Cape 20 Something

Green is the new black...?

Maybe not. But it is the new low-emission livery service on the Cape & Islands

“Go green, go safe, and go with all-wheel drive.” This is the slogan of the Cape’s very first environmentally friendly transportation service, Green Shuttle of Cape Cod. This livery service only uses safe hybrid vehicles (Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima, and Mercury Mariner) that comply with California’s “partial zero emissions” standard.

The company is also looking forward to the advent of commercially distributed hydrogen powered automobiles, like the one Honda is currently working on. Green Shuttle’s website mentions that they recently placed an order for a 12-passenger van that operates on bio-diesel. This can be used for larger parties.

You can go to, from, and around the Cape and Islands in any of the Green Shuttle vehicles. Popular destinations include TF Green Airport, Logan International Airport, Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods, and other locations in Providence and Boston. Green Shuttle will also take you for a day shopping trip anywhere you would like in the region with the Green for a Day service, drive you to do your weekly errands at your convenience, and transport you to any New England hospital to reduce the stress of driving there yourself.

Green Shuttle provides travelers with a complimentary newspaper and beverage of their choice, as well as in-vehicle wireless Internet. Anyone can book a ride online, or you can call to make an appointment at 508-360-3163. Rates vary between destinations and pick-up locations.

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Losing momentum with that New Year's resolution?

"You say you want a resolution, well, we all wanna change the world..." 

Just over three weeks into the New Year and many have already lost momentum with their resolutions. The usual suspects know who they are; those trying to save money, get organized, quit smoking, cut back on alcohol, and of course those popular weight loss hopefuls.

It’s tough to stick to a regimented exercise schedule, especially in the long winter season with its super short days. Many people get up and leave for work or school before it’s even light outside and get home well after the sun has already gone down. Who wants to go for a run or walk outside in the dark in 20 to 30-degree temperatures? Not many. But we all know that daily exercise is extremely important, especially during and after the holiday season when big meals and goodies are a-plenty. Thirty minutes of daily exercise is about the recommended minimum.

Discovery Health's National Body Challenge is going on right now and anyone who wants to work on living healthier should sign up. This is an annual challenge to Americans to get moving and start eating better to shed those extra pounds. After you register, you will get an online daily meal plan and exercise routine that suit your preferences and needs. This is an eight-week long program.

I am by no means a physician, personal trainer, or nutritionist, so feel free to skip to the next few paragraphs if you’re looking for more than my simple exercise and healthy eating tips. So here are a couple of really easy ways to be a tad bit healthier throughout the day. When doing errands or going shopping, stop seeking out that parking spot closest to the entrance. Park farther away and enjoy the short, brisk walk. Instead of taking the elevator or escalator, take the stairs. In the morning, before even getting out of bed, do some stretches and crunches to wake yourself up and get your body moving. While talking on your cordless phone or cell phone, instead of sitting down try walking swiftly around the house to mindlessly burn some calories. Try playing a game with yourself to curb your cravings for junk food or sweets. Maybe allow yourself one small goodie a day, but reward yourself for “being good” with something you enjoy eating or doing that is actually good for you.

But if you’re looking for more than a minute’s walk into Stop & Shop or from kitchen to dining room there are plenty of excellent indoor health clubs and exercise facilities scattered from Bourne to P-Town, some with great deals for the winter. All the way down in Provincetown on Bradford Street, Mussel Beach Health Club has a winter special of one month for $79, and if you buy four months you will get the fifth one for free. Everyone likes free. This membership includes unlimited classes, which are spin, aerobic, yoga, and pilates. About 25 classes each week are held for your fitness fancy.

The Chatham Health & Swim Club on Crowell Road boasts a five-lane lap pool with water-fit classes, strength and aerobics classes, as well as the usual health club machines and equipment. You must be at least 18 years old for membership at this facility. Discounted corporate memberships for five or more people as well as MTA teachers are available.

With free childcare and personal training, and a 14 day try-before-you-buy offer for the winter, Mid-Cape Racquet & Health Club off White’s Path in South Yarmouth is certainly an excellent way to keep that New Year’s resolution momentum going toward the end of January. Over 50 fitness classes are held each week, including ballroom dancing. Indoor tennis courts are available for members as well.

Balanced Health & Fitness is conveniently located in both North and East Falmouth for easy access by Falmouth residents, as well as Bourne and Mashpee residents. These gyms are offering student rates of three months for $99. There is also a limited time free one-day trial being offered. The coupon is available here.

The Falmouth Sports Center is located in downtown Falmouth off Highfield Drive. This large facility houses six indoor tennis courts, a physical therapy department, as well as a double-level health club with dozens of cardio machines and strength equipment.

