☀️ Some heroes wear swimsuits

Plus: Green buses, dune shacks & more

Good morning Cape Cod. This is The Cape Coddah. Like John Cena on Shark Week, we’re guiding you through this week’s sea of thrilling news.

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

  • Dune shack headaches

  • Attempted child assault

  • Events and live music


    Let’s get to it.

THE DIGEST

Some heroes wear swimsuits 🩱

When a 46-year-old swimmer found himself in deep water at Dowses Beach in Barnstable, Frances Lonergan, a 33-year-old mom vacationing from Longmeadow, sprang into action. Without hesitation, she plunged into the treacherous channel and began pulling the struggling man to safety. A tourist from New York joined the rescue, and together they brought the swimmer ashore.

The man, caught off guard by the beach's sudden dropoff and swift current, was conscious but got a free trip to Cape Cod Hospital for a check-up. Barnstable police praised Lonergan's "heroic actions," noting that her quick thinking "undoubtedly saved the swimmer's life." Read the full story.


From Boston to the Beach: Green buses 🚎

The Federal Transit Administration is following the Christmas in July theme, doling out nearly $60M to Massachusetts transit agencies for a greener fleet. The MBTA is the big winner, scoring $40M for 40 new electric buses.

Cape Cod's getting a $14.6M slice of the pie for 13 hybrid buses. The Cape routes are longer and a fully electric bus could run out of juice. Meanwhile, Martha's Vineyard is sailing away with $3.9M for their electric buses.

This cash comes courtesy of the Low-and No-Emission program, supercharged by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With funding increased tenfold, it looks like Massachusetts is on the fast track to a cleaner, greener public transit future. Read the full story.

The dune shack is a little old place where..🏖️

The dune shacks in Provincetown and Truro are at the center of some local drama. These 19 rustic cottages, most owned by the National Park Service, are at the center of a lease renewal kerfuffle affecting both nonprofits and long-time, private lessees.

While nonprofits get to skip the competitive bidding process, private individuals faced a surprise 29-page request for proposals last year. Janet Armstrong, whose family has tended a shack for 78 years, nearly got evicted.

The Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission, recently reauthorized after a five-year lapse, is working to address these issues. The commission aims to balance federal responsibilities with the interests of private individuals, but acknowledges it’s complicated. Read the full story.

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Yarmouth man arrested for attempted child assault 🚔

A 27-year-old South Yarmouth man, Ryan Evans, was arrested on Wednesday following an alleged attempted sexual assault of a 5-year-old child at Peter Homer Park. The incident occurred during a soccer game on Tuesday, where Evans reportedly lured the child behind restrooms. The child's screams deterred the attacker, who fled on an electric bike.

Yarmouth Police launched an extensive search, deploying multiple resources including plain clothes cops and bike patrols. Evans was apprehended during a vehicle stop on Wednesday evening. He faces charges of assault to rape a child, kidnapping of a child, and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

Police noted that Evans was previously known to them, having faced similar charges in 2021. The incident has prompted increased security measures in the area. Read the full story.

AROUND THE CAPE 🗞️

SUV crashes into the kitchen of a Falmouth home.

Watch: 48 Hours - Murder on the Cape

Floridian wins $1M lottery prize during Cape vacation.

Hyannis man perishes in Wednesday morning house fire.

Six endangered sea turtles finished rehab and returned home.

Meet Cape Cod’s “hydrangea whisperer.” 

LOCAL BUSINESS

Hidden Bakery Giant Rises to New England Fame 🥐 🍞

Nestled near Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Pain D'Avignon has been quietly kneading its way into New England's heart for over 30 years. This 24/7 bakery churns out up to 25,000 pounds of dough daily.

From cranberry pecan loaves to croissants that could make a Frenchman weep, Pain D'Avignon's artisanal creations grace the shelves of Whole Foods and the tables of fancy Boston restaurants. But they're not just about bread - there's a French restaurant for those who want to see where the magic happens, and a newly opened pizzeria. CEO Mario Mariani credits Cape Cod's hospitality for their rise to fame.  Read the full story.

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

THE ISLANDS ⛴️

MV Hospital nurses vote to join the union.

Judith Belushi, mother of John Belushi, passed away.

Have a spare $30M? This beach compound could be yours.

Jared Ravizza, MV stabbing suspect, found “dangerous.”

The spot on Nantucket where nearly everyone takes a selfie.

The Winnetu Oceanside Resort named #1 in New England.

8 swimmers to attempt the 18 mile swim from island to island.

CIVIL NEWS

DA has mental health in mind ⚖️

Cape and Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois is playing a game of "Show Me The Money" with state officials, pointing out that his office is $3.4M short compared to the similarly-sized Northwest District. Galibois isn't just after a bigger piggy bank; he's got plans to boost mental health resources.

The DA's office has already dipped its toes into the mental health pool with a new specialty court, but Galibois hopes to hire social workers to tackle everything from school hate incidents to elder fraud cases.

Town officials are on board, recognizing the need for mental health resources. As Galibois prepares his fall funding proposal, there's hope state officials will acknowledge the importance of mental health in the justice system. With an estimated 80% of Barnstable District Court cases involving mental health or substance abuse, the DA's office hopes to address root causes of criminal behavior. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Rockie
🐾 Poodle Miniature Mix
🎂 2 Years Old
♀︎ Male
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

 

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Live Music 🎸

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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

WEATHER

Friday

84 🌡️ 73 | 🌤️ | 25% | 💨 SW 14 mph

Saturday

79 🌡️ 71 | 🌩️ | 48% | 💨 SW 12 mph

Sunday

86 🌡️ 72 | 🌤️ | 3% | 💨 WSW 7 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 70ºF

LISTING OF THE WEEK

26 Captain Aldens Lane, Barnstable, MA
Asking $749,900
3 🛌 
1.5 🛀
1,832 square feet
0.35 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 strong swimmer.