☀️ Green buses, tall ship & a hammerhead

Sponsored by

Good morning Cape Cod. This is The Cape Coddah, if writing a local email newsletter was an Olympic event, we’d take the gold. We’re very proud that this week’s newsletter is being sent to over 3,000 subscribers! 🏅

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

• Trader Joe’s making moves

• Attempted kidnapping in Hyannis

• Events and live music

  
  Let’s get to it.

THE DIGEST

The greener, cleaner picker upper 🚍

Cape Cod's public transit is getting a “green” makeover. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) just scored a cool $14.6M federal grant to bring 13 new low-emission hybrid buses to the streets. These American-made GILLIG buses aren't just eco-friendly, they're tech-savvy too, with features like reinforced seats and a wheelchair tie-down system.

The new fleet will replace some gas-guzzling oldies, potentially slashing emissions by up to 75%. It's not just about cleaner air though - this grant is also fueling job growth. The CCRTA is partnering with local schools to train the next generation of hybrid vehicle mechanics.

Thomas Cahir, the transit authority's head honcho, says this win came after a fierce competition for funds. But with the Cape's track record of nabbing federal dollars, it's no surprise they came out on top. So sometime next year when you hop on a Cape bus, you’ll likely be riding in a shiny new hybrid. Read the full story.

More Chili-Lime Tortilla Chips 🍋

The ghosts of Christmas Tree Shops past are getting some new life breathed into them. Two former CTS locations on Cape Cod are keeping their doors open, but with some fresh faces behind the counter. In Hyannis, Trader Joe's is doubling down on its Iyannough Road digs, signing a 10-year lease and even expanding into some extra elbow room.

Meanwhile, over in Bourne, Tulp Outdoor Living is settling in for a four-year staycation at the iconic thatched-roof building by the Sagamore Bridge. The Bilezikian family, who turned CTS from a seasonal Cape shop into a national chain before selling in 2003, still owns the properties and is eyeing potential housing developments. Read the full story.

Hammer Time off Chatham 🦈

Cape Cod's shark scene just got a little more diverse. A smooth hammerhead shark was spotted cruising the waters near Monomoy Island off Chatham on July 20th, causing quite a stir among local shark enthusiasts. While Coddahs are used to seeing great whites patrolling Cape shores, hammerheads are a more rare find.

This isn't their first Cape rodeo though; one of these hammer-headed tourists was spotted off Nantucket back in 2022. With their distinctive T-shaped noggins and impressive size range of 3 to 20 feet, these oceanic oddities are certainly a sight to behold. Read the full story.

@THECAPECODDAH

📸@tbradlee | 📍 Mayflower Beach

Tag @thecapecoddah to get your photos in the Coddah!

Tall ship returns to Provincetown ⚓️

The Kalmar Nyckel, Delaware's floating time machine, is set to drop anchor today in P-town after a 5-year hiatus. This is a full-blown replica of a 17th-century Swedish ship that once hauled settlers to the New World.

Captain Lauren Morgens and her crew of 200 volunteers will guide guests through hands-on activities like hauling lines and setting sails, as well as teaching traditional sea chanteys. It's an immersive historical experience that's been sorely missed since its last visit in 2019.

The ship's return has generated significant excitement, so much so that all available tickets have already been sold out. This overwhelming response highlights just how eagerly anticipated the Kalmar Nyckel's visit is among both locals and tourists. Hopefully the tall ship returns next year. Read the full story.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Best Thai food on the Cape? 🥢

This week the folks on Reddit: Cape Cod had a thread about the best Thai food on the Cape. Here’s the top 5 restaurants according to upvotes in the subreddit: 

1. Thai Ocha (Dennisport)
2. Basil Thai Cusine (W. Yarmouth)
3. Bangkok Kitchen (Hyannis)
4. Krua Thai (Buzzards Bay)
5. Royal Thai (Eastham)

What’s your favorite Thai joint on the Cape?

