EXTRA...

No tailpipe; Falmouth fire redux; Eastham settles school bill; Chatham's Octagonal controversy; Mashpee's Lakeside Water Petition Axed; Orleans Farmer 's Market still open; New Barnstable Charter? Obama on energy; Flu alert

TODAY's quote: "We're trying to stress that people need more of a say. We feel that's a big change. We don't know if it's the best way to do things, but we think it should be looked at." - Richard Clark, Barnstable Charter Commission chair.

Obama declares swine flu emergency
Declaration allows federal rule waivers, lets care providers speed up treatment

President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency Saturday, a procedural step designed to allow health care providers to speed treatment and slow the spread of the disease.

The action gives Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius temporary authority to grant waivers that would expedite steps such as setting up off-site emergency rooms to treat potential flu victims apart from other patients... Baltimore Sun.
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    Truro's Arthur Teubner is
     a model of 'green' lifestyle

       Front compartment of a Solectria

When Arthur Teubner gets his car inspected at the garage, he spends a few minutes laughing to himself, watching as the mechanic looks for the tailpipe. The mechanic paces back and forth leaning down under the car and scratching his head. Teubner, an affable man who makes his living as an acupuncturist, waits a couple of beats before he points out that the mechanic won't actually find the tail pipe. Teubner's car, "Sparky," made by a company called Solectria from a Geo car body, does not have a tail pipe. Therefore, it has no emissions. Zero. So sure, Teubner deserves a minute of feeling smug once a year about how he's not producing any smog... The Banner.

Eastham settles with school builder

Town Administrator Sheila Vanderhoef reported this week that the litigation with the elementary school contractor has been settled for $850,000. "So we do have sufficient funds to take care of the remaining issues," she said, noting they were mostly "punch list" type things such as doors.

Bay State Contracting of Pembroke, the general contractor on the $8.4 million elementary school renovation, sued the town two years ago when the project was completed, claiming it was due interest on late payments, delay damage and extra work... The Cape Codder.
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Orleans farmers market extends season

Encouraged by farmers markets that operate in the winter off Cape, and pleas from devoted customers, the Orleans Farmers Market has decided to extend its season through Thanksgiving week for the first time.

The market has received approval from town officials so it's a go according to market manager Gretel Norgeot. Traditionally the market ends its season Columbus Day weekend to coincide with the last tourists leaving the Cape. The extended market will continue to offer seasonal produce and goods for locals under the white tents on Old Colony Way near Dunkin' Donuts... The Cape Codder.
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Falmouth police cooperate with Pennsylvania investigation
Former playhouse owner a suspect in another playhouse fire

Falmouth Fire Chief Dunne has been cooperating with Pennsylvania authorities in their investigation of the latest of four fires at theaters owned by Miller in three states.

Ralph Miller's name was notorious in local business, legal, government and arts circles when the Falmouth Playhouse was torched and burned to the ground in the early morning of Feb. 28, 1994. Bankrupt, with some of his more than $11.5 million in debts forcing several area small businesses to shut down, Miller was known for bringing Broadway-style shows and TV celebrities to the area while freely spending money he didn't have on a lavish lifestyle. He fought with town officials over safety violations at his theater. He failed to pay his taxes...

"We weren't surprised when we heard that Pocono Playhouse) burned" is all Dunne would say about conversations he's had in recent weeks with investigators who worked on the Falmouth crime with him 15 years ago.

The biggest similarity, he said, is Miller's history. "It seems like he has a lot of fires. ... Most people in their lives have no fires. He is a very unlucky person"... Pocono Record.
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 Mashpee Lakeside Water Petition Shot Down, Trailer Park owner may sue

The petition to force the Mashpee Water District to hook up to Lakeside Estates seemed ill-fated from the start at the special meeting on the measure last night.

Just seconds after the meeting convened, a motion to indefinitely postpone the article was made by former water district commissioner F. Thomas Fudala and quickly seconded by another former water district commissioner, Edward A. Baker... Mashpee Enterprise. 

The town board of water commissioners, which oversees the taxpayer-funded district, recommended that voters not approve the hookup because it would leave taxpayers liable for a new system in the trailer park to the tune of about $500,000 if it were to fail. In addition, the commissioners have said the substandard Lakeside system could contaminate the district's water delivery system... WaterWorld.
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No New Charges Planned In Threat Made Against Student

Sandwich police have concluded their investigation into a report that a 13-year-old boy had threatened to kill another boy with a knife at a high school football game in town.
"We are not seeking to add any more charges against this boy and we are not charging any other individuals," said Sergeant Michael J. Nurse. Last week, police summonsed a 13-year-old Forestdale School 8th grader to court on a charge of threatening to commit a crime, murder.   
   The summons was issued after the victim's father reported to police that he listened in on a telephone conversation where the suspect told his son, who is an 8th grader at the Oak Ridge School, that he was going to "slice" him "like a samurai"... Sandwich Enterprise.

Barnstable charter commission wants voters to consider new document

Richard Clark, who served as chairman of the Barnstable Charter Commission, said the updated town charter document his committee spent 18 months on may not be perfect. But, he said, it is better than what exists now. Voters will get an opportunity to weigh in on the document at the town election on November 3.

The most important change in the new charter document, Mr. Clark said, is that it will give more power to each and every voter in town. It reduces the size of the Barnstable Town Council and gives each voter the right to elect seven members, or a majority, of what would be an 11-member board... Barnstable Enterprise.
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Octagonal Controversy
ZBA Refuses To Remove Condition For Occupancy Of Shorefront Home

Chatham Bars Inn owner Richard Cohen and his family will finally get to sleep in the multi-million dollar house he built on Chatham Harbor. The home, known as the Octagonal House, was completed months ago. But the town refused to grant an occupancy permit because a special permit condition requiring the removal of three telephone poles had not been fulfilled. Last week, the zoning board of appeals upheld that condition, and upheld the decision of Community Development Director Kevin McDonald to withhold the occupancy permit until the condition is satisfied.

While the decisions were a defeat for Cohen and Chatham Bars Inn, which owns the 324 Shore Rd. property, McDonald plans to issue a temporary occupancy permit while Cohen tries to work out removal of the poles with his neighbors. In fact, McDonald was ordered by the state building code appeals board to issue the temporary permit several months ago, but had not done so because he had not received a copy of the decision... The Chronicle.
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Obama blows in, talks up Patrick and future
Delivers clean energy address at MIT, rallies support for governor at fund-raiser

President plugs clean energy in Massachusetts

President Obama, on a whirlwind visit to Boston yesterday, linked Governor Deval Patrick's political fate to the fate of the nation, telling Patrick supporters at a downtown fund-raiser that the governor had made the kind of hard choices the country needs to make to put itself on a stronger course.

Sweeping into town for the fund-raiser and to deliver a speech on clean energy at MIT, Obama said Patrick deserves credit for implementing near-universal health care, investing in education, and making the alternative energy and biotech industries a priority. If voters fail to recognize this hard work in next year's state election, the president said, it will not bode well for the United States.

Before Obama's speech at MIT, Patrick and Kerry looked on as Obama toured a lab with MIT's president, Susan Hockfield. Two professors demonstrated a high-power battery that can be grown, using a biological process, rather than manufactured. Another professor showcased wind turbines, and a third showed off light bulbs that can last 5,000 hours... Globe.