☀ State Cuts Deep: Cape Mental Health Center Closing

In partnership with

Good morning Cape Cod and Happy National Peanut Butter Day to all those who celebrate. What’s your peanut butter style; Smooth? Chunky? Super-chunk? 🥜

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

• Sagamore Bridge pulling permits

• P-town offering landlords cash

• Events and live music

  
  Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

⚕️ Cape Mental Health Crisis? Pocasset on Chopping Block

Governor Healey dropped a bombshell Wednesday - she's planning to close Pocasset Mental Health Center, a vital 16-bed facility for mental health care. The suits are also slashing the state's mental health case manager workforce in half, from 340 to 170 workers.

While the brass claims this move will "improve care," healthcare unions are having none of it, warning that losing Pocasset will leave Cape patients stuck in ER waiting rooms instead of getting the help they need. The changes won't kick in until July 2025, but with Cape hospitals already bursting at the seams, this closure might be the last straw for the region's mental health system. Read the full story.

🚧 Sagamore Bridge Plans Take Shape as Permits Begin

The state's new bridges boss says the $4B Cape bridges replacement project is entering a critical environmental phase, with the Sagamore Bridge up first for replacement.

Luisa Paiewonsky told the Sierra Club that while final plans aren't set, the new design features two one-way spans with wider lanes, shoulders, and a bike/pedestrian path. While preliminary studies show minimal wetland impact, officials still need to navigate complex environmental permits before breaking ground on the aging 1930s structures. Read the full story.

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR

💰 P-town's Cash Offer Gets Landlords to Switch

Provincetown is expanding its efforts to create year-round housing by offering cash incentives to vacation rental owners who switch to long-term leases. The "Lease to Locals" program has already housed 49 tenants in 28 properties by offering one-time payments up to $20,000.

With success in its first year, the town plans to extend and expand the program using short-term rental tax revenue, while also looking for ways to support existing year-round landlords through tax breaks and maintenance grants. Read the full story.

@THECAPECODDAH

📸 @cape.cod.wet.shaving | 📍 John’s Pond, Mashpee

Tag @thecapecoddah to get your photos in the Coddah!

💨 Cape Wind Projects Face Uncertainty

President Trump has ordered a halt to offshore wind permitting on his first day back in office, creating uncertainty for Cape Cod and South Coast projects. While Vineyard Wind's construction can continue, other projects face potential delays or cancellations.

New Bedford's mayor warns jobs could be lost, though local scallopers welcome the pause, saying it gives time to review fishing conflicts. Clean energy advocates fear the order could shut down the industry for four years, especially if wind farm tax credits are eliminated. Read the full story.

LOCAL BUSINESS

🛍️ The Cape’s Best Hidden Gems

Redditor crazyhearts posted on the Cape subreddit that they had recently discovered Buddha Bobs and asked others to share their favorite unique shops.

The recommendations ranged from quirky gift stores to record shops and metaphysical suppliers. Many mentioned long-standing local favorites, while also lamenting the loss of Christmas Tree Shops.

Here’s the top 5 most recommended shops:

• Yankee Ingenuity (Chatham) - Eclectic mix of steampunk and vintage items

• Shop Therapy (Provincetown) - Iconic P-town gift shop

• Earth House (Orleans) - Crystals, bamboo and hippie vibes

• Bird Watchers General Store (Orleans) - Unique specialty shop with local charm

• Spinnakers (Hyannis) - Highly praised record store

What’s your favorite unique shop?

🫙 THE TIP JAR

Enjoying the newsletter? Buy us a coffee with a small donation here. Thank you to everyone who has already donated. We love you! ❤️ 🙏

CIVIL NEWS

⚖️ Footprints in the Sand Snow Lead to Vandals

Four teens left a trail of destruction - and their footprints in the snow - through several Falmouth neighborhoods early Monday morning, damaging about 50 properties with smashed mailboxes, uprooted trees, and destroyed lawn ornaments.

