EXTRA...

Goodbye, Des Moines, Hello, Nantucket; Home sales up; Cranberries healthy; More

Follow the money(ed)

Goodbye, Des Moines. Hello, Nantucket!

After sweating their way through the crowds at the Iowa State Fair, a ferryload of presidential candidates are following the moneyed set to Nantucket for big-ticket fund-raisers. The island is a perennial Democratic port of call, but this year the traditionally liberal beach resort is also attracting Republican candidates, perhaps reflecting the unusual character of the party’s contenders this year.  ...  The Caucus NYT

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Home sales up in the area

Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod were "somewhere in the middle of the pack," Azarian said.

Despite worries over subprime mortgages and lenders tightening loan standards, phones are ringing again for local real estate sellers - a marked change from the early part of the year when sales were in a funk.

Sales of single family homes rose 6 percent in July compared with the same month in 2006, according to the latest report from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. Median sales prices also increased, while sales of condominiums remained virtually flat.

"It is encouraging to see sales go up in July after four straight months of year-over-year declines," said MAR President Doug Azarian, broker/owner of Century21 Dream Homes in Falmouth. "While the tighter lending standards may have taken some buyers out of the market over the past several months, it appears that those who have good credit and some equity, are getting the financing they need and are buying again."  ...  Sun Chronicle

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Albert Alissi, Professor, Humanitarian dies

Retired professor died Tuesday in Dennis accident

Advocates for Hartford's destitute, together with colleagues at the University of Connecticut, mourned the loss Tuesday of Albert Alissi, a longtime UConn professor of social work who for many years served on the board of trustees of the Open Hearth agency for homeless men.

Alissi, 77, of Simsbury, died early Tuesday near his vacation home on Cape Cod when he was struck by a car. Police in Dennis, Mass., said Alissi was walking on a street near his home when the accident happened.

UConn officials said Alissi was a professor at its school of social work from 1968 to 2002. He remained as a professor emeritus and was involved in the school's doctoral program after retiring.  ...  Courant.com

The accident was reported on Tuesday by CWN here.

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AG to oil shippers: use tugboat escorts crossing Buzzards Bay

BOSTON - Oil shippers in Buzzards Bay will have to use tugboat escorts and take other spill prevention measures for the first time in more than a year under an appeals court decision that took effect this week.

The state Department of Environmental Protection and Attorney General Martha Coakley have decided to enforce the state's Oil Spill Prevention Act while the U.S. Justice Department and the oil shipping industry fight the law in court.

A federal judge ruled major portions of the law unconstitutional in July 2006, about 18 months after it had gone into effect. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro said the state law violated federal supremacy in an area where the Coast Guard had the legal right to set regulations.  ...  SouthCoastToday.com

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Tourism official quits job amid Oprah scandal

PROVINCETOWN - A Provincetown man who falsely claimed his latest novel made Oprah's Book Club is now out of a job.

Bill Schneider resigned yesterday as Provincetown tourism director.

He previously admitted to falsely claiming on his Web site that he had been interviewed on Oprah Winfrey's TV show.  ...  WPRI.com

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Healthy cranberry crop nearly matches last year's record

WAREHAM - Local cranberry growers had a very good 2006, and this year will almost be its equal, a federal agricultural official told the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association's annual meeting yesterday.

Gary Keough, director of New England agricultural statistics for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced that area growers expect a very slight decrease in production this year, 1.8 million barrels compared to 1.895 barrels in 2006, or about a 5 percent drop.

That accounts for 26 percent of the nation's expected production. ... SouthCoastToday.com