☀ Classroom worries & ocean oddities

Good morning Cape Cod. This is The Cape Coddah, wishing you a very happy National Cinnamon Bun Day!

In this week’s Cape Coddah:

• Gov ends plan for gun range

• Safer streets in Barnstable

• Events and live music

  
  Let’s get to it.

CAPE DIGEST

School’s mold nightmare continues 📚

Barnstable United Elementary School is facing ongoing mold issues, causing health concerns among teachers and students. Despite a $500,000 cleanup effort over the summer, teachers report persistent mold and related health symptoms. Parents and staff are demanding action, with some calling for immediate HVAC replacement and consideration of remote schooling options.

Superintendent Sara Ahern outlined continued cleanup efforts, including moisture control, repairs, and consultations with environmental specialists. However, parents and teachers are pushing for more transparency, regular air quality testing, and public disclosure of results.

The situation has eroded trust between the community and school administration, with some parents considering removing their children from the school. The School Committee is under pressure to take more aggressive action to address the mold problem and its health impacts. Read the full story.

Septic science flush with cash 🚽

The Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) in Sandwich is
“flush” with nearly $3.3 million in state and federal funding to expand its wastewater research facility. This expansion comes as Cape Cod faces significant water quality challenges, with 85% of residences using traditional septic systems that contribute to nutrient pollution in bays and ponds.

The funds will be used to add office and laboratory space, a workshop, and a small conference center for public outreach and job training. MASSTC aims to address the region's wastewater cleanup needs, estimated to cost over $1 billion in Barnstable alone, while also focusing on workforce development in the wastewater management sector. The expansion will also enable research into emerging pollutants such as microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS chemicals. Read the full story. 

Gov puts the kibosh on machine-gun range 🎯

Governor Maura Healey has halted plans for a controversial machine-gun range at Joint Base Cape Cod proposed by the Massachusetts National Guard. The project, which would have cleared 170 acres of forest, faced strong opposition from environmental groups and local officials concerned about forest loss and impacts on drinking water.

Citing lack of reauthorized funding and ongoing review, the Healey administration did not approve the $9.7M project. State Senator Julian Cyr and environmental advocates praised the decision as a win for the Cape’s environment.

The National Guard had argued the range was crucial for soldier readiness and promised environmental safeguards. However, local opposition, including threats of legal action, highlighted concerns about the project's compatibility with water supply and wildlife protection laws.

This decision effectively ends the Guard's attempts to secure funding and move forward with the project. Read the full story.

@THECAPECODDAH

📸 @geegoestothecape | 📍 Gray’s Beach, Yarmouth

Tag @thecapecoddah to get your photos in the Coddah!

Gulf stream delivers rare gift to Cape waters 🐠

Cape Cod oyster farmers Tim Silva and Danielle Orcutt stumbled upon a rare blue angelfish while working their grant in Little Pleasant Bay, Orleans. The tropical fish, typically found in Bermuda waters, was rescued and taken to Wild Care in Eastham. According to the Gulf Stream Orphan Project, this juvenile blue angelfish is the northernmost ever reported, likely transported by the Gulf Stream.

Mike O'Neill from the New England Aquarium noted that 2024 appears to be an abundant year for tropical fish vacationing in northern waters. The rescued fish will now grow up in the New England Aquarium and eventually become part of their exhibit, offering a unique "from ocean to aquarium" story for visitors. Read the full story. 

LOCAL BUSINESS

The outer Cape’s plywood prophet 🪚

Thomas Moses, a carpenter inspired by Cape Cod's modern architecture, has been restoring and creating plywood interiors that pay homage to the region's mid-century design heritage. Moses runs Dunehaus, his own company specializing in minimalist, plywood-based carpentry.

Moses favors birch plywood for its durability and aesthetic appeal, often leaving edges exposed for a clean, unfussy look. His work, seen in both his own home and client projects, includes floating storage boxes, wall-to-wall desks, and custom kitchens that blend functionality with modern design principles.

Once considered exotic by mid-century architects, plywood became a signature material in Cape Cod's modern houses. Moses's work continues this tradition, creating spaces that are both sophisticated and unpretentious, echoing the ethos of the original architects he admires. Read the full story.

