☀️ Bluffs are not bluffing

Good morning Cape Cod. This is The Cape Coddah, the weekly newsletter that gives you the same feeling as when you put your hand out the window and do that little wavey-dolphin motion.

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

• Ocean experiments

• New county admin

• Events and live music

  
  Let’s get to it.

THE DIGEST

Risky bluffness in Truro ⺁

Longnook Beach in Truro remains closed for the foreseeable future due to safety concerns from eroding cliffs. Town honchos cite the unstable bluffs as the primary reason, with an evaluation of the cliffs' stability pending. The beach's history includes a tragic incident in 1973 when a cliff collapse claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy, and it has faced periodic closures since due to erosion threats.

The current closure is due to steepened and undercut coastal banks, with large rocks precariously perched above footpaths. Truro officials are developing a plan to regularly monitor the coastal bank and explore alternative approaches to balance safety and public access. Read the full story.

A sea of controversy 👨🏻‍🔬

Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute want to play chemist with the ocean, proposing to dump over 60,000 gallons of lye off the Cape in the name of climate change research. Their "LOC-NESS" project aims to understand how tweaking ocean alkalinity might help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

However, environmentalists and fishermen aren't exactly lining up to cheer on this oceanic experiment. Friends of the Earth warns that sodium hydroxide is dangerous, while local fishermen worry it could turn their prime fishing spots into a no-catch zone.

Despite the pushback, some officials see the project as a necessary step in understanding marine CO2 removal. As the debate rages on, it seems the only thing everyone can agree on is that messing with Mother Nature is a complicated business. Read the full story.

Cape “tickled pink” again 🦩

Cape Cod is experiencing an unexpected splash of pink as another American flamingo has been spotted at Chapin Beach in Dennis. Mary Jo Foti, a local bird enthusiast, described the sighting as if the flamingo had "simply materialized," proving that even birds know how to make a dramatic entrance.

Mark Faherty from Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary believes this flamingo might be a hurricane refugee, part of a group scattered across the country after Hurricane Idalia in 2023.

The flamingo's appearances have turned local beaches into impromptu birdwatching parties from both seasoned birdwatchers and casual observers. At the Bass Hole boardwalk near Grays Beach in Yarmouth Port, birders generously shared their spotting scopes with onlookers, allowing many to get a better view of this rare visitor. Read the full story.

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One million billion dollars 💰 🌁

Massachusetts has secured nearly $1 billion in additional federal cash for replacing the aging Cape bridges, bringing the total federal contribution to $1.72 billion. With $700 million in state funding, the project now has about half of its estimated $4.5 billion cost in the piggy bank. The Sagamore Bridge will be replaced first, followed by the Bourne Bridge. Both structures, built in 1933, are considered structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.

Governor Maura Healey called the funding "game-changing," noting it brings the project closer to breaking ground. The replacement is crucial for the 263,000 permanent residents and five million annual visitors. The new bridges will improve safety, traffic flow, and add features like rapid bus transit and bicycle/pedestrian access. Read the full story.

LOCAL BUSINESS

County fair returns 🎡

The Barnstable County Fair is set to dazzle visitors from July 22-28. This summer staple offers a diverse array of attractions, including live entertainment, thrilling rides, and the world's largest Demolition Derby.

The fair also maintains its traditional roots with 4H demos, petting zoos, livestock exhibitions, and displays of vegetables, crafts, and Americana. Fair goers can expect an impressive lineup of entertainers, a variety of fair food (save us some fried dough), and exciting rides from Rockwell Amusements.

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CIVIL NEWS

There’s a new administrator in town 🗳️

Barnstable County has found its new administrative maestro in Michael M. Dutton, a Falmouth resident who's been juggling municipal management roles for over two decades. His resume includes improving financial stability and bond ratings in Bridgewater, MA, and initiating downtown revitalization projects in Oak Bluffs, MA.

