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Good morning Cape Cod. The pre-Christmas weekend is coming in hot, literally. With temps on the rise, Frosty's melting, but it's perfect weather for last-minute shopping, ugly sweater flexing, and festive wandering around town. 🎄

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

• How to apply for a Dune Shack residency

• The slow-speed chase in Nantucket

• Events and live music

  
  Let’s get to it.

🛳️ Inspector General Slams Ferry Authority

The Massachusetts Inspector General released a scathing report on the Steamship Authority's failed website project, finding "poor planning and lax oversight" wasted millions after the $2M project ballooned to over $4M before being shelved in 2024.

The Authority prioritized building a new website before replacing its 1996 reservation system maintained by a single 70-year-old contractor in Wisconsin. Officials ignored consultant warnings, appointed an unqualified communications director as project manager, and withheld critical information from the Board.

The report found the Authority may have repurchased software licensing rights for $350,000 that it already owned from 2010 for $35,000. Project delays cost an additional $666,550 in unnecessary contracts.

The IG recommends legislative review of the Authority's governance structure and warns against connecting the shelved website to a new $5.7M reservation system currently under development. Read more»

💰 Chatham Fights to Save Dredging

Chatham received over $3M in state dredging grants during the past decade to clear Stage Harbor, Aunt Lydia's Cove, and Mill Creek, but the program may be eliminated from the fiscal 2027 state budget.

The town currently appropriates $400,000 annually for dredging, mostly covering engineering, permitting, and matching grant funds. Losing state grants would force the town to significantly increase local funding.

In a December 10th letter, Chatham's select board urged Governor Healey to preserve the program, calling it essential for maritime economy, natural resources, and coastal heritage. Since 1989, there have been 98 dredging projects in town.

Chatham's dynamic shoreline—shaped by the 1987 barrier beach breakthrough and complicated by sea level rise—requires constant maintenance. Select board member Stuart Smith suggested the county could take over permitting for Cape towns.
Read more»

SPONSORED BY CHATHAM HARVESTERS

🎨 Dune Shack Residencies Now Open

Applications are open through January 15th for residencies in two historic Cape Cod National Seashore dune shacks, C-Scape and Fowler, offering artists and writers a chance to stay in the primitive, isolated structures from April to November.

The Provincetown Community Compact is offering three three-week artist residencies (including one specifically for an emerging artist of color honoring David Bethuel Jamieson) and two one-week writer residencies chosen by lottery. Two additional writers' weeks are available through the Fine Arts Work Center.

The shacks have no electricity or indoor plumbing, providing uninterrupted solitude for creative work. They're among 19 structures in the Peaked Hill Bars National Register Historic District.

The Compact also maintains a voluntary Honor Tax request for all applicants and continues underwriting a week for Native Americans in collaboration with the Native Land Conservancy. Read more»

📸 @bob_amaral_photography | 📍Chapin Beach

Tag @thecapecoddah to get your photos in the Coddah!

 
🚧 Eminent Domain Begins

Four property owners will lose their homes to the state in January for the new Sagamore Bridge, with 89-year-old Mary Gallerani calling the timing "heartbreaking" after living in her Round Hill home since 1958.

In total, 14 homes, one commercial property, and several vacant lots will be taken through eminent domain. State officials say they scheduled deed transfers after Christmas and often allow residents to rent back their homes while finding new places.

At Tuesday's public meeting, Cape residents raised concerns about easier Cape access displacing young families, impractical pedestrian crossings, and safety issues with at-grade bike paths.

The $4.5B project remains on track despite October threats to federal funding. Construction on the Sagamore Bridge starts late 2027 or early 2028. Public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement ends January 5th. Read more»

☀️ Finally: A Beachside Sauna in P-town

Provincetown's Yoga Joint opened a beachside sauna over Thanksgiving weekend after an eight-month permitting saga that cost owner Chase Hiffernan "well over $30,000" and involved multiple town boards, county floodplain experts, and state environmental officials.

The 8-by-10-foot barrel sauna sits on a trailer bed (so it can be moved during storms), features an electrical outlet seven feet in the air, and offers direct access to the bay for cold plunges. It can reach 190 degrees and hold eight people.

Hiffernan said he was told "no about 1,000 times" before figuring out the trailer solution. The entire area sits in FEMA's velocity flood zone, which initially required building eight feet in the air.

One-hour sessions cost $35, with a $20 "townie rate" for locals' first visit. It's Provincetown's only freestanding public sauna with bay access. Read more»

🏋️‍♀️ FEELING THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT?

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🚨 The Great Nantucket Slow-Speed Chase

A 71-year-old Nantucket man led police on a 30-minute, low-speed chase across the island Monday morning that his own attorney called "the most exciting thing to happen since Christmas Stroll."

Kevin Ryan was cruising a blistering 43 mph in a 25 mph zone after fleeing a traffic stop for expired stickers. Police say he intentionally backed into two cruisers, struck another pickup truck, and took out mailboxes, fencing, and Christmas lights along multiple roads including Hussey Farm, Cliff, and Madaket.