So if you are feeling like you're at a three week slump in your new year's resolution, just keep trucking. Regularly working out has been proven to boost your endorphins, which puts you in a good mood. So if not for yourself, keep going strong for those around you. Good luck!

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Perfect Pats*

*Perfect regular season record and arguably the best team in NFL history. 

We've got the World Champ Red Sox, the Celtics are dominating the NBA and first in the league, the Bruins are even doing well compared to seasons past. And now with the 17-0 perfect season Pats, who wouldn’t be jealous of a Boston sports fan these days?

The New York Post, as well as many other newspapers across the country, decided to tack on an asterisk after mention of the Patriots indicating that they were “caught cheating.” At the time of this “blemish,” as it is referred to, many sports reporters and bloggers decided it was a good time to rip on the Pats and Coach Belichick. James Alder, of Your Guide to Football wrote, “We’ll always wonder now, was Belichick a genius or was he operating on an unfair playing field?” 

Well with 29 of the 50 possible votes, Belichick was made Coach of the Year just over a week ago. I’m not so sure that anyone is questioning his genius now. The Pats were caught illegally filming the New York Jets game, which was the first game of the 2007 season. It was wrong, that’s not up for debate. Honestly though, how many teams do you think are still doing it and will continue doing it? 

So other fans and franchises nationwide can whine and complain that we didn’t fairly go 17-0 (and now on our way to 18-0), but the reality of it is that this cheating thing was stopped after the first game and the Pats continued to put up the Ws week after week. 

I suppose it’s easier to come up with every reason possible for how the Pats broke so many records this year, and continue to do so, than to just be excited to watch history in the making. I guess it’s easier to add in that asterisk which is supposed to somehow negate all of the great wins this season while at the same time easing the jealous felt by fans of most other teams in the NFL.

So how much better can it really get for this Patriots Nation? Well how about going 19-0 and winning some rings*?

*Well-deserved and fought for to represent the/one of the best team(s) in NFL history.

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Now Playing: Falmouth Cinema Pub

With three different movies playing and a fairly extensive pub-style menu, the Falmouth Cinema Pub certainly offers something for every movie goers' taste. As promised, the new wine 'n' dine theater opened last Friday and proved to be a great way to start off the new year. Over the weekend both the movies and menu brought in crowds of families and friends alike of all ages.

Tables of two and four decorate each theater. The swivel chairs are comfy for both dining and movie watching. Viewers can come in up to 45 minutes before the movie begins to order food, however, wait staff is available throughout each show to take orders. Twenty minutes before the end of the movie, the check will be handed out.

Currently, there are three movies from very different genres are playing. Alvin and the Chipmunks (rated PG) plays during the day and a matinee ticket only cost $5.50. I Am Legend (rated PG-13) plays twice each evening with tickets costing just $7.50 a piece. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (rated PG) has several show times each day and currently seems to be the most popular movie at the new cinema.

Of course popcorn, soda, and candy are all still popular picks, but now there are over 10 other types of food and drinks to choose form. Desserts, appetizers, soup, pizza, salad, burgers, sandwiches, beer, and wine now augment the menu. Appetizers, or "previews" as they are referred to, consist of curly fries ($3.99), mozzarella sticks ($5.99), boneless wings ($7.99), loaded nachos ($7.99), and several others. Clam chowder, lobster bisque, and chili are all each $3.99. Thin crust grilled pizza comes with several different topping combinations and has eight square slices ($6.99 - $8.99).

The real meals are reasonably priced as well. A regular garden salad is just $5.99; add buffalo, plain, or Cajun chicken to it for just $3. Black angus burgers can come with chili, three choices of cheese, bacon, mushrooms, or just plain ($7.99 - $8.99). Various fish, meat, and chicken sandwiches are available ranging from $7.99 to $10.99. All burgers and sandwiches come with a side order of curly fries, chips, coleslaw, three-bean salad, or pasta salad.

The drink menu is also fairly extensive. There are several kinds of draft beer than is served by the glass (about $4) or a 60 oz. pitcher (about $14). Bottled beer, non-alcoholic beer, malt drinks are also available (about $4). Over 10 types of wine is sold by the glass ($4.50 - $7.50) or bottle ($18 - $28).

For a fun relaxed atmosphere whether you are six or 60, catch dinner and a show at the Falmouth Cinema Pub off of Route 28 in the Falmouth Mall complex. Call the cinema at #508-540-5343 or visit the website for show times, directions, and a detailed menu. Birthday parties and other functions can be customized at your convenience.

