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CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

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Archives for: June 2006

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Challenges in Truro murder case... Court backs town to oust landscaper.. Plover problem persists... Museum closes... MORE

TCCLower Cape news of the week
June 30, 2006

Judge to hear challenges in Truro murder case
By Marilyn Miller/ mmiller@cnc.com
christophermccowen100Christopher McCowen, 34, is scheduled to go on trial for the 2002 murder of Truro resident Christa Worthington, 46, on Oct. 30. But he’ll be in the Barnstable Superior Court before that, on July 5 and 6, when a number of motions filed by his attorney, Robert A. George of Boston, will be heard and ruled on. George hopes to get the judge to throw out all statements McCowen made to the State Police during the seven hours they interrogated him April 14, 2005, the day he was arrested. McCowen, who was Worthington’s trash collector, admitted at that time to being at Worthington’s house the night she was murdered. However, he claimed he was having consensual sex with her, and that a Wellfleet man who came to the house with him killed the fashion writer, after Worthington discovered the man stealing from her... [more]

Dirty work: Court backs town to oust landscaper
By Marilyn Miller/ mmiller@cnc.com
EASTHAM - Here’s the dirt on Dirt Works: Mike Escher’s excavating business at the old Tilcon asphalt plant off Nauset Road is being put out of business by the town. Why? Because a Barnstable Superior Court judge issued a summary judgment in favor of the town four months ago, a judgment that has allowed the town to evict Escher and his business... [more]

Plover stalemate
By Matthew Belson / and Bill Fonda/ Staff reporters
Owners of off-road vehicles could be forgiven if they feel a little like a contestant on a game show who missed the mega-prize by one question. Only the consolation prize isn’t a toaster or food processor, but limited access to the beaches on the Outer Cape that have been closed to ORV traffic due to nesting piping plovers... [more]

What lies beneath
By Steve Desroches/ sdesroch@cnc.com
Several years ago Provincetown created a historic district to further ensure the preservation of the town’s varied and diverse architectural... [more]

Fire museum closes for summer
By Matthew Belson/ mbelson@cnc.com
nefiremusBREWSTER - Firefighting equipment aficionados and children with dreams of one day joining the ranks of the bravest will be disappointed to learn that the New England Fire and History Museum in Brewster will not be opening its doors this summer. "It’s been tougher and tougher to just operate on admission fees," said Noel Beyle, a member of the museum’s board of directors. The closure comes after the board agreed to search for additional funding sources and an inventory of the museum’s collections was overdue... [more]

Seuss inspires students create school garden
By Bill Fonda/ bfonda@cnc.com
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax... [more]

Apple takes root in East Harwich
By Douglas Karlson/ dkarlson@cnc.com
Though he always loved Apple computers, Steve Ide didn't plan to become an Apple dealer until about 3 1/2 years ago, when he walked into a computer... [more]

July Fourth celebrations start Saturday
Fireworks, parades and concerts headline this year's July Fourth festivities on the Lower Cape. Fireworks lovers have their choice of two venues Saturday:... [more]

'Razzle Dazzle' benefits Chase building project
Chase Library of West Harwich is holding a raffle this summer to raise money for the repair and maintenance of the library building, one of the historic... [more]

Engagement
Fulcher-LeBlanc Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fulcher of Orleans have announced the engagement of their daughter, Vicki Lynn Fulcher, to Craig Michael LeBlanc,... [more]

No surprise: Property values climb 4 percent
By Marilyn Miller/ mmiller@cnc.com
Eastham has just completed the Fiscal Year 2007 triennial revaluation, as required by state law to achieve full and fair cash value assessments, and... [more]

Around Harwich
Lightning scores a hit Whitehouse Field was struck by lightning over the weekend. The electronic scoreboard was damaged, and must be repaired. Not... [more]

Libraries to offer free downloads
By Douglas Karlson/ dkarlson@cnc.com
For people with a library card, downloading audio books is about to get a whole lot less expensive. It's going to be free, in fact. Starting next... [more]

Around Eastham
Part-time taxpayers to meet July 8 The Eastham Part-time Residents Taxpayers Association will hold its annual meeting July 8 at the Elks Lodge on... [more]

Residents offer views for East Harwich
By Douglas Karlson/ dkarlson@cnc.com
Years ago, decisions about what towns should look like were left to politicians, according to Ken Buckland, a planning expert with the Cecil Group... [more]