When officers finally arrested him near Eel Point Road after he crashed, Ryan allegedly resisted by refusing to release his arms from under himself.

He faces 13 charges including assault with a dangerous weapon and driving uninsured. His attorney noted Ryan is "of extremely limited means" and couldn't afford registration renewal. The judge set bail at $2,000 and ordered him not to drive.

Ryan's next court date? December 22nd. Read more»

👋 Meet: Honey
🐾 Chihuahua - Smooth Coated
🎂 10 years old
♀︎ Female
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra: Holiday Special

🗓️ Sunday, December 21st, 3 PM
📍Pilgrim Congregational Church, 533 Rt. 28, Harwich Port, MA 02646

Ring in the holidays with Vaughan Williams' radiant Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Britten's introspective Lachrymae featuring violist Sam Kelder, and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. Plus festive favorites including Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. An afternoon of luminous masterpieces and seasonal cheer for all ages.

Click here for tickets. 
(Sponsored)


FRIDAY - DECEMBER 19

Fusing Class @ Sandwich Glass | 10 AM
Public Skating @ Charles Moore Arena | 11:30
Open Writing Sessions @ Falmouth Library | 3:30
Pizza with Santa @ Shipwrecked | 5 PM


SATURDAY - DECEMBER 20

Beach Clean-up @ Craigville Beach | 10 AM
Open House @ Cahoon Museum | 10 AM
Bonsai Bar Workshop @ Aquatic Brewing | 12
Photos with Santa @ Chatham Squire | 12 PM
Family Movie @ Sandwich Library | 1:30 PM
Kris Kringle Bar Crawl @ Pelham House | 2 PM
Movie Matinee @ Brewster Ladies Library | 2 PM
Jimmy Cash (comedian) @ Sea Crest Resort | 7


SUNDAY - DECEMBER 21

Fiber Arts Circle @ Wellfleet Library | 11 AM
Ornament Sale @ Guild of Harwich Artists | 11
Fleet Moves Dance @ Wellfleet Pres. Hall | 3 PM

FRIDAY - DECEMBER 19

Dan Felix @ CC Beer | 5 PM
John Sage @ CC Coffee | 6 PM
John Ebersold @ Irish Goodbye | 6 PM
Sarah Burrill Band @ Chatham Squire | 6 PM
Leah & Colleen @ Red Nun | 6:30 PM
Heyday @ Sons of Erin | 6:30 PM
Ella Mae Dixon @ Wicked Oyster | 7 PM
Nikki & Barn Boys @ CC Beer | 7 PM
Community Sing @ FCC Falmouth | 7 PM
Soul Purpose @ Lanes Bowl & Bistro | 7:30 PM
Whiskey Princess @ The Quarterdeck | 8 PM
Karaoke @ Jake Rooney’s | 8 PM
Rose Martin @ The Barley Neck | 8:30 PM
Grab Brothers @ Neptune’s CC | 9 PM



SATURDAY - DECEMBER 20

Liam & Jonny @ CC Winery | 1 PM
Bryce Elizabeth @ CC Beer | 3 PM
Open Mic @ First Church UCC (Sandwich) | 5
Rose Clancy @ Red Nun | 5:30 PM
Eleanor & Dario @ Wellfleet Pres. Hall | 6 PM
Tony Disavino @ CC Coffee | 6 PM
John Ebersold @ Father’s Kitchen | 6 PM
Sugar Bucket @ CC Beer | 6 PM
Grab Brothers @ Laurino’s | 7 PM
Booty Vortex @ Neptune’s CC | 7 PM
The Wiley Brothers @ Jake Rooney’s | 7 PM
On the Rocks @ Asia Restaurant | 8 PM
The Jones’ @ The Barley Neck | 8 PM
Bart Weisman Jazz @ The Vine | 8:30 PM
The Detours @ Oliver’s & Planck’s | 9 PM
Dirty Water Dance @ Chatham Squire | 9:30

SUNDAY - DECEMBER 21

Holiday Hits @ Falmouth Historical | 4 PM
Pitchfork @ Chatham Squire | 5 PM
Grab Brothers @ The Loft | 5 PM
Funktapuss @ Alley Bowling BBQ | 6 PM





_{Nothing in this section is sponsored. We'll let you know when something's sponsored.}

Friday

57 🌡️ 29 | 🌧️ | 💧 94% | 💨 SSW 29 mph

Saturday

40 🌡️ 32 | ⛅️ | 💧 0% | 💨 W 13 mph

Sunday

48🌡️ 23 | 🌤️ | 💧 6% | 💨 WSW 24 mph


💧🌡️ Water temperature = 41ºF

8 Dewey Avenue, Sandwich
Asking $1.899M
4 🛏️
3.5 🛁 
3,106 sqft
1.81 acre lot

_{Nothing in this section is sponsored. We'll always let you know when something's sponsored.}

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