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The End of a Movie Going Era

 Gone, but not forgotten

“Closed Forever” were the final words written on the old marquee outside the ElizabethTheater on Main Street in Falmouth after being opened for 63 years. Until 1983 when it “closed forever,” the elegant, “art-deco” Elizabeth had been open year-round and was always booming. As you walked into the theater, you would be met by an usher with a small flash light and you followed him down the isle to your seat. Longtime Falmouth resident, Sheryl Lopes, explained, “You were not allowed out of your sit until intermission. Then it was a knock down drag race to the candy counter.”

            The single-screen Elizabeth boasted 900 dark maroon velvet seats and even balcony seating. “I remember trying to get to the movies as early as you could to get to sit up in the balcony. As I got older, it started to get to be where all the older kids wanted to go and make out, and they wouldn’t let the younger kids up there. It was really hot though because there was no AC,” said Janet Murphy, a Falmouth resident.

            Before movies had sound embedded in them, there used to be musicians who played the music to accompany the silent films. As the largest building in town in the 1920s, the Elizabeth used to host theatrical performances, town meetings, and other events. Before movies were played, the news was shown because televisions were not around yet.

            Decades later, during the 1960s and 1970s, there were still live performances at the Elizabeth, but movies were the theater’s primary focus. Before the feature films would play, live entertainment was provided instead of the movie trailers you see nowadays. The Elizabeth had a ventriloquist named Harold Crocker, according to Falmouth resident, Beth Rainnie, “and some lady playing a piano or an organ, I can’t remember which.” She explained that the Elizabeth “was like a community gathering spot.” There were talent shows, parties, and school musicals performed there. She also fondly remembers the “Saturday matinee for 25 cents. Everybody went! It was a cheap afternoon off for all the moms in town. If it was a double feature, you could be at the movies for hours for 25 cents!”

            Falmouth resident, Margie Sabens, worked at the Elizabeth in 1967 and 1968 as a teenager. She sold tickets, candy, and popcorn, but her favorite part of the job was “making money watching movies!” It was always very busy and crowded. She described “the sound of the movie reel clacking while the movie played and sometimes the movie film would stutter or even break.” Sabens listed the many differences in the movie going experience half a century ago compared to now. There were no debit and credit transactions—only cash. An adult ticket cost $2.25 whereas now it is almost $10. Popcorn and drinks came in one size only; there were no options for “super-sized” snacks like today. She also recalls always having to wear a dress or a skirt—rarely pants. It was a dressy occasion to both work at and attend the movies.

            Despite the popularity of the Elizabeth, there were other thriving movie theaters in Falmouth toward the middle and end of the 20^th century. The owners of the Elizabeth built another single-screen theater just on the other end of Main Street after World War II and called it the Falmouth Theatre. It sat 700 people and was only open during the summertime. While it did not boast a fancy balcony, it did take some business from its nearby competitor, the Elizabeth, because it had air-conditioned seating. According to residents, the seats themselves drew in crowds because they were much more comfortable than the Elizabeth’s.

            Not to be outdone was the Falmouth Drive-In, which was opened in June of 1954 by the Augusta family. It was located only minutes from the other two theaters, off Route 28 in Teaticket, but served as a very different movie going experience. The drive-in was also a seasonal theater. A large open parking lot, which had been the Teaticket airport, was where people parked to watch the movies on the big screen from their cars. Lopes described two different groups of people found at the drive-in on any given night: families and older rowdy kids. “All the older kids would be parked in the back, of course, and would have their lawn chairs and ‘beverages’ in the back of their trucks,” she said. There was also a concession stand that sold different snacks, including the memorable clam cakes. Rainnie said, “Everyone went to the drive-in for the clam cakes. They had the best clam cakes in town!”

            In 1972, a fourth theater was established in Falmouth, a town of several small villages and less than 50 square miles. The Tranum and Ven Meter families of Falmouth together invested in building the Nickelodeon off of Route 151 in Hatchville. This theater had two original screens and specialized in independent and artistic films. Peter Rice, a longtime Falmouth resident, explained, “They used to play the artsy documentary and independent films there.” Rainnie added, “The Nickelodeon was out in the middle of no where and they had weird, artsy movies. At the time, no one used to really go there, it was more for the grown ups.”

            As television became increasingly more popular and affordable, people began to attend movie theaters less. Then with the advent of the VCR in the late 1960s, going out to watch movies became almost unnecessary. As the prices for home-use VCRs continued to drop in the 70s, renting videos became much more popular. Rice laughed, “Why leave your home to go watch a movie?” Videos became hugely competitive for small, independent theaters in Falmouth. Then after the Hoyts Falmouth Mall Cinema opened up in 1981 with its six-screen multiplex, a bleak fate was all that remained for those theaters that had been around for decades.

