival. To show just how far and deep those roots stretch, members of the Wampanoag Nation were there to sing, dance and teach about their craft and their ancestral homeland.

“It’s a way to spread the word about Wampanoag people and how we celebrate each other. How we celebrate the land, the waters, all of the gifts from the creator by through the song and the dances that we carry,” says Kitty Hendricks-Miller, Manager of the Wampanog Nation Singers & Dancers. “People are very receptive to songs and getting up and moving and learning about the people whose land that they are a upon, because this is our ancestral homeland. All of Cape Cod, Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket, and all the way down South Narraganset Bay. (…) We are one of many, many native nations. We are the Wampanoag nation.”

How Do The Wampanoag Celebrate Their Community?

Kitty Hendricks-Miller, whose spirit name is Nanaweeta, is a Song Carrier and Culture Keeper. She and her fellow dancers and singers gathered the audience in the middle of the dance floor at the Eastham Library. As an ice breaker the group starts with their Round Dance. Kitty Hendricks-Miller explains why.

“All these things that are gifted to us are circles and we celebrate those. That being of the return of the herring every year, the cycles of things, the moon, the grandmother that regulates our tides, grandfather sun. All of these beings and entities are circular,” she says and explains further that even our eyes, with which we see and experience the world, are round. In the Round Dance the participants hold hans to “keep the good medicine that we call good energy flowing from one person to the next person in your circle,” says Kitty Hendricks-Miller and reminds people that communities are circles too.

What Is The Turnip Festival?

Speaking of keeping one’s community circle: More than 700 people came to the Eastham library to celebrate the iconic – and circular – crop: the Eastham turnip. This vegetable legacy is no coincidence. When Eastham was a farming community turnips and asparagus were the two main crops – the farmers could use the same field as the two vegetables are of two different seasons. Folklore tells of the especially sweet and mild local turnip that could only thrive within a particular radius of Eastham’s sandy soil.

Who Visited The Turnip Festival?

This year, two festival visitor in particular stood out from the crowd. Marianne Sinopoli, Turnip Festival Chairman, was thrilled to see theatre aficionados Caroline DeBrota and Shawyoun Shaidani, a young Medford couple who visited the festival for the first time last year.

“They have totally embraced the whimsical nature of this quirky homespun event and have made it extra fun for us too,” says Sinopoli.

Caroline and Shawyoun rarely miss an opportunity to wear costumes and visit cape cod. Preferably at the same time.

“So mine is a turnip mage with my long turnip root hood,” says Caroline and points to her costume. “And he is a turnip bard with his ocarina

as his little musical instrument.”

Caroline has been sewing for 20 years. “Not the whole time though,” she says and laughs. “I decided I wanted to come up with something that would be more of a cohesive full outfit. And I used some 3D printing to make the little turnip bits that we've got on the hat and the wand.”

If they have tried an Eastham turnip yet? The answer is a unison yes.

“I love a turnip and I think they're a particularly good turnip,” says Caroline.

“I think they're an underrated vegetable and that's part of what attracted us

to this in the first place,” says Shawyoun. “Like you think of fall, you think of,apple picking, pumpkin picking all this stuff. And turnips are not something

that get a lot of attention.”

“It’s an underdog vegetable,” adds Caroline.

“It is an underdog,” Shawyoun agrees. “It’s down to earth, you know?”

And speaking of Earth, Kitty Hendricks-Miller brings a message.

“ I think at this juncture in time where we are all, we all have a common goal and that is to nurse this earth back to what it can be and what it was. Because we have to think about generations and generations to come and what are we gonna leave them, a ball of fire? (…) Everything that's connected is living and breathing and it's our job as stewards of this earth to take care of it and try to nurse her back and respect people for doing so.”

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Back To The Roots At Eastham's Turnip Festival" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Holidays Bring Hunger on Cape Cod

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 02:46:38 GMT

This Thanksgiving the Family Pantry of Cape Cod delivered more than 700 turkeys-and-fixings and struggles to meet a continued surge in demand.

“We're up about 15-20 percent over last year and we're seeing all types of families coming through right now ...."

Christine Menard

Executive Director The Family Pantry of Cape Cod

Is hunger a problem on Cape Cod?

29 November 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Despite a wealthy image, Cape Cod struggles to feed its own. This Thanksgiving the Family Pantry of Cape Cod delivered more than 700 turkeys and fixings and has worked on streamlining its processes to help meet a continued surge in demand.

According to Christine Menard, executive director of The Family Pantry of Cape Cod in Harwich, the support that flowed in to address food insecurity during COVID has now now dried up. That support made a significant difference in the challenges of food insecurity, but is no longer available as, ironically, the need has grown.

How many does The Food Pantry Serve?

For Thanksgiving it delivered more than 700 turkeys-and-fixings, but hunger reaches far beyond one holiday. Menard says her organization now works with more than 800 families a month across Cape Cod - and that number just keeps increasing.

On the Cape, the intersection of extreme housing costs and seasonal employment coupled with the overall rise in food prices has created a 15-20 percent increase in demand this year over last year, she said.

You might also like ... Soup Bowls for Hunger (April 2024) - the Family Pantry's annual fundraiser returns post-COVID.

Sea Camps Squeaks by at Brewster Town Meeting

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 02:05:33 GMT

At Brewster's Special Town Meeting November 18, the Sea Camps plan funding squeaked by with 6 votes over the required 2/3 majority on a motion to reconsider. Next step? A Special Town Election December 03.

“We were responsible for bringing forward the plans .... we needed to ask for $11.4M in excluded debt to be able to do the first two phases on the bay property and first 3 phases on the pond property. ..."

Caroline McCarley

Sea Camps Advisory Committee, Town of Brewster

What happened at the Brewster Special Town Meeting?

20 November 2024 - BREWSTER, MA - Brewster moved another step forward toward developing the former Sea Camps properties. In Brewster's Fall Special fall meeting on November 18, Article 6 created a bit of a roller coaster - but passed in the end.

The article funded the initial phases of work at both Bay and Pond properties. In a close vote, the article first fell two votes short of required 2/3 majority . Then, a motion for reconsideration immediately came to the floor and in the second vote the article passed by just six votes.

What is Article 6?

Article 6 addressed the need to fund the first phases of work at the former Seas Camps property. In May, Town Meeting voted on an overcall concept plan for the properties. Sea Camps includes two locations, the so-called "Bay parcel" on Cape Cod Bay at 3057 Main Street which currently includes the Cape's first town swimming pool, and the so-called "Pond parcel" at 500 W H Besse Cartway.

In order to move forward with the initial phases of work, Town Meeting needed to approve an $11.4 debt exclusion to fund the work. Article 6 authorized the funding.

What else happened at the meeting?

Of the remaining 10 articles on the warrant, 9 passed easily and one was postponed. These included routine bill payments and approved town purchases such as a scissors lift and two hybrid police cruisers.

What happens next?

The article passed town meeting and now must be voted upon in a town-wide election December 3.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Sea Camps Squeaks by at Brewster Specia Town meeting" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Preview of special election ballot

Sea Camps Plan emerges - Lower Cape News report on March 2024 comprehensive plan development

Don't know what motion to reconsider is? Check out the Cape Cod Users Guide to Town Meeting - to find out how to be part of a long tradition!

Portraits of Cape Artists: Kathy Cotter

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 03:26:17 GMT

In this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists, mixed media artist Kathy Cotter talks about expanding painting beyond the canvas.

"I know that painting is in my blood because it didn't mater whether I had a studio or not, wherever I was I would paint.”

Kathy Cotter

Artist

Portraits of Cape Artists: Kathy Cotter

19 November 2024 -- PROVINCETOWN, MA -- Mixed media artist Kathy Cotter shares her passion for painting and how it could not be contained on one type of canvas, while explaining the evolution of her methods from paint to resin and beyond.

Scroll up to watch the this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists: K athy Cotter

Scroll up to watch this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists about Kathy Cotter or HERE to open it in a new window.

You Might Also Like ...

Check out the full collection of Portraits of Cape Artists at Lower Cape TV's ArtsLight.org

More Mola

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:59:01 GMT

Last week LCTV reporter, Angela McNerney rode along on the rescue of a stranded Mola Mola (aka ocean sunfish) - and this week we continue to tell the story, exploring what lies behind the increased strandings with Mola Mola expert Carol "Krill" Carson.

“This is a pelagic oceangoing fish. This is a fish that's never had to deal with shallow water ..."

Carol "Krill" Carson

Founder Mass Audubon

What are Mola Mola?

November 20, 2024 — WELLFLEET, MA — Last week, LCTV Reporter Angela McNerney rode along on a Mola mola rescue , an effort to save a giant ocean sunfish. The mola mola is a gentle deep water fish who migrates through Cape Cod waters and has been stranding in growing numbers this year.

At last count, some 127 strandings has been recorded this year raising the question: Why are these massive dinner-plate shaped creatures that can reach 11 feet long and weigh as much as two and half tons, getting trapped on Cape shores?

Why are large numbers of Mola Mola stranding on Cape Cod?

This year represents the largest number of strandings ever recorded on Cape Cod and scientists are grappling with the reasons behind this spike: Why are so many of these giant fish getting caught in Cape Cod’s unique geography?

Experts like Carol "Krill" Carson, founder of the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance, believe that Cape Cod’s shape plays a significant role in creating a barrier to their natural migration and as waters warm that migration is also shifting north. She says the Cape is a "hook within a hook within a hook," making it difficult to head for warmer waters during migration.

How does Cape geography play a role?

The "arm" of Cape Cod is distinctive in its posture. The land juts out into the sea for 60 miles and then curves up, forming a natural trap for many marine species. The peninsula creates a "hook" shape, funneling ocean currents and pulling sea creatures, including Mola molas, closer to the shore.

Molas are deep-water fish, typically accustomed to vast open ocean. Once drawn into the shallow, turbulent waters of Cape Cod Bay they find themselves trapped inside the Cape's geographical "hook," facing strong tidal shifts and sandbars. These geographic features - so different from those of the open ocean - disorient them, impeding their ability to navigate southward to warmer waters as they normally would in the fall and winter. Once in the shallower waters they often end up stranded.

Do warming waters play a role?

Another factor contributing to the strandings may be climate change. As ocean temperatures rise, the environmental cues that Mola molas rely on to guide their seasonal migrations have altered. Marine biologists like Carol Carson suggest that the warmer waters in the fall and winter could confuse these animals, leading them to venture farther north where theyrbecome trapped in the multiple hooks on the coast of Cape Cod waters and unable to migrate south again.

Sunfish remain enigmatic, like so many deep water species. With five known species of ocean sunfish, much remains to be learned about these creatures; changes in their migratory patterns could be an important indicator of how climate change is affecting marine life on a larger scale, said Krill.

How do the factors combine to increase Mola Mola strandings?

There is likely no single explanation for the increased strandings of Mola molas, no silver bullet of stranding strikes. However, it is clear to those who study the gentle giants that the interplay of Cape Cod’s geography, shifting ocean temperatures, and environmental factors has created a perfect storm for these unusual fish - one that this year's 127 strandings illustratees

By studying these strandings, scientists are learning more about the behavior and migration patterns of Mola molas, while also gaining insights into the broader effects of climate change on ocean ecosystems. As we continue to follow these rescue efforts and research initiatives, the hope is that science can offer solutions to help protect these remarkable animals in the years to come.

Scroll up to watch the news feature " More Mola " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) website
Monterey Bay Aquarium's Meet the Ocean Sunfish

You might also like ... Riding Along with a Mola Mola Stranding"

Cape Cod's Wildlife Dying From Rat Poison

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 20:41:12 GMT

When Emily Lindblad's yellow lab puppy was just 9 months old, little Luna unwittingly ingested rat poison and spent a month fighting for her life. Luna survived the ordeal, but many animals — including dogs and a range of wildlife — aren't as lucky.

“Rat poison was not on my radar at all ... We never suspected that it would happen to us ... That it would happen to her."

Emily Lindblad

Pet Parent to Luna

Why is rat poison a problem?

22 November, 2024 – CAPE COD, MA – Emily Lindblad fell in love with Luna's mischievous and energetic personality — but when the yellow lab puppy was just 9 months old, she unwittingly ingested rat poison and spent a month fighting for her life. Luna survived the ordeal, but many animals — including dogs and a range of wildlife — aren't as lucky.

Emily Lindblad and yellow labrador Luna have taken turns saving each other's lives. Two years ago Emily was diagnosed with pulmonary embolisms, blood clot blockages in her lungs and heart. "It was very emotional to find out and to survive that ordeal in and of itself," Emily says. She made it out of the hospital, a second chance at life that gave her a newfound zest for going after what she wanted out of life, and she had always wanted a dog.

"So I found Luna who was born the day I got out of the hospital," she said. "I was determined to save her because she I think saved me."

How does rat poison affect dogs?

Rodenticide poisoning was never on Emily's radar as something to be on alert for when walking Luna. She still does not know when or where Luna ingested the rat poison that almost took her life, she just knew something was wrong with her usually energetic and happy puppy.

"She was using the bathroom regularly outside, and then all of a sudden we discovered that she had urinated in the house, and she looked at us guilty and we brought her to the vet," Emily recalls.

What followed was a month in and out of the ICU, thousands of dollars in veterinary bills and a Luna that kept losing weight until she was almost skin and bones. Emily and her husband were advised to start considering letting Luna go but a twist of fate intervened.

"The next day we met a vet who said 'It's not time to give up yet'," said Emily, who added that the vet told them "We are going to do everything we can. We're gonna throw the kitchen sink at her and see if it works." The drugs worked ... and s lowly and painstakingly Luna began recovering in her Brewster home.

What are SGARs?

Not all pets with primary or secondary rodenticide poisoning are as lucky. Second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides (SGARs), are potent and efficient not only for controlling rodent infestations, but also for harming and kill carnivores such as foxes, coyotes and birds of prey.

Dr. Priya Patel, Wildlife Medical Director at the New England Wildlife Centers' animal hospital in Barnstable, Cape Wildlife center, explains that animals may eat the carcass of a rodent killed by SGARs and in doing so, it also ingests SGARS that killed the rodent.

Once inside an animal, the SGARs begin their deadly work, "It interrupts the body's ability to clot blood, and so the animal that eats this poison ends up unfortunately bleeding to death," she said.

How is rodenticide poising identified?

Patel explains that the poison bioaccumulates in the liver where it is stored, so even small doses of the poison will build up in the body. If a carnivore is bruised or bleeding excessively, Dr Patel will by default will test their blood. Though the test is not failproof, non-clotting blood is enough for Patel to immediately start treating the animal with vitamin K, fluids and blood transfusions.

The only way to be 100% certain an animal has rodenticide poisoning is to test liver tissue of deceased animals, which the Wildlife Center does not do – it is expensive and can only be done on already dead animals – but Patel suspects her organization sees hundreds of poisoned animals every year based on symptoms.

How common is secondary rodenticide poisoning?

Research from Tufts Wildlife Clinic shows secondary poisoning is increasing. In 2011, the clinic tested 161 deceased birds of prey, 86 per cent of them had rodenticides in their liver tissue. Between 2012 and 2016, 96 per cent of the tests came back positive. And in 2020, the clinic tested 43 red tailed hawks, Massachusetts most common hawk, 100% of the birds were poisoned.

New England Wildlife Centers' Patel believes this increase shows that rat poison is getting more potent, probably because rodents are becoming resistant. This also means the symptoms in her patients are more severe and that the poison lasts for longer in nature, posing a higher risk for more animals to ingest it.

"The ripple effect of using SGARs could have numerous effects to humans as well. So not only are our pets at risk, but potentially our children as well," says Dr. Patel. "And unfortunately, by the time your body is showing clinical signs, it's already been absorbed throughout the body. So at that point, we're only left with the ability to treat supportive care."

She believes the ripple effects could lead to endangered species risking potential extinction in the future. "We don't necessarily realize the lasting effects and how wide those effects can be within the environment," she says.

---

In the next part of our ongoing series about rodenticides, LCTV look at current legislation and the solutions and policies advocates are proposing to fight rat infestations without anticoagulant poisons.

Scroll up to watch the news feature " Cape Cod's Wildlife Dying From Rat Poison" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

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Powering up the Grid

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 04:16:49 GMT

Last month a $19.5 million dollar federal grant kick started a power project that expands the Provincetown battery storage, microgrid, and energy management work to bring new levels of power resiliency to more than 200,000 electric customers on Cape Cod.

“The great thing about the battery is no one notices when it’s working. You just don’t lose power...."

Jennifer Schilling

VP Grid Modernization, Eversource

How is Cape Cod becoming more power resilient?

15 November 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Cape Cod’s power demands are getting a boost with a recent $19.5 million dollar federal grant to help Eversource and partner Cape Light Compact build on the success of the Provincetown battery project. The full $69 million 5-year effort will scale the microgrid and DERMS technology to more than 200,000 electric customers on Cape Cod. Bottom line for Cape Codders? Fewer outages, shorter outages, and a stronger efficiently managed power grid.

What is DERMS?

DERMS stands for Distributed Energy Resource Management System. The technology lets grid operators essentially orchestrate energy from multiple sources – including both utility owned generation as well as those owned by individuals or other organizations who have agreed to feed into the grid as needed. Think of DERMS as being a web of energy that can be directed in the most efficient way possible rather than one single end-to-end channel.

What is happening during the development effort?

The new expansion touches about 206,000 Cape Cod electric customers The battery microgrid area will be expanded all the way from Provincetown into Orleans and most of the Cape will become part of DERMS energy ecosystem.

The project also include an enhanced partnership between Eversource and the Cape Light Compact. While Eversource builds the technology, Cape Light Compact will work to expand and enhance its work on an active demand response effort called Connected Solutions. In active demand response, grid operators manage peak time demands by pulling additional power from many sources into the grid. Connected Solutions strategies include drawing on home storage batteries and managing power use through smart thermostats.

How does this project represent the power future?

The work from the grant is intended to be leveraged and scaled said Eversource's VP of Grid Modernization Jennifer Schilling.

"Combining the Eversource assets with customer assets is going to magnify the benefits of the project," she said, adding that "One of the things we're trying to do with the project is show how this can be applied in other places."

"It's a whole new world" said Anuj Mathur, Manager of Technology Projects for Eversource.

"In the past we thought of it as a one way street' from power generation to consumption " added Dan Schell, Cape Light Compact's Manger of Customer Service and Outreach. "It really is becoming kind of an intricate highway as opposed to that one way street."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Growing the Grid" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

You might also like ... New Energy Tech - reporting on the opening of the Provincetown battery project (Dec 05, 2022)

Dog Psychiatry 101 – Why do they love us?

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:29:39 GMT

Do you call yourself a pet parent? Do you love your fur baby like a child? Good news, your feelings are validated – scientifically.

“Dogs and puppies, or humans and puppies, when they gaze in each other's eyes, they will actually have mutual oxytocin release just like between parents and babies ... That's wild. That's wild."

Dr. Taylor Kirby-Madden

Veterinary Behaviorist, Animal Hospital of Orleans

15 November, 2024 – BREWSTER, MA – Edie, Nugget and Ellen were among ten rescue pups evacuated from Florida one day before hurricane Milton hit, beginning of October. The Animal Rescue League of Boston placed them at their Brewster shelter were they are connected with their forever Cape Cod homes. Mike Defina, Media Relations Manager, says when fur babies and pet parents find each other, magic is created. “A lot of people say we don’t choose them, they choose us, and I think that happens quite a lot with an animal,” says Defina. “They’ll just kind of look you in the eye and you instantly fall in love.”

How Do I Know What Dog Is Right For Me?

Love is a given, but adopting a dog from an animal shelter often means limited knowledge in terms breed, but science is not sure if breed is necessarily connected to behavior. There are other things to consider when choosing the right dog for you. Dr. Taylor Kirby-Madden, dog psychiatrist or veterinary behaviorist at Animal Hospital of Orleans, gives advice. First of all, make sure your personalities match, if the dog gets up at five o'clock in the morning you will have to become an early bird. Also, look at your family dynamic. "If you're looking at a shelter dog and you have kids or you have elderly parents, or you have a household where you have a lot of people coming in and out, you wanna be looking for a dog who is not fearful," says Dr. Kirby-Madden. "Who is bold enough to be wiggling and waggling and walking up to unfamiliar people." Are you a first time dog owner? Puppies can surprise you with a change of behavior when they hit adolescence. Dr. Kirby-Madden recommends considering an older dog. "They're wise, they're calm, they're bonded," she says.

Is The Alpha Theory Debunked?

Forget about the tough love. If you want your dog to be well behaved positive reinforcement is key. Studies show dogs in the wild do not form social hierarchy, dogs do not try to become alpha and assert dominance among themselves or over us. "Alpha Theory dominance theory has largely been debunked as the social organization of dogs," says Dr. Kirby-Madden. "Dogs are scavengers. So they have these loosey goosey social affiliations where they get along with anyone. And sure, as long as there's enough food to go around, they're kind of fine with that.
They don't spend time jostling for position."

What Is A Dog Psychiatrist?

Dr. Kirby-Madden is one of three veterinary behaviorists in Massachusetts and the only one on Cape Cod. Her clinic Animal Hospital of Orleans is the first and only Fear Free certified animal hospital on Cape Cod and the second in Massachusetts. "The science of behavior tells us that the safest way to change behavior in a person or an animal or even a plant, is through positive reinforcement," she says. Punishment based training with fear as a tool is not only outdated and harmful, but could lead to dangerous situations. "There are outcomes from fear-based training or fear-based parenting that are increased anxiety and increased aggression," says Dr. Kirby-Madden.

Debunking the alpha theory also means debunking the belief that an anxious owner automatically creates an anxious dog having to step up as the alpha to do the job the owner is not. Dr. Kirby-Madden says there is no evidence suggesting that nervousness can transmit down the leash. "I see clients come in all the time saying things like that and they carry a tremendous amount of guilt and shame about it," she says. An as it turns out, that doesn't benefit them or their pet."

What Can We Replace The Alpha Theory With?

The lack of the need to assert dominance and the skills in forming social bonds are what makes us love dogs so much. The bond you feel with your dog is scientifically proven. "Dogs and puppies, or humans and puppies, when they gaze in each other's eyes, they will actually have mutual oxytocin release just like between parents and babies. That's wild. That's wild;" says Dr. Kirby-Madden. "We love each other the way we love dogs because they're kind of like children to us, and dogs love us because we're kind of like parents to them. So it's a real family relationship.

So, if you love your dog like your child, know that you are backed up by neuroscience. "Dogs really appear to view us as big, weird parents And I think, because they're so scent driven
and we are so not, I think that they think we're kind of dumb a little bit about that stuff, but they love us anyway" says Dr. Kirby-Madden. She there may be some shaming from dog training communities regarding labeling your dogs as fur babies, but the terminology stems from our feelings. "It's fitting into the brain sort of framework for which we've been designed to have social relationships," she says. "So it's okay you can call yourself your pet parent. It's totally fine."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Dog Psych iatry 101 – How Much Do They Love Us?" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

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Following a Mola Mola Rescue

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:05:31 GMT

Cape Cod standings of the giant Mola Mola (aka ocean sunfish) hit a new high in 2024. Lower Cape TV joined a rescue operation to learn why these tropical/temperate giants increasingly land on Cape shores what they mean for the ecosystem.

“You're rooting for them because they have been around for 450 million years so they've seen the dinosaurs come and go, they've survived five mass extinctions, they remember when there was one continent ... they fact that they are threatened now, it make you feel like we might not be doing something right."

Mark Faherty

Science Coordinator, Mass Audubon

What are Mola Mola?

11.14-2024 — WELLFLEET, MA — In recent months, Cape Cod has experienced an alarming rise in Mola Mola strandings; in fact 2024 represents the highest number ever recorded. These massive dinner-plate shaped creatures, sometimes called "ocean sunfish," typically live in tropical and temperate waters and can reach 11 feet long and weigh as much as two and half tons.

Carol "Krill" Carson, founder of the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA), has been at the forefront of rescuing the world's largest bony fish as they strand on Cape Cod's cold North Atlantic shores. Lower Cape TV documented a recent NECWA Mola Mola recent rescue in Wellfleet, shedding light on the ongoing challenges and the organization's unwavering commitment to marine wildlife.

What is happening with Mola Molas?

The enormous, oddly shaped fish, often called "misfits" of the sea, have been washing ashore in alarming numbers, raising concerns among marine conservationists. NECWA, led by founder Carol "Krill" Carson, has been instrumental in responding to these strandings by coordinating rescues and working closely with local communities to save the sunfish.

Many of these creatures end up stranded in shallow waters as they try to navigate south to migrate to warmer seas. Ocean experts belive that as global warming impacts the temperature of local waters, the fish become confused and then struggle to return to the ocean without help.

Who is Carol Carson?

Carol "Krill" Carson, a well-known marine biologist, has dedicated her work to studying and protecting Mola Mola, a species often misunderstood despite its fascinating biology. As the founder of NECWA (New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance), she found and grew NECWA built the organization through volunteer work and public outreach. Carson and NECWA also emphasize the importance of marine education, inspiring the next generation of biologists and conservationists to continue the work of protecting our oceans. NECWA’s role also extends beyond rescues; they are focused on understanding the broader ecological impact of these strandings and what they might reveal about the health of marine ecosystems.

Scroll up to watch the news feature " Mola Mola Rescue" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) website
Monterey Bay Aquarium's Meet the Ocean Sunfish

You might also like ...

More Mola! Why Mola Mola strandings are on the rise:

July 2024 news short "Four Days to Save Hundreds of Dolphins"

All Things Sea Camps at Brewster Town Meeting

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 23:55:11 GMT

On November 18, Brewster voters have a chance to move forward on the comprehensive plan for the two former Sea Camps properties.

“Article 6 is a debt exclusion to impalement the comprehensive plan for the Sea Camps properties ..."

Peter Lombardi

Town Administrator, Town of Brewster

What is on the warrant?

08 November 2024 - BREWSTER, MA - All things Sea Camps dominates the warrant for Brewster's Special town meeting on November 18. Although a few other articles around Sunday liquor sales and housing by-law amendments appear in the mix, Town Administrator Peter Lombardi expects the bulk of the meeting to focus on the comprehensive plan for the former Sea Camps properties.

What is planned for Sea Camps?

At the May Annual Town meeting Town Meeting approved a comprehensive plan for the two Sea Camp properties. Now, at the Special Town Meeting the articles seeks the funds to begin to implement the plans. Each site contains a variety of uses for recreation such as trails and tennis courts, as well as conservation needs such as dune restoration and removal of old and unused buildings.

When is Brewster's special town meeting?

Brewster's special town meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2024 at 6 pm at the Stony Brook Elementary School.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Sea Camps comprehensive plan at Brewster special town meeting" or click HERE to open it in a new window.
Brewster's Fall Special Town meeting information.
Brewster's 2024 Special Town Meeting warrant
Sea Camps Plan emerges - Lower Cape News report on March 2024 comprehensive plan development

You might also like ... Cape Cod Users Guide to Town Meeting - quick video clips - find out how to be part of a long tradition!

Unlocking Health Through History

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:26:01 GMT

We and the Land are One Thing symposium looked at health equity questions through the lens of history and traditional Wampanoag land-life interconnections.

“I hope that people will gain some awareness of what it means to be one with the earth and to being that shift in their thinking ... toward making that a reality..."

Linda Coombs

Author/Artist/Educator , Aquinnah Wampanoag

What is We and the Land are One Thing?

02 November 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - Inspired by a 19th century Wellfleet Wampanoag woman whose cancer healing knowledge has been forgotten over the decades, Delilah's Healing and Education Collective held a day-long Wampanoag health equity seminar October 17 at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans. We and the Land are One Thing drew on traditional place-based practices to consider how old knowledge can address current health gaps.

Is there a connection between land and health?

According to Delilah’s Healing and Educational Collective, the connection between land and health is not only strong - but essential. Linda Coombs, an Aquinah Wampanoag author, educator, artist, and founding member of Deliiahs Healing and Educational Collective said that the loss of land and the place-based living directly impacted the health of the Wampanoag people. Mirroring national data, the Wampanoag people in Barnstable County have the the smallest population but the largest death of all causes rate. "A lot of that is due directly to the loss of our land, because our land equals our culture." she said.

What are social indicators of health?

Leo Blanford, Director of Health Equity & Community, Outer Cape Health Services said that understanding what health means and how to improve both individual and community health lies in understanding "social determinants" of health – ie, where and how we live, what we eat, and how interact. Using the lens of land/life interaction identifies many of these indicators, he said, helping us focus on the myriad of elements that form the infrastructure which shapes both a person's -- and a population's -- health.

What happened during the event?

During the day-long symposium, speakers shared stories of generations of interaction with the land, preparation of food from and of the land, and of a traditional way of being that supported wellbeing. As part of the sharing, partaking of traditional food from James Beard award winning Wamaonag chef Sherry Pocknett triggered conversational groups and strong sharing community converged around how the past could become part of a solution to current heath and wellness gaps.

What is the key takeaway from We and the Land are One Thing?

"If we looked back to what our ancestors did ... we were strong health long lived people," said Coombs whose work looks at knowledge of the past to shape the present. She said she hoped the take away from the day would be shifts in thinking toward a more integrated way of being that creates a healthier place and a healthier people. "Ultimately " she said "If people don't change their thinking and the way they behave with the earth nothing is going to change; you're always going to be fighting an uphill battle."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Health through History" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

What's Happening Here - Park & Ride

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:45:24 GMT

In this episode of What's Happening here, we learn why construction activity is ripping up the Harwich Park & Ride, what project is underway, and when full use will return.

Send us your questions about projects in process - email us at editor@lowercapetv.org

What's Happening Here ... at the Harwich Park & Ride, exit 82 (formerly exit 10)

October 2024 - Cape Cod MA - Lots of activity just off exist 82 (formerly exit 10) and limited parking the Park & Ride lot. You asked ... and so we asked! Check out the activity and the answer in this episode of What's Happening Here.

Hear what's happening at the Harwich Park & Ride lot in Fall 2024 - Scroll up to watch the short feature video or click HERE to open it in a new window.

More What's Happening Here episodes

Every Vote Counts – How Towns Implement Disability Rights At Elections

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:10:41 GMT

This election has 65 percent Cape Codders headed for the polls, but did you know you have the right to bring someone to assist you at the voting place, or ask a poll worker for accommodations? In an aging population anyone could find themselves in a situation where they need to exercise their accessible voting rights. LCTV has taken a look at what they are and how they are implemented.

“Many people, whether they're disabled or not, but primarily people with disabilities, some of them might not be able to exit their home. So it's important to give them a time and a space where they can make their voices heard."

Patrick Phipps

Disability Rights Advocate, CORD

What Are Accessible Voting Rights?

1 November 2024 – CAPE COD, MA – Just like 190,000 fellow Cape Codders, Patrick Phipps is heading to the polls this November to exercise his fundamental right to vote. "Voting means to me, it's the the civic imperative, right? It's one chance where we civilly get to do our duty to use our voice," says Patrick who is a disability rights advocate at Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled . On Cape Cod more than 35 percent are over 65 years of age, and 19,000 people have a disability. In Harwich accessible voting rights are implemented to ensure that all 12,000 registered town voters are able to choose their preferred method of voting, whether it is electronically, early in person or on election day. Patrick, who uses a wheelchair, is at Town Hall to vote early. "They had several tables made available to me and I could pick and choose which spot I could vote at," says Patrick. "There was sufficient privacy. I felt good about it."

What Are Voting Rights Laws?

Several regulations dictate the precincts' responsibilities in accommodating all voters. The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Help America Vote Act, as well as the Code Of Massachusetts Regulations form the base for accessibility audits performed at polling places by the Disability Law Center , the Protection and Advocacy Agency for the state of Massachusetts. "All of these laws really require that people with disabilities have the same access to voting, that they're given a similar way to vote, that their ballots don't look totally different and that they can vote in the method that they choose," explains Brianna Zimmerman, Voting Rights Advocate at DLC.

Who Is Not Allowed To Vote?

Zimmerman says there is a lot of misconceptions around who is allowed to vote. People in state facilities, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, prison or under guardianship can vote as long as they're not serving time for a felony or have had to judge expressively bar them from voting. "There's a lot of misconceptions around like you have t o have a certain literacy le or you have to be proven to be mentally competent, and that's just not the case," says Zimmerman.

What Rights Do I Have?

In the 2016 election the DLC and CORD audited 10 voting places on Cape Cod. S ome of the legal requirements they look at are accessible parking, accessible voting booths, providing privacy, sample ballots displayed at different heights. Every voter has the right to bring someone to a system or ask election staff who are required to have had appropriate training. Every town is also required t o have at least one AutoMark machine a nd to test them prior to every election.

DLC has found very few Massachusetts election sites to be fully compliant with accessible voting rights. "S ome AutoMark machines work really well. Sometimes they're not even set up, which is, I would say, a really big issue because if you're someone that relies on an AutoMark to vote privately a nd independently, and there is no option for you to use an AutoMark, that creates a privacy issue," says Zimmerman. "If you're allowing a poll worker to help you mark your ballot, t hat's not necessarily your first choice."

Why Are Disability Rights Important?

Patrick Phipps says the level of accessibility at Harwich Town Hall is fair. "This level of accessibility i s important because many people, whether they're disabled or not, but primarily people with disabilities, some of them might not be able to exit their home. So it's important to give them a time and a space where they can make their voices heard," says Patrick. "T his is all about putting people at the table, e specially people with disabilities." At the DLC Brianna Zimmerman contemplates on why some towns and cities still are not fully accessible, almost 35 years after the implementation of the disability rights law ADA. "Sometimes I think it requires some changing of attitudes a nd also some education around what can we do t o make our polling places accessible and why should we care," she says. "Which really all of us should care regardless of whether there is someone in your community with disabilities or not. W e have an aging population, we could all become disabled at any point in our life."

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Every Vote Counts – How Towns Implement Disability Rights At Elections " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

How About Those Horseshoe Crabs!

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 02:49:26 GMT

Horseshoe crabs have survived for 450 million years and five mass extinctions - but current practices put them at risk. Mass Audubon's Mark Faherty shares efforts to protect these remarkable creatures during spawning season.

“You're rooting for them because they have been around for 450 million years so they've seen the dinosaurs come and go, they've survived five mass extinctions, they remember when there was one continent ... they fact that they are threatened now, it make you feel like we might not be doing something right."

Mark Faherty

Science Coordinator, Mass Audubon

What are horseshoe crabs?

09.26.24 — WELLFLEET, MA — Horseshoe crabs have survived for 450 million years and five mass extinctions, making them true "living fossils." These "living fossils" have remained remarkably unchanged in appearance and behavior, making them a significant link to Earth's prehistoric past. In addition, these marine arthropods play a vital role in maintaining the health of coastal ecosystems.

What do horseshoe crabs need today?

Mass Audubon's Science Coordinator Mark Faherty says the organization has been working to protect these remarkable creatures during spawning season as well as helping create a better understanding of them and their vital place in our ecosystem.

"What would a horseshoe crab say if you asked it what it needed ? They would say 'we need to be able to spawn without being harvested and put in a freezer to be put in a whelk pot," he said, explaining that working to ban horseshoe harvest for bait is among the organization's efforts on behalf of the species.

What roles do horseshoe crabs play in the Cape Cod ecosystem?

On Cape Cod, horseshoe crabs are most visible during their spawning season, which typically occurs in the spring. Faherty says horsehoe crab eggs are not only essential for the next generation of crabs but also serve as a critical food source for migratory shorebirds, as well as species like logerhead turtles. This interconnection highlights the importance of maintaining healthy populations of horseshoe crabs to sustain broader ecological relationships.

What role do horseshoe crabs play in human health?

Beyond their ecological role, horseshoe crabs have a direct impact on human health. Their blue blood contains a substance used in medical testing to ensure the safety of vaccines and medical devices by detecting bacterial contamination.

What puts pressure on horseshoe crabs?

Despite their ancient history, modern threats could end millions of years of survival. Over-harvesting and habitat loss form two key pressure points on horseshoe crab populations. The dramatic impact of these threats and the drop in their numbers has prompted conservation efforts like those on Cape Cod.

Do conservation efforts work?

Faherty said conservation efforts can and have worked. For example In locations like as the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge that ban harvesting and protect habitat, the populations of both horseshoe crabs and sea birds have rebounded.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "How about Those Horseshoe Crabs " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Mass Audu bon's campaign to save horseshoe crabs
Mass Audubon's horseshoe crab monitoring program

You might also like ... 2022 news short on Truro research on horseshoe crab populations:

You might also like ... 2022 ArtsLight story about the art of horseshoe crabs:

Little Lost Tropical Fish Become Gulf Orphans on Cape Cod

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:39:45 GMT

Every summer, hundreds of tropical fish species ride the Gulf Stream from the Caribbean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, and jumps off outside Cape Cod. A few weeks ago a rare Gulf Stream orphan, a Blue Angelfish, only two months old, sought refuge thousands of miles from home. It is the northernmost Angelfish recorded to date. We know our waters are warming, but what do new species' presence mean for us and our coastal ecosystems?

“I feel like we are seeing more of these tropical species. And this year I've gotten the most reports I've ever gotten from the commercial fishermen that we work with of unusual species...."

Owen Nichols

Director, Marine Fisheries Research Program, Center For Coastal Studies

What is a Gulf Stream orphan?

25 October, 2024 – CAPE COD, MA – It was the first of three tropical fish over only a couple of early October weeks that oyster farmers Tim Silva and Danielle Orcutt would spot and try to rescue. A baby Blue Angelfish, only two centimeters long and a few months old, had surfed the Gulf Stream for thousands of miles from its home in the Caribbean Sea to the couple's oyster grant in Pleasant Bay, Orleans. Through the animal rescue center Wild Care of Cape Cod in Eastham the juvenile, which is the northernmost Blue Angelfish recorded, still northbound found its way to New England Aquarium where it will live out its life. A short while later the oyster farmers spotted another Blue Angelfish, same size, and a Spotfin Butterflyfish. This Angelfish did not survive but the Spotfin is thriving at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster. "It's eating like a champ," says Tyan Bassett, Animal Care Coordinator at the museum.

How will tropical fish impact our coasts?

These three tropicals, or Gulf Stream orphans, are among hundreds of its colorful kin wandering to the coast of New England every year. The phenomenon has been observed for over 120 years, but thanks to citizen science, Michael O'Neill, founder of the Gulf Stream Orphan Project, can monitor trends and changes in the tropicals' appearance likely responding to warming waters. He encourages people to report any unusual sightings to the portal iNaturalist where he collects the information for the GSOProject . "We think a lot about whether or not these fish could be indicators for ways in which our local ecosystems may be changing over time," says O'Neill. But climate change is not necessarily a cause for their presence, rather the Gulf Stream's natural process sweeping the fish north every year. "But that's part of the reason why I was motivated to try and gather more information about this," says O'Neill. " Because I think it's worth keeping an eye on as we move through time, because I think it's relatively safe to say that warmer water temperatures are going to benefit these fish so that their impact on native ecosystems here may become larger." O'Neill believes it is worth keeping tabs on the tropical species to eventually be able to see what it may mean for native species and the dynamics of our coastal ecosystems.,

Why Are Tropical Fish on Cape Cod?

Salt Pond in Eastham functions as what Owen Nichols, Director of Marine Fisheries Research Program at the Center For Coastal Studies, calls a live laboratory. Though the center is not specifically targeting tropicals, Nichols have noticed an increase in their presence. He explains how they manage to find their way to the Northeast. "This phenomenon is really interesting because we think that it's driven in part not just by the Gulf Stream itself, but by meanders and eddies and variability in the Gulf Stream. And the Gulf Stream will spit off these parcels
of warmer water that can make their way in closer to shore across the continental shelf," says Nichols. "When that happens, those parcels of warm water bring with them warmer water species from down south. So one of the next steps in this whole process is to really understand the mechanisms. It's fascinating to be able to see these species out here. It creates more questions than answers." One of the questions the phenomenon raises is how much climate change plays a role, but the scientists do not have evidence of that. "It's certainly an indicator to me of oceanographic variability in the sense that the Gulf Stream might be behaving differently from year to year," says Nichols.

What damage can invasive fish do?

The Gulf Stream orphans do not survive for long in Cape Cod's cold waters to be categorized as an invasive species, but as the temperatures are rising, others are starting to thrive. The Marine Fisheries Research Program, a partner to the GSOProject, has observed changes in certain migrating species' behavior. Black seabass and blue crabs are starting to "set up shop" here according to Nichols, with consequences for our ecosystems. "If you like to eat [black seabass,], that's a good sign, but they also eat a lot of baby lobsters. And so if you're a lobster fisherman, you may not be real happy to see black sea bass here," says Nichols. Blue crabs normally leave during the winter months, but now females lay eggs that go on to become full adults living out there entire lives here. "That tells us that we're starting to see more of a stable reproductive population here," says Nichols. "We want to know are these populations of fish kind of staying here? Are they stable?"

Could our ecosystems degrade?

"It's hard to say if the ecosystem is going to degrade. Certainly, I wouldn't say because the [tropical] fish are here, but I think sometimes the more of these fish that we see, it's a sign of an offshore situation that is changing," says Nichols. "And whether that's for the better or not, it's hard to say." The evidence of climate change on Cape Cod worries not least the fisheries, who are the first to be hit by warmer oceans. "We may not be concerned about the tropical species alone, but if those are moving, probably other species are moving too. And that can be a real negative thing. If you're a fisherman and you can only stay in one place, relatively speaking
and harvest a certain species of fish, then that species of fish also moves north," says Nichols. "So I would argue that it's probably more an indicator of bigger picture changes. But as far as [tropicals] being here today, it's probably not an immediate negative impact to the water behind me, but it's a sign of other things that are happening offshore."

Scroll up to watch the news feature " Why Tropical Fish Visit Cape Cod" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Have you spotted an unusual species? Report it to iNaturalist to participate in Gulf Stream Orphan Project

For more information:

Tonset Parcel up for Vote

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 01:25:02 GMT

Orleans voters have a chance to purchase a 2.2 acre parcel of waterfront land at the special fall town meeting.

“The 2.2 acres abuts Sea Call farm which is directly next door .... as you can see here we have not only views of the water but also access to the water..."

Mike Solito

Special Projects Coordinator , Town of Orleans

What is on the warrant?

25 October 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - An option to purchase a 2.2 acre parcel for $2.5 million appears on the warrant at the upcoming Orleans special town meeting. Proponents say it will add water access and potentially address other town use needs.

When is the cost of the land?

An agreement with the owners gives the town the right to purchase the property for $2.5 million; the town say that represent about a half million dollars off the market value and advocates for the purchase.

Select Board chair Mark Mathison says it brings the town multiple opportunities including water access and parking, as well as the potential to use an existing house on the site as housing for lifeguards or as a base of operations for for the Massachusetts Housing & Climate Innovation center, which would help spur economic development.

When is special town meeting?

Orleans special town meeting is schedule for October 28, 2024 at 6 pm at the Nauset Middle School.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Tonset Parcel" or click HERE to open it in a new window.
Orleans Fall Special Town meeting information.

You might also like ... Cape Cod Users Guide to Town Meeting - quick video clips - find out how to be part of a long tradition!

October Time is Tool Time ... in the Garden

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:50:36 GMT

In this episode of In the Garden, Garden Coach Priscilla Husband shares techniques for keeping tools in tip-top shape and ready for action.

"Its easier to make a cut when your blades are sharp and its's also really good for plant protection... "

Priscilla Husband

Garden Coach

Why should you maintain your tools?

October 2024 - Cape Cod MA - October marks a perfect time to clean, maintain, and take care of the garden tools, says garden coach Priscilla Husband. She says a little TLC makes tools last longer, work better, and protect plants.

What kinds of blades will you find?

Most garden tools fall into one of three categories and each has its own set of maintenance techniques:

Bypass is the the curved blade, like lopers
Scissor cut are scissor style blades, like grass sheers and hedge trimmers
Anvil cut features a bevel in both sides

Is it hard to maintain garden tools?

It makes a little bit of time - and makes a perfect October gardening project - but tool maintenance is straightforward. Watch garden coach Priscilla Husband demonstate how in this episode of In the Garden.

Hear how to prepare and maintain your garden tools in this episode of "In the Garden"

Scroll up to watch the short In the Garden video or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Watch more about gardening:

Check out the Lower Cape TV Cape Cod Gardens Collection
More In the Garden episodes

Dancing On The Beach

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:08:19 GMT

The Outermost Roots & Blues Festival hosted 5,000 people over two days at Nauset Beach for bands, food, and a laid back vibe. Organizers said event ticket sales support activities at the town's Natural Resources department, while more than $1 million in incremental revenue from the event provided an economic boost in the shoulder season.

“The amount of excitement that was there, if we could harness that, we probably could light this town up for the next couple years.”

Mike McNamara

Co-Founder, Outermost Roots & Blues Festival

What is Outermost Roots & Blues Festival? 

18 October 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - When Mike McNamara, co-founder of Outermost Roots & Blues Festival, summarizes the two-day festival, which took place 12 and 13 October this year, he points with his fingers in the air and says, “excitement, camaraderie and a financial gain to the town.”

The festival is set on Nauset Beach in October before the temperature drops too low and while the fall is wearing its best makeup. Five years after its inception, McNamara wants Outermost festival to be a Cape Cod staple, something people mark in their calendar and return to year after year.

“People come down to the Cape to either visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, to vacation with their entire family and extended family,” says McNamara. “And we wanted to kind of create an event that was something for everybody.” There were street crayons and a green area for kids, but the most important factor in creating an event for all ages was the music.

McNamara and Garrett “G.Love” Dutton, lead singer in the band G. Love & Special Sauce, co-founders of Outermost, together with their team of family members and business partners, tried to create a Cape Cod playlist for visitors and residents alike. “A lot of people that either rent homes down here, own second homes down here or live down here, they've got their playlist, right? Garrett and I and the team tried to work together to figure out who would be the best fit for that, to try to create that kind of Cape Cod Beach playlist,” says McNamara and smiles. “I think we collectively nailed it, that's for sure.”

Did Jack Johnson play at Outermost Festival?

In 2019, the festival’s premier year, around 3600 people attended what was then a one day festival. This year around 5,000 people got their groove on for two days with bands and artists such as Slightly Stoopid and Jack Johnson, the artist behind the Curious George soundtrack in 2006. “Which was spectacular,” says McNamara. “Again, he's an artist that really resonates with all generations.”

How will the festival benefit Orleans?

McNamara wears multiple hats as he's also the founder of the nonprofit friends of Nauset Beach, as well as a member of the Town of Orleans Economic Development Committee. For him they all correlate. “In terms of commerce, I would say that there was well over a million dollars of incremental revenue that came into the town based upon this festival itself, mainly through the restaurants and the shops and the bars,” says McNamara.

At one of the town meetings he had seen a deficit for Nauset Beach, which he calls Orleans's most valuable resource. Today, a portion of the revenue from the festival goes to the town Department of Natural Resources for the benefit of Nace Beach. This year's donation will go towards a wifi tower. Beach wifi, which today is spotty at best at Nauset Beach, will not only make card transactions run smoother during the festival, but it is also a safety issue. “The reality is people come down here in the summers with their friends and families to come to the beach, and so when you look out and you see like the replenished dunes and the parking lot adjustments that have taken place, to try to continue to protect this in whatever way we can,” says McNamara.

What is the future for the Outermost Festival?

McNamara sees the future growth of Outermost Festival and keeping Orleans thriving year around almost as a symbiotic relationship. “I’d love to see it grow a little bit in terms of people. There's real life examples of people that have brought friends here and they found this to be a dynamic town with everything that they were looking for, that maybe they had at home,” says McNamara. “They wanna move here full time and bring their businesses here. That is a movement that I think is needed. So if this festival can be a vehicle to really change a few things on that front and bring young families here to set up shop and o go to our schools and to be a contributor to our local economy… I mean, that's what it's all about.”

Scroll up to watch the news feature " Dancing On The Beach " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information

Outermost Roots & Blues Festival on Lower Cape TV

Five Questions for November

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 02:01:46 GMT

As Massachusetts voters get ready to go to the polls, five statewide ballot questions vie for attention alongside the national races.

“Voting is a fascinating moment that way, you know you take all these beliefs and all these arguments and you distill it into a little bubble that you get to fill in that has real meaning..."

Evan Horowitz

Executive Director , Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University

What questions are on the ballot?

18 October 2024- CAPE COD, MA - As Massachusetts voters get ready to go to the polls, five statewide ballot questions vie for attention alongside the national races. From MCAS to tip compensation we get the highlights from Evan Hororwitz. executive director of the nonpartisan Center for State Policy Analysis (cSPA) at Tufts University.

What is a ballot question?

Massachusetts has had the ability to include questions on the ballot for more than 100 years. Originally offered as an alternative path to the legislature for create laws, the process today comes largely from organizations who have the finances and capacity to prepare the materials and run the ballot process. When approved, the ballot question becomes law right away, although once it is law legislators can adapt and change it through the routine lawmaking process.

How do people learn about the questions?

The Secretary of State sends to each registered voter a booklet with the legislative language of each ballot initiative, along with some additional background information. In addition, a variety of organizations including the nonpartisan Center for State Policy Analysis (cSPA) at Tufts University.

What questions are on the statewide Massachusetts in 2024

The 2024 ballot includes five statewide questions:

Question one give the state auditor the ability to audit the state legislature;
Question two addresses high school graduation requirements and moves oversight from state to each individual school district;
Question three would create a new type of union for non-employees, specifically for transportation contractors. It would be first such union in the country;
Question 4 might addresses pscyodelic drugs in a very broad and open way;
Question 5, proposes changes in the law regarding tip compensation.

Scroll up to watch the news feature " FIve November Questions" or click HERE to open it in a new window.
Analysis of state ballet questions at the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University.

You might also like ... Full half hour interview with Evan Horowitz, for more background on ballot process and details on ballot questions:

Cheers to Chief

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 01:01:15 GMT

After 14 years, Brewster's fire chief steps down.

“It's going to hard just kinda taking that step step bay and realizing I'm not in it in for the daily grind..."

Robert Moran

Chief (ret.) , Brewster FIre Department

What is changing at Brewster fire?

11 October 2024 - BREWSTER - After 14 years, Brewster fire chief Robert Moran has retired. He oversaw the department through major changes, including threading a political needle build a new award winning station on time and under-budget.

How did the community say good-bye?

On October 11, the department held a farewell ceremony for the departing chief - who said an emotional thank you for his years in the community and reflected on the changing, including the challenge of bringing the new fire station to a successful opening.

Who is the next chief?

Current deptuty chief Kevin Varley will be stepping in to chief role following Chief Moran's departure.

Scroll up to watch the news feature " Hurricane Help" or click HERE to open it in a new window.
Brewster Fire Department website

You might also like ... New Brewster FIre Station Gives Preview Tour (Jan. 2018 )

October Spotlights Domestic Violence On Cape Cod

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:15:23 GMT

13 October 2024 – HYANNIS, MA – Close to 200 people came together Wednesday 2 October to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month at Independence House's annual breakfast event. Domestic violence appears everywhere regardless of gender, age, race, socioeconomic status or geography, but Cape Cod's regional challenges - such as housing - pose additional hurdles for survivors said the agency.

“It’s a mistake to think that because someone leaves a relationship they’re gonna be safe. Because what we know is that they’re stalked, they’re not left alone ... It's a blaming statement without looking at the big picture.”

Lysetta Hurge-Putnam

Executive Director, Independence House

When is Domestic Violence Awareness Month? 

13 October 2024 – HYANNIS, MA – Close to 200 people came together Wednesday October 02 to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month at Independence House's annual breakfast event. Domestic violence appears everywhere regardless of gender, age, race, socioeconomic status or geography, but Cape Cod's regional challenges - such as housing - pose additional hurdles for survivors said the agency.

How widespread is domestic violence?

More than ten million people in the United States experience domestic violence every year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence . The problem is systemic and global, recognized by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights .

Last year almost 9,000 Cape Codders sought help from Independence House , the regional agency that addresses and works to prevent domestic and sexual violence. The nonprofit organization encompasses offices in Provincetown, Orleans, Hyannis and Falmouth.

At its annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Community Breakfast in Hyannis, Independent House reminded attendees that domestic violence has not gone away. Lysetta Hurge-Putnam, Executive Director of Independence House, said that this year, not only was the event intended to address domestic violence and human trafficking and share resources (see bottom of this article), but also to honor the 21 victims killed by domestic violence the past year. Two of those victims were from Cape Cod.

What is Domestic Violence

Hurge-Putnam said that domestic violence impacts every demographic and looks the same regardless of geography, socioeconomic status, gender, race or age. The perpetrators’ coercive, abusive and violent behavior follow a certain pattern with a goal gaining or maintaining control of the other person.

The U.S. Department of Justice defines domestic violence as falling into one several categories; while physical violence may be a a common factor, it is not the only element of abuse. For example, manipulation and intimidation form very common components of domestic violence. Hurge-Putnam warns that controlling behavior in a relationship can signal an early red flag but it can be very hard to recognize, especially at first. What may initially seem like caring gesture - “text me when you get home,” for example - can, at a certain level, become a controlling gesture.

What are the warning signs of domestic abuse?

Independence House lists behaviors that signal an abusive person:

Coming on overly strong in the beginning
Jealousy and possessiveness
Controlling actions, for example interrogating a partner if they are late or repeatedly demanding to know when they arrive home
Expecting perfection
Isolating the partner from people they love or people they work with
Criticizing, degrading and/or insulting the partner, their family or friends
Easily insulted
Hurting the partner during sex
Expecting the partner to serve, obey, or stay at home
Sudden mood swings
Coercing the partner to have sex
Making violent threats such as “I’ll kill you!”, or “I’ll break your neck”, then dismissing the comments.

Why don't they leave?

“Usually what we hear are things like, well, 'why didn’t they leave? Why didn’t they see it coming? How did they let that happen?'” Hurge-Putnam said.

“If somebody’s house gets robbed, we don’t say ‘why do they live in that house?' My point is, why is the victim responsible for 'leaving'?”

Coercive behavior is very subtle. It grows in parallel with a pattern called the normalization process , a psychological mechanism where the violence escalates ever so slowly, overstepping the victim’s boundaries repeatedly but a little at a time, steadily normalizing the control, aggression or other coercion. When paired with the love and affection that is usually there in the beginning of a relationship, another psychological process called trauma bonding enters. Together this create a difficult dynamic to break free from.

All relationship break-ups are hard, but the nature of the trauma bond – tying the victim helplessly close to their partner – makes it impossibly hard to leave. The victim often cannot see the violence because of an intricate psychological system where overlapping and intertwining emotional and mental factors which are spun into a metaphorical rope – the trauma bond – made out of, for example, love, fear, hope, dependency, isolation.

“Sometimes that is the most dangerous time ... when a person decides to leave,” Hurge-Putnam explained. “And that’s why people go into a shelter. But it’s a mistake to think that because someone leaves a relationship they’re going to be safe. Because what we know is that they’re stalked, they’re not left alone, they still have to deal with their partner if they have children.”

Hurge-Putnam added that asking why someone doesn’t leave is a “blaming statement without looking at the big picture.”

Victim-Blaming Is Not The Answer

They right answer, Hurge-Putnam said, is asking instead: “Why do we have perpetrators? Why do we have people who are harming other people that they’re in an intimate relationship with?” She said that our society condones certain types of violence and that domestic violence is one of them.

