EXTRA...

Cod fishermen looking at 82 percent cut, new study demanded

TODAY's quote: "The stark difference between the two assessments in 2008 and 2011 threatens all fishing-related businesses in our city, and it is essential to reassess such wildly different findings and conflicting results, if a fishing community like Gloucester is to exist." - Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk.

Mayor asks for new cod study

The Gloucester Times reports that Mayor Carolyn Kirk joined a call for the federal government to carry out a new assessment of Gulf of Maine cod stocks before ratcheting down catch limits that would have a dire effect on the fishing industry speaking to a group of New England fishery leaders Friday in Portsmouth, N.H., Gloucester.
      Kirk, addressing a special stakeholders workshop before officials of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and New England Fishery Management Council, delivered a letter from the city's revitalized Fisheries Commission that she said has also been sent to U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson.
      The mayor's presentation and commission's statement cited and questioned the dramatic differences between a 2008 NOAA cod assessment that found the stock on the verge of recovery and a new 2011 study that found Gulf of Maine cod badly over-fished and in dire straits... Read the Times here.Cape fishermen looking at 82 percent cut

Prospects bleak, limits eased, industry struggles

The New York Times reports today that the cod fishery in the Gulf of Maine has been crucial to our local fishermen since they threw their first hook in the sea.

Only four years ago a NOAA study said cod was one of the region’s strongest species, and it brought in $15.8 million two years ago, second only in revenue to Georges Bank haddock.

Now a new study claims that cod has been so severely over-fished that even if all fishing is stopped immediately, it will rebound to levels required under federal law.

Could destroy cod fishermen from
Provincetown to northern Maine

The Bangor Daily News reports recently that the new data has survived an initial review, and scientists say it likely won’t change much. Several lawmakers, starting with U.S. Sen. John Kerry, are now asking the U.S. Commerce Secretary to order a new assessment of the cod’s health in hopes of getting better data, but prospects are uncertain.

But cod aren’t scarce and anyone who fishes the Gulf of Maine knows it, New Hampshire fishermen David Goethel said. He said the gap between the new estimate and reality demands a complete reworking of the new cod assessment, just as lawmakers have requested.

That includes rethinking the numerous assumptions that go into the various population models, including such complexities as how well the federal boat that catches fish population samples scoops up older cod.

Still, there’s optimism a solution can be found, if only because the alternative is devastating cuts that could sweep away remaining fishermen from Provincetown to northern Maine.

Read the Times story here. Read the News story here.

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Barnstable schools ask for $1 million more next year

TODAY's quote: "The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue, but are dupes of pretended patriots" - Gov. Elbridge Thomas Gerry

Almost $1 million extra asked for Barnstable school budget

New positions, contract, operational increase, to cost $903,140

The Barnstable Enterprise reports that Barnstable School Superintendent Mary Czajkowski has proposed a school district budget that is almost one million dollars more, at total for next year of $58,085,365, which is $903,140 over the current budget.

Some of the specific extras are:

• Six full-time positions to assist with autistic students; $209,000.
• New director of assessment and evaluation; $95,000.
• Addition of  2 1/2 elementary school math coaches; $133,403.
• Behavior intervention specialist; $56,806.
• Others increases caused by contracts, etc.; $771,834 to the budget.

Dr. Czajkowski said she was prepared to make cuts to get some of the new features proposed in the budget, features such as the elementary school math coaches or the addition of a course at Barnstable High School in Mandarin Chinese.

Read the Enterprise story here.

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Chatham-Harwich baseball; Planning board's brouhahas

TODAY's quote: “Some teams decided to change their vote, so do we feel railroaded? Absolutely. We had a 9 to 1 vote (in our favor) a week and a half ago, so why are we having this meeting? I don’t understand and I’m upset about the whole thing.” - Chatham Anglers President Doug Grattan.

Controversy erupts over Harwich hosting the Cape League All-Star Game

The Cape Cod Chronicle reports that the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star game is returning to Harwich, but not without a little controversy.

