☀ Pirates, lobsters & a chapel rescue

Good morning Cape Cod and Happy belated Thanksgiving. This is The Cape Coddah, the weekly newsletter that’s like cranberry sauce, adding a little zing to your day and your Thanksgiving leftovers!

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

• Warm waters threatening lobster life?

• Rep under investigation for theft

• Events and live music

  
  Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

⛪️ $1M in donations keeps chapel open

The Chapel on the Pond in Truro has been saved after the Truro Conservation Trust purchased the historic building for $1.54M from Bob and Kathy Valleau. The mostly Jamaican congregation, which faced eviction earlier this year, will now have a permanent home thanks to an anonymous donor who provided $500K and matched another half-million raised by the community.

Emmanuel Faith Ministries has signed a five-year lease at $1 per year and will handle routine maintenance of the 1915 chapel, which will also be available for community events. The successful community effort included fundraising from local businesses, including one restaurant that donated its opening night proceeds. Pastor David Brown expressed gratitude for the community support that helped save the congregation's home. Read the full story. 

🦞 Warming waters threaten Cape's lobster legacy

As Long Island Sound's lobster fishery marks 25 years since its devastating collapse, Cape Cod Bay lobstermen are seeing troubling similarities in local waters. The Long Island Sound collapse, which began after Tropical Storm Floyd in 1999, reduced the fishery from thousands of pounds per day to virtually nothing, leaving just one full-time commercial lobsterman today.

Now Cape Cod Bay faces similar environmental challenges: warming waters are pushing lobsters north, while oxygen-depleted "dead zones" caused significant die-offs in 2019 and 2020. Though this year's conditions showed some improvement, the combination of warming waters, nitrate runoff, and algae blooms has many worried about the future of Cape Cod's iconic lobster fishery. Read the full story.

☀️ New law opens door for solar on Cape's historic areas

A new climate law signed by Governor Healey will make it easier for Cape Cod residents in historic districts to install solar panels, affecting the 45,000 people living in the Old Kings Highway Historic District from Sandwich to Orleans. The law requires historic commissions to consider climate change and greenhouse gas reduction goals when evaluating solar panel installations, a big change from current practices that have often been criticized as arbitrary and inconsistent.

The legislation comes as Massachusetts coastal waters face unprecedented warming, with experts predicting more frequent marine heatwaves and other climate impacts. Beyond solar panels, the law aims to streamline renewable energy projects, expand electric vehicle charging networks, and increase access to heat pumps. State Senator Julian Cyr, who authored the historic district provision, says the law balances urgent climate action with historic preservation needs. Read the full story.

@THECAPECODDAH

📸 @geoffcottrill | 📍 Coast Guard Beach

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🏴‍☠️ Pirate democracy found off Cape's coast

Recent discoveries off Wellfleet's coast have revealed fascinating artifacts from the Whydah Gally, a pirate ship that sank in 1717. Led by Captain "Black Sam" Bellamy, the ship was known for its democratic practices, where crew members shared profits equally and voted on important decisions.

Marine archaeologists have uncovered an impressive collection of items including gold coins from around the world, personal belongings, and a section of the ship's hull. These findings are helping historians better understand these complex figures who challenged the social structures of their time while operating one of the most feared ships in the Caribbean. Read the full story.

LOCAL BUSINESS

🥞 From pancakes to pies: Filling Station does it all

The Chatham Filling Station, owned by restaurant veterans Rik and Caren Morse, has evolved from a classic diner into a multi-faceted food business since opening in 2017. Beyond their regular diner service of all-day breakfast and lunch, they've expanded to include a food truck (the Polka Dot Panini), catering services, and recently added Snowy Owl Coffee offerings.

With the holiday season approaching, they're taking orders for Caren's renowned baked goods, including specialty pies and popovers. The diner, which can be rented for private events, survived COVID by adapting with outdoor dining and continues to serve elevated diner classics five days a week. Read the full story.

🫙 THE TIP JAR

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CIVIL NEWS

⚖️ State rep under investigation for theft

State Rep. Christopher Flanagan of Dennis is under investigation by Yarmouth Police for alleged larceny involving more than $1,200, with a redacted police report suggesting approximately $36K in questionable withdrawals from a business account. The first-term lawmaker was placed on administrative leave from an unnamed business after concerns arose about potential fraudulent use of the account.