Cops followed the footprints to identify the suspects and are now gathering evidence, including asking residents to share any security camera footage of the vandalism spree. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Brandy
🐾 Catahoula Leopard Hound
🎂 8 months old
♀︎ Female
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

FRIDAY

• Burger Slider & Cupcake Challenge @ Upper CC Regional TS | Bourne | 3 PM

• Candle-Making Workshop @ Truro Vineyards | N. Truro | 5:30 PM

• Trivia Night @ Bad Martha’s | E. Falmouth | 6:45 PM

• BoStyx (Styx Tribute) @ The Music Room | W. Yarmouth | 7 PM

• Picasso at Lapin Agille @ Falmouth Theatre Guild | Falmouth | 7:30 PM (Fri & Sat)

• Friday Night Social @ Dino’s Sports Bar | Mashpee | 8 PM

SATURDAY

• Gills Club @ Atlantic White Shark Conservancy | N. Chatham | 9 AM

• Lego Free Play @ S. Yarmouth Library | 10 AM

• Dumplings & Spicy Edamame @ Cultural Center of CC | S. Yarmouth | 10 AM

• Draw Winter Pikachu @ S. Dennis Free Public Library | 10:30 AM

• Saturday STEAM: Water & Ice @ W. Falmouth Library | 11 AM

• Espresso for the Rescue @ CC Coffee | Mashpee | 1 PM

• Christmas Tree Shops w/ Anthony Sammarco @ Falmouth Public Library | 1 PM

• Movie Matinee: Cars @ Brewster Ladies Library | 2 PM

• Country Line Dancing @ Sandwich Public Library | 2 PM

• Vision Board Bingo Cards @ Cultural Center of CC | S. Yarmouth | 3 PM

• 9th Annual Robert Burns Supper @ Highfield Hall | Falmouth | 5 PM

• Comedian Will Noonan @ Flying Bridge Restaurant | Falmouth | 8 PM

SUNDAY

• CC Sports Card Show @ Margaritaville Resort | Hyannis | 9 AM

• Meet Chef Gavin Smith @ Highfield Hall | Falmouth | 1 PM

• Winter Film Series: Oceans @ Salt Pond Visitors Center | Eastham | 1:30 PM

• Picasso at Lapin Agille @ Falmouth Theatre Guild | Falmouth | 2 PM

LIVE MUSIC  🎸

FRIDAY

• Brown Bag Lunch Recital @ CC Covenant Church | 12 PM | Brewster

• Silver Beach @ CC Coffee | Mashpee | 6 PM

• Boston Naturals @ Chatham Squire | Chatham | 6 PM

• Super Soulshine @ Hog Island Beer | Orleans | 6 PM

• Ana Glig & Vira Slywotzky @ Cultural Center of CC | S. Yarmouth | 7:30 PM

• Riptide @ The Loft Restaurant | W. Yarmouth | 8 PM

• Tria @ Lanes Bowl & Bistro | Mashpee | 8 PM

• Karaoke @ Jake Rooney’s | Harwich Port | 8:30 PM

• Catie Flynn @ The Barley Neck | Orleans | 8:30 PM

SATURDAY

• Bode Corona @ Snow Library | Orleans | 2 PM

• A Cole Porter Celebration @ Wellfleet Library | 3 PM

• Creare Symphonia @ Church of Transfiguration | Orleans | 3:30 PM

• Bart Weisman Jazz Group @ The Vine | Falmouth | 5:30 PM

• The Jethros @ Buzzards Bay Brewing |

• ARLO @ CC Coffee | Mashpee | 6 PM

• Route 6A w/ Jody Moore @ Parrott Bar & Grille | Cataumet | 6 PM

• Boston Naturals @ Hog Island Beer | Orleans | 6 PM

• Eleanor & Dario @ Pelham House Resort | Dennis Port | 7 PM

• Times the Enemy @ Tomatillos | Sandwich | 7:30 PM

• 440 Quartet: Gypsy Jazz @ Cultural Center of CC | S. Yarmouth | 7:30 PM

• King Jeremy (Pearl Jam Tribute) @ Naukabout Brewery | Mashpee | 8 PM

• Fred Clayton Trio @ The Barley Neck | Orleans | 8:30 PM

• Club 9-Ball @ Chatham Squire | Chatham | 9:30 PM

SUNDAY

• Old Valley Music @ Navillus Bar & Grill | Orleans | 11 AM

• Denyce Graves @ Cotuit Center for the Arts | 2 PM

• Elizabeth Miya Jones @ CC MOA | Dennis | 3:30 PM

• 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

34 🌡️ 19 | 🌤️ | 💧1% | 💨 W 8 mph

Saturday

29 🌡️ 26 | ☀️ | 💧 1% | 💨 W 10 mph

Sunday

38 🌡️ 23 | 🌥️ | 💧 3% | 💨 WSW 14 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 38.1ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

6 Bunker Circle, Sandwich
Asking $910,000
3 🛌 
2.5 🛀 
1,843 square feet

0.48 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 with a fan of the Brewster Whitecaps.