CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

Former Harwich resident arrested on decades-old warrants

Former Harwich resident arrested on decades-old warrants

HARWICH - On Tuesday night, September 28, 2010, members of the Harwich Police Patrol and Detective Divisions arrested Craig Appleby, 49, formerly of Harwichport, on eight outstanding arrest warrants dating back to the 1980s.  Appleby has been out of the area for several years and was residing in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Craig Appleby, 49, of Sturgis, South Dakota.

On Tuesday the the Harwich Police received a tip that he was back on Cape Cod and was staying at a hotel in the area.  Harwich Police officers located Appleby in a hotel and placed him under arrest for the outstanding warrants.

During the booking process it was learned that he is also wanted by the Denver and Lakewood, Colorado Police Departments. 

Both agencies were contacted but declined to come and take Appleby into custody at this time.

He was transported to Orleans District Court on Wednesday morning and was later transported to the Barnstable County Correctional Facility where he will be held pending future court dates.

Release and booking photo courtesy of the Harwich Police Department.

Barnstable Senior Center seeks artisans and crafters for November art & craft fair

Art & craft fair to be held on November 6th

The Barnstable Senior Center in conjunction with HyArts is holding its first ever juried Art & Craft Fair at the Barnstable Senior Center. They are seeking artists, jewelers, potters and crafters to participate.

The free admission event will kick off the holiday shopping season by supporting our local artisans.  The  fair will be held at the Barnstable Senior Center at 825 Falmouth Road (Route 28) in Hyannis on Saturday, November 6, 2010 from 10am-4pm.

Contact Susan Griffin at the center at 508 862-4750 for an application.

The Much-Loved Bluebird

Mass Audubon's Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary in East Falmouth near Rt. 151 is well known for its 65 varieties of holly trees planted throughout the sanctuary and rare wildflowers that bloom in late summer. You’ll find a flurry of activity near the small barn in August with resident barn swallows and colorful bluebirds. The Eastern Bluebirds can be found around the many nest boxes on the western side of the sanctuary.  Bluebirds are known for singing a melodious series of soft whistled notes.

The bluebird is a very popular and beloved sight on Cape Cod.  This brightly colored bird with its vibrant blue and chestnut colored body is most frequently seen in open woodlands, meadows, and grassy fields.  They often make their nests in man-made nesting boxes and natural tree cavities.  A hundred years ago when the Cape was covered with farm fields, bluebirds had plenty of habitat, but those meadows were erased with the return of forests.  Thanks to many local efforts, bluebirds are returning to Cape Cod with a growing number of bluebird trails with a series of nest boxes mounted on fence posts.

The Cape Cod Bird Club (CCBC) has volunteers that monitor eastern bluebird nestbox trails in four locations on the Cape. Their monitoring does help the bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting species succeed.  CCBC monitors nestbox trails at Crowes Pasture in East Dennis (14 boxes), and at Thompson’s Field (24 boxes), Bank Street Bogs (44 boxes) and Texeira Field (8 boxes) in Harwich, amounting to more than 80 boxes in total!  All sites are also being surveyed for bird and other animal species, as well as plants.  The Harwich Conservation Trust and CCBC have combined to create a bluebird trail in Harwich at the Bank Street Bogs which features 44 nest boxes on 60 acres of conservation land just south of Route 39. 

Enjoy,

Craig Gibson
Woods Hole

The More You Know About Jeff Perry, the Worse It Gets

One issue you know is vitally important to Cape Cod residents is the environment. We do take a great deal of pride in the preservation and management of our land and water resources. It stand to reason that if you represent this region, you should be on top of environmental issues. Among the clearcut differences between Mr. Perry and Mr. Keating is the fact that Keating supports Cape Wind, Perry does not. 

That said, I don't view Cape Wind as the litmus test that perhaps others do. Looking a little deeper, I found the House and Senate rankings produced by the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters from 2008, the latest rankings available. Jeff Perry's record is not just poor, his rating is the lowest of any member of the House or Senate. I suppose Representative Perry was motivated this time, as in 2006, there was one member with a worse environmental voting record than his. 

Bill Keating on the other hand has been awarded Environmental Legislator of the Year for his work in writing the state's clean water act for lakes and streams. That's the type of leadership we deserve. Jeff Perry is running on an agenda and record that has not and does not work.

Murder Charges For Video Outing Gay College Student?

                                      Murder Charges For Video Outing Gay College Student?

"Roommate asked for the room till midnight.  I went to Molly's room, and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay."  -Dharun Ravi, Twitter Message

             The story out of New Jersey is that an 18-year-old Rutgers student committed suicide by leaping from the George Washington Bridge earlier this month.  He did so specifically because his dormitory roommate, Dharun Ravi, and another student Molly Wei, surreptitiously videocammed him having sex with another man and then posted the video on line.  I suggest here that the roommate and the other student, in addition to being charged with felony hate crimes and invasion of privacy, should also be charged with felony murder or at least the lesser offense of misdemeanor manslaughter.

          As a lawyer, I have argued on appeal against the constitutionality of the so-called felony-murder rule here in Massachusetts and lost on that issue.  One of my clients was convicted of first-degree murder and given life with no parole because an alleged accomplice stabbed and killed someone in a brawl between a group of college students and several street people.  My client was one of the street people and, like his co-defendants was black.  There was no evidence that he knew the alleged accomplice even had the knife, never mind having an actual intention to kill anyone. 