Dennis ORV stickers are hot this summer
By Nicole Muller/ nmuller@cnc.com
Folks may have been turned away this season from the outer beach between Orleans and Chatham but some off-road vehicle drivers have discovered what... [more]

Lighthouse beach patrol moves forward
By Matthew Belson/ mbelson@cnc.com
A regular patrol of Lighthouse Beach will soon be in place for the start of the busy summer season. Chatham Harbormaster Stuart Smith told the board... [more]

Bergstrom says board violated Open Meeting Law
By Matthew Belson/ mbelson@cnc.com
Chatham Selectman Ronald Bergstrom had a hunch that when it came time for Maureen Vokey to be reappointed to the zoning board of appeals, she would... [more]

Longtime Brewster EMT honored
By Matthew Belson/ mbelson@cnc.com
A volunteer member of the Brewster Fire Department knows that an alert to respond to a fire or medical emergency can come at any time. "God knows... [more]

Around Chatham
More for park and rec commission Responding to pressure from local parents, the board of selectmen voted to increase the number of seats on the Chatham... [more]

Around Brewster
Town seeks volunteer for finance committee There is a vacancy on the finance committee and the town moderator is seeking Brewster citizens interested... [more]

Far from the madding crowd
By Steve Desroches/ sdesroch@cnc.com
Commercial Street is jammed. Provincetown's main thoroughfare is clogged with street performers, drag queens, artists with easels painting the harbor,... [more]

Cape Codders in Atlantic Challenge
By Douglas Karlson/ dkarlson@cnc.com
Members of the US team participating in the Atlantic Challenge, an international rowing and sailing contest, currently reside in tents on a deserted... [more]

Town asked to donate land for housing
By Marilyn Miller/ mmiller@cnc.com
A donation of $65,000 by a Wellfleet resident to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod may result in a Wellfleet family moving into their own home... [more]

Around Wareham
Surf's up Sebastian Frawley, who owns Little Overhead Surf in Eastham, got the board approval Tuesday to offer surfing lessons at low tide during... [more]

Terrapins' tale finds a teller
By Rich Eldred/ reldred@cnc.com
A few years ago, Barbara Brennessel's life was centered on microscopes, peptides, fat cells and teaching her students at Wheaton College the intricacies... [more]

APCC to study feasibility of selling development rights
By Bill Fonda/ bfonda@cnc.com
Cape Codders concerned about wastewater would probably cringe at the thought of houses with cesspools atop a drinking water source. Yet this was the... [more]

Main Street music begins next week
By Douglas Karlson/ dkarlson@cnc.com
HARWICH - You don't need to go to Hyannis to make the street music scene this summer. Every other Wednesday night, the place to be is Main Street... [more]

Around Truro
Wind turbines considered for town The Truro Board of Selectmen heard a presentation from Kristen Burke of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative... [more]

Harwich principal back in court
By Douglas Karlson/ dkarlson@cnc.com
Harwich school officials say the drunken driving arrest of high school principal Kevin Turner is their top priority, but they want to wait until the... [more]

Schools targeted top priority for FY07
By Steve Desroches/ sdesroch@cnc.com
The Provincetown Board of Selectmen approved a list of town-wide policy goals for fiscal 2007, which begins July 1. Focusing on a more manageable... [more]

Around Provincetown
State to town: Get with it State Department of Revenue Deputy Commissioner Gerald Perry gave board of selectmen chairwoman Cheryl Andrews a call to... [more]

'Woman of the Year'
By Bill Fonda/ bfonda@cnc.com
Bonnie Snow of Orleans has a corollary to the old expression "Behind every good man, there's a good woman." Snow's take is that behind every... [more]

Parking presents problems at town landings
By Bill Fonda/ bfonda@cnc.com
The basic laws of economics - namely, that of supply and demand - even apply to parking at Orleans' town landings. "We're just like every other... [more]

Around Orleans
Rainey honored at meeting Before Wednesday's Orleans Board of Selectmen's meeting, the board held a moment of silence for Gail Rainey, who died earlier... [more]

Fire, police departments improve emergency plans
By Bill Fonda/ bfonda@cnc.com
It got pretty cold at Nauset Regional Middle School the day after the windstorm last Dec. 9 - as low as 55 degrees. The culprit was the school's computerized... [more]

Needles bill called public health measure
By Joe Burns/ jburns@cnc.com
Hoping to slow the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C, state legislators have approved legislation that would legalize the over-the-counter purchase of... [more]

Muddy Creek trails open
By Douglas Karlson/ dkarlson@cnc.com
HARWICH -Two years ago the Harwich Conservation Trust pulled off a coup. It bought 42 acres of land along Muddy Creek in East Harwich from the Shea... [more]

Read the rest of  The Cape Codder here, and comment below. 