            The downfall of the independent theaters began with the drive-in. The Falmouth Drive-In closed down with its last summer of operations being one of the last summers of the 1970s. The Falmouth Theatre survived until about the same time. The Alferes family bought the theater building from the owner, James Wall, in 1978 under the conditions that it was no longer going to function as a movie theater. Instead, it was transformed into what it is today, Carpet Barn, a showroom and warehouse for carpeting and flooring. The family wanted to keep the building as original and authentic as possible because it is historic, they said. The ceiling, brick floor, brick exterior, slanted floor in the basement warehouse, women’s bathroom, loft where offices are now, holes in the wall where projectors would show through, and the wooden theater sign on the front exterior of the building are all original features of the memorable Falmouth Theatre.

            Then in 1980, Kinchla Real Estate bought the building where the Elizabeth gracefully stood for more than half a century. At the time, it was free standing. Now small shops and restaurants decorate all of Main Street and are connected to one another. Realtor James Kinchla, whose father purchased the building over 20 years ago, said, “One-screen theaters just didn’t work anymore in the economy of the business.” Three years after the real estate company bought the building, it went out of business and “closed forever.” Kinchla remembers the theater was being renovated after it had closed, and “people cut small pieces of the silver screen off as souvenirs.”

            Just a few years ago, the Falmouth Mall Cinema went out of business too. Even the multi-screen theater with its Hollywood hits and pricy popcorn could not stay afloat in a new era of On-Demand and DVR. Currently, the only movie theater in town that is still up-and-running is the Nickelodeon, still featuring primarily “indy” films. If you drive down Route 151 on a weekend or rainy day, you'll pass the theater and see that the parking lot is always full. The only difference now is that it is owned by Regal Cinemas, a major theater chain in the area.

            Falmouth is entering an entirely new movie going experience, though, in that very location where the chain Mall Cinema pushed all the smaller ones out of business. The Falmouth Cinema Pub is being constructed and is expected to open this spring. This theater will feature wine and beer, dinner, and a film—all at the same time and in the same place! While this new “wine ‘n dine” theater certainly does not resemble the old Elizabeth where Sabens once sold tickets and snacks to crowds of well-dressed movie goers as a 15-year-old, she admits,“It is worth a try.”

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Global Warming: Coming to A Town Near You

This week a coastal specialist from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) worked with towns on the Cape at a global climate change workshop to educate town officials and their staff of ways to prevent and address the erosion problems that face this narrowing peninsula. 

The Cape's vulnerability to sea rise in addition to pressing global climate change issues, like more severe storms, could mean a tenth-of-an-inch rise in sea level every year, according to a geologist working in Woods Hole. These could all be damaging effects of global warming for the Cape and Islands. 

 With climate change happening right now, it is critical for towns in the area to have an action plan. However, no concrete plans seems to be developed yet. Thinking long-term is key is this situation because many of the problems will be seen more then half a century down the road.

Here are some ways in which the Cape and the rest of New England could feel the impact of global warming in the next 50 to 100 years:

•  Air quality will worsen as temperatures increase and create large amounts of smog, sulfate haze, and acid rain.
• Warming weather can facilitate the spread of diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease.
• Forest will be damaged and altered as non-native plants take over, droughts occur, and flooding destroys New England's woodlands. 
• Coastal areas, like the Cape, will see drastic changes in the shorelines, which will be irreversible as sea levels continue to rise and algal blooms erupt due to the warm water.

These are just a few of the devastating results. As Americans, we make up about only 5% of the world's population but yet we are producing about 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions as a key contributor to global climate change.

Scientists still remain divided on this issue, so the first step is coming together to see the problem, and then we can focus on the next steps of actually addressing it. 

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Movie-Going: From Single-Screens to Cinema Pubs

The movie-going experience has certainly changed, but you tell me, for better or for worse? 

After doing some assigned readings for one of my journalism classes and doing some research of my own, I’ve come to the sad realization that the movie-going experience has certainly took a turn for the worse over the past couple of decades.  There used to be small, elegantly decorated, independent movie theaters scattered all across Falmouth, as well as the rest of the Cape.  Now you are lucky to find a theater within 30 minutes driving distance.  There are the large chains, like Loews and Regal Cinemas, which have totally taken the old-time movie theater atmosphere out of the experience.