Sexual exploitation is another behavior society looks the way at. “Who do they usually arrest? The, quote unquote, prostitutes,” she said.

Hurge-Putnam believes society has to flip the switch for domestic violence “because the perpetrators are typically more powerful than their victim, whether it be financially, politically, physically” She adds, “it’s not a black and white solution.”

What are the challenges on Cape Cod?

Lysetta Hurge-Putnam, has been the Executive Director for Independence House for almost 25 years. She says since then awareness of domestic violence has improved on Cape Cod, but there are regional challenges that victims and advocates on Cape Cod struggle with. For example, tThe housing shortage and lack of affordable housing can keep people stuck in violent relationships for longer simply because they cannot afford housing on their own.

Cape Cod’s seasonal economy is another unique factor adding to the hurdles. “What happens when it’s November, December, January, February, March, April there might be no money coming in,” she said. “There are certainly programs that people can apply to. But even with that, sometimes with a voucher for housing, the voucher may not be sufficient to cover the rents that are here. Which are extraordinary."

What is the solution to domestic violence?

Independence House strives to work on prevention rather than only responding as a reaction to the existing violence. Hurge-Putnam believes it starts year and young, with educating children. “A teenager – and by that time it’s too late – does not realize control. They don’t see the red flags.”

She says a teenager has a tendency to mistake the control for love and care, however, “If we can start to teach about healthy relationships from a very early age that can serve to prevent domestic violence in the future.”

Scroll up to watch the news feature " October Spotlights Domestic Violence On Cape Cod " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

If you need help

Independence House 24/7 Hotline: 800-439-6507
Massachusetts State-Wide Toll-Free 24/7 Hotline : 1.877.785.2020 or LIVE CHAT
National Domestic Violence HOTLINE : 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) Or LIVE CHAT or text START to 88788
StrongHearts Native Helpline : 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483)
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 1-866-331-9474

For more information

Lower Cape TV reports on Human Trafficking

Hurricane Help on the Way

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:34:21 GMT

Cape Codders respond to call for hurricane help.

“The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office reached out to all the Cape Cod police departments and asked if we'd be willing to participate in collecting relief items, which of course we jumped right on, we felt that it was our duty to support our fellow citizens..."

Chief Adam Bohannon

Chief , Eastham Police Department

How is Cape Cod responding to hurricanes in the south?

10 October 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Cape Codders know hurricanes - so when the Barnstable County Sheriff's office reached out to the Cape's local police departments for help gathering relief materials, no one hesitated. This weekend, full trailers will be on the way to the southeastern states recovering from Hurricane Helene with potentially follow on trailers responding the now expanded need from Hurricane Milton.

Who supported the hurricane relief effort?

Eastham police chief Adam Bohannon said all of the police departments rose the challenge, even challenging each other a bit. In Eastham, the Eastham police reached out to the Nauset Regional High School as well and parents and students have been dropping off items from a specific list of relief materials during school drop off and pick up times. The identified relief materials all target either post hurricane clean up (think work gloves, rakes, and shovels) or items to support human well-being (think bottled water).

What happens next?

Materials gathered locally will move to the sheriff's office and from there travel by tractor trailer to areas in the southeastern US impacted by the Sept 27 Hurricane Helene. In the aftermath of this weeks' Hurricane Milton - rolling across Florida less than two weeks later after Helene did - additional relief efforts may continue.

Scroll up to watch the news feature " Hurricane Help" or click HERE to open it in a new window.
Hurricane relief link at Eastham Police Department

You might also like ... Is the Big One on the Way? Hurricane Season 2024:

Chasing a New Bank

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 03:22:17 GMT

A new member of the business community cut the ribbon at the site of a much watched corner in Orleans.

“Housing is a huge issues down here on the Cape ... We're looking to partner with Housing Assistance Corp and others to see what Chase can offer..."

Patrick Smith

Branch Manager, Chase/Orleans

What opened in Orleans?

04 October 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - Months of speculating about the future of the highly visible former H&K site in Orleans officially ended as a new-comer bank cut the ribbon on September 27. National heavy hitter Chase completed its new building and joined the local community, opening its first Cape Cod location.

How will a national company serve a local community?

Branch manager Patrick Smith said the bank wanted a central local on Cape Cod and saw Orleans as year round location for Chase's new footprint in the region. In addition to adding the business mix in the expected banking services, it says it understands the role it can play in the community and expressed a willingness to partner with Housing Assistance Corp and others specifically on housing issues.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Chasing a New Bank " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Filling a Void

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 02:39:53 GMT

A new resource center, the only one of its kind on the Outer Cape, opens in Wellfleet filling a void for mental health, wellness, and addiction services.

“Unfortunately our country still suffers especially in rural areas like the Outer Cape and the Lower Cape with people living with substance abuse disorder... "

Damian Archer

CEO., Outer Cape Health Service

What opened in Wellfleet?

04 October 2024 — WELLFLEET, MA - On September 27, AIM Wellness Center cut the ribbon and opened its doors in Wellfleet. The new mental and behavioral health center offers in-person counseling and represents the type of resources the state's Mental Health ABC legislation hoped to support. It fills a void in mental health and substance abuse resources on the Outer and Lower Cape.

What is the AIM Wellness Center?

T he AIM Wellness Center, part of Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS), brings a suite of counseling and related services to an isolated region known to be lacking in year-round and accessible mental health care. It offers out-patient services, person-to-person 12 months a year. It focuses on substance abuse, as well as on other behavioral and mental health and wellness issues.

The new center, located on Rt 6 near the OCHS pharmacy and Wellfleet Veterinary, has been in the planning for several years. A combination community support and legislative support helped raise funds to make the wellness center possible.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Filling a Void " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Oh Yes, There Was a Time

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 02:30:27 GMT

The Cape Cod fishing industry once spun off tales that remain the stuff of legend, a legend shared in this short documentary.

"Don't think you ever know more than this water ... when you lose respect for that water, you're all through in this business. That stuck in my head, never left. Yup, he was right ."

Capt Raymond Duarte ,

F/V Reneva

What tales to oldtime fishermen tell?

19 September 2024 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - (20:44) Fishermen's lives are shaped by necessity, by weather, and by resilience. There is an inherent respect for the sea that old timers know all too well, based on experiences that proved to be both lifesaving and heartbreaking.

In this short documentary film, seasoned fishermen share valuable lessons learned on the water. Shaped by both a way of life and a profession built of stamina, character and guts, these Provincetown fishermen have seen a once abundant industry in their town dwindle down to a small fleet struggling to keep their fish tales alive.

Through daunting challenges as powerful as the sea that shaped it, commercial fishing has faced increased economic pressures, forcing many to leave the industry. While fishing can be rewarding, fewer new generations are entering the profession, leaving this small Cape Cod town looking back and sharing its tales, tales which reflect a sense of longing, and a cultural memory of a time when the fish and the stories they told seemed wild and endless. Today, most of these tales survive only in memory but there was time .., oh yes, there was a time.

You might also like ... The Secret Life of the Cape Cod Eel:

Scroll up to watch the short documentary on memories of Cape Cod fishing o r click HERE to open it in a new window

For more information:

Coast + Climate coverage from Lower Cape TV and Lower Cape News

Cheering the Champs

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 00:52:51 GMT

At this year's annual Massachusetts Clean Water Action awards, the national advocacy group nodded at Cape Cod for two of its 2024 environmental champions.

"In April - Earth Month - we just made the change the switch from disposal to reusable eco-friendly containers that we wash and sanitize between uses and that eliminated a massive amount of plastic waste .... and that's something we're really proud of."

Eli Sobel,

Co-founder, Truro Community Kitchen

What are the environmental champions?

27 September 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Since 1972 national advocacy group Clean Water Action has worked for clean water and clean energy, focusing on environmental health, ecosystem protection and community quality of life concerns -- and this year at the annual Massachusetts Clean Water Action awards on September 25 in Waltham, it nodded toward Cape Cod for two of its 2024 "environmental champions."

These champions represent changes that help Massachusetts "cleaner, healthier, and more just" said the organization; this years honorees include the Truro Community Kitchen and State Sen. Julian Cyr.

What did the John O'Connor Grassroots Leadership award recognize?

The John O’Connor Grassroots Leadership Award recognized Truro Community Kitchen (TCK) and the work it undertook in 2024 to move from disposable food containers to reusable ones, a change that required significant process changes but one that benefits both the environment and the long-term financial sustainability for the organization.

"It also saves a huge amount of money for us - it's a big investment up front .... but we are able then to redirect that money that we're not effectively throwing away in containers each week into our actual mission," aid Eli Sobel , one of TCK’s founders.

What did the Legislation Champion Award recognize?

The second recognition – the Legislation Champion award – went to four legislators, including State Senator Julian Cyr, for work to remove the chemical family PFAS from firefighter turnout gear - part of a larger goal of preventing it from entering the environment.

PFAS has long been used for fire suppression and incorporated into many types of consumer and professional products – it has been flagged as a potential cause of illness and can be found downstream of its original intended use in the Cape’s wells and water supplies.

"These are these forever chemicals ... the more we know about these forever chemicals, the more we understand that they are very harmful to human health," said Cyr. "This is really the first step in the broader work that we are trying to advance both around trying to remediating the existing PFAS contamination we have in our water supplies and also turning off the spigots of PFAS in consumer goods."

Clean Water Action also honored State Senator Michael Moore, Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan, and State Representative Jim Hawkins as part of the leadership group that created the new 2024 legislation to ban PFAS in firefighters’ turnout gear.

You might also like ... A New Bit of Green in the Truro Community Kitchen/April 2024

Scroll up to watch the full report "Cheering Champions"

Scroll up to watch a short news video about what Cape Cod enviromental champions, or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Watch more about Plastics on Cape Cod:

Lower Cape News reporting series about plastics on Cape Cod

Bass River Could Relaunch An Industry

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 02:02:04 GMT

In a pilot project, 100,000 tiny scallops have been released into the Bass River, with hopes the babies will multiply into several million individual mollusks.

“Historically, culturally, to try to reestablish a scallop population in Bass River is very significant ... It's what Bass River was known for a long time ago"

Bill Bonnetti

Director, Division of Natural Resources, The Town of Yarmouth

Where can you fish for scallops on Cape Cod?

27 September 2024 – YARMOUTH, MA – Right now more than 100,000 baby scallops are eating, growing, and awaiting release in Bass River. In a pilot project, the Town of Yarmouth and the nonprofit Friends of Bass River along with the Scallop Bay Shellfish Company, based in Pocasset, MA, are eagerly watching the mollusks, moving them from Japanese lantern nets to bigger nets to give them growing space.

Bass River was not only once home to Massachusetts second biggest herring population, but was also a hotspot for scallop fishing. Rick Bishop, Executive Director of Friends of Bass River, who grew up along the shores of Bass River, remembers fishing for scallop in the 1980s with his dad. With no more than three drags, in those days a father and son filled the day’s fishing quota.

Are there scallops in Bass River?

Bass River is the longest river on Cape Cod. It flows from freshwater streams in Yarmouth Port nine miles south to Nantucket Sound. In order to bring scallop fishing back to the river, the Friends of Bass River and Town of Yarmouth plan to release between three and five million scallops every year. Right now, they hope the pilot project will be successful with a high survival rate among the scallop seeds.

“My guess is the success rate to the release would be probably in 90 to 95,000,” said Jeff Lang, co-owner of Scallop Bay Shellfish Co. “How many make it once we let them go to them becoming breeding adults next year? That's the part I don't know about.”

Through a special article called The Shellfish Enhancement, the Town's natural resource division purchased the baby scallops for $3,500 and the Friends of Bass River purchased the Japanese lantern nets where the young scallops can grow without interference of predators until they're big enough to be released in November. The nets play the role that eel grass often does in scallop populations.

Do scallops filter nitrogen?

“We've looked at shellfish propagation in general as being a benefit to the overall health of our tributaries and abatements through water quality enhancement. But historically, culturally, to try to reestablish a scallop population in Bass River is very significant,” said Bill Bonnetti, Director of the Division of Natural Resources of the Town of Yarmouth. “It used to be thriving. We know that there's been a loss of habitat, a loss of eelgrass in Bass River, which is largely in part due to nitrogen loading through septic systems.”

The town is addressing the nitrogen through a wastewater program, and though the main goal of reintroducing scallops is to reinstate a thriving fishery, the mollusks will also help clean the water.

“The biggest thing from the data we've seen is the town could be doing is the wastewater plan, but the shellfish propagation is a supplemental approach to improving degraded water quality. Besides that, if scallops survive here and are able to spawn and we have a sustainable wild population of scallops in Bass River. Again, that's culturally significant. It's what Bass River was known for a long time ago. That's important to the town,” added Bonnetti.

Rick Bishop pointed out that scallops are the top performer at filtering nitrogen out of water; quahogs are second and oysters are third.

When can scallops be harvested in Bass River?

Even with the eelgrass gone, scallops can adapt, and the Japanese lantern nets act as substitutes for the protective eelgrass, acting as hatchery in its place. By November, if all goes well, the Bass River will see adult scallops for the first time in 50 years. Scallops have a life space of about two years, so those new adults will quickly begin producing the next generation of baby scallops ... and be table ready themselves.

“I was told that in November they will be large enough for me to to have a little sample of them to eat them,” said Bishop, adding that it will take another year before they can be harvested recreationally.

“It's the second most common question I'm asked as executive director for Friends of Bass River. The first is, when will the river be dredged? And second is when will scallops reappear in the river?” says Bishop. “So we'll have an answer for them, which is fantastic.”

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Bass River Could Relaunch An Industry" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Summer Season 2024 Saw the New Normal

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 22:23:56 GMT

The summer Cape Cod rental season of 2024 has wrapped up and data says it represents a new post-pandemic baseline.

“What we've continued to observe is a just this pull back from the record pandemic times; that time was unprecedented, unsustainable ... we are in now what we call the "new normal" ...

Jim Reese

CEO, We Need a Vacation

What happened in the 2024 summer rental season on Cape Cod?

26 September 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - The 2024 summer season on Cape Cod continued the "new normal," said Jim Reese, CEO of We Need a Vacation , which has been tracking Cape Cod seasonal rental trends for several decades.

He noted that COVID lies in the rear view mirror and comparisons to the COIVD years no longer apply. Instead, what the region saw this year - a slick uptick from 2019 - represents the new the post-pandemic era baseline.

Were there rental changes in 2024?

The most significant change that the data showed, according to Reese, lies in the shoulder seasons, not the peak summer. While the summer remained stable, the shoulder seasons saw growth and increased activity, more than 17% above the pre-pandemic year 2019.

What else was new in 2024?

The changing of generations continues to create more demand and expectations for amenities and interest beyond renting a place to serves as a beach base. People are looking for the ability to work remotely and use the vacation home in a broader way, with attractive outdoor use spaces and full inside amenities.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Summer Season 2024 Saw the New Normal" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

September Plans for Spectacular Spring

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 22:02:01 GMT

In this episode of In the Garden, Garden Coach Priscilla Husband shares her September "to do" list for a spectacular spring.

"So leave those seed heads to dry standing for our native birds...

Priscilla Husband

Garden Coach

What should we do in the fall garden?

September 2024 - Cape Cod MA - This month garden coach Priscilla Husband shares her "to-do" list for the fall Cape Cod garden and said a little pre-planning makes for spectacular spring .. and make the birds happy too.

What are the top fall garden tasks?

Trimming perennials, planting spring bulbs, assessing the health and status of the plants, and dividing plants like iris form part of the top tips for fall gardens, while the list rounds up with trimming and harvesting herbs, and choosing seed heads and ornamental grasses for native birds to enjoy and to and winter interest to the dormant garden.

Hear how to prepare your garden for the fall and next spring in this episode of "In the Garden"

Scroll up to watch the short In the Garden video or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Watch more about gardening:

Check out the Lower Cape TV Cape Cod Gardens Collection
More In the Garden episodes

Surfs Up with Oldtimers Longboard Competition

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:34:30 GMT

Decades of iconic Outer Cape surf and guard culture ride the waves in the annual Oldtimes Longboard competition.

“Everybody on the line up is always willing to teach you .. and just wants to see you succeed.”

Picabo Miskiv

New Surfer and Lifeguard, Participant in Oldtimers Longboard Competition

What is the Oldtimers Longboard Competition?

13 September 2024 - WELLFLEET, MA - The Oldtimers Longboard Classic surfing competition rode the waves for its 50th year at White Crest Beach in Wellfleet on August 18. The event embraces surfer and lifeguard culture and forms and iconic part of the Outer Cape's history.

The entire event celebrates an Outer Cape and a time and place where names like Jasper conjured up images of good times and good water. Competitors compete for both serious and silly awards but the overarching message of the the day focuses on fellowship and fun and a love of surf.

Scroll up to watch the news feature " Surfs Up " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 23:58:09 GMT

This year's National Voter Registration Day took place September 17 and came with a clear message: register to vote AND show up to vote.

“Democracy is not a spectator sport.”

Anita Rogers

League of Women Voters/Cape Cod

What is National Voter Registration Day?

19 September 2024 - BARNSTABLE, MA - This year's National Voter Registration Day took place September 17 can came with a clear message: register to vote AND show up to vote. The Cape Cod League of Women Voters echoed that loud and clear in their booth at the Cape Cod Community College in Barnstable.

"Democracy is not a spectator sport" reminded League Member Anita Rogers, as she extolled the value of voting and having an active voice in our government. "Our mission is to register and inform voters so voters can engage and participate in democracy."

What is Constitution Day?

This years, National Voter Registration Day shared its date with Constitution Day. Constitution Day marks the Sept 17 1787 adoption of the US Constitution. "Without the Constitution we wouldn't be voting explained League of Women Voters and Voter Service Committee member Rosemary Shields.

What are the Massachusetts ballot questions?

In 2024 Massachusetts have five ballot questions. Ballot questions offer a yes or no option to a position or policy. In Novembers voters will be asked to give a thumbs up or down to:

How does voter registration work in Massachsuetts?

Voter can register at their town clerk office or online at the secretary of the commonwealth

The Vote is our Voice and its important for everyone to vote because one vote can make all the difference.

This year, National Voter registration day coincided with Constitution Day, which marks the September 1787 adoption of the US Constitution. We sat down with Rosemary Shields from Leagues of Women Voters to dig into the intersection of two, as well as learning morea about the how-to s of voting in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Rosemary Shields

Voter Service Committee, Leagu e of Women

And then- says Shields – you have to SHOW UP.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Democracy is not a Spectator Sport" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Online voter registration
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Track my ballot
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - 2024 ballot questions
League of Women of Voters - Cape Cod area website

Look up! The Dark Sky Festival Illuminates the Cosmos

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 20:32:16 GMT

20 September 2024 – CAPE COD, MA – Cape Cod's beauty is all around -- but look up or you could miss some of it! The Cape Cod Astronomical Society and the Cape Cod National Seashore co-hosted the third annual Dark Sky Festival at Marconi Beach to help the public look up to our cosmic neighbors and their importance in the night sky.

“The night sky is a very important resource out here on Cape Cod, Things such as birds require the night sky to navigate, horseshoe crabs use the moon to know when to lay their eggs ... so preserving that resource is important to them but also us humans, preserving the night sky is important to us.”

Joseph Norvilas

Park Ranger, Cape Cod National Seashore

What is Dark Sky Festival?

20 September 2024 – CAPE COD, MA - Just like the sand on Cape Cod shore, the night sky above is also ever changing. It opens a window through a time machine going back some 20 million years. The outer side of the Cape offers up an extra special layer of darkness for peering into the cosmos wonders above.

The Lower and Outer Cape region lies miles from shopping malls and big cities. Even the state highway, Route 6, that runs through the lower “arm” lacks street lights, adding to those layers of darkness at night. Through the darkness of the night sky in Eastham, Wellfleet, and Truro, the Milky Way and other galaxies, stars, planets and constellations shine extra brightly without interference from terrestrial light pollution.

Into this delightfully dark environment, the Cape Cod Astronomical Society and the Cape Cod National Seashore launched the Dark Sky Festival three year ago. The Society says even if you don’t have a telescope, you can still see details in the dark sky with basic binoculars or even with just your own eyes .

Joseph Norvilas, Park Ranger, led this year's Star Party, guiding some 400 visitors from Marconi Beach’s dark parking lot to the beach, attaching red cellophane to people’s flashlights to protect their night vision. The astronomers waited at the beach with telescopes to help people locate different celestial bodies.

Why is the night sky important to Cape Cod?

“The night sky is a very important resource out here on Cape Cod,” said Norvilas. “Things such as birds require the night sky to navigate. Horseshoe crabs use the moon to know when to lay their eggs. Even insects use the night sky.”

Norvilas pointed out how the night sky has been a source of inspiration for poets and artists for many generations, and has helped birth many valuable pieces of art. “It's pretty spectacular to be able to be out here at night on a calm night and listening to the waves crashing on the beaches, and hearing the birds and the wind, while also looking up at the Milky Way," he said.

What can you do at the Cape Cod Astronomical Society?

On Cape Cod there is an abundance of a la carte food menus offering visitors their hearts’ desires -- but at the Cape Cod Astronomical Society’s Werner Schmidt Observatory in Yarmouth, you can have stars on demand instead. The on-site PlaneWave telescope offers a selection of stars, planets and galaxies.

“If someone wants to look at a planet, particular star, a galaxy, a nebula, whatever might be up there, the telescope can actually find it very quickly. You have a database you simply type in or go to the item you want to see,” says Charles Burke, Observatory Director.

What can we see in the cosmos above Cape Cod?

At monthly "star parties" the society's members invite the public to borrow or bring their own telescopes to the observatory. They also offer lectures with guest speakers to further interest and education in our dark skies.

Telescope engineer Gary Walker is fascinated both by the telescopes’ technique and the infinite universe. “It shows a sense of how vast the universe is and how inconsequential we are here on Earth by comparison. Some of these objects are a couple of million light years away,” said Walker. “In a telescope like this one, you can actually see objects that are 8 billion light years away. So that's almost, uh, three quarters of the way to the end of the universe. And then the camera, of course, enables us to photograph things that we can't see even in the telescope. I guess most people sort of wonder, you know, what is out there.”

When is the super blue moon on Cape Cod?

Such distances and numbers are nearly impossible to grasp for most people and maybe that is why our closest neighbor - the moon- never ceases to fascinate us. Right now our very own moon, 240,000 miles away, is putting on quite a show. The second full moon of the month occured on September 17; this also happened when the moon is at its closest point to earth, making it a "super blue moon." As if that wasn’t enough, there is also a partial lunar eclipse visible from Cape Cod.

“I’ve been looking at the moon for 50 years and never gets old,” says society member Charles Burke. “And we can take great pictures of it, but I think the moon's more exciting to look at live.” Burke says even though we see the moon every night, looking at it through a telescope is particularly exciting. “It looks like you’re right there. So it’s always a favorite.”

So grab a pair of binoculars, find a dark place (which Cape Cod has a-plenty!), look up and let the words telescope engineer Walker linger as you do: “Now they think that there may be a planet around half of the stars that we see. And the implication there is if there are that many planets, then there must be life somewhere else, which is the fundamental question of are we the only ones here? Are we the only life?”

Walker says neither he nor most astronomers believe we are alone in the universe. “ I believe in statistics,” Walker said. “And there are literally millions and billions of planets so there must be life on some other planet, many other planets. But whether we'll ever be able to see that, it will depend on the technology going forward."

Scroll up to watch the news feature " Look Up! The Dark Sky Festival Illuminates About Cosmos " or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information

Meet Baby Shug

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 01:43:57 GMT

The Salt Pond Visitor Center just landed a shark - an ocean debris plastic baby shark, that is.

“We find a lot of siding on the beaches from houses, the plastic siding ... a tarp ... and an old sail ... and old cups ... there's a lot of shards ... plastic shards here .... it's an amalgamation of all these bits and pieces ... ”

Cindy Pease Roe

Sculptor of "Baby Shug"

What is Baby Shug?

12 September 2024 - EASTHAM, MA - The Salt Pond Visitor Center just landed a shark - a plastic baby shark, that is. The new sculpture, made from many of the larger materials found in Mama Shug at Herring Cove Beach, illustrates the plastic problem in our oceans and was commissioned by CARE for the Cape and Islands . Baby Shug will be seen by an estimated 4 million visitors a summer.

Is there a Mama Shug?

The large Mama Shug shark was installed in 2023 at the National Seashore's Herring Cove Visitor Center in Provincetown. Baby Shug, like any baby, contains bits of its mother - in this case, drawing on some of the same types of plastic marine debris to create a family linkage. Both pieces of art serve to illustrate the challenges of marine debris, as well acting as a reminder that sharks swim in our waters.

Where did the materials come from?

The materials that form Baby Shug came from Cape Cod beaches. Many were gathered as part of an ongoing research project by the Center for Coastal Studies' Laura Ludwig and her beach brigade. The multi-year project gathers debris from the beaches and counts and categorizes it as part of an effort to better understand the sources of plastics pollution.

Where can visitors see Baby Shug?

Baby Shug will remain on display at the Salt Pond Visitors center, where millions of visitors - many with no experience with either marine debris or sharks - have a chance to engage with ocean issues in a new way, through the power of art.

You might also like ... Trash to Treasure for World Oceans Day (Mama Shug 2023):

(click photo to watch)

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Baby Shug" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center - website
CARE for the Cape and Islands - website
Center for Coastal Studies - marine debris research program
Recycled Art Collection from ArtsLight
Lower Cape Plastics reporting: https://www.lowercapenews.org/plastics

New And Old Traditions At Eastham's Windmill Weekend

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:57:23 GMT

Originally envisioned as a time for locals to reconnect after the tourist season, this year Eastham Windmill Weekend wraps up the summer for the 48th time with music, food, a parade and lots of candy.

“I feel like I have a permanent grin on my face cause I'm just watching how people are interacting and just enjoying themselves, whether it's people in the beer garden yapping it up or kids playing in the background running around.”

Joanna Stevens

President, Windmill Weekend, Inc.

What is Windmill Weekend?

13 September 2024 – EASTHAM, MA - After a long hectic summer season with an expanded population, many Cape Cod residents are longing to catch up with friends and family – and almost half a century ago, a group of Eastham residents created Windmill Weekend to fill that void. Today, this annual tradition wraps up the summer with a celebration to all things local, and transition the community into the slower pace and quiet time fall brings to Cape Cod.

Joanna Stevens, President of Windmill Weekend Inc., has carried through this vision for the celebrations. which this year were held between 6 and 8 September. “I feel like I have a permanent grin on my face cause I'm just watching how people are interacting and just enjoying themselves, whether it's people in the beer garden yacking it up or kids playing in the background running around,” she said, as shhe stood on the Windmill Green, surrounded by local market stands, children playing and people reconnecting.

What is the Windmill in Eastham?

The center piece, the Eastham Windmill, the oldest and last working gristmill on Cape Cod and listed in the National Register of Historical Places, is towering over the festivities. Having seen Eastham's ancestors and descendants for hundreds of years, this year marks the 48th Windmill Weekend celebrations, and time and a growing population has brought new challenges: Parking. To accommodate the complaints the committee is offering two shuttle buses from First Encounter Beach's parking. Stevens is hoping it will solve the issue and at the same time bring more people to the sand and art contest.

What is the parade in Eastham?

Old and new traditions meet with the ever increasingly popular road race on Sunday morning, and the brand new line dancing activity. To end it all with a bang Route 6 is closed for all traffic to give way to the grand finale: the Sunday parade. "That's a pretty big deal," says Stevens and emphasizes that Route 6 is closed for a positive reason. The theme this year is "Going Back To The Farm" and saw goats parade, police dogs greet kids and Smokey Bear riding the fire truck. The only thing raining from the blue skies were showers of candy.

What is Windmill Weekend's Scholarships?

Back on the green, watched over by the Windmill, Stevens is getting ready to pass the torch to the next generation. She announces this is her last year as the Windmill Weekend President, and advertises for someone to pick up the baton and introduce new traditions to Windmill Weekend. Stevens is most proud of the collaboration with the Town of Eastham, which has chipped in with $10,000 this year – half the event's budget. Part of the proceeds from the weekend goes to three scholarships of $1,500 each which will be awarded three Eastham students at the Nauset Regional Highschool and Cape Cod Tech.

Scroll up to watch the news feature " N ew and Old Traditions At Eastham's Windmill Weekend" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information

Cream of the Crop

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:02:56 GMT

The Orleans Farmers' Market celebrates 30 years of connecting local farmers, local food, and local communities.

"Cape Cod was an agriculture center in the past ... acres of strawberries, turnips from Eastham, and asparagus .. corn ... along with all the fishing and shellflishing, so it was sort of a hub of agriculture...."

Gretel Norgeot

President, Orleans Farmers' Market

What is the Orleans Farmers' Market celebrating?

06 September 2024 – ORLEANS, MA – Thirty years ago Orleans Farmers’ Market started out with 10 vendors. It has grown to 40 farmers offering their goods to the local public, every Saturday, year-round.

What value does local food bring?

Locally produced food is important for its freshness, quality, and nutrition, say Orleans Farmers' President Gretel Norgeot. She also points out that eating local also plays a role in combating climate change by minimizing trucking and transportation. Eating locally grown food is not only healthy and tasty - but also helps the planet, she said.

What happens at the Orleans' Farmers Market?

Today, the market has as many as 40 vendors and runs year-round on Saturday mornings, outside in the summer and inside from December to April. The market features in-season fruit and vegetables, fish and scallops, herbs and flowers, and locally raised meat. Bakeries also bring bread and sweet treats.

Is there a farming history on Cape Cod?

Much has changed on Cape Cod since that first Orleans Farmers’ Market. Cape Cod had a history of agriculture, with acres and acres of strawberries ... turnips from Eastham ... asparagus ... corn ... along with fishing and shellfishing. As the land turned from farms to other uses, awareness of local food began to wane as did acres used for food production.

The past three decades have also brought increased herbicide and pesticide use, and a loss of honeybees and pollinators, as well as changes in the growing season brought by climate change, noted Norgeot.

How many farms are on Cape Cod today?

Despite it all, farming continues on Cape Cod but farm size and demographics have changed. Between 2017 to 2022 nine new farms opened, although acres in production dropped 40 percent. Approximately one-third of the Cape's farmers are women. Today the Cape has 349 land farms and 241 aquaculture farm, which represent seven percent of the Massachusetts' farm revenue.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Cream of the Crop - 30 Years at the Orleans Farmers' Market" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Orleans Farmers' Market website

Cape Cod Postcard - Pleasant Bay At Labor Day

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 03:32:11 GMT

Labor Day marks the end of summer for Cape Codders. In this tour of Pleasant Bay, we take one special end of season boat ride.

Enjoy Pleasant Bay!

08.31.24 — CAPE COD, MA — Sit back and enjoy both the wildlife and the human life in this tour of Pleasant Bay as we take a Labor Day boat ride to round out the 2024 summer season.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Cape Cod Postcard - Labor Day on Pleasant Bay" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Check out other Cape Cod Postcards:

Cape Cod Post Card Collection

Right Whales Welcome New Champion

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 04:18:22 GMT

Dr. Daniel Palacios steps up to fill big shoes at the Center for Coastal Studies Right Whale Ecology program.

“Its one of the few places in the world where we have such a long term study on whale species... that was part of the draw for me to come here..."

Dr. Daniel Palacios

Director of Right Whale Ecology Program, Center for Coastal studies

Who is the new right whale ecology program director?

27 August 2024 — PROVINCETOWN, MA — The Center for Coastal Studies appointed Dr. Daniel Palacios as the new director of the right whale ecology program. The appointment follows the retirement of long-time whale expert Dr. Charles 'Stormy' Mayo.

Dr. Palacios was previously with Oregon State University and brings extensive expertise in whale research and a dynamic approach to advancing the program's goals. In this interview with Lower Cape TV Coast + Climate report Angela McNerney, Cape Cod Bay's new right whale champion opens up about his history and why he's so passionate about whales.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "RIght Whales Have a New Chamption" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Center for Coastal Studies Whale Ecology Program website

Feeding Hungry Kids for 12 Summers

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 21:18:59 GMT

For some, the summer says lobster rolls and clam chowder — but for others the food focus is on hungry kids.

“It's easy as a visitor to have an idealized view of what happens here, that its all kind of lobster roles and clam chowder -- and there are a great many hungry children on the Cape.

Rev. Patrick Ward

Reverend., Church of the Holy Spirit

What is Food4Kids?

27 August 2024 — ORLEANS, MA - For some, the summer says lobster rolls and clam chowder — but for others the food focus is on hungry kids. Food4Kids just completed its 12th season under a new director, and delivered more than 700 meals daily this year reflecting the widespread food insecurity on Cape Cod. The program fills in the summer gaps, reaching children when school is not in session.

Are there hungry children on Cape Cod?

More than 100 volunteers pack lunches and deliver them the the camps and summer programs that then distribute them to children. The need is ever growing says the program's new director Jenn Gale, who also noted that need has grown 10 to 20 percent each year since the program began a dozen years ago.

The 700 lunches delivered daily this year only addresses the Lower and Outer Cape - and even then she said many children are still falling between the cracks. She hopes to be able to expand the program geographically across the reach because food insecurity is such a widespread problem.

What does the future look like for Food4Kids?

Gale says that in addition to reaching more children, she also added hot lunches and grab and go programs this summer. She hopes to incorporate additional elements, such as literacy outreach, in the future as well.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Feeding Hungry Kids" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Food4Kids website

Gull Glides to Visitor Center

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 19:19:50 GMT

Cliodna ("Clean-ah"), the herring gull made of of plastic, glides to the Cape Cod Visitor Center on Rt 6 in Yarmouth, bringing both a work of art and a vibrant statement about plastics pollution.

“This is Clionda She is a herring gull. She's is made out of post-consumer and marine debris. She's named Clionda after the Celtic goddess of the sea ... She's a herring gull with a message. She is to remind people to skip single use plastics ... ”

Sarah Thornington

"Artivist", creator of Clionda-the-gull

Who is Cliodna?

23 August 2024 - YARMOUTH, MA - "Artivist" Sarah Thornington unveiled her latest creation — a Herring Gull named Cliodna (Clean-ah) - at the Cape Cod Welcome Center on Route 6. Thornington said her art was created from post-consumer and marine debris plastics - and serves both as public arts and as a statement of awareness about plastic pollution.

The subject, its name, and its medium all reflect on the vast volumes of plastics in our oceans. Gull, of course, pick at trash. Cliodna is a Celtic goddess of the sea and the pronunciation -- "Clean-ah" -- offers a reminder about actions needed. And, for course, the sculpture's building material of post-consumer plastic waste and marine debris illustrate just how much plastic trash fills our world.

Where is the sculpture?

Cliodna the plastic gull lives at the Cape Cod Visitors Center, located between former X 6 and X7 (now x 68 and x72) on Rt 6 in Yarmouth. She was built with support from the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce and CARE for the Cape and Islands to help visitors and residents remember to take care of the plant

What is an artivist?

Sarah Thronington is a self described "artivist" who uses art to also make broader statements. She began working with plastics as a source material after a personal beach walking and trash collecting project highlighted the sheer volume of plastics on the shore.

What materials form the gull?

Clioda the gull hatched from items gathered at the town of Yarmouth landfill and recycling bins, dumpsters, and beach cleanup collected items. Laundry detergent bottles, sunglasses, hair clips, combs, plasic cutler, plastic sand tools, and even a plastic trashcan lid weave together into feathers, body, tail, beak, and a beady birdy eye.

"She is a herring gull with a message" said Thornington. "Whether you live here or you visit here, be aware of your actions."

You might also like .. Portrait of Cape Artist: Sarah Thornington:

(click photo to watch)

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Herring Gull of Plastic" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Housing Huzzah

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 18:48:48 GMT

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll joined in the cheers for housing at the former Gov. Prence motel in Orleans, a site slated for multiple types of housing development.

“At the end of the day, what brings joy for me is we're creating a space that someone will call home.”

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll

Lt. Gov., Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Why was housing celebrated?

28 August 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - Lt. Governor Kim Discoll celebrated the Commonwealth's new Affordable Homes Act along with Cape housing organizations Wednesday August 28 at the former Gov. Prence hotel in Orleans, which is itself slated to become newhousing. The gathering celebrated the new legislation and what it means for Cape Cod.

What is in the Affordable Homes Act?

The Affordable Home Act, signed into law on August 2 2024, includes $5.16 B for housing as well as more than 50 policy initiatives. Two of the initiatives Cape housing advocates point to of particular Cape interest are enabling ADUs by right and support for green and sustainable housing development.

What is happening at the former Gov. Prence?

The former Gov. Prence property showcases the types of project proponents hope the new legislation will support. The Town of Orleans purchased the former Gov. Prence in 2020 and after various reviews, the Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) won the bid to develop the project. The housing agency said it will be turning the five-acre location into ten affordable market rate townhomes, seven Habitat for Humanity homes, an a low, moderate, and market rate rental project, which together add to the regional diversity of housing inventory.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Housing Huzzah" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Are Cape Cod's Beaches Accessible For Everyone?

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 18:15:34 GMT

Cape Cod's beaches might be one of its crown jewels ... but for people with mobility issues, those gems often lie beyond reach.

“Many people are kind, that's the biggest thing ... People are very, very helpful. So that certainly is not missing, the kindness of people for sure.”

Sharon Donohue

Care Giver

Are Cape Cod's beaches accessible?

29 AUGUST 2024 – CAPE COD, MA – Patrick Phipps grew up on Cape Cod surrounded by its coastline and beaches stretching for miles tucked between blue water and sandy dunes. Every year the beaches fill up with visitors and residents alike, escaping the summer humidity in the Atlantic's waves. But not everyone can reach the gleaming shore.

"A lot of the time I don't even bother going to the beaches, because I know that it's gonna be a hassle," Phipps says. "I know that most beaches aren't accessible."

Is there a disability law?

According to the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act, towns offering a public service are legally required to make sure those services are accessible for everyone. When it comes to beaches, Cape Cod's shifting sand, steep dunes and historical buildings create extra challenges.

For Phipps, who is the Work Readiness and Preparation Coordinator at Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled (CORD) and uses a manual wheelchair, the current state of beach accessibility leaves him high and dry in the parking lot with no way down to the water.

One of CORD's main missions offering technical assistance to increase accessibility in public spaces. Cathy Taylor is CORD's Director of Service and she says though accessibility on Cape Cod remains a big problem, the region has come a long way from where it was when the law went into effect nearly 35 years ago. Many towns have made efforts at their beaches and trails, but those efforts go only halfway -- and CORD does not know of a single beach on Cape Cod with full accessibility.

What does beach access on Cape Cod look like?

"Beach access is a huge issue. Beaches are one of the main reasons people come to Cape Cod. Those who live here, they love to go to the beaches, but if you're in a wheelchair, have any mobility issues, you really can't get on most of the beaches," said Taylor.

She explained that town-installed ramps and accessibility mats, so called mobi-mats that lay on top of the sand, end up with the same situation: none of them go all the way to the water. That leaves the person depending on ramps and mobi-mats forced to sit in the scorching sun with nowhere to go. On top of that, the mobi-mats are often full of sand and difficult to navigate.

"Some beaches have accessible parking, but no way to get on the beach at all. So I guess you can sit and look at the water from your car," Taylor said.

Are there beach wheelchairs on Cape Cod?

Beach wheel chairs offer potential, but their implemention is also problematic. "A lot of towns have the beach wheelchairs, which are great," said Taylor, "But I think towns have to be very proactive in promoting that they have these beach wheelchairs, where you can get them and make them easier to access."

Some beach wheelchairs are water safe and some not. All are heavy to push and pull through the sand without maintenance of ramps and mobi-mats. Some of them require pre-booking, some are first come first served, and some are available only during certain times. Folks who want to know if a beach they are planning to visit is accessible for them also need to research in advance - requiring a calls town halls or searches of town and National Seashore's websites. The latter can be challenging for people with visual impairments.

How do beach wheelchairs work?

Meg Donohue lives with her older sister Sharon Donohue in Brewster. The close proximity to the salt water and bike trails should be enough for Meg to access the activities she loves the most: swimming and biking.

"I love the water," says Meg, who uses a wheelchair and a walker. "It makes me relax."

Though Sharon praises the water-safe beach wheelchairs for their floatable design, she says with the changing sand it is too heavy for her to push Meg from the mobi-mats down to the water. "And she's only 98 pounds," Sharon says.

Though people show kindness and often offer to help with the wheelchair, Meg and Sharon have chosen to not go to beach this year. Instead, they have turned to Brewster's new community pool which offers fewer barriers. Sharon wishes for more awareness and consideration for those who are different-abled and may use assistance such as mobility devices for every day life activities.

How can accessibility increase?

As more people who have different needs become more visible in our communities that awareness will increase, Sharon believes. That visibility goes hand and and with accessibility.

Patrick Phipps says it is about time to make as much of Cape Cod as possible fully accessible, and small changes go a long way. Signage for example, marks a good starting point. "

In the beginning of a pathway or when you embark on a beach, just a simple sign that gives you some relevant information on how to access it and what you might encounter would make a difference, he said. "This type of information that not only benefits people with mobility issues, but also people who are visually impaired as well," he added.

Can buildings become accessible on Cape Cod?

He points out that Cape Cod has an aging demographic, and that these simple methods could ensure universal accessibility for everyone. CORD emphasizes that while Cape Cod is a historical place with buildings and natural features protected by laws trumping ADA, a lot can still be done. "A lot of times law dictates that we cannot modify certain places of entry

because let's say a building is too old. But in many instances places can be retrofitted with ramps and railings that can help people enter in those buildings.

Resource: Where can you find beach wheelchairs on the Lower and Outer Cape?

Brewster : Four water safe floatable beach wheelchairs located at four beaches
Orleans : One floating wheelchair and two non-water safe wheelchairs.
Eastham : Four beach wheelchairs, none of them safe to use in the water.
Truro : One beach wheelchair at Corn Hill.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Which Cape Cod Beaches Are Accessible For Everyone?" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information

Changing the Conversation About Perinatal Mood Disorders

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 19:18:04 GMT

23 August 2024 — CAPE COD, MA — New parents struggling with perinatal mood disorders during pregnancy or after the birth of a child are far from alone, but fear, judgement, and impossible standards keep people from seeking help, and a lack of certified health practitioners makes it even more difficult for Cape parents to find it. Efforts have begun to train professionals and change the conversation from shame to support.

“Those first two years were, were a dark time for me. That was really awful. I really struggled with parenting. It was really traumatic for me.”

Liz Cable

Co-Owner Rising Tide Doulas And Lactation

What are perinatal mood disorders?

Sixteen years ago Liz Cable in Brewster, mother of three and co-owner of Rising Tide Doulas And Lactation , found out she was expecting twins. With that news the pregnancy turned high risk, fear of complications and twin transfusion syndrome, Liz and her ex-husband went from regular midwife check-ins to maternal fetal medicine appointments several times a week. Her babies, two boys, were born prematurely and were placed at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. “It was just a really hard way to enter into parenthood, you know?” Liz says. She describes the NICU experience as traumatic – her babies had severe respiratory distress, she was not allowed to hold them and she almost lost one of them. She would eventually get therapy to work through the experience a couple of years later. The therapist mistreated it as post-traumatic stress disorder, when in fact the intrusive thoughts and anxiety Liz was experiencing was a perinatal mood disorder .

How common is postpartum depression?

Liz and her babies left NICU but due to the twins’ compromised immune systems they were not allowed visitors at home, leading to what Liz calls “a deeply isolating experience.” Furthermore, breastfeeding was extremely painful, “I had infection after infection. I got misdiagnosed a lot, several times,” Liz says. The twins were treated for thrush, which “wasn’t the problem. It turned out to be a bacterial infection, and they finally treated that,” Liz says. But it was not until she found a lactation consultant that Liz could breastfeed without pain. “She was like, ‘oh they’re not latching properly’. And then it was fine after that.” Having such a simple solution be as inaccessible as it had been for Liz made her see how having the right support can make a world of a difference. “I’ll never forget her. She saved me,” Liz says.

Why is perinatal mental health misdiagnosed?

It was easier to connect with her babies when breastfeeding fell into place, but Liz still did not know that the intrusive thoughts, the anger and the anxiety she was experiencing were signs of something bigger than her, something treatable. At night she was awake ruminating “feeling like something was gonna happen to the babies,” she recalls. “or maybe I was just a bad mom and I didn’t deserve them.” Because of the taboo topic – not connecting with your newborn, having vivid images of death or injury coming to your children, not being encompassed with complete joy, quite the opposite – Liz suffered in silence. “I was afraid to talk about it because of the stigma around it,” she says.

What are the symptoms of perinatal mood disorders?

Liz is far from alone in being misdiagnosed. The stigma and the shortage of professionals certified in perinatal mental health are making new parents even more vulnerable and alone. Postpartum Support International is training health professionals to be able to spot and treat perinatal mood disorders. One in five birthing parents and one in ten male parents will experience perinatal mood disorders, but only 25 percent of everyone seeking help gets treatment. Though there are more screenings in postpartum medical check-ups, Christina Raines, Board Chair Emeritus at PSI, says a practitioner not certified in perinatal mental health could react to the symptoms in a negative way, adding further to the stigma continuing to move in a negative spiral. In fact, 80 percent of all birthing persons will experience the so called baby blues, tearfulness and irritability, but when it persists longer than two weeks, it has moved into a perinatal mood disorder and can be treated. On Cape Cod, the Perinatal Wellness Support Center is offering two scholarships per year for those wishing to attend a PSI training.

What are intrusive thoughts?

The intrusive thoughts is a common symptom, Reines points out that intrusive thoughts are not synonymous with psychosis, and likens intrusive thoughts with driving behind a log truck imagining the logs flying off the truck and through your car window. “A lot of moms will see the baby in the microwave, thinking about putting the baby in the oven. One of the most common ones is seeing the baby falling down the stairs,” Reines says. “Visualizing the baby with knives, that can be really frightening and not being able to express that causes that anxiety to increase your cortisol which increases your anxiety which then affects breastfeeding and the bonding. It’s really a catch 22.” Research about intrusive thoughts centers around the birthing parent being a good parent having a defense system gone awry.

Where can I get help?

“Everybody is afraid of mental health,” Raines says regarding the stigma. “That involves motherhood which we hold on a pedestal.” She adds, “You're not broken. You’re not crazy. There is hope. There is treatment. This is a time-limited illness that you can heal and get better from. And every woman deserves to enjoy their pregnancy and their postpartum."

Call the PSI HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773
#1 En Español or #2 English

Text “Help” to 800-944-4773 (EN)
Text en Español: 971-203-7773

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Changing The Conversation About Perinatal Mood Disorders" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information

Orleans Block Party Celebrates Community

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 04:30:02 GMT

The Orleans Police Department's annual block party has become an August ritual - and a key part of an ongoing community building effort.

“We really develop strategies on how we can connect with our community members because as a police organization we will never be successful if we don't have the trust and support of our community....”

Chief Scott MacDonald

Chief, Orleans Police Department

What is the annual Orleans block party?

21 August 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — This year's edition of the Orleans block party spread out across the town's Main Street on a crisp August evening, featuring a break in the summer relentless heat and a chance to enjoy food, music, face painting, and a variety of community activities. The annual event began as an exercise in building community relationships by the Orleans Police Department and has grown into an anticipated tradition.

Why does the police department run the event?

Orleans Chief Scott MacDonald says that his organization can never be successful without the trust and support of the community. An event like this provides a way to bring his staff into the community, encouraging engagement, and offering something the community enjoys. This type of positive interaction create a building block upon which strong relationships can grow.

The event has become something of a tradition in the town, with both visitors and residents from the region finding a reason to enjoy the evening streets, dance to some music, and snack on a treat or two.

Scroll up to watch the news feature "Orleans Block Party Celebrates Community" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Wellfleet Food Pantry Searches for New Home

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 04:10:09 GMT

An increase in demand and the growth that comes with that means the Wellfleet Food Pantry needs a larger home.

“We have seen a big growth in our number of shoppers ... from 2020 we had 160 families; in 2023 we had 203 families ... 21 percent were over 65 and 17 percent were children....”

Cindy Batcheldere,

Board Member, Wellfleet Food Pantry

What is happening with the Wellfleet Food Pantry?

21 August 2024 — WELLFLEET, MA — By responding to surge in demand, the Wellfleet Food Pantry's products have spilled out of its current space in Grace Chapel on Lieutenant Island Road in South Wellfleet -- and the nonprofit is working to find a solution to better handle its shoppers needs. With an October deadline for the move, the organization says it is working with the town to find temporary trailer space while working on a longer term plan at the Wellfleet Senior Center.

What options does the organization have?

Over the past several months, a range of conversations with churches, nonprofits, and the Wellfleet Elementary school yielded no options. In order to keep running, the pantry is working with the town to secure temporary trailer space. It says it is also close to signing a long-term lease at the town's senior center, although completing the space and moving in lies about two years in the future.

What will happen at the senior center?

Should this long-term lease come to fruition, the organization will develop between 1200-1500sf to handle donation and shopping uses. It says the space would be sufficient to meet the continually growing demand is sees.

The new space would cost about $1M but the organization says all the money will come from fundraising and it will not impact town taxes. To date it has raised approximately $375,000 of the $1M goal. It anticipates opening the space within two years from the finalizing of a lease with the town.

What does the Wellfleet Food Pantry do?

The Food Pantry operates under the umbrella of the Lower Cape Outreach Council and in collaboration with the Greater Boston Foodbank. It runs like a mini grocery store and opens three days a week with more than 40 volunteers. Volunteer stress that the shopping experience - rather than offering pre-packaged bags of food - meets the community's needs best.

Cape Cod's older population, high cost of living, and seasonal economy have driven demand fo the pantry's services and the trends suggests that need will only grow, which is why the group days it is planning for the next 20 years of operation with this move.

Scroll up to watch the news report of "Wellfleet Food Pantry Plans New Home" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Visit the Wellfleet Food Pantry's website

What's up with Piping Plovers?

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 03:28:50 GMT

Recently there have been some ruffled feathers over the protection of nesting piping plovers as beach goers, dog walkers, and others visiting some of the remotest parts of the Cape Cod National Seashore have face a big 'STOP' sign this year.

"They can't go anywhere else. They can't nest in your backyard. They can't find a nice gravel parking lot at a shopping lot and nest there. They need the coast; they need the ocean."

Lyra Brennan,

Coastal Waterbird Program, Mass Audubon Cape Cod

Why do people get upset about plover nesting patterns?

15 August 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Lyra Brennan leads the Coastal Waterbird Program for Mass Audubon on Cape Cod, where she focuses on the conservation of endangered species like the piping plover. The plover is a small shorebird that builds its nest and lays its eggs on Cape Cod beaches.

The plover conservation efforts have sparked some controversy - particularly around the restrictions that limit beach access for dog walkers and vehicles during nesting season. Brennan says these measures are necessary to create a safe environment for piping plovers to nest because the birds require close proximity to the water for their nesting activities -- but it pits birds vs human recreation.

Why are piping plovers changing their patterns?

Like other shorebirds, plovers are particularly vulnerable due to habitat loss caused by coastal overwash and erosion - and that has cause some changes in the timing and location of their nesting cycle. Brennan’s work is crucial in protecting these birds and their diminishing nesting grounds, as climate change and rising water levels changes their habitat.

What is overwash?

The past few years have seen an increase in a coastal action called overwash. Overwash happens when big tides come and wash out the bird's nests and eggs. This endangers the breeding season and extends the time that nesting areas are closed to humans; the birds literally must build their nests all over again and re-lay a clutch of eggs. This not only stresses the birds, but also pushes the baby birds fledging date much later in the season.

What is special about piping plovers?

Piping plovers take an active role in parenting. Like humans do, they protect their offspring from danger. One protective behavior involves pretending to be injured, luring predators away from their chicks. A parent will also gather all its chicks within its tiny body, hiding them and leaving only their tiny legs and feet visible under the parental feathers.

These clever strategies highlight the birds' resilience and the importance of preserving their habitats to ensure their survival. Brennan says that humans and bird can co-exist and find ways to share the beaches. The more data projects like hers collect, the more conservation planning can create accurate and reasonable measures that balance limiting beach access during nesting time with human recreational demands.

Scroll up to watch the full report "What's Up with Piping Plovers?"

Scroll up to watch a short news video about why the piping plovers are on the beaches longer this hear, or click 999116004 to open it in a new window.

More about shorebird conservation :

Mass Audubon shorebird information pages
Commonwealth of Massachusetts piping plover habitat conservation plan

Restorations Securing Cape Cod's Future

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 16:02:02 GMT

Previously, LCTV has looked closer at several of the efforts to turn back time on Cape Cod’s original flora and fauna. This week in our ongoing coverage of eco-restorations, we’re looking regionally at how the restorations ripple effects trickle into the local economy and future generations. We are also asking about the policies: where are the challenges and the barriers? And why is the drive to nurture our nature so strong on Cape Cod?

"We are in a great position in the state of Massachusetts that we have really protective wetlands regulations ... However, it does also create a little bit of a challenge in terms of getting through the process and approvals through state and federal agencies for permitting a restoration project to be done."

April Wobst,,

Restoration Program Manager, APCC

What are ecological restorations?

Cape Cod is not only surrounded by water, but connected by it. From rivers to ponds, salt marshes and wetlands, the Cape's migrating species and natural features are connected in what the Division of Ecological Restorations call one hydrological system. Unique to Cape Cod, this makes ecological restorations especially beneficial here, where a multitude of restoration projects are underway, and many more are in the planning stage. What does it mean for our region in terms of economy and future generations? The DER has evidence its all connected.

Why are ecological restorations important?

"There's no doubt that healthy, healthy fisheries, healthy rivers, and healthy and intact salt marshes attract visitors and that results in economic benefits for the communities," says Beth Lambert, Director of DER. She says the dollars brought in following restorations can be traced. Watch the video to find out how many jobs are created or maintained with eco-restorations.

What are the challenges for restorations?

One common challenge for restorations is fragmentation. An area in need of restoring could be divided by different land owners, town borders and development, but herring migrating from the Atlantic upstream to play in freshwater ponds, don't care about such confinements. Neither do salt marshes cut off by heavily trafficked roads or water streams halted by narrow culverts. Cape Cod stands out not only in number of restorations, but also in the knowledge accumulated and the strong leadership towns and nonprofits are showing in collaborating with one another to reach a mutual goal: connectivity.

How is Cape Cod unique in restoring its nature?

"We're working with the same organization on multiple projects, and there's some towns that we've worked with multiple times," says Lambert when asked how they create links between the projects. "It results in organizations and towns on the Cape becoming extremely familiar with and having both the knowledge and the skills to advance these projects themselves. So we really see many organizations on the Cape in some ways becoming a hub of restoration knowledge and expertise."

What does the regulation say?

One of those hubs is the region-wide Association to Preserve Cape Cod. Restorations Program Manager April Wobst says their greatest challenge at the moment is regulations. "We are in a great position in the state of Massachusetts that we have really protective wetlands regulations. However, it does also create a little bit of a challenge in terms of getting through the process and approvals through state and federal agencies for permitting a restoration project to be done." For larger projects, Wobst says permitting can take up to 18 months, twelve if you are lucky. It is time consuming and costly, and she hopes advocates within the state and regulations updates will see the permitting phase streamlined. More local restorations mean greater regional benefits. Watch the video to hear April Wobst and Beth Lambert explain further.