Leave a comment »

Please visit these local CapeCodToday sponsors:
IRA Consultants, LLC
Your key to minimizing taxes and maximizing wealth. Visit our website for more info and a free consultation. (Chatham)
Cooke's Seafood Restaurant
Serving award-winning seafood for over 25 years! Serving only the freshest, highest quality seafood. No compromise. (Hyannis)

Howard Dean coming to Provincetown

Democratic National Committee Chairman and former presidential candidate Howard Dean of Vermont is expected to attend a cocktail reception fundraiser for the Democratic Party on Wednesday, July 5 from 3-5 p.m. at Chester's Restaurant, 404 Commercial St., P'town.  Suggested donation, $100.

To RSVP, contact the DNC's Julie Tagen at tagenj@dnc.org or 202-863-7174.

(photo credit, usatoday.com)

2 comments »

House party tomorrow for state rep candidate Peake

peake2... as in Democrat Sarah Peake of Provincetown, running in the Outer Cape's 4th Barnstable District, on Saturday July 1 at 5 p.m. at the home of P'town home of Pam French and Lyn Kratz.

Call the Peake campaign at 508-487-5694 for directions or other info.

(photo credit, Peake campaign)

1 comment »

Man-of-Wars close Vineyard beaches, 5 swimmers stung

gazette_01The Vineyard Gazette  today boosts two stories which our cape newspapers missed;

Chilmark Beaches Closed Temporarily to Swimming

By RACHEL NAVA ROHR

squibnocket_01 Chilmark town beaches Lucy Vincent and Squibnocket remain closed to swimming after droves of Portuguese man-of-war began washing up on the southern shore of the Island Monday, stinging five swimmers within minutes at Lucy Vincent. Two of the swimmers were hospitalized and released for wounds from the jellyfish-like creatures.

 "Right after that happened, we decided to close swimming," assistant supervisor to Chilmark beaches Karyn Pietruska said. "Every morning since then, we've gone out to see how many there are."

Ms. Pietruska said the beaches will remain closed to swimming until the man-of-war, with their distinctive blue bubbles and their stinging tentacles, are no longer washing up. An offshore breeze will be necessary to push the creatures away, she said... (The photo is of Squibnocket Beach and Pond on the southwest corner of Martha's Vineyard)

Read the rest of this Gazette story here, and comment below. 

And that island's weekly examines a aspect of their resident's recent theft of rare maps;

Thefts of Rare Maps Shatter The Small World of Collectors

Click mao to enlarge By JAMES KINSELLA

To the modern eye, the maps are wildly out of whack.

Continents are bunched together or simply absent. California usually is in the wrong place. Major rivers wander off into mysterious voids.

But these maps, drawn up to 400 years ago, are literal touchstones in the evolution of human culture.

"It's who we are, and where we've been," said Nicholas Basbanes of Oak Bluffs, an author who's written about people passionate about rare manuscripts. "It's our history"... (You can click the map to see it full-size.)

Read the rest of this Gazette story here, and comment below.

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Double tragedy, Medicare fraud, MCAS improves, Selectmen squabble

UCCUpper Cape Cod news of the week
June 29, 2006
Tragedy strikes family a second time
By Robert Slager/ rslager@cnc.com
A little angel has been whispering into Amy Johnson's ear every day since June 7. The voice of her little sister Kristen, forever frozen in time,... [more]

Public health overriding issue for needle sale supporters
By Joe Burns/ jburns@cnc.com
Hoping to slow the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C, state legislators have approved legislation that would legalize the over-the-counter purchase of... [more]

Community school appointments delayed
By Silene Gordon/ sgordon@cnc.com
The appointments to fill four vacancies on the Community School Executive Council have been put on hold until the next meeting of the Sandwich School... [more]

Autumnwood talks stalled
By Silene Gordon/ sgordon@cnc.com
After months of mediation attempts aimed at reaching a settlement in a Sandwich affordable housing project, another roadblock has emerged. "It's... [more]

