☀️ Cape beach makes top 10 list

Plus: Best Chinese food on the Cape?

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Cape Coddah
May 24, 2024

Welcome to the 160 new readers this week!
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Good morning Cape Cod and happy Friday. Stephen Leatherman, professor in the Department of Earth and Environment at FIU and self proclaimed, “Dr. Beach”, has ranked the best US beaches for the past 34 years. Coast Guard Beach takes the #9 slot on the top 10 list for 2024.

Have a memorable Memorial Day weekend.

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

  • Shelter controversy

  • First responders and housing

  • Events and live music


    Let’s get to it.

THE DIGEST

Sharks are back baby 🦈

White sharks have returned to Cape waters just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Recent sightings of bites on a dead whale near Chatham and a living seal off Plymouth indicate their presence. While sightings haven't occurred yet this season, shark nerds advise beachgoers, particularly on the Outer Cape where sightings are more common, to be on the lookout and follow shark safety guidelines. The sharks are drawn to Cape Cod due to the abundance of seals, but experts emphasize that they are cautious predators and generally not interested in interacting with humans. However, swimming in areas where sharks feed carries risk, so caution is common sense. Read the full story.

Controversy over proposed shelter 🏣

A proposed homeless shelter on Cape Cod, intended to house up to 79 families and funded by the state’s emergency housing assistance program, faces opposition from local officials and residents. The Dennis Planning Board is challenging the project, which involves converting a former nursing home, arguing it doesn’t meet Dover Amendment criteria. Harwich residents are particularly concerned about increased traffic and the shelter's impact on local infrastructure, as the only access road runs through Harwich. The shelter hopes to provide life skills training and basic amenities, but skepticism remains about its educational purpose and its benefit to locals. Read the full story.

Beat Cape traffic for $10 🚊

Traffic on Cape Cod is notorious, with long backups at the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. However, the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority's CapeFLYER train has provided a stress-free alternative for the past 11 years. The train offers amenities like free Wi-Fi, wheelchair accessibility, and no charge for pets and bikes. Celebrating its 10th anniversary last year, the CapeFLYER introduced $10 round-trip fares in June, which was highly successful and is continuing this year. The train now includes coach and first-class options, with first-class providing leather reclining seats and complimentary drinks. The CapeFLYER runs from South Station to Hyannis, making six stops along the way, and hopes to alleviate summer traffic. Read the full story.

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1st to respond, last to get a house 🚔

Officer Brandon Sanders from Barnstable PD had to live in Plymouth and brave bridge traffic after transferring because he couldn't afford a home closer to the station. His sergeant laments that when cops live off Cape, it really slows their response times (and their regional SWAT team deployments).

Same thing for the fire crews - the Orleans chief says the "live locally" staffing model is difficult, so they've had to hire more full-timers to avoid those delayed arrivals. The hidden victims here are all those making under $120K - the "missing middle" who don't qualify for affordable housing but can't swing a $700K home either.

Towns are getting creative - renovating buildings into mixed-income rentals, incentivizing property owners to offer year-round housing, and allowing higher-density construction. Read the full story.

AROUND THE CAPE 🗞️

Cyndy Jones named Cape Cod Woman of the Year by Mercy Otis Warren.

The Michael Phelps of deer takes a swim across the canal.

Yarmouth Girl Scout slings nearly 7500 boxes of cookies.

Harry Connick Jr. lists Chatham home for a cool $12.5M.

What’s poppin? Car crashes into Smith Family Popcorn in Hyannis.

Pantry hands out hundreds of pounds of food to hundreds of families.

Waste No Water Tour continues around the Cape.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Best Chinese food on the Cape? 🥡🥢

This week the folks on Reddit: Cape Cod had a spicy poll about the best Chinese food on the Cape. Here’s the top 5 restaurants according to upvotes in the subreddit: 

1. Szechuan Delight (Harwich)
2. Double Dragon Inn (East Orleans)
3. Tiki Port (Hyannis)
4. Bamboo (Hyannis)
5. Great Wall (Mashpee)

What’s your favorite Chinese food on the Cape?

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

THE ISLANDS ⛴️

Not an antique shop, but a dumptique shop.

Back Door Donuts quietly opens on MV.

Nantucket sued in Federal court over rental car medallions.

The Copley Group puts the majority of its short-term rental portfolio on the market.

MV approves moving a house and installing undersea power.

Artist Tony Sarg’s “Sea Monster” returns to Nantucket.

MV dispensary sues over law banning weed transport by sea.

CIVIL NEWS

Inmates not feeling the move to Cape jail 🚍

A group of female inmates has filed a lawsuit against the Essex County Sheriff's Office, contesting their move to the Barnstable County Jail, nearly 100 miles away. They argue the move violates their rights and disrupts their connections with family, friends, and attorneys. The lawsuit seeks to stop the transfers and ensure inmates are not moved more than 50 miles from Lawrence or Salem. Despite the plaintiffs' claims, Essex County Superior Court Judge Salim Tabit declined to grant an injunction, questioning the standing of the public defender's office and the merits of the case. Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger defends the relocation, citing space constraints and the need to comply with a deadline set by Suffolk County Jail for relocation due to renovation. He asserts that he explored other options but had no choice but to move the inmates to Barnstable. Read the full story.



There’s some youth sheriffs in town 👮

Registration is now open for the 2024 Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office Summer Youth Academy, running from July 1 to August 1 at Cape Cod Community College. The program, designed for teens aged 13-16, operates Monday-Thursday and focuses on personal growth and development. Sheriff Donna D. Buckley emphasizes the program's impact on shaping futures, highlighting partnerships with local organizations. Participants will work with cops and youth experts to develop skills such as self-control, respect, teamwork, and positive communication. Space is limited, and applications are due by June 11. For more information, contact [email protected]. Read the full story.

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PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Nelly Furtado
🐾 Pit Bull Terrier Mix
🎂 5 Years Old
♀︎ Female
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Live Music 🎸

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

WEATHER

Friday

78 🌡️ 54 | 🌤️ | 3% | 💨 SW 10 mph

Saturday

67 🌡️ 54 | 🌤️ | 1% | 💨 E 8 mph

Sunday

68 🌡️ 59 | 🌤️ | 25% | 💨 SSW 9 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 53.4ºF

LISTING OF THE WEEK

3 Berts Way, Harwich, MA
Asking $999,000
4 🛌 
2.5 🛀
2705 square feet
1.04 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 someone you’re spending time with on Memorial Day weekend.