Scroll up to watch the full report "Restorations Securing Cape Cod's Future"

Scroll up to watch a short news video about what the multitude of eco-restorations mean for the Cape, or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Watch other stories in this series:

New Eastham Fire Chief Makes History

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 15:55:16 GMT

Eastham native Lisa Albino tapped to helm Eastham Fire Department as Cape Cod's first female fire chief.

“Once I began working with Lisa, I found that she is the heartbeat of the Eastham fire department.”

Dan Keane,

Eastham Fire Chief

Who is the new Eastham Fire Chief?

16 August 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — Eastham Deputy Fire Chief Lisa Albino will become Cape Cod’s first female fire chief September 6 when Fire Chief Dan Keane retires. Albino, born and raised in Eastham, said she’s always wanted to be a firefighter, but her first path was in nursing.

“At that time,” she said, “there weren’t many women in the fire service.”

What experience does Lisa Albino have?

After graduating from nursing school in 1987, the Eastham Fire Chief hired her as a call firefighter and trained her as a paramedic. In the 37 years since, she’s received a Bachelors’ degree in fire science and a Masters’ in public administration. She’s also risen in the ranks of the department, appointed captain in 2010 and deputy chief — the Cape’s first female chief officer — in 2022.

Albino also runs Camp Fully Involved, a summer camp in New Hampshire each summer for young women interested in fire service and said she encourages a spirit of perseverance.

“I just kept moving forward,” she said.

Albino also teaches emergency medical services to paramedics and firefighters around the Cape.

Who’s stepping down as Eastham Fire Chief?

Eastham Fire Chief Dan Keane, who’s worked in departments across the Cape for 32 years, said he’s always known Albino as a source of wisdom and guidance for her colleagues. When he started at the Eastham department in 2017, his admiration for her only grew, he added.

“Once I began working with Lisa, I found that she is the heartbeat of the Eastham fire department.”

Keane said he’s loved fire service for most of his life, too, and “couldn’t believe someone would pay” him to do this work.

He’s served as the town’s fire chief for two years and its deputy chief for five years before that. He said he’s fallen in love with the community during his tenure.

“When I came to Eastham from Sandwich, I was a little worried that it would be a little too sleepy for me, but Eastham is a vibrant community year-round,” he said.

As an Eastham native, Albino said, the support from the town has been “overwhelming.”

We asked Albino her favorite memory from four decades with the department.

“I get to go on calls for family and friends and neighbors,” she said. “Being able to serve the community that I love is memorable enough for me.”

Scroll up to watch the news report of "New Eastham Fire Chief Makes History" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

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Watch our coverage of Albino's appointment to Deputy Chief in January 2022. C lick on photo to watch:

Back-to-School Building Project Update

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 14:18:00 GMT

As the start of a new school year approaches, Nauset Regional High School gets ready to welcome students in the midst of a 3-year, $169 million renovation project.

“Everybody that we take on tours of the project says two things: that it looks like a small college campus, and that they’ve never seen a school that’s as beautiful as this is gonna be.”

Tom Faris,

Arts Department Head and Building Committee Liaison, Nauset Regional High School

What will life at Nauset Regional High School look like this year?

15 August 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — With two weeks until the first day of classes, Nauset Regional High School is preparing to welcome students back — and for a number of other changes as they enter the second year of renovation.

About halfway through a three-year, $169 million overhaul , the school is shifting many of its spaces to prepare for Phase Two of the renovation. During Phase One, the eastern side of campus was completely rebuilt, including a new arts wing, auditorium, cafeteria, gymnasium and science labs. These spaces will be open to students come September.

“I think (the community) will not really know until they’re walking through how monumental this project is and how spectacular it will be,” said Kathleen Tringale, NRHS science department head and an educational liaison for the school’s building committee.

Where do high school rennovations stand?

The eastern side of campus, home to English, Math, Social Studies and World Language classrooms, will be renovated this year, and these departments will live in a modular building. NRHS staff spent this summer transitioning spaces all around campus.

This school year, NRHS Principal Patrick Clark said, students will have to move around campus a bit differently, as the construction will be in between the modular building and the open buildings. Especially for new students, he said, this may bring a learning curve.

“They might need a little extra TLC to start off, but we’re not anticipating any struggles,” he said.

What are priorities in the Nauset school building project?

Tringale and Tom Faris, arts department head and the other educational liaison, are responsible for advocating for students, teachers and administrators throughout this multi-year process. Tringale has been involved since 2015, when the idea of renovating first arose.

For teachers and students, she said, the main priority was improving accessibility, maintaining NRHS’ campus format and honoring its location on the national seashore.

“We need to be willing to shift and adjust as needed and yet still maintain our goals for the school in general,” Tringale said.

The renovation also brought an opportunity to expand the school’s reach, Faris said. The building committee decided to put extra seats in the auditorium and make many of the arts spaces convenient for adult classes and community events.

What are the long-term impacts of this renovation?

Faris said going from drawing up plans to standing in completed spaces was “really special” and hopes the community will appreciate the work and thought that has gone into the renovation.

“Everybody that we take on tours of the project says two things: that it looks like a small college campus; and that they’ve never seen a school that’s as beautiful as this is gonna be.”

With funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority and increasingly higher budgets approved by voters, Clark said, the committee makes each financial choice thoughtfully, down to tile materials. NRHS is 50 years old, and he said their intention is to create a “top-notch school” for the next 50 years.

Clark added the renovation could also impact the school-choice process, which allows students outside of the district to attend Nauset Regional Schools. Because of anticipated demand, he said, the school may have to implement a lottery system. He encouraged families to start thinking about school choice “sooner rather than later,” as students can start that process as early as middle school.

Students head back to NRHS on September 3, and Phase 2 is on track to finish in August 2025. The project’s final phase, which mostly includes landscaping and finishing touches, is scheduled for Fall 2025.

Scroll up to watch the news report of "Back-to-School Building Project Update" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Grant Works to Restore the Bounty of Cape Cod's Longest River

info@lowercapetv.org (LowerCapeNews Editorial Staff) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 23:45:40 GMT

The nonprofit Friends of Bass River received a $4.75 million grant this spring to help restore the longest river on the Cape Cod. In our ongoing coverage of ecological restoration on the Cape, this episode explores work underway to return 52 acres of retired cranberry bogs to natural wetlands and replace the bridge at Crab Creek - key steps in addressing the high nitrogen levels in this critical estuary and its ponds.

“By opening up this bridge I would imagine that the prohibition against fishing and shellfishing in Mill Pond will be reversed. I think that scalloping will return to the rest of Bass River, which is a wonderful phenomenon for families and future generations.”

Rick Bishop ,

Director, Friends Of Bass River

Why is Bass River polluted?

Before the housing boom in the '70s, '80s and '90s, a group of friends grew up on the banks of Bass River in Yarmouth. During this time three drags were enough to scoop up fresh scallop dinners and Massachusetts' second biggest herring population thrived running up the river. But, over the years the friends' concerns for the river's health grew. Eventually nitrogen levels had risen to a level where fishing in Mill Pond – where Bass River starts its journey towards the ocean – was too toxic, and had to be banned. Said and done, the organization Friends of Bass River was step one in reviving this critical estuary.

Did the state of Massachusetts grant funds to Bass River?

"It was a great place to grow up," says Rick Bishop, Director of Friends of Bass River. My best friend at the time and I would water ski from the mouth of Bass River all the way to Follins Pond and back, as part of our spring ritual. Rick is standing at Crab Creek where Mills Pond streams into Follins pond and further forms Bass River. The erosion here is palpable. Storm surge and rising water levels have taken down ten trees in the last year, and over time widened the creek from 18 feet to 64 feet. Friends of Bass River has been awarded a grant of $4.75 million to restore two bridges, one at Crab Creek, stifling further erosion. The rest of the funds will go towards restoring 57 acres of retired cranberry bogs built over wetlands, currently closing doors for water flow and herring.

What are wetlands?

Bishop says wetlands are natural carbon and nitrogen sinks, making him believe the wetland restoration could go a long way in improving the water quality naturally. Under about a foot deep surface of sand the seeds making up the wetland's native species are just waiting for sunlight to start sprouting, returning this bit of Cape Cod back to its original state.

Can you fish in Bass River?

Bass River is the longest river on Cape Cod, stretching nine miles with Dennis on one shore and Yarmouth on the other before uniting with the Atlantic's salt. To Bishop, herring represents health and scallops his childhood. " Bass River used to be known as a wonderful habitat for scallops," he says, and explains how scallop seedlings need eelgrass to grow, but the nitrogen killed off all of the eelgrass. "There's always been a lot of discussion about oysters being wonderful ways to clean water. They're actually the third on the list, quahogs are second, and scallops are the most efficient cleaners of the water."

How will restorations benefit Cape Cod?

Much of Cape Cod's economy rests on revenue from tourism, and much of the tourism rests upon Cape Cod's scenic natural beauty. "I always think about this is not a project for me, that it's a project for future generations" says Bishop. "By opening up this bridge I would imagine that the prohibition against fishing and shellfishing in Mill Pond will be reversed. I think that scalloping will return to the rest of Bass River, which is a wonderful phenomenon for families and future generations."

Scroll up to watch the news report of "Grant Works to Restore the Bounty of Cape Cod's Longest River" or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Click on below links to watch more stories in our ecosystem restoration series:

For more information:

Federal Funds Turn Cape Buses Green

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 02:29:39 GMT

A new $14.6M federal grant helps CCRTA flip diesel buses electric. After the newest additions, more than half the Cape's public buses will be low emission vehicles.

"Its an on-going effort to make sure that that we create not only efficient service, affordable service,. safe service, but clean service ..."

Tom Cahir

Administrator, CCRTA

What did the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority receive?

01 AUGUST 2024 — HYANNIS, MA — The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) will be using a new $14.6 million dollar federal grant to replace old diesel buses with new electric ones. The grant was awarded in a ceremony on August 01 at the Regional Transportation Center in Hyannis.

What will the grant do?

CCRTA Administrator Tom Cahir says the investment makes a very real difference for Cape Cod. It will bring 13 additional low emission buses to replace old diesel vehicles as well as offering workforce training for the new vehicle technology. Once the newest vehicles arrive, the fleet will be more than 50% low emission vehicles.

"It is an on-going effort to make sure that we create not only efficient service, affordable service, safe service, but clean service," Cahir said, noting that transportation contributes a large portion of the region's greenhouse gas emissions.

Are electric buses new?

The cleaning and greening of the CCRTA fleet began in earnest about 4 years ago as part of strategic plan to move from dirty diesel to zero emissions. The agency previously brought in 20 hybrid electric Transit vans – aka the smaller busses run past part of the Mass Mobility Program and Used in the CCRTA’s Dial a Ride (DART) program. It also received $7.6 million from the Volkswagen emission cheating settlement with the federal government and used that to order six large low emission buses.

This newest grant takes the transition one more critical step forward – after the new Gillig buses have been delivered in September 2025, more than half the fleet will be low emission vehicles.

Scroll up to watch the full report "Federal Funds Turn Cape Buses Green"

Scroll up to watch a short news video about the 2024 hurricane season, or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

CCRTA - The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority general information
CCRTA Zero Emission Initiative - updates on electric buses
Gillig Electric Buses - information about the new electric buses coming to Cape Cod

Visiting Nurses Union Calls for Strike Vote

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 19:29:05 GMT

Cape Cod Visiting Nurses Association called for a one-day strike authorization on August 19, after six months of contract negotiations. Since negotiations started, Cape Cod VNA has lost nine nurses and hired none.

“We really do need to get wages and a manageable workday to attract new nurses, or else I think the VNA won’t be here anymore."

Mike Barry

Co-Chair, VNA Union Bargaining Committee

What’s happening at the Visiting Nurses Association?

09 August 2024 — CAPE COD, MA — Cape Cod Visiting Nurses Association’s branch of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, a union organization, called for a strike authorization vote Tuesday after six months of contract negotiations with management.

The union, which represents all VNA registered nurses working in the field, rejected management’s most recent counter-proposal on the grounds that the wage scale was not sufficient to recruit and retain new nurses in Cape Cod’s economy. The conflict impacts hospice and home services delivered through the VNA.

Mike Barry, Co-Chair of the union’s bargaining committee, said the strike vote comes as a last resort after six months and fifteen negotiating sessions.

“We don’t want to leave our patients stranded, but at the same time, since management is pretty much deaf to our concerns, we have to do something,” he said.

How much do visiting nurses make?

Under their current contract, RNs in the VNA make between $31.94 and $49.77 an hour, moving up a peg in the wage scale for each year of their tenure up to 13 years. The union has been arguing for a 15-17% increase in the wage scale to adjust for the high costs of living on Cape Cod. Management’s last counterproposal moved the wage scale up to a range of $33.70 to $55.01, which is a 5.5 to 10.5% increase.

Also in the negotiation is longevity bonuses, vacation time and holidays, and degree differentials, though the bargaining committee said wages were their top priority.

The committee pointed to a recent cost of living adjustment for nurses at Cape Cod and Falmouth Hospitals, which made the wage scale for RNs $35.64 to $71.20, outside of contract negotiations. Both hospitals and the VNA are under the umbrella of Cape Cod Healthcare. Under these contracts, RNs at the VNA with tenures of 13 years or more make nearly 30% less than their counterparts at the hospitals, and 10% less than licensed practical nurses, who have completed less training than RNs and can provide more limited care.

According to the union, 90% of their RNs in the field are at that 13th step already.

Hospital nurses generally have a higher wage scale due to the high-pressure environment and demands, and in a statement to LCTV, VNA management said their wage offers were “among the highest in the state for Home Health and Hospice organizations.”

What does the union want?

“VNA remains dedicated to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair agreement that acknowledges the exceptional care our nurses provide every day, while considering the best long-term interests of the Agency in providing quality patient care in our communities,” management continued in their statement.

The VNA union argues that due to the high cost of living, their economic situation is most comparable to that of Boston’s VNA, whose wage scale is around 30% higher across the board.

“We all live on the Cape, we all have to buy the same food, we all go to the same gas stations, we all have to try to look for a home if we don’t already have a home,” Barry said. “When I go to the gas station, they’re not gonna say, ‘Oh, you work for the VNA? I’m gonna give you gas for 70% of what it costs.’ So we get nurses that like this home care model but just can’t stay here.”

What impact do low wages have on nurses and patients?

That was the case for Aria Robbins, an RN at the VNA in hospice care who had to move in with her parents to afford living and working on Cape Cod. Robbins said the low wages and shortage of nurses takes a toll on her and her patients.

A recommended, “safe” hospice caseload, she said, is 12-14 patients. Hers is often close to 20.

“I’m always having to put in for extra time, I’m not getting to see my kids, and I’m not getting to see my patients, which is what my job is all about.”

Robbins gave her notice this week and took a job at a smaller hospice agency on the Cape with a 47% pay raise. She’ll be the ninth nurse to leave the VNA this year. No new RNs have come on since last September, so the count of practicing RNs is down from 70 to 61.

What impact does the lack of VNA nurses have?

Float nurses and traveling nurses often have to pick up the slack, Barry said. These nurses often don’t have the relationships or context the patients need. Sometimes, patients are skipped entirely.

“Patients are getting bumped, and when somebody comes home from the hospital, or they’re trying to manage a chronic condition that they’re having difficulty with, one day, two days, three days can mean a lot, and it can send them back into the hospital,” Barry said.

When is the strike authorization vote?

The union’s strike authorization vote is scheduled for August 19. Based on informal polling, the bargaining committee said they’re expecting a very strong majority to authorize the strike. Management declined to comment following the announcement of the strike vote.

“We really do need to get wages and a manageable workday to attract new nurses, or else I think the VNA won’t be here anymore,” Barry said.

Scroll up to watch the full recording of "Visiting Nurses Union Calls for Strike Vote"

Scroll up to watch a short video about the VNA's negotiations or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Housing and Climate 'All-Stars' Cover Cape's Bases

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:51:31 GMT

Mass HCIC, a new non-profit, is sending young minds to tackle key issues on the Cape Cod peninsula.

“We’re going out to the rest of the state, the country and the world saying, ‘Cape Cod is and wants to be your landing spot to prove up your innovations.’”

Rob Brennan,

President and Board Chair, Mass achusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center

What is the Massachusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center?

09 August 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - Though their work didn’t involve batting, pitching or catching, another group of young people covered Cape Cod’s bases this summer: the Massachusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center (Mass HCIC) All-Star interns, as they tackled some of the key challenges facing the peninsula.

“At first, I was like, ‘This is too good to be true,’” All-Star Adèle Giovanniello said. “I kind of thought it was a scam, because I thought, ‘Who would pay us money to do all these awesome things on Cape Cod?’”

Where is Mass HCIC working?

Like Cape League players, the All-Stars lived with host families across the Cape for the past eight weeks. The eight-person cohort split their time between cataloging assets of 5 different towns — Barnstable, Chatham, Eastham, Orleans and Sandwich — for an “Innovation Atlas,” thinking up independent project proposals, and hearing from various speakers and stakeholders. The program wrapped up Friday.

This is the first official initiative from Mass HCIC, a non-profit which lawyer Rob Brennan and a group of Cape Codders started last summer. Brennan said the Cape, with its challenging housing market and a landscape hit hard by climate issues, “provides a unique proving ground for promising innovations.”

“We’re going out to the rest of the state, the country and the world saying, ‘Cape Cod is and wants to be your landing spot to prove up your innovations,’” he said.

What are Mass HCIC All-Stars doing?

In cataloging town assets, All-Stars are finding places that could be well-suited for new housing and climate innovations, and some All-Stars have already started conversations with interested innovators. The group also visited Greentown Labs, a climate tech incubator in Somerville, to see some possibilities for climate innovation on the Cape.

All 15 towns have expressed interest in working with Mass HCIC, Brennan said, and he anticipates cataloging the remaining 10 towns, with a larger cohort of All-Stars, next summer. Olivia DiRenzo, an All-Star cataloging Sandwich and Orleans, said learning about the “sense of place” in each town has been meaningful.

“We’ve learned that each town has a different character,” she said. “That’s been really fun to see; it’s been very exciting getting to know the people in the town and the town’s individual problems.”

Where did the All-Stars come from?

The group of All-Stars, selected from around 50 applicants, have a variety of interests and paths of study, ranging from sociology to international relations to construction management, and each All-Star pursued an individual project in addition to their cataloging work. These included proposals for communal housing to promote neighborhood resiliency, a construction work training program at Barnstable County Correctional Facility and living shorelines research.

Maggie Grandsire, a recent psychology graduate of the University of Kansas, proposed an online community forum for climate emotions and discussion as her independent project. She said combining her interests with the issues on Cape Cod provided perspective on the scale of these problems.

“There are so many different disciplines that are all equally important when it comes to solving environmental problems and housing issues, and they’re all intertwined in a really messy and sticky way,” Grandsire said.

The All-Stars saw this in weekly presentations from local and national stakeholders, too. Some speakers included members of Cape Cod Commission and the National Association of Homebuilders. Grandsire said each speaker had different priorities, which shed light on the complexities of the All-Stars’ mission.

“Nothing is ever going to get done if you just do it with one perspective,” she said.

What’s next for Mass HCIC?

Mass HCIC raised around $100,000 for the All-Star program this year, and Brennan said they hope to expand their programming in future years, including pursuing more independent projects beyond the proposal stage and attracting more innovators to set up shop on the Cape.

Giovanniello said as a new organization, she sees many possibilities for the future of Mass HCIC and hopes it can become a “household name” in the world of housing and climate innovation.

“If Mass HCIC became something people immediately thought of when they wanted to develop, I think that would be a great success,” she said.

Scroll up to watch the full recording of "Housing and Climate 'All-Stars' Cover Cape's Bases"

Scroll up to watch a short video about Mass HCIC's All-Star program or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Check out Mass HCIC's website

Portraits of Cape Artists: Valerie Isaacs

Sat, 03 Aug 2024 02:35:51 GMT

In this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists, oil painter Valeria Isaacs shares shares how art weaves into the Cape Cod community.

"The way painting was relevant here was new to me ... every day I seem to be in conversation with a painter or seeing some paintings or meeting someone who collects ... it's a constant conversation here.”

Valerie Isaac

Artist

Portraits of Cape Artists: Valerie Isaacs

01 August 2024 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - Drawn to Provincetown because of its history of an art colony, Valerie Isaacs began painting the landscapes and soon settled into the painting scene in town.

Scroll up to watch the this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists: Valerie Isaacs

Scroll up to watch this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists about Valerie Isaacs or HERE to open it in a new window.

You Might Also Like ...

Check out the full collection of Portraits of Cape Artists at Lower Cape TV's ArtsLight.org

Is "The Big One" on the Way?

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 22:07:13 GMT

Does Cape Cod have a hurricane out there with its name on it? Experts could say this could be year it does!

"Already we've had a really fast start to this hurricane season, we had the earliest forming hurricane down in the Gulf that was a category 4 or 5 in recorded history in terms of a June impact..."

Danielle Noyes,

Meteorologist & Co-Founder, 1° Outside

What does hurricane season on Cape Cod look like this year?

02 AUGUST 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — Already this season Hurricane Beryl devastated the Caribbean, ran roughshod over Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and shut down power to millions in southeast Texas. Weather watchers have been continuously eyeing potential storm formations. Even before the season ramped up, experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted 17 to 25 named storms, far more than the 14 in an average year. So it it true? Is the the year for the next "Big One" on Cape Cod?

Danielle and Matt Noyes, well-known meteorologists and co-founders of weather company 1° Outside , agree that the science says it could be. They point to weather activity patterns - some of which eerily mirror 1938 patterns - as harbingers of a storm-filled season.

What would a big hurricane mean to Cape Cod?

The scale of damage a category 3 or stronger hurricane would cause isn’t just theoretical conversation. Storms of this size have hit Cape Cod in the past - including the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, a storm that Matt Noyes says still sets the benchmark for damage.

With greater than 150 mile per hour winds, the storm snapped half of all the white pine trees in New Hampshire into toothpicks as it pummeled, flattened, and flooded New England with a storm surge in excess of 20 feet. Those extremely strong areas of Atlantic high pressure, heat, and salt water showing up right now turn out to be the same combination that created this last "storm of the century."

And now, says Noyes, factor in massive development, population growth, and built infrastructure we have today ... not to mention the increased sea level and water temperatures driven by climate change ... and the potential damage grows exponentially from even a less severe hurricane.

What can we do about hurricanes?

More recent "big" storms did huge damage too - but their power paled in comparison to what could ... and has ... happened in the past. Chip Reilly, Barnstable County Emergency Preparedness Director, says preparation matters. Even the more typical Nor'easter, winter blizzard, or plain old powerful wind storm requires preparation.

His organization coordinates the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Preparedness Committee (BCREPC) , the regional response structure for hurricanes and other disasters. One fire and one police chief from the region chair the group, which brings together every imaginable response-related organization into a coordinated unit to respond to events like hurricanes.

Reilly encourages everyone to, first, stay aware about the weather as well as having an emergency kit ready. For older people especially, he says, knowing one's medications and having a supply of them easy to gather and transport form a critical part of storm readiness.

Will a hurricane really happen?

When it comes to hurricanes, especially in new England, no one holds the magic crystal ball. As a science, meteorology can look at data and predict based on measurements and knowledge - but science doesn't hold definitive foresight no matter how much we wish it did. More named storms in a season offer more chances for "The Big One" to form and head to Cape Cod -but nothing can predict that any given storm will or won't come ashore on the Cape. However, more storms increase the likelihood that one could.

Which is why all the preparedness matters, because, as Reilly say, "It only takes one."

Scroll up to watch the full report "Is the Big One on the Way

Scroll up to watch a short news video about the 2024 hurricane season, or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Ready.gov - how you can prepare for a weather emergency
Barnstable County Emergency Preparedness Committee - how Barnstable County prepares for emergency events
1° Outside

Cultivating Capes' Farmers's Mental Health With New State Program

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 13:40:13 GMT

Scarce days off, low pay and relying on the mercy of Mother Nature make the agricultural community vulnerable to mental health challenges. Now, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is rolling out Peer Support Network – because no one understands farmers better than farmers.

"This is the first program that I've ever heard of in our state that ben geared towards mental health and farmers. Quite honestly I think mental helath is completely overlooked in the farming community."

David DeWitt,

Owner, Dave's Greens

Do farmers have high suicide rates?

3 August 2024 - TRURO, MA - David DeWitt has been a farmer in Truro for almost four decades. He has weathered storms, increasingly severe and frequent, and emotional roller coasters, and knows firsthand about the challenges farming brings. "It's a well known fact that farmers have some of the highest suicide rates in our country," said DeWitt.

Why is farming on Cape Cod hard?

Cape Cod is unique in many ways, making farming here especially challenging. Poor nutrient soil and unpredictable weather including drought, flooding, deep freeze and severe storms make it difficult to plan for next years' crops. Losing your job as a farmer often means losing the family legacy passed on to you from generations and if that happens, many can't bear the shame, added DeWitt.

Cape Cod's aging population adds to the challenge. With a big portion of the community older than 59, many farms find themselves navigatinga generational shift, bringing its own stressors on top of what nature and the markeplace dole out.

What can improve farmers' mental health?

The stereotypical farmer, especially the older generation, may be a loner and not very prone to talk about feelings such as anxiety and depression. But farmers do talk to each other about their farms - which is why the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources launched the Peer Support Network in April. As a part of their MassGrown Wellness program, the initiative trains farmers to support their peers and look for signs and cues of mental health concerns.

Ashley Randle, MDAR Commissioner, hopes this support model will be successful for Massachusetts' farmers. Twelve farmers have gone through the trainings; "Now they're able to work with farmers whenever a farmer calls and says I'm really having a stressful day or I'm going through a difficult time at the farm, can I talk to someone," said Commissioner Randle.

Are oyster farmers isolated?

There are 349 land farmers on Cape Cod and 241 aquaculture farms in Massachusetts with most of them on Cape Cod. One of the latter is owned by Curtis Graham in Wellfleet. He started growing oysters to ensure a high quality for his restaurant BlackFish about nine years ago.

He says that while the oyster farm may be good for his own overall mental health, he recognizes that may not be the case for everyone. "It's easy to get lost out here. Visions of grandeur is always there. You think you're going to be a millionaire," he said. "But the more you grow the more work you create."

Curtis thinks the new program could help some folks clear their heads when needed – himself included. "I bet if there were times when I felt challenged it would be good to talk to somebody about it."

Scroll up to watch the full report " Cultivating Cape's Farmers' Mental Health"

Scroll up to watch a short news video about the 2024 hurricane season, or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Support For Farmers' Mental Health :

For emergency 24/7 help visit masshelpline or call or text 833-773-2445
For a list of available farmers trained for the peer support network click here

AmeriCorps Celebrates 25th Year of Service, Community

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:54:03 GMT

After 11 months and 30,000 hours of collecting, cleaning, shoveling, building, teaching, and more, the 25th year of AmeriCorps Cape Cod came to a close last week.

"It's created this beautiful world of AmeriCorps service members on Cape Cod."

Hannah Van DiVier,

Year 25 Member, AmeriCorps Cape Cod

What does AmeriCorps Cape Cod do?

30 JULY 2024 — HYANNIS, MA — From late-night dolphin rescues to shellfish propagation to dressing up like wizards, the job of an AmeriCorps Cape Cod (ACC) member is seemingly never done. But last week, the 18 members of ACC’s 25th cohort put down their shovels, saws, nets and magic wands for the program’s graduation.

The cohort has spent 11 months and over 30,000 hours serving Cape Cod, working with individual town partners and larger Cape-wide efforts, like tick collection for research, erosion control, and educational events for students. According to ACC’s website, the cohort’s efforts have saved the Cape more than $1.2 million.

ACC is a residential program, and the 18 members lived across the Cape in four AmeriCorps houses, immersing themselves in the places they served. Program Manager Kat Garofoli said each Year 25 member cared deeply about the communities around them.

“They engrained themselves into each of the communities that they lived in,” she said. “They participated in town dinners, and went contra dancing, and volunteered outside of our programming.”

Garofoli, who was an ACC member herself, said providing housing, and the continual need for extra hands in environmental efforts, has allowed the organization to thrive for 25 years. The graduation ceremony also honored several service partners, whose collaboration with the program allows the cohort to keep serving the Cape successfully.

The organization is funded by AmeriCorps federally and by Barnstable County, whose support, Garofoli added, is key to ACC’s success.

“The county has continued to invest in our program, and we’ve been very fortunate to have that structure,” she said.

What does the future of Americorps Cape Cod look like?

Looking toward the next 25 years, Garofoli said, she hopes to expand ACC’s service to underprivileged communities, including those learning English as a second language, through education and conservation land accessibility.

The past few years, with Garofoli at the helm, have also seen increased engagement with wildfire management and PFAS initiatives.

“When I served in this program, it made a deep impact on my life,” she said. “The least I can do is help keep this program going for the next 25 years.”

What is the AmeriCorps community like?

Several ACC members across the 25 cohorts attended the ceremony, including Year 1 Member Josh Wrigley, who now serves as town of Sandwich conservation agent and gave the keynote address.

Because of the program’s unique and immersive nature, said Year 25 Member Hannah Van DiVier, the connection between ACC members past and present is deep and lifelong. Van DiVier spoke as one of four representatives of this year’s cohort, and told the crowd that the network of support ACC offers is a key aspect of the program beyond the service.

“When I think about the people in this program, I think of them as world changers,” she said. “Yes, because of their commitment to this program and to the Cape Cod community, but mostly because of who they are as people.”

Van DiVier told LCTV she first learned of ACC when she watched a dolphin rescue in Wellfleet, and the experience came full circle when her cohort participated in a historic dolphin rescue several weeks ago .

“I just had this moment of, ‘I can’t believe I get to be here with these people doing such incredible service in a beautiful place that is such a destination for so many — including dolphins.”

Scroll up to watch the full recording of "AmeriCorps Celebrates 25th Year of Service, Community"

Scroll up to watch a short video about AmeriCorps Cape Cod's Year 25 graduation, or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

The Artist's Journey of Salvadore Del Deo

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:20:33 GMT

In June, one of Salvatore Del Deo's three murals depicting the 1976 loss of the Patricia Marie , was donated to Provincetown’s town hall by owner Kevin McLaughlin. Del Deo reflects on a life in Provincetown art, community, and culture.

"When I came to Provincetown, I was a ‘painter. After the Patricia Marie went down, I became an artist.”

Salvatore Del Deo,

Artist

Who is Salvatore Del Deo?

07 July 2024 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - Salvatore Del Deo has become a name synonymous with Provincetown - both as artist and as well-known restauranteur. This month one of his three murals depicting the 1976 loss of the Patricia Marie , was donated to Provincetown’s town hall by owner Kevin McLaughlin.

Del Deo came to Provincetown in 1946 to learn how to paint. With mentors such as Henry Hensche and the late Charles Hawthorne, Del Deo was inspired to enrich his work in a place that was still wild. He knew immediately that Provincetown was where he wanted to live.

Here, in Provincetown, he met his wife, Josephine, raised his children, and become an integral part of a close-knit community. Like many artists early in their careers, he took on other jobs like fishing and carpentry to sustain a living for his family. Del Deo’s love of good food also led him to run Ciro & Sal’s restaurant on Commerical Street for many years. Balancing his passion for art with these various roles, Del Deo immersed himself in the vibrant life of the town, continuously drawing inspiration from its unique landscape and tight community bonds.

What was the loss of the Patrica Marie?

In 1976, Provincetown experienced a terrible tragedy when the fishing vessel Patricia Marie went down with all hands, claiming the lives of seven fishermen. Each of these men had connections to almost everyone who lived and worked in Provincetown, whether through family or friendship.

Del Deo remembers the whole community mourning, united together with one heart to support each other. Moved by this solidarity, he sought to express it in his work and began painting what would become three murals.

“When I came to Provincetown, I was a ‘painter’,” Del Deo said. “After the Patricia Marie went down, I became an artist.”

It took Del Deo decades to complete the three large murals inspired by the catastrophic event and they are regarded as powerful statements on the town's history and the relationship of people to the sea.

How did the mural end up in Provincetown Town Hall?

On June 29, 2024, Provincetown resident Kevin McLaughlin, who owned one of the murals for many years, worked with the town and Del Deo’s family to donate the piece to the town. It now hangs next to Charles Hawthorne’s masterpiece, 'Crew of the Philomena Manta' in Provincetown Town Hall.

Del Deo said he never wanted the Patricia Marie work to leave Provincetown; the town that inspired it was the place it belonged to - and now it literally does.

Scroll up to watch the shot documentary "Salvatore Del Deo: Artists Journey"

Scroll up to watch the short documentary (25:06) about Provincetown artist Salvatore Del Deo or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Packed House Comments on Wind Farm Plans in Gulf of Maine

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:36:27 GMT

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management proposes siting a 1 million acre wind farm in the Gulf of Maine, including an area 23 miles offshore of the Lower and Outer Cape. On Wednesday July 17 BOEM held an in-person public information session on Cape Cod in Eastham.

"The Gulf of Maine is unique in many ways, and from an offshore wind perspective one of the reasons it's unique is the consistent high wind speeds, as well as relative proximity to high loads of energy demand."

Luke Feinberg,

Energy Program Specialist, BOEM

What was the wind turbine siting hearing?

26 July, 2024 – EASTHAM, MA – More than 200 Cape Codders attended the public information session at the Four Points Sheraton in Eastham, July 17. The session, called by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) included both presentation and public Q&A time about the wind farm leasing process and its environmental assessment. The formal presentation was cut short to give more time to the public's comments and questions.

Why was there a wind turbine siting hearing?

BOEM is proposing lease sales of one million acres - some of it within 23 miles of the lower and outer Cape Cod shoreline - for construction and operation of a wind power station with the capacity of supplying energy to five million homes.

Scroll up to watch the news report of "Packed House Comments On Wind Farm Plans In Gulf Of Maine" about the proposed 1 million acre wind energy plant or click HERE to open it in a new window .

The Scoop on New Kate's Owners

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:49:49 GMT

The iconic Brewster clam shack is changing hands at the end of this season.

"It's a slice of Cape Cod."

Kate Ohman,

Owner and Operator, Kate's Seafood and Ice Cream

Who’s buying Kate’s Seafood and Ice Cream?

A new couple is preparing to take the reins at Kate’s after 39 years of cones, clams and community at the Brewster staple.

Current owners and operators John and Kate Ohman bought the restaurant nearly four decades ago and had dreamt of owning it for even longer, John said.

“I moved here 47 years ago with the first food truck on Cape Cod,” he said. “Every time I would drive my food truck by this business, I would go, ‘If that ever goes on sale, I want to buy it.’”

Now, the Ohmans are passing the torch to Izabelle and Rob Crisanti, Pennsylvania-based chefs with coastal cooking roots: the pair met cooking in Easthampton six years ago. After placing an offer on Kate’s this spring and negotiating back and forth for several months, the Crisantis and the Ohmans came to an agreement and will close on the restaurant this September.

This summer, both couples are on staff at the clam shack as the Crisantis learn the ropes before taking over next year.

“It operates like a machine, and that they’ve been putting out a consistent product for 38 years is really impressive,” Izabelle said. “We’re trying to learn everything we can.”

What will change at Kate’s?

The Crisantis said many customers have told them they cannot get rid of the onion rings — a vestige of Liam’s on Nauset Beach, also owned by the Ohmans and destroyed in a 2018 storm — or the hot fudge.

“We’re only looking to improve,” Izabelle said. “There’s nothing we want to get rid of.”

To “bring a new flavor to Cape Cod,” Rob said, some of their ideas include more scratch cooking and fresh fish, beer and wine service, a beer garden, live entertainment. The couple is also considering adding an oven, which Kate’s currently lacks, to make baked goods from scratch for the ice cream products. Chefs by trade with experience cooking all over the country, including for 3-Michelin-Star restaurant Eleven Madison Park, the Crisantis’ priority is creating a chef-friendly kitchen and bringing in a “Rob and Izabelle touch.”

What’s next for John and Kate Ohman?

In their lives post-Kate’s, Kate and John will focus on FORWARD , their nonprofit which builds housing for autistic adults, and John will maintain his position as the Dennis Delegate for the Cape Cod Assembly of Delegates. They also hope to travel, Kate said.

After 38 years of running Kate’s, the Ohmans said they will miss the community but are confident the restaurant is in good hands.

“We really think we both made the right choice,” John said. “This was the right fit.”

Scroll up to watch the full recording of "The Scoop on New Kate's Owners"

Scroll up to watch a short video about Kate's changing hands or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Kate's website

The Glutton & the Artist

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:07:11 GMT

In a marriage of ocean and art, the Blessing of the Fleet brings together a lead boat and a select artist. Andrea Sawyer's portrait of Beau Gribbin’s boat, Glutton, highlights this year's ceremony.

"It goes by the years that the boat was in the fleet. Who would think that all of a sudden you are the owner of one of the older boats in the fleet ... but here I am!."

Beau Gribbin,

Owner, Glutton

Where do Art and Ocean Mix?

05 July 2024 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - Each year, the Blessing of the Fleet features a "Lead Boat" to head the parade of vessels that navigate in front of Provincetown’s MacMillan Pier to be anointed with holy water. And each year, in a marriage of art and ocean, a featured artist is selected to create a rendering of the chosen lead boat.

What is the boat Glutton?

Beau Gribbin’s boat, Glutton, is the lead boat in this year’s Blessing of the Fleet. Gribbin is a generational fisherman whose father and grandfather also fished these waters. The boat’s name was taken from his grandfather’s nickname, “the glutton” as he had a voracious appetite for seafood and game meat. Gribbin considers the Blessing an event only second to Christmas.

Who is the artist, Andrea Sawyer?

The artist selected to capture the image boat this year is Andrea Sawyer, who known for her evocative and detailed maritime and landscape paintings. This year Sawyer's work encapsulates the Glutton's rugged beauty and the stoic determination of its crew as they head out to sea. She say it was important to her to paint the boat ‘working’.

Her paintings are characterized by vibrant colors, often depicting subjects such as old buildings, port scenes, landmarks, and streetscapes. The Provincetown resident continues to find inspiration in the natural landscape around her and portrays the beauty of her surroundings, as well as showcasing the continuing legacy of what is left of a once vibrant fishing community.

Why combine art and boats?

The intersection of maritime culture and art brings a unique vibrancy to this event, enriching the local heritage and both highlights the vessel and also celebrates the artistic talents within the community. The artwork serves as a cherished memento on t-shirts and memorabilia, capturing the essence and spirit of Provincetown’s fishing culture while honoring the artists who also have a long history in the town.

What is the Blessing of the Fleet?

The Blessing of the Fleet maritime tradition, deeply rooted in the Portuguese culture as well as the town’s history, brings together the local fishing community to seek both prosperity and divine protection for their vessels and crew in the coming season. The annual event is marked by a parade of fishermen and their families carrying banners to mark the name of their boats. The procession originates from the Catholic church, down Commercial Street, and comes together at the pier before families and friends embarking onto their respective vessels. The celebration begins as each boat in a sequence of boats follow the lead boat to wait its turn to be blessed by the Catholic cardinal, ensuring safe and bountiful journeys throughout the fishing season.

Scroll up to watch the news reporting of "The Glutton & the Artists"

Scroll up to hear about this year's chosen artist and lead boat or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Major League from Cape League

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:59:26 GMT

One 2023 and 2024 player for the Orleans Firebirds, right-handed pitcher Sean Matson, was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 9th round of the MLB draft.

"It's got a special place in my heart ...."

Sean Matson

MLB draft pick, Orleans Firebirds

Who is Sean Matson?

18 July 2024 — BREWSTER, MA — The Cape Cod Baseball League hit it out of the park this week, with 197 alumni picked in the MLB draft. One 2023 and 2024 player for the Orleans Firebirds, right-handed pitcher Sean Matson, was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 9th round. LCTV caught up with him about the moment and his time on the Cape.

Scroll up to watch the video news report "Meet Sean Matson"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about MLB draft and the Cape Cod League or click HERE to open it in a new window .

For more information:

Orleans Firebirds

Four Days To Save Hundreds Of Dolphins

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:23:27 GMT

In late June, Wellfleet saw the biggest mass stranding of dolphins in US history. It was uncharted waters even for the experienced rescue teams...

"This seemed like a huge family gathering for Memorial Day or the 4th of July. They're having a big party, they're swimming, there's all this bait fish around, they're having a wonderful time, and then the bottom falls out of everything."

Patty Walsh,

Volunteer Responder, IFAW

How do you save a dolphin?

In late June, Wellfleet saw the biggest mass stranding of dolphins in US history. It was uncharted waters even for the experienced rescue teams. Pattie Walsh, rescue volunteer worked tirelessly to save 146 stranded dolphins during four fateful days.

Whenever Walsh is close to the water, she is always scanning for fins. Having been a volunteer responder for the International Fund for Animal Welfare's ( IFAW ) Marine Mammal Rescue Team for almost 20 years has made its mark on her. "I've watched grown men cry at the release
of these animals," she said. "You watch them all head out together, they all know each other and they swim off together."

What is IFAW?

When IFAW's hotline got a report of a stranded dolphin in Herring River in the Wellfleet Bay, it was business as usual for the experienced rescue team. Cape Cod is a global hotspot for dolphin strandings and a fourth of all alive strandings in the U.S. happen between Yarmouth and Wellfleet. Walsh, just like every available volunteer responder on Cape Cod, got called in by IFAW. She was told there were about six dolphins stranded in The Gut, a narrow strand covering the entrance into the Wellfleet harbor area. Patty got in her car and did not check her phone again. However as she was driving the numbers quickly grew to double digits and then triple. By there time she arrived near The Gut, IFAW had counted 110 stranded dolphins.

"I looked around and I saw these bodies everywhere," Walsh said. "I have never seen anything like it."

Why do dolphins strand?

It was uncharted waters even for the experienced rescue team. The team managed to save 102 dolphins, while 37 died naturally and seven had to be euthanized. In the wake of the stranding IFAW is trying to answer the question: why?

The silver lining of being the world's leading spot for strandings is there are plenty of opportunities to learn and do research. That is why IFAW opened a teaching hospital in Orleans, the Dolphin Rescue Center. Brian Sharp, Manager of the Marine Mammal Rescue Team, is leading the work at the center. He was hoping that the necropsies - aka animal autopsies- on six of the dolphins would give clues the help answer the questions.

Dolphins have stranded on Cape Cod for hundreds of years, but the frequency is increasing. During the past 26 years since the rescue team was formed, IFAW is seeing annual increases of almost a hundred stranding cases year, including both cetaceans and seals.

"We know species are changing," said Brian. "We are seeing some indications from climate change. We collect as much data as we can, so hopefully that picture becomes clearer in the future."

How do you save a dolphin? Scroll up to the photo to watch the video to learn about the volunteers' work during the four fateful rescue days.

Scroll up to watch the news reporting of "Four Days To Save Hundreds Of Dolphins"

Scroll up to watch volunteer Patty Smith describe the rescue efforts or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Orleans' Digital Equity Plan, Explained

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 20:07:48 GMT

This week Orleans released a draft of its digital equity plan. The plan includes a vast array of findings and 18 different recommendations.

"How do we tackle this as a regional issue? This should not be 15 towns doing 15 different things."

Mike Solitro,

Assistant Town Planner, Orleans

What is digital equity?

19 July 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — This might be the digital age, but not everyone has an equal ride. That's why advocates of "digital equity" say active planning can make a difference in the ability of all people to use and benefit from the digital tools that define our daily life.

What is the Orleans Digital Equity Plan?

The Town of Orleans, along with the Cape Cod Commission took this observation to heart. Using funds from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), the town this week published a 64-page document explaining the gaps in digital equity in Orleans and more broadly on Cape Cod. It gathered its data through community feedback, and used the report to map out a series of recommendations to fill these gaps.

The plan organizes around three pillars: connectivity (does the community have adequate internet connection), devices (do people have access to and understand their devices), and digital literacy (can they exist on the internet safely and successfully).

What did the digital equity plan find?

Among the findings? The seasonal influx of residents and visitors creates and extra challenge, and connectivity often becomes an issue during the summer months. In addition, a higher median age on the Cape creates a challenge to digital literacy unique to this area. The plan makes a slew of suggestions, from expanding public wifi availability to one-on-one digital support spaces to device lending programs. To read the plan in its entirety, click HERE .

Why does the Cape need digital equity?

Cape towns and the Cape Cod Commission say the perceived reality of broadband on the Cape and the on-the-ground reality of the Cape may be quite different. For example, MBI's data found the Cape well connected to the internet. But this data was based on the internet speeds residents were paying for — not those they were receiving, according to Mike Solitro, Orleans’ assistant town planner.

Orleans is not alone. The Cape Cod Commission, with funding from MBI, using is working with Orleans as well as Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth and Barnstable to identify priorities of Cape communities and propose solutions.

What are other Cape towns doing about digital equity?

Bourne and Sandwich have already produced their plan drafts and are currently working on implementation, while Barnstable and Falmouth are still working on their drafts. Once all five towns have produced their plans, the Commission will draw on this work to help the region think more broadly about solutions for the entirety of Cape Cod.

The Fix Cape Internet Coalition , spearheaded by alternative service provider Open Cape, is currently conducting a challenge process for Cape residents to correct MBI’s data. In this process, residents click on a link, enter their Comcast bill number, and test their actual internet speeds compared to what they’re paying for. This challenge which ends in mid July may help paint a more accurate picture of the Cape’s internet landscape, said Steven Tupper, deputy director of the Cape Cod Commission.

Scroll up to watch the full recording of "Orleans' Digital Equity Plan, Explained"

Scroll up to watch a short video about Orleans' digital equity plan or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more information:

Gulf of Maine Wind Energy Plant Public Information Session - Full Meeting

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:05:06 GMT

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, is proposing a 1 million acre wind farm in the Gulf of Maine, some of which are proposed 23 miles outside the shores of Lower and Outer Cape. Wednesday July 18 BOEM held the first in-person public information session on Cape Cod in Eastham.

" Why aren't you coming with answers that would've educated me a little more and made me feel a little more comfortable with what you're doing. What I'm hearing tonight is terrifying. There. There's no future for these fishermen, let alone our children who might be fishermen ."

Attendee,

BOEM Public Information Session, Eastham

The public information session took place five days before the closing of the draft Environmental Assessment public commenting period on July 22. The video is of the hearing in its entirety, including audio of the public comments and questions. At the time of publishing BOEM has not announced when and where the answers to those comments and questions will be posted.

Scroll up to watch the full recording of "Gulf of Maine Wind Farm Public Information Session"

Scroll up to watch BOEM's public information session of the proposed wind farm or click HERE to open it in a new window .

For more information:

Can You Afford to Retire?

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 23:17:27 GMT

According to a new AARP study, the vast majority of Americans over age of 50 believe they don’t have enough savings to support themselves in retirement - and 26 percent say they will probably never be able to retire at all.

"If you fast forward to six years from now ... by 2030 1 in five Americans - that's 20% of the entire population - will be above the age of 65 .... and this is the group that either they don't have enough or they have no monies for retirement...."

Indira Venkat

Senior Vice President, AARP Research

What is the state of retirement savings?

12 July 2024 - EASTHAM, MA - Indira Venkat, senior vice president AT AARP Research says results from a new study raises an economic red flag for the near future. With 61 percent of adults over the age of 50 saying they lack enough savings for retirement, this gap verges on a crisis. In fact, 26 percent of adults over 50 say this means they will probably never be able to retire at all.

What has caused this gap?

According to Venkat the number one cause behind his retirement gap among people in the " pretirement " stage has been a shift in the employment landscape. Today, some 57 million Americans - about half of the workforce - lack automatic payroll deduction programs or any sort .Over the past several decades, fewer companies have offered pension, fewer offer a payroll savings plan, and fewer employers support 401Ks. Unlike prior generations, this generation has had little employer backstop to encourage and support future planning, as part of its employment contract.

Adding the challenge, this group has also felt additional economic tension which impacted their savings, as those in the 50s, juggle increasing worries about paying for day-to-day expenses taking priority of over setting aside for tomorrow.

What is Pretirement?

The period of time while we are still working but know retirement IS ahead is sometimes called “ pretirement ” – a sort of runway to the days we’ll want to draw out rather than put in – and this turns out to be a particularly critical time for savings. That's one of the reasons AARP focused on people in the “pretirement” stage for its latest research. It portends future trends ... but also still has time for change.

Is saving for retirement hopeless?

In its research, AARP has gathered a solid snapshot of a potential looming crisis – but says it is also using the data as a call to action. There’s still time to change the future, says Venkat.

If you are one of the 20 percent with no savings at all, she says, do something. Do anything, however small it might seem. A small step taken now still compounds over time. Some people benefit from having a "savings buddy" she says, to encourage each other to save. For others, planning using either structured free tools or working with a financial planner might be the path forward. The bottom line: although the most recent research might look grim, but it's never too late to start saving and changing the outcome.

Scroll up to watch the video news report "Will you be able to Retire?"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the gap in retirement savings or click HERE to open it in a new window .

For more information:

Plastic Bans vs, Business Realities

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 20:02:10 GMT

Just before the season started LCTV mapped the plastic reducing bylaws, which differ from town to town. Now at the height of the season we are talking to business owners about the challenges and wins when switching to sustainable alternatives.

It was really not as easy as we expected. There's challenges with finding a product that a supplier can stock consistently ..."

Mac Hay

Owner, Wellfleet Harbor Seafood Company

How has Cape Cod's various plastic bans impacted local business?

12 July 2024 — As the dust settles from the different bylaws enacted by different towns across the cape, we visited with two regional hospitality brands, Wellfleet Harbor Seafood Company, and The Knack, to learn they've adapted to the changes, what it means to work with different bylaws across different town, and what sustainability brings for both culture and bottom line..

The plastic bans have triggered changes in how each organization does business - and even though both support sustainability, the reality in the logistics and the costs of actually implementing them give pause and highlight the challenges local businesses face even as they try to do the right thing for the environment.

What are some of the plastic ban challenges for restaurants?

May Hay, owner of Wellfleet Harbor Seafood Company, with restaurants from Bourne to Provincetown, says his company tries to stay ahead of the bylaws. While they embrace sustainability, the logistics can be daunting. For example, finding vendors who can consistently stock the right quality of compostable straws was an unexpected challenge, along with an increased cost.

Michael Haidas co-owner of the Knack, with outlets in Hyannis and Orleans says the changes can be expensive too. His restaurants use some 50,000 shake cups a season - using compostable cups triples the cost of those cups. In addition, although his company prefers to use local distributors, it had to switch to a national wholesaler specializing in sustainable plastics in order to meet the restaurants' demands.

Does awareness make a difference?

Hay says the bylaws create awareness and that's good, but he points out that's just one piece of sustainability. Recycling might not even be the biggest impact a restaurant can make - for example, he points to changes in energy use as way restaurants can impact the environment and worries that an emphasis on plastic could divert attention from the broader sustainability actions.

Scroll up to watch the video news report "Plastic Bans vs Business Realities"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the myriad of Cape Cod plastic bans and the reality of a running multi-town restaurant business, or click HERE to open the story in a new window .

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Brewster Housing Gets $6.7M

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 15:27:42 GMT

Rentals form only 17% of Brewster's housing stock. The town hopes to change that equation with the help of a $6.7 M state grant for Spring Rock Village.

"It takes a village to build a village."

Donna Kalinick

Assistant Town Manager, Brewster

What is Spring Rock Village?

12 July 2024 — BREWSTER, MA — Spring Rock Village is an affordable housing initiative at 0 Millstone Road in Brewster. With likely completion in Summer 2026, the space will offer 45 rental units: fifteen one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom. Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC), who will manage the property, plan to lease the units at a range of price brackets. Thirty five of the units will be aimed at households making up to 60% of the Area Median Income, and 10 of the units at households making up to 80% of the Area Median Income. Twenty percent of the units will target families in extremely low income brackets at risk of homelessness. Spring Rock Village will also include a bus stop for easy transportation to employment and educational opportunities, HAC told LCTV.

What did the process for Spring Rock Village look like?

In 2018, Brewster bought a parcel of land with frontage on Millstone Road and began thinking about how the property could help the town’s low-income residents, Assistant Town Manager Donna Kalinick told us. Over the subsequent years, Brewster collected feedback about the needs of the town and accepted proposals for the future of the property. POAH and HAC’s proposal, Kalinick said, stood out, and the town has worked with the organizations to plan for an execution of this vision that will meet residents’ needs. POAH and HAC will sign a 99-year lease with the town, and construction is slated to begin in early 2025.

How does the Affordable Housing Development Grant help Spring Rock Village?

The $6.7 million-dollar grant will help POAH and HAC with construction and fees of Spring Rock Village. The grant also encourages greener housing developments, which Spring Rock Village has made a priority through a village-style layout and commitment to carbon-neutral energy efficiency, HAC told us. Kalinick shared that oftentimes proposals like this require several rounds of applications and revisions before receiving state funding, but Spring Rock Village received the grant with its first application — a sign of the strength of the project and the needs of Brewster, Kalinick said.

In addition to the grant, POAH and HAC have received $500,000 from Brewster, $480,000 from other Cape Cod towns, $4.8 million in soft subsidy, and $9.3 million in other federal and state tax credits. All of this funding will go toward the construction of Spring Rock Village. As of fall 2023, the budget was slated at just over $27 million.

What other affordable housing goals does Brewster have?

After purchasing the Spring Rock Village property in 2018, Kalinick said, Brewster made a further commitment to affordable housing, including hiring a housing coordinator — Jill Scalise — and starting several other initiatives. The Brewster Housing Trust, a committee of residents and town officials, oversees these initiatives, which have included the Brewster Woods affordable housing community, a home on Yankee Drive which they renovated and leased, and a number of grant and rental assistance programs. Kalinick said this work is far from over, and Brewster has other initiatives, both community engagement and building-focused, to meet Brewster residents’ needs.

Scroll up to watch the video news report "Brewster Affordable Housing Receives State Grant"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about Spring Rock Village, or click HERE to open the story in a new window .

For more information:

Newest Housing Report Brings Solutions to the Table

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 18:07:38 GMT

The latest housing plan from the Cape Cod Commission brings forth data, as well a suite of solutions ranging from zoning and permitting to a regional land bank and creative financing options.

"What surprised me most in terms of the data and information and research we conducted is just how little of our existing zoned land actually allows multi-family housing by right, of really any kind ..."

Erin Perry

Deputy Director, Cape Cod Commission

What does the newest Cape Cod housing report show?

July 05 2024 - EASTHAM, MA - From data that shows a 60% increase in housing prices to a zoning analysis that allows just 2% of the Cape open for multi-family house, the new Cape Cod Commission housing strategy plan puts a stake in the ground with both data and actionable tools. It also brings forth potential regional solutions including from zoning and permitting changes, funding and financing program, and even a a community landbank.

Based in data and informed by a plethora of regional organizations, the new regional strategy lays out a game plan to tackle the growing gap in housing across the Cape, says the commission’s executive director Kristy Senatori.

What was the goal of the housing plan?

The document, which was released in June 2024, combines research and data, along with tools and specific regional strategy recommendations in order to better understand the dynamics of Cape Cod Housing. But, by design, it also went beyond data and created forward moving solutions. The Cape Cod Commission says the larger goal of Housing Cape Cod: The Regional Strategy lay in bringing together towns and regional organizations for deeper explorations, all leading to specific strategy recommendations and usable tools.