Extreme measures help plovers survive
By Rich Eldred/ reldred@cnc.com
Yes Virginia, beach closures to protect piping plovers do seem to work. Take note of the accompanying chart of Massachusetts' plover population over... [more]

Sandwich man to pay in Medicaid fraud
By Silene Gordon/ sgordon@cnc.com
A Sandwich man was directed last week to pay restitution of $70,855 for making false statements to the Massachusetts Medicaid program. Arthur... [more]

MCAS improvement tops list for Sandwich schools
By Silene Gordon/ sgordon@cnc.com
Curriculum standards, technology upgrades and a social worker at the K-8 schools top the list of priorities for Sandwich schools if additional local... [more]

Oak Ridge School Fourth Term Honor Roll
Grade 8 High Honors: Amanda Condon, Delaney Drake, Elizabeth Duffy, John Hendy, Katherine Lescarbeau, Emily Scichilone, Zachary Scott, Kristen Silverman,... [more]

UCC school notes
Dean's list achievers Bryant University, Smithfield, R.I.: Christopher Lescarbeau, Kenneth Fraser, Joseph Davis and Danielle Antoine of Sandwich;... [more]

Bourne police notes
The Bourne Police Department log indicates summer has arrived. Officers last week investigated a reported assault at Mud Cove, larceny from the Main... [more]

Arm wrestlers compete, set sights on nationals
Rain put a damper on the Massachusetts State Arm Wrestling Championship Saturday at Smitty's Sports Pub on MacArthur Bouelvard, Pocasset. "The... [more]

CVS decision clarified, lawsuit called off
By Paul Gately/ Pgately@cnc.com
The Bourne Planning Board has clarified its decision on the CVS pharmacy project at Belmont Circle, amending a section on pedestrian safety at Head... [more]

Selectmen squabble over interim appointment
By Paul Gately/ pgately@cnc.com
Bourne selectmen on a tense 3-1 vote Tuesday night named Bourne Treasurer Linda Marzelli the town's interim finance director. But member Judith Conron... [more]

Carrara appointed deputy fire chief
Bourne selectmen confirmed the appointment Tuesday night of Fire Lt. Joseph Carrara as a deputy chief. Carrara fills the position held by the late... [more]

Second graffiti incident leads to arrest
By Paul Gately/ pgately@cnc.com
The second graffiti incident in just over a week at the Aptucxet rail overpass has led to the arrest of Joseph Babcock, 18, of Waterhouse Road, Bourne. "Some... [more]

Around Bourne
World War II-era ship to visit MMA The John Brown, a Liberty ship from World War II, will visit Massachusetts Maritime Academy in August. Such vessels... [more]

Movie house hopeful seeks help
The curtain may yet go up again at the old Buzzards Bay Theater at the west end of Main Street where a preservation project seems to have gained some... [more]

Rain forces annual Strawberry Festival indoors
For the first time in 30 years, it rained on the Bourne Historical Society's annual Aptucxet Strawberry Festival Saturday. No matter. The event went... [more]

Bourne landfill had banner year; town plans its future
By Paul Gately/ pgately@cnc.com
Bourne landfill operations will generate just shy of $14 million when the books close on this fiscal year, up from $7 million in 2004. The... [more]

BHS Class of '43 receives reunion 'aloha' message
By Paul Gately/ pgately@cnc.com
The Bourne High School Class of 1943 graduated from that old red-brick building at Cotuit Road when the outcome of World War II was seriously in doubt. Members... [more]

Dates set for school cost overrun votes
Bourne selectmen Tuesday night called for a special Town Meeting Oct. 2 to consider the school building committee's $5 million request to cover... [more]

Gurnon joins think tank
The president of Massachusetts Maritime Academy has joined the advisory council of a think tank at Columbia University dedicated to considering engineering... [more]

Health care provider faces theft charges
By Paul Gately/ pgately@cnc.com
Bourne police say a Plympton woman working as a home health care provider stole $125,000 to $300,000 from an elderly Falmouth man in her care... [more]

Is tide turning on tug removal?
Demolition of the New York Central 16 tug landmark at Belmont Circle seemed imminent last week, but removal was delayed. Preservationists took heart... [more]

Celebrate the Fourth
Fireworks are a big part of the Fourth of July on Cape Cod. There's plenty to do on the holiday that signals the start of another summer on Cape Cod. Sandwich... [more]

Bourne works on wind turbine bylaw
By Paul Gately/ pgately@cnc.com
The Bourne Planning Board will present a bylaw regulating industrial, commercial and residential wind turbines to the November Town Meeting. The primary... [more]

MMA field makeover gets trustee approval
By Paul Gately/ pgately@cnc.com
Optimism prevailed at the Harrington Building on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy campus last week. Doubts, however, were rising in Alumni Gym. The... [more]

MMA class includes 15 from Cape
The Class of 2006 lifted anchor Saturday morning during torrential downpours and said goodbye to Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The class includes... [more]

Around Sandwich
HS start time pushed back Sandwich High School students will have an extra 19 minutes to get ready for school each morning, beginning in September,... [more]

Read the rest of the Upper Cape Codder here, and comment below. 

