☀ No flights & new ferries

Good morning Cape Cod, this is The Cape Coddah. Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Blessed Kwanzaa and a Happy Festivus to those who celebrate. 🎉

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

• Cape towns to receive housing help

• Hot mic moment

• Events and live music

  
  Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

✈️ Cape Air's exit leaves P-town without winter flights

Provincetown's airport sits unusually quiet this winter after Cape Air suspended its year-round Boston service for the first time since 1989. While private planes and flight schools still use the runway, commercial flights won't resume until May 2025.

The town is now pursuing federal funding to attract a new year-round carrier, with Connecticut-based Fly the Whale showing strong interest. Meanwhile, residents must rely on a brutal 3.5-hour bus route or $400 taxi ride to reach Logan Airport. Read the full story.

🏡 9 Cape towns tagged for housing help

Nine Cape towns and all of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket have been named "seasonal communities" under the state's new Affordable Homes Act. The designation, which targets vacation spots facing unique housing challenges, gives these communities access to special resources from the $5.16B housing initiative.

A new advisory council including local leaders like Brewster's Town Manager and the Housing Assistance Corp CEO will guide policies for these communities, focusing on areas with high rates of seasonal homes and short-term rentals. Read the full story.

🎤 Hot mic catches official's cranky comment

A Yarmouth Select Board member apologized after a hot mic caught her saying "God, I'm sick of these people" following a hot debate over relocating a pump station near a cranberry bog. Joyce Flynn's frustrated comment came after a close vote (100-88) on the non-binding resolution at a Dec. 9 special town meeting.

The pump station is part of Yarmouth's $207.2M wastewater project, with town officials insisting it won't harm the cranberry operation despite the farmer's environmental concerns. Read the full story.

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Tag @thecapecoddah to get your photos in the Coddah!

🐋 Three dead whales prompt investigation

Three dead whales have washed up on Cape Cod shores in less than a week, raising concerns but not indicating a common cause. Two humpbacks and one minke were found between Plymouth and Wellfleet, with researchers citing boat collision and disease as likely causes.

While the cluster of deaths is unusual, experts from IFAW and WDC stress the incidents are unrelated to offshore wind development and urge against political misuse of the tragedies. Read the full story.

⛴️ Steamship's newest vessel arrives on Island

The Steamship Authority's newest vessel, M/V Barnstable, made its maiden voyage to Nantucket Monday after a complete makeover in Alabama. The former Gulf Coast oil supply vessel, bought for $6M and converted for $13.6M, will primarily serve the Nantucket route replacing the recently sold M/V Gay Head.

The 245-foot vessel, which can carry 80 passengers and 50 cars, is one of three sister ships purchased to upgrade the fleet, though its delivery came six months behind schedule and over budget. Read the full story. 

LOCAL BUSINESS

🗺️ Mashpee artist maps out unique bag business

Inside Mashpee Commons' Art Coddage, Linda Keough is giving old maps new life as designer bags. Since 2012, her company MapSacks has transformed vintage road maps into totes, pouches, and custom designs that capture memories in a GPS world.

The fabric artist sources her materials from flea markets and sometimes grateful families looking to preserve their loved ones' maps. While custom orders are available, Keough says most customers connect with the nostalgic graphics and memories of places they've visited. Read the full story.

🫙 THE TIP JAR

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CIVIL NEWS

⚖️ Mastermind of MV bank robbery gets prison time

The ringleader of the 2022 Rockland Trust bank robbery has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Miquel Anthonio Jones, 33, of Edgartown, orchestrated the armed heist that netted $39,100, providing his crew with elderly-man masks, zip ties, and guns.