Activities like zoning and permitting can and should be talked about regionally - but the execution remains local, said Senatori. Part of the report includes tools for planning, as well as model by-laws which could help communities more quickly take action, using tangible elements.

What did research find about Cape Cod housing?

Housing challenges are hardly unique to Cape Cod; they represent both a state and a national issue as well. But on the Cape, seasonal use, property values that have soared far about year-round incomes, and a monoculture of housing style magnify the need.

For example the research found that single family home prices increased on the cape 60 percent between 2019 and 2022, while median household income increased just 7.5 percent. A household needed more than $200,000 in income in order to reasonably afford a house on Cape Cod. As part of a zoning analysis done for the project, hard numbers now highlight the strong emphasis on single family homes in the region, showing that only 2% of the Cape allows this type of housing by right. A housing monoculture represents part of the challenge in responding to the region's housing crisis

What housing solutions did the report offer?

In addition to re-thinking zoning, some of the report's recommendations include streamlined permitting, setting up a community housing land bank, building a regional home-sharing program, developing various financial incentives and financing options, exploring housing development on Joint Base Cape Cod, and creating a regional housing services office.

Some of the activities, such as zoning and permitting, happen on the town level, while others such as a land bank and a home-sharing program regional different regional entities to collaborate together. Model by-laws and tools for exploring the permitting process can be put to use right away, while other regional efforts will take more time to flesh out and execute.

Scroll up to watch the video news report "Newest Housing Report Brings Solutions to the Table"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the housing strategy plan, or click HERE to open the story in a new window .

For more information:

New Ocean Beach Stickers Required

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 02:45:01 GMT

This season, Eastham beach-goers need an extra sticker to access parking for the ocean beaches managed by the Cape Cod National Seashore. We chat with seashore superintendent Jennifer Flynn.

"Last summer there was a lot of confusion between my staff and residents about what proof was required. And my staff spend a lot of time trying to sort through leases, tax bills, beach stickers, dump stickers ... frankly it was an unfair burden to put on the folks who have a really difficult job ."

Jennifer Flynn

Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore

What is the new beach sticker in Eastham?

5 July 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — Starting July 01, parking at Eastham's two oceanside beaches requires a new beach sticker. Nauset Light Beach and Coastguard Beach are operated by the National Seashore, who, as per an agreement with the Town of Eastham, offers designated and free parking spaces for Eastham taxpayers. Now, the only valid proof of identification for East residents is the new ocean beach specific sticker.

The new sticker only impacts Eastham residents. All other visitors to the beach must purchase parking at the entrance and use the non-resident parking slots.

What are the different beach requirements?

The ocean side beaches in Eastham are operated by the National Seashore. The National Seashore side beach stickers are available at no cost to Eastham residents. The bayside beaches are managed by the town and beach stickers for these beaches require a fee for residents. Both beach stickers can be acquired at the town's beach sticker office .

Why is parking at a premium?

Erosion swept away parking over time and competition for beach parking has grown. The beaches are always popular and parking can fill up quickly in the summer, with general demand far exceeding supply. However only Eastham residents can park in the designated Eastham parking slots as part of a long-term agreement between the Town and the Seashore.

How will the new stickers help?

When the beach parking lots are full, people must be turned away at the lot. This puts Seashore employees in an uncomfortable position, with often unhappy potential beach-goers arguing for their right to park, explained Superintendent Flynn. The new stickers support the decades-long agreement between Eastham and the Seashore, but also make it clear to staff that this is a resident vehicle with a right to parks in the resident section of the parking lot.

Scroll up to watch the video news report "New Stickers Required at Eastham Ocean Beaches"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the new stickers required at the ocean side beaches in Eastham, or click HERE to open the story in a new window .

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Low Maintenance July

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 02:01:58 GMT

In this episode of In the Garden, Garden Coach Priscilla Husband confesses she likes a low maintenance July, too - and says native plants make that possible.

"Another reason I'm really crazy about native (plants) is they are low maintenance ... and they are also beautiful, we have great spring blooms, summer blooms ... there's seeds for our migrating songbirds ... and when you have it established it's low maintenance ...

Priscilla Husband

Garden Coach

Why should we love native plants?

July 2024 - Cape Cod MA - This month garden coach Priscilla Husband sings the praises of native plants. They support our pollinators, bring flowers, seeds, and scents across all seasons, and best of all - especially in lazy July - they bring low-maintenance beauty. Once established, they require little water and minimal care and choosing a range of varies brings blooms in all seasons.

How does native planting help pollinators?

Planting native flowers that bloom at different times provides an ideal habitat for pollinators. Native plants provide pollen and nectar for food, cover from predators and the elements, and places for their young to survive. Their nectar and pollen offers food for our critical pollinators as well as seeds for our songbirds.

Hear how to have a low maintenance garden in July with native plants in this episode of "In the Garden"

Scroll up to watch the short In the Garden video or click HERE to open it in a new window.

Watch more about gardening:

Lower Cape TV Cape Cod Gardens Collection

Dog Days of Orleans

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:43:08 GMT

Bring Fido! Two Orleans restaurants now have variances to the health code that allows dogs to join their owners in designated outdoor spaces. We spoke with restaurant owners and the health department about what this means.

"We expect that it will probably bring some extra people — and extra dogs, which is great."

Mike D iSabato

Owner, La Bella Vita Kitchen and Bar

What is the health code rule for dogs at restaurants?

3 July 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - According to state regulations, non-service dogs may not go anywhere on restaurant premises. This includes outdoor areas of restaurants. However, local towns can allow for a variance that allows pups to dine with their human friends outdoors - and two restaurants in Orleans have done just that.

While the town cannot change health codes to make any sweeping changes to allow dogs in restaurant outdoor spaces, Assistant Health Agent Kelly Messier says that one-off variances can help interested restaurants greet patrons with open paws, within safe guidelines. Boston restaurants have used this process to become dog friendly and some Orleans establishments are following their example.

What are Orleans restaurants doing?

In Orleans, two restaurants have received a variance to the health code which provides the restaurant with an exception to the specific regulation prohibiting dogs in outdoor spaces -- as long as they commit to maintaining the cleanliness and health of the restaurant. La Bella Vita Kitchen and Bar was the first to go dog friendly, based on customer requests last summer. Shortly after, 3 Fools did the same. Each now allows well-behaved canine guests to join their humans in outdoor seating areas.

Assistant Health Agent Messier said that other other restaurants can follow suit and if more restaurants request variance, the department can respond to demand by implementing infrastructure to make the application process more streamlined .

Where can you bring your dog?

As of this reporting, dogs are allowed in the outdoor spaces at the 3 Fools and La Bella Vita restaurants. No other restaurants have yet received a variance.

However, some restaurants have picnic tables outside that are not technically part of the restaurant — here, dogs are generally allowed. As a rule of thumb, Messier said, if outdoor spaces have table service, they count as part of the premises and would need the variance to allow dogs. If you get takeout and walk to tables to sit and eat they are probably not considered part of the premise.

What does this mean for Orleans as a whole?

Owners at La Bella Vita and 3 Fools recognize Orleans is a dog-loving community and said they’re excited to remove some stress from Orleans residents as well a visitors to the town who include their dog in their dining plans. Judging by the wagging tails, the dining dogs seem to approve the changes as well.

And this season and these two restaurants might be just the first paw in the water; Messier said she foresees others following suit to welcome dogs at their businesses.

Scroll up to watch the video news report "Dog Days of Orleans"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report to learn the latest on dogs at Orleans restaurants, or click HERE .

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Holtec, Tritium, and Cape Cod Bay

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 20:50:00 GMT

Does it matter if radioactive water evaporates? Flows into Cape Cod Bay? What's the story about tritium anyway? Holtec's latest raises these questions ... and more.

"There is no question that evaporating wastewater from Pilgrim poses potential health and environment risks..."

Letter from Congressional Delegation,

Regarding Holtech plans

What is happening at Pilgrim plant?

27 June 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Holtec International, the New Jersey based company holding the contract to manage Plymouth's Pilgrim nuclear power plant decommissioning - has put tritium on the table. It says heating radioactive water to evaporate it or releasing it into Cape Cod Bay are "standard practice" - but not everyone agrees.

What is Holtec doing?

All radioactive water and fuel on the Pilgrim Power Plant site must be removed as part of the decommission process, a process now expected to run through 2035. Last year, Holtec said it would relase radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay; strong negative response put a temporary hold on that plan. Earlier this year, Holtec said it was heating radioactive water to evaporate it ... triggering another round of concern about the company's plans and the health of Cape Cod Bay and people living within range of the former power plant.

What happens when the water evaporates?

The radioactive water at Pilgrim doesn't actually contain heavy metals. Instead, the hydrogen in the water has absorbed the radioactivity and become and isotope called tritium. When water is released or evaporated, tritium escapes to Cape Cod.

Is tritium dangerous?

In response to Lower Cape TV's inquiries, Holtec wrote that the tritium it would be releasing is not harmful and, indeed, releasing or evaporating radioactive water forms industry standard practice. It adds that there is no scientific proof that Cape Cod or Cape Cod Bay would be harmed by these activities. Scientific groups say there could be some truth to that - and that tritium is one of the least harmful radioactive isotopes.

What has been the region's response?

Not surprisingly, others disagree. In April, the region's Congressional Delegation wrote to Holtec to express their concerns. Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod likens the evaporation and potential release to running an experiment on live humans. Regional advocates, in general, suggest erring on the side of caution.

What are the options?

However, options are limited. The water could be shipped ... somewhere else. Or, it could be stored for decades while the radioactivity decreases. No one on any side of the conversation likes either of these options. The debate has slowed the decommission process, which has now slipped to 2035 ... and the debate continues.

Scroll up to watch the video news report "Holtec, Tritium, and Cape Cod Bay"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report to learn the latest from Holtec on addressing radioactive water HERE .

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Provincetown's Blessing

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 19:18:18 GMT

The Blessing of the Fleet - a cherished Provincetown tradition since 1948 - involves the anointing of each vessel with holy water before a Catholic cardinal. This short documentary visits the way a community honors its shared history.

"There's saying ... it's better to sit in a boat thinking about god than to sit in a church thinking about fishing...."

Lisa King,

Provincetown Historian

What is a Blessing of the Fleet?

28 June 2024 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - The Blessing of the Fleet is a cherished tradition originating from Portugal centuries ago, now observed in coastal communities worldwide. During this ceremony, a Catholic Cardinal anoints each boat with holy water and offers a prayer for safety and prosperity in the coming season. This ritual holds significance due to the perilous nature of the fishing industry, known for the unpredictability of the sea and the highs and lows of the resource within it.

What is Provincetown's Blessing of the Fleet?

In Provincetown, Massachusetts, at the tip of Cape Cod, the Blessing of the Fleet has been an annual event since 1948. Historically reliant on fishing as its main industry, Provincetown has faced numerous challenges over time, including depleted fish stocks, gentrification, and stringent regulations. These factors have significantly reduced the town's fishing fleet, once a cornerstone of its economy to near endangered levels.

For a town holding on to its Portuguese heritage by a thread, the Blessing brings together those who still live on the Cape with those who have moved away in a poignant time of connection and remembered history.

Watch the short documentary "Provincetown's Blessing"

Scroll up to watch the short documentary about Provincetown's traditional Blessing of the Fleet or click HERE to open it in a new window.

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Crushing It For The Cape

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 19:54:59 GMT

The Cape Crushers, the regional high school mountain bike team, is getting into gear to represent Cape Cod in the national series in Pennsylvania in mid July. For these young bicyclists, obstacles in the way mean opportunities for progress.

"I always look forward to starting the season. I'm always talking about it at school ... I'm like, I'm so excited to go, cause they're just friends and we just always have fun..."

Io Torrellas,

Cape Crusher

What is Cape Crushers?

Justin Torrellas and his daughter Io Torrellas, then eight years old, used to spend time running and biking. Justin did the running, and to keep up with him Io was pedaling. However, it was not long before the roles were reversed and Justin would struggle in Io's wake to catch up with her. That is when he decided to not only sign Io up for the regional mountain bike team, Cape Crushers, but to take up mountain biking himself, an old passion of his, and co-train the team.

When are nationals in cross country mountain bike?

Io, today 12 years old, has been crushing it at cross country mountain bike regional series and July 19 she is switching gears to represent Cape Cod in the nationals. To her Cape Crushers mean one thing: To have fun. "I always look forward to starting the season. I'm always talking about it at school and my friends are like 'what's that?'" Io says. "I'm so excited to go." For head coach Justin and the other coaches, that means the number one goal has been fulfilled. For him essence of mountain biking and the Cape Crushers is for the kids to enjoy themselves in the woods.

"The biggest skill is actually in the mental skills seeing an obstacle in front of you and figuring out how do I go around this, over this, um, through it," he says and points out the hidden metaphor. "There's always things in your way. Are you gonna have a good time flowing through it or are you gonna struggle against it?"

What is mountain biking?

Justin says he is astonished by the members quick improvement when they first join the team. Spending time on the bike flowing through the woods does a lot for the high schoolers' skills. Io points out that it's about speed and speed will always improve with practice. It's just like riding a bike.

Watch the video news report "Crushing It For The Cape"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report to learn about a new performance premiering on Cape Cod HERE .

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Magical Merger of Sound, Light, and Tech Debuts

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 04:34:22 GMT

Violinist Audrey Wright and artist Geoff Robertson's Luminous Being explores the intersections of light, sound, and technology in a performance that had its world premier in Chatham.

"This is wearable light art in collaboration with live performance. So we're exploring the concept of the magical connections between sound, light and technology...."

Audrey Wright,

Violinist, New York Philharmonic

What is Luminous Being?

20 June 2024 - CHATHAM, MA - New York Philharmonic violinist Audrey Wright premiered Luminous Being, performance art that explores the magical connections between sound light and technology at the Atwood House Museum.

The Cape Cod native says the collaboration between her and artist/maker Geoff Robertson creates an experience designed for spaces not typically thought of a violin venue. While the next stop for the performance is the Hirshhorn Museum's festival Sound Scene in Washington DC, the duo hopes to bring their work to to parks, the New York subway ... and maybe a Cape Cod Beach.

Watch an excerpt from Luminous Being performed at Lower Cape TV Studios

Click on the picture to experience Audrey Wright and Robertson's Luminous Being.

Watch the video news report "Magical Intersection of Sound, Light, Technology"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report to learn about a new performance premiering on Cape Cod HERE .

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First Fridays Liven Orleans Evenings

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:45:39 GMT

"It's in Orleans" slogan rings even truer this summer on the first Friday of every month.

“I would love to see in 2025, maybe every Friday. But this was to dip our toes in for First Fridays and see what it was like and see if there was an appetite between the business owners and the people that visit Orleans.”

Judy Lindahl

Executive Director, Orleans Chamber of Commerce

What are First Fridays in Orleans?

JUNE 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - The First Friday initiative, organized by local business owners and the Orleans Chamber of Commerce, aims to bring more activity to Orleans on summer evenings. On the first Friday of June, July, August, September and October, stores and restaurants will have outdoor shopping, refreshments, deals and refreshments all throughout the town.

What can one expect to find at First Fridays?

More than 30 local businesses are participating in the initiative, including The Sparrow Store, Sea Howl Bookshop, Goody’s Tattoo, Friends’ Marketplace, Nauset Farms and more. At June’s first Friday on June 7, several businesses hosted live musicians outside their storefronts and offered free refreshments. The next First Friday will take place on July 5, when they expect to see high turnout due to the holiday weekend, said First Friday organizer and owner of Adorn Molly Avellar.

What are the goals behind First Fridays?

Judy Lindahl, executive director of the Orleans Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber hopes this initiative will entice people to stay in Orleans and will keep the town lively on summer evenings, as most businesses often close around 5 or 6 p.m. Avellar added that the initiative brings neighbors and community members together when they spend time at these events and getting to know one another.

Watch the video news report "First Fridays Liven Orleans Evenings"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the First Fridays initiative or simply click HERE .

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Brewster Celebrates Juneteenth

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:18:22 GMT

Wednesday marked the first town celebration of Juneteenth on the lower Cape, hosted by the Town of Brewster at Drummer Boy Park.

“Our expectation is that as we have this moving forward for Juneteenth, our crowd size will grow, and we’ll have more activities .”

Devon Evans

Assistant Director, Brewster Ladies Library

What was Brewster's Juneteenth Celebration?

21 JUNE 2024 - BREWSTER, MA - In the Lower Cape’s first Juneteenth celebration, the town of Brewster organized activities at Drummer Boy Park on Wednesday, June 19. The town collaborated with Brewster Ladies Library, the Brewster Council On Aging, the Brewster Cultural Council and the Brewster Historical Society, bringing a variety of tours, educational programming and arts and craft activities to attendees. The celebration also included live jazz performances and an African drum and dance performance from Ammaya Dance and Drum. At the beginning of the celebration Wednesday morning, they held a reenactment and reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when a general made the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas. Two years after the proclamation was technically put into effect in 1863, this day was celebrated by freed Texans as the United States’ second independence day. Though some parts of the country, particularly around Galveston and Texas, have celebrated the holiday since 1866, it became an official federal holiday in 2021.

What connection does Cape Cod have to slavery and emancipation?

Though Massachusetts made slavery illegal in 1783, it was still present across the state and on Cape Cod into the 1800s. Throughout the abolition movement, Cape Cod held several safe havens for those traveling the Underground Railroad. Organizations such as the Atlantic Black Box are working to combat the common misconception that slavery was only a Southern problem by conducting research and sharing the history of slavery across New England.

Watch the video news report "Brewster Celebrates Juneteenth"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the Juneteenth celebration or simply click HERE .

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Brewster Music Teacher Retires

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 15:21:36 GMT

After more than three decades of hitting the right notes as a music teacher at two of the Nauset District's elementary schools, Eddy and Orleans Elementary School Director of Instrumental Music Leah Belliveau is retiring.

“Music is one of those things that you can do forever [...] It’s always there with you, and you can always do it.” . "

Leah Belliveau

Director of Instrumental Music, Eddy Elementary School

Who is Leah Belliveau?

21 JUNE 2024 - BREWSTER, MA - Leah Belliveau has taught music in Nauset School District elementary and middle schools for thirty-five years. In her most recent role as director of instrumental music at Brewster’s Eddy Elementary School, she led the school’s band and taught elementary schoolers a wide range of instruments. A music lover since childhood, Belliveau first picked up an instrument herself — a clarinet — in the fourth grade, with the encouragement of her father, a tuba player, and her own elementary school music teacher. Since then, teaching music has been her “dream job,” she told LCTV.

What legacy will she leave in Nauset Schools and on Cape Cod?

As a music teacher, Belliveau has inspired countless students and colleagues, even encouraging Eddy Elementary Principal Steven Guditus to pick up the trumpet after thirty years, which he now plays regularly at school concerts. Some of her students have gone on to become music teachers in Cape Cod and beyond. Belliveau also started Kid News, a program on Lower Cape TV that features reporting from elementary and middle school students and gives the community a glimpse into the happenings of the Nauset School District.

What’s next for Belliveau and for Eddy Elementary?

In her retirement, Belliveau hopes to travel, spend time outdoors and learn more instruments, she said. She will also continue running Kid News on a volunteer basis. She hopes to expand its programming, she said, to include even more schools in the district, giving Cape Cod students a chance to learn about reporting and storytelling and giving the community a look into the school day. Stacey Faris, currently Eddy's general music and chorus teacher, will take over Belliveau's role in instrumental music. Eddy Elementary will also expand its instrumental music program to offer lessons to younger grades, Guditus said.

Watch the video news report "Brewster Music Teacher Retires"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about Leah Belliveau's retirement or simply click HERE .

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MyCoastApp Defines Coastal Flooding

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:58:25 GMT

During Cape Cod Coastal Resilience week, the Coastal Zone Management department of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shared ways that citizen science - through the My Coast App - can help inform policy and train people in how to make best use of it.

"(Routes) 6A and 28 ... have sections that are very low lying and inundate with just two feet of surge at high tide.
And it's a real concern, especially when you think about major events where evacuation is gonna be necessary."

Julia Knisel

Coastal Shoreline And Flood Plain Manager, Coastal Zone Management

What is extreme weather on Cape Cod?

Building stronger and more resilient coastal communities is a necessity on the CapCape Codders are seeing not only more frequent storms, flooding and higher tides, but also longer lasting and more damaging. In a community effort, The Office of the Coastal Zone Management is asking people to snap photos of the aftermath of weather events to help storm damage assessments, flooding predictions and spotting trends over time. During the Cape Cod Coastal Resilience Week, from June 8 to June 15, the CZM is training volunteers to upload the photos to the the MY Coast App.

What specific challenges does Cape Cod pose?

The biggest cause for concern on the Cape are the low lying portions of two major routes 6A and 28, according to Julia Knisel, Coastal Shoreline And Flood Plain Manager at the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management. Knisel says it is a question of when, not if, evacuations on Cape Cod are necessaary – only two feet of surge cause flooding along these heavy trafficked routes. A combination of NOAA forecasts, tide predictions and data from the My Coast App makes it possible for CZM to understand when the roads will flood, where Towns may need to close off roads and evacuations will be necessary.

What is a King tide?

Chatham is an especially dynamic town to showcase the different uses of the My Coast App. The fish pier area has a low lying parking lot, cove barrier, steep dunes below residential houses and clear marks of high tides and flooding – showing vulnerabilities for erosion, flooding, impacts to infrastructure such as seawalls, revetments and access stairs.

CZM has a staff of 80 people documenting during extreme weather, primarily the Coastal Storm Damage Assessment Team, but Julia Knisel emphasizes that safety comes first. That is why they are asking the public to mostly document safer events such as damage after a storm, or King Tides, a phenomenon where the high tide rises to extreme levels under a full moon. With a growing base of 500 users CZM hopes to better their planning and project design.

Watch the video news report "The My Coast App Defines Coastal Flooding"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the proposed new bike path and what it could mean for local businesses, or click HERE .

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Annual Swim Raises Breast Cancer Awareness

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:36:00 GMT

On your marks, get set, swim! Last weekend, the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition held its 25th annual "Against the Tide" swim race at Nickerson State Park.

"This is an event that brings people together from all walks of life, but mostly people who are here today and who come year after year are people who have been touched by breast cancer. "

Cheryl Osimo

Executive Director, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition

What is the "Against the Tide" swim?

14 JUNE 2024 - BREWSTER, MA - More than two dozen people dove into Nickerson State Park's cliff pond last weekend in support of breast cancer prevention. The "Against the Tide" swim, in its 25th year at Nickerson State Park, raises money for the Massachusett Breast Cancer Coalition's community programming. The coalition educates people across the state on breast cancer awareness and prevention. Last weekend's event featured mile-long and half-mile-long swims and several running events, and participants created teams to raise money for the organization.

What impact did the event have?

As of June 17, the event raised $10,540 through the participants' donations. The organization also held an "Against the Tide" event in Hopkinton, Mass., which raised over $17,000. This money will go toward prevention awareness through brochures, videos and school presentations, among other things, said Cheryl Osimo, MBCC's executive director.

What is the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition?

MBCC is the only breast cancer organization that focuses on breast cancer prevention, and their goal is to spread awareness throughout Massachusetts and beyond. Their work includes webinars, community events like this one, synthesis of breast cancer research and statistics and research on possible environmental toxins like PFAS.

Watch the video news report "Annual Swim Raises Breast Cancer Awareness"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about finding safer homes for osprey eggs on Cape Cod or simply click HERE .

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Wild Care Expands Space

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:23:11 GMT

The Lower Cape's animal rehabilitation center just got a little bit bigger.

"There was a lot of thinking; there was a lot of effort; there was a lot of back and forth. But thank goodness it's here. "

Jennifer Taylor

Animal Care Coordinator, Wild Care

What is Wild Care?

14 JUNE 2024 - EASTHAM, MA - Wild Care offers animal rehabilitation services to the Lower Cape at no cost, serving more than 1800 animals each year. They release most animals back into the wild after treating them for injuries. Their role in the community also involves educating the public on how to prevent harm to Cape Cod's wildlife. The organization cut the ribbon for a new building at their main Eastham location on Friday.

What is Wild Care's new building?

Over the past five years, Wild Care has spent almost a million dollars designing and building their education and cleaning center. Once the organization is fully moved into the building, it will provide a more efficient space to clean all the equipment Wild Care uses, including crates, aquariums, and laundry. The education center will provide "an experience" for all those dropping off animals for treatment, said Stephanie Ellis, Wild Care's executive director. The addition of this new space will also free up more lab space in their original Eastham building to treat animals.

What still needs to be done?

Wild Care received a Tern Foundation Solar Grant and installed solar panels on the new building last week. As a matching grant, the Tern Foundation grant matches donations made from an organization's supporters and community, and Wild Care is hoping for more donations to go toward the matching grant. After installing epoxy and flooring and furnishing the building, they hope to move in by the end of the summer, Ellis said.

What is Wild Care's relationship with Eastham and Cape Cod?

Wild Care has been in Eastham for over 30 years and helped more than 30,000 animals. Jennifer Taylor, Wild Care's Animal Care Coordinator, has been working with the organization for more than 20 of those years. She said the organization has always had a strong relationship with the community, going back to their time as a grassroots organization when they couldn't afford a bag of apples for animals and the community donated more apples than they knew what to do with. More than a dozen people attended the ribbon cutting Friday, and Taylor said that community connection is just as strong 20 years later.

Watch the video news report "Wild Care Expands Space"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about finding safer homes for osprey eggs on Cape Cod or simply click HERE .

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Landscapes in the Lens

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:46:33 GMT

In this Portraits of Cape Artists, meet fine arts landscape photographer Allie Richards, who captures the world around us ... from eclipse to lava to landscape.

"It's a photographer playground, there's so many colors in the landscape from the black sand beaches to glacial waterfalls ...you've got the red lava, the green moss... "

Allie Richards, fine arts landscape photographer

What is Fine Art Landscape photography?

10 June 2024 -- Eastham, MA -- Allie Richards travels the Cape and around the world to capture landscapes. You can find her on the pier in Provincetown, featuring photographs gathered from travels, experiences, dune shacks -- and most recently the eclipse.

Watch the Portraits of Cape Artists "Landscape in the Lens" episode featuring Allie Richardson

Scroll up to watch the profile of landscape photographer Allie Richardson or click HERE .

For more information:

Watch more Portraits of Cape Artists HERE

Right Whales 2024 Season on Cape Cod

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:20:58 GMT

Endangered right whales return each year to Cape Cod bay to enjoy a generous buffet of zooplankton. Dr. Charles 'Stormy' Mayo shares highlights from the 2024 season and the challenges facing this critically endangered population.

"These whales were built to this ecosystem and it was a relatively slowly changing system ... Yeah, the temperature did change, but it changed very slowly. Now it is changing rapidly and the capacity for both the system and the animals to adjust - and for us to understand it - is completely different."

Dr. Charles "Stormy" Mayo

Founder, Center for Coastal Studies

Do whales come to Cape Cod?

04 June 2024 — PROVINCETOWN, MA — Each year Cape Codders enjoy the comings and goings of the North Atlantic Right Whales. Between January and May, these giant, almost prehistoric-looking mammals make their way to Cape Cod Bay to feast on the water's abundance of zooplankton. The season of 2024 has been no exception.

In this short conversation, Dr. Charles 'Stormy' Mayo, co-founder of the Center for Coastal Studies and right whale expert, shares the current plight of the species and the challenges facing its critically endangered population.

What threatens the whale population?

The right whales have become endangered from many forms of human interaction - everything from being hit and literally sliced to bits by boat propellers, to slow-death due to entanglements in ropes and nets, to shifts in the North Atlantic ecosystem because of climate change and warming waters.

Only 360 right whales remain in the world. A known 19 calves were born this year, but five have already died including one calf killed by a ship strike, and another mother/calf pair killed by a different ship strike off the coast of Virginia.

What can protect the right whales?

Changes in fisheries techniques as well as ways to protect whales from ship strikes lead the list of needed protections. While in Cape Cod Bay, the whales are relatively safe. Travel lanes for enormous cargo vessels and boat speed control help offer protection from ship strikes, while collaboration, awareness, and rescue partnerships offer some mitigation from entanglement death. These solutions may bring whales a place to feed and rest and also hint at approaches to management of our waters that could change the dynamics between whales and humans.

Watch the video news report "2024 Season for Cape Cod Right Whales"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the challenges for Cape Cod's right whales during the 2024 season or simply click HERE .

For related information :

Right Whale research at the Center for Coastal Studies

Orleans' Beach Road on Bike Lane Path

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:55:58 GMT

Beach Road in Orleans could soon become more bike and pedestrian friendly. Concerns about the potential for a tragic accident on the popular road triggered a feasibility study; at the end of this process, the town will have four bike lane layouts to choose from.

"We did have a circumstance where there was an accident several years ago with some pedestrians. Fortunately, nothing was fatal, but it was a heads up. The Committee is very committed to ensuring
that we try to do something before there is a catastrophe."

Alice Thomason van Oot

Chair, Orleans Transportation and Bikeways Committee

Can you bike to the beach in Orleans?

07 June 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - The specter ever-larger vehicles sharing narrow roads with bike and pedestrians gave the Orleans Transportation and Bikeways Advisory Committee the shivers about bike and pedestrian safety - especially on popular destination routes like Beach Road. At the annual Town meeting last month, the public voted in favor of a feasibility study to add a bike lane onto Beach Road, in what Alice Thomason van Oot, Chair, calls a landslide victory.

What will a bike lane look like in Orleans?

Safety, however, is not the only aspect the Committee is focusing on. Keeping the picturesque and Cape-specific look also go into the planning, as well as preserving specimen trees and potential historic stone walls. Thomas van Oot emphasizes that home-owners with landscaping close to the road will be taken into consideration too.

Where will the bike lane be?

The bike lane will run from Orleans’ town to Nauset beach, along Beach Road in a design not yet determined. The Committee has promised four different layouts for voters to choose from at next year’s Town meeting, ranging from eight to eleven feet wide along one side of the road.

How can bikes boost local economy?

East Orleans has what it likes to call a string of pearls: small local businesses string together, shops filled with art, home decorations and clothing, real estate offices, small bed and breakfasts and restaurants. Making it safe, easy, and enjoyable for people to leave their cars and explore Orleans by foot, bike or wheelchair could boost these businesses in particular, and the local economy at large.

Watch the video news report "Orleans' Beach Road on Bike Lane Path"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the proposed new bike path and what it could mean for local businesses, or click HERE .

Watch more bike stories from LCTV for Bike Month 2024:

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Osprey Quandary

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 23:28:16 GMT

Osprey love nesting atop utility poles and other human structures — but it turns out this might not be the best real estate match.

"Cape Cod is home to the largest population of osprey in Massachusetts; we think there is 500 pairs or more. And this is pretty exciting because they are back from the brink of local extinction "

Stephanie Ellis

Executive Director, Wild Care

Where do Cape Cod Ospreys nest?

06 JUNE 2024 - EASTHAM, MA - Osprey love building their nests atop utility poles and other human structures ... but it turns out this might not be the best real estate match. Eastham's Wild Care has begun working with Eversouce as a sort of avian condo relocation expert to help eggs find a safer home.

Why do osprey like utility poles?

Osprey have few native trees remaining in which to nest, so they turn to utility poles, flag poles and the like - basically something reaching 20-30 feet in the air, with a structure to support a big eagle nest. On utility poles, the double bar cross arms form a nice stable platform for nest building and that seems to make them particularly attractive - but building a nest in live wires also means the birds can get electrocuted or the nests can catch on fire, an outcome good for neither osprey nor electric customers.

How do people protect osprey nests?

Eversource developed a Cape Cod osprey plan, and works with organizations like Wild Care and Mass Audubon, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and municipalities to mange the nesting cycle.

The best case, said Wild Care's Ellis, is to put up a deterrent before the birds begin nesting, encouraging them to find a different location. If the birds are already nesting hot and heavy, sometimes introducing an alternative platform to build upon may work. But once there are eggs, the game changes; the USDA gets involved because federal and state law protect osprey. The USDA can allow approved handlers to remove the eggs and place them in a safer nest with a foster osprey family. Worst case, the eggs end up in an incubator at a site like like WIld Care, until they can find an adoptive osprey family.

Why do osprey matter?

Adding to the challenge, the nests are 20-30 feet in the air - so it takes drones, cranes, and other technical maneuvering to reach them - but the effort is worth it. Not that not that long ago these "sea eagles" had virtually disappeared.

In the 1970s widespread use of organochlorine pesticides, such as DDT, took them to the brink. Osprey eat fish, whose flesh contained concentrated DDT. DDT in the bird's system their egg shells, crumbling them before the young could hatch. Today, the Cape's osprey represents a success story with an estimated 500 nesting pairs, representing the greatest osprey concentration in Massachusetts.

Watch the video news report "Opsrey Quandary"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about finding safer homes for osprey eggs on Cape Cod or simply click HERE .

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Right Plant, Right Place

Fri, 31 May 2024 22:29:42 GMT

In this episode of In the Garden, Garden Coach Priscilla Husband says to start the season with right plant, right place, right plan.

"The first thing I want to you remember is right plant, right location ...

Priscilla Husband

Garden Coach

What should Cape Cod gardeners be thinking of right now?

May 2024 - Cape Cod MA - As the gardening season kicks off Garden Coach Priscilla Husband shares her tips to getting off to the best start. A few of those items ...

Know Lighting
Know Maturity
Read the plant tags
Save the plant tags
Know Growth size
Make a "$20 hole"
Remember to water

Hear all of this spring's best garden planning tips in this month's episode of "In the Garden"

Scroll up to watch the short In the Garden video or click HERE .

Watch more about gardening:

Lower Cape TV Cape Cod Gardens Collection

Connecting Cape Cod By Bike

Fri, 31 May 2024 19:05:09 GMT

We wrap up bike month by gazing into a future where bike riders can pedal through 88 miles of bike lanes stretching from Woods Hole and Bourne to Provincetown.

"Bicycle and pedestrian projects have some of the highest rate of returns in terms of economic activity compared to roadway projects given some of the overall economic benefits we see...

Steve Tupper
Deputy Director, Cape Cod Commission

How many bike riders are there on Cape Cod?

31 May 2024 - Orleans MA - Imagine a future where bike riders can pedal through 88 miles of bike lanes stretching from Woods Hole and Bourne to Provincetown. Proponents of Vision 88 say that future can become reality.

Cape Cod holds far more pedestrians and bicyclists than it has safe lanes to share the roads - but regional planning and regulatory agency the Cape Cod Commission is part of a long term effort to change that equation. Right now, as part of the process, it has been counting use at strategical road location, such as the Orleans rotary pedestrian crossing. The data shows that in September 2023, more than 1,000 non motorists crossed here, despite the lack of markings at the crossing. This, and other gather data points highlight both the need and number of non-car uses of the transportation corridors.

Is it safe to ride a bike on Cape Cod?

Route 28 and 6 are especially dangerous for non-motorists. Between 2012 and 2022 there were 98 crashes involving bikes that resulted in serious or fatal injuries, according to MassDOT. Two of the fatal crashes were along Route 6 in Brewster and Eastham.

Steven Tupper, Deputy Director of the Cape Cod Commission, envisions a future where both bike and pedestrian safety as well as accessibility could add to Cape Cod's local health and economy. That goal forms the core of a project called Vision 88, a effort underway to build from of existing bike paths into miles of interconnected thruways, connecting the Cape from Wood Hole to Bourne to Provincetown.

What is Cape Cod's Vision 88?

Vision 88 is an effort to create safe and effective bikeways across Cape Cod. According to Tupper, more than 88 miles of bike lanes and bike paths would come together to create an integrated option for non-vehicle transportation from one end of the Cape to the other. It would leverage existing bikeways and draw upon use data and to plan and develop a network for alternative transportation for both visitors and commuters alike.

The project is a long-term one, requiring an eventual $100 million or more in investment. But the economic impact would be large, said Tupper, as would the environmental benefits. There's great demand for bicycling tourism in that natural beauty that is the Cape, and of course the reduction of green house gas connects directly to our effort to address climate change.

Would Route 6 be reconstructed?

Part of the project includes looking at Route 6. Tupper emphasizes that ensuring the safety of people walking and biking along route 6 and 28 today is of the highest priority and longer-term solutions could mean a redesign of Route 6, making sure all users would fit. Watch the video above to learn more what such a design could look like and how much the project could cost.

Watch the video news report "Connecting Cape Cod By Bike"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about Vision 88 and what it means for outer and lower Cape HERE .

Watch more bike stories from LCTV for Bike Month 2024:

Bike Month For Every Cape Codder

For related information :

Cape Cod Commission: non-motorists counts data viewer

Hello Mr. Monopoly!

Mon, 27 May 2024 23:08:56 GMT

Uncle Pennybags himself journeyed to Chatham Bars Inn for the premiere of Monopoly- Cape Cod Edition

"We thought about what city we were going to do next, what region - Cape Cod was the pick."

Tim Barney

Game Manager, Top Trumps

What is Monopoly Cape Cod?

May 23 2024 - CHATHAM MA - Cape Cod now has its very own version of the classic board game. Representatives from various organizations (including Uncle Pennybags himself!) gathered to at Chatham Bars Inn to celebrate the premiere of Monopoly- Cape Cod Edition and bring home some mementos of their spot on the board.

The May 23 launch introduced the latest in a series of the popular game, each celebrating a particular city or region and featuring that region's streets and places.

Check out Uncle Pennybags' visit to Cape Cod

Scroll up to watch the short feature on the roll out of Monopoly Cape Cod or click HERE .

Cape Cod Sharks Arrive

Sat, 25 May 2024 03:32:31 GMT

It's been a sharky week! Cape Cod had its first confirmed white shark sighting of the season and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and the MA Division of Marine Fisheries kicked off 2024 research plans.

"White shark activity off the Cape last season was about on par with what we've seen in the previous couple of years. They start showing up in the early spring; we had our first verified white shark sighting just yesterday ... "

Megan Winton

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

Where are the Cape Cod sharks?

23 May 2024 - CHATHAM, MA - This week Cape Cod had its first verified white shark sighting of the season - just as the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and the MA Division of Marine Fisheries kicked off 2024 research plans and recapped data from last year.

According the the presentation, shark activity in 2023 was similar in volume and pattern as previous years. Sharks arrive on Cape Cod in the spring, more arrive throughout the summer and into the fall, and then as the temperatures drop these toothy finned snowbirds leave the northeast for warmer Florida winter waters.

Why do sharks come to Cape Cod?

Cape Cod has become one of the white shark (aka Carcharodon carcharias) hot spot in the world. Peak shark activity happens in the late summer and early fall, with apex ocean predators following their preferred prey, the seal. Along the Cape sharks feed on seals close to shore.

How dangerous are sharks on Cape Cod?

"Sharks are not hunting for humans. Humans are not on the menu," emphasized Megan Winton of the Atlantic Shark Conservancy. However, she added that anytime someone enters the waters during shark season on the Cape, they need to be aware that sharks swim here.

However, shark researchers also take pains to point out that that there is a difference between

being scared and being aware - and encourage people to pay attention to the life guard, practice shark safe behavior to reduce their risk of a shark interaction.

Watch the video news report "Cape Cod Sharks Arrive"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the 2024 shark season on Cape Cod or simply click HERE .

For related information :

Summer Season Solid

Sat, 25 May 2024 02:58:20 GMT

We Need a Vacation draws on its decades of data to predict that this season returns the Cape and Islands to its pre-pandemic path - tho with some general shifts in expectations.

"The last few years have been unprecedented with the pandemic ... the situation is getting back to normal. "

Jeff Talmadge

CEO, We Need a Vacation

What does this season on Cape Cod look like?

Jeff Talmadge, CEO of We Need a Vacation in Orleans says Cape Cod and the Islands have moved past the COVID era blip - and that's a good thing. The company has been tracking seasonal rental data for decades and says this season sees bookings slightly above pre-pandemic levels while pricing has dropped slightly mirroring pre-pandemic levels as well.

Is there an accurate inventory of seasonal rentals on Cape Cod?

The housing crisis on Cape Cod has highlighted the large inventory of seasonal rentals, but Talmadge suggests those number may not be fully accurate. He says his firm saw a dip in inventory during the pandemic and while those numbers are rising he sees current active inventory similar to 2018 numbers.

What trends is Cape Cod seeing in rental demand?

The world has changed - and renters of 2024 demand air conditioning. The days of using the beach and cool night breezes to stay comfortable to the strains of Olde Cape Cod represent a bygone era in today's seasonal market.

Another big change Talmadge sees is an increased number of pools as part of seasonal rental homes. We Need a Vacation's data saw an uptick in pools shortly after sharks became big news and hypothesizes that concerns about ocean safety may have triggered this trend.

A third trend he flags may represent a generational change. While the seasonal rental has traditionally been a week from Saturday to Saturday, the Millennial generation has been driving a demand for shorter stays representing perhaps a larger shift in how families use vacation and recreation time.

Watch the video news report "Summer Season Solid"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about what data predicts for the 2024 summer reantal season or simply click HERE .

Our Queer Elders

Sat, 25 May 2024 02:14:34 GMT

In this Portraits of Cape Artists, meet scientist by day/musician by night Katie Castagno whose current songwriting project documents historical queer relationships.

"My current project is called Our Queer Elders and it is a collection of songs that works to celebrate and elevate queer lives throughout history ... It has been really empowering to find so many stories and write songs about them ... "

Katie Castagno, scientist and singer-songwriter

Enjoy music videos

Click on the picture to hear songs from the project.

What is the Our Queer Elders project?

24 May, 2024 - EASTHAM, MA - Scientist by day and musician by night Katie Castagno combines her research skills with her singer-songwriter talent to document and share stories that "celebrate and elevate queer lives in history" she says, describing her current Our Queer Elders project. She sings about relationships dating back to colonial Cape Cod that history rarely acknowledged.

Watch the Portraits of Cape Artists "Our Queer Elders" episode featuring Katie Castagno

Scroll up to watch the profile of singer-songwriter Katie Castagno or click HERE .

For more information:

Watch more Portraits of Cape Artists HERE

Bridging the Divides on Cape Cod

Fri, 24 May 2024 19:13:59 GMT

Cape Cod prides itself on welcoming visitors, but many people experience a different, less welcoming Cape.

"This meeting that we had today is an outcry for the need to have the discussion. "

Lynne Rhodes

President, NAACP, Cape Cod Branch

Is there racism on Cape Cod?

24 May, 2024 - YARMOUTH MA - Advocacy organization No Place For Hate Barnstable says racism, intolerance and discrimination affect both our democracy at large and the Cape community specifically. To bring about change NPFHB convened two region-wide meetings this spring to gather State representatives, the District Attorney, advocates and the public to brainstorm new solutions.

"Across the US hate has really exploded, as has bigotry, and as it is happening across the country, it's happening here on Cape," says Eileen Elias, Chairperson of No Place For Hate Barnstable, which spearheaded two community meetings with advocacy groups from across the Cape, on April 28 and May 19. The sessions invited the public to share their experiences with intolerance, either personally as a bystander. Participants engaged in break-out discussion groups, brainstorming solutions for actions to bring about change and begin to bridge the region's often unspoken divides.

Is Cape Cod welcoming?

While Cape Cod can be a welcoming place, especially if you are a tourist, there are many who experience a different Cape where they are discriminated and prejudiced against, said Elias. Cape Cod has diverse communities - LGBTQI, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, people who live with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds - but, Elias says, not everyone on Cape Cod is accepting of difference.

Co-presenter at the May 19 session in Yarmouth, Lynne Rhodes, President of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Cape Cod Branch, agrees. She said part of NAACP's mission is to educate people and bring equality and justice for all. She would like to see more collaborations on anti-hate advocacy as part of making change.

How can racism be countered?

The recommendations generated by the break-out groups were documented to form an action plan, which the groups hope can be part of a counter action to racism. NPFHB and their partners, in collaboration with schools, libraries and faith based organizations hope an outcome of the recenter meetings will be to to put the action plan to work. The most consistent recommendation from the groups was bystander training, something NPFHB already provides but is working on enhancing. Bystander training helps people build a skill set to respond when they see acts of discrimination happening but may not be part of action themselves.

Watch the video news report "Building Understanding Across Cape's Groups"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the work against racism, intolerance and discrimination on Cape Cod or simply click HERE .

For related information :

Lost at Sea

Tue, 21 May 2024 19:37:30 GMT

When fishing boats go down at sea, coastal communities seem to grieve with one heart...this reflection shares some of the moments that shape the history of our communities.

"You could feel it out in the streets ... the community loss was something that was almost tangible, especially if you went down to the wharf ... there was a layer of sadness for a long time ... "

Lee Hudson

Sister-in Law, Capt. Kenneth Macara II

What happens when a ship is lost at sea?

21 May 2024 - PROVINCETOWN - When fishing boats go down at sea, coastal communities seem to grieve with one heart. The loss of a vessel and its crew resonates deeply within these tight-knit Cape Cod towns, where the sea is both a livelihood and a way of life.

How do these losses reflect Cape Cod?

Each boat lost represents not just the end of a journey but the end of dreams, aspirations, and the daily rhythms of those who lived to fish. The collective mourning felt by these communities underscores the perilous nature of a profession that demands courage and resilience - and this is as true today as it has always been.

Why is fishing a risky business?

In this short film, we capture the emotional landscape of Cape Cod's fishing families, revealing deep scars left by an unforgiving ocean. For fishermen and their loved ones, every day is a risk they take to be able to work at sea. In these deeply personal stories shared by those who face the unpredictability of the ocean, the unwavering dedication to life at sea shines through despite ever-present dangers.

From Darlene Macara’s unsettling dream before the Victory II was lost to Lisa King's poignant childhood memory of losing her father aboard the Patricia Marie, these heart-wrenching narratives bring to light the constant vigilance and bravery required to sustain a livelihood that is at once a passion and a peril, and that illustrate the human cost of maritime disasters.

How do Cape Cod fishing families continue on?

In this short film, fishing families share their heartbreaking stories, giving voice to a grief and resilience that define their lives. Through their words and memories, we gain a deeper understanding of the profound connections between the sea and the people who depend on it. Annual events like Provincetown's Blessing of the Fleet offer moments of reflection and solidarity, reminding us of the enduring spirit of these Cape Cod communities. The legacy of the lost vessels and their crews lives on in the hearts of those left behind, serving as a testament to the courage and determination that continue to drive fishermen to continue to face the sea's formidable challenges.

Watch the short news documentary video "Lost at Sea"

Scroll up to watch the short news documentary about the long term community impact of fishing boats lost at sea or simply click HERE .

Bike Month For Every Cape Codder

Mon, 20 May 2024 15:57:07 GMT

May is National Bike Month, and at the McGraw Center in Nickerson State Park, biking can be done by everybody – regardless if the pedals are operated with feet or hands. Adaptive biking season has officially started.

"It feels great, it feels like I am not a disabled person ... I feel strong when I am out here, and that's great, because there aren't that many things that make me feel super strong."

Meg Hull

Bike Rider

What is National Bike Month?

National bike month has been promoted for almost seven decades to encourage more Americans to try biking. According to the League of American Bicyclists, 600,000 Americans used a bike to get to work in 2021. For Meg Hull in Dennis, happiness counts as a transportation metric. Every season she visits the McGraw Center in Brewster where Spaulding Rehabilitation Adaptive Sports Center is offering adaptive biking. May 14th was opening day.

What is a recumbent bike?

The fleet of bikes at the McGraw Center consists of hand cycles, leg cycles, delta cycles with one wheel in the front and two in the back and tadpole cycles with two wheels in the front and one in the back. This way there aren't any diagnosis or injury that the bikes cannot be adapted to. On any given season there are 500 athlete visits enjoying paddle boarding, kayaking, yoga, yard games and adaptive biking and mountain biking.

What is adaptive biking?

Meg Hull had a stroke and is opting for a leg-operated delta bike. The delta gives her freedom of movement, allows her to have eye contact with children and dogs as she swooshes by. She says biking through Brewster's woods on the delta makes her feel normal, though a word she does not like to use, she says the delta makes her feel like she is not a disabled person.

"I feel like a normal Joe going out to do my activites," she says.

Watch the video news report "Bike Month For Every Cape Codder"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the adaptive sports center in Brewster and how Meg rides two marathons in one weekend, or simply click HERE .

Cape Plastic Bans – What Is Allowed Where?

Mon, 13 May 2024 01:28:06 GMT

With 15 towns and 15 sets of bylaws, the Cape offers a mix of plastics use guidelines. What items are prohibited and where? We gathered the info together here!

"A thousand five hundred single use plastic water bottles are used and discarded in the us. Per second elimination of the use of single use plastic water bottles will have a significant impact on future plastic based pollution."

Town of Wel l f leet

See Quick Summary by Plastic Type

Click on the picture for a short summary of where it is banned.

What are plastic bans on Cape Cod?

12 May 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - A spree of plastic bans has been sweeping across Cape Cod since 2014 when the first plastic reducing bylaw was adopted to ban the commercial distribution of plastic bags. Today a ban on commercial distribution of plastic bags is the only bylaw adopted by all 15 towns - but each of the 15 towns has its own set of related plastic-reducing guidelines as well.

For example, several towns require business owners to offer consumers or guests drinking straws made by sustainable material such as bamboo or paper to quench their thirst in the Cape Cod sun, or have put composable utensils on the take out menu.

Will Cape Cod's tourist industry be affected?

As the tourism season gets ready for Summer 2024, some people worry about the impact of plastic bylaws on the hospitality sector. As town after town implemented changes in the commercial use of plastic items over the past few years, retailers and food and tourist businesses have had to switch from plastics to sustainable materials to adapt to these bylaws which include banning single use plastic water bottles, polystyrene, utensils, containers, plastic nip bottles, and balloons. Workshops , outreach, and pilot programs have helped prepare the industry.

Do sustainable alternatives exist?

This year’s theme for Earth Day was "planet versus plastic," with a goal to reduce plastic by 60 percent in 2040. Part of this involves moving to reusable bottles and meal containers, composable utensils and take-out boxes, and bamboo straws. These, as well as other sustainable alternatives not only exist, but are also in growing use across the Cape & Islands.

After images of a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nose spread on social media, awareness of the impact of these types of plastic increased and made people more open to trying alternatives single use plastics.

Watch the video news report "Cape Plastic Bans – What Is Allowed Where?"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report to learn which bylaws are implemented in your town so far HERE .

For more information:

Bylaws And Habits Reflected In Brewster's Trash

Sat, 04 May 2024 00:30:11 GMT

During Brewster's annual street "spring cleaning" 230 volunteers shredded more than 1,000 pounds of trash that over-wintered along 30 miles of roadside - and gathered a trash-snap of Brewster's use habits, from nip bottles to plastic bags.

"We sent out letters to every single landscaping companies ... a lot of the times the trash you see on the side of the road ... it's stuff that is flying out of the truck ... Route 6 is our gateway to our tourists' travel, and they see it is a pig stye."

Meg Morris

Founder, Cape Cod Anti-Litter Coalition

What is Beautify Brewster?

Nips, cigarette butts, plastic bags and vape cartridges can tell stories about today's societies. The organizers of Beautify Brewster, the annual community spring clean, track the trash and spot patterns between local bylaws and the litter they collect. The sunny weather had more than 230 volunteers picked up over 1,000 pounds of trash and counted every last piece of plastics, cans and bottles. The data is kept by Brewster's Natural Resources Department and the Cape Cod Anti-Litter Coalition to share with organizations such as the Center for Coastal Studies, to collaborate with schools and libraries, and to educate corporations and the public on counter-littering.

Where do the litter come from?

Meg Morris, founder of the CCALC, explains that by tracking brand names they can understand where the litter comes from and target specific companies, such as Dunkin Donut and landscape companies. Letters go out, asking for help with reducing the litter by small means such as reminding the customers to throw the paper cup in a trash basket.

What is the nip ban?

The 2021 plastic bags ban is reflected in the data from Beautify Brewster. It is rare that you find a plastic bag, said Morris. She also pointed out that in the towns where a nip ban has come into effect, the reduction of nips littering the road sides has been dramatic. Watch the video to learn how the nip ban in Brewster affected this year litter-count.

Watch the video news report "Bylaws Reflected in Brewster's Trash"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the Beautify Brewster clean up, or simply click HERE .

See the full EarthDay 2024 Collection

New Firefighters, Promotions, Awards in Orleans

Sat, 04 May 2024 00:14:43 GMT

Orleans swore in seven new firefighters, made two promotions, and celebrated multiple service awards in April 29 ceremony.

"It's the most we've ever sworn in in one event. Five of those seven are part of the eight that were authorized at town meeting recently. Its a big addition to the fire department ... it will hep us ensure we have an ambulence or fire engine available all the times ... "

Chief George "Geof" Deering

Fire Chief, Town of Orleans

What happened at the ceremony?

At the April 29 ceremony at Orleans Town Hall, the town's fire department swore in seven new firefighters in front of full-capacity crowd. It also promoted two existing fire department members to Captain and a Lieutenant and celebrated multiple service awards.

Why does Orleans have new firefighters?

Orleans Town Meeting in October 2023 voted to approve eight new hires within the fire department. Five of the new firefighters sworn in at the ceremony represent the first wave of those eight new positions. Under current staffing the department does not have enough people to ensure a response vehicle is available at all times; if people are out on a call as often happens, there are no backups in position. The new staffing changes the dynamics and ensures two ambulances or an ambulance and a fire truck are always ready.

Watch the video news report "Orleans Swears in New Firefighters"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the swearing in ceremony for new firefighters in Orleans or simply click HERE .

More about the Orleans Fire Department

Ptown Celebrates Community Art Collaboration

Fri, 03 May 2024 21:20:54 GMT

The annual collaboration day between Provincetown's IB public school and the Fine Arts Work Center connects artists and poets across the two community organizations.

"I am in the fortunate position of connecting our school with our community partners ..."

Nancy Flasher

Community Connections & Field Studies, Provincetown IB Schools

What is the public school and Fine Arts Work Center collaboration?

The Fine Arts Work Center and the Provincetown IB Schools held their annual collaboration between artists and poets and K-8 students. During the event, student poets read their work, the gallery hung student works, and the two community organizations celebrated the power of art across generations.

Watch the video news report "Community Art Collaboration"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the annual Provincetown IB Schools and Fine Work Arts Center or simply click HERE .

More about Provincetown IB Schools
More about Fine Arts Work Center

Earth Day Clean Up

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:42:45 GMT

Braving the rain, volunteers and organizations came together to give Orleans' beaches a makeover to celebrate Earth Day. With a focus on the theme Planet vs Plastics seventeen beaches and landings got litter-free and summer-ready.

"So many forests are being removed indiscriminately and it's very disheartening. To be cheerful about the future of Cape Cod is to look at these marginal places ... I think the power lines are an optimum choice --- there could be essentially lots of places planted this way."

Rand Burkert

Member, The Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod

What is Earth Day Clean Up?

It was the second year in a row that the annual clean up day in Orleans was spearheaded by the Orleans Pond Coalition. The weekend before Earth Day, which was Monday April 22, was cold and wet, but volunteers and organizations picked up trash bags and buckets and braved the rain. Divided into 17 teams, volunteers gathered at the main sites Skaket Beach, Nauset Beach and Rock Harbor, before going off to their designated beaches and landings. John Smith, Director of Earth Day Clean Up and board member of Orleans Pond Coalition, says common findings are miniature bottles for alcoholic beverages. Watch the video to learn about a very rare find the group did last year.