Leave a comment »

Amy A. Johnson needs help now

She remains in a coma in the ITC unit at  Brigham & Woman's Hospital
 In just 21 years, Amy touched the lives of so many around her

cheriba


GOOD FRIEND
of the East of Boston crew- Amy A. Johnson- was in a terrible car accident recently. I'll spare you the details, but she's at Brigham and Women's Hospital, suffering pretty badly.


She needs whatever you can offer her- prayers, donations, a good word with the right people.... every little bit helps.

Amy is about the world's sweetest kid, and if you frequented the Dunkin' Donuts on the Cranberry Highway in Wareham, you've probably seen her before. How many mornings of yours did she save with the timely application of coffee? Payback time, folks.

If you're loaded, throw a grand at her. Throw more... we're not stopping you. There is an Amy A. Johnson fund that you can hit off with a fat check, right at the well-located Rockland Trust on Cranberry Highway in Wareham... near the Wally and the Stop-n-Shop.

Don't be cheap. This could be your friend, your kid... you yourself. Drop some cashish.

If you're broke, stop by Sun On The Run (508 743-0700, across from Lindsay's) and dump a few pennies in the jar... go there today to see my $5, if you really like this column.

Read this story about Amy's little angel in this week's Upper Cape Codder

Click to read the storyTragedy strikes family a second time
By Robert Slager/ rslager@cnc.com

A little angel has been whispering into Amy Johnson's ear every day since June 7. The voice of her little sister Kristen, forever frozen in time, is pleading with her to fight a little bit longer.

"I know it's true," said Carol Henderson of Wareham, who lost one daughter to a car accident a decade ago and may now lose another. "Amy has injuries that you and I could not have survived."

Amy Johnson, who moved from Wareham to Bridgewater just a few weeks ago, lost control of her car in the early morning and slammed into a tree near Exit 2 on I-495, suffering massive internal injuries. She remains in a coma in the intensive care unit of Brigham and Woman's Hospital.

Carol was pregnant with Amy when her 3-year-old daughter Kristin suffered critical injuries in a car accident. Kristin fought to survive for seven more years.

"Amy used to tell me how she talks to Kristen every day," Carol said. "I know she's talking to her now."

In just 21 years, Amy touched the lives of so many around her. She attended Bourne High School, and worked for years at the Dunkin' Donut on Cranberry Highway in Wareham. She didn't have a best friend. Just about everybody was her best friend...

Read the rest of the story here.

Leave a comment »

A Summer Read: Weighing The Cost Of A College Education

By Greg O’Brien, Codfish Press

When the naughty boy fraternity Delta was finally kicked off campus in the 1978 National Lampoon classic “Animal House,” the impish “Bluto” Blutarsky, in the person of John Belushi, declared: “Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the…Peace Corps!”

Not a bad game plan, some are wondering today.

Consider this as you lounge on the beach this weekend, fish in Pleasant Bay or cruise to Nantucket: With the spring graduation of thousands of college seniors, many graduates and their parents—braced today with the debilitating cost of a college degree that often has extended the traditional four years to seven so students can work off some of the debt—are asking the question: Is there a better way?

Once the bloom is off the rose of graduation, the math is numbing for graduates and their parents. I feel the pain. My 22-year-old son, Brendan (a product of Nauset Regional High School) just graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. I also have a daughter, Colleen, who is a junior at Elon University, a son, Conor, who will be a senior at Nauset next year, and a home equity line that is wheezing.

The average college graduate leaves school with almost $20,000 in student loans and $2,000 in credit card debt, notes the Chicago Tribune in a Sunday financial piece. And parents, who do not qualify for financial aid and have little tuition reserve, are often left with $50,000 or more in debt for each graduate. Ante up the cost of three or four kids and the sum gives new meaning to the term: mid life crisis.  

