The Cape Coddah
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☀ A poem's magical journey

☀ A poem's magical journey

Plus: Firefighter to oyster farmer

Cape Coddah
February 21, 2025

Good morning Cape Cod and Happy Friday. We’re proud to say this morning’s newsletter was sent to the inboxes of over 5,000 people! Thanks so much for sharing and supporting. 🎉

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

Insurance crisis on MV
Orleans PD issues scam alert
Dumplings coming to Truro
Events and live music

Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

📝 Cape Dump Find Reunites a Family

A crumbling school desk at the Barnstable transfer station sparked an incredible journey when Brad Johnson spotted a yellowed index card tucked inside containing a heartfelt poem. Written by 11-year-old Donny Chabot from Ontario in 1978, the poem about enjoying hockey without pressure had once made the boy a minor celebrity when it was published in The Hockey News.

After some detective work through a Canadian newspaper, Johnson discovered the poem's author had passed away last July - almost exactly when Johnson found the note. Even more remarkable, Donny's brother Rob had been desperately searching for this family keepsake since his brother's death. The timing felt like more than coincidence to both men as the poem made its way home to Canada, a touching reminder of a boy who overcame cerebral palsy and spina bifida to pursue his love of hockey. Read the full story.

💵 Insurance Nightmare

Martha's Vineyard homeowners are getting hammered by skyrocketing insurance costs, with some seeing premiums triple even after spending big bucks on upgrades. Take Bob Fynbo on Chappy - he dropped $70,000 on a new roof to keep his coverage, only to see his $3,200 annual premium balloon to nearly $12,000.

Insurance companies are using climate change fears to jack up rates or drop coverage entirely, making the Vineyard the third-highest area for non-renewals nationwide. While some islanders are gambling by dropping named storm coverage or turning to the state's last-resort FAIR plan, others like Fynbo are facing the gut-wrenching choice of possibly leaving the island they've called home for decades. Read the full story.

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🚧 E. Sandwich Flooding Leads to Standoff

A East Sandwich builder who fixed someone else's drainage mess is still waiting to get his $40,000 back from the town. Philip Schneider told the planning board he only bought lots in the Lookout Ridge development and wasn't responsible for the landscaper who stuffed the retention basin with rocks, causing flooding along Astrid Way.

Though Schneider removed the boulders and restored the basin to its original design, town officials say it's still not working properly, with roads flooding during even minor rain events. The planning board has delayed their decision until March 18, leaving Schneider caught in an unusual situation where he - not the actual developer - put up the cash bond to keep building permits active. Read the full story.

@THECAPECODDAH

📸 @christophersetterlund | 📍 S. Chatham

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🏄‍♂️ Firefighter to Oyster Farmer: Cape Surfer's 2nd Act

Jon Martin might be the poster child for the saying "better late than never" when it comes to surfing. After growing up on Cape Cod in the 80s without catching the wave bug, he finally dove in at nearly 40 years old, squeezing in pre-dawn sessions before his 24-hour shifts at the Hyannis Fire Department. His passion for the ocean eventually led him to a serendipitous second act - oyster farming at Moon Shoal.

For more than a decade, Martin juggled fighting fires with tending to his tides, but since retiring from the department in 2022, he's been focusing on growing his shellfish business while chasing better waves off-Cape (thanks to those pesky great whites). The trickiest part? Both surfing and oyster farming are tide-dependent, so when the waves are good, he sometimes has to tell his fellow farmer-surfers to "do paperwork or something" while he sneaks away to catch a few. Read the full story.

AROUND THE CAPE

Commission unveils bold plan to rescue declining freshwater ponds from pollution crisis.

Chilean kayaker joins rare 'swallowed-by-whale club' with P'town's Michael Packard.

Orleans teen dancer makes World Irish Dance Championships for third time.

WATCH: Rare tour of the Kennedy compound. What’s next for the historic site?

Orleans opens lottery for 62 new affordable units as Cape housing crisis deepens.

Developers finally moving forward with $6M public waterfront promenade.

LOCAL BUSINESS

🥡 P'town Dumpling Spot Coming to Truro

The owners of P-town's popular Kung Fu Dumplings are bringing their handmade Chinese dumplings to Truro this spring, marking a historic culinary first that had one Select Board member saying "You've blown my mind." Husband-wife team Tong Chuang and Feng Lin received approval for a year-round liquor license for their new 19-seat restaurant at 8 Highland Road (the former Chequessett Chocolate space).

Chuang, who learned traditional Chinese cooking from his grandmother, plans to keep the focus on their famous dumplings while adding classics like fried rice and spring rolls. After running their P-town location for 12 years, the couple hopes to open the Truro spot in May with ambitious 11 AM to 11 PM summer hours. Read the full story.

THE ISLANDS

MV plans public 'food forests' to boost food security and fight climate change.

Tiny southern beetle wreaks havoc on Nantucket pines as warming winters push pest northward.

Aquinnah one step away from $1M state climate grant for emergency microgrid system.

HGTV crowns Nantucket 'most charming small town' in Massachusetts.

New film spotlights tiny invader threatening MV's shellfish industry: the "raving mad" green crab.

Board considers strict party regulations for short-term rentals.

🫙 THE TIP JAR

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CIVIL NEWS

⚠️ Xfinity Modem Scam Hits Cape

Orleans Police are warning residents about a scam targeting Xfinity and Comcast customers across the Cape. The scammers are calling, texting, or emailing locals claiming their modems are outdated and need immediate replacement, and may even spoof official Comcast phone numbers to appear legitimate.

The scammers' playbook includes requesting remote access to victims' computers to "complete upgrades" or "secure firewalls" - a major red flag according to Lt. McLaughlin. Officials emphasize that legitimate Xfinity technicians would never ask for personal information or remote access to your devices, and urge residents to verify any such requests by calling Comcast's official number directly. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Charlie
🐾 Carolina Dog
🎂 9 years old
♀︎ Male
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Sports Card Show @ Margaritaville | 9 AM
Pokemon Club @ Whelden Library | 12:30 PM
Miller at the Movies @ Thacher Hall | 3 PM

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

SUNDAY

Pops Concert @ Barnstable PAC | 3 PM
Ron Williams @ Cultural Center of CC | 3 PM
Fred Clayton Band @ CC MOA | 3:30 PM

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

WEATHER

Friday

33 🌡️ 20 | 🌤️ | 💧0% | 💨 NW 24 mph

Saturday

34 🌡️ 29 | 🌤️ | 💧 0% | 💨 WNW 9 mph

Sunday

39 🌡️ 27 | 🌤️ | 💧 2% | 💨 WSW 8 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 34.7ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

4 Sheldon Lane, Forestdale
Asking $1.17M
5 🛌
3.5 🛀
5,706 square feet 
0.74 acre lot