The Cape Coddah
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☀️ Beach rules tighten

☀️ Beach rules tighten

Plus: Cooking oil capers caught

Cape Coddah
June 27, 2025

Together with

Good morning Cape Cod. This is the Cape Coddah, your weekly news, served sunny-side up. 🍳

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

Sandwich gate at JBCC to remain open
School buses go green
Events and live music

Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

🎆 Beaches Tighten Rules for July 4th

Several Cape Cod towns are rolling out rules for July 4th to combat rowdy holiday shenanigans. After reducing service calls by 75% and eliminating arrests last year, Dennis is extending safety measures to West Dennis Beach in addition to Mayflower, Chapin Memorial, and Bayview beaches.

Dennis restrictions include no daily parking passes on July 4th (only residential, seasonal or weekly passes permitted), vehicle checkpoints on routes to beaches, neighborhood parking bans, and a zero-tolerance alcohol policy with $50 fines.

Falmouth is deploying additional officers to patrol beaches, parks, and neighborhoods to enforce liquor laws and prevent disorderly conduct, particularly targeting underage drinking.

Meanwhile, Chatham is closing its south-facing beaches and Lighthouse Beach an hour early at 9 PM throughout the holiday weekend to prevent unruly beach parties. Read more»

🪖 Sandwich Gate Saved

The East Sandwich gate at Joint Base Cape Cod will remain open for another year, postponing a closure that had been scheduled for July 1 due to federal funding cuts.

The decision gives relief to about 2,000 residents of Coast Guard family housing and numerous veterans who rely on the gate for access to the 22,000-acre military base. The gate had previously received a temporary extension from its original May 16 closure date after the base reallocated funds and arranged for soldiers to conduct annual training on site.

State Rep. Steven Xiarhos called the gate a "critical access point" and the extension "a perfect example of what we can achieve when we work together." Base officials indicated funding will be continually reevaluated. Read more»

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📸 @rocktastic_sculptures | 📍 Gunning Point Beach

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🦞 Court Battle Brews Over Lobster Rules

The Outer Cape Lobstermen's Association is battling state and federal suits over new regulations set to take effect July 1 that would ban the catching of V-notched lady lobsters in waters from Chatham to Provincetown.

This reverses a 2000 settlement that allowed outer Cape lobstermen to catch most V-notched lobsters in exchange for stricter size requirements—a framework their attorney Samuel Blatchley calls "effective in conserving lobster stocks while supporting livelihoods."

The association has filed for a temporary restraining order, arguing the change is driven by "a misguided push for uniformity" rather than conservation needs and could reduce catches by 25%, potentially putting many lobstermen out of business. Read more»

AROUND THE CAPE

After failed attempts to get credit for their canceled $4,100 flight, a Cape couple contacted media, finally prompting JetBlue to issue travel credit.

Orleans will implement a 5% water rate increase in July—generating $148,000 in additional revenue.

Mashpee Wampanoag chef Sherry Pocknett impressed Netflix's Phil Rosenthal with Indigenous cuisine on "Somebody Feed Phil."

After months of rehab, 17 endangered and threatened sea turtles were released into Nantucket Sound.

LOCAL BUSINESS

🎂 Lavender Farm's 30th Summer

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Cape Cod Lavender Farm has grown from Cynthia Sutphin's 1995 work-life balance solution into a beloved Harwich destination welcoming over 10,000 visitors annually.

Nestled on 11 acres, the farm features thousands of lavender plants that transform into a sea of purple during the late June to early July harvest season. Visitors can stroll through fragrant fields, explore woodland trails, and discover the whimsical Enchanted Garden with its stone medieval castle replica and hidden fairy houses added in 2013.

The farm's rustic cottage shop offers a sensory experience with lavender-infused products ranging from dried bunches to soaps, candles, and culinary treats like lavender-lemon marmalade. Read more»

THE ISLANDS

The Nantucket Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary from June 25-30 with over 50 films.

MV will gain 12 one-bedroom units for veterans through the $7.9M Bellevue Veterans Housing project in Oak Bluffs

Nantucket's Triple Eight Distillery’s 12-year-old "The Notch" single malt whiskey scored 98/100 at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Martha's Vineyard Hospital has unveiled 48 new housing units with 76 bedrooms for its employees.

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CIVIL NEWS

🚨 Cooking Oil Thieves Caught

In what Bourne police dubbed "Operation Midnight Oil," two New York men were arrested Tuesday for stealing used cooking oil from Main Street restaurants, including Mezza Luna and Rod 'n Rail.

Gilberto Rodriguez Jr., 35, and Oliver Cruz, 36, both from Yonkers, were charged with larceny, breaking and entering, and conspiracy after police surveillance caught them in the greasy act. The stolen oil is valuable to recyclers who transform it into renewable diesel and aviation fuel. Read more»

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Jake
🐾 German Shepard Mix
🎂 5 years old
♀︎ Male
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

SATURDAY - JUNE 28

SUNDAY - JUNE 29

Rhubarb Desert @ Highfield Hall | 12 PM
Social Security @ Chatham Drama Guild | 4 PM
The Bohemian @ Harbor Stage | 5 PM

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

SUNDAY - JUNE 29

Bart Weisman Jazz @ Bleu Restaurant | 12 PM
Summertown @ The Pearl | 3 PM
Dan Sturgis @ CC Beer | 3 PM
Ken Badger Trio @ CC MOA | 3:30 PM
Soprano Amanda @ Highfield Hall | 4 PM
Zach Deputy @ Naukabout | 4 PM
Al’s Hwy50 @ Pilot House | 5 PM
Greg Loftus @ The Woodshed | 5 PM
Mark Bornfiel @ Roadhouse Cafe | 5:30 PM
Couch @ Payomet PAC | 6 PM
Ric Allendorf @ Casa Del Cabo | 7 PM

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

WEATHER

Friday

72 🌡️ 59 | 🌧️ | 💧40% | 💨 E 9 mph

Saturday

73 🌡️ 69 | 🌧️ | 💧 83% | 💨 S 10 mph

Sunday

80🌡️ 64 | 🌤️ | 💧 25% | 💨 NNE 8 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 66ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

777 Commercial St. Provincetown
Asking $3.949M
3 🛌
3 🛀
2,120 sqft
0.43 acre lot

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

THANKS!

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