The Chatham-Harwich family feud was put to rest (possibly) when the two towns voted recently to merge their school systems, but a century-old inter-family fight seems to have now moved from the classroom to the baseball field.

The Chatham Anglers say they were awarded the All Star Game in a previous vote, and the Chronicle reports on the continuing rivalry between these two neighboring towns.

East Harwich Village Collaborative and planning board don't see eye-to-eye

   East Harwich is a buffer zone between two towns with lots of rivalries.

East Harwich is a buffer zone between Harwich Center when was settled earlier, and Chatham. Situated as it is in and around the intersection of Routes 137 and 39, it's where the families from both towns get a lot of their goods and services.

But the Chronicle reports that when it comes to mapping a vision for East Harwich, the planning board and the East Harwich Village Collaborative are increasingly finding themselves on opposite sides of a wide and busy street.

Read the story in the Chronicle here.

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Rare Lazuli Bunting visits Wellfleet Audubon Sanctuary

TODAY's quote: “I’d guess he’s been in the area since fall. It doesn’t make sense that he would fly to Cape Cod from Mexico; he may have migrated the wrong way in fall,” Faherty said. “The Cape tends to collect vagrants because they can’t go any further with the ocean right here.”
- Mark Faherty, Wellfleet Audubon.

From western Mexico to eastern Wellfleet

Lazuli Bunting fascinates bird watchers on Cape Cod

Wellfleet bunting by Mark Faherty, Wellfleet Audubon.
In summer the Lazuli Bunting is brighter.

Lazuli Buntings breed mostly west of the 100th meridian from southern Canada to northern Texas, central New Mexico and Arizona, and southern California. On the Pacific Coast their breeding range extends south to extreme northwestern Baja California. They migrate to southeastern Arizona and Mexico. Their habitat is brushy areas and sometimes weedy pastures, generally well-watered, and sometimes in towns.

This week the town they visited was Wellfleet, and it's a rare event since the Lazuli Buntings have only been spotted in the state twice before.

The Boston Globe reports that this rara avis has been attracting throngs of birdwatchers to the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary since it first appeared at a feeder there last Saturday.

While the bunting's populations appear to have remained stable over the past 25 years, that could charge pretty fast if they can't stop and ask for directions more often.

Read the Globe story here. Listen to the Lazuli Bunting's song here.

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Mashpee family gets epileptic girl's "dog money" back

New York trainer kept $4,700 for a little girl's service dog

But the Attorney General got the money back

Fox-Boston reports this morning that the Dorman family in Mashpee got their money back. The story first ran here last December when Emily Dorman's family put down a $4,700 deposit for the dog named “Yetti” and hoped to have it by January for their 10-year-old daughter suffering from epilepsy.

But Fox-Boston reported back then that her parents said that John Savin, who was supposed to provide the dog, has stopped communicating with them after they put down the deposit for the dog who is trained to alert when a seizure takes place. The service dog was supposed to help Emily have more freedom.

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain. About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases are discovered in developing countries.

AG gets the money back

The story had a happy ending this week when the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office helped the Dorman family get the money returned.

A spokesperson for Martha Coakley told FOX 25 the Attorney General's Office was able to retrieve the money from the company in upstate New York and has returned it to the family.

Read the Fox report here.

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Another Cape child porn arrest, this one in Provincetown

TODAY's quote: “Ranger Anderson observed what appeared to be small, children’s toys in the tent. Outside the tent area, I observed a child’s scooter and another ‘big wheel’ type toy.”
- Detective Meredith Lobur.

Bearded, pot-smoking recluse found living in Provincetown woods

George T. Lloyd III, 45, arrested on child pornography charges

Lloyd's camp was on the long deserted Old Dump Road north of Route 6 in Provincetown.Back on October 5th, an alert hunter in the Provincetown woods told Cape Cod National Seashore Park Ranger Christopher Anderson that he had spotted a suspicious looking camp site in the woods north of Route 6 in Provincetown just off the old road to the town dump which runs north from the highway about a quarter mile east of the road to the Provincetown Airport.