What happened in Orleans?

The goal of Earth Day, a global environmental movement, is for all plastics to be reduced by 60 per cent by 2040. At Nauset Beach, The Surfriders Coalition were gathering trash for their data base. Every year the Surfriders keep statistics to use in their policy making processes, and to push for bylaws at local Town governments. Watch the video to learn what bylaws they have managed to lobby for so far.

John Smith says the goal for the Orleans Pond Coalition is for people to appreciate Orleans' beauty, its beaches and estuaries, visitors and residents alike.

Watch the video news report "Earth Day Clean Up"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the Earth Day Clean Up in Orleans, or simply click HERE .

See the full EarthDay 2024 Collection

What's on the Menu?

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:42:04 GMT

At the Truro Community Kitchen, the menu now includes reusable meal containers and bags.

"There's now a board of seven and upward of 50 volunteers .... Truro on its face is a nice beach community for people with second homes but beneath that surface are people who are really living in need ... "

Wendy Lurie

President, Truro Community Kitchen

What is happening at Truro Community Kitchen?

15 May 2024 - TRURO, MA - The Truro Community Kitchen (TCK) has new green on its menu: reusable meal containers. Through a partnerships with the Clean Water Fund's Rethink Disposable project, Truro Central School, and Cape Cod 5, nonprofit TCK no longer uses single use containers. Instead, its meals go out in reusable bags and containers, which are returned, washed, and reused over and over.

What is Truro Community Kitchen?

Truro Community Kitchen began making and delivering meals to people at risk during the height of COVID in 2020 - but quickly realized the meal program needs transcended the pandemic. Four years later they still serve the community and building long term sustainable practices.

At TCK, people receive meals by asking, with no additional qualification application needed. For some, financial resources send them to the kitchen, while others reach out while grappling with health or caretaking challenges. Kitchen co-founder Eli Sobel says they offer food with no strings attached.

What made re-usable container possible?

The move away from one use plastics happened through a collaboration with Truro Central School, regional bank Cape Cod 5, the Clean Water Fund and Rethink Disposable, a New England based effort that supports transitions from single use to reusable supplies. The partners organizations provide guidance, funding, and a process for cleaning the containers in the public school's kitchens.

Watch the full story about the move to reusable contains in Truro: What's on the Menu? Truro embraces re-usable containers HERE .

For more Information:

Truro Community Kitchen and its green initiatives
Truro Community Kitchen - fighting food insecurity in Truro, MA
Rethink Disposable
More Earth Month Coverage from Lower Cape News

Sculpture Arrives at Orleans-Chatham Rotary

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 01:31:21 GMT

After years of planning, cranes hoisted the new sculpture by artist Tom Odell into place, capping off the new rotary at the intersection of Routes 28 and 39.

"It's simple, you can interpret it any way you want, and it will last. there's no maintenance, it will have that patina finish ... it meets all our goals ..."

Nancy Jorgensen

Board member, Orleans Improvement Association

What is the new sculpture?

23 April 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - First came the flatbed truck, then came the crane. On Tuesday April 23, the heavy machinery hefted and hoisted and dropped into place a long-awaited sculpture at the Rt 28 and Rt 39 rotary in Orleans. The Orleans Improvement Association led the effort to cap off the reconfigured intersection with art and supporters say the planer steel sculpture by Chatham artist Tom Odell adds a gentle motion of sunshine and shadow, completing the look of the reconfigured intersection.

The two-piece sculpture resembles sails and is crafted from a material called corten steel , which will gently weather and retain a soft brown patina that not only adds the sculpture's earthy impact but also protects the art from weathering over time.

Where is the new sculpture?

The new sculpture sits atop the traffic island at the new rotary at the intersection of Routes 28 and 39 between Orleans and Chatham. When the new rotary went onto the drawing board to improve a dangerous intersection, plans also begin to ensure the traffic solution would improve the look and feel of the area as well – and that’s when the Orleans Improvement Association (OIA) stepped in.

Why is there a sculpture?

The state's original plans called for 500 plants, but with neither irrigation system nor funds for maintenance, the OIA feared that over time the plantings would end up as little more than dying weeds, creating an eyesore rather than a site of beauty.

So instead, the OIA raised funds for a piece of art that would require little maintenance and create a point of beauty at the same time. A metal sculpture quickly rose to the forefront and after a round of proposals the group selected Chatham artists Tom Odell. His planar steel sculpture will age timelessly, while also creating a sense of renewal through its interplay of sun and shadow.

Watch the video news report "Sculpture Settles into Orleans-Chatham Rotary"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the new sculpture at the intersection of Routes 28 and 39 or simply click HERE .

Plant Power Under High Voltage Cables

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 21:40:23 GMT

If you walk through the right-of-way under the power lines in Harwich, just north of Bay Road, you can leave the snacks at home and get your dose of antioxidants from a 600-feet food forest.

"So many forests are being removed indiscriminately and it's very disheartening. To be cheerful about the future of Cape Cod is to look at these marginal places ... I think the power lines are an optimum choice --- there could be essentially lots of places planted this way."

Rand Burkert

Member, The Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod

What is a food forest?

19 April 2024 - HARWICH, MA - The Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod is bringing back a half century-old movement to Cape Cod's marginal lands. I f you walk through the right-of-way under the power lines in Harwich, just north of Bay Road, you can leave the snacks at home and get your dose of antioxidants from a 600-feet food forest.

The town water department owns the land, but power company Eversource has the right to keep the land directly under the power lines clear of any high growing vegetation to mitigate the risk of power outages. In the past, the company would have used pesticides and herbicides to streamline the work, but not here, not now. In response to Cape Cod's sandy soil, which would allow the chemical to pass right through to the drinking water source, a group of creative thinking argued for a different way.

Patrick Otton, member of the Food Forest Initiative Cape Cod, would take daily walks through Eversource's right-of-way. He began to wonder: What if there a group of farmers, landscapers and gardeners tended to the land, managing it for Eversource while providing food for animals and humans? Two birds, one... idea. Said and done, with a resulting a symbiotic relationship between three organizations, Harwich Water Department, Eversource and The Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod. The project now cultivates hazelnuts, pawpaws, chokeberries, beach plums and blueberries, free for all.

What is permaculture?

The Food Forest Initiative is a volunteer group with several agricultural projects on Cape Cod, with food forest in Harwich being the largest. The groups started as a potluck in 2016 and grew into 25 members applying the ideas of permaculture to Cape Cod lands. Permaculture is sustainable land management in accordance with the natural ecosystems in place, including restoration agriculture. The goal is perennial, self-sufficient agriculture imitating nature and cultivating biodiversity. Rand Burkert, another group member, believes that when hopelessness over the vanishing forests of Cape Cod seeps in, these principles can restore faith.

In addition, food forests have the potential to play into the local economy and possibly fill food pantries. Burkert says he finds hope in the future of Cape Cod by looking to these marginal lands. The power lines offer an optimum choice, with a lot of space and multiple benefit, says Burkert.

What is role did Eversource play?

Eversource paid for 300 plants for the 600 feet food forest, and provided 15 staff members to help plant them. Patrick Otton says Eversource would like for more people to tend to the land under the power lines where pesticides cannot be used - land that abuts drinking water sources and schools, for example. All it takes is willpower, adds Burkert, and the future of Cape Cod is bright and green.

Watch the video news report "Plant Power In Food Forests"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the food forest in Eversource's right-of-way and to learn about the 500-year old movement the Food Forest Initiative is bringing back to provide free crops for all, or simply click HERE .

See the full EarthDay 2024 Collection

More information about the Food Forest Initiative :

The Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod's Facebook page

Open Burning – A Cape Cod Rite Of Spring

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 23:13:19 GMT

Open Burning is a tradition Cape Codders know as a true sign of spring. Fire is a tool to clean out your yard, but what do the regulations say and what are some common mistakes people make? Orleans' Fire Chief gives us the rundown, and Kristin Andres from the Association to Preserve Cape Cod knows what to do with the material you're not allowed to burn.

"People feel very strongly about their ability to burn in Massachusetts they enjoy open burning season, it's something they look forward to."

Geof Deering

Chief of Department, Orleans Fire-Rescue

What is open burning season?

For Earth Month LCTV is looking at a Cape Cod tradition to use fire as a tool to cleaning up your yard the first four months of the year. For some it's a nuisance and for some a right to be upheld. Nonetheless, for those house owners wanting to pile burn, open burning season, from January 15 to May 1, is not over yet, but with the unpredictable Cape Cod spring weather , the days with permitted burning are numbered. If you still haven't set alight that pile of brush and tree parts you want to get rid of, there are a few things Chief Deering at Orleans Fire Department wants you to be aware of when you do.

How do you control a pile burn?

Chief Deering recommends keeping the fire small, three feet by three feet, add brush and branches slowly, keep a garden hose is nearby. Make sure the debris is as dry as possible to not disturb your neighbors with too much smoke. The allowed material is strictly limited to brush, tree branches and limbs.

What can you do do with non-permissable material?

Kristin Andres from Association to Preserve Cape Cod says there is a more unconventional way to spring clean your yard: Don't. To create ecological Cape Cod landscapes Kristin suggests leaving the leaves on the ground where they house overwintered insects like pollinators and bugs providing lunch and dinner for ground-feeding birds. The rufous-sided towhee feast on

Neatness may be aesthetically pleasing, but immaculate yards

What are prescribed burns?

For millennia humans have used fire as an ecological tool, to manage land and habitats, to hunt and mitigate the risk of devastating wildfires. Orleans Fire Department oversees prescribed and controlled burns aimed to remove brush and debris in nature, also called fuel for wildfires, a necessity in habited areas with a risk for wildfires, such as the Cape where the dry and windy summer seasons could risk spreading an ignited patch of land to a much more severe scenario. Clearing land from invasive species is also an area where prescribed burns benefits the environment.

Watch the video news report "Open Burning – A Cape Cod Rite Of Spring"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about do's and dont's for homeowners using fire as a spring cleaning tool, or simply click HERE .

See the full EarthDay 2024 Collection

Boats' Coats Take on New Life

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 18:44:08 GMT

Literal tons of boat shrinkwrapping take on a new future through the Cape Cod's regional boat shrinkwrap recycling program.

"It's all volume based so if I wanted to do this for Wellfleet on my own on I would never have enough ... but with the Cape as a whole we were able to get enough volume, partner with a recycler and they were able to take it all and recycle it ...."

Mike Cicale,

Wellfleet Transfer Station Foreman

What is boat shrinkwrap?

12 April 2024 - WELLFLEET, MA - Nothing says spring on the coast quite like the vision of winter-wrapped boats breaking free of their shrink wrap, ready to enter a new season! On Cape Cod, tons of this shed plastic now have a path to a new life as coffee can lids, all-weather decking, and garbage bags thanks to the regional Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling program.

Every year boats ranging from kayaks to yachts are literally wrapped in heat shrunk plastic, which protects the vessels from the ravages of winter. In the spring, the wrapping gets cut off creating literally tons of waste plastic.

Can this plastic be recycled?

Number 6 shrinkwrap plastic can be recycled, typically into coffee can lids, garbage bags, and all-weather decking. However, it does not fit into standard recycling programs and needs to be aggregated at a volume that a recycle firm finds attractive. Without this aggregation it ends up in the waste stream heading to a landfill.

Kari Purcell from Barnstable County and Mass DEP helped connect Cape Cod municipalities to create a program that feeds the needs of a recycle partner, thus creating a "market" for these particular plastics - some 2200 tons of them in 2023. Without this program, the plastic would end mummifying and leaching chemicals in a landfill for hundreds of years.

How does a boat owner participate?

In 2024 the program runs from April 1 to June 30, with collection points at five transfer stations:

It is supported by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant and Barnstable County.

To recycle boat shrinkwrap:

Remove wrap from boat by cutting along the "belly" of the boat.
Remove lines, windows, and zippers from plastic
Roll up plastic
Drop off plastic "burrito" at any of the five transfer station drop locations.

Watch the video news report "Boats' Winter Coats Get New Life"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about Cape Cod's regional efforts to recycle a seasonal influx of tons of plastic, shed by overwintered boats, or simply click HERE .

See the full EarthDay 2024 Collection

More information about the Boat Shrinkwrap Recycling program :

Webpage: Sea Grant Boat Shrinkwrap Recycling information
How-to video: Sea Grant shrinkwrap removal "how to " video
Info flyer:

Making Change one Material at a Time

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 03:26:54 GMT

It might seem like one simple decision, but collectively our building and remodeling habits can change both the planet and our own wellness.

"I do believe in that sort of generation of momentum .. and that what you do does matter, very much."

Mary-Ann Agresti,

Architect and Certified Wellness Architect

What difference do building materials make?

As we celebrate Earth Day 2024 , certified wellness architect Mary-Ann Agresti says it's time to ask questions about the building and remodeling materials we choose - and let those choices lead to a healthier future.

Are there sustainable options?

For the most common types of remodeling projects on Cape Cod - walls, floors, kitchen, bathrooms, and decks - material choice can make a difference for both planet and personal health. From zero VOC paints and adhesives to cork and marmoleum flooring to acetylated wood decks, sustainability is here ... we just need to proactively ask for it.

How do choices impact personal health?

Material choices impact human health - and since COVID, and increased awareness of indoor spaces and their impact on human well-being have led architects and designers to focus on the interaction of materials and wellness. The use of materials that off-gas VOCs and create side effects like headaches can easily be substituted for non-VOC options in product such as paint and adhesives. Sound absorbing materials and use of natural light can also create a healthier and less stressful human environment.

How do choices impact planetary health?

Material use decisions in building and remodeling impact the larger planet as well. For example, deck choice can ripple through to the rain forest destruction and flooring options can impact landfill use. Today's market offers options that deliver the same benefits - rot resistance, durability, or color choice for example, in more sustainable products.

What difference does one earth friendly decision make?

While one decision alone won't change the world, each decision aggregates to change vendor offerings and longer term trends; these in turn can impact our impact on the planet. Agresti also notes that each decision that increases the demand for these products helps increase their available to all and decreases their cost.

Watch the video news report "Can Materials Shape Planet and Human Health?"

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about different material options and decisions that can impact both human wellness and environmental health, or simply click HERE .

See the full EarthDay 2024 Collection

Watch short video sidebars that explain some of the sustainable materials options :

Restoring Orleans' Lost Treasures

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 18:27:49 GMT

At Putnam Farm in Orleans, the Orleans Conservation Commission, biologists and volunteers are restoring wetlands and giving threatened species a playground for life.

"Wetlands are so important to our environment, and we've lost so many of them. In fact, most states across the United States have lost over 90% of their wetlands to drainage."

Tom Biebighauser,

Wildlife Biologist and Wetland Ecologist

What are wetlands?

05 April, 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - What do wild bees, terrapin turtles and spotted salamanders have in common? Well, they’re all native to the Cape, and they are all running out of natural habitats. But soon, however, they may also find their way to Putnam farm in Orleans. Through the combined work of biologists, ecologists and volunteers, Orleans Conservation Commission is restoring Putnam's wetlands, offering a sanctuary for native and threatened species depending on wetlands as habitats.

How do you restore wetlands?

Most states across the United States have lost over 90 percent of their wetlands to drainage, says Tom Biebighauser, Wildlife Biologist and Wetland Ecologist. By clearing the land and removing the sand that was once used to fill the wetlands, the groundwater that was originally there is exposed, creating vernal ponds: seasonal bodies of water without fish, great for salamanders, turtles, frogs and toads to return to every year to lay eggs.

In this project, the Orleans Conservation Commission is also removing invasive species and creating wet meadows whose year-round wet soil will house swamp milkweed and rose mallow to attract pollinators, which in turn will have swallows and purple martins take the bee line straight to Putnam. The symbiosis is more than twofold here: the pollinators will help with the farming operations at Putnam's 16 allotments.

Why have we lost wetlands?

Biebighauser, who has has restored 10,000 wetlands, says humans started draining Cape Cod's wetlands in the 1700s. There has been a misinformed fear directed at wetlands for breeding mosquitoes and malaria, however, the wetlands' dragonflies, water boatmen, beetles and water striders eat mosquito larvae, meaning that the restored Putnam's visitors can leave the mosquito repellent at home.

The Putnam restoration is a half an acre project, but is one with parallels stretching globally and back in time. Wetlands were drained and filled all over the world to make room for agriculture and development, leading to loss off habitat and biodiversity. Restorming them restores nature's balance as well, mosquitos and all. As Biebighauser notes, when there's a healthy wetlands, mosquitoes may check in, but they won't check out.

Watch the Full Episode of Restoring Orleans' Lost Treasures here

Scroll up this page to watch the short news report about restoring vernal pond ecosystems at Putnum Farm or click HERE to watch in a new window.

Long Lines and Hungry Bellies

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 03:01:51 GMT

Cape Cod Potters, 450 unique bowls, and a sold out crowd help combat food insecurity on Cape Cod.

"We're back in person for the first time since COVID.... and we sold 450 tickets and that's based on the number of bowls made by cape cod potters ... every single one is handmade and fired by them..."

Valerie Murray,

Vice President, Cape Cod Potters

What is Cape Cod Potters role in combating hunger on Cape Cod?

04 April 2024 - HARWICH, MA - For the 32nd year, the Cape Cod Potters and hundreds of one-of-a-kind bowls helped The Family Pantry address food insecurity on Cape Cod as part of a popular fundraising event. Soup Bowls for Hunger sold out this year, when it returned in person to the new Cape Cod Technical School in Harwich after several years of a drive-througn COVID adaption.

The event brings together Cape Cod Potters and its members, the Cape Cod Tech culinary program, and The Food Pantry to serve soup in unique bowls, while bringing the community together to break bread, and tackle hunger in the region.

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the Soup Bowls for Hunger and the role of the Cape Cod Potters, or simply click HERE .

For more Information:

Cape Cod Human Trafficking Paradox

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:29:36 GMT

In this third episode in a series about the hidden crime of human trafficking, we spoke with Cape Cod PATH and Children's Cove, two organizations that raise awareness and bring healing for survivors.

"In every town there is some human trafficking, labor trafficking, domestic servitude ... no one is exempt. So I think people have to really wrap their heads around that this is really happening, and what you can do about it."

Janice Hank,

Co-Chair, Cape Cod PATH

What is human trafficking?

Cape Cod PATH, People Against Trafficking Humans , is one of the stakeholders that received money when the District Attorney Robert Galibois was awarded $97,000 earmarked to combat human trafficking on Cape Cod. Co-chairs Janice Hank and Lois Hirshberg are trained by Homeland Security Investigations to educate the public about human trafficking. They say Cape Cod and the islands are not only vulnerable, but in fact make the perfect setting for human trafficking. This resort destination doubles its population during the summer season, and human traffickers know how to take advantage of that; watch the video to learn how .

What does human trafficking look like on the Cape?

Children are the most vulnerable for falling victim of human trafficking. Cape Cod's child advocacy center, Children's Cove , is identifying potential victims for sexual exploitation. They're seeing an annual increase of 35 percent in referrals. Internet and social media has changed the game, says Jacob Stapledon, Community Engagement Education Program Manager at Children's Cove . Trafficking and grooming start online in 99 percent of the cases.

Can human trafficking be eradicated?

PATH's mission is to eliminate human trafficking on Cape Cod. One step in that direction is awareness and knowledge. Jacob Stapledon says it takes a community effort to counter human trafficking, an invisible crime often operating in the dark. One antidote is prevention, to talk to your children before anything has happened, much like we do regarding water or traffic safety. One of the ways in which these who seek to exploit children to sexually abuse children, is they try to develop relationships stronger than that child has with their parent, with their caregiver, or with other adults in their lives, says Stapledon. To talk to your children could make them seek help sooner. It's never too late to ask for help, says Stapledon, it's never too late to ask for some support.

Watch the Video News Report about Human Trafficking on Cape Cod

Scroll up to watch the video to learn more about how advocacy organizations are combating human trafficking on Cape Cod. Or click HERE .

See P art 1 and Part 2 in our human trafficking report series:

For more information:

Children's Cove

Cape Cod PATH

Call the Cape Cod hotline: 774-822-0632

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text: 233733

Sustainable Kitchen

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 20:42:55 GMT

It started as a pandemic response, but Truro's community kitchen now fills an on-going need - and this year it embraces earth-friendly practices too.

"We originally opened in response to COVID ... and what we quickly found is the number of people we were serving remained extremely constant ... which indicated to us the need for a meal program existed independent of that pandemic-create need..."

Eli Sobel

Co-founder, Truro Community Kitchen

What is happening at Truro Community Kitchen?

This month the Truro Community Kitchen (TCK) says good bye to single use plastics and hello to re-usable containers. With help from the Clean Water Fund's Rethink Disposable project, a New England based effort that supports transitions from single use to reusable supplies, nonprofit TCK is making a shift that it says both saves waster and makes a statement that the organization is here for the long term.

What is Truro Community Kitchen?

How is the transition to reusables happening?

TCK draws on a range of supporters to move away from one use plastics, including regional bank Cape Cod 5, the Clean Water Fund and Rethink Disposable, and Truro Central School.

Click Here to watch the Full story about the Truro Community Kitchen and its green initiatives

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about what rewilding means on Cape Cod or simply click HERE .

Watch What's on the Menu? Truro embraces re-usable containers HERE .

For more Information:

Truro Community Kitchen - fighting food insecurity in Truro, MA
Rethink Disposable
More Earth Month Coverage from Lower Cape News

Beyond the Rewilding Buzz

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 20:01:00 GMT

The terms "re-wilding" and restoration pop up all over, but what does it really mean for Cape Cod?

"We need nature around us and that's why so many towns have gotten into the act ... to drive this land conservation movement on the Cape...

Mark Robinson

Executive Director, The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts

What is rewilding?

01 April 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - The concept of "re-wilding" has become a buzzword across the country. Here on the Cape, as years of development drove out native habitats and natural beauty on this fragile peninsula, projects began embracing the concept. But what does it really mean?

In this video report kicking off Earth month 2024, Lyra Brennan from Mass Audubon and Mark Robinson, executive director of The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts talk with Lower Cape TV about the importance of keeping open spaces in a fragile ecosystem. They describe the process somewhat like p eeling off the overlay of human development to reshow the nature below. Goals incorporate both preserving as well returning land and water to its prior state, and through those actions developing a stronger link to the world around us, thus creating well-being on all levels.

What does rewilding look like?

Cape Cod experts say rewilding is an adaptable and scalable term, one that can happen at many levels and one which takes into account factors including climate change, ecosystem use by different species, and both land and water elements. Instead of a developed mono-culture, rewilding reconnects the many parts and pieces together. Some examples include coastal restoration, marsh restoration, and returning cultivated cranberry bogs back into freshwater wetlands.

On the Cape, water systems lie at the center of the rewilding conversation. In Cape Cod's ecosystem every land use impacts water - drinking water, bays, estuaries, streams, and ponds. Land and water rewilding become inextricably linked.

Can individuals be part of rewilding?

Individuals can take part in rewilding in small localized ways, even in one's own yard. Experts says that on a small scale basis, individuals can work to return residential yards to something that represents a native Cape Cod forest or meadows. The process can happen in small steps and increments.

At most basic, rewilding encourages people to become good stewards for habitats and our planet. It helps support environmental resilience. It lies within the decisions we make as a society on what we do with land and represents an understanding that one local decision impacts not only one person and their property, but ripples into everyone's land as well. Proponents say that by acting as a good citizen of the earth and making room for all species to co-exist we support all and if not, we may be diminishing the world.

Click Here to watch the Full story about the meaning of rewilding on Cape Cod

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about what rewilding means on Cape Cod or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more Information:

New Ptown PD Station Opens

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 21:10:12 GMT

Provincetown opened its long-awaited police station in late March, celebrating the department's move to a modern public safety building.

"This is sort of a combination of the past and the present and the future for Provincetown..."

Alex Morse

Town Administrator, Town of Provincetown

When did the new Provincetown police station open?

After years of wrangling, a long-awaited police station opened its doors in Provincetown on March 20, moving PD headquarter from a re-purposed funeral home to a $16M 21st century building designed for public safety use. The opening represents both a professional step forward for the department and a healthy move forward for the town, said Town Administrator Alex Morse.

Why did the town need a new police station?

The police department had been located in a former funeral home, a "temporary" location that lasted for years. During community tours held as part of the planning process, residents saw the building's mold, sewerage in the basement, persistent flooding, lack of space, and general lack of usability as a public safety center. However, debates over cost, building design, and siting stalled the process. At points the conversation became contentious, but Morse says this month's outcome and ribbon cutting shows the community that the town can indeed without successfully address multiple projects without pitting priorities against each other.

What is the new building like?

The new building's architecture integrates the history of both the Outer Cape's modern architecture and its tradition building materials with the needs of public safety and a healthy working environment. Morse said that during the most-recent planning efforts, transparency led to community support and the combination of both created a building that connected a sense of past to a hope for the future; a sense reflected in the final design.

Click Here to watch the Full story about the New Provincetown Police Station Opening

Scroll up to watch the short video news report on the new police station or simply click HERE .

For More Informaton:

Sea Camps Plan Emerges

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:46:10 GMT

Brewster digs in deeply into next steps at both the bay and the pond locations of the former Sea Camp.

"We have community gardens, a pollinator meadow, tennis courts, opportunities for for active and passive recreation, we have some sensitive coastline we're proposing to manage and restore over time ... there's really a lot in the plan.

Amanda Bebrin

Chair of Bay Property Committee, Town of Brewster

What has been happening with the former Sea Camps properties?

March 08 2024 - BREWSTER, MA - When Brewster's municipal pool opened last year it kicked off the beginning of the integration of the former Sea Camp properties. Town officials and volunteers say two 11-member committees meet multiple times a month, with each committee focusing on one of parcels. The town held community forums engaging more than 1200 participants, as well as engaging with more than 1500 people through other survey and email outreach. The resulting 6-7 year plan includes articles expected to appear on the upcoming Annual Town Meeting

What is happening on the "bay property"?

The most public portion of the property lies along Cape Cod Bay off Rte 6A. In addition to the already-launched swimming pool, future plans include community gardens, land restoration, passive and active recreation, and a natural and education center. The committee recommends keeping about 25 of the existing buildings and using 7 of these for housing with the remainder repurposed for a variety of community uses. In addition the proposed plans retain the boathouse, art center, and the historical administration building as well. The committee also expects to hold a place in the land for a future TBD new building for a multi-generational community center. While location for the community center will be set aside, details and decisions about its specifics lie in a future round of planning.

What is happening at the "pond property"?

The second portion of the property lies off Rte 137 and includes woodlands and fresh water pond ecosystems. The proposed plan includes four main elements: conservation and nature programming covers about 56 acres of the property - or about 85% of the plan. Another 10 acres lying along Rte 137 have been flagged for housing and wastewater treatment , with the remaining two uses including a 600 foot public fresh water beach, as well as parking and hiking trails.

What happens next with the former Sea Camps?

The town expects planning work to become articles on the upcoming Town Meeting. If the May Annual Town Meeting approves the planning articles, the next step would be articles addressing financing, leading to a ballot vote in the fall to approve the first of three rounds of financing. These first three financing requests would begin project implementation, covering the pond plan fully and funding and the first two of the proposed five stages at the bay property. Initial proposed bay funding focuses on site work including addressing the existing buildings and their septic needs.

Who is partnering with the project

The towns says expenses will be offset in part by two nonprofit partners. Brewster Conservation Trust pledged at least $1 toward acquisition of the pond parcel while the Massachusetts Audubon Society pledged $1.5M toward the pond parcel and $2M at the bay parcel for a planned nature center.

How can people see the properties?

The town has scheduled a series of guided tours on both properties during April.

Click Here to watch the Full story about the latest plans for Cape Cod Sea Camps

Scroll up to watch the short video news report the plans for Brewster's former Sea Camps properties or simply click HERE .

For more Information:

Town of Brewster Sea Caps planning pages

Seed Libraries Reap Stronger Communities

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:29:05 GMT

It's official. Dandelions, snow drops and daffodils have been spotted. Spring is upon us and so is the planting season. Brewster Ladies' Library is cultivating a year-round seed exchange program. But dig a little deeper and the giving and taking of the native heirlooms represents something much bigger.

"The seed library is hugely important because it represents the sort of world and a microcosm, um, that I would like to live in. One where we are fostering and nurturing life, but also creating systems that are designed to be more equitable."

Gabrielle Griffis,

Librarian, Brewster Ladies' Library

What is the spring equinox?

We are on the other side of the spring equinox and have officially moved into spring season. For many that also means getting your hands dirty and your fingers green – time to start a-planting. Don't have any seeds? Some Cape Cod libraries have the solution: seed libraries, a kind of exchange program where people can donate and take seeds.

What is the seed library?

The seed library in Brewster is growing more than just plants. With a deeper purpose of connecting and strengthening the community, Gabrielle Griffis from Brewster Ladies' Library is hoping to inspire people to participate in the seed exchange program. Planting seeds can reap greater benefits such as growing a shareconomy and countering the loss of biodiversity. With the seed library Griffis wants to offer a public place where people can exchange materials without the use of money. The seed library is a library of seeds where people can bring seeds that they have saved from their previous harvests, and the library also stock seeds so people can take seeds, says Griffis.

How can the seed library help the environment?

Through the seed program people are cultivating healthy ecological systems and abundant ecological communities, says Griffis and that taking seeds to the library creates a vital system, a microcosm with a more equitable society. It represents the sort of world I would like to live in, she adds. To give seeds to the library, Griffis suggests preserving the seeds when harvesting in the late summer and early fall. Alliums, i.e. onions, shallots, leeks etc., is a good start for a beginner. Griffis explains in the video how to save the seeds from the crops you are growing.

Watch the Video NewsReport

Scroll up to watch the video to learn more about the seed library and how to preserve your seeds
Or click HERE .

See LCTV News previous coverage on all things gardening :

In the Garden: Healthy Summer Planting

Kids Grow More than Just Crops at Brewster Conservation Trust's Children's Garden

Youth Art Exhibits Orleans Talents

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 20:08:15 GMT

A hundred young artists are showcasing their work throughout Youth Art Month at Orleans Town Hall.

"The students are just so incredibly talented ... And to see the look on the student artists faces when they see their piece on the wall is incredibly gratifying."

Ellen Snyder-Grenier

Member of Orleans Cultural Council

What is the exhibit at Orleans Town Hall?

Austin Cameron, a senior at Nauset Regional High School, has his future carved out for him. For four years he has been taking a wood shop class as an independent study. This year he has been working on a hand-turned African zebra bowl. For over 12 hours Austin has lathed, turned and sanded a piece of maple wood donated to the class by a former student, and African zebra wood inherited from a bagpipe-maker.

What is Art Youth Month?

March is Youth Art Month and Orleans is celebrating by highlighting talented artists from three schools: Nauset Regional Middle School, Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School and Nauset Regional High School. Around 100 students have their paintings, wood works, jewelry and photographies on display untiul March 29 at Orleans Town Hall. Orleans Cultural Council is the sponsor and organizer for the event, and is celebrating the young artists as well as their teachers and curators of the exhibit.

What art is on exhibit?

On display next to Austin's bowl is a quilted wooden box, jewelry and figurines. Step into the hallway and the walls are lined with art works in different shapes, sizes and techniques, from paintings, cut out paper to photographies. Mady Enos, who has just been accepted into the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, is standing in front of her still life painting. She stills questions her skills and compares her art to others, she says, but that is also what is pushing her to get evolve her talent.

Click Here to watch the Full story about Austin Cameron's and Mady Enos' art

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the Student Art Exhibit at Orleans Town Hall or simply click HERE .

For more Information:

Orleans Town Hall Student Art Exhibit

Truro Worship Pauses As They May Lose Church

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:54:39 GMT

Pastor David Brown and his vibrant congregation built community within Chapel on the Pond in Truro — but now the sale of the building has this largely Jamaican faith community on the verge of losing its physical home.

"We know that anything can happen ... but when it hit us like that, unaware, not really ready for such a move ... it sort of struck us real hard. It affects ... all of the parishioners ... You see the joy that is spilled over here today. Everyone is hurt or disappointed."

Pastor David Brown

Chapel On The Pond

What is The Chapel On The Pond?

15 March 2023 - TRURO, MA - Pastor David Brown first stepped through the doors at the Chapel On The Pond in 2017, a century after it was built. Brown fell in love with the church - and when asked if he would like to become its new pastor it was an easy decision.

He made the church his new home. The congregation was small, but the handful of churchgoers would soon grow to a full house of foot stomping, dancing and singing parishioners, joining together for worship and fellowship, an enclave reminding people of a tropical island home and culture transplanted to a peninsula jutting into the cold North Atlantic Ocean.

Today, every Sunday the music spills over to the quiet and narrow Pond Road. Everyone - regardless of background or religion - is welcome to join this largely Jamaican faith community. That is, if it will still be there after the end of March.

Why is The Chapel On The Pond Closing?

The owners of the property are selling the church building, giving Pastor Brown and the congregation an initial notice period of 30 days to leave. At the end of March that time is up, and with no new home in sight Pastor Brown continues to work hard to find a new place of worship whilst keeping his congregation calm. This loss of space affects all of the parishioners, he says. Everyone feels hurt and disappointed. What really concerns them though, he adds, is the short amount of time they were given to prepare for such a move. " It sort of struck us real hard," he said.

What Will Happen To The Church?

Community efforts are underway to try and save the church - but nothing is certain yet. In the meantime, the parishioners keep stomping, dancing and singing their hallelujahs; everyone on Pond Road can hear them. They may be without a home, but their faith is not going anywhere. The song they sing sums up the way they feel and their belief in the future: "The best is yet to come."

Click Here to watch Truro Worship Pauses As Church Gets Sold

Scroll up to watch the video news report about the North Truro's Chapel On The Pond or simply click HERE .

For more information:

Go Fund Me Fundraiser for the Truro Conservation Trust to buy The Chapel On The Pond and rent it out to Pastor Brown to keep his congregation in the church.

Swimming in Sea of Scams

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:57:26 GMT

Police say a new wave of scams is washing over the Cape - how do we all stay safe?

"We get a lot of calls are financial fraud, identify theft related calls ... not everyone is reporting these crimes or if they are a victim ..."

Lt. Andy McLaughlin

Lieutenant, Orleans Police Department

Are scams on the rise?

Another season, another scam! Lt. Andy McLaughlin from the Orleans Police Department shares insight into the latest seeming-rise of scam calls and how to avoid falling for them.

While scams may seem to surge during tax season when returns arrive, police really have no firm data on when or what triggers a cycle - however, they warn that scammers target people all year round and that scammers are very good at what they do. People shouldn't feel embarrassed to report a scam crime; anyone can become a victim and it in no way reflects on their knowledge or abilities.

What is the grandchild in jail scam?

One long-running scam that continues to be both successful and persistent preys on a fear that a relative is in trouble and needs help. Scammers target potential victims by reading obituaries, gathering names and details, and then researching online to compile more information on family members. Then, they may call the recent widow or widower early in the morning or late at night when they are most vulnerable with a very detailed story of a child/grandchild is in trouble and need help.

What is the power shut-off scam?

Creating pressure and panic form part of the scammers tool kit. Another popular scam involves a call or email, often to a business during the busy summer season, claiming to be from the utility and warning that unless immediate payment happens the power power will be shut off. The phone number or email might look "real" or at least real enough that the sense of pressure and worry creates a payment.

How much money do scams take?

Scams have become big-ticket items. McLaughlin says the days of hundred dollar scams have passed - today's scammers target between $1,000 and $10,000 with a $5000-8,000 range most typical.

How can I prevent becoming a scam victim?

Use skepticism, verification, and asking for help to fight the scammers. Phone numbers and emails can be spoofed, and if it feels like you are being pressured for money you probably are. Never respond out of panic or fear. Most important, don't worry about looking foolish for reaching out - the art of scamming relies in part on you staying isolated for its success.

Click Here to watch the Full Episode Swimming in a Sea of Scams

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about protecting yourself from scams or simply click HERE .

For more Information:

Soup Bowls Return

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 20:25:56 GMT

Once again the community gathers to break bread together, enjoy soup in beautiful bowls, and combat hunger on the Cape.

"We have people that have whole cabinets - and they are proud to say that they have a soup bowl from every year it's been held...."

Christine Menard,

Executive Director, The Family Pantry of Cape Cod

What is Soup Bowls For Hunger?

After a COVID-hiatus, the long-time collaborative fundraiser Soup Bowls for Hunger returns to the new Cape Tech culinary arts space. The event brings together the Cape Cod Potters, Cape Cod Tech, and the Family Pantry to raise funds to combat food insecurity on Cape Cod.

For more than 30 years Soup Bowl for Hunger has brought together Cape Cod Potters, the Cape Cod Tech culinary program, and The Food Pantry to serve soup in beautiful bowl, bring the community together to break bread, and tackle hunger in the region. The relaunched event takes place in the new Cape Cod Technical High School campus in Harwich and features three seatings and vegetarian and non-vegetarian soups.

Click Here to watch the Full Episode of Soup Bowls for Hunger Returns

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the return of Soup Bowl for Hunger or simply click HERE .

For more Information:

Orleans Under Construction

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 04:35:17 GMT

A bevy of construction projects across the town of Orleans has people asking: What’s happening here?

"There's a lot going on in Orleans right now. The town is coming out of COIVD and there's new development happening."

George Meservey,

DIrector of Planning, Town of Orleans

What is happening in Orleans?

A bevy of construction projects across the town of Orleans has people asking: ... what’s happening here? We visit with town Planner George Meservey to find out whats going at sites ranging from the former H&K to the former Cape Cod Five to the "Underground Mall."

Commercial projects include a new bank, a new pub , a new cannabis store , an expanded local hardware business , and more than 100 new units of housing , including both market rate and affordable rentals.

Watch the Full Episode of Orleans Construction ... NOW

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about the many construction projects underway in Orleans or simply click HERE .

Cape's Coyotes 101

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 00:46:38 GMT

An estimated 900 coyotes call Cape Cod home. The coyote has acquired a public image through fables and folklore, but how well do we actually know them?

"Attack of a coyote on a person, on an adult, on a child is exceptionally, exceptionally rare. Never intentionally feeding coyotes is what's going to ensure that those coyotes don't attempt to get close to the people."

Meghan Crawford,

Engagement Biologist at MassWildlife

Does Cape Cod have coyotes?

08 March 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - An estimated 900 coyotes call Cape Cod home. Their yips and trills fill the night air and we catch their images in backyards and beaches. This wild canid has a public image built through fables and folklore, but how well do we actually know them?

Late winter and early spring, at the height of the mating season, the Cape's coyotes are more active, visible, and audible. Lower Cape TV sat down with Meghan Crawford, Community Engagement Biologist at MassWildlife , and Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director at Wild Care in Eastham, for some coyote 101 and to debunk the most common myths.

Why do coyotes howl?

Contrary to popular belief, coyotes do not howl when they have killed a prey - that is a common misconception. Instead, they howl and yip to communicate, much like dogs. Watch the video to hear Meghan Crawford explain this typical behavior, and also why you should never ever feed coyotes.

What should you do if you encounter a coyote?

Coyote experts say there is no need to be afraid if you encounter a coyote. Make yourself look large, make noise, and pick up small pets. Consider using a technique called hazing to scare them off.

What is mange?

People sometimes see coyotes with their fur peeling off, with bald batching. This is likey caused by mange, a skin disease caused by mites. While seeing injured animals can be heartbreaking, attempted to medicate them is both illegal and can cause more harm than good. Otherwise healthy coyotes typically fight off mange in the wild, but as Stephanie Ellis from Wild Care explains, human impact makes it more complicated. Coyotes that have eaten poisoned rats and rodents have a weakened immune system or other health underlying health issues may not be able to fight mange off once infected.

Watch the Full Episode of Cape Cod Coyote 101

Scroll up this page watch the short new report about Cape Cod coyotes or simply click HERE .

Check out the Cape Cod Community Coyote Gallery

Visit a collection of coyote photos and videos from across the Cape ... page through your neighbors images or submit and share your own Cape coyote moments .

The Secret Life of Cape Cod Eels

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 20:27:17 GMT

Lower Cape TV enters the hidden world of eels — creatures who hatch in the Sargasso Sea and journey over 2,000 miles to Cape Cod

"I would fish all over Cape Cod, I would use herring for bait ... I don't mind telling you the old secrets because it is an industry that is long gone ... they just aren't there ... "

James Harrington,

Fisherman

What is Cape Cod's relationship with the eel?

02 March 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - The Cape once held a robust eel population and an active eel fishing industry. Eel fishermen shipped their catch to markets in Germany and other international locations. In this special video exploration of a lesser known Cape Cod species, Lower Cape TV enters the hidden world of eels — creatures who hatch in the Sargasso Sea and travel to the Cape only to return to the same Sargasso Sea many years later to give birth at the end of their lives. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries scientist Brad Chase and Cape fishermen share the American eel's unusual life cycle and its storied history in local waters.

What is the American Eel?

The American eel is a catadromous fish, which means it hatches in salt water and lives as an adult in fresh water. While its long snake-like body can be off-putting to some, Chase says the species has remarkable features, and that the flexible and adaptable eel inhabits more habitat in North American than any other fish.

Eels begin life as larvae in the Sargasso Sea and swim over 2,000 miles to Cape Cod as tiny translucent fish that can fit in the palm of a human hand, navigating by using the earth's magnetic fields. As they move closer to the coast, some move into fresh water to navigate into estuaries and ponds. At the end of their life, they return to the Sargasso Sea to lay eggs, which begin the next eel generation.

What makes the Eel unique?

In addition to their unique look and communication sounds, eels move from salt to fresh to salt water again over the course of their lives. They change color based on environmental cues, and the sex of the population adapts to population density. The less dense a population, the more young eels become female. Their navigation system and ability to travel thousands of miles as tiny eels continues to fascinate researchers and for centuries the species created a source of food and commerce for Cape Cod, as well as food source for birds and mammals. The declining habitat health of estuaries and fresh water environments likely lie behind the current drop in eel populations.

What is potting eels?

People catch eel in several ways - from spearing to potting. Potting uses a trap to catch and store eels, similar to a lobster trap for trapping lobster. Cape fishermen would often make their own pots. Scientists still pot eels in order to tag and track their population.

Watch the Full Special Report on The Secret Live of Cape Cod Eels

Scroll up to watch the video within this page or click HERE .

Click here to see more Coast + Climate coverage from Lower Cape TV and Lower Cape News

Masks Like You've Never Seen Before

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 19:32:42 GMT

In this episode of ArtsLight: Portraits of Cape Artists, a rtist and performer Mike Sullivan creates intricate headpieces to experiment with materials ranging from stained glass to objects from nature.

"I really enjoy making masks and wearing things, but I also really enjoy working with materials like glass. Some of the jeweled masks that I make tend to be very unconventional; they are very heavy , you wouldn't want to wear them for an extended period of time ... but also wearing the things I make is such core element ... "

Mike Sullivan,

Artist

Portraits of Cape Artists: Mike Sullivan

02 March 2024 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - In this episode of Portraits of Cape Artists we visit Provincetown, MA based artist and performer Mike Sullivan , who creates intricate headpieces to experiment with materials and explore queer identity.

Sullivan began experimenting with mask-making within the drag and queer identity scene in New York City. His three dimensional works evolved into dramatic assemblages of nontraditional mask materials, drawing on everything from stained glass, mirrors, and jewels, to objects from nature like wasp nests. The masks and headpieces move to a new level when worn on a human body - and that's part of the process he says.

Watch the Full Episode of Portraits of Cape Artists: Mike Sullivan

Scroll up to watch the short video episode about masks like you' ve never seen before or simply click HERE .

Watch more Portraits of Cape Artists at our ArtsLight site, https://www.artslight.org/

Doulas Initiatives Bring Support for Cape's New Parents

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 23:48:26 GMT

From birth to death, doulas help navigate life's biggest transitions. This growing profession shows a revival of community-based support, a more holistic approach to not only childbirth but the raising of a child, because it takes a village – and doulas.

"Sadly there have been some really tragic situations that have happened that has heightened our awareness ... we need to have more support for moms."

Becky Fischer,

Postpartum Doula

What is a postpartum doula?

Both birth and death can be very isolating events whether people are becoming parents or are dying. Our society's purely medical and institutionalized approach to these two major life transitions is becoming outdated, and people are looking for more holistic, community-based experiences. The saying goes: it takes a village to raise a child, but yet new parents are expected to go at it mostly alone. Enter doulas – non medical support persons with evidence-based training. Whether it is birth- postpartum- or death doulas, they are here to help navigate through a process that can leave many people feeling lonely. Having a new baby is a joyous occasion, but Becky Fischer, postpartum doula , says it can also be a difficult and stressful time, especially for the birthing parent.

What does a postpartum doula do?

Childbirth and the postpartum period comes with preconceptions and expectations around how mothers should be and what they should be doing. According to Fischer one of the most common things she hears new parents say is how hard it is to ask their families and friends for help with taking care of the baby. She says new parents are also inundated with advice from family, friends and social media, which can be overwhelming. A doula is a neutral person with evidence based information who sole purpose is to help and support, removing the guilt and stigma in having to ask.

Growing awareness

The increase of postpartum doulas signify more acceptance and awareness around the support new parents need. MassHealth has started a new doula initiative covering doula services for members, and on Cape Cod the Perinatal Awareness Alliance has created a grant funded program for postpartum doula services. Watch the video to learn more about the program, and what a postpartum doula can do for a new family.

Watch the Video NewsReport

Scroll up to watch the video to learn more about what a doula does and what the research says about the medical and mental benefits having a doula entails. Or click HERE .

Click here to see LCTV News previous coverage on death doulas.

How Cape Cod Police are Handling Human Trafficking

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:10:18 GMT

Orleans Police Chief Scott MacDonald explains how the police are working alongside the Cape and Islands District Attorney in the counteroffensive against human trafficking.

"I don't know how widespread it is on the Cape, this is something that we're learning, and it's very difficult to identify. In the summer months ... when you have a significant increase in our population through tourism ... that may attract traffickers to this area"

Scott MacDonald,

Chief of Police, Orleans PD

The local police are sharpening their tools to tackle the grim reality of human trafficking on the Cape. Scott MacDonald, Chief of Police at Orleans Police Department, explains how the police are working alongside the Cape and Islands District Attorney, in the counteroffensive against trafficking.

Growing Awareness and Action

In recent months, concerted efforts have been made to tackle this issue head-on. From the Cape and Islands district attorney implementing new strategies to local police departments sharpening their detection tools, there's a united front against this age-old problem. The formation of working groups and collaboration with organizations like Homeland Security and advocacy groups signify a proactive approach to combatting trafficking.

Invisible Victims and Evolving Challenges

Despite historical roots dating back to the arrival of white settlers, human trafficking has remained largely invisible, aided by the covert nature of the crime. The advent of social media has further complicated matters, providing traffickers with a convenient platform to prey on potential victims.

Facing the Unknown

While progress is being made, challenges persist. Understanding the true extent of trafficking on Cape Cod remains elusive, compounded by seasonal population fluctuations and the complexities of labor trafficking. As authorities continue to unravel the intricacies of this issue, one thing remains clear: the fight against human trafficking is far from over.

Watch the Video NewsReport

Scroll up to watch the video to find out how tourism is connected to trafficking on the Cape.
Or click HERE .

See LCTV News previous coverage on the DA's new Human Trafficking division and the grant supporting it.

More information about this topic

Call the Cape Cod hotline : 774-822-0632

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text: 233733

Click here to visit the website Helping Survivors to learn about available resources

A Different Look at Classical Music

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 01:56:02 GMT

Linking Legacies brought a new slate of classical music performers to Cape Cod's Open Mic Classical, showing there's to more classical music than ancient white men.

"Black participation in classical music has a somewhat fraught history because I think we are often excised from the history of black music and then not included in the history of American classical music ..."

Christopher Jenkins,

musicologist/Associate Dean, Oberlin College & Conservatory

Who creates and plays classical music?

While classical music often suffers from an image of ancient dead white men, this month music lovers had a chance to hear an alternative to that stereotype. During Open Mic Classical's February performance at the Cultural Center in Yarmouth, guest ensemble Linking Legacies from Oberlin College and Conservatory celebrated Black History month with music from Black classical composers.

Why does classical music from Black composers resonate today?

Contemporary classical music combines the traditional form with overlays of modern sound influences. Musicologist Christoper Jenkins from Oberlin College and Conservatory says to imagine what Beethoven would compose if he were influenced by the modern soundscape. He points out that African diaspora music surrounds us, influencing current music of many varieties and that contemporary Black composers bring those "music idioms" into their work, which makes the sound more accessible to modern ears.

What is Open Mic Classical?

Open Mic Classical is a monthly open mic performance and sharing session for classical musicians of all levels. One Sunday a month, people can sign up to perform and a each program also includes a special musical guest.

Who is Linking Legacies?

The Linking Legacy project came from Oberlin College and Conservatory. It features Black classical musician playing the works of Black composers. They group performs across the country and was the featured performer at the February Cape Cod Open Mic Classical.

Are there Black classical composers?

Musicologist Jenkins says black classical performers have both composing and performing all along, but often struggled for recognition. The ensemble Linking Legacies, with which Jenkins play viola, focuses on composers with a connection to Oberlin College and Conservatory, which has long tradition of nurturing both classical and Black composers, including Nathaniel Dett, Hale Smith, Dolores White, H. Leslie Adams, George Walker, and more.

Watch the Video NewsReport here

Scroll up to watch the short new feature video about Open Mic Classical's or click here .

More information about this topic

Hope for Homeless Youths

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 02:48:07 GMT

A new federal grant helps Cape Cod roll out programs to address the under-the-radar challenge of homeless youth and young adults.

"We are being given funds by the federal government through HUD d to implement this grant over a two year period . Our role at the Homeless Prevention Council is twofold; we will be working on a mobile outreach as well as a implementing a host home model ... we're really excited to see what both of these initatives do as we take them out the the entire Cape and Islands region."

Hadley Luddy

Executive Director, Homeless Prevention Coucil

What has happened to help homeless youths on Cape Cod?

A new grant might find paths to help homeless youth and young adults on Cape Cod. The Homeless Prevention Council and Barnstable County hope use $1.3M in federal grant dollars to roll out a mobile youth outreach program and a host homes model.

How will the grant be used?

The grant will support a mobile youth outreach program to find and connect with youth and young adults who are homeless of at risk of becoming homeless. It will also support a host homes model where young people live within household while they finish school other otherwise prepare for their next stage.

Is there a problem with homeless youth on Cape Cod?

Young people are couch surfing or living in dangerous or unstable environments for many reasons and in far greater number than people may think. The problem has been made worse by the Cape's housing shortage and high cost of housing.

Watch the Video News Report and Conversation with HPC here

Scroll up to watch the short news feature video or click here .

More information about this topic

More reporting about housing on Cape Cod

Local and Regional reporting from Lower Cape News and Cape Cod News

The Music Of You

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:33:12 GMT

Have you ever fallen in love with a song? Berklee College of Music's Susan Rogers shares how and why. Rogers, a self-described "midwife of records," produced music for Crosby Stills and Nash and served as the sound engineer for Prince. She was part of the on-going arts and entertainment lecture series at the Performing Arts Center in Brewster.

"The music you love best is actually saying something about who you are. What you want, what you fear, what you'd like to be better at."

Susan Rogers,

Professor of Psychoacoustics

Who is Susan Rogers?

The love we feel for certain songs is a very real feeling. There are components in them that speak to us in ways that reveals things about us. Susan Rogers, Professor of Psychoacoustics at Berklee College of Music, has studied how our brains react to music. At 25 she produced records for Crosby, Stills and Nash. She also spent five years as Prince's sound engineer. Rogers says our taste in music begins to form in our infancy and starts creating a sort of soundtrack of your life.

Where is the Performing Arts Center?

Susan Rogers visited the brand new Performing Arts Center in Brewster as a guest speaker for their February 10 episode of the Arts and Entertainment Lecture Series. The series is an ongoing project organized by Program Coordinator Paul Tingley. He wants the audience to have learned things they've never known before when they leave the auditorium.

What music do you love?

Susan Rogers suggests gathering your friends and family and do a record pull. Watch the video to get advice on how to find the language to describe why you love the music you love, and why Rogers calls it a generous act.

Watch the Video NewsReport

Click here to watch the video and learn what your taste in music may say about you.

Helping Pets to Help People

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:56:46 GMT

When people lose a home, so do the family pets - and that double loss ripples far and wide. Romy Maimon, Founder of the Emergency Pet Care Program, wants to change the equation.

"If you are in that kind of dire situation and you have a pet that is part of your family ... having that trauma of losing them on top of everything you are dealing with is traumatic and it does effect the rest of the community..."

Romy Maimon,

Founder, The Emergency Pet Care Program

Why does helping pets matter?

If losing your home isn’t traumatic enough, imagine what happens when you realize some of your family members – the ones with fur - have no options. Romy Maimon, Founder of the Emergency Pet Care Program, wants to change the equation -- and says that helping pets in crisis really means helping people in crisis as well.

Why do people lose their home?

On the Cape people lose their homes for a myriad of reasons, reasons often not within their control. For example, natural and financial disasters, fires, illness, or sale of a property. In addition, the dual housing market pressures of less inventory and higher prices have squeezed residents and created a new set of housing challenges.

What does homelessness mean for pets?

Short term housing options for humans - places like emergency shelters, temporary housing, transitional housing, and motels - rarely accept pets. This means the human and furred family members are separated and the pet often ends permanently lost. For many people this compounds tragedy and on tragedy and for the animal this could mean anything from rehoming to worse.

What is the Emergency Pet Care Program?

Mamion has been working over the past several years to bring together a coordinated group of resources that can jump in and find foster homes or temporary shelter/boarding space for family pets, as well as provide veterinary and related services as needed. Pet owners know their pets are in a safe place and when they are ready to reunite, the pets will be ready as well.

Watch the Video NewsReport

Scroll up to watch the new video about efforts to build the Emergency Pet Care Program.
Or just click here .

More information about this topic

Visit the Emergency Pet Care Project https://www.eviealo.com/emergency-pet-care-program.html

Children's Cove Adds Resources for Children's Mental Health

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:40:31 GMT

The move comes as a response to the escalating demand for specialized clinical assistance in the region.

"We've definitely started to recognize that those wait lists continue to be long, and we need to provide some specialized and immediate support to children that we see, and...we made that decision to bring on a mental health clinician into our organization"

Jacob Stapledon

Education Program manager

Children's Cove

Addressing Growing Needs

Jacob Stapleton, the community Engagement and education coordinator at Children's Cove , emphasizes the organization's strategic focus on expanding its support services. Beyond its investigative role, Children's Cove plays a vital role in providing comprehensive community support, collaborating with various organizations to ensure accessible assistance for families in distress. Despite facing space constraints, Children's Cove remains committed to meeting the escalating demand for its services . With an eye on future expansion, the organization continues to evolve to ensure it can effectively support the community's most vulnerable members.

The Role of Mental Health Clinicians

Stapleton highlights the pressing need for accessible children's behavioral health services, citing lengthy waitlists and limited clinician availability. With a focus on trauma-informed modalities, Children's Cove has taken a significant stride in enhancing its services with the appointment of Dena Anderson as its latest mental health clinician.