CIVIL NEWS

Kidnapping in Hyannis leads to swift arrests 🚨

A violent incident in Hyannis on Thursday morning led to the arrest of two men on kidnapping charges. The victim, who escaped from a home on Quaker Road, reported being held at gunpoint, choked with a belt, and stabbed. Eric Randall, 23, of Hyannis and Richard Villa, 34, of Cotuit were apprehended by Barnstable police. The victim is expected to survive. Police recovered a "ghost" gun and knife during the investigation. Both suspects are being held without bail. Randall was also wanted for a separate gun-related incident from the previous day. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Tidbit
🐾 Labrador Retriever
🎂 10 years old
♀︎ Female
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Friday

• P-Town Tall Ship Day Sails @ Macmillian Pier

• Guild of Chatham Painters Exhibit @ FUMC, Chatham

• History on Tap @ CC Maritime Museum, Barnstable

• In the Whale, Wellfleet Preservation Hall

• Bayberry Quilt Show @ Cape Tech HS, Harwich

• La Tavola @ Christ the King Parish, Mashpee

• Cape Cod Feud @ Ten Pin Eatery, Hyannis

Saturday

• Line Dancing @ CC Beer, Hyannis

• All White Affair @ Island Cafe & Grill, Hyannis

• Comedian Bob Marley @ CC Melody Tent, Hyannis

• Woods Hole Film Festival

• Summer Craft Fest @ Chatham Community Center Lawn

• Field Day Fun @ W. Yarmouth Library

• Annual Gala & Art Auction @ CC MOA, Dennis

Sunday

• Summer Santa Vacation @ Naukabout, Mashpee

• Jungle Book @ CC Theatre Co, W. Harwich

• Run the Trails for the Whales @ Province Lands, P-Town

• Sandwich Flea Market @ Oakcrest Cove Field, Sandwich

• Guided Family Field Walks @ CC MONH, Brewster

• Estate Tour @ Highland Field Hall, Falmouth

Live Music 🎸

Friday

• SummerTown @ The Loft, W. Yarmouth

• More Women ROCK @ Cotuit Center for the Arts

• Mozelle Andrulot @ Devil’s Purse Brewing, S. Dennis

• Silent Trees @ CC Winery, E. Falmouth

• Mr. Gotcha @ Lanes Bowl & Bistro, Mashpee

• Ted Wyman @ Baxter’s, Hyannis

• Power/Load @ Hog Island Beer, Orleans

• Brent Burwell @ CC Beer, Hyannis

• Dueling Pianos @ Sagamore Inn

• Paul Horton @ Red River BBQ, Harwich Port

• Club 9 Ball @ The Woodshed, Brewster

Saturday

• SummerTown @ Finn’s, Hyannis

• Crush - Duo @ Naukabout, Mashpee

• Kim Moberg @ Cotuit Center for the Arts

• Zoe Lewis @ Cultural Center of CC, S. Yarmouth

• Paul Horton @ CC Beer, Hyannis

• Hyannis Sound 30th Anniversary @ Barnstable HS, Hyannis

• Connor Cox & Friends @ The Woodshed, Brewster

Sunday

• DJ Milk @ CC Winery, E. Falmouth

• Broadway Around the World @ UUMH, P-Town

• Neal McCarthy @ CC Beer, Hyannis

• Nolan Driscoll @ The Woodshed, Brewster

  
  Cape Cod Music in the Park - Free Outdoor Concerts Guide

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

WEATHER

Friday

87 🌡️ 74 | 🌤️ | 40% | 💨 SSW 7 mph

Saturday

83 🌡️ 73 | 🌤️ | 44% | 💨 SSW 10 mph

Sunday

84 🌡️ 6 | 🌩️ | 91% | 💨 SW 15 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 66ºF

LISTING OF THE WEEK

713 Sandwich Rd, E. Falmouth, MA
Asking $599,000
3 🛌
1.5 🛀
1,446 square feet
0.45 acre lot

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

THANKS!

Thanks for reading The Cape Coddah today. If you found something useful or entertaining, please share it someone who loves the Olympics.