The Provincetown Banner reports that the investigation which followed spanned five months beginning when Provincetown Detective Meredith Lobur found printed articles that described child sexual activity and several photos of nude, prepubescent children engaged in sexual poses in and around the campsite.

Five months later to the day, George T. Lloyd III, 45, was arrested by Provincetown police and arraigned the next day in Orleans District Court.

Lloyd is being held at the Barnstable County House of Corrections in lieu of $25,000 cash bail and is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on March 2.

Read the lengthy and detailed Banner story here.

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Non-candidate endorsement; Appeals Court ignores complaint

TODAY'a quote: "Interesting to see an endorsement for a non-candidate." - Gail Spector.

Circuit Appeals Court refuses to review Cape electric charge case

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (in case citations, D.C. Cir.) known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a discretionary basis by the Supreme Court.

On Tuesday the D.C. Cir. refused to review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) orders denying several Massachusetts utilities' claims that they were unfairly charged to ensure electricity service on Cape Cod, finding the agency properly handled the dispute.

The appeals court affirmed the four FERC orders at issue and denied the petitions for review lodged by Braintree Electric Light Dept. and a handful of other municipally-owned utilities in southeastern Massachusetts, holding that the agency "reasonably resolved" some claims and "reasonably construed" a 2007 settlement agreement.

While it has the smallest geographic jurisdiction of any of the United States courts of appeals, the D.C. Circuit, with eleven active judgeships, is arguably the most important inferior appellate court. Source.

Union endorses Joe III before he announces

The Newton Tab reports that The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), today announced its endorsement of Joseph Kennedy III for US Congress. It’s the first endorsement for the potential candidate for the 4th Congressional District seat being vacated by Barney Frank.

The full release from the SEIU reads:

     One of the state’s largest grassroots labor organizations, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), today announced its endorsement of Joseph Kennedy III for US Congress.
     The SEIU endorsement is the first for Kennedy, who is exploring a potential candidacy for the Fourth Congressional District seat, vacated by retiring US Rep. Barney Frank. With a combined membership of over 75,000 the backing of SEIU is one of the most sought-after in any political contest.
     While middle-class families suffer, Washington continues to give unfair tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. Joe Kennedy promises to build a stable future for the Commonwealth,” said Lizete Rosa, a personal care attendant from Fall River and member of SEIU Local 1199. “Kennedy shares our commitment to supporting Massachusetts families and the members of SEIU are proud to endorse his candidacy.
     SEIU boasts a diverse membership, including healthcare workers, social workers, security guards and janitors representing 75,000 members and their families in Massachusetts. The endorsement was awarded to the Kennedy following a town hall style meeting with nearly 600 SEIU members this weekend.
     Controlling the costs of Medicare and Medicaid and protecting healthcare workers benefits our members and brings long-term stability to the Commonwealth,” said Veronica Turner, the Executive Vice-President of SEIU Local 1199. “We are pleased to support Joe Kennedy who is a strong voice for building a better future for Massachusetts healthcare workers and their families.
     Kennedy’s career has been focused on public service and helping those in need. He served for two years in the Peace Corp creating a thriving business for local workers in the Dominican Republic. While in law school, he stood up for families facing eviction from big banks due to foreclosures by landlords. Until recently, he served as an assistant district attorney, first in Cape Cod and then in Middlesex County.
     "The economic crisis has put extraordinary pressure on thousands of families struggling to make ends meet, creating an undue burden for children,” said Christine Crean, a social worker and a member of Local 509. “Joe Kennedy vows to protect the struggling families that need assistance the most.
     The SEIU State Council includes members of SEIU Locals 1199, 615, 509, 888, Chapter 3FO and the Committee of Interns and Residents.

Read the Newton Tab story here.