This investigation follows earlier controversies, including Flanagan's resignation from the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod in May and a penalty for misleading state regulators about campaign mailer payments. House Speaker Ronald Mariano acknowledged awareness of the investigation but stated there's no indication it relates to Flanagan's role as a state representative. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Cooper
🐾 Pitbull Terrier
🎂 4 years old
♀︎ Male
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

FRIDAY

• Reptiles Rock! @ CC Museum of Natural History, Brewster (11 AM)

• Sweetacular Soiree @ Harbor Overlook, Hyannis (11 AM) (Fri & Sat)

• The Canteen Holiday Market @ The Canteen, P-town (11 AM) (Fri-Sun)

• Spectacle of Trees @ Guyer Art Barn, Hyannis (12 PM)

• Tree Lighting @ Mashpee Commons (3:30 PM)

• OIA Tree Lighting @ Snow Library, Orleans (4:30 PM)

• Black Friday Trivia @ Bad Martha Beer, E. Falmouth (6:30 PM)

SATURDAY

• Breakfast with Santa @ Orleans Yacht Club (8 AM)

• Holiday Story Time @ Shark Center Chatham (9 AM)

• Artist Cottages Winter Festival @ Village of Orleans (9 AM)

• Santa’s Workshop @ Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham (10 AM)

• Dry Ice Demo @ CC Museum of Natural History, Brewster (11 AM)

• CC X-Mas Market @ Village Green, Mashpee (11 AM)

• Nauset Model RR Club Open House @ Hilltop Plaza, Orleans (1 PM)

• Mustache Bash @ Bad Martha Beer, E. Falmouth (2 PM)

• Gingerbread Cookie Tree Workshop @ Highfield Hall, Falmouth (2 PM)

• Annual Show of Gratitude @ Addison Art Gallery, Orleans (5 PM)

• Music Bingo Night @ Eagle’s Nest Restaurant, Dennis (5 PM)

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

SUNDAY

• Sunday Hikes @ Maple Swamp, Sandwich (9 AM)

• Holiday Handprint Bruch @ Color Me Mine, Mashpee (9:30 AM)

• Holidays at Highfield @ Highfield Hall, Falmouth (10 AM)

• Winter Wonderland @ Beacon Gardens, Osterville (12 PM)

• Boxwood Tree Workshop @ Osterville Village Library (1 PM)

• Lighting of the Littlest Christmas Tree @ 2 Water St. Sandwich (3 PM)

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

FRIDAY

• That 80s Band @ Quashnet Valley Country Club, Mashpee (2 PM)

• Advent Lessons & Carols @ Church of the Transfiguration, Orleans (4:30 PM)

• Brent Burwell @ CC Beer, Hyannis (5 PM)

• Broadway on the Bay @ Wequassett Resort, Harwich (7 PM) (Fri & Sat)

• Through the Doors @ The Music Room, W. Yarmouth (7:30 PM)

• Karaoke @ Ryan Family Amusements, S. Yarmouth (8 PM)

• Brian Sances @ The Barley Neck, E. Orleans (9 PM)

SATURDAY

• Nauset HS Jazz Band @ Brewster Ladies Library (2 PM)

• Bode Corona @ CC Beer, Hyannis (5 PM)

• Songbird Collective @ Coffee Obsession, Falmouth (6:30 PM)

• Terry Brennan @ The Sand Dollar, S. Dennis (7 PM)

• The Kerosene Heater Band @ Oliver’s & Planck’s, Yarmouth (9 PM)

• Live Hip-Hop @ Taverna, Sandwich (9 PM)

• Bruce Maclean @ The Barley Neck, E. Orleans (9 PM)

SUNDAY

• Lori Colombo @ The West End, Hyannis (1 PM)

• The Song Birds of CC @ The Auld Triangle, Hyannis (5 PM)

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

WEATHER

Friday

47 🌡️ 34 | 🌤️ | 💧0% | 💨 WSW 10 mph

Saturday

42 🌡️ 29 | ☀️ | 💧 6% | 💨 WSW 17 mph

Sunday

40 🌡️ 24 | 🌤️ | 💧 9% | 💨 WSW 10 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 48ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

64 Shore Road, Truro
Asking $920,000
3 🛌 
2 🛀 
2,410 square feet

8,276 square foot lot

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

THANKS!

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