Drive-in theaters used to attract movie-goers everywhere, there was even one in Falmouth off of Route 28, and now we only have one on the entire Cape off of Route 6 in Wellfleet.  And it doesn’t even open until April for the seasonal summer shows.  The Cape Cod Mall has a large Regal theater adjacent to the mall for your shopping and viewing pleasure.  Similar to the Mashpee Regal Cinema, which also is coupled with shopping as it sits right in the heart of the Mashpee Commons.  It seems now that bigger really is better as theaters advertise to patrons their “12-screen multiplex” and “luxurious stadium seating.”  What happened to the smalltime small-town single-screen theaters that once brought whole towns together and had created an actual film culture?

After the advent of the VCR and cable movie channels, it seems people forgot the value of the actual authentic movie theater environment.  Why even leave your home to watch a movie?  Unfortunately, the best movie theater experience I ever had growing up, was at the Hoyts Cinema at the Falmouth Mall, not that anything was really wrong with my experience at the theater.  It just does not seem as memorable and fantastic as those who grew up going to the movies decades before me. 

Unlike them, I never had the pleasure of going to the single-screen Falmouth Theater or the gorgeous Elizabeth Theater Main Street in Falmouth before it closed in the fall of 1983 and became what is now the overpriced clothing store, Maxwell & Co.  It took the Hoyts at the Falmouth Mall less than a year to run the Elizabeth out of business.  But even the Hoyts couldn’t make it and went under only few years ago, leaving behind the old building as “a dump in desperate need of renovation,” according to CinemaTreasures.org. 

But there might be hope, not necessarily for the return of that old-time mid-century theater atmosphere, but a new, more modern cinema experience.  The old Falmouth Mall Cinema is being renovated and transformed into the Falmouth Cinema Pub.  It will be a place to ‘wine ‘n dine’ while catching a flick.  It is supposedly going to be more upscale, for adults mostly.  I think I can say, on the behalf of many, that it is about time for something new and exciting to appear at the movie theaters besides just the films.  And I, for one, am more than ready for the introduction of this modern film culture.

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Got a Memorable Movie Theater Experience?

My Digital Journalism class this semester is working on a website about New England movie theaters.  We are each going to add blog posts, feature articles, audio interviews, video, photos, and as much multimedia content as possible about movie theaters in the area to make this an interactive and fun website.

The Regal theater that was in the Falmouth Plaza was closed down a few years ago and there have been rumors since about what will be replacing it and why it actually was shut down.  I am trying to get to the bottom of this so any information would be very helpful.

And just in general, I am wondering if anyone has any great memories about an old movie theater on the Cape that no longer exists because of the chain theaters that took over, or maybe even the Wellfleet drive-in that’s still up-and-running.  Any interesting story at all! We are actually lucky to even have a drive-in movie theater around. I just read an article the other day about how New Jersey just reopened the first drive-in since 1991.  Sixteen years without a drive-in.

If you do have any information on the theater that was in Falmouth at the plaza or have a story relating to your movie theater going experience, please email me at sevinlucky7@aol.com or call the Cape 20-Something number (508-444-8643) and leave as long of a message as you would like, and don’t forget to leave your name and contact info please.

Thanks!

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Blog Action Day 2007

Each blogger who signed up for Blog Action Day, published their environmental-type posts and then committed to donating today's advertising earnings to a environmental charity of their own choice. Some of the charities include, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, and Greenpeace International. According to the website, there are 19,734 blogs signed up as of right now with a total of more than 12 million readers .

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Personal Invite From the Head of GrandCentral Himself

After writing my last post about the revolutionary new phone service, GrandCentral.com, Craig Walker, the CEO and Founder of the company, was perusing the web for all and any information about his own site and stumbled upon my blog.  Since I had been waiting for my GC phone number request to be granted, Mr. Walker kindly sent me a link to speed up the process and invited me to join... along with 10 others of my choice who I wanted to invite.  He also sent me a personal email, which I didn't believe either until I wrote back to him and he then responded, verifying that he actually read my blog.  His first email read as follows:

Hey Sam:

Just found your article on GrandCentral and sent you an invitation!  Let me know how you like it!  Feel free to invite 10 more of your friends:)

Best,

Craig Walker

So I wrote back and thanked him for the personal invite and for taking the time to read my blog post.  I also asked how he found my blog.   And he responded again:

Sam:

I did find your article and read it... found it through Google of course:)

 Best,

Craig

I'm going to call Craig's GC number (that  he gave me at the bottom of the first email) and ask him if he would be willing to do an interview for my blog about GrandCentral and what he sees as its potential.  Hopefully he will be interested and call me back.  But in the meantime my GC number for Cape 20-Something is 508-444-8643.  So give me a ring and leave me a message with story ideas and your thoughts on local issues and events.  I look forward to hearing from you!  Don't forget to leave me your contact info so I can get back to you.  Thanks!

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