The Cape Coddah
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💔 Beloved brother lost at sea

💔 Beloved brother lost at sea

Plus: School food chief's scheme

Cape Coddah
June 13, 2025

Together with

Good morning Cape Cod. The bad news: It’s Friday the 13th. The good news: Sunday is Father’s day.

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

Campground pioneer's legacy
Nuclear waste standoff
Events and live music

Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

💔 Tragedy in Cape Cod Bay

The bodies of Shawn Arsenault, 64, and girlfriend Felicia Daley, 59, were discovered Wednesday inside their sunken fishing boat in Cape Cod Bay, three days after departing Rock Harbor to go clamming.

The 30-foot vessel, which Arsenault had spent six years saving to purchase, was found by a recreational fisherman after an extensive Coast Guard search. According to Shawn's brother Paul, the couple was found in the wheelhouse without life jackets, suggesting the sinking happened rapidly.

"He's like a hero to me," said Paul, describing his brother as a generous community figure who regularly helped neighbors in need. The cause remains under investigation. Read the full story.

⛺️ The Spirit Behind Cape's Beloved Campground

Evelyn Currier, who helped found North of Highland Camping Area in 1954 and preserved it as a permanent Cape landmark, died in late May at 108, just days after the campground opened for its 71st season.

For three decades, Evelyn single-handedly ran the office while her husband Malcolm worked weekdays at the Boston post office. Despite the demands of managing 237 campsites, she found time to volunteer extensively at Truro's Christian Union Church and help neighbors in need.

Her family legacy continues as grandsons Gregory and Brandon now operate the 60-acre campground, which was permanently protected from development in 2010. Read the full story.

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🛏️ Behind the Numbers: Homeless Count

The Cape and Islands annual point-in-time count found 365 unhoused individuals in January 2025—203 fewer than last year—but officials caution this reflects reduced shelter capacity rather than improved conditions.

The region lost 235 temporary family shelter beds when state funding ended, resulting in just 260 sheltered people compared to 397 last year. Officials noted concerning trends among the 60 unsheltered people counted, including rising first-time homelessness, especially among adults over 55.

On the count night, 74 people used inclement-weather beds due to freezing temperatures, highlighting the critical need for more shelter space. Read the full story.

AROUND THE CAPE

The Sheriff's Office is accepting applications until June 30 for its Summer Youth Public Safety Explorers Program, a five-day August course.

Cape Cod League champion William "Bill" Keefe, who helped the 1960 Yarmouth Indians win the title, returns to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Sunday.

Billionaire Bill Koch is selling Bunny Mellon's former 7.5-acre Cape Cod estate for $23.85M after purchasing it in 2013 for $19.5M.

LOCAL BUSINESS

🍽️ Tides Turns to Fresh Cape Cuisine

Tucked away on Earl Road in West Harwich, Tides Kitchen and Bar is making waves as one of the Pelham House Resort's standout dining destinations. Chef Dan Cote has transformed the menu from Mexican to fresh coastal cuisine for the 2025 season.

Menu highlights include tri-colored fried cauliflower with chipotle aioli, fresh Midnight Hour scallops, Chatham quahogs, and Pelham focaccia with pimento cheese. The bar serves craft cocktails like Lavender Lux and Cucumber Cooler.

Visitors can participate in the "Pelham Passport" program, earning stamps at all Pelham restaurants for a chance at a free three-night off-season stay. Read the full story.

THE ISLANDS

As MV’s senior population grows to 1/3 of all residents, volunteer driving programs with increasing demand and fewer volunteers.

Nantucket Performing Arts Center announces its summer lineup: Heidi Schreck's Tony-winning "What the Constitution Means to Me" (July 3-17) and Paul Slade Smith's comedy "Theatre People" (August 1-15).

Lifelong best friends Arianna Edelman and Avery Mulvey became Martha's Vineyard HS co-valedictorians with identical GPAs.

Nantucket's Sconset village showcases historic cottages covered in climbing roses that peak for just two weeks around July 4th.

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CIVIL NEWS

🚨 Snack Shack, Baby! School Food Caper

Plymouth Public Schools' longtime food services director Patrick Van Cott faces serious charges after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars' worth of food and equipment from the district to stock his privately-run Sandy Neck Snack Shack in Barnstable.

The 62-year-old Sandwich resident, who earned $114,000 annually during his 22-year career, pleaded not guilty to larceny charges on June 6 and was held on $50,000 bail with orders to avoid all Plymouth school properties.

The investigation began after an anonymous tip prompted officials to review surveillance footage showing Van Cott removing commercial refrigerators from a school and taking them across the Sagamore Bridge. A police search of his snack shack uncovered over $8,300 in school-purchased items, including lobster meat and Angus burgers never served in cafeterias. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Crumble
🐾 Great Pyrenees / Anatolian Shepherd
🎂 9 months old
♀︎ Male
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

SATURDAY - JUNE 14

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

SUNDAY - JUNE 15

Bart Weisman Jazz @ Bleu Restaurant | 12 PM
AK Cody @ CC Winery | 12 PM
Top Down @ Woods Hole Comm. Cent. | 1 PM
The Detours @ Finn’s Craft Beer House | 1:30
Leah & Colleen @ The Lanyard | 3 PM
The Slant Four @ Wellfleet Pearl | 3 PM
Vanna Pacella Power Trio @ CC MOA | 3:30 PM
Erin Wilson @ Falmouth Raw Bar | 4 PM
Chris LeBeau @ Bluewater Grille | 5 PM
Grab Brothers @ The Loft Shack | 5 PM
John Ebersold @ Irish Goodbye Pinthouse | 6:30
Matt Hutchinson @ Casa del Cabo | 7 PM
Happy Together Tour @ Cape Melody Tent | 7:30

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

WEATHER

Friday

70 🌡️ 56 | ⛅️ | 💧6% | 💨 NE 9 mph

Saturday

60 🌡️ 54 | 🌦️ | 💧 84% | 💨 ENE 13 mph

Sunday

64🌡️ 53 | ☁️ | 💧 2% | 💨 E 9 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 60ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

1400 Chequessett Neck Road, Wellfleet
Asking $4.475M
4 🛌
3.5 🛀
3,157 sqft
5.05 acre lot

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

THANKS!

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