Cape & Islands News

Yarmouth drops out of CC Commission; Art Committee likes armory; Doctor's lawyer claims "self-defence"; Hyannis housing market still active; Restaurant questions ratings integrity

Mid Cape News of the week, April 10, 2007

^{The Barnstable Patriot  covers the town of Barnstable and is owned by the Ottaway Newspapers Co. the parent company of the Cape Cod Times. The Register which covers Dennis, Yarmouth and Barnstable is owned by Gatehouse Media which owns three other weeklies here.}

Barnstable Patriot headlines:

Yarmouth votes to go its own way on Cape Cod Commission
138-110 tally to be followed by 2008 ballot on withdrawal
Yarmouth -- Concerns about overdevelopment brought the Cape Cod Commission into existence in 1990. Fears that it has stymied growth -- specifically of the commercial variety -- led town meetings voters to instruct their selectmen “to petition the Massachusetts Legislature to withdraw the Town of Yarmouth from the Cape Cod Commission.” The vote was 138 to 110

Arts center committee likes the armory
A committee working with town officials on a proposed performing arts center in downtown Hyannis has recommended the site of the former National Guard armory on South Street.

Hyannis active despite housing market lull
A down housing market and a cap on new living units hasn’t affected building activity in Barnstable all that much says Building Commissioner Tom Perry, but at least one major local developer sees a lag in downtown condo sale

Forging light from darkness
Ten years ago next month, Jay Blake, then 31, was working on a large truck tire and wheel assembly for a transportation company in Hyannis when the assembly inexplicably exploded, the wheel striking him forcefully across the brow and forehead.

Action delayed on Pond Village DCPC regs
The town council delayed action on implementing regulations for the Pond Village District of Critical Planning Concern to allow time for comments received at last week’s public hearing to be considered.

OPINION:
GAUVIN: Absorb fire hydrant rental costs in general water rates
Just because something has been done the same way for a hundred years doesn’t mean it can’t evolve into a more efficient and transparent way of doing it. It’s called “thinking outside of the box.”

Pier ban for shellfish areas proposed
A proposal to ban new piers and docks in areas designated for recreational shellfishing and relay areas is expected to be presented to the town council in the next month.

Altered forms raise questions
When Arthur Beatty saw that his Sunnyside Restaurant on Main Street received a “C” in the town’s first public grading of food establishment, he got curious.

Town explains grading system
In the week following the Patriot’s publication of the health division’s list grading restaurants on health inspections, the paper received a number of calls, some anonymous and some not, questioning the accuracy of the list and ratings.

Human services plea heard by county Assembly
Most weeks. the room is empty. Some weeks, not even all those assigned to the room are in attendance.

 Read the rest of the Barnstable Patriot here.
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The Register headlines:

Shooting shocks community
The Easter Sunday shooting of a Barnstable contractor and charter boat operator shocked the community and focused attention on the often-hidden issue of domestic violence.
Dr. Ann Gryboski, 51, is accused of the murder of her husband, Patrick Lancaster, 50, in their home on Coach Lane, Barnstable.  Gryboski was freed on $50,000 bail Monday after pleading not guilty to a murder charge.

Commission withdrawal passes Town Meeting
Call it a working deadline or an ultimatum, but Yarmouth has given the Cape Cod Commission one year to make good on promises of substantive change.

Accused doctor ‘endured a great deal:’ Lawyer says shooting followed abuse
The defense attorney for a Barnstable doctor accused of killing her husband says the shooting was a clear act of self-defense.

Jehovah’s Witnesses set sights on South Dennis
The Dennis Planning Board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, April 9 to consider the application of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to build a Kingdom Hall at 316 Old Bass River Road at Town Hall.

 Read the rest of The Register here.