Brewster Fire Dept. Needs to Staff Up

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:01:46 GMT

A study tells Brewster to expand up its firefighting staff — but finding nine new firefighters is easier said than done.

"The study details exactly what we've been saying for the last 13 years as we bring more housing ... and our infrastructure grows ... it becomes very important that the fire department is staffed appropriately"

Chief Robert Moran

Brewster Fire Dept.

The Brewster Fire Department (BFD) has recently undergone a comprehensive staffing study to address its current needs and future challenges. Conducted by Municipal Resources Incorporated , the study highlights crucial deficiencies within the department.

Urgent Call for Additional Staff

The staffing analysis study , completed in November 2023, underscores the necessity of adding nine firefighters and an EMS officer to the BFD's roster. This recommendation aims to ensure the department can effectively respond to the town's growing demands and maintain a safe infrastructure.

A Beacon of Hope

Despite financial constraints, Fire Chief Moran remains optimistic. The BFD is pursuing a SAFER Grant to hire four firefighters, with plans to apply for additional funding in the future. While competition is fierce, the potential federal support offers a ray of hope for Brewster.

Minimal Financial Burden

Addressing concerns about increased taxes, Chief Moran assures residents that the cost of additional personnel will be minimal. The BFD is pursuing a SAFER Grant to hire four firefighters, with plans to apply for additional funding in the future. With careful planning and federal assistance, the BFD aims to alleviate financial strain on taxpayers.

Tackling Human Trafficking On Cape Cod

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:32:43 GMT

Last year the District Attorney's office prosecuted 41 human trafficking cases on Cape Cod. Despite the increase in prosecutions, both sex and forced human labor trafficking often fly under the radar, but a new grant should bring additional resources to help tackle this under-reported crime.

"I learned through this tremendous story shared by a survivor who described how she had a stabil upbringing. Her trafficker ... enticed her in such a way that I think those potentials exist in any community..."

Robert Galibois,

District Attorney, Cape and The Islands.

Does trafficking exist on Cape Cod?

09 February 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - A new grant is casting a light on the darkest of corners: Human trafficking on Cape Cod. The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office has received a grant of $97,051 earmarked for the efforts in combating human trafficking on Cape Cod. The money will be allocated to local trafficking advocacy organizations and for training in police departments and the DA's office. The last three years the DA's office has prosecuted 58 human trafficking cases, 41 of them last year.

What is trafficking?

The most common types of trafficking in the U.S are the exploitation of persons for commercial sex, and forced labor, a modern type of slavery. Both types exist on the Cape, but with a crime as hidden as trafficking is, it is difficult to know the full extent of it. What is known is that the first digitally recorded court case in Barnstable, handling what would fall under today's statute for trafficking in Massachusetts, was 20 years ago.

How do prosecutors combat trafficking on Cape Cod?

By spreading awareness, sharpening investigations and reaching victims light can be shone on this covert crime. Many victims don't realize they have been groomed into trafficking. It can happen to anyone in any community. Leaving such a situation is impossibly hard and dangerous. The DA's office has installed a local hotline for both texting and calling for any type of trafficking. The hotline can be used by individuals who need help or support, or any member of the public who spots unusual behavior.

Watch the Video NewsReport

Scroll up to watch the video to find out how tourism is connected to trafficking on the Cape.
Or click here .

More information about this topic

Call the Cape Cod hotline: 774-822-0632

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text: 233733

Free-Fare Bus Rides

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:21:18 GMT

Starting 1 February, some Cape Codders may leave their wallets at home when riding the bus. The CCRTA is offering free bus rides for seniors and people with a disability.

"Close to 40 percent of all our residents are 60 years or older ... Senior mobility should be a priority here."

Tom Cahir,

Administrative, CCRTA.

Why is RTA offering free bus rides?

The Cape Cod Regional Transportation Authority is offering free bus fares daily for people over 60 years of age and people with disabilities. Thanks to a one-year-grant of $500 000 from MassDOT the free fares will last for a year, but Tom Cahir, Administrative for CCRTA, believes they can keep scratching the fees for much longer, even without a grant.

For how long will bus fares be free?

Tom Cahir says the seniors of the Cape Cod's aging population have been enjoying free bus rides every Wednesday, and when looking at the statistics, the CCRTA saw a consistent increase in passengers on Wednesdays. Tom Cahir says the CCRTA has the financial capacity to extend the free fares for this group of passengers beyond the end of the grant-year. Scroll up and play the video to hear Tom Cahir talk about the initiative.

For more information:

Vibrant Profession of Death Doulas Impact Dynamics of Dying

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 18:43:19 GMT

When David Tobin learned he had only a few weeks left to live, he and best friend Cookie Glatzel rented a house, bought champagne and invited all of their friends. But in keeping with all of their previous adventures, this last journey did not go according to plan. By their side was Dawn Walsh, death doula, to guide them through it all.

"The role of the doula has emerged in a larger context of a renaissance of a return and a reclaiming of community-centered approaches to death and dying."

Dawn Walsh,

Death Doula & Executive Director of The Lily House.

What is a death doula?

26 January 2024- WELLFLEET, MA -Cookie Glatzel (who uses the pronouns they, them) knew nothing about caring for someone who is dying, but when their best friend David Tobin became terminally ill, they had to learn how to navigate life's last journey on the go. It was a wild experience, they said, and an experience in true form with their friendship with David. For years, the two had always dived head-first into adventures and hit the ground running. They decided that dying would be no different, except this time they had a new companion: a death doula. Death doulas form part of an emerging approach to death, one that reconnects it to the human experience.

When they heard David's diagnosis, they realized they needed a place for David to die, Glatzel said, and so they rented a house for a month in Cornhill in Truro. They bought oysters and champagne, and invited all of their friends for one last party. But when the month rental was up, something unexpected had happened - David had gotten stronger. "We looked at each other, " Glatzel explained, "and said well now what do we do now?"

That's when they met death doula Dawn Walsh.

What does a death doula do?

Dawn Walsh, co-founder and Executive Director of the hospice The Lily House in Wellfleet, says a death doula brings holistic end-of-life care. Interest in working as a death doula is growing; during the pandemic, The National End Of Life Doula Alliance grew from 200 members to more than 1000.

Birth and death are perhaps the two greatest transitions for humans - and over the last century both have become increasing framed by science and technology, with the natural flow and humanity of the process often relegated to the side. In contrast, doulas combine knowledge, information, empathy, and support but also incorporate the human experience into these transitional moments.

The board category of "doula" includes trained professional who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support during significant health transitions. While the most commonly-known type of doula is a birth doula, the profession also includes professionals specialized in various aspects of end-of-life and after death care, professionals like Walsh.

Why does death doula make a difference?

After the lease in Cornhill ended, David moved into the house of Glatzel and their family and began a hospice process. While the hospice team provided medical care for David, he and Glatzel were left in the dark regarding how to navigate the emotional side of dying. Neither of them were equipped to talk about it. Death doula Walsh was able to guide the two friends through both the practical and emotional sides of letting go. Their story shows the ways a death doula can change the dynamics of death.

Watch Death Doulas Make a Difference

Scroll up and click on the photo to hear Cookie share their story of how Dawn supported the two friends during the process of dying or click HERE to bring up a pop-up window with the video.

For more information :

Winter's Icy Fingers

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 01:06:21 GMT

As Cape Cod enters deepest winter, what should be doing to prepare?

"Here on Cape Cod we don't get a lot of snow ... so we really battle ice and ice storms a lot ... for the last week DPW had been out three time monitoring the storms and providing salt and sand onto the local roads ..."

— Chief Robert Moran

Chief, Brewster Fire Department

What is winter like on Cape Cod?

The icy fingers of winter have arrived - and on Cape Cod ice plays a central role. While the Cape has comparatively little snow, ice and ice storms come roaring in, along with wind and cold.

What are some cold weather safety tips?

Brewster Fire Chief Robert Moran offers a few cold weather safety tips:

During the cold, people often turn on space heaters. These heaters should always be plugged directly into the wall and never used with an extension cord, and should always be at least three feel away from combustible material.
Portable generators should never run inside a home or garage.
Carbon monoxide alarms should be tested and functioning.
Keep flashlights or other battery-powered lights in an easy to find location.
Never leave a running car unattended in the garage.
Keep fire hydrants free from snow if you have a hydrant outside your house .

What are some sources for more winter information?

Most towns, including Brewster, have a notification system. Chief Moran suggestions going to your town website to sign up to receive updates during storms and other emergencies.

Watch the short video story:

Preparing for the Icy FIngers of Winter

More information:

Red Nun Talks

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 17:14:03 GMT

Lower Cape News podcast about Cape Cod.

Red Nun Talks features interesting topics, places and events in Cape Cod's past, present, and future.

What is a red nun?
A red nun is a cone-shaped metal buoy that marks the right side of a channel when traveling upstream.

Episode 6

Guest Darrin Tangeman joins Red Nun Talks host Teresa Martin to explore how Truro's challenges over voting and town meeting reflect issues across the Cape and Islands. Available in video and as a podcast at your favorite podcast location. For Lower Cape News reporting about Truro's much-rescheduled special town meeting: https://www.lowercapenews.org/truro-tension

Episode 5

In this episode of Red Nun Talks, host Teresa Martin talks with architect Peter Haig and musician and clerk of the works Paul Tingley share the design thinking behind Arts Empowering Life's Newest performing art's center. This unique space, opened in August and is nestled in the woods, on the Brewster-Orleans line.

Episode 4:

The town of Orleans has its first new town manager in more than quarter century. In this episode of Red Nun Talks, host Teresa Martin gets to know Kim Newman and how she sees her role on Cape Cod.

Episode 3:

In this episode join host Teresa Martin to learn about jazz on Cape Cod, the Jazz Jam, Jazz in the Schools, and the Provincetown Jazz Fest with musician and Provincetown Jazz Fest founder Bart Weisman.

Episode 2:

May is Mental Health Awareness month and the Red Nun Talks with Diane Santoro, Vice President Behavioral Health Integration at Bay Cove Human Services about: Cape Cod's newest mental health options, the mobile crisis support team, and why mental health matters.

Episode 1:

Teresa Martin and guest Dick Golden, host of Siriux XM Real Jazz, explore the uniquely American form of music and its history on the Cape — including Storyville in Harwich and Ella Fitzgerald's near Cape residency.

Environment and Affordable Housing Share in Harwich Firehouse Restoration

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 13:24:01 GMT

The rehabbed new facility, brings affordable housing units, event space, and a refurbished 1928 fire truck

A Historic Landmark: Harwich's First Firehouse

Situated at the gateway to Harwich Conservation Trust's Cold Brook Preserve , the property, owned by the town for nearly a century, was once the site of Harwich's inaugural firehouse. The restoration initiative, spearheaded by Harwich Fire Association and Harwich Conservation Trust , aims to bring new life to this historic building.

Affordable Workforce Housing

The project involves meticulous restoration of the exterior to its original state and the transformation of the upstairs into affordable apartments, addressing the pressing need for workforce housing on Cape Cod. The collaboration leverages the Community Preservation Act to fund these endeavors.

A Unique Visitor Experience

The restored firehouse will not only serve as an event space but also host educational programs and become a vital part of the visitor experience. The project managers envision holding events, educational programs, and creating a small event space showcasing an antique firetruck and firefighting memorabilia.

A Common Mission: Preserving Heritage

Harwich Fire Association and Harwich Conservation Trust, seemingly an unlikely pair, have found common ground in preserving history. Their joint efforts include not only restoring the firehouse but also creating an inviting trailhead for the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve .

Massachusetts Considers Psilocybin Therapy

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 16:07:29 GMT

Provincetown passes resolution calling for decriminalization of psychedelic substances

The psychedelic legalization debate in Massachusetts navigates a complex terrain involving grassroots movements, scientific evidence, political interests, and financial considerations. As the state grapples with proposed initiatives, the ultimate question remains: will voters pave the way for a regulated psychedelic marketplace, or will potential benefits be overshadowed by legal and financial complexities? The journey towards psychedelic legalization unfolds, with its impact reaching far beyond legal frameworks.

1. Decriminalization Efforts:

Massachusetts is witnessing a surge in decriminalization efforts, led by grassroots organizations like Base Staters for Natural Medicine. Their mission is to educate and secure affordable treatments, emphasizing the therapeutic effects of psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms.

2. Claims for Benefit

Psilocybin mushrooms, used by humans for over 10,000 years, have a rich history of therapeutic and spiritual use. Scientific studies support their benefits, showing statistically significant improvements in depression, PTSD, and anxiety.

3. Political Landscape

The Massachusetts for Natural Health Options Act, a ballot initiative for legalization, has stirred controversy. Critics, including James Davis, founder of Base Staters for Natural Medicine, express concerns about out-of-state influence and raises questions about profit-driven interests entering the psychedelic marketplace.

5. Regulation Proposals

The proposed Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission faces criticism, with calls for a more straightforward approach. The Provincetown Select Board advocates for legislative alterations to ensure plant medicine services are legalized without cumbersome regulations.

6. Personal Testimony

Amidst the legal and financial discussions, personal stories highlight the potential benefits of psychedelics for mental health. Individuals share experiences of overcoming PTSD and spiritual trauma, emphasizing the need for accessible and affordable options.

For The Love Of The Turnip Man

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 17:05:58 GMT

No one knows where it came from or why the Eastham turnip is so different from its kindred roots - but this purple heirloom put Eastham on the map as the number one vegetable exporter on Cape Cod, until war and tourism changed it all.

"He would spend seven days a week, all day out there. He wanted to keep the Eastham turnip alive for Eastham."

Lynn Dalton, Daughter of Art NIckerson, The Turnip Man.

Who was the Turnip Man?

20 January 2024 – EASTHAM, MA – Art Nickerson, a.k.a the Turnip Man, grew old with the iconic Eastham turnips. The purple heirloom put Eastham on the map as the number one vegetable exporter in Cape Cod, until war and tourism changed it all.

In the photos, Arthur Nickerson is resting his 90-year old arms on a long-shafted garden tool. His white cowboyhat matches his trousers, belt and shoes, all in same color as the sandy soil covering his turnip field behind the house he built in North Eastham. Why the iconic Eastham turnip is so different from its kin growing in other parts of America, no one knows, but local lore draws an imaginary line in the sand between Arnold's Lobster and Clam Bar and the Wellfleet border.

Legend says this is where turnips grew the sweetest and mildest, and, though the photo of Art and his field is black and white, a deep purple color and a glass-like surface. In this short documentary, the Turnip Man's daughters talke us on a tour of a slice of the Cape's history.

What did turnips mean for Eastham?

There was a time when farmland was all the eye could see when driving through Eastham. The railway between the Cape's towns and Boston helped make Eastham the biggest exporter of vegetables - number one on the Cape in exporting vegetables.

Marca Daley, Archivist at Eastham Historical Society, has researched Eastham's agricultural past and listened to almost 100 interviews with old farmers recorded during the 1980s and 1990s. She says they all talked about the growing of turnips. Turnips, along with asparagus, reigned as the most important crop in Eastham in the time between the industrial period and World War II. The two crops wove together over the course of the growing season.

Why was Art Nickerson called The Turnip Man?

As times changed in the 1950s with the rise of highways and housing development, only a few turnip fields survived. Within a short time, Art Nickerson would be the only one in all of Eastham still growing turnips at scale. He spent his core professional life managing his own garage, but never let go of purple root. After retirement, Art returned to the plant's pitting, seeding and pulling well into his nineties. His tireless work would earn him an epithet suited to a Marvel character: The Turnip Man.

What happened to the turnips?

Flash forward to the present. The black-and-white photo of "The Turnip Man" in his cowboy hat changes hands around the table in Lynn Dalton's kitchen. She is Art's youngest daughter and she sits surrounded by her four older sisters - Jody Quill, Audrey Bohannon, Janice Nickerson and Joyce Angelleli - and a pile of photos of three generations on Art's turnip field on Aspinet Road. The field lies at the point where Aspinet forks into Massasoit Road and where Art grew up tending his father's turnip field.

What happened to the original seeds?

Art passed away in 2008 at the ripe old ages of 93, but his five daughters kept Art's turnips alive. Lynn's kitchen table holds a small bowl with turnip seed pods and turnip seeds. The sisters talk about the slow and painstaking work of preserving the seeds – which are direct descendants from the original Eastham turnips.

They talk about their dad and his love for turnips, remembering how Art would spend seven days a week, all day out there. Lyn and Audrey nod in agreement: he loved it.

Scroll up and click on photo to watch "For Love of the Turnip Man. " Or, click HERE to open it in a new browser window.

For more information:

Expanded Space for Critter Care

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 01:56:31 GMT

Nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation organization Wild Care broke ground on its new building, just off the Orleans rotary

"For the past five years or so we have been receiving over 1800 animals a year and in the summer months when we get most of our baby animals we are just bursting at the seams ...."

— Stephanie Ellis

Executive Director, Wild Care

What is Wild Care building?

The framing rising into the sky at the Orleans rotary on Cape Cod represents a leap forward for nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation organization Wild Care. The group recently broke ground on its new building and says the additional space will help it better care for the thousands of injured critters the arrive on its doorstep.

When will the new space be completed?

Wild Care executive director Stephanie Ellis say the new building should be ready for use by early summer, just in time for the surge in injured animal babies that arrive on their door step. The new space will serve as an intake and education area as well as a consolidated cleaning area.

More information:

Wild Care

Iconic Civil Rights Images

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:27:48 GMT

Powerful images from the US Civil Rights movement on exhibit at Eastham Library as part of MLK Day commemoriation

"Turns out Scherman had a Cape Cod connection ... when he relocated to Western Mass he gifted a collection of his photos taken during the civil rights movement to the Lighthouse Charter School...."

— Marianne Sinopoli

Outreach Librarian, Eastham Public Library

What is the Rowland Scherman Civil Rights photo collection?

As a young man, Rowland Scherman was the (equally young) Peace Corps' first photographer and he became witness to many of era's significant historical moments. He went on to freelance for LIFE, TIme, Look, National Geographic, and others. When he lived on Cape Cod, he worked with Artworks! Gallery and master printer Bob Korn to curate a lifetime of iconic images. The Rowland Scherman Civil Rights photo collection includes about 50 museum quality prints that he gifted to the Lighthouse Charter School.

What is the current Civil Right photography exhibit?

As part of its commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Eastham Public Library is hosting the traveling exhibit of prints from the Rowland Scherman Civil Rights photography collection. The exhibit includes scenes from the 1963 March on Washington, as well as many other events and key figures in the Civil Rights movement.

When can the public see the exhibit?

The exhibit will be at the Eastham library through January 31 2024 and is free and open to the public Monday-Saturday.

More information:

Former Christmas Tree Shops Gets New Tenant

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:37:54 GMT

The wait is over – the empty storefront at the former Christmas Tree Shops will soon be adorned with a new sign. Baskin's Ace Hardware is upsizing and wants to fill not only the building but also commercial gaps Orleans' lost businesses have left.

"I'd really like to tap in and see what the people are looking for, what they wanna see happen with the space as well."

Jim Morton,

Store Manager, Baskin's Ace Hardware Store

Who is moving into The Christmas Tree Shops?

12 January 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - Longtime store manager Jim Morton squeezes pass customers in the narrow aisles in the Baskin's Ace Hardware in its current location on Rt 28 in Olreans. Every square inch of the walls is filled with products. Since the store was built, the economy has changed, the population and the customer base has grown - and Baskins is getting ready to grow with with it. As they say, when one door closes another one opens, and when the Christmas Tree Shops, a beloved Orleans landmark, closed its store last summer, the door was left open for the hardware store to move in.

Baskins will be the new tenants at the former Christmas Tree Shops location at the split of Rte 28 and Rte 6A in Olreans. Store manager Morton says that the lower Cape's growing population and new residents mean more need for everything from plumbing and paint to electrical hardware and that meant Baskin's Ace Hardware Store needed to level up as well.

What will the updated Baskin's Ace Hardware Store bring to Orleans?

With a new space more than twice as big as the current store, Baskin's Ace is looking to double its staff. To pay homage to The Christmas Tree Shops there will be seasonal displays. Jim Morton is also hoping to be able to sell unique items that are not found elsewhere in Orleans. He says Baskin's Ace is all about giving back to the community that supports them, by donating proceeds to housing organizations and organizing fundraising events at the new location.

Watch the video above to hear Jim Morton speak about the plans he has for the Baskin's Ace Hardware Store and its customers.

For more information:

Cold Brook Eco-Restoration

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:03:59 GMT

Wetlands and cranberry bogs play a vital part of Harwich and its history; geomorphologist and Harwich native, Nicholas Nelson says its time to bring these lands back to life.

"Cranberry roots run deep in Harwich, its very important to the history of Harwich ...

Mike Lach

Executive Director, Harwich Conservation Trust

08 January 2024 - HARWICH, MA - Harwich, a town with deep roots in cranberry cultivation, faces challenges as cranberry market oversupply drives down prices nationally. Local growers, unable to turn a profit seek alternative solutions to preserve the historical significance of cranberry farming - leading to restoration of bogs back to wetlands.

The Harwich Conservation Trust Initiative

Enter the Harwich Conservation Trust, offering an innovative approach to save the legacy of cranberry bogs. By acquiring properties from struggling growers, the trust aims to transform these landscapes into scenic conservation destinations.

Tackling Ecological Challenges

The project addresses ecological challenges caused by decades of cranberry farming, such as diminished water quality and habitat diversity. The downstream impact on Saquatucket Harbor emphasizes the urgency of restoring wetlands to counter water quality issues.

A Comprehensive Restoration Approach

The Harwich Conservation Trust's three-phase eco-restoration project combines planning, permitting, and construction to ensure the preservation of natural habitats. The estimated cost, exceeding two million dollars, covers various aspects, including enhancing visitor experiences and recreational opportunities.

Climate Resilience and Sea Level Rise

The initiative also considers climate change impacts, with a focus on sea level rise. The project anticipates transitioning freshwater wetlands to salt marshes, showcasing the resilience of wetland restoration projects against climate challenges.

Click Here to watch the Full story about the restoration of Harwich cranberry bog to wetlands

Scroll up to watch the short video news report about work underway in Harwich to restore cranberry bogs to native wetlands or click HERE to open it in a new window.

For more Information:

TooCute

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 02:56:32 GMT

Lots of cute cavies looking for fur-ever homes. Who can resist these whiskers?

"Just this past week we took in over 50 guinea pigs from a home in the Boston area... this was really just because the person bought six guinea pigs from a pet store and were told they were all female, but they weren't. There was one male and six turned into over 50 almost overnight ... They are great pets, a great starter pet, and we want to find as many homes for guinea pigs as we can..."

— Mike DeFina

Animal Rescue League

Who has guinea pigs?

The Animal Rescue League of Boston has guinea pigs ... Lots of them! .More than 100 bright-eyed guinea pigs - aka cavies - are frolicking at the Animal Rescue League of Boston in Brewster, waiting for their fur-ever homes. A slew of surrenders and piggie population boom has the center offering a sort of adoption guinea-pigfest, with adoption fees waived.

How are the cavies finding new homes?

To help the social (and seriously cute!) little critters ind new homes, the Animal Rescue League is running a no-cost adoption fest, to encourage people to give this perfect "first pet" a chance at a new life.

More information:

Adopt a Pet from ARL

Counting Cape's birds - A Century-Long Project

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:12:19 GMT

For 124 years bird enthusiasts all over the American continent and the Commonwealth have participated in the Christmas Bird Count, the world's oldest citizen science project. The numbers help scientists spot trends and protect vulnerable species.

"I think it's an important gateway, getting people interested in nature ... and maybe that will establish
a lifelong passion for birding and for nature and an interest in conserving all of this."

Mark Faherty

Science Coordinator, Mass Audubon, Cape Cod

What is the Christmas Bird Count?

05 January 2024 - TRURO, MA - At the crack of dawn on January 2 seven birders stood at the sandy ledge over Longnook Beach in Truro, scanning the ocean for feathered friends. As the sun rose, a group of razorbills, called the penguins of the north due to their appearance, were billowing the waves and doing their own scanning. A large flock of robins suddenly flew by and Mark Faherty, Science Coordinator at Mass Audubon Cape Cod, counted at least 200.

This scene forms part of a long-term citizen science project stretching back more than a century. By counting the birds every year, data is added to an international census tracking trends in bird populations going back 124 years. Conservation organizations such as the national Audubon, organizer of the Christmas Bird Count, use the data to form strategies for how to protect vulnerable species and habitats.

What does the Christmas Bird Count data say?

There are clear signs of climate change in the birds numbers. The Carolina wren is a non-migrating bird that came here when the winters got warmer. Harsh winters kill back the population. Suburbanization have some birds flourish and endanger others. Some remain only in few numbers with Truro as their last outpost.

How can I participate next year?

Will Crowell participated in the bird count for the first time this year. A birder since seventh grade he is fascinated with sighting rare species, as any collector would be. Will is kind of a rarity himself in the bird watching community, being only 17 years old. Mark Faherty says that every year new birders are added to the science project, which is organized by the national Audubon. The birders get together for one full day between December 14 and January 5, each group covers a radius of 15 miles, then gather to submit the numbers, adding to an ever-growing dataset from Canada to Latin America to the U.S. Commonwealth, used to date by 300 scientific publications.

For more information:

Truro Tension

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 22:24:51 GMT

Truro's tumultuous town meeting challenges push fall meeting to the spring - and mirror issues appearing across the Cape and Islands

"One person, one vote. That's the basis of our system."

— Darrin Tangeman

Town Manager, Town of Truro

What is happening in Truro?

Truro's 2023 fall special town meeting now sits scheduled for May 2024 - on the same weekend as the annual town meeting. This upcoming double dose of democracy in action rose from voter registration challenges and heated debates over housing, land use, and municipal projects ... any may very well reflect a growing reality within many Cape and Island towns..

Were people registering to vote incorrectly?

Prior to Turo's special fall town meeting, an organization of part-time homeowners encouraged people who did not live full time in Truro to register to vote in the town. According the Town's legal counsel and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this is not allowed under Massachusett's voting laws. The state allows for voter registration by people only in their primary residence, and people may only have one primary residence.

Truro Town Manager Darrin Tangeman said 66 voter registration challenges were filed and the scheduled October meeting postponed. About half of those individuals either withdrew their registrations or removed after the challenge.

What happened to postpone the meeting again?

After the voter registration issue, the meeting was scheduled for a new November date. When more than 750 people showed up, the meeting was again postponed because that number of attendees exceeded the capacity of Truro Central School. As it turns out, there are no inside venues that can hold 750 people in the the Town of Truro, and the town charter requires that town meeting be held in the town.

Will Truro's special fall meeting ever be held?

The new date for the special fall town meeting is May 4, 2024. It will be held outside so that the capacity can handle more people and it will be held the same weekend as the regular annual Town Meeting.

Why were so many people interested?

A handful of articles accounting for the high level of interest. Two were for funding municipal activities: $1.4M for air conditioning for Truro Central School and a new $35M DPW facility. Two were about planning for the future: housing, open space, and recreation on the 69 acre-Walsh property off Rt 6 and the town's comprehensive plan.

More information:

Portraits of Cape Artists - Jay Critchley

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 21:52:57 GMT

Latest in the series Portraits of Cape Artists: Artist/activist Jay Critchley shares his rich history of creating art with a message.

"The first project that I did was to encrust an automobile with sand, a 1968 Dodge Coronet 500 station wagon and I plunked it down right on the waterfront ... "

— Jay Critchley

Artist/Activist

Who is Jay Critchley?

Artist, activist, and writer Jay Critchley shares his rich history of creating art with a message in and around Cape Cod. From encrusted automobiles to Miss Tampon Liberty his provocative work raises pointed questions about the petrochemical industry and consumer culture.

More Portraits of Cape Artists:

ArtsLight, https://www.artslight.org/

More Jay Critchley:

http://www.jaycritchley.com/

Orleans Cannabiz Opens

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 19:05:57 GMT

Orleans added a cannabiz to its commercial mix when Seaside Cannabis on Lots Way opened its doors in late December.

"I grew up here in Orleans, I'm a 13th generation Cape Codder, my family owned a business here for 50 years..."

— Spencer Knowles

COO, Seaside Cannabis Company

What new cannabiz opened in Orleans?

Seaside Cannabis Co. opened its doors to the public during a two-day grand opening event on Dec. 22 and 23, 2023. The new recreational dispensary brings Orleans into the "cannabiz" business and says it wants to engage with the community and promote the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, according to COO Spencer Knowles. The opening represents Orlean's first license and was several years in the making.

What is the connection to Orleans?

Knowles has a long connection with both Orleans and cannabis. He is an Orleans native and a 13th generation Cape Codder whose family owned Orleans business for decades. He was also arrested for cannabis use at 18 in Orleans, and says the community service requirement that came out of that also helped direct him on a path to college and ultimately business. He says Seaside Cannabis respects the town and the licensing process that helped shape the store, and wants the company to become a valued part of the business community,

What will the store offer?

The store holds a recreational cannabis license from the town, but it also brings a big focus on therapeutics according to Spencer. He noted that one misconception people have is that recreational stores can't provide therapeutic options, while the reality is that any cannabis store can curate an array of products to address issues like sleep, relaxation, and pain management and he sees that as a significant component of Seaside.

More regional cannabiz coverage:

Sharkful Season

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 20:11:52 GMT

As the data comes in, shark experts say 2023 was a little less active than the past few years, but no one knows why ... yet.

"Have we stabilized and reached an equilibrium on Cape Cod when it comes to the number of whites sharks that visit our waters or is 2023 just an usual year, and if was unusual, what is driving that? "

— Dr. Greg Skomal

Senior Fisheries Biologist

What was the 2023 shark season like on Cape Cod?

Dr. Greg Skomal says 2023 seemed to be a slower shark season on Cape Cod than it was 2022 - and scientists have been looking at the data for clues why. He said it could have been either that the sharks were more difficult to see due to water and weather conditions, or there may indeed have been fewer sharks. Numbers did pick up later in the year, specifically in September and October - and Skomal's research group tagged about 20 White sharks tagged in October alone.

What other shark-related trends happened?

In 2023 the number of seals along the Cape Cod coast also appeared to have dropped, and if that proves to be true it could be a factor in fewer sharks. After all, sharks come to Cape to dine and less food could translate into fewer visiting sharks. In addition, the Cape typically sees large schools of sand eels and menhaden in the Cape waters; lower number of fish could be impacting the seal population as well.

Shark ecotourism businesses also related challenges spotting the apex predator during the peak summer months; these businesses have grow along with the shark population, bringing tourists specifically to see large number of sharks.

What happen with shark research next?

Researchers continue to tag new sharks and monitor the data. They hope this ongoing work will help answer questions about shark population, distribution, and migration - and help the Cape better understand white shark dynamics in our waters.

More shark coverage:

Grief In A Death Avoidant Society

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 19:40:54 GMT

When the topic of death is commonly avoided it can be difficult to find and give the right support during a time of grief. The Brewster Ladies' Library is helping spouse survivors navigate their loss.

"There's such a focus on youth and what goes along with it: power, influence, being listened to. So when you are an older person and you lose your spouse, now it's added to the 'is anybody taking me seriously? ... Am I invisible? Am I just supposed to stay home and wait for my own time of death?'"

— Maureen Keane-Bottino

Grief Counsellor

What is grief support?

The Brewster Ladies' Library is offering various support groups for people who have lost a loved one. Though every day is difficult when grieving, for many special occasions such as the holidays can be extra challenging. One of the groups is supporting those who have lost a spouse. Our Western society is generally avoiding the topics death and grief, but Rosalynn Carter's death in November 2023 opened conversations about losing a long-term life partner. In a youth-fixated society power and influence belong to the young. Maureen Keane-Bottino, grief counsellor, says the striving for eternal youth contributes to older people's grief not being taken seriously enough, which adds a layer of isolation and loneliness to a grief that is already isolating.

How does the avoidance of grief affect the griever's support system?

When the topic of death is not on the table, we may be unsure of how to respond correctly when death does come. That can increase the isolation for the griever. It is important to prepare for death and grief, and learn how to respond to and navigate through grief. The pandemic changed our view on the rituals following death, perhaps because death became so prevalent and the fragility of life became so clear, says Keane-Bottino. Many are afraid to upset the griever by talking about the person who has passed away, but the loved ones who are left behind want to remember the deceased one.

How can I support someone who is grieving?

Maureen Keane-Bottino says to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Talk about the person who has passed away, mention their name, ask the griever to share memories of their loved one, contribute to them living on.

For support:

Re-Wilding Sipson Island

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:07:44 GMT

Nature Wins on Sipson Island!

22 DECEMBER 2023 -- Orleans, MA -- Some might say, Cape Cod has become synonymous with over-development. Sipson Island, on the other hand is working toward doing the opposite. Demolition of three large houses was recently completed on the island as Sipson Island Trust (SIT) progresses with their mission to un-develop the land. SIT President and Orleans resident, Mon Cochran discusses the goals and the challenges of taking on this kind of re-wilding.

A Holiday Pledge For Cape's Businesses

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 15:35:58 GMT

Local shops and shoppers are contributing to the Cape Cod economy on more than one level and the numbers may surprise you.

"With small businesses it's really hard. We live in a very seasonal community ... We wouldn't still be here without the support."

— Molly Avellar

Co-Owner, Adorn

What is Shift Local Pledge?

Consumers have a lot of power. The benefits from choosing to spend some of their shopping money in local businesses have far wider ripple effects into the Cape Cod economy than one might think. Love Live Local, an advocacy organization based in Hyannis, are encouraging people to keep their holiday shopping close to home. In a collaboration with local businesses across the Cape, the Shift Local Pledge has shoppers signing up to shift ten percent of their total spending towards their community shops and restaurants. The possible end result according to Love Live Local's analysis may surprise you. But Amanda Converse, Executive Director of Love Live Local, say that further joint effort is needed in the Cape Cod's seasonal communities where restricted opening hours risk pushing consumers over to the online web shop giants.

How does local shopping benefit businesses?

Mother and daughter Jenny and Molly Avellar, descended from Orleans craftspeople, had been dreaming about opening a shop. One morning as they were having breakfast at a local restaurant in East Orleans they noticed a store space for sale across the road. The two were no strangers to the location, Molly's great grandfather – Jenny's grandfather – had his workshop on the same lot. Mother and daughter say there is no other place they'd want to be but Orleans, the place where they both were born. The support from local consumers has made it possible.

Does shopping local affect housing issues and labor shortages?

The current Cape Cod housing market makes it difficult for workers to find affordable accommodation to move into the towns, which leads to many businesses being short-staffed and, in some cases, restricted opening hours and fewer consumers. This multi-layered web makes shopping locally even more important, according to Amanda Converse, as the local shops not only make communities more vibrant, but they also contribute to their municipalities with tax money, which in part goes towards housing.

For more information:

Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage Clean Up Cape Cod

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 15:48:11 GMT

Women over 64 years of age are working to save the planet one pond at a time, starting on Cape Cod.

What is OLAUG (Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage)?

OLAUG (Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage) is a quirky, fun organization of women founded by 84 year old Susan Baur. They came together to focus on collecting debris found on the bottom of local ponds. Banding together with friends who swim, Baur grew a program that has picked up more than their fair share of garbage.

Cleaning Up with Purpose

OLAUG's primary objective revolves around keeping ponds clear of underwater garbage, particularly plastic, in an effort to safeguard the environment. The group showcases the power of collective action and purpose-driven initiatives. Through underwater cleanup missions, this group of remarkable women proves that age is no barrier to making a positive impact on the environment and having a good time in the process.

For most members, OLAUG is so much more than just a clean-up club. Marci Johnson shares how her involvement with the group played a crucial role in her journey battling breast cancer. The serene quiet of the underwater environment provided peace and worked to help heal the aftershock of cancer. The group thrives on laughter and competition while contributing to a larger cause.

Who are the members of Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage?

To be a member of OLAUG, women interested must be at least 64 years old and pass a swim test demonstrating their ability to swim a mile in about half an hour. The group has experienced significant growth, expanding from seven members to an impressive 23 in just one year.

Where Do I Sign Up?

Would-be OLAUG members can email OLAUG.MA@GMAIL.COM or go to their website at www.olaug-ma.com

How Does OLAUG Work?

OLAUG members embark on underwater missions in pairs, with a kayaker accompanying each duo. The group explores various ponds across the Cape, discovering a range of items from old bottles dating back a century to contemporary debris like plastic bottles and vaping pens. Their discoveries can offer insight into the effectiveness of local pond associations in managing waste.

Cape's EV Infrastructure Lacking

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 02:43:46 GMT

Will missing charging infrastructure impact Cape Cod's tourism economy? New Assembly proposal asks state to pay attention to the gaps.

"I have introduced a resolution to the Assembly urging the County Government to write a letter to our state and federal authorities to direct some of the abundant infrastructure funds that are now available... to direct a small portion of those funds to developing fast chargers in Barnstable County..."

— Terry Gallagher

Eastham Delegate, Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates

Does Cape Cod Have EV Chargers?

07 December 2023 - EASTHAM, MA - Cape Cod's economy depends on tourists ... who increasingly arrive in electric vehicles (EVs). But the Cape lacks the needed infrastructure to support those vehicle, which raises the question: can the region remain competitive without investment in chargers?

Advocates say the region lacks any meaningful installed base of chargers, period. The area offers only a scattering of Level 2 chargers, three Tesla fast charger stations, and a single fast charger station for all other EVs. On the outer and lower cape, the Tesla charging station in Orleans represents the only fast charging option in an otherwise fast charger desert.

Does Cape Cod Need EV Chargers?

Driving from one end of the Cape to the other - from Falmouth to Provincetown - falls on the agenda of many visitors. But taking on the the 140-plus miles (or more with side excursions!) without easy-to-find charging options along the way pushes the comfort levels of the typical EV driver.

Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Niedzwiecki said that during the past two summers the chamber has received inquires about charging availability- and that the region needs more chargers in the right locations as soon as possible. Eastham Delegate to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates Terry Gallagher was even more blunt, asking the unaskable question: if the region is serious about tourism, will it take steps to ensure investment in EV infrastructure happens?

What was filed at Assembly regarding EV charging infrastructure?

Gallagher triggered the political process for infrastructure investment with a resolution asking the County Government to make a formal request for infrastructure funding, stressing how critical the investment is for the largest economic segment of the region.

What has been done to address the EV charging infrastructure issue?

In addition to the political side of the conversation, the Cape Cod Commission has begun working on the issue. Beginning in 2019 it developed maps to track potential charger locations and created a model by-law for EV charger siting. It has also been urging communities to look at where different types of chargers make the most sense, explore how charging stations and community goals intersect.

More coverage about EV issues on Cape Cod:

Green Holidays at Eddy Elementary School

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 02:49:52 GMT

Earth Club students raise money by recycling.

"'It's not like we have 20 earths, so we got to take care of our environment ... I hope this inspires you to recycle at home and to help the world more."

— Justin Danielson, 10

Earth Club member, Eddy Elementary School

What is the Earth Club?

The Earth Club at Eddy Elementary School in Brewster is all about the environment. For twelve years fifth graders have recycled the school's trash and they even bring it home – the knowledge of recycling, that is. Justin Danielson, 10, and his fellow Earth Club members are doing what they can to clean up the planet and their school. Every year they recycle used material to craft holiday decorations which they sell to raise money. Over the holiday break they think about what to spend the money on with two conditions; keep the revenue within Brewster and spend it towards the environment.

What do the children learn?

At Eddy Elementary School the environmental dedication spills over into other areas, such as the cafeteria. The students eat with reusable cutlery on reusable trays, and they throw their leftovers in separate compost bins. Patsy Marchant, Science Curriculum Coordinator, says that not only does this teach them climate friendliness, but it also is in par with the science curriculum for year five.

What are the ripple effects of recycling at the school?

The students care about the planet so much that they're giving up their recess and lunch hour to meet for the Earth Club. The students are not shy to reprimand teachers who are forgetting to use the designated recycling bins when they collect recyclables from each class room. Wendy O'Brien, retired education assistant and founder of Earth Club, can see a growth of character and self esteem in the kids.

For more information:

Seashore Welcomes New Superindentent

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 20:20:04 GMT

For Jennifer Flynn, top Seashore job also means returning to her roots.

"'I'm from Massachusetts ... Cape Cod is where I met the Park Service, it's where I was introduced to our mission, and it's a place that's always been really important to me ... "

— Jennifer Flynn

Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore

Who is the new Cape Cod National Seashore Superintendent?

For new Cape Cod National Seashore Superintendent Jennifer Flynn who began workin in her new role in November, coming to Cape Cod means coming home. More than 30 years ago she took on her first park role as a temporary employee at the Seashore - and went on to a career spanning six national parks and NPS headquarters.

She has spent 32 years with the National Park Service, most recently as Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection in at National Park Service headquarters in Washington DC. Just prior to that she spent 10 years Shenandoah National Park in Virginia as superintendent and deputy superintendent.

What does Flynn love about the Seashore?

Superintendent Flynn went to kindergarten on Cape Cod and her family has been visiting her almost every year since. Flynn says she "absolutely loves" Herring Cove, as well as Race Point and Marconi.

What are are the Cape Cod National Seashore's challenges?

Flynn says that the Seashore, like most parks, faces the challenge of managing climate change - that means sorting through topics like sea level rise, new weather patterns, and changes in wildfire occurrence. The goal, as the park moves into its second 50 years, lies in managing into perpetuity within a rapidly changing environment, so that the park will be here for future generations.

For more information:

Sheriff Changes Up Addiction and Mental Health Services

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 19:33:55 GMT

Essential mental health and addiction services get a new spin during the first year of Barnstable County Sheriff Donna Buckley's tenure.

"'The problem that we were having with our medical and mental health vendor is that they were unable to staff fully -- and in fact there were dangerous circumstances where there was sometimes no staff or very little staff ... "

— Donna Buckley

Barnstable County Sheriff

What did the Sheriff do with medical, mental health, and addiction services?

During her first year in office, Barnstable County Sheriff Donna Buckley changed the way the office delivers addiction and mental health services. Based on gaps in performance and a challenging labor market, the new sheriff pivoted to an in-house mode, hiring clinical staff directly.

What changed for addiction and mental health services?

Several years ago the Sheriff's Office joined the outsourcing trend and turned medical, mental health, and addiction services over to outside vendors. This experiment ultimately did not work as well as expected and during her first year in office Sheriff Buckley returned the model to direct employment. Gaps in staffing that created potentially dangerous environments provided the trigger for the change.

What kinds of clinical staff does the Sheriff's Office hire?

The Sheriff's Office is one of the largest employers on the Cape. It hires a range of clinical professionals including doctors, RNs, LPNs, counselors, and more. The clinical staff provides direct services as well as supporting programmatic efforts. By hiring directly, the office can offer more competitive salaries and benefits, supporting staffing in a tight labor market.

Why are health, mental health, and addiction services important?

Sheriff Buckley says offering these services plays a key role in supporting inmate rehabilitation and preventing future crime - thereby supporting overall community health. The majority of people who end up in the Barnstable County system have addiction and/or mental health issues and these often played a role in the criminal activity. While inmates pay the prices for what they did, the office also wants to ensure that when they complete their sentence and return to society, the inmate does not repeat their actions -- and health, mental health, and addiction treatment help address this.

For more information:

Celebrating Eastham's Iconic Eastham Turnip

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 20:13:57 GMT

A full house attended Eastham's icon root vegetable at the 20th annual Turnip Festival. More than 700 visitors and local entrepreneurs engaged in activities at the Eastham Library's Turn Up For Fun Day

"No one even knows where the original started. What's special about it? It's very unusual in the turnip world ... It grows very large and very sweet. There's kind of a mystique behind it of being a rare breed that's produced everywhere."

– Bob Wells

Owner Redberry Farm

What is the turnip festival in Eastham?

This year, celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Eastham Library organized the turnip festival in a handful different venues around the town. The main building, the library, housed around 750 celebrators participating in activities such as weight guess a giant turnip, art crafts, henna tattoos and a magic show. Thirty restaurants were adding turnip dishes to their menus for the day, and hungry turnip devotees could enjoy turnip croissants, turnip hummus and turnip ice cream.

What is the Eastham Turnip?

The Eastham turnip is a local variety especially known for its particularly sweet and mild flavor, as well as for its versatility. It has been grown in Eastham since the 1800s and is surrounded by a sense of mystique, according to turnip farmer Bob Wells who had brought a jar of turnip seeds directly descending from the original Eastham turnip. Where the heirloom's first seeds came from is still a mystery.

For more information:

Eastham Turnip Festival 2023

Turnips' nutritional value

Narrative Threads Connect Cape Quilt Exhibits

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 19:50:58 GMT

From history to modern fabric arts, quilts and fabric experts weave history on Cape Cod.

“There is still that stigma, although it has come a very long way … But now there are some forerunners on the field. We use the term fiber art now. And there are some great organizations and big shows around the country and its just very prestigious to be accepted. So, it's growing. "

– Judy Gaynes Sebastian

Fiber Artist

What is showing on Cape Cod?

Two unrelated quilt exhibits share different worlds connected by threads. In Orleans quilts reflect of history, while in Eastham fabric arts deliver a creative visual show. Together they weave a story of past and present expression using a format that dates back to ancient times.

What is fiber art?

Quilting, an ancient sewing technique of attaching at least three layers of fabric, has both a history and an active present and future. Artists in Eastham represent the future, showing a category of work called fiber art, a term used to describe works make with textiles. Judy Gaynes Sebastian is one of 18 fiber artists in the collective Fiber Artists of Cape Cod, and one of 13 members exhibiting her art at the Eastham Museum in November. She said quilting is a very popular form of expression, but has struggled to be accepted as a modern artform. The descriptive phase fiber art more accurately defines the medium, she explained.

How are quilts an important part of history?

At the Orleans exhibit, the focus lies on quilts in history with a wide range of quilts from the ages. Textile conservator Elaine Lipton said the oldest piece of quilt - dating back to 200 BC - was found in a cave in Mongolia. Soldiers in the American civil war were sent off with quilts to keep them warm, something they had in common with the crusaders who wore quilts under their armor for protection and warmth, she adds. She said sewing has historically been women's work and therefore was often seen as useful, but not valuable despite the obvious artistry in the work.

What are the two exhibits?

The Fiber Artists of Cape Cod Exhibit in Eastham Library showcases quilted abstract and realistic artwork. Exhibiting artists Judy Gaynes Sebastian said that although the pieces in display represent skilled work, anyone can take up quilting as a form of expresion even if they have never sewed before. Some of the quilts at the show at The Centers for Culture and History in Orleans date back almost 200 years.

For more information:

The quilt show at CHO in Orleans

The quilting guild on Cape Cod

Uncovering Local History on Pleasant Bay

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 22:43:35 GMT

Recently uncovered remains of a fish weir dating back to the 1800's leads us to generational Cape Codders sharing history about one of the oldest forms of local fishing.

"It's important for me to go for a boat ride and look around because this is the environment we live in. What's below us and around us is very important to me and observing it is how we learn."

– Jeff Norgeot

4th Generation Orleans Resident, Marine Construction

What can a boat ride and a sense of curiosity find in the Cape's ever-changing marine environment?

3 November, 2023 - CHATHAM, MA — Shifting sands on Pleasant Bay near Chatham, Massachusetts recently revealed the remains of a fishing weir dating back to the 1800's. Cape Codders whose families have lived and worked on the water surrounding the Bay for generations, talk to Lower Cape TV about their insights regarding this historical find.

Who can speak better about the history of fishing than 'generational Cape Codders'?

Ted Lucas can trace his family back to the Mayflower where there has been a long tradition of weir fishing. His grandfather started weir fishing in Provincetown in the late 1800's and his father moved to Chatham to set up weirs in the 1920's.

Steve Nickerson is part of the 11th generation of Nickersons that have lived and worked in the Chatham area of Cape Cod. For the most part these men had been fishermen or worked on the water in one way or another during these years. When Steve's grandfather asked his father, Joe what he wanted to be when he grew up, his father answered, "A fisherman!" His grandfather then shook his head and said, "No son, that's too hard a way to make a living."

How did a fish weir from the 1800's suddenly show up in the shallow waters on Pleasant Bay?

Jeff and Gretel Norgeot were out for a boat ride this summer, due east of Strong Island when Jeff saw what looked like a dark shape sticking up in the water. Upon further inspection, he saw there were several lined up in a pattern of a heart. Growing up on the bay, Jeff had known enough fish weirs to know this might be in the shape of a fish weir.

Then what happened?

LCTV's Coast & Climate reporter and Jeff Norgeot sent up a drone to see if they could get a birds-eye view and confirm the weir. They were not only surprised to find the shape was indeed a fish weir, but found a second weir to the right of the first one . Upon further inspection Jeff found the some of poles that would have been the top of weirs also recently uncovered by shifting sands on the nearby flats. He did more research to narrow down the dates the weir could have been constructed. The registry of fish weirs date back to the 1600's and Norgeot was able to find a Samuel Young had registered a fish weir in 1855 in the location where the weirs were found.

For more information on Pleasant Bay and Fishing Weirs:

Pleasant Bay: Protecting the Wild

Fishing Weirs: Past & Present

Breakfast4Vets Connects, Plans Housing

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:59:57 GMT

The first annual Breakfast4Vets drew military vets of all eras from across the Cape; MMSF also used the event to unveil plans for emergency housing for veterans

"Here on the Cape we've seeing a huge problem with people getting evicted at the last moment. Someone can can all of a sudden sell their house for a lot of money, they sell the house, the tenant's kicked out. Our emergency housing program would give people a place to land while they find permanent housing ..."

– Sarah Fecteau

Executive Director, Massachusetts Military Support Foundation

What was the Breakfast4Vets event?

In honor of Veterans Day - and the 248th birthday of the US Marine Corps - veterans connected for a first-ever breakfast for veterans hosted by nonprofit Massachusetts Military Support Foundation (MMSF). The meeting also unveiled the organization's plan to develop emergency housing for veterans on Cape Cod.

Hundreds from across Cape Cod gathered in Hyannis for the November 10 breakfast gathering. Breakfast served as an excuse and backdrop for the real business: connecting veterans to veterans and and supporting networking and conversations among those who have served across many eras.

What happened at Breakfast4Vets?

In addition to supporting critical connections, MMSF used the event to unveil its plans for temporary housing on the Cape. The plans fit into the organization's larger Emergency Housing 4 Veterans (EH4V) program.

Executive Director Sarah Fecteau explained that the Cape housing market trends see people selling housing and evicting tenants with little notice. It hopes to open a 10-unit building that would provide short-term rentals where people who have lost their housing can live while they search for permanent housing.

What is the planned housing?

During the breakfast, the organization showed architectural renderings and floor plans of 10 efficiency apartments. The group is looking at a site on South Street in Hyannis.

For more information:

Massachusetts Miliary Support Foundation

Emergency Homes4Vets Program

Summit Gathers Business Owners to Ditch Single Use Plastic

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:40:03 GMT

The fifth annual Take Care Cape Cod summit wants to help tourism and food service businesses transition to sustainable serviceware.

" This year we have a lot of participation because it is very timely. We have really peaked their interest by offering to bring organizations together to find solutions together and to collaborate ."

– Jill Talladay

Executive Director CARE For The Cape and islands

What is the Take Care Cape Cod Summit?

The fifth annual Take Care Cape Cod summit wants to help tourism and food service businesses transition to sustainable serviceware. During the day-long regional event in Harwich, the organization and local businesses shared pilot programs and approaches that deliver both business and environmental sense.

Creating A Responsible Environment for the Cape & Islands (CARE) joined with the Center for Coastal Studies and the Cape Cod Anti-Litter Coalition to produce this year's edition of the annual event. The summit theme for 2023 – The Rising Tide of Plastic Pollution: Sustainable Business Solutions – represents CARE's three year project to create a coalition supporting local businesses in putting an end to the use of plastic food service ware. Jill Talladay, Executive Director of CARE says the summit theme proved especially timely this year, given the addition of Yarmouth and Harwich to the growing roster of town with bylaws that prohibit single use plastic.

What happened at the Take Care Cape Cod summit this year?

The 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building in Harwich was abuzz with business owners, town representatives, NGOs and chambers of commerce , all gathered to share successful experiences and find new solutions to halt the use of plastic food service ware. A record number of people attended this year's summit on November 9 and Talladay said she was hopeful that the high turnout would lead to successful collaborations for the climate.

How is the summit contributing towards reducing plastic on the Cape?

The audience and the speakers engaged in discussions about already-proven strategies in switching from plastic to sustainable material, as well as other ways to successfully turn businesses environmentally friendly in a financially sustainable way. Mac Hay, owner of Mac's Seafood, shared his success story, acknowledging that business owners may feel challenged in the fight against climate change but that every step - however small - helps.

What happens after the summit?

Post-summit goals include gathering the summit attendees in quarterly meetings to keep the discussions going and to support each other's efforts in moving beyond plastic. CARE also plans to bring additional educational programs and guest speakers as well as reaching out to engage with those wh o were unable to participate in the summit.

For more information:

Yarmouth bans single use plastic water bottles

Harwich bans plastic food containers and utensils

CARE For The Cape and Islands

Lighting Up for Holiday and History

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 22:20:03 GMT

The Pilgrim Monument lit up on November 11th celebrating both the holiday and the history.

"Our vibe tonight is amazing. This is a great opportunity for our community to come tougher... we have people coming from all over the Cape to visit and see the lights turned on at 6pm ... "

— Dr. David Weidner

Executive Director, Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum

When does Pilgrim Monument light up for the holiday season?

The annual Cape Cod holiday tradition of "lighting the monument" happens on November 11, the date the Mayflower landed in Provincetown harbor. For decades Thanksgiving marked the official lighting date, but in recent years it reset to an historically meaningful date. But make no mistake, the Pilgrim Monument 3-2-1 holiday count down and holiday light up continues as festive as ever.

What happens at the lighting?

The Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum holds a fundraising festival on the museum ground just prior to the lighting, with food and music. It then begins a 3-2-1 countdown to the official lighting of strings of light from the base to the top of the 252-foot tower. Elsewhere in town people position themselves in view of the monument just before 6 and join in the count-down as well.

What does the lighting celebrate?

The lighting has been a holiday tradition at the tip of Cape Cod, but its November 11 date commemorates the day the Mayflower anchored in Provincetown harbor in 1620, where the group signed the Mayflower Compact establishing rule of law for the Pilgrims. It also recognizes the original inhabitants of the land and the history of Wampanoag people.

For more information:

Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum

Estate Tax Reset

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 03:54:10 GMT

Threshold for estate tax increases as part of 2023 tax reform bill; family house may no longer trigger a big estate tax payment

"'When the estate tax was established in Massachusetts a million dollar was set as the threshold; very few families had estates equaling that amount. Fast forward a couple of decades and particularly given the real estate market here, it;s actually quite easy for many families here to have an estate that crosses that million dollar threshold ... "

— State Sen. Julian Cyr

Massachusetts State Senator, Cape & Islands

What happened to Massachusetts estate tax?

Maybe you can't avoid death and taxes completely, but under new tax legislation signed into law last month by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy, mere mortals without a conga line of tax advisors can avoid a little of each. The multi-faceted $1 billion tax package includes changes to the Estate Tax, aka the bill that comes due from the tax collector when someone dies. We met with state senator Julian Cyr to learn a little more about this particular portion of the larger tax reform package.