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State President protests closing nearest state mental hospital

TODAY's quote: “I think we need to talk about how to provide mental health services to that part of the state. If you close Taunton, then what happens? I have great concerns about that. We’ve already heard from our hospitals, South Coast and the others that they have no capacity, so where do these people go?”
- Therese Murray, State Senate President

Murray pretest closing Taunton Hospital's effect on Cape Cod

Taunton State Hospital was mortally wounded in 2006 when an arson-sparked blaze destroyed the entire central administration portion of the asylum.

Closing makes Worcester the nearest such facility for Cape Cod

While Patrick administration has defended the proposal to close the Taunton facility to ensure that the agency lives within its budget, and the state's Department of Mental Health officials intend to move most of the hospital’s 169 beds to facilities in Tewksbury and Worcester. 

Senate President Therese Murray, whose district included Plymouth and the Upper Cape, called yesterday for mental health resources to be available in “every community,” repeating the phrase for emphasis in front of Department of Mental Health officials who recently announced plans to close Taunton Hospital, a facility that serves Murray’s Cape Cod constituents.

Once state-of-the-art mental healthcare facilities, Kirkbride buildings like Taunton have long been relics of an obsolete therapeutic method known as Moral Treatment. In the latter half of the 19th century, these massive structures were conceived as ideal sanctuaries for the mentally ill and as an active participant in their recovery.

Read the Herald-News story here.

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Gas may be $5 a gallon by Spring

TODAY's quote: "It's not just U.S. demand, it's the global market that affects prices. Asian demand is growing faster than the rest of the world, particularly in China, Russia and India."
- John Hofmeister, former Shell Oil president

What will high gas prices do to the Cape economy?

  Click on the map above, type in your zip code, and find out the cheapest gas price in your 'hood.

Cape Cod's beaches are within a tankful of gas of 50 million Americans

By Walter Brooks

Remember July of 2008 when the average price of a gallon of regular gas cost $4.11?. We';re not back there yet, but today Americans are paying the highest January gas prices ever, and some analysts say prices could get close to $5 a gallon in some areas during the warm-weather driving season.

This was an all too familiar sight on 2008.While the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the United States last week was $3.39, according to the AAA, that is already 30 cents higher than it was a year ago.

John Hofmeister was president of Shell Oil, and he has predicted $5-a-gallon gasoline prices by the end of 2012 which is coincidentally the time when the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world.

Boston television this morning is running the $5 a gallon scare and asking what it will do to travel this summer.

Meanwhile, back on sunny Cape Cod...

As someone who has been buying gas on Cape Cod since 1965, there is one thing I know that is true: higher gas prices have always helped Cape Cod tourism because we are within a on-day drive of almost a third of the nation's population and wile-in a tankful of 50 million Americans.

And last June we were reporting the prices for regular were as low as $3.65 on the Cape and as high as $4.61 on Nantucket.

See the New York Times report here. See the Yahoo News story here. 

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Flummoxed fisher-folk force forum

Xtra quote: "Regulators are interested in taking action."
- Jackie Odell, executive director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition.

New England Fish panel sets new forum on cod options

Admittedly flummoxed by an unexpectedly dire scientific assessment of inshore cod, NOAA and its New England Fishery Management Council have called a general meeting of stakeholders on Friday to brainstorm options for the new fishing year that begins May 1.

Furious debate about
the validity of the scienceA compromise motion that passed the council and went to Commerce Secretary John Bryson formally asks him to take emergency action by setting an interim, one year, catch limit on cod, and recommends a broad range of between 6,700 metric tons to 7,500 metric tons.

Last Wednesday's regional council meeting produced furious debate about the validity of the science in the assessment whose findings can trigger extreme conservation measures mandated by Congress in the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

In November, Odell and Giacalone, along with the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association, also sent a letter signed by more than 100 fishermen — about one quarter of those with permits — urging the government to back off any potential changes to the catch share amendment and allow the free market in catch shares to continue driving consolidation.

Read the rest of the Gloucester Times story here.

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