The Cape Coddah
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☀ Doc Seeks Cape's Most Elusive Species

☀ Doc Seeks Cape's Most Elusive Species

Plus: ATM Hackers Bring Secret Service to Sandwich

Cape Coddah
February 28, 2025

Good morning Cape Cod. This is The Cape Coddah, the newsletter that feverishly combs through Cape news and events, to deliver golden nuggets of information straight to your inbox.

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

Sandlot' Inspired $38M Hotel Transformation
Doomed Mansion Tumbles
Events and live music

Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

❤ Filmmaker Seeks Older Men for Doc

Cape Cod documentary filmmaker Felicia Romano is searching high and low for older men and LGBTQ community members for her dating project that highlights the unique challenges of finding love on the peninsula. With 70 locals already signed up, Romano – a former couples therapist – is struggling to match women over 60 since "very few men over 40 have signed up."

The 30-year-old Barnstable native is seeking grant funding and sponsorships for the passion project, while using her professional background to create compatible matches, though she admits her own romantic experience on the Cape is limited – having met her husband in Ohio. Read the full story.

🏥 Mental Health Beds Saved – For Now

Governor Healey has hit pause on plans to close two critical healthcare facilities - Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children in Canton and Pocasset Mental Health Center on Cape Cod - after facing major pushback from patients, families and staff.

The proposed closures were part of budget cuts that would have relocated Pappas patients over 100 miles away and eliminated one of only two inpatient psychiatric units on Cape Cod. The governor now plans to bring together stakeholders including patients, families and healthcare workers to review the facilities and determine "the best path forward," while unions vow to keep fighting to ensure this pause becomes permanent. Read the full story.

🚧 Doomed Wellfleet Mansion Finally Down

After years of controversy, the massive 5,153-square-foot house perched on an eroding bluff at 1440 Chequessett Neck Road in Wellfleet is finally being demolished. The property, purchased by John Bonomi in 2021 for $5.5 million, had become a community concern as erosion threatened to send it crashing into Cape Cod Bay, potentially destroying oyster beds and harming marine habitats.

Despite initial claims the owner would "walk away" and leave taxpayers with the $1 million demolition bill, attorney Thomas Moore confirmed that CQN Salvage is funding the teardown, much to the relief of local officials and residents who gathered to watch the excavators begin their work on February 24. Read the full story.

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📸 @capeimagesbyamie | 📍 Chapin Beach

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🐳 Right Whales Arrive Early

Almost one-fifth of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale population (over 70 individuals) have already returned to Cape Cod Bay this winter, with numbers ahead of last year's pace. The Center for Coastal Studies conducts aerial surveys and research cruises to monitor these whales, though challenging weather and unusual whale behavior—including long diving patterns and social surface activity—have complicated observation efforts.

With just 372 right whales remaining worldwide and strict regulations requiring boats to stay 500 yards away, researchers delivered some good news: a previously entangled whale spotted in December 2024 has now been documented gear-free in Cape Cod Bay. Read the full story.

AROUND THE CAPE

Coastal nostalgia meets modern design in this Woods Hole dream home.

Join AmeriCorps Cape Cod for the 24th Annual Canal Clean Up on April 19th.

Applications now open for 62 affordable apartments in Orleans.

Vacation rentals unexpectedly slow for summer, with prices likely to drop.

P-town will begin issuing 2025 parking permits on March 3rd for the May-October season.

Starting in 2026, MA boaters must complete safety certification courses.

LOCAL BUSINESS

⚾ 'Sandlot' Inspires $38M Nantucket Hotel Makeover

Boston-based Blue Flag Capital has transformed Nantucket's 65-year-old Beachside Hotel into a nostalgic "endless summer" retreat inspired by the 1993 film "The Sandlot."

Following a $38M purchase and extensive renovations, the North Beach Street property now features 91 rooms, two suites, a pool courtyard, arcade, and fire pits, all designed with a "fun retro" aesthetic using terracottas and dark greens rather than traditional Nantucket colors.

Opening fully in May after last year's soft launch, the family-friendly resort will offer daily activities including movie nights, with summer rates starting at $599. Read the full story.

THE ISLANDS

Oak Bluffs gets green light for $17M East Chop Bluff project to protect homes from rising seas.

Elin Hilderbrand unveils "The Blue Book: A Must-See, Can't-Miss, Won't-Forget Guide to Nantucket," coming May 2025.

Island skies may darken as Vineyard Wind begins testing system to turn off turbine lights.

Nantucket Chamber launches "Lights Out“ relief fund for businesses crushed by power outage during Christmas Stroll weekend.

MV Film Society screens British noir classics this March, with free wine and chocolate at each showing.

Knights of Columbus members on Nantucket will "go homeless" overnight on Ash Wednesday.

🫙 THE TIP JAR

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CIVIL NEWS

🏧 ATM Hack Brings Feds to Sandwich

The Secret Service has joined Sandwich Police to investigate multiple ATM robberies at Cape Cod Five's Route 6A branch, where machines were reportedly "hacked" on February 8.

Witnesses spotted a silver sedan with Connecticut plates fleeing the scene, and bank officials have been working with investigators since the early morning report on February 9. With federal agents now involved and officials staying tight-lipped, this appears more sophisticated than your typical Cape cash grab. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Adeline
🐾 Domestic Shorthair
🎂 5 months old
♀︎ Female
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

SUNDAY

Fred Boyle @ Brewster Ladies Library | 2 PM
Rose Clancy & Max Cohen @ CC MOA | 3 PM

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

WEATHER

Friday

47 🌡️ 27 | 🌤️ | 💧1% | 💨 WNW 17 mph

Saturday

48 🌡️ 31 |🌦| 💧 40% | 💨 SSW 18 mph

Sunday

33 🌡️ 15 | 🌤️ | 💧 0% | 💨 NW 17 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 35.8ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

18 Quaker Rd., East Sandwich
Asking $825,000
3 🛌
2 🛀
1,232 square feet 
1.25 acre lot

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

THANKS!

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