☀ Sand, stairs & scams

Good morning Cape Cod. This is The Cape Coddah, the weekly newsletter that’s like Sportscenter, bringing you the week’s best highlights.

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

• Bourne bridge funding questions

• Rent help in Orleans

• Events and live music

  
  Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

Don’t Bring sand to the beach 🏖️

An $8.95M US Army Corps of Engineers project is underway at Sandwich's Town Neck Beach, hoping to combat long-term erosion problems by adding 325,000 cubic yards of sand to the shoreline. The sand is being dredged from near Scussett Beach State Reservation and pumped through a 9,000-foot pipeline across the Cape Cod Canal to create a new dune and berm system.

The project addresses erosion caused by the Cape Cod Canal's east jetties, which have stymied the natural flow of sand to Town Neck Beach. Town bigwigs report the 24-hour operation is about two-thirds complete, though Assistant Town Manager Heather Harper notes that future beach nourishment will be needed to maintain the improvements. Read the full story.

Political shift raises questions about Bourne Bridge funds💰

As the Trump administration prepares to take office, questions arise about future funding for Cape Cod's aging bridges, particularly the Bourne Bridge's portion of the $4.5B replacement project. While the Sagamore Bridge's funding is largely secured with a recent $993M federal grant, officials are still seeking money for the Bourne Bridge, though local leaders remain optimistic about bipartisan support for what they view as a critical safety issue.

The Sagamore Bridge construction is expected to begin in 2028 and last up to eight years, with the Bourne Bridge work potentially overlapping depending on funding. Both new bridges will feature wider lanes, dedicated exit lanes, and bike/pedestrian paths. The state will hold a open house about the project on November 18 at the Veterans' Memorial Community Center in Bourne. Read the full story.

Rent relief for Orleans renters 🏠

Orleans is launching a new rental assistance program through the Orleans Affordable Housing Trust, offering eligible households up to $350 monthly for a max of three years. The program, operated by Housing Assistance Corporation, follows the success of a similar initiative in Brewster and hopes to help residents who are paying more than 30% of their income toward rent.

Eligible applicants must have a written lease, work with a Housing Counselor on financial goals, and meet income qualifications that range from $88,600 for one person to $146,900 for a family of six. The housing cannot be subsidized through another program or owned by a relative unless specially approved. The program joins other housing assistance initiatives available through the Housing Assistance Corporation as part of efforts to address the region's affordable housing crisis. Read the full story. 

@THECAPECODDAH

📸 @geegoestothecape | 📍 Gray’s Beach

Tag @thecapecoddah to get your photos in the Coddah!

From rope ladder to real stairs 🔨

A unique private stairway has been built on Cape Cod National Seashore land in Truro, thanks to a nearly 50-year-old easement discovered by the new owner of a $4M vacation property. Jay Merchant, who previously used a rope ladder to access the beach from his 80-foot-high bluff property, spent two years navigating approvals from various agencies to build the stairway on the 10-foot-wide easement deeded in 1978.

While private structures on Seashore land are highly unusual, officials confirmed the easement's validity, though the Truro Conservation Commission required modifications including reducing the stairway's width from four to three feet and adding environmental protections. The project, completed after Labor Day, replaces the rope ladder and includes requirements for revegetation and protection of piping plover nesting grounds. Read the full story.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Disney’s Cape Cod connection ⛵️

Arey's Pond Boat Yard in Orleans has been crafting custom boats for 70 years, building everything from small skiffs to 24-foot sailboats for clients including Disney and MIT. Owner Tony Davis, just the third captain of this operation since 1954, follows a "one boat at a time" philosophy that has resulted in about 500 vessels sailing worldwide, including a fleet built for Disney Tokyo's Cape Cod-themed scene.

The boatyard continues to innovate, recently adding electric inboard engines as an option and designing their largest vessel yet - a 28-foot racing catboat. Davis credits his work with Disney for teaching him valuable lessons about meeting deadlines and maintaining high standards. During the quieter off-season months, the yard stays busy crafting these custom vessels that have helped build their global reputation. Read the full story.

🫙 THE TIP JAR

Love what we do? Buy us a coffee with a small donation here. Thank you to everyone who has already donated. We love you! ❤️ 🙏

CIVIL NEWS

Friend saves property from scammers 🚨

A Cape Cod family nearly lost their West Yarmouth property to fraudsters who listed it for $400,000 - well below its $750,000 market value - after impersonating the elderly owners with fake driver's licenses. The scam was only discovered when a friend noticed the unexpected listing and alerted the family, making this the third such land grab scheme recently uncovered in Massachusetts, following similar cases in Concord and Plymouth.

While the family reported the cyber fraud to the FBI and filed complaints about the realtors and lawyers involved, they say no action was taken against the professionals who failed to catch the fraud. In response to these incidents, the Massachusetts secretary of state's office has now ensured all registries of deeds will allow homeowners to place alerts on their properties to notify them of any recordings. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Sadie
🐾 Austrialian Cattle Dog
🎂 5 years old
♀︎ Female
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

FRIDAY

• Autumn Leaf Paint Night @ CC Coffee, Mashpee (5:30 PM)

• The Horseshoe Crab @ MBL Falmouth Forum (7:30 PM)

SATURDAY

• Annual Greens Sale Fundraiser @ Centerville Public Library (9 AM)

• Gills Club @ Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, Chatham (9 AM)

• Eastham Turnip Festival @ Eastham Public Library (10:30 AM)

• Celebration of Crafts @ Upper CC Tech HS, Bourne (10 AM) (Sat & Sun)

• All Things Holiday Market @ Scenic Roots, E. Sandwich (10 AM)

• Community Pickleball Tournament @ Falmouth Academy (11 AM)

• Sea Glass X-mas Tree Workshop @ American Legion Post 188, Sandwich (1 PM)

• Underwater Turkey Hunt @ Electric Ave Beach, Buzzards Bay (1:45 PM)

• Lighting of the Lobster Pot Tree @ Lopes Square, P-town (5:30 PM)

• PintWood Derby @ CC Beer, Hyannis (6 PM)

SUNDAY

• Wellfleet Harvest Market @ Wellfleet Preservation Hall (9 AM)

• Oyster Sunday Annual Food Drive @ Mant’s Landing Brewster (10:45 AM)

• Winter Wreath Making @ Osterville Village Library (1 PM)

Live Music 🎸

FRIDAY

• Walk of Shame @ Lanes Bowl & Bistro, Mashpee (8:30 PM)

SATURDAY

• Pumpkin Head Ted @ Grumpy’s Pub, Falmouth (9:30 PM)

• Cape Community Orchestra @ Monomy Regional HS (3 PM) (Sat & Sun)

• The Oxford Drive Band @ Wellfleet Preservation Hall (7 PM)

SUNDAY

• Jennifer Kreisberg @ Cotuit Center for the Arts (2 PM)

• Pernambuco Chamber Ensemble @ W. Falmouth Library (4 PM)

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

WEATHER

Friday

52 🌡️ 41 | 🌤️ | 💧0% | 💨 N 21 mph

Saturday

54 🌡️ 42 | 🌤️ | 💧 2% | 💨 NNW 22 mph

Sunday

52 🌡️ 39 | 🌤️ | 💧 0% | 💨 N 23 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 51ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

65 Telegraph Hill Road, Falmouth
Asking $1.3M

3 🛌 
3.5 🛀 
4,306 square feet

0.69 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 from Sandwich.