What is the estate tax?

When a person dies, the value their home, car, boat, cash, investments, and other items of monetary value become subject to an estate tax.

What will the new legislation do to the estate tax?

The bill, which was signed into law in early October 2023, raises the trigger point of the estate tax from $1 million to $2 million. This means that estates valued at $2 million or less no longer owe an estate tax.

Why does the change to the estate tax matter?

While a $1 million estate may sound like a lot of money, in the current real estate market people often saw a basic family home trigger the estate tax threshold .... generating a hefty bill of nearly $100,000 in estate taxes. Families without ample resources had little choice but to sell a long-term family home in order the pay these estate taxes. The new $2 million threshold reflects current real estate realities and minimizes the impact on families who may have little wealth, but who owned homes that appreciated.

When does the law go into effect?

The law was signed in October 2023 but is retroactive to January 2023, thereby impacting the estates of those who died during 2023.

For more information:

Brewster Town Meeting Features Fourteen Articles

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 16:03:07 GMT

Millstone Rd, ADUs, and Short-term Rentals on Brewster Fall Town Meeting Agenda

When is the Brewster Special Fall Town Meeting?

Brew ster's Special Fall Town Meeting is on November 13, 2023 at Stony Brook Elementary School at 6:00pm

What is on the Agenda for the Brewster Special Fall Town Meeting?

The special fall town meeting will tackle crucial aspects of Brewster's infrastructure, housing, and community regulations . Lower Cape News sat down with Town Manager Peter Lombardi for more insight into agenda topics:

Article Two: Town Expenses and Infrastructure

This article concentrates on the Town of Brewster's standard capital and special project expenses.
A total of $3.3 million in funding requests is under consideration .
Of the requested funds, $750,000 stems from free cash, while a substantial portion focuses on golf capital requests.
Notably, the Select Board seeks $100,000 to develop a pond management plan and conduct pilot studies based on recommendations from the Water Resources Task Force.

Article Three: Millstone Road Project

Allocated funding of over $2.5 million aims to propel the Millstone Road Improvement Project forward.
A five-plus-year-long project has evolved after several community forums and adjustments based on resident feedback.
The project aims to enhance road safety and pedestrian connectivity without requiring permanent easements.

Article Five: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

A proposal seeks to amend Brewster's zoning bylaw concerning ADUs, responding to changing community needs.
Streamlining the existing bylaw is on the cards to facilitate residents in building ADUs, reflecting a more welcoming approach towards this land-use option.

Citizens Petitions: Short-Term Rentals ( Articles 13 and 14 )

Article 13 aims to establish a new registration system for the existing 1,100 short-term rental units in Brewster.
Article 14 seeks to limit the number of short-term rental units an individual can own, focusing on maintaining a balance between full-time residents and part-time residents.

Go here to view the Full warrant for the 2023 Special Fall Town Meeting in Brewster

Building Housing Solutions

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 03:47:03 GMT

More than 300 people came together to find options for the Cape and Island's year-round housing crisis

"'It's not good news that we're still losing a thousand households a year that make under $100,000... people are still are 400 deep in a wait list to get into an affordable rental... "

— Alisa Magnotta
CEO, Housing Assistance Corp.

What was the housing summit on Cape Cod?

More than 300 people gathered in Hyannis on October 26 to actively plan and take action to address the shrinking and increasingly expensive year-round housing options on Cape Cod and the Islands. This marks the second year of the summit, which Housing Assistance Corporation CEO Alisa Magnotta says draws on collective efforts to build solutions for an issue that impacts all aspects of the region's ability function.

What is Cape Cod's housing problem?

Cape Cod and the Islands housing has dramatically increased in price, it has limited availability, much of the housing stock gets used only seasonally, and the mix skews to single family homes with few rental options. As a result, year round families have been priced out of the market and off the Cape. A recent study found that the Cape is losing more than 800 households a year of people earning less than $100,000 and nearly half the region's workers now live off-Cape and commute. This impacts the region's economy and its environment, adds traffic to the bridges, and creates worker shortages in everything from health care to hospitality.

What caused the housing problem?

Magnotta said a combination of zoning and planning decisions, coupled with an overheated market and strong demand for second homes created the lack of rental housing, affordable housing, and overall availability of year-round housing. She noted that we created the problem, but that we can also find solutions to fix the problem as well.

What happened at the summit?

During the summit, a range of speakers from Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll to regional housing advocates and policy makers from individual towns shared updates on state and local initiatives underway. The goals were to share, learn, and create connections to trigger next steps.

More information:

Exposing Dark Money at Town Meeting

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:06:38 GMT

Efforts are underway to close the loophole exempting Town Meeting political activity from the Commonwealth's financial disclosure laws

"'Enough is enough .... We're seeing an unprecedented level of off-Cape and off-Island interests trying to sway voters one way or another most of the time for either an interest group or a set of individual peoples personal and financial gain ... "

— State Sen. Julian Cyr

Massachusetts State Senator, Cape & Islands

What is the Town Meeting loophole?

Massachusetts' campaign finance laws turn 50 this November - and two state elected officials from Cape Cod want to close a surprising loophole that left political activity at Town Meetings out of the financial disclosure requirements.

Triggered in part by the surge in PAC-style funding driving warrant article lobbying, State Sen. Julian Cyr from Truro and State Rep. Dylan Fernandes from Falmouth have filed a bill to close the loophole and make Town Meeting political activity subject to the same reporting requirement as other political activity.

What is Dark Money?

Dark Money refers to .political and campaign spending whose source can't be identified. It aligns closely with the practice of political action committees and similar organizations using a shell name to lobby for a particular outcome. For example, a group of fossil fuel advocates might fight against rebate funds for alternative fuels under the name "Citizens for Equal Transportation Rights." Without campaign finance disclosure laws, voters won't know that viewpoints expressed actually represent the fossil fuel industry which has a vested interest in the outcome as they listen to the arguments.

What will the proposed bill do?

The bill proposed by State Sen. Julian Cyr and State Re. Dylan Fernandes will simply make Town Meeting political activity subject to the same financial disclosure requirements that other political activity must follow.

Why is there a Town Meeting loophole?

Cyr says that lawmakers created what has become Chapter 55 of the Massachusetts General Laws 50 years ago, they didn't anticipate the type of political activity now seen at local Town Meeting and didn't address it in the legislation. However, the past few years have seen a rise in this type of activity, along with undisclosed funding for lobbying for or against Town Meeting articles.

For more information:

Shark, Sharks, and Stakeholders

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 21:09:12 GMT

Research explores the in teraction of sharks, seals, and the humans whose lives they impact on Cape Cod as the region's waters "re-wild"

"'I think there's a growing understanding that the beauty of this area is that you are taking risks .... what brings the beauty to this place is the wildness, the re-wilding, is what brings people here .... "

— Dr. Andrea Bogomolini

Chair, Northwest Atlantic Seal Research Consortium

What is the Rebounding Seal and Shark Populations study?

Opinions abound about the growing population of seals and sharks in the waters surrounding Cape Cod. In April 2022, the Woods Hole Sea Grant funded a collaborative research project to look into the attitudes of stakeholders — specifically voters, fishermen and tourists. The study yielded some surprising and reassuring findings.

This long-form reporting (23:50) explores what the study found as they looked at the perceptions and beliefs of the humans impacted by the re-wilding of Cape Cod waters.

Why did the study look at human stakeholders and their views of seals and sharks?

Humans decimated the North Atlantic population of both gray seals and white sharks. More recently, protections have helped the populations rebound - and created an inevitable clash of species and values ... along with many misconceptions and perceptions.

The research explored human interactions with sharks and seals, as well the different perceptions of these interactions, to better understand what the "re-wilding" of Cape Cod means and how humans respond to the shark and seal population growth.

Watch the full video:

Sharks, Seals, and Stakeholders

Orleans Special Town Meeting: Surprisingly Smooth Sailing with Key Measures Approved

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:37:44 GMT

Pesticide Ban, Firefighter Funding, and More Pass With Ease

What happened at the Fall 2023 Orleans Town Meeting?

Despite advance predictions that the Orleans special town meeting might be contentious, the event itself was surprisingly low key, with most articles passing one by one with majority votes. Approved articles included a home rule petition to manage pesticide use, an override for a ladder truck purchase, funding for eight new full-time firefighters, a position and a half in the recreation department, and a part time sustainability manager, as well as funding for pond alumn treatments and four EV charging stations. Failed articles included the specialized building code and funds for a study for pickleball courts .

Which articles passed with majority votes?

The Orleans special town meeting passed multiple significant article including:

Home Rule Petition for Pesticide Management:

Orleans residents passed a home rule petition to manage pesticide use .

Ladder Truck Purchase Override:

Town Meeting voted an override to support a ladder truck purchase.

Funding for Eight New Full-Time Firefighters:

Town Meeting voted in favor of hiring eight new full-time firefighters .

Recreation Department Staffing:

Town Meeting voters approved for a new position in the recreation department .

Part-Time Sustainability Manager:

Town Meeting backed the creation of a part-time sustainability manager position.

Pond Alum Treatments:

Voters pass funding for pond alum treatments, after lengthy debate.

EV Charging Stations:

Voters approved funding four new EV charging stations .

Which articles did not pass Fall 2023 Orleans Town Meeting?

While many articles passed, there were two notable articles rejected by Town Meeting voters:

Specialized Building Code:

While proposed amendment to building codes garnered robust discussion, it was ultimately not approved. Detractors cited concerns over increased costs, infrastucture restrictions, and life cycle of materials. A vote in favor would have made the town among the first in the state to adopt the Commonwealth's expended stretch code.

Funds for Pickleball Courts Study:

A request for funds to conduct a study for pickleball courts did not receive the green light. Officials said this decision may be revisited in the future as the community evolves. .

See the FULL Orleans Special Fall Town Meeting here :

What's That Artifact?

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 03:28:24 GMT

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History celebrates MA Archeology Month with a day to ID that special find.

"A lot of people hear the word 'archeology' and think about ancient Greece or Egypt ... but there's plenty of archeology that happens right here in our own state ... "

— Dan Zoto

Archeologist and Museum Volunteer

What is Artifact ID Day?

8 October 2023 — BREWSTER, MA - Is that an Arrowhead? Or just a pointy rock? The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster celebrated Massachusetts archeology month this October by welcoming the public to bring in their “finds” and learn more about them during Artifact ID Day.

The annual events educates people about the field of archeology and the wide range of items one finds on the Cape and Islands - from arrowheads and pottery to mystery rocks and bones. Each year brings a different mix of special finds.

What did people bring in as artifacts this year?

This year featured many stone-based items, including projectile tips of various types, as well as stones masquerading as artifacts. Past years included a variety of animal bones and teeth and mysterious rusted objects, as well as stone artifacts.

What makes something an artifact?

An artifact is any object made or manipulated by people and that shows some sort of physical evidence of past human touch. This could range from finished stone tools to by-products from the making of such a tool. Although technically objects more than 50 years old can be considered artifacts, not every older object is a significant artifact.

How can you tell the difference between a rock and an artifact?

Three types of observation help differentiate a rock from an artifact. Experts first look at the raw material; On the Cape and Islands, three types of stone form the raw material base for stone tools. Second, archeologists look at the shape of the item, noting features such as sharp or square edges. Finally, they examine the item for physical evidence of manipulation, such as a bifacial edge.

What should people do when they find an artifact?

If someone isn't sure what they have found, they can email a photo of it to the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History to better understand what they found. Archeologists encourage people to report significant finds to the the state to increase shared scientific knowledge. In addition, they encourage people to record where the item was found, by both its location and its surroundings - for example, noting it was found sticking out of the side of a newly eroded bank along a particular waterway.

For more info about archeology in Massachusetts:

You might also like ... Ten Thousand Years on Wing Island (October 2020)

Environmental Future in Orleans Engages All Ages

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 01:08:26 GMT

Pesticide reduction home rule petition draws students into local political process.

"'To change is really important ... We need to start to change our ways because the world will not be the same in a few years and we need to make sure we protect our environment, our wildlife, and make sure there is a better tomorrow "

— Edie Speigel

Student, Nauset Regional High School

What is the Orleans home rule petition for pesticide reduction?

As Orleans gets ready to vote on a home rule petition to reduce pesticide use, some younger citizens have taken the lessons of local government to heart, using the political process to work for a change that directly impacts their future

The petition appears as an article on the October 16 special Town Meeting and would enable Orleans to set its own guidelines for pesticides rather than defaulting to the state guidelines. The process begins in Orleans but then moves to the statehouse, and the cycle could take several years.

Who is involved in the pesticide reduction petition?

Many different groups have engaged in the process, including high school students. Edie Speigel and Coleman Lincoln shared with Lower Cape News the reasons why they began engaging in local political activity with the pesticide reduction petition, why it makes a difference for their generation, and what they learned along the way.

Why do proponents say the pesticide reduction petition is important?

Proponents say that indiscriminate pesticide use creates many environmental damages and that commercial scale application already happens in Orleans across residential properties. The chemicals spread far beyond the area in which they are used, contaminating local waterways and ponds as well the drinking water aquifer. In addition, they decimate the insect population. Insects form a cornerstone of the ecosystem by serving as a food source for larger animals and pollinating plants; without them our environment would not function.

The petition would not ban all pesticide use, but would reduce and manage it.

For more information:

Pesticide home rule petition

Beech Tree Forest Inducted into Old-Growth Network

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 23:55:25 GMT

Only remaining old-growth forest in Barnstable County joins national network

"'They are really really special ... and there are so few of them left."

— Sarah RobbGrieco

Northeast Program Manager, Old-Growth Forest Network

What happened at the Beech Tree Forest

The National Seashore's Beech Tree forest in Provincetown just joined a very special group. In October, it was inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network, a selection which recognizes the forest's role the only remaining old growth forest in Barnstable County. The ceremony included a blessing by Toodie Coombs of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and a trail tour and Q&A with Cape Cod National Sea Shore staff.

What is the Old-Growth Forest Network

According to Northeast Project Manager Sarah RobbGreico, the Old-Growth Forest Network is a nonprofit organization that recognizes old-growth forest across the county, forests which are both protected and allow for public access. By recognizing these unique places, the organization hopes people will come to appreciate, respect, and support their preservation.

More stories about the Cape Cod National Seashore:

AmeriCorps Brings on 25th Cape Cod Cohort

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:37:51 GMT

Ceremony welcomes latest AmeriCorps class, marking 25 years of environmental service on Cape Cod

"'It changed my life ... I had graduated college, I had a coastal management degree ... I was able to make professional and personal connections that basically created what what my career looks like now. This program impacted me deeply and I wouldn't be where iIam today without it."

— Kat Garofoli

Program Manager, AmeriCorps

What did AmeriCorps just do on Cape Cod?

This fall AmeriCorps celebrated its 30th birthday ... and enrolled its 25th Cape Cod cohort. The program's 579 Cape alumni say the program changed them, while community partners say the work done by AmeriCorps members impacts the Cape in positive and long-term ways. The national service program brings young people to the Cape for 11 months of natural resources, community, and environmental projects.

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps Cape Cod is part of a national service program. It brings young people to the Cape for 11 months of natural resources, community, and environmental projects. Cape Cod "graduated" its first year of alumni in 1999 and this fall swore in its 25th class. Members live in AmeriCorps housing on the Cape and tackle a variety of projects with a focus on the environment; many alumni have continued to live on the Cape, working in natural resources and related roles.

The federal agecy AmeriCorps celebrates its 30th birthday this year. It enrolls more than 200,000 participants across 36,000 locations annually to "improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering."

For more information:

Watch full Cape Cod 25th class ceremony here

Stormy's Garden

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:00:54 GMT

Right whale expert Dr. Charles "Stormy" Mayo has another passion; gardeners and artists know him for his 600+ dramatic dahlias

"I was able to propagate from other people's dahlias that were in town ... and I started propagating them just because it's fun to do, to make a plant out of just a little shoot ... and that led me into it ... "

— Dr. Charles "Stormy" Mayo
Provincetown, MA dahlia grower and marine biologist

What is special about Stormy Mayo's Provincetown dahlia garden?

People know Dr. Charles "Stormy" Mayo for his expertise with North Atlantic right whales , but he holds another reputation as well: In his Provincetown, MA garden he cultivates a passion for dramatic dahlias. With more than 600 flowers fronting the street of his home, the abundance and diversity of flowers draws interest from visitors, artists, and other gardeners, and has become a destination landmark of sorts in Provincetown.

How did the garden start?

Dr. Charles "Stormy" Mayo says he started with some tubers that had been planted by this late first wife, and soon the fascination of propagating diverse flowers grew into hundreds of plants. Today he cross breeds and tracks his flowers, creating new variants and amassing an eye-catching seven gardens, which have been reflected in artwork and in the local lore of the town.

How has the dahlia garden grown?

From its humble beginnings, the garden expanded over time to seven gardens and now features a range of different dahlias . Mayo grows known cultivars and show dahlias, as well as growing new plants from seed - and ending up with beautiful and sometimes surprising new flowers. The flowers last until the first hard frost of the year, then go dormant until they are replanted in the next season.

Fire, Pesticides, and Energy

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 17:44:00 GMT

New fire fighters and ladder truck, pesticide reduction, and energy questions headline Orleans Special Town Meeting.

"'Orleans is a very engaged town and we have a lot of issues that we are addressing and we need to go to town meeting because the Town Meeting is our legislative body that makes the decisions on the issues and our budgets of how we move forward as a the town. These issues come up at various stages in the year ..."

— Michael Hermon

Chair, Orleans Selectboard

Why is there a fall Special Town Meeting?

In a growing trend toward twice yearly town meetings, on October 16 Orleans residents have a chance to vote on 33 articles , including investment in the fire department, several energy and environment decisions, and a home rule petition addressing pesticide use .

Orleans, like many other municipalities, needs a fall town meeting to address issues and budget items which have come up since the Annual Town Meeting in the spring. Based on the structure of the town, many town issues require Town Meeting votes to move forward.

When is there Orleans fall Special Town Meeting?

This fall's special Town Meeting is October 16, 6 pm, at the Nauset Regional Middle School . The town expects the meeting will b completed in one evening.

What does the Orleans Special Town Meeting include?

The Orleans fall Special Town Meeting incorporates 33 articles - 32 issues and one article to adjourn. Among the key topics:

Addition of 8 fire fighters
Updated cost for a new ladder truck
A pesticide reduction rule
A solar energy project at the water treatment plant
Budgeting for pond alum treatments
EV charging stations
Addition of part time sustainability manager
Passage of the state's optimized stretch code

For more information:

See the full Town warrant:

https://town.orleans.ma.us/894/Town-Meeting-Information

Beware of the Silent Killer: Sepsis

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:00:29 GMT

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition triggered by the body's response to infection, often goes unnoticed

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a preventable yet potentially deadly disease, often misunderstood by the public. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a significant campaign to educate the public about sepsis, urging everyone to know the signs and symptoms.

Understanding sepsis: What are the symptoms?

Kevin Roy, a medical expert from Cape Cod Hospital, shed light on sepsis as a critical medical condition. He emphasized the need for vigilance regarding symptoms such as temperature changes, infections, mental decline, and exhaustion, encouraging prompt medical attention.

Dealing with sepsis: Is there any support?

Representative Chris Flanagan, alongside dedicated advocates like Jerry Bedard, underscores that those affected by sepsis are not alone. A strong network of survivors and resources on Cape Cod exists to support individuals grappling with the aftermath of sepsis.

Sepsis is a formidable opponent, but awareness and early intervention can save lives. Education and community support are crucial tools in combating this often underestimated but deadly disease.

For more information:

Centers For Disease Control and Prevention

Sepsis Alliance

Orleans Land Purchase Creates More Than Conservation

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:52:27 GMT

The purchase of 4.5 acres on Eli Rogers Road creates impact far larger than its size, touching on drinking water, watershed, species protection and even human housing.

"'This is definitely one of the more complex projects that we have taken on, certainly different than our typical path of coming in with an undeveloped property, conserving that land, and more or less leaving it as it or maybe managing the habitat a little ..."

— Steve O'Grady
Executive Director, Orleans Conservation Trust

What did Orleans Conservation Trust Do?

The Orleans Conservation Trust purchased 4.5 acres off Eli Rogers Rd this summer -- and triggered a process that impacts drinking water, the Pleasant Bay watershed, species and environment conservation, housing, and land fragmentation in one strategic acquisition.

The state designates the land as Zone 2 ground water protection district, which means it is essential for protecting drinking water. The land currently holds houses and septic systems, and by removing all but one of these, the trust minimizes nitrogen and other elements, buffering the town's water supply and removing source pollutants from the Pleasant Bay watershed. It also conserves habit and supports multiple species including box turtles and spotted salamanders.

In an unusual twist, however, the trust is also collaborating with regional housing organizations to put an existing four bedroom house into use as a year-round home. It is also collaborating with both the water district in Orleans and across town lines with Brewster and the adjacent Brewster Conservation Trust land to plan for appropriate public access and future planning.

What does the property include?

The property includes two run down cottages, one four bedroom home in need of some repair, a vernal pond, and upland woodlands. A similar property next door was subdivided into four house lots; Orleans Conservation Trust executive director Steve O'Grady says would have been a likely outcome for this property as well.

What will happen next?

The Orleans Conservation Trust says that it needs to finish fundraising and grant writing to pay off the property purchase. It will begin removing the old septic systems, complete an environmental assessment and "undevelop" the property. It will also work with a regional housing organization to return one house to year round use. And, it will collaborate with the Orleans Water District and the Brewster Conservation Trust to plan appropriate public access as well.

What about fragmentation?

The pressures of development have created a landscape where protected blocks of land are not contiguous. This fragmentation makes it difficult for wildlife and habitat to flow across distance and creates islands of conservation instead of a larger system. Land conservation efforts have been working to build interconnected blocks of protected land that are linked to each other, essentially filling in some of the gaps between the island. The Eli Rd. property helps connect several other areas to each other, providing a pathway for wildlife and habitat.

Brewster Fire Dept.Gets Help with Labor Shortage

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 17:53:21 GMT

Multiple Grants Help Brewster Fire Department Ready for the Next Generation

Is there a Shortage of Firefighters?

The Brewster fire department is grappling with a significant challenge: a high turnover rate that has left them with a predominantly young workforce. Members are leaving for better wages or retiring, necessitating the hiring of young, less-experienced individuals to fill these gaps. This situation underscores the vital need for comprehensive training programs.

Addressing the Skills Gap

Chief Robert Moran sheds light on this issue and emphasizes the importance of bridging the skills gap among the younger firefighters. He talks about the recent grants that have been instrumental in providing essential training and equipment. A FEMA Assistance to Firefighter Grant in 2021, totaling $152,000, facilitated training in Fire Instructor One and Fire Officer One, crucial for foundational firefighter skills.

Boosting Decision-making Abilities

One of the key benefits of these training programs is enhancing rapid decision-making abilities during emergencies. This extends to various scenarios, including fires, auto accidents, and common emergencies. The goal is to equip firefighters, especially those moving up the ranks, with the knowledge and experience to respond effectively to critical situations.

Splashing and Paddling in Swim for Life

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:54:03 GMT

More than 250 swimmers plus Provincetown Harbor plus Wellfleet's Great Pond adds up to a 36th successful Swim for Life

"'It's created a quintessential Provincetown tradition. It becomes like a reunion for people. People come here from all over the country ... People are committed..."

— Jay Critchley
Artist/Activist/Organizer of Swim for Life

What is the 36th Annual Swim for Life?

More than 250 swimmesr swam and paddled their way in Provincetown Harbor and Wellfleet's Great Pond during the 36th edition of Swim for Life, a fundraiser for AIDS and women’s health, founded in 1988. Lower Cape News talked with Jay Critchley, artist, activist, and organizer of the Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla for this years highlights and a bit of event history.

What happens in the Swim for Life event?

The Provincetown Swim & Life and Paddler Flotilla brings together hundreds of people to swim and paddle to support community organizations. Just after Labor Day, swimmers stroke through both Provincetown Harbor and Great Pond in Wellfleet while waving crowds, cowbells, and shoreline support cheer them on. Prayer flags flap in the breeze to honor both those lost and those who provide support.

What does Swim for Life support?

The event started in 1988 to raise funds for AIDs organization but today it benefit multiple organization that support the year round health and well-being of the Provinceton and Cape Cod communities. This year it topped more than $200,000 in support for local organizations including the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Helping our Women, Outer Cape Health Services, and many more .

Cape Cod Fall Garden Guide

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:40:48 GMT

Late Season Gardening: A Guide to September Planting and Blooms

A Bountiful Garden Awaits

In the latter half of September, with ample time left in our growing season, there's still plenty to plant and enjoy in the garden. In this guide, we'll delve into some fascinating plants that thrive this time of year, and the vibrant blooms that punctuate the autumn landscape.

Heptacodium: A Beautiful Late Bloomer

As autumn takes its reign, we introduce the Heptacodium, also known as the seven-son flower tree. This elegant shrub or small tree offers a unique charm, captivating gardeners with its long-lasting flower buds and delightful fragrance. The flower bracts turn a stunning red in late season, providing winter interest. Heptacodium boasts exfoliating cinnamon bark and an attractive shape, making it a perfect addition to smaller gardens.

Paniculata Hydrangeas: Versatile and Hardy

Paniculata hydrangeas are stealing the spotlight across Cape gardens. These versatile plants bloom on new wood, making them resistant to late frosts and forgiving of pruning mishaps. With their graceful, arching branches and beautiful white flowers that turn shades of red in fall, they make a striking statement in any landscape. Varieties like Fire Light, Zinfandel, and Bobo offer a range of options based on size and color, allowing for flexible landscaping choices.

Late Season Perennials: A Burst of Color

Despite nearing the end of September, perennial gardens are still vibrant with colors and blooms. Asters, agastache, rudbeckias, phlox, and goldenrod continue to thrive, presenting a myriad of hues. Whether it's the traditional purples, pinks, and whites or the surprising goldenrod in shades of yellow, late season perennials add charm and vitality to your garden, proving that autumn is far from dull.

Cape Flyer Completes Decade of Rail Success

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 17:43:15 GMT

With 125,000 passengers and counting, CCRT's Cape Flyer train proves that riding the rails delivers visitors and economic benefits

"Now with the pending bridge construction, any opportunity to get people here without their cars is an opportunity everyone should be pursuing ... "

— Tom Cahir
Administrator, Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority

What is the Cape Flyer?

15 September 2023 - HYANNIS, MA - On Labor Day, the Cape Cod Regional Authority's (CCRTA) Cape Flyer train completed its tenth season - and in that decade transformed from a question mark of an idea to a seasonal success, showing how an application of rails can reduce auto traffic and increase economic activity at the same time.

CCRTA Deputy Administrator Kathy Jensen says the Cape Flyer lets the Cape the vacation begin in Boston, when the train leaves South Station complete with bar and concessions. Dedicated bike cars enable cyclists to easily transport their bikes, and everyone enjoys the scenic route to Bourne and Hyannis without sitting in traffic.

Who runs the Cape Flyer

Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority operates the service, using MBTA commuter trains. The brightly-branded cars run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and use existing rail tracks between South Station in Boston and the transportation center in Hyannis.

What happened this year with the Cape Flyer?

This year marked the successful tenth year of operation. After the Labor Day weekend, CCRTA Administator Tom Cahir said that the service had transported more than 125,000 visitors over the decade.

Why has the Cape Flyer worked?

Cahir and Jensen say the train service built its success from a combination of focused marketing, logistics, and partnerships. For examples, CCRTA works with organizers of events such as the Falmouth Road Race to bring people to the Cape without adding cars to highways and bridges. It coordinates with other transportation modes to coordinate transporation through to the ferries or onward through bus service. And it supports different way of experiencing the Cape, such as enabling bicycles to take the train to Bourne, cycle the length of the Cape, and return to Boston from Provincetown via boat.

Why does the Cape Flyer matter?

The Cape Flyer provides a car-free alternative for reaching the Cape. This broadens accessiblity, removes cars from overburdened highways, helps reduce back-up at the Cape bridges, and minimizes the environmental impact of travelling to the Cape.

Focus on Cape Cod Canal Bridge Builds

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 03:19:44 GMT

Funding for Sagamore Phase 1 and environmental Impact statement take front stage in bridge building project

"The Army Corps did a study which identified what's the most feasible economic solution to the two current roadway bridges that are crossing the canal ... When they looked at it as economically feasible, they came back with 'It really doesn't make sense to invest a magnitude of money that's going to maintain a structure that's over 90 plus years old'... "

— John Bechard
Deputy Chief Engineer for Project Development, Mass DOT

What is happening with the Cape Cod Canal bridges?

With both Cape Cod Canal bridges ready for replacement, the effort this fall focuses on completing an environmental impact statement and and funding Phase 1 construction at the Sagamore Bridge. Lower Cape News caught up with John Bechard, Deputy Chief Engineer for Project Development at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to learn the latest on the project.

Are the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges getting replaced?

Bechard says that the Army Corps of Engineers, which own and maintain the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, came to the conclusion that it made no economic sense to invest in 90-plus year-old metal and concrete. This triggered a planning process to find alternatives and yes, the bridges will be replaced.

What will replace the current bridges?

The planning process continues, but but at this point the collaborative effort between the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Army Corp of Engineers identifies building four new bridges and re-configuring all the local roads around the new traffic flow.

Two of the new bridges will send traffic west off the Cape, while the other two new bridges will send traffic east onto Cape Cod. There will be two lanes of travel on each bridge, along with a separated pedestrian and bicycle path and proper highway shoulders along the traffic lanes. The two Sagamore replacement bridges will be to the south side of the current bridge, while the two Bourne replacements bridges will be to the north side of the current bridge. In addition, a long merge lane will run into Route 6, giving traffic a safer path.

Who will own the new bridges?

The state and Army Corp of Engineers have an MOU under which Mass DOT will own and maintain the new bridges as it does the highways leading onto and off of the bridges

What is happening this fall?

Originally, the state hoped for funding to take on both bridges and all the interconnections at the same time, but this was not approved by the federal government. Instead, the state has resubmitted a phased plan, which funds and constructs the Sagamore Bridge as first stage. It hopes to hear on the federal funds by early 2024. The federal government ha also asked for a full environmental impact statement and work on that is also under way this fall..

Cancer Concerns for Firefighters

Sat, 09 Sep 2023 01:53:44 GMT

Brewster Fire Department holds skin cancer screening in response to firefighter's increased risk

"Firefighter have an elevated risk of cancer due to the occupational exposures they have. A lot of chemicals when they burn they don't disappear they actually particularize and aerosolize ... "

— Dr. Christine Kannler
Dermatologist

Why are firefighters at increased risk for cancer?

According to dermatolgist Dr. Christine Kannler, firefighters have an increased risk of cancer due to occupational exposure to a variety of chemicals, from inhaled burning carcinogens to skin-to-soot absorption. Kannler became involved in the state screening progrm for melanoma and other skin cancers after her firefighter brother passed away from cancer at the age of 36.

How prevalent is cancer among firefighters?

Retired firefighter and fire instructor Joe Marchetti is part of the Massachusetts Fire Academy cancer awareness and prevention program. He says that 65% of the line of duty deaths in the fire service are due to cancer.

What did Brewster Fire Departement do?

On September 1 the Brewster Fire Department held a skin cancer screening clinic at the fire station with Dr. Kannler, as part of statewide effort to screen and create awareness in order to reduce cancer deaths among firefighters.

Short Term Rental Inventory Impacts Seaon's Results

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 17:02:13 GMT

A growth in short term rental listings combined with listing prices tell the 2023 Cape Cod seasonal rental story

"Those years especially 2020, 2021 ... those are years that we are unlikely to ever reach again in terms of the demand, and so bookings just far outweighed any other year we've ever seen on our site and so it's a struggle to try to compare ourself now to those years. The demand is not going to reach that point. So what we're tyring to do is compare what we were like prior to the pandemic and have come out on top of that ... "

— Jim Reese
COO, Weneedavaction.com

What were the summer 2023 short term rental results?

Cape Cod seasonal rental bookings company weneedavacation.com said the economic message from summer 2023 might be summed up as back to business as usual. Contrary to early some early season anecdotal reports, the data weneedavaction.com has shows that rental numbers have returned to the long term curve. Higher vacancy rates and the general sense that more space remained arose largely from an increase in inventory.

What was the impact of the pandemic?

The exceptionally high demand for Cape rentals during the pandemic years were outliers, driven by travel that focused on local and driving holidays. These numbers were a blip in the long term data, according to weneedavacation.com COO Jim Reese. The short term rental company has long term data and says that the numbers from 2023 follow patterns from 2019 and prior years.

In addition, a number of home owners and investors turned to the seasonal rental market to generate income from their pandemic purchases, flooding the market with inventory while at the same time asking for higher rental rates. The market - now operating at pre-pandemic levels - responded and some of these newer and higher priced propeties did not book as quickly as they may have the previous year.

What long term changes did the region see?

The rise in popularity in the shoulder seasons, especially the fall, was growing before the pandemic and has surged since. Reese suggests the ability to work from home may have created additional flexibility leading to demand during these periods.

In addition, a combination of increased pricing and a preferences for "staying in" has driven increased expectations from seasonal renters, with demands for more in-home amenities such as patios, firepits, and other home-based socialization centers.

Cape Cod Game Shop Offers Community

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:40:37 GMT

Owner of Vanguard Table Top Gaming discusses his experience within the Cape Cod gaming community

"A wolf club learns to be a wolf by playing, humans ... are the same, we learn to be humans by playing games"

-Sean Parker

Owner/Vanguard Games

What is Vanguard Table Top Gaming?

Vanguard is a center for learning and gaming located in Hyannis, MA. with expertise in role playing, miniature, and trading card games. Beyond games and supplies, Vanguard offers a collaborative space for players to learn, customize their games, and play together.

From the website: "Vanguard has six rooms for tabletop gaming. The first floor is wheelchair accessible, and the second floor is overflow. Vanguard also has a miniature-painting station with air-brush booth and (coming soon!) a cosplay workshop. Finally, Vanguard houses a full-service hobby shop for all your tabletop gaming needs"

What is a Table-top vs a Role Playing Game?

Table top games refer to any game played collectively, in real life, most often utilziing a board, figurines, dice, cards, or any combination of these. Role-Playing games are a specific type of tabletop game, where players can create and customize both characters and the game itself. Learn more from our coverage of Fistful of Dice: An RPG Primer

Eddy Ready?

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:35:25 GMT

The 2023-24 school year begins in days; a Brewster principal shares a few words of wisdom as students get ready to start a new year.

"We're looking for two way communication. We're looking for involvement in the schools in a way that halted during COVID - so that's definitly a change we are working on ... to make our schools communitys chools lwhere families and caregivers and community members are invited in to share their expertise and be part of our students' learning opportunities ... "

— Steve Guditus

Princiapl, Eddy Elementary School

When does the school year start?

Lower Cape Cod schools start right after Labor Day.

In the Monomoy district , Grades 1-12 start Tuesday Sept. 5, with kindergarten starting Thursday Sept 7.
In the Nauset district , schools, grades K-12 start Thursday Sept 7, with pre-K starting Wednesday Sept 13.
In Provincetown , grades K-8 start Tuesday September 5.

What about COVID 19 concerns or impact on schools?

COVID no longer impacts daily operations, says Brewster's Eddy Elementary principal Steve Guditus. While it follows CDC protocols if student, teacher, or staff is sick, other than that the school is all-in with all in-person. However, the school has adapted some of the tools used remotely during the pandemic and is deploying them within in-person scenarios, for example connecting adult experts in a remote location with kids in the classroom.

What is Eddy READY?

As the school moved out of the COVID pandemic era, it adopted an acronym to summarize its philosophy and expectations. "Eddy READY" asks students and families to build a culture of Respect, Empathy, Accountability, Determination, and "Your-best." These underlie the core values and deep learning approach that the school hopes will mark the 2023-24 school year and become part of the post-pandemic school environment.

What is different this school year?

In many ways, this new school year reflect a return to pre-pandemic values. One strong initiative in Brewster involves actively inviting families, caregivers and members of the community to come into the school and be part of the learning experience - a marked change from the past several years.

Tales to Tails

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 19:19:23 GMT

Furry paws meet young readers in a tale of tails at Brewster Ladies Library as youngsters read aloud to an attentive audience of canine companians

"Its gives children an opportunity reading to an audience that doesn't judge them ... "

— Nori Morganstein

Youth Services Director, Brewster Ladies Library

What is Tales to Tails?

Tales to Tails brings together children and dogs at the library, letting children read along to a very willing listening audience. The trained therapy dogs who participate in the program know how to tune in to early readers, encouraging them without judging their reading or the way the say a word out loud, providing the young readers with practice and encouragement. In return, the pups love having their ears and bellies rubbed by the whole family.

What happened at Brewster Ladies Library on Cape Cod?

Youth Services Director Nori Morganstein said 63 children and eight dogs spent the rainy day reading together. Dogs of all sizes and breeds wagged tails, wiggled ears, and listened with bright alert eyes as children at many different reading levels shared books with their furry companions. This marks the ninth year the library has offered the popular Tales to Tails reading day.

What are the benefits of kids reading to dogs?

For beginning readers, the dogs bring a non-judgemental ear that encourages and supports the reading effort. The pups listen and never criticize a mispronunciation or a stumble - but provide an attentive audience. The opportunity to read aloud strengthens reading skills and reading confidence in new readers - and the library says that the canine audience brings the perfect partner for children as they find their way with the written word.

Old Bacteria Create New Beach Problems

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 04:42:00 GMT

Three popular bayside beaches in Eastham closed temporarily - not from today's contamination, but from a surprising historical source.

" We have experienced some high counts of certain types of bacteria and the counts weren't going down .... we had to investigate what could possible be causing it and eliminate all the normal things and none of those things were occurring ... and so we had to do a deep dive "

— Jacqui BeeBe

Town Administrator, Eastham, MA

What happened at Cooks Brook and South Sunken Meadow Beaches in Eastham?

On Eastham's bay side beaches, routine beach monitoring identified high counts of enterococcus bacteria - but none of the usual suspect such as animal waste, septic, or runoff accounted for it. The counts remained high, the beaches remained closed, and the mystery grew. Eventually the town's research found the source: ancient cedar trees and ancient peat exposed by erosion. As the beach elevation dropped, a darker denser material appeared ... a layer of ancient peat. Once exposed, the centuries-old layer released centuries-old bacteria into the water.

Has this happened before?

While contamination from ancient bacteria is not common, in certain coastal configurations it can happen. It turns out these Cape Cod bay beaches have the right attributes and as the coast rises and lowers with the seasons and the weather at some times the old layer emerge. Town health agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos says Eastham also saw this happen in the 1980s and 1990s.

Should we worry about ancient bacteria?

This exposure to ancient peat and it embedded bacteria is a natural phenomenon. The health risk takes the form of gastrointestinal illness and comes from ingesting the water, ie, if you don't drink it you are probably OK. Health agent Greenberg-Lemos also cautions aainst exposing open cuts or wounds to the contaminated water.

Is the beach safe now?

Eastham's bay beaches re-opened in August after six days of safe testing, showing they were no longer contaminated by ancient bacteria.

In general, how do I know any Cape Cod beach is safe from bacteria?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts keeps a current list on its website , identifying the most recent beach closings by town.
Barnstable County also posts notices and offers a searchable Cape and Islands test list .
The Association to Preserve Cape Cod monitors freshwater cyanobacteria outbreaks with a graphical map and an alert email list .

Learn more about the 2023 Cape Cod beach closure in this Lower Cape News report .
Learn more about cyanobacteria pond closures in this 2022 Lower Cape News video .

Fresh Face in Orleans

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 03:44:34 GMT

For the first time in 26 years, Orleans has a new town manager.

"I like knowing the people in the community, I like seeing the things we talk about come to fruition..."

— Kim Newman

Town Manager, Orleans

Who is the new town manager in Orleans?

Kimberly Newman started as the town manager in Orleans in July 2023. She has 20 years of professional management experience in municipalities ranging in size from 10,000 to more than 100,000 people and has worked in Kansas, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Most recently she was the town administrator in Mendon, MA.

When was the last time Orleans had a new administrator?

Until July, Orleans had the same town administrator since 1996 - the year Bill Clinton was elected to his second term as president and everyone was doing the Macarena and buzzing about the first flip phone. The town had one of the longest serving administrators on Cape Cod.

Why did Orleans rename the position?

With the change in personnel after the retirement of long-time town administrator John Kelly, Orleans restructured the position into one of town manager. The change frees the selectboard to focus on policy more than administrative details. A manager can hire, fire, and sign contracts directly for example, while the selectboard focuses the town's goals and direction.

See a longer conversation with Orleans' new town manager at Red Nun Talks ... With Kim Newman .

Cape Cod Family Fun

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:20:04 GMT

Things to do for kids and families on Cape Cod with weekly updates.

November 17 - 25

Get family ready to enjoy the holiday week with "Dino" days during dinosaur month the Chatham and Harwich libraries ... "Turn-up" at the annual Turnip Festival in Eastham ... or join in some turkey crafts in Wellfleet.

August 25 - September 1

This week's free family fun takes us to a Line Dancing at the Wellfleet Pier, Wildlife Olympics at the National Seashore, and Snow's Library.

This Week, Aug 18 - 25

This week's free family fun takes us to a Cape Symphony concert at the National Seashore's Amphitheater in Eastham perfect for all ages, a morning story-time and yoga in Truro for the littlest ones, and the ever-popular Touch-a-Truck in Brewster.

Aug 11-18

This week, family fun ranges from matinees to slithery snakes. Make stops in Chatham, Brewster and Wellfleet for movies, educational snake visits and an improv workshop for kids.

Aug 4 - 11

For this week's family fun, we're exploring the National Seashore, enjoying a live shadow puppet show and attending an exciting educational performance about honeybees.

July 28 - August 4

This week, we're bringing you family-friendly live entertainment to watch: from storytimes to movies to outdoor theatre. As always, it's all free and fun.

July 21 - 28

For this week's calendar of enjoyable events, we're getting up close and personal with chickens, crafting at the salt pond, and juggling in Eastham.

July 14 - 21

This week we're getting outdoors, meeting some of our favorite Cape Cod baseball stars and learning about some of the most mysterious creatures in nature: bats.

July 7-14

For this week's family fun, we're bringing you a calendar of recurring free outdoor concerts that pair perfectly with a picnic.

June 30 to July 7

As the July Fourth holiday approaches, we're bringing you a calendar of fireworks displays in the area—fun for the whole family to enjoy. Orleans, Chatham and Provincetown will be lighting up the skies this week with free events for locals and vacationers alike.

June 23 - June 30

We're bringing you this week's exciting and low-cost local events for the whole family to enjoy. For June 23-30: spend some quality time reading to dogs at the library, get educated about sharks and witness the wonders of butterflies.

June 16 - June 23

In this new weekly feature, we're bringing you this week's exciting and free local events for the whole family to enjoy. For June 16-23: Eat some fresh strawberries, celebrate horseshoe crabs and get your hands dirty in the garden.

Sun and Thunder

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 21:20:27 GMT

Extreme summer weather impacts powering up on Cape Cod - but a little planning can help the stressed power grid and the stressed power bill

"It's very simple things to do, but it does actually make an impact, particuarly if you are able to do a few small things together that then starts adding up and you really feel the difference ... "

— Chris McKinnon

Spokesperson, Eversource

What impact does extreme summer weather have on power?

Cape Cod has often thought of energy use and power outages in terms of winter, blizzards, and Nor'easters, but extreme summer heat and storms now bring as much impact. On the Cape extreme thunder storms with very high winds and thunder and lightening create outages while temperatures into the 90s increasingly add extra demand on the power grid. In fact, electrical use is 40% greater in the summer than in the winter, says Eversource spokesperson Chris McKinnon, largely do to air conditioning demands.

What small steps can people take in the heat?

It turns out that small steps make a difference in the draw on Cape Cod's power grid -- not to mention saving money on power bills. It might not seem like much but small simple actions add up. Some easy to implement ideas include:

Closing blinds over windows during the heat of the day, especially on south facing windows that pull in extra solar heat
Setting ceiling fans to spin counter-clockwise
Keeping air condiioners at higher settings rather than freezing levels
Cooking outside on a grill rather than running an oven and heating the inside of a home

What are longer term steps to manage power use?

Cape Codders know about the need to insulate against snow and ice, but weatherization applie to heat as well. Insulated doors, windows, and walls all help minimize energy use - keeping it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Cape Light compact offers energy efficiency support to help address areas such as weatherization on Cape Cod.

What roles does Eversouce play?

As the energy provider to Cape Cod, Eversource manages the power grid and maintains and restores power after outages. According to McKinnon, the company has been adding switches and sensors to make grid more responsive and respond more quickly to surges and outages. On the Cape specificially, the new Provincetown battery storage system is now up and running and brings a new way to store and manage power flow and recovery. Eversouce has also addressed power restoration issues through a year-round tree trimming program .

See Lower Cape News' coverage of new Cape Cod Substation
See Lower Cape News' coverage of Provincetown battery system, New Energy Tech Changes Lower Cape Power Dynamics

Fistful of Dice Teaches Kids About Role Playing Games

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:22:00 GMT

An RPG primer for all ages introduces players to a world of self discovery

" These games give people the freedom to be someone else and to shrug off who they are in their everyday lives"

-Paul Juliano

Dungeon Master

What are RPGs?

RPGs, or role playing games, are games that involve playing as a character in a fictional world. The characters are often created through a detailed process according to the game rules. Typically decisions and actions are made via chance and resolved by rolling various dice. Each game has a "Game Master" who tells the story, moving the game along, and acting on behalf of other entities that inhabit this world.

How to play an RPG

There are three varieties of RPGs

Table Top RPGs (TTRPGs) - This is the original incarnation and remains popular. Players are guided through discussion and dice rolls, using maps and miniature figures to keep track of progression. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is the most popular and well-known TTRPG.
Electronic - While there are a variety of forms, by far the most well-known are massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG). In these, players create a character and interact with others online in a massive fictional world. The world is persistent, meaning when a player logs out, the world continues to simulate the passage of time. The world server can then host other players, changing according to their actions. World of Warcraft (WoW) is the most popular MMORPG.
Live Action (LARP) - In live-action role plating games, players physically inhabit their characters through costume, make-up and props. Gameplay takes place in a real-world setting where players interact and resolve actions through pre-set rules.

What's a good beginner's RPG game?

Paul Juliano from Fistful of Dice recommends the following games:

Glaive
Lasers and Feelings
Mausritter
Scum & Villany
Many local libraries carry D&D and other game books as well

From Herring River to Lake Patzcuaro

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 02:10:02 GMT

Four Mexican university students take Herring River restoration lessons home to lead change at Lake Patzcuaro

"We know you have one of the most successful projects in the United States, environmental projects, and we are here to learn how you organizated a lot of people to work on the restoration plan ...' "

— Valeria Aguilar

Business Student, Universidad Michoacana

Who are the Patz-4?

In a model of international exchange and cooperation, four students from Mexico immersed themselves in the Cape Cod National Seashore's Herring River restoration project. The students say learning from the successful effort here helps them take a leadership role in building support to restore Lake Patzcuaro, a large volcanic basin lake in the central Mexican city of Pátzcuaro, Michoacán. Local hosts referred to the four young women as the "Patz-4."

What is the Herring River restoration project?

The Herring Restoration project is a multi-decade project that build collaboration between community, environmental, and government groups to develop and execute a process to restore the Herring River ecosystem in Wellfleet and Truro, MA.

Who has worked on the restoration project?

Friends of the Herring River , the Cape Cod National Seashore , the Town of Wellfleet , and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are a few of the collaborators on the project. These broad, deep, and long-term relationships created the the platform to tackle a decades-long project with multiple science and political complexities.

What does the Herring River have to do with Mexico's Lake Patzcuaro?

According to the team of student-leaders from Patzcuaro, the large volcanic basin lake in central Mexico has been used and loved nearly to death. Pollution, waste, deforestation, and other factors have damaged the ecosytem which spreads across multiple towns. The Herring River project is seen as a significant success, in part because it managed to build collaborations to augment the science behind the effort. The students hope to take lessons from this process home with them and use them as they work to build collaborations leading to restoration of the Lake Patzcuaro ecosystem.

What happens next?

The students will be returning to Patzcuaro, meeting with the mayor and other community members, and pressing for an ecosystem restoration plan. They will also be working with children through a regional education program that draws on arts, culture, and environment, to develop the next generation of leaders and stewards of the region.

See more coverage of Cape Cod National Seashore in this collection.

Homeless Prevention Council Moves into New Orleans HQ

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 17:39:40 GMT

At the Homeless Prevention Council, new expanded space, expanded staff reflects regional need for housing.

"We have seen - especially post pandemic, as many as 2700, 2800 people a year coming in and out of our location . This is a very small year round population and we are seeing a significant number of people who are, like you and me, local members of the workforce, saying 'I just don't know if I can sustain this any longer...' "

— Hadley Luddy

CEO, Homeless Prevention Councill

What is the Homeless Prevention Council?

02 August, 2023 - ORLEANS, MA - The Homeless Prevention Council does what its name suggests: it works to keep people who live and work on Cape Cod keep their housing. In 2022 it helped more than 1,000 households stay in their homes.

Where is the Homeless Prevention Council's new location?

The new location is 8 Main Street in Orleans. It can to handle the organization's expanded team of 14 people, a growth that responded to community demand. CEO Hadley Luddy says the new site is also more visiable, easier to find, and reachable by both car and public transportation.

Who does the council serve?

The organization focuses on helping people who find themselves in a housing crisis rather than offering income-based services. People who work in many types of roles on Cape Cod have increasingly struggled to live where they work as year round rentals disappear and prices surge.

The Homeless Prevention Council says it serves people from all sectors - from service to management roles on the Cape, as well as youth and seniors. The majority of people are native to Cape Cod, who were born and raised here and lived here all their lives. A special concern is seniors, many of whom have been in the same rental much of their life, and who have been displaced as real estate changes hands and the rental market offers few alternatives.

What does it provide?

The organization offers a range of services includes rental assistance programs, which an be a bridge for up to three years. It also runs a "post homes" program which matches someone with an empty room with someone needing a room. Another effort addresses young adults who "couch surf" and lack ongoing housing.

Why is the Homeless Prevention Council needed?

More than 50 percent of Cape Cod's workforce comes from off-Cape every day to fill critical jobs - largely because the Cape lacks enough year round housing of any type for people to live and work here. The challenge isn't merely affordability, but a deeper lack of options for people working at all levels, from small business ownership, to teaching, to hospitality services.

See more coverage of Cape Cod's housing challenges in the Lower Cape News housing issues collection.

New Recycling Game at Cape League Baseball

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:21:43 GMT

CARE for the Cape & Islands pilots a new sustainability initiative at the Chatham Anglers' Veteran's Field

"We're focused on maintaining the uniqueness of the cape through environmental stewardship conservation...really just taking care of what makes the Cape and Islands so beautiful"

- Adam Gracia

Deputy Director, Care for the Cape and Islands

What is happening at Cape League Games?

Non-profit organization CARE for the Cape and Islands identified ballparks as a location where targeted action could make a difference in the waste stream. In July, the Chatham Anglers and CARE for the Cape and Islands set up a pilot test system for can and bottle recycling at Angler games. If all goes well, both groups hope the effort will spread across all teams in league.

Why Cape League Games?

With an average of 1500 people at each Angler home game, that translates into a lot of containers getting tossed in the trash. Each game provided an opportunity to make a concrete difference within a structured space - and educate people about the value in recycling.

Is the Recycling Pilot Working?

Both the Anglers and CARE for the Cape and Islands say the effort seems to be working. During the first two games during the pilot program, more than 750 containers went to recycling instead of trash. In addition, the team received positive feedback on volunteers who circulated between innings with clear bags to collect any recycling from fans at the ballgames.

What is CARE for the Cape and Islands?

CARE for the Cape and Islands encourages people to preserve and protect the natural environment, cultural and historical treasures of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. This nonprofit organization connects travelers, businesses, local organizations, and residents with enviromental initiatives to inspires stewardship of Cape Cod and the Islands and grow a long-term culture of environmental conservation

Provicetown Jazz Festival

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:48:30 GMT

Jazz lights up the Cape for the 19th annual Provincetown Jazz Festival

"People are starving for live music... and there's nothing like live music ... it's the live jazz, the spontaneity ... it's going to be different every time - that's the way jazz is...."

— Bart Weisman

Musician, Founder Provincetown Jazz Festival

When is the Provincetown Jazz Festival?

27 July 2023 - ORLEANS, MA - The 19th Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival starts July 31 and end August 8.

Where are the concerts?

The Jazz Festival partners with three other non-profit arts organizations: Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Cotuit Center for the Arts, and the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. Each hosts one of the event's concerts.

What does the Provincetown Jazz Festival Support?

The festival celebrate jazz and joys of playing and hearing live music. It also highlights different forms of jazz in each of the performances. Perfomances feature both internaionally reknowned artists as well as powerful locally-based performers.

It also serves as a platform for supporting Jazz in the Schools, which has brought jazz education and awareness with a trio of jazz musicians/educators to almost every elementary and middle school on Cape Cod, at no cost to the schools.

What is Jazz Jam?

Jazz Jam began as part of the Jazz Festival and has now spun off into its own regular monthly event at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. Musicians of all ages come together for improvised jazz jamming with a live audience.

How did the Provincetown Jazz Festival begin?

When musician Bart Weisman moved to Cape Cod 20 years ago, he realized that although the region had a long jazz history , it had no current festival - and he decided to create one. This year's event marks the 19th edition of the festival.

You might also like ....
Red Nun Talks with Bart Weisman

Half hour podcast also available as video below (click on photo to watch!) exploring the creation of the Provincetown Jazz Festival and the educational work it supports, as well as some conversation about what jazz means and how Bart Weisman followed the music.

Collaborating on a Clean Ocean

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 19:17:53 GMT

The Center for Coastal Studies collaborates with multiple entities to raise awareness around marine debris.

"We can move the needle if we work together, but it's very difficult to tackle a problem this big by ourselves"

-Laura Ludwig

Marine Debris Program, CCS

What is the Center for Coastal Studies?

The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to understanding, preserving and protecting marine ecosystems and the coastal environment through applied research, education and public policy initiatives.

What is the marine debris and plastics program?

The Center for Coastal Studies is engaged in studying, removing and educating about marine plastic pollution in a number of different ways. From beach cleanups and monitoring, to derelict fishing gear retrieval and student art projects, the Center is the leader on Cape Cod addressing this issue. It has grown it's marine debris and plastics p rogram since its inception eleven years ago. Collaborations with multiple entities bring awareness to an increasing issue for our oceans. Run by director, Laura Ludwig, the Center's plastic and marine debris program has continued to grow by forming new partnerships.

More about the center's efforts to collect and count marine debris, including a unique sculpture to celebrate World Ocean Day .

Truro Community Kitchen Sustains Community Care

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 19:30:43 GMT

Volunteers keep the work going, cooking up nutritious meals that reach about 100 people each week.

"Delivering meals is an important part of community service, but it's also, as you see from the volunteers here, part of building community.

-David Sobel

Co-founder Truro Community Kitchen

What is the Truro Community Kitchen?