There is no relief in sight for the next generation. With the outlay of a college education expected to increase at five percent a year, the average annual cost of a private college in 15 years is pegged at $51,664. Factor five percent a year to the already nose bleed cost of sending a child to Harvard, MIT, Boston College or Boston University, and you’re bracing for an annual expense of $90,000 by 2017.

“(Higher) education is at a crisis point, the result of uncontrolled cost increases over the past 20 years that have greatly exceeded the rate of inflation or annual consumer price indexes,” the Houston Chronicle observes in an editorial. “Tuition forces parents to pull all-nighters, too,” adds Paul Daugherty in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

If something isn’t done soon to slow or defray the escalating cost of a college or graduate school education, low and moderate-income students and their families will be stranded on the bus. An estimated quarter million prospective students a year are now being shut out of the system because of tuition costs and other factors, according to The National Center of Pubic Policy and Higher Education.

There should be no higher a priority in our national agenda. The price of a college education is a non-partisan issue that requires the full attention of Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Otherwise, the national landscape one day will be littered with Bluto Blutarskys.

And that isn’t funny.

10 comments »

Ptown fall, Lightning strikes in Sandwich

Man injured in fall at construction site

Ptown construction accidentPROVINCETOWN – A man reportedly suffered a head injury after falling about one story while working at a job site in Provincetown. The incident happened at this house being completely gutted and renovated on Bradford Street near Franklin Street around 10:30 AM. The unidentified man was taken to Cape Cod Hospital by ambulance. The incident remains under investigation by officials. Further details were not immediately available.

Lightning sparks house fire in Sandwich

SANDWICH – A strong thunderstorm caused several lightning strikes on the upper Cape. A bolt struck a house at 13 Buckingham Drive in Sandwich shortly after 2 AM causing a small fire in the attic. The occupant escaped the house and firefighters quickly knocked down the flames. Minutes later another bolt struck a home at 9 Jeannes Way in the Forestdale section of town. Reports say the hit caused a television set to explode. Fortunately there was no fire and no one was injured. Several other possible strikes kept Sandwich and Mashpee busy resetting alarms and checking buildings out.

1 comment »

Charges in Vokey non-appointment, Asst. Principal leaving, More Chatham beach parking, MORE

Click to read The ChronicleChatham & Harwich news of the week
June 28, 2006

Chatham Band Begins Another Season Friday
chatham_bandBy Debra Lawless. Red, white and blue bunting. Popcorn and cotton candy. Balloons. The Chatham Band, as American as apple pie. The ever-popular Chatham Band will kick off its 2006 summer season this Friday at 8 p.m. with a patriotic Fourth of July concert. Kenneth Eldredge directs the Chatham Band. “We remain popular because the band is not afraid to wave the flag and be patriotic and be family oriented,” says Kenneth Eldredge, who has directed the band since 1995. “And the setting is just perfect with the bandstand at the bottom of a natural bowl”...

Bergstrom Alleges Backroom Discussion In Vokey Dismissal
CHATHAM — After a brief discussion, selectmen voted 3-2 Tuesday afternoon not to reappoint Maureen Vokey to a seat on the zoning board of appeals. In response, Selectman Ronald Bergstrom—who supports Vokey—accused the board’s majority of having violated the Open Meeting law by discussing the matter before the meeting...

Boat Trailer Parking Increased At OMBY --- But Just A Little
CHATHAM --- There will be a few additional boat trailer parking spaces at the town-owned Old Mill Boatyard parking lot this summer. But just a few. ...

Samuel De Champlain’s Bark Lands In Chatham
champlainbark250 CHATHAM — French explorer Samuel De Champlain’s coastal bark, which landed in Stage Harbor four centuries ago, has returned to the place he called Port Fortune. A miniature model of the historic ship, commissioned by the Chatham Chamber of Commerce to mark the quadricentennial, was presented to the Chatham Historical Society last month.... (On right is a French attempt at reconstruction in 1908)

More Nutritional School Lunches To Come With Higher Price
HARWICH --- The cost of school lunches will increase next year, based on reduced revenues from the program and state and federal pressures to promote better ...

Superintendent Will Have Final Say On Principal’s Future
HARWICH --- Any decisions on Harwich High School Principal Kevin A. Turner’s future at the school will rest with the superintendent of schools, Dr. Daniel ...