Dutton's expertise spans environmental issues, affordable housing, and municipal charters. He holds a Juris Doctor from Tulane School of Law and is an ICMA Credentialed Manager. The selection process, led by Municipal Resources, Inc., yielded a strong pool of candidates, with Dutton standing out for his blend of experience and qualifications.

Set to take the reins in fall 2024, Dutton will replace Beth Albert, who's retiring after 17 years of keeping the county ship afloat. With his diverse skill set, Dutton seems prepared to navigate Cape Cod's unique challenges. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Rocco
🐾 Mix
🎂 2 months
♀︎ Male
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

CranFest in the Courtyard is back for its 6th season, bringing "World Class Music" to a "Small Town Setting" in Harwich. The series features eight acoustic concerts held on Thursdays from July 11 to August 22, plus a special Friday show on August 30. Performances take place in the courtyard of 'The 204' (Harwich Cultural Center), with doors opening at 5:45 PM and music starting at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $25 per show.

Friday

• Fun with Whales @ Hiebert Marine Lab, Provincetown

• The Dragon King @ Payomet PAC, Truro

• CIRCLE by the Sea @ Sandy Neck Beach, Barnstable

• Set the Stage @ The Cape Playhouse, Dennis

• “Fitzy” Nick Stevens @ Naukabout Brewery, Mashpee

Saturday

• 9th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival @ Sandwich HS (Sat & Sun)

• Seth Meyers @ CC Melody Tent, Hyannis

• Pamet River Float @ Truro Center For The Arts At Castle Hill

• Family Movie Afternoon @ Sandwich Public Library

• Dulce Sloan @ Payomet PAC, Truro

• Osterville Village Day @ Osterville Baptist Church

• Poses & Pints @ Buzzards Bay Brewing, Westport

• Cars & Arcade @ Arcade Alley, Bourne

Sunday

• Comedian Brian Glowacki @ CC Melody Tent, Hyannis

• Robin Hood @ CC Theatre Co, Harwich

• My Dinner with Andre @ Harber Stage Co, Wellfleet

Live Music🎸

Friday

• Zach Deputy @ The Bandstand at Mashpee Commons

• Human Jukebox @ Wellfleet Preservation Hall

• CRUSH: DMB Tribute @ CC Beer, Hyannis (Fri & Sat)

• Rumours @ CC Melody Tent, Hyannis

• Soul Purpose @ Lanes Bowl & Bistro, Mashpee

• Gabriella Simpkins @ HyArts, Hyannis

• Formerly Famous @ Oliver’s & Planck’s, Yarmouth

• That 80s Band @ Sundancer’s, W. Dennis

• Bongogenesis @ Devil’s Purse Brewing, S. Dennis

• Off the Coast @ The Woodshed, Brewster

• Super Soul Shine @ Hog Island Beer, Orleans

Saturday

• Jimi Hendrix Tribute @ The Music Room, W. Yarmouth

• Shower the People @ Cultural Center of CC, S. Yarmouth

• Little Lies @ Tomatillos, Sandwich

• Nolan Driscoll & Friends @ The Woodshed, Brewster

• Sarah Swain & the Oh Boys! @ Hog Island Beer, Orleans

Sunday

• Shelby Donovan @ Cape Cod Winery, E. Falmouth

• Stephanie Miele @ Highfield Hall, Falmouth

• On a Summer’s Night @ Payomet PAC, Truro

• New Voices of P-Town @ Unitarian Universalist Meeting House

• North Country Plays Country @ CC MOA, Dennis

• Chara Percussion Ensemble @ Brewster Baptist Church

• Les Sampoll @ 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

79 🌡️ 68 | 🌤️ | 1% | 💨 NE 8 mph

Saturday

85 🌡️ 71 | 🌤️ | 4% | 💨 SW 12 mph

Sunday

84 🌡️ 69 | 🌦️ | 80% | 💨 WSW 7 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 71ºF

LISTING OF THE WEEK

93 Twin Hill Rd, E. Falmouth, MA
Asking $499,000
4 🛌
2 🛀
1,823 square feet
0.47 acre lot

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

THANKS!

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