CIVIL NEWS

Barnstable’s 60K plan for safer streets 💰

The Barnstable Police Department has received a $60,000 state grant as part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's $12.4 million road safety funding initiative. This grant, awarded through the Municipal Road Grant Safety Program, will support various road safety initiatives in Barnstable. The department plans to use the funds for multiple traffic enforcement campaigns throughout the year, focusing on issues such as impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and seat belt use.

The grant will also support pedestrian and bike safety enforcement, the Child Passenger Safety Program, and the purchase of traffic safety equipment. Additionally, some funds will be allocated for community outreach, including the distribution of bike safety equipment and educational materials. Read the full story.

PET OF THE WEEK

👋 Meet: Lilac
🐾 Australian Shepard
🎂 1 year old
♀︎ Female
Available to adopt at MSCPA-Cape Cod

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Friday

• Pet Portraits for Everyone @ The 204, Harwich (1 PM)

• First Friday Poetry Series @ Brooks Free Library, E. Harwich (2 PM)

• Triva/Musical Bingo @ CC Winery, E. Falmouth (4:30 PM)

• Open Mic Night @ Wellfleet Library (5 PM)

• Live Culture! Art & Music @ Addison Art Gallery, Orleans (5 PM)

• The Heart Sellers @ Cape Rep Theatre, Orleans (7:30 PM)

• Comedy Night @ Lighthouse Inn, W. Dennis (8 PM)

Saturday

• Autumn Joy Symposium @ Harwich Community Center (9 AM)

• SandwichFest Street Fair @ Water St. - Downtown (10 AM)

• Jawsome Fossil Day @ Chatham Shark Center (10 AM)

• Oktoberfest 2024 @ Mashpee Commons (10 AM)

• Fall Open House @ Cahoon MOAA (10 AM)

• Craft Mini-Fair @ Lemon Tree Village, Brewster (10 AM)

• PorchFest @ Sandwich Village (1 PM)

• Shuck! A Day of Oysters & Beer @ CC Beer, Hyannis (12 PM)

• Coffee with a Cop @ Pie in the Sky, Woods Hole (2 PM)

• Costume Fundraising Paddle @ Oyster Pond, Chatham (3 PM)

• A Night in a Paris Museum @ CC Arts Center, Barnstable (5:30 PM)

Sunday

• Walk to End Alzheimers @ Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich

• Revolutionary War Experience @ Windmill Village, Brewster (12 PM)

• Oktoberfest! @ Barley Neck Inn, Orleans (4 PM)

Live Music 🎸

Friday

• Crit Harmon @ CC Beer, Hyannis (5 PM)

• Zoe Lewis & Roxanne Layton @ Wellfleet Preservation Hall (7 PM)

• The Silent Trees @ Pilot House Restaurant, Sandwich (7 PM)

• SummerTown @ The Loft Restaurant, W. Yarmouth (8 PM)

• Karaoke @ Jake Rooney’s, Harwich Port (8:30 PM)

• The Half Shells @ Lanes Bowl & Bistro, Mashpee (8:30 PM)

Saturday

• The Peacheaters @ The Music Room, W. Yarmouth (7 PM)

• Stephanie Mckay-Salon @ Guyer Barn, Hyannis (7:30 PM)

• Walk of Shame @ Tomatillos, Sandwich (8 PM)

• Disco Night @ Jake Rooney’s, Harwich Port (8 PM)

• Fred Clayton Band @ Oliver’s & Planck’s Tavern, Yarmouth (9 PM)

Sunday

• Vinegrass Music Festival @ Truro Vineyards

• Shelby Donovan @ CC Winery E. Falmouth, (12 PM)

• Falmouth Chorale Chamber Singers @ Highfield Hall, Falmouth (4 PM)

• Mark Walker’s Triad @ W. Falmouth Library (4 PM)

• David Coffin @ The Music Room, W. Yarmouth (7 PM)

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

WEATHER

Friday

70 🌡️ 56 | 🌤️ | 💧0% | 💨 S 7 mph

Saturday

69 🌡️ 54 | 🌤 | 💧 40% | 💨 NW 8 mph

Sunday

64 🌡️ 53 | 🌤 | 💧 25% | 💨 NNE 8 mph

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 61ºF

HOME OF THE WEEK

142 Pinecrest Beach Drive, Falmouth
Asking $1,099,000
3 🛌
3.5 🛀
2,221 square feet
0.39 acre lot

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

THANKS!

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