After Initial Success In Chatham, Summer Food Collection Program ...
CHATHAM --- The start of the summer has been somewhat less than relaxing for Lynne Fletcher O’Brien. She’s spent a lot of time ...

Residents Want To Slow Commercial Creep In East Harwich
HARWICH --- The message from the 60 residents who attended the East Harwich Community Association’s vision forum last Thursday night was to slow commercial ...

Spirituality On The Beach
by Debra Lawless. Something about a beautiful beach setting, such as Chatham’s Oyster Pond, can be conducive to spirituality.

Assistant Planner Greenhalgh Leaving For Truro Job
HARWICH --- Assistant Town Planner Charleen Greenhalgh will be leaving next week to take a new position as assistant town administrator/planner in the town of ...

Parents, Coaches Open Dialogue With Park And Rec Commission
CHATHAM — More than a dozen parents and coaches sounded out to the park and recreation commission last Thursday, suggesting ways to improve the quality of ...

Read the rest of The Chronicle here, and comment below.

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Building collapse still a mystery, ORV stickers are hot, New attempt at needle exchange, more

RegisterMid Cape news of the week
June 30, 2006

Cause of building collapse remains a mystery
By Nicole Muller/ nmuller@cnc.com
denniscollapse1_01A week after the landmark Henderson’s Hardware store collapsed in Dennisport, no one knows why it happened. "It was under the care of structural engineers, and there was no apparent sign that it would collapse," said David Maslin, owner of the property at 863 Route 28. "I can’t imagine how that happened. For three years my son [Jonathan, 22] has waited for his gallery, a cultural center that would serve the community with painting, sculpture, music and dance education" ... [more]

Dennis ORV stickers are hot this summer
By Nicole Muller/ nmuller@cnc.com
"Our four-wheel-drive vehicle sticker sales are skyrocketing," Dennis Natural Resource Officer Brian Malone says. "We normally sell about 1,400 a... [more]

Black history museum will highlight ’quiet’ contributions
By Joe Burns/ jburns@cnc.com
In Hyannis, just a stone’s throw from Zion Union Church, where there now stands a red brick shopping plaza, was once a small house with no electricity,... [more]

Needle bill attempts new approach
By Joe Burns/ jburns@cnc.com
Hoping to slow the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C, state legislators have approved legislation that would legalize the over-the-counter purchase of hypodermic needles and syringes... [more]

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District news
http://www.dy-regional.k12.ma.us/ The following information was supplied by the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District John Simpkins Elementary... [more]

TR School Notes
Massage therapy information session at college This fall, Cape Cod Community College will welcome a new class of students into its Massage Therapy... [more]

'Brain drain' threatens state's economy
By Craig Salters/ csalters@cnc.com
Massachusetts' traditional competitive advantage - its ability to attract the best and brightest from across the nation and around the world - is... [more]

Around Dennis
Rings stolen from Coppelman's Goldsmith Dennis police are investigating the theft of four rings from Ross Coppleman Goldsmith, Route 6A, Dennis, on... [more]

Status quo prevails for Dennis committee appointments
By Nicole Muller/ nmuller@cnc.com
Selectmen in Dennis will continue to appoint volunteers to Dennis boards and committees at public meetings. Escalating issues regarding the appointment... [more]

Summer resident introduces food pantry program
By Nicole Muller/ nmuller@cnc.com
Lynne O'Brien lives in Virginia, but her Cape Cod heart was touched when she heard the call of the needy. A cell phone and computer allowed her to... [more]

Traps in Dennis will test success of rabies baiting
By Nicole Muller/ nmuller@cnc.com
Starting next week, three veterinary students from Tufts University will be hard at work in Dennis. They will set 50 box traps on private and town-owned... [more]

Stranding Network stresses the basics
By Nicole Muller/ nmuller@cnc.com
If you see a stranded animal To prevent further harm to stranded animals, give them at least 150 feet of space. Call the 24-hour stranding network... [more]

If you come across a stranding...
DO *Minimize stress * Keep area quiet * Minimize contact * Keep out of sight * Keep dogs and children away * Contact the Cape Cod Stranding Network... [more]

D-Y's Desmarais sets sights on Boys Nation
By Nicole Muller/ nmuller@cnc.com
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but in the case of Ross Desmarais of South Yarmouth, it's the key to success. Among the four students selected... [more]

Fire marshal: leave fireworks to professionals
As the July 4 holiday approaches, the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal reminds residents that there are many professional fireworks displays supervised... [more]

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