Truro Community Kitchen fights food insecurity in Truro, MA by delivering free, nourishing home-cooked meals to those most in need in our community.

Where is the Truro Community Kitchen?

They are located at the Christian Union Church at 27 Shore Road.

How do I qualify for food from the Truro Community Kitchen?

They continue to accept new registrants, both individuals and families. It is very important to TCK that they respect the confidentiality of each meal recipient, so they neither record names nor ask people to qualify themselves to receive meals. All you have to do is email them with your address , and you're on the list.

How can I help?

TCK is entirely run by generous volunteers. They are always looking for help with food prep and delivery, contact through their website.

In the Garden with Cape Cod Natives

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 21:43:44 GMT

Garden coach Priscilla Husband gets behind the buzz of the native plant movement.

"Have you been wondering what all the "buzz" is about native plants? ... it's a really big movement about investing and planting in native material"

— Priscilla Husband

Garden Coach

Why is planting native materials important to the environment?

Native plants help the environment the most when planted in places that match their growing requirements — thriving in the soils, moisture and weather of our region and require less supplemental watering which can be wasteful. There is also less pest problems with native plants which means there is less need for toxic chemical intervention. Another benefit of native plants is they have deep root systems so they help manage rain water runoff, maintain healthy soil and help keep soil from being compacted. Native plants attracts wildlife including pollinators.

How does native planting help pollinators?

What can I do to help pollinators?

Plant a native garden! Use a wide variety of plants that bloom from early spring to fall. Always avoid or limit pesticide use in your garden and yard. Help thirsty pollinators stay hydrated by placing a shallow dish of water on your deck, window sill or in your garden. It's important to plant in strips that connect throughout the cape creating a larger space so that our pollinators have habitat. so talk to your neighbors and get them involved in helping!

Why use native plants?

Native plants come in a large variety of beautiful specimens. They are very low maintenance, create a wonderful bio diversity and establish quickly. They can be added to already established gardens as well — you may already have some. By planting a native garden you will feel like you are a better steward for the environment and your native plantings will attract more butterflies and birds looking for caterpillars to feed their young.

Smash Bros Takes Over Library

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 16:33:21 GMT

Eastham library hosts free-play event for popular video game

What is Super Smash Bros?

Super Smash Brothers Ultimate is the latest installment in the popular Nintendo Video Game franchise. The first Smash Brothers game was released 19 years ago and spawned a dedicated, grassroots competitive scene.

Why Video Games at the library?

Librarian Corey Farrenkopf explains how video games can appeal to a broader range of residents and fill the libraries objective of creating a space for everyone in the community.

When is the next Gaming event?

Eastham library hosts events seasonally. Check their website for information on upcoming events. New Paragraph

No Swimming!

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 22:33:57 GMT

More than 60 Massachusetts beaches - including some on Cape Cod - closed by high bacterial levels.

"A lot of it has to do with just our human presence and inhabitance of the land, we change the land, we clear forests and we build houses and with that comes these instances where bacteria has opportunities to get into our beach water...."

— Bethany Traverse

Health Communications Coordinator, Barnstable County

Which Massachusetts and Cape Cod beaches are closed?

Over the past week more than 60 beaches in Massachusetts have at some point been closed, including salt water beaches in Eastham, Chatham, Harwich, Dennis, Falmoiuth and Bourne, as well as fresh water ponds in Barnstable and Mashpee. The exact closing information changes daily based on the most recent water test results. In other words, a beach can test high in bacteria two days a in a row and be closed, but test low and safe a day later, so checking beach health on the state site offers the best way to know if any particular beach has been closed for water quality.

How do I know a beach is safe?

• The Commonwealth of Massachusetts keeps a current list on its website , identifying the most recent beach closings by town.

• Barnstable County also posts notices and offers a searchable Cape and Islands test list .

• The Association to Preserve Cape Cod monitors freshwater cyanobacteria outbreaks with a graphical map and an alert email list .

Most beaches on Cape Cod test cleanly most of the time and experts from Barnstable Public Heath say what we currently see are temporary occurrences, not ongoing issues that should cause worry.

Why are beaches closed?

The culprit behind many closures falls in the category of "bacterial excedences;" ie a fancy way of saying the amount of bacteria which appears during water testing exceeds accepted safe limits. The high counts can appear during routine state water testing of public swimming areas. This testing is part of a public safety effort to protect people in public beach areas.

What causes the water quality issues at the beach?

Storm water runoff and the materials it carries can cause some of the issues. Duck, geese, gull, other bird and mammal animal feces can also lie at the root of a high level test results. Human waste can also trigger high bacterial counts. In addition, the warmer water appearing earlier this year may also be playing a role in bacterial blooms . In fresh water ponds, cyaobacteria blooms also trigger closures. In August 2022 Cape Cod experience a high level of cyanobacteria pond closures (see news video) .

Cape Cod Baseball Mid-Season Update

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 13:47:50 GMT

Playoff race heats up as all-stars emerge around the league.

In this week's Cape League update, the Brewster Whitecaps and Orleans Firebirds stay in contention for the playoffs while the All Star Game lies just around the corner.

Giant Marine Debris Shark Uses Art to Raise Awaress Plastic Ocean

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:20:51 GMT

Recycled art tells the story of marine debris and "unnatural material" on our beaches and in our waters for World Ocean Day 2023.

"As an artist I think people experience the ocean but they don't really look... by participating in a clean up day they start to understand..."

— Mark Adams

Geologist & Artist in Residence, Center for Coastal Sudies

What is World Oceans Day?

World Oceans Day is an international awareness day that takes place every June 8th to help inform the public of the impact humans have on the ocean and to raise awareness of our collective duty to use its resources responsibly and sustainably because future generations also depend on the ocean.

Who is "Mama Shug"?

Mama Shug is a 14' great white shark created by artist Cindy Pease Roe and located at Herring Cove Beach at the National Seashore in Provincetown. Roe used 100% marine debris collected on National Seashore beaches to create the sculpture. As a piece of art, "Mama Shug" illustrates the story of the dangers of plastics in our oceans.

Does anything ever really go away when it's thrown away?

Nothing every really "goes away" just because we throw it out of our line of sight. When humans "throw away" things at the waterfront or over the side a boat, they create marine debris which persists for decades. Plastic water bottles, for example, can remain in the environment for years. The culture of "throwing away" simply moves waste from one place to another.

What are microplastics?

When the sun and waves work on larger plastics over time, the plastic breaks into smaller and smaller particles, eventually becoming extremely tiny bits, called microplastics. Microplastics appear throughout the world's oceans and are difficult to clean up.

Are microplastics harmful?

Marine microplastics harm many aspects of the marine food chain from plants to fish to marine mammals. They have a toxic effect on aquatic life, including an organism's ability to take in food and grow, and can even trigger abnormal behavior.

How can I help save our oceans?

Everyone can help reduce marine debris and the expansion of microplastics in our oceans, starting with the source. Experts say be aware of plastics use in your own home and replace plastic items with an alternative reusable item. Don't use balloons to celebrate events — use bubbles instead! Begin active clean up participant including activities such as becoming a Coastsweeps volunteer or working on the Center for Coastal Studies beach clean up efforts .

Splash! Brewster Dives into First Muni Pool

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 15:54:20 GMT

Cape Cod's first public municipal swimming pool opens in Brewster at site of former Sea Camps.

"Happy Pool Opening Day ... Today is a really exciting day because this is not just the town of Brewster's first time running a pool, but is also the first municipal pool on all of Cape Cod ... "

— Amanda Berbin

Chair, Bay Property Planning Committee

What is the new Brewster Community Pool?

The new Brewster Community Pool is the first municipal pool on Cape Cod. It opened June 25, 2023 after a year of development work by Brewster's Bay Property Planning Committee . The committee was tasked with creating a comprehensive plan for the former Cape Cod Sea Camps property that the town purchased in 2021 . The committee's first project, First Light Beach , opened in 2022, and this year the town added the new community pool.

Where is the new Brewster Community Pool?

The new Brewster Community Pool is located on the site of the former Cape Cod Sea Camps, on Rte 6A in Brewster, at 3057 Main Street .

Who can use the new Brewster Community Pool?

The Brewster Recreation Department runs the Brewster Community Pool. During its initial season, it can be used by pass-holding Brewster residents only. It also hosts swim lessons, water aerobics, and dedicated lap swim times. Residents can purchase passes at the town website or town hall.

Digging into Composting

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 02:37:06 GMT

Eastham library visitors get literal feel for home composting at Eastham Climate Action & Recycling Committee workshop.

"If food waste were a county, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, after the United States and China ... we can't get to our net zero targets 2050 without addressing food waste..."

- Olav Hegland

Eastham Climate Action Committee

What is home composting?

Home composting offers a "Do It Yourself" approach to managing food waste. While it might seem intimidating at first, the Eastham Climate Action Committee's workshop showed a variety of options that make it straightforward to compost at home. These include basic methods like open-pile bins, and vemriculture as well as purchased system like electric composting.

Why does composting matter?

Eastham Climate Action Committee member Olev Hegland says as much as 30 percent of the waste stream contains food, and that and this food waste produces methane gas which is simnifically more potent as a greenhouse gas than C02. Composting removes food from the waste stream, thus preventing it from producing methane gas. At the same time it also creates a nutrient rich end product for the soil.

What other composting options are available?

If people cannot compost at home, the Town of Eastham now offers drop off composting at the transfer station. Food waste goes into a separate bin and ends up at a Commerical off-Cape composting facility. While this doesn't produce local soil nutrients, it does remove food from the waste stream and methane gas from the waste cycle.

Got Shark?

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 17:28:51 GMT

Cape Cod's apex predators return! And the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy shares some tips for the shared summer season.

"Science takes time ... we have a long set of data now, but we're still just starting to make understanding of what's happening here with white shark research ... "

— Marianne Walsh

Education Director, Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

What do we know about sharks on Cape Cod?

Sharks have been tagged with many types of tracking and feedback devices, which gather data on shark movements. Although researchers now have more than a decade of data, they are still building understanding of white shark movement and patterns. We do know they return to Cape Cod and this year tagged sharks showed up this year in June.

What shark tracking tools are available ?

At its media day, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy pointed to several tools through which interested people follow shark sightings and shark movement. These include the White Shark Log Book for data and historical movement from 2010-2022 and the Sharktivity app for ongoing shark sightings.

What is the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy?

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy provides resrouces and education about white sharks, and runs the Shark Center museums in Chatham and Provincetown.

Cape Cod Baseball League Opens 2023 Season

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 15:34:56 GMT

On the 100th anniversary, CCBL introduces pace-of-play regulations and new extra inning rules.

When does the 2023 season of Cape Cod Baseball League Start?

The 2023 season opened on June 10 highlighted by a rematch of last year’s championship series, as the Brewster Whitecaps defeated the Bourne Braves 6-4.

Teams will each play a 44-game regular season schedule, with no scheduled doubleheaders. Divisional opponents will face each other six times, while cross-divisional opponents will face each other four times.

What is the Cape Cod Baseball League?

The Cape Cod Baseball League is the premier collegiate summer baseball league in the nation, officially formed in 1923, but with roots dating back to 1885. The Cape Cod Baseball League is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Players from across the United States representing all NCAA college divisions are recruited to play in the 10-team league.

Teams are located in Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Cotuit, Falmouth, Harwich, Hyannis, Orleans, Wareham and Yarmouth-Dennis.

View the Full 2023 Cape Cod Baseball League Schedule

What's new for the centennial season?

the new season features a number of notable changes to league operations. Aside from centenary celebrations , the 2023 Cape League season introduces pace-of-play regulations, new extra inning rules and a video live-streaming partnership with D1Baseball.com.

When is the 2023 Cape League All-Star Game?

The annual Cape League All-Star Game will return to Whitehouse Field, home of the Harwich Mariners. The game will be played Saturday, July 22nd, with first pitch scheduled for 6pm.

When is the Cape League Season over?

The playoffs are scheduled to begin Friday, August 4th. The playoff format will feature eight teams, the top four from each division, playing three rounds of best-of-three series.

The Championship is scheduled for August 10-12.

Where can I get tickets to Cape Cod Baseball games?

All Cape League baseball games are free of charge and tickets are not needed! The games are played on local fields across Cape Cod and offer limited bleachers and field space to enjoy the game.

Where can I stream Cape Cod Baseball League games?

The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and D1Baseball announced a streaming rights agreement for the 2023 CCBL season. All 220 CCBL regular season games and CCBL postseason games will be available to watch for free on d1baseball.com

What's with the Hazy, Creepy Skies?

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:27:20 GMT

Forest fires and ultrafine particulates turned skies along the east coast an eerie orange - and this won't be the last time.

"We don't happen to live in a area that's as affected by airborn contaminants but I am concerned about air pollution because, you know, it's not getting any better. "

— Marina Brock

Department of Health and Environment, Barnstable County

What is particulate matter?

Particulate matter is microscopic particles of solid or liquid matters suspended in the air. Types of atmospheric particles include suspended particulate matter ranging in micrometer diameter from 2.5 (fine particles) to 10 (coarse particles). Particles less than 2.5 are considered ultrafine particulate (i.e. soot).

Is there particulate matter in a clear sky?

A whole range of particulate matter appear in the sky - even on a clear day. The category of pollutants called ultra fine particulates are less than one micron in size. There are other particulates in the sky that are a byproduct of combustion. Particulates have been on the EPA radar for some time but it is not feasible to regulate these nano-particulates with current technology.

Are hazy skies dangerous?

Particulate matter in our air is the most harmful form of air pollution because of it's ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and brain from your blood stream thereby possibly causing heart and lung disease.

Will my N95 mask protect me from hazy skies?

While recent air quality has some people reaching for their N95 masks again — "not so fast", says Brock. There are masks, and there are masks and we don't really have good masking capability other than SCUBA masks which provide an alternate source of air. N95s do not protect because they do not filter out the nano-particulates.

Climate Hope on Cape Cod

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:23:20 GMT

Calls for action inspire 700 Cape Codders at June event. Can the region make the changes it needs?

"The carbon we put in the atmosphere every day is the heat equivalent of about 400,000 Hiroshima size explosions. When you think about it in those units it is easier to understand how we have melted half the sea ice in the summer Arctic ..."

— Bill McKibben

author, activist, founder of Third Age

What was the It's Time for Climate Collaboration conversation?

More than 700 Cape Codders left the "It's Time for Climate Collaboration" evening with calls for action and glimmers of hope. The June 12 event from the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative featured author/activist/environmentalist and founder of Third Act Bill McKibben, CEO Samsø Energy Academy in Samsø, Denmark Soren Hermansen, and Massachusetts climate chief Melissa Hoffer sharing hard facts, insights, and specific actions to address the climate crisis from a regional perspective.

What did people learn at the Climate Collaboration evening?

Bill McKibben, author of 1989s first public call for climate action, The End of Nature and founder of Third Age, said the worlds oceans have heated a full degree in the past month, and climate experts don't know why. He said we are on a 6-year timeline to the point of no-return, but that we still have the capacity to make changes, and that the Cape was ideally situated to act. Soren Hermansen from Samsø, Denmark shared how one region took the challenge and went not only carbon neutral but carbon negative. MA Climate Chief Melisa Hoffer reiterated the urgency of the climate crisis and the state's support for regional action.

What happens next with climate on Cape Cod?

Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative executive committee member Dan Wolf identified a three-prong set of goals: take steps to mitigate the impact of climate change, enhance the region's grid to enable renewable energy generation and delivery, and implement each local climate action plan in all 15 Cape Cod towns. Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative board chair Dorothy Savarese said the Cape understands its intersectionality with nature and from that it finds both hope and the ability to take concrete action for change.

What is the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative?

The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative brings together organizations and individuals to mitigate the climate crisis on Cape Cod and drives action to reduce ways in which the Cape & Islands contributes to climate change, as well as protecting the region from the potentially devastating impacts of this change.

Sad Hydrangeas?

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 15:08:43 GMT

Don't give up on Cape Cod's hydrangeas just yet! They had a tough season but you can help.

"We suffered from a drought last summer ... we also had a very deep freeze this past winter and that seriously affected the shallow roots in our hydrangeas ..."

— Priscilla Husband

Garden Coach

What happened to the hydrangeas?

Between a dry summer and an unusual extra-cold snap, It was a tough year for hydrangeas on Cape Cod. The shallow-rooted plants felt the drought badly and the hard freeze further damaged the them. But garden coach Priscilla Husband says don't give up! In this episode of Lower Cape News' In the Garden, she shares some tips for helping those iconic Cape Cod plants revive even if they look stunted and sad.

What are we seeing in hydrangeas this year?

The hydrangeas have many dead branches and stems, instead of a green bloom. All the buds made last year are largely gone and there will be few flowers this season. The plants are still alive, though - look for the green flush near the base to confirm your plants are alive.

What can I do to help my hydrangeas?

Garden coach Priscilla Husband says gardeners want to trim back their plants. Use a hand pruner on smaller plants and a lopper on larger ones. Cut out the dead wood - and then be patient and kind to the plants. Water them through the dry periods. If your mulch is too thick, pull it back around the roots so the water can reach them. Prune the stalks back, but don't fertilize. Just give the hydrangeas a healthy season to recover from last years drought and the winter's hard freeze.

What else can I do in my garden near the hydrangeas?

While your hydrangeas are healing, Coach Husband says you add some other summer color around them, like potenilla (aka cinquefoil), hypericum (aka St. Johns Wort), and gilia (aka thimble flower), and carpet roses.

Eastham Food Composting Facility Opens

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 13:17:11 GMT

Updated 7/1/2023

Guidelines for Eastham's new food waste composting facility.

Where is the new Eastham Composting Facility?

The new food waste composting facility is located at the Eastham Transfer Station at 555 Old Orchard Road.

What items can be composted at the new facility in Eastham?

Vegetables
Fruit and flowers
Coffee, Tea, and filters
Breads and cereals
Egg Shells
Meat and Bones
Paper Napkins

What items should NOT be brought for composting?

While napkins or paper towels that have been used only for food may be composted, towels used with any cleaners should be thrown in the trash. Anything with ink, like paper bags and newspapers, should be recycled. Additionally, dog and cat waste is prohibited.

EVs Strut Their Stuff

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 13:05:22 GMT

Check out electric cars, bike, and busses - and the Cape infastructure they need

"I think that to keep Cape Cod's reputation as a tourism destination we're going to need fast charger infrastructure - and we are going to need it yesterday ..."

— Terry Gallagher

Cape Cod Electric Vehicle Association

What was the Recharge Cape Cod Expo?

Electric vehicles rolled out under the tents at the Recharge Cape Cod expo, Saturday June 3, where attendees drove, rode, and explored a dozen car and truck brands, along with several varieties of electric bikes and an electric bus. Despite a cold overcast June day, people queued up at the Hyannis Transportation Center to get some hands-on time and conversations with cars, vendors, and EV enthusiasts.

What happened at the Recharge Cape Cod Expo?

The Cape Cod Recharge expo included a dozen models of electric cars and trucks for test drives, two varieties of electric bikes available for test rides, and an electric bus to walk through. It also features vendors providing information about EV rebates and home station installation as well as EV owners sharing their experiences in the EV world.

What is the state of electric vehicles on Cape Cod?

Electric vehicles have come long way since the first EV expo on Cape Cod three years ago. Local organizers say that at that event, owners represented early adopters and for many attendees it was a first look at the cars. In contrast, the Cape now has many EVs and an ongoing conversation about electric options.

What is the state of electric charging on Cape Cod?

Prior the event Terry Gallagher, co-founder of the Cape Cod Electric Vehicle Association, shared his experience driving cross coutry in his EV, as well as some insights into the need for a fast charging infrasture on Cape Cod. As a tourist destination, he said, the need for fast charging on the Cape directly supports the long term viability of this economic sector.

Center Turns Cape Cod Ocean Debris Into Art

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:15:26 GMT

Unique Shark Helps Celebrate World Oceans Day

What is the World Ocean Day celebration?

World Ocean Day is being celebrated by the National Park Service and the Center for Coastal Studies at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown on June 8, 2023 at 11am.

This event will feature the unveiling of the shark sculpture Mama Shug, constructed with marine debris . The project is an attempt to bring awareness to the challenge of plastic and marine debris in the marine environment.

What is Marine Debris?

In February of 2020, Lower Cape News highlighted the problem of Marine Debris and so- called Ghost Gear.

Ghost gear litters our oceans worldwide and is fast becoming an increasing challenge for Cape Cod fishermen and scientists alike.

Collecting trash on the beach is one thing, but counting it ends up being much more than you would think. Marine Debris & Plastics Coordinator at the Center for Coastal Studies, Laura Ludwig has made it her mission to gather data from beach clean ups in an effort to tell stories that can make a difference.

Lower Cape News spoke with Ludwig in 2021 about the process of gathering data on marine debris.

What is Being Done?

I n November of 2021, The Gulf of Maine Association was awarded $367,839 from NOAA's Marine Debris Program to partner with NOAA, the Center for Coastal Studies, Urban Harbors Institute, Gulf of Maine Council, Blue Ocean Society for the Marine Environment, Huntsman Marine Science Centre, Maine Coastal Program - Maine Department of Resources, Surfrider Foundation and the five jurisdictions bordering the Gulf of Maine to create an international collaborative approach for addressing plastic and other marine debris in the Gulf of Maine watershed.

See what this will mean for Cape Codders.

The Center for Coastal Studies and community volunteers completed the seventh annual Outer Cape Clean-up. Over the course of the four-day program, participants picked-up 500 lbs of trash and other debris from National Seashore beaches between Eastham and Provincetown.

Meeting Mental Health Needs of Service Men and Women

Wed, 31 May 2023 22:12:42 GMT

By turning a loss into an ongoing mission, Heroes in Transition addresses mental health needs of military personnel and their families

"Asking for for help is difficult for anyone, but our men and women that have served or are serving in the military ... it’s hard for them to ask for help because they are the strong ones ...."

— Nicole Spencer,
Executive Director, Heroes in Transition

What are mental health needs of military personnel?

The work life of a professional soldier creates some unique challenges, espeically when juxtiposed on the expectations of civilian life. The tasks required, the separation, the confidentialy, and the limited pool of people who understand the pressures of military life can create pressures ranging from difficulty in transitioning between service and civilian worlds, to anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD.

What are the needs of military families?

Military spouses and families form a key part of the equation. Military support nonprofit organization Heroes in Transition specifically addresses family interactions and military family mental health needs as well as part of the mental wellness landscape of both active military service men and women and veterans.

What is Heroes in Transition?

Heroes in Transition is a nonprofit organization that addresses the mental well-being of active and retired military personnel and their families. It offers services not provided by formal federal and state agencies. One of its first offerings was a service dog matching program. Today it has 13 programs includes equestrian weekends, family camps, and six-week re-entry sessions for both men and women veterans.

What is Mental Health Awareness Month?

Since 1949 each May has served as a marker month to raise awareness about mental health and remove stigma, provide support, and educate the public.

This story is part of a series on mental health care and Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Turns To Goats For Vegetation Management

Wed, 31 May 2023 16:15:10 GMT

Goats eat poison ivy, autumn olive and other invasive plants

Goats become 'Go-To'

The Bay Colony Condos have called in the goats from Goat Green Cape Cod to clear away vegetation on a renovation project. This unique approach is actually one of the oldest and most sustainable forms of vegetation management.

Why use goats for clearing brush?

Goats are an alternative to potentially volatile herbicide . They leave no carbon footprint and are less damaging to the land than heavy equipment. This is especially helpful in area where erosion is a concern.

Where can I find goats on Cape Cod?

Goat Green Cape Cod

"Goat Green Cape Cod began after Stacey Greaves rescued four goats from Western Mass and brought them home to the Cape in 2014. Stacey launched Goat Green Cape Cod in earnest the following year and has loved getting to share her goats with the community. The “goat boys” have also loved cleaning up yards!

Since 2014, Stacey has grown Goat Green Cape Cod’s herd to 12 goats. The goats eat their way through your excess leaves and weeds, all while fertilizing your property as they go. They love poison ivy, autumn olive, bittersweet, and other invasive plants. In the right circumstances, they will even chow down on phragmites ."

Getting a Handle on New Bike Laws

Sat, 27 May 2023 10:27:48 GMT

New bike laws went into effect in April impacting bicyclists and motorists

"These laws were enacted to try and minimize the risk for vulnerable users..."

— Scott MacDonald

Chief of Police, Orleans

What are some of the new bike laws?

According to new Massachusetts laws that went into effect April 1, bikes must now have rear red lights for nighttime cycling in addition to a reflector and a white front headlight. Motorists need to provide a four-foot barrier when passing bicyclists and are allowed to cross the double yellow line in order to do, as long as it is safe.

When did the new laws go into effect?

According to Orleans Chief of Police Scott MacDonald, the new Massachusetts state laws went into effect this April and will be in place during Cape Cod's busy summer season.

What does this means for dangerous intersections?

In Orleans, the Old Colony and Main Street intersection has a reputation for being both busy and dangerous. While design change is coming soon, a respect for the new laws, common sense patience, and roadway awareness also make an immediate impact on the bike and motorist safety at intersections like this.

Filling the Mental Health Provider Pipeline

Fri, 26 May 2023 22:39:55 GMT

New Massachusetts report directs efforts along with $192M toward recruiting and retaining mental health professionals to meet growing service need.

"You can't conjure a psych nurse overnight ...."

— State Sen. Julian Cyr

Co-chair Behavioral Health Advisory Commission

What is the need for mental health providers?

The demand for mental health services continues to grow, but Massachusetts does not have enough mental health professionals to meet this demand. These professions include social workers, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, and many others. The gap in workforce is especially large among those offering services for children and young adults. In addition, the make up of the workforce is less diverse that the state's population.

What is the Behavioral Health Advisory Commission?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts formed a 22-person commission in Autumn of 2022 to study and advise on best ways to invest $192M in federal recovery funds into mental health response. State Sen. Julian Cyr served as a co-chair of the Behavioral Health Advisory Commission . It announced its findings in May 2023.

What did the Behavioral Health Advisory Commission recommend?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Behavioral Health Advisory Commission report made eight recommendations, which are incorporated into the current proposed state budget. These include investing $80-100M into student loan forgiveness for those who practice in Massachusetts, $20-30M in scholarships to those who will practice in Massachusetts, $20-30M in paid field practice and practicums, $20-30M in clinical supervision fees, $2-5M in professional fees for those practicing in Massachusetts, $5-10M in behavioral health support for health care workers, $5-10M for youth and school services, and .5-1M for commercial rate analysis.

What is Mental Health Awareness Month?

Since 1949 each May has served as a marker month to raise awareness about mental health and remove stigma, provide support, and educate the public.

This story is part of a series on mental health care and Cape Cod.

Big Boost for Power Transmission

Mon, 22 May 2023 17:14:47 GMT

Infrastructure ground breaking improves electrical reliability and integrates offshore wind power

"It's the start of what we refer to as the "Cape Cod Solution" ..."

— Bill Quinlan,
President of Transmission and Offshore Wind, Eversource

What is the Cape Cod Solution?

The "Cape Cod Solution" is a three year project from Eversource that will build new transmission infrastructure across Cape Cod, starting with a new line from Bourne to Barnstable.

What benefits does the Cape Cod Solution bring?

According to Eversource's president of transmission and offshore wind Bill Quinlan, the project addresses three main areas: it improves day-to-day reliability, adds durability and resiliency during storms, and brings access to clean energy from soon-to-arrive offshore wind generation.

When does the new transmission infrastructure happen?

Phase one, the main line from Bourne to Barnstable, is slated for completion by the end of 2023. Eversouce expects the entire project online by the end of 2025.

Dry Summer on the the Beach?

Mon, 22 May 2023 15:40:00 GMT

A ban on alcohol at Cahoon Hollow Beach in Wellfleet begins

"Over the past five years visitation has grown 20 to 25% year after year ... busload upon busload of people are coming to party and consume large quantities of alcohol ..."

— Michael Valora,
Chief Ranger, Cape Cod National Seashore

Why ban alcohol on the beach?

Officials at Cape Cod National Seashore say the disorderly conduct and public consumption of alcohol on Cahoon Hollow Beach in Wellfleet has grown dramatically over the past several years, with literally busloads of people descending to visit and drink over the July 4th holiday weekend.

Chief Ranger Michael Valora says the resulting "party destination" environment triggered concern in both town and Seashore, and the ban resulted from that concern and aligns town and Seashore policies on that stretch of beach.

When does the alcohol ban begin?

The ban will be in effect throughout the 2023 summer season. It begins May 20th and runs through September 10th and applies to the National Seashore stretch of Cahoon Hollow Beach. The town of Wellfleet already has a bylaw banning alcohol on the beach on its portion of Cahoon Hollow, and this change coordinates Seashore and town policies.

Power of Breath

Sat, 20 May 2023 22:38:35 GMT

Breathing packs more power than most people realize; it plays a key role in an integrated approach of mind, body, and spirit to heal trauma and support mental wellness

"If you connect the body and the breath to the present moment, that's where things really change and you can make a great impact on your mental health..."

— Ayeanna Freedom,
Founder, BFree Wellness

What is integrated healing?

Integrated healing combines treatment of mind, body, and spirit to manage trauma and other mental health challenges. Organizations like BFree Wellness in Hyannis combine talk therapy with physical motion and breath work to support mental health and healing.

What is breath work?

Thoughtful and intentional breathing helps the human body self regulate. This type of breathing can play a powerful role in mental wellness and forms part of a healing approach for addressing trauma, anxiety, and other diagnoses. It also form part of a preventative practice to protect and support ongoing mental health wellness.

Who benefits from breath and motion?

According to Ayanna Freedom, found of nonprofit BFree Wellness in Hyannis, people of all ages "from 5 to 105" can draw upon breath and movement as tools to help the body find equilibrium and heal the stress and trauma it physically holds, creating greater mental health and wellness. During the recent years of the dual pandemics of COVID and racism, most people lie at risk for trauma and the need for mental health treatment and preventative mental health care has grown.

What is Mental Health Awareness Month?

Since 1949 each May has served as a marker month to raise awareness about mental health and remove stigma, provide support, and educate the public.

This story is part of a series on mental health care and Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Summer Rentals in High Demand

Fri, 19 May 2023 14:43:04 GMT

Short term summer rentals top pre-pandemic totals again

"What we're seeing is a strong rental season, but there is a slight pullback from those pandemic years"

— Jim Reese,
COO, We Need A Vacation

Will this summer be busy for rentals on Cape Cod?

Following last year's busy summer season , this will mark the fourth consecutive summer that local booking agency We Need a Vacation reports high demand for short-term vacation rentals across Cape Cod.

COO Jim Reese says current demand does not match the historic highs of the first pandemic summer in 2020, but 2023 bookings still exceed 2019 figures by 16 percent.

Mental Health Awareness Month on Cape Cod

Tue, 16 May 2023 16:06:10 GMT

For Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Lower Cape News produced a series of news shorts that looked at multiple aspects of the question.

View Part 1 - Looking at the new roadmap for mental health and Bay Cove's new facility and mobile crisis team

View Part 2 - Exploring the power of breath and the work at BFree Wellness

View Part 3 - DIgging into new state initiatives to address the mental health provider side of the equation

View Part 4 - Learning more about mental health needs of military personnel and how Heroes in Transition addresses these.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Since 1949, Mental Health Month has provided a focal point to increase awareness of mental health and wellness in American lives. In May, Lower Cape TV produced a series of reports on mental health and wellness on Cape Cod to acknowledge the importance of mental and behavorial health in our region. This page contains this series, as well as prior reporting and interviews about mental health and wellness.

New State Mental Health Roadmap

With both increased need for and awareness of mental health issues, the Commonwealth rolled out a new roadmap for mental health services this year.

Additionally, Cape Cod gained a Community Behavioral Health Facility (CBHC) that integrates with Bay Cove's mobile response team.

Identifying Trauma

Host Dr. Ann Caretti and guest Dr. Donna DesRosiers, Nauset District School Psychologist, discuss identifying and recognizing trauma and the benefits of Second Step, a socioemotional learning curriculum.

Full Coverage of Cape Cod Mental Health Care Here

Post-Covid Mental Health

May 27, 2021 - EASTHAM, MA - As the pandemic appears to be waning - a looming crisis for mental health may be waiting just around the corner. Justine Podurgiel from Bay Cove shares emerging patterns to keep our eyes on

Mental Health in Schools

Jackie Lane, of NAMI Cape Cod and the Islands chats with Dr. Gina Hurley,

Executive Director of Social-Emotional Learning and Student Services, for Barnstable Public Schools. Learn about the evolution of student services, the social emotional learning curriculum, and proactive mental health programs for children in schools.

During the Covid pandemic, Calmer Choice CEO Emily Smalley explained mindfulness and how schools across the region use it to support both students and teachers

Rethinking Mental Health Care on Cape Cod

Fri, 12 May 2023 20:14:28 GMT

Cape Cod has more options for mental health care with new state roadmap, including new center and mobile response

"Health is a big word. It only has five letters but is comprised of so many aspects of a person's experience ..."

— Diane Santoro,
Vice President Behavioral Health Integration, Bay Cove

What is the mental health roadmap?

In January 2023 the state released a new roadmap for mental health services to better address the growing needs of mental health care services in Massachusetts.

What is new on Cape Cod?

Cape Cod received a new Community Behavioral Health Facility (CBHF), offering a range of services integrated in one location; Bay Cove is the agency which runs the new Cape Cod CBHF.

What is the Mobile Crisis Team?

Bay Cove's mobile crisis team responds to any location on Cape Cod, bringing appropriate services where needed within a person's place of comfort. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 a week, 365 days a year at 1-800-bay-cove.

What is Mental Health Awareness Month?

Since 1949 each May has served as a marker month to raise awareness about mental health and remove stigma, provide support, and educate the public.

This story is part of a series on mental health care and Cape Cod.

Ruck4HIT Runs for Veterans

Sun, 07 May 2023 15:26:08 GMT

Eighth Annual Run Supports Cape military veterans, active military, and miltary families

What is Ruck4HIT?

Mashpee-based non-profit Heroes in Transition holds an annual run across Cape Cod. Runners complete a 220 mile 36-hour relay wearing rucksacks with 20 pounds of weight to represent the weight carried by military personnel in the field.

What does it benefit?

Heroes in Transition supports Cape Cod veterans, active-service military members and their families through a variety of programs .

When did it start?

This year represents the eighth year of the Cape-wide Ruck4HIT run. Cyndy Jones co-founded the group in 2009, in memory of her son Capt. Eric A. Jones. Capt. Jones served as a Marine helicopter pilot and lost his life supporting a combat mission in Afghanistan on October 26, 2009. The organization says it "carries on Capt. Jones’ mission by providing assistance to those who have served or who are serving our country."

Bee There!

Fri, 05 May 2023 18:23:30 GMT

Spelling Bee Teams Seniors and Fifth Graders for Intergenerational Fun

What is the Spelling Bee?

Eastham's 30 year-old intergenerational spelling bee returned to the Eastham Senior Center April 28 after a COVID hiatus. It teams fifth graders from Eastham Elementary School and local senior citizens to compete in a good-natured spelling competition.

Who participated in the Spelling Bee?

This year five teams comprising more than 30 students and seniors spelled together. The teams even included a grandmother-granddaughter pair

Will there be another Spelling Bee?

The beloved tradition has been going strong for more than 30 years. However, during COVID it went on hiatus, but now that it has returned CoA director Dorothy Burritt says people are looking forward to embracing the yearly event again and have even begun planning for next year.

Orleans Annual Town Meeting 2023

Fri, 05 May 2023 13:49:35 GMT

Wastewater, Fire-Rescue & Library Articles on Agenda

When is the Orleans annual town meeting?

Orleans holds its 2023 Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 8 at 6:00pm

Where is the 2023 Orleans annual town meeting?

The 2023 annual town meeting for Orleans will be held inside the Nauset Regional Middle School at 20 MA-28 in Orleans.

What will be discussed at the Orleans Town Meeting?

Within the meeting’s robust, 66-article warrant , local officials identify wastewater management , fire-rescue equipment and staffing and library funding as the three key topics.

Grant Helps Cape Cod Restaurants Drop Plastic

Wed, 03 May 2023 14:17:52 GMT

Grant Focuses on single-use plastics used in the food and hospitality industries.

Local environmental conservation non-profit CARE for the Cape & Islands received a nearly $300,000 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Sea Grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help the Cape's food and hospitality businesses move away from single-use containers and service-ware.

What is CARE for the Cape and Islands?

Care for the Cape and Islands was founded in 2012 as the Cape and Islands’ first travelers’ philanthropy initiative .

More commonly known today as Impact Travel, CARE seeks to encourage, support, and create opportunities for visitors and residents to donate their “time, talent, and treasure” to help preserve and protect the region’s natural beauty, plant and wildlife habitats as well as Cape & Islands culture and history.

What is the WHOI?

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is the world's leading, independent non-profit organization dedicated to ocean research, exploration, and education. WHOI maintains unparalleled depth and breadth of expertise across a range of oceanographic research areas.

Institution scientists and engineers work collaboratively within and across six research departments to advance knowledge of the global ocean and its fundamental importance to other planetary systems. At the same time, they also train future generations of ocean scientists and address problems that have a direct impact in efforts to understand and manage critical marine resources.

Eastham Annual Town Meeting

Tue, 02 May 2023 15:42:38 GMT

Zoning, Wastewater & Meeting Relocation Articles on Warrant

When is the Eastham annual town meeting?

Eastham’s 2023 Annual Town Meeting takes place on Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m.

Where is the Estham annual town meeting?

Due to ongoing renovation work, the town will hold the session outside the Nauset Regional High School on the school football field.

What will be discussed at the 2023 Eastham Town Meeting?

This year’s warrant features a mere nine articles, with zoning, wastewater and town meeting relocation proposals among the most prominent items on the agenda.

Brewster Annual Town Meeting 2023

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 15:29:21 GMT

Wing Island, School Overrides & Single-use Waste Highlight Warrant

When is the Brewster Annual Town Meeting?

Brewster holds its 2023 Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 1 at 6 pm

Where is the Brewster Annual Town Meeting?

Brewster holds its 2023 Annual Town Meeting inside Stony Brook Elementary School at 384 Underpass Rd.

What will be discussed at the 2023 Brewster Town Meeting?

Brewster’s 2023 warrant features 27 articles , including two school overrides, two single-use waste prohibition proposals and an article regarding custody and use of Wing Island.

Gateway Airport and CCRTA Plan Energy Microgrid

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 14:03:50 GMT

The US Department of Transportation SMART grant brings nearly $2 million to the Cape Cod Gateway Airport and the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority to develop a smart micro-grid as part of infrastructure support for soon-to-arrive electric planes, busses, and rental cars.

What money did Cape Cod receive?

21 April, 2023 - HYANNIS, MA - Cape Cod has received a federal cash infusion to support power infrastructure for soon-to-arrive electric planes, buses, and rental cars.

What is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and Micro Grid?

Micro grids combine solar or wind or other locally generated power with a giant backup battery storage array that gets called upon to supplement the larger grid.

Cape Cod already hosts one mico-grid; that groundbreaking system was been successfully tested on Cape Cod and now delivers backup electricity from Provincetown to Wellfleet during power surge demand and power outages.

What is the US Department of Transportation SMART grant?

The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.

Wellfleet Annual Town Meeting 2023

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:13:08 GMT

Wellfleet to Vote on Town Staffing, School Programs & Environmental Articles

When is the annual Wellfleet Town Meeting?

Wellfleet holds its 2023 Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, Apr. 29 at 10 a.m.

Where is the 2023 annual Wellfleet Town Meeting?

The annual town meeting will be held inside the Wellfleet Elementary School at 100 Lawrence Rd.

What will be discussed at the annual Wellfleet town meeting?

The meeting's robust, 53-article warrant covers a wide-range of topics, including town hires, school programs, environmental articles and a bevy of budget items.

Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater 2023 Lineup

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 13:10:52 GMT

Pickleball Wars and Shakespeare are among this season's performances.

The Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (W.H.A.T.) launches its 2023 season later this spring. Live performances returned to the theater last year following a two-year COVID shutdown and Producing Artistic Director Christopher Ostrom says 2022 audiences were noticeably younger than pre-pandemic crowds.

What plays will premiere at W.H.A.T. in 2023?

The 2023 Season kicks off this May with Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis . In this darkly comedic meditation on redemption and faith, a terrified young prisoner is befriended by a charismatic serial killer who challenges his beliefs and reshapes his life forever. Performances run May 24 to June 17.

The witty and inventive The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) brings the timeless tales of The Bard to WHAT June 28 – July 29, in a fast-paced and madcap crash course in all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays. Buckle up for a wild ride from Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the “Scottish Play”, performed by three actors in just under 100 minutes!

Fred Fallon is in trouble. Newly retired and aspiring to write his first novel, Fred is hobbled with complications from hip replacement surgery, missing support from his singer-songwriter wife, Sue, and exasperated by the noisy whackety-clackety coming from his new neighbors’ backyard play of the sport taking the world by storm — pickleball . The world premiere of Kevin Rice’s new comedy The Pickleball Wars runs August 9 – September 9

Betrayal comes to the Julie Harris Stage September 20 – October 14 in a co-production with Harbor Stage Company. Legendary playwright Harold Pinter’s story of an illicit affair that unfolds in reverse, from the end of a marriage to the first forbidden spark, is filled with poetic dialogue, rich humor, and powerful emotions.

Buy Tickets to Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater 2023 Season

Subscriptions to the 2023 season will go on sale starting April 3, with tickets to individual productions available starting May 1, 2023.

Cape Cod Conservation District Tackles Coastal Challenges

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 16:41:59 GMT

The District provides funding and technical assistance to water quality and shellfishery projects

What is the Cape Cod Conservation District?

The Cape Cod Conservation District was established in 1947 as a local component of state government. Its mission was to help landowners with resource issues relating to soil and water.

The Cape Cod Conservation District partners with local, state and federal agencies to help manage, protect and conserve local natural resources.

What does the Cape Cod Conservation District do?

Partnering with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service technical and financial assistance is provided in identifying and solving resource concerns on the local level. A volunteer citizen board governs the District.

In recent years, the District identifies the restoration of coastal resources and fisheries as its top priority, which it addresses by providing funding and technical assistance to water quality and shellfishery projects.

Ambulance Services Take Top Priority at Truro Town Meeting

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 20:30:03 GMT

Warrant also includes an article concerning Truro dog restraint regulations

When is the Truro town meeting?

Truro holds its 2023 Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, Apr. 25 at 5 p.m.

Where is the Truro town meeting?

The 2023 Truro town meeting will be held in the Truro Central School gymnasium.

What will be discussed at the Truro town meeting?

The meeting’s warrant includes 42 articles, including three that address efforts to establish an independent, town-operated ambulance service, which officials identify as Truro’s top priority.

Additional articles concern Community sustainablility programs, an additional school resource officer, and school voucher programs.

Articles defining zoning bylaws and duplex housing are also on the agenda as well as a contentious dog restraint regulation.

Where to Dispose of Hazardous Waste in Barnstable County

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:09:59 GMT

Learn About the Barnstable County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program

What is a hazardous waste program?

Barnstable County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program provides residents with a means to safely dispose of products deemed too harmful to throw away with standard, everyday garbage.

The county manages 24 waste collection events across the Cape between the spring and fall, which helps prevent hazardous waste from entering Cape Cod’s aquifer – the region’s sole natural source of drinking water.

Cape Cod Town Meetings and Elections Coming Up

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:48:57 GMT

Meetings and Elections for Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Truro, and Wellfleet

The five Lower Cape towns hold their annual town meetings and elections over the course of a four-week period this spring.

The 2023 cycle begins on Apr. 25 with Truro’s Annual Town Meeting. Wellfleet holds it's meeting on April 29. It concludes on May 16, when Brewster , Orleans and Eastham hold their respective town elections.

Chequessett Neck Bridge Breaks Ground

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 17:17:16 GMT

The $31 million bridge forms the project’s first piece of infrastructure

After nearly two decades of work, leaders and advocates of Herring River Restoration Project celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the Chequessett Neck Bridge.

The $31 million bridge forms the project’s first and largest piece of infrastructure and will replace part of the tide-restricting Chequessett Neck Road dike to improve the health of the Herring River estuary.

Cape Cod Cannabis Retailers Have a Problem

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 20:08:58 GMT

Can Cape Cod Local Dispensaries Survive Plummeting Prices?

What to know about Cannabis on Cape Cod

Marijuana was legalized in Massachusetts in 2016, but it was two years before the first retail shop opened in 2018. That year the state saw a modest $5.6 million in sales.

Now, the $4 billion industry, built largely on the backs of small, local retailers, is facing growing pains. As wholesale cannabis prices drop in Massachusetts, adult-use retailers face an alarmingly rapid decrease in profitability.

Lower Cape TV spoke with state Sen. Julian Cyr and Wellfleet dispensary owner Zachary Ment, to discuss the challenges facing small, locally-owned-and-operated businesses in the industry.

For Lower Cape News coverage of Cannabis on Cape Cod over the years Check out our Cape Cod Cannabis Guide Here.

For an in-depth look at the difficult business of starting a marijuana dispensary on Cape Cod, watch our Peak Time episode with Piping Plover owner Zachary Ment.

How Much Has the Cost of Marijuana in MA Dropped?

Prices in Massachusetts remain stable between late 2018 and early 2021, with the average monthly retail price consistently exceeding 14 dollars per gram, according to the state's cannabis Control Commission.

Prices underwent a slow but steady decline throughout most of 2021 before dropping dramatically throughout 2022. According to the commission the average retail price of recreational Cannabis hit an all-time low this January at $7.12 per gram

In comparison the commission reports the average retail price in January 2021 was $14.20 per gram.

This means prices for recreation cannabis in Massachusetts have fallen by about 50% over a two-year period.

What Cape Cod Dispensary Closed Down?

The Outer Cape has already seen one of its adult use dispensaries closed for good in 2023, when HEAL CANNABIS in Provincetown shut up shop for good this winter.

Last Minute Tips for Filing Your Tax Return

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:00:02 GMT

Last Minute Tips for Filing Including the Cranberry Bog Credit

How do I manage my 2022 tax returns?

Visit with LCTV's own Tax Experts to learn a few tips for managing your 2022 tax returns .

What is the Cranberry Bog Credit?

The Division of Conservation Services website states: "Recognizing the economic challenges facing cranberry growers who do want to renovate their bogs to increase yield, reduce energy cost and improve water efficiency, all of which is better for the Massachusetts economy and environment, the legislature recently established a new tax credit program to offset 25% of the cost of renovating cranberry bogs in Massachusetts, up to a $100,000 credit."

Do I qualify for the 2022 Child Tax Credit?

LCTV's Tax Experts provide a foundation of the Child Tax Credit which helps families with qualifying children get a tax break. Visit the IRS website to view the most frequently asked questions regarding Child Tax Credit rules and see if you qualify.

Can I still receive Economic Impact Payments?

Our Tax Experts say that people who are missing a stimulus payment or got less than the full amount may still be eligible to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their federal tax return. More information is available at the IRS recovery website .

Voters Strike Down Wing Island Boardwalk Proposal in Brewster

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:33:03 GMT

What's Next for Wing Island?

At a special town meeting on Mar. 6, Brewster voters effectively terminated a town proposal to construct an elevated boardwalk to Wing Island, located northeast of Drummer Boy Park.

Residents considered — and passed — three citizens petition articles during the session, which were submitted in opposition to the town’s Wing Island access initiative.

Though local officials classified the articles as advisory and non-binding, the town Select Board indicated it will honor the meeting's vote results.

More News from Brewster , and other Lower Cape Communities

Cape Cod Bike Trail Gets an Expansion in Provincetown

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 14:23:32 GMT

Cape Cod National Seashore Begins Work

What is the Province Lands Bicycle Trail?

Cape Cod National Seashore began work on a Province Lands Bicycle Trail expansion project this March, with the goal of improving bike safety and increasing accessibility to other areas of Provincetown .

What does the Province Lands Bicycle Trail project include?

The project includes two parts:

The restoration and reopening of a ⅓-mile path between the Beech Forest parking area and Provincetown Transfer Station.
The construction of a new, ¼-mile path parallel to the end of Route 6 near Herring Cove Beach.

Is There an App to Track Sharks Off Cape Cod?

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:59:48 GMT

AWSC Tags and Tracks Sharks in Cape Cod

How many sharks are sighted near Cape Cod?

In 2022 researchers from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and Atlantic White Shark Conservancy tagged 31 white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod.

Last year’s tagging included 18 sea trips between July and early November. Data from this long term project - which has so far tagged 277 individual white sharks in Cape waters - sees sharks arriving earlier and leaving later and provided other insights into the apex predator's patterns.

Is there an APP to track shark sightings?

YES! The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Sharktivity App was developed with input from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries , the Cape Cod National Seashore , and officials from Cape Cod and South Shore towns to raise awareness of the presence of white sharks off our coast.

The App sightings are fed by researchers, safety officials, and users that upload photos for confirmation. By enabling App users to report shark sightings and upload photos for confirmation, we are effectively crowd-sourcing critical data points on where sharks are spotted so as to reduce encounters and promote safety. Data from sharks with acoustic tags and Smart Position and Temperature Tags (SPOT) are also available on the APP.

Public sightings submitted through Sharktivity will be verified by the New England Aquarium .

Where is the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy?

The AWSC Shark Center is located in Chatham, MA. There, visitors can get an in-depth look at the Great White Shark. At the Shark Center, which is open to the public seasonally, there are interactive exhibits, videos, displays, virtual reality experiences, and many other ways to learn.

Federal Budget Request Includes $350 million for Cape Cod Bridges

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 12:53:02 GMT

Would it be enough to kickstart the $4 billion replacement project?

What is the Cape Cod Bridges Program?

On Mar. 9th, the Biden Administration released its budget request for Fiscal Year 2024, which includes $350 million for the Cape Cod Bridges Program . Visit the Massachusetts Department of Transportation website to learn more.

Pending congressional approval, this federal allocation represents a portion of the funding necessary to carry out the $4 billion project.

What is the long term effect of the Cape Cod Bridges Program?
The long-term program promises travel improvements throughout the Cape Cod Canal area and includes plans to replace both the Bourne and Sagamore bridges. Learn More

When will the Sagamore Bridge lane closure begin and end?

For information on spring 2023 Sagamore Bridge lane closures view the LCTV story here .

When will the Sagamore Bridge improvements be complete?

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 11:57:31 GMT

Vehicle traffic will reduce to one lane in each direction

Beginning March 20, Sagamore Bridge vehicle traffic will reduce to one lane in each direction as the bridge undergoes maintenance work overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District. According to the Cape Cod Commission, the lane closures will remain in effect 24 hours per day, with repair work expected to continue through May. Learn More .

For the latest on funding for the Cape Cod Bridges Program, watch here

Are Cape Cod Banks Safe?

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 11:44:25 GMT

As Silicon Valley melts down, most Cape banks represent a different business model.

17 March 2023 - ORLEANS, MA - After a tumultuous week for the banking industry world-wide, Cape bankers say the this region remains stable -- and that most of our banks represent a different business model from the failed Silicon Valley Bank. Learn More

More about Cape Cod business, banking and economy here

When will Orleans New Wastewater Facility Go Online?

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:47:39 GMT

After decades of planning, connection is coming soon

03 March 2023 -- ORLEANS, MA -- After more than two decades of planning, design and construction, Orleans’ new wastewater treatment facility on Overland Way will likely begin its procedural connection process in mid-March. Following operational approval from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, local officials expect the facility to begin a “soft start” in operations on Mar. 6. If the process proceeds according to plan, the town expects the first connections within the Downtown Sewer Service Area will take place around St. Patrick’s Day. Learn More

Lower Cape TV News

What’s Happening Here! Rt 6A and Main St., Orleans

Is this building going away? Join us to find out What's Happening Here!

"I know it's a temporary discomfort for everyone ... but it's all worth it”

Amanda Constant

﻿ Banking Center Manager Cape Cod FIve Orleans

What is happening at the popular corner?

What will change?

How long will construction last?

Brewster Blooms During Its Festival

9 May, 2025 – BREWSTER, MA – Brewster's daffodils sprouted the festival Brewster In Bloom.

Kyle Hinkle

Executive Director, Brewster Chamber Of Commerce

What is Brewster In Bloom?

How did the festival start?

What is the art show?

What is Brewster In Bloom's parade?

How doe the festival benefit the community?

AmeriCorps Loses Funding – This Is What We KNow

Will the county save AmeriCorps Cape Cod?

"The program will continue, but we can't guarantee next year."

Sheila Lyons

Chair, Regional Board of Commissioners

What is happening with AmeriCorps Cape Cod?

How is the funding gap getting filled?

How much does AmeriCorps cost?

Why was the program cut?

What might happen to AmeriCorp Cape Cod in the future?

What happens next?

Cape Cod Hospital Opens New Cancer Center

New 141,000 sf center triples cancer treatment space and adds cardiology and surgical suites.

What is happening with Holtec?

Why is water evaporating?

What is on the local ballot?

Is the water harmful?

What economic impact could this have?

Ruck4HIT Hits 10th Anniversary With Biggest Run Ever

For the 10th year, more than 20 teams from across the country crossed the Cape to support Heroes In Transition.

What is the Ruck4HIT run?

What was different this year?

What is Heroes in Transition?

For more information:

Heroes in Transition

The Cape Needs Its River Herring

The annual herring run is underway. Find out why river herring are such a big deal for Cape Cod.

What is a herring run?

What is the spring migration?

Why do river herring matter?

Ballot Questions Seek to Stop Radioactive Release

Ballot questions in Cape Cod towns this month, if approved by voters, will urge the governor to stop radioactive water evaporation over Cape Cod Bay.

What is happening with Holtec?

Why is water evaporating?

What is on the local ballot?

Is the water harmful?

What economic impact could this have?

Cleaning Orleans For Our Future

"We do a ton of stuff within our school and the community. all things environmental. So we run a lot of beach cleanups ... Everyone in this club really wants to actually make a difference."

Faye Adams

Member, The Green Club, Nauset Regional High School

Are Orleans' beaches clean?

Who are the Surfrider Foundation?

Arts Weaving Orleans Together

25 April, 2025 – ORLEANS, MA – Nine days filled with poetry, theater. live art installations, exhibits, music and workshops. Orleans Cultural District wants there to be something for everyone during Arts Week Orleans.

"We try to bring things to the town that further the mission of culture and art, but also further influx of revenue to the town." ﻿

JoAnn Del Negro

Chair, Arts Week Orleans

What is Arts Week Orleans?

What is the Orleans Cultural District?

Human Trafficking Charges Increase By 700 Percent On Cape And Islands

"We brought 321 charges in 2024 ... I don't say this for shock value. It's not like the Cape and Islands has an outbreak, if you will, in human trafficking ... but we are now starting to put a focus on it, and because of that, we're seeing the docket grow."

Robert Galibois

Cape and Islands District Attorney

What is human trafficking?

Is there human trafficking on Cape Cod?

What does human trafficking look like on Cape Cod?

How widespread is human trafficking on Cape Cod?

Watch the Video NewsReport

You may also like our previous reports on human trafficking and domestic violence

For more information

Truro Finally Breaks Ground on Cloverleaf Rental Housing

Banking Center Manager Cape Cod FIve Orleans

"We try to bring things to the town that further the mission of culture and art, but also further influx of revenue to the town."

Winter Dipper & Board Member, BHI