As the only local member, Jones planned the robbery, selecting the Vineyard Haven branch and hiding evidence at his landscaping job afterward. His three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and await sentencing in January 2025. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Bumble
🐾 Anatolian Shephard
🎂 8 months old
♀︎ Male
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

FRIDAY

• Mariniana: The Interrupted Wave @ CC MOA, Dennis (10 AM)

• "Woodland Whimsey" @ The Gallery @ FCTV, Falmouth (10 AM)

• Movie Fridays: Twister @ Snow Library, Orleans (3 PM)

• Community Fiber Arts Show @ Wellfleet Library (5 PM)

• Open Skate @ CC Collaborative, Barnstable (7 PM)

• Dreamsville @ Cotuit Center for the Arts, Falmouth (7 PM)

• A Christmas Carol @ CC Theatre Co, Harwich (7 PM)

• Ugly Sweater X-Mas Party @ Anchor Ale House, Falmouth (9 PM)

SATURDAY

• Winter Antique Show @ American Legion Hall, Sandwich (8 AM)

• Solstice Sparkle @ Community Center, Orleans (11 AM)

• Brunch w/ Santa @ Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster (11:30 AM)

• Holiday Market @ CC Winery, E. Falmouth (12 PM) (Sat & Sun)

• Cookie Decorating Workshop @ Naukabout Brewery, Mashpee (12 PM)

• Children’s Book Giveaway @ Wellfleet Library (1 PM)

• Santa Claus @ Chatham Squire, Chatham (1 PM)

• Winter Solstice Celebration @ Allard Farm, Brewster (2 PM)

• Kris Kingle Crawl @ Pelham House Resort, Dennis Port (3 PM)

• Comedy Night @ Aquatic Brewing, Falmouth (8 PM)

SUNDAY

• Merry Grinchmas Paint Party @ Color Me Mine, Mashpee (10 AM)

• Santa’s Arrival @ Yarmouth Fire Dept. (3 PM)

• Irish X-Mas Celebration @ Auld Triangle, Hyannis (4 PM)

LIVE MUSIC  🎸

FRIDAY

• Barry Hynes @ The Sand Dollar, S. Dennis (5 PM)

• Christmas Dueling Pianos @ Pelham House Resort, Dennis Port (5 PM)

• Paul Horton @ CC Coffee, Mashpee (6 PM)

• Boston Naturals @ Chatham Squire, Chatham (6 PM)

• The Cyclones @ Hog Island Beer, Orleans (6 PM)

• Community Sing @ FCC, Falmouth (7 PM)

• Grab Brothers @ Lanes Bowl & Bistro, Mashpee (8 PM)

• Karaoke @ Jake Rooney’s, Harwich Port (8:30 PM)

• Jim Nosler @ The Barley Neck Inn, E. Orleans (9 PM)

• Karaoke @ Chatham Squire, Chatham (9 PM)

SATURDAY

• Cape Symphony Youth Orchestra @ Barnstable PAC, Hyannis (2 PM)

• Solstice Singers @ Woods Hole Community Hall (4 PM) (Sat & Sun)

• Dirty Water Dance Band @ CC Beer’s X-Mas Party, Hyannis (6 PM)

• Kathleen Healey @ Seven Days Restaurant, Dennis (6 PM)

• Grab Brothers @ Hog Island Beer, Orleans (6 PM)

• Kim & Him @ The Local Tavern & Grille, Sandwich (7 PM)

• Walk of Shame @ Dino’s Sports Bar, Mashpee (8 PM)

• Bruce Maclean @ The Barley Neck Inn, E. Orleans (9 PM)

• Just Like That @ Chatham Squire, Chatham (9:30 PM)

SUNDAY

• Brunch w/ Santa @ Pelham House Resort, Dennis Port (10 AM)

• Rose Clancy @ Chatham Squire, Chatham (5 PM)

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

WEATHER

Friday

44 🌡️ 31 | 🌧️❄️ | 💧80% | 💨 ENE 13 mph

Saturday

34 🌡️ 17 | 🌨️ | 💧 80% | 💨 NNW 23 mph

Sunday

25 🌡️ 18 | ⛅️ | 💧 8% | 💨 NW 14 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 45ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

110 Ocean View Ave., Cotuit
Asking $2.895M
3 🛌 
2.5 🛀 
1,791 square feet

0.47 acre lot

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

THANKS!

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