           We got the murder conviction in that case reversed on the basis of racial bias in the D.A.'s jury selection, but the SJC strongly reaffirmed the felony-murder rule.  So, that is still the law in Massachusetts, and it is the law of New Jersey as well.  N.J.S. A. 2C:11-3.  New Jersey also has a misdemeanor manslaughter rule.

            In either instance, felony murder or misdemeanor manslaughter, it is not necessary that the defendant have intended that a homicide result from his criminal act.  It is only necessary for the state to show that the death occurred during the commission of the criminal act or as a foreseeable result of the criminal act.  And that is clearly the case with the video recorded outing of the 18-year old Rutgers student despite the fact that his tormentors most likely never intended or even thought of the possibility he would commit suicide as a result of their criminal conduct.

            They may not have even realized that they were committing serious crimes by surreptitiously recording his sexual encounter and posting the video on the web -but they were,  and that is no excuse for either felony murder or misdemeanor manslaughter. Now, the State of New Jersey almost certainly never hesitates to bring felony-murder charges when an incidental and unintended death occurs, say, during a burglary -so why should they hesitate to do so in this case? 

              The suicide of a closeted young gay man after being outed on video is at least as foreseeable as a homeowner who dies of a heart attack when he hears burglars breaking into his home.  Gay suicide after an outing is in fact far more common, and therefore far more foreseeable, than a burglary victim dying of heart failure, but you can be certain the State of New Jersey would not hesitate to prosecute the burglars for felony murder in that event.

             So, what about it all you God-fearing, law-abiding conservatives?  Do we agree on this question or what?  Felony murder is warranted in this New Jersey case, even if that might mean the death penalty there, right?  I strongly disagree with the felony-murder rule, but I also believe that the law is the law, and justice is blind.  Am I right about that?   Now, plainly, this is a put up or shut up question, folks -do you really believe in "law and order" or is that just something you like to bleat about when attacking "liberals" like me?

            Why  should those two middle class college students who committed a callous criminal act that directly caused the death of their victim be treated any differently from the lower class offenders who are typically charged with felony-murder for homicides they never intended or even expected?   A burglary is no more offensive to the  law and far less offensive to  basic decency than the criminal acts of those two Rutgers students who invaded another person's privacy and exposed him to public shame and ridicule

            A burglar knows what he's doing is wrong when he violates your privacy to steal your property, but at least he's acting from an understandable impulse, material need or greed, which is what drives most of us in our more legal economic endeavors.  But those two Rutgers students just thought it was funny to violate the privacy of a fellow human being  for no better reason than to expose and humiliate him  to the point of committing suicide.  I say, irrespective of any class considerations, they should pay the same price as any other criminal whose illegal conduct results in the death of another human being. 

             Yay!

Yarmouth pair arrested while delivering crack cocaine in Hyannis Tuesday

Yarmouth pair arrested while delivering crack cocaine in Hyannis Tuesday

Suspect's 3-year-old daughter in the car during the arrest

HYANNIS - Over the last several months, Barnstable Police narcotics detectives have been investigating neighborhood complaints of drug trafficking in the Cape Crossroads Condominium Complex on Bearses Way in Hyannis.  During this time, detectives have conducted surveillance of suspected drug traffickers and have also conducted several undercover purchases of narcotics from suspects residing in the complex. 

Tuesday evening, September 28, 2010, at approximately 9:30 a.m., detectives arrested two suspects that were in the process of delivering crack cocaine to a Cape Crossroads apartment.  Timothy Fletcher, 28, and Erica Lopes, 25, both of Yarmouth Port, were stopped by detectives as they arrived at the apartment.  Fletcher attempted to flee on foot when approached by the detectives.  Erica Lopes remained in the vehicle with a bag of crack cocaine and her 3-year-old daughter who was seated in the back seat. 

In addition to the crack cocaine, detectives seized approximately $9500 in cash from Lopes and Fletcher.

Fletcher, who has an extensive criminal record and is on Superior Court probation for Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, was charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act, and Resisting Arrest.  Lopes was charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act. 

Both suspects were arraigned in Barnstable District Court Wednesday morning.

Courtesy of the Barnstable Police Department.

In My Footsteps: The 3 Bridgewater Towns, Mass.

     Unlike many cities and towns whose smaller villages are considered part of the larger town, such as South Dennis and East Dennis being part of the town of Dennis, the three Bridgewater towns are each a separate entity.  East, West, and Bridgewater proper are all connected despite being different towns; I have decided to wrap them all into one article.

            Having done quite a bit of research on my own family tree in the recent months it was somewhat surreal to actually stand before the markers of some of these long since departed relatives.  The cemetery itself is small and on a rural intersection which made it very peaceful and quiet; a perfect setting to envelop myself in thought.  Not wanting my entire day to be spent in a cemetery I moved on in East Bridgewater.

Normally the historical societies of towns are located inside centuries old buildings.  In the case of West Bridgewater not only was this spot an historic site, it was also located next to a small farm loaded with cows out for a graze.  The Reverend James Keith House(right) is packed with history.  Built in 1662 it was the home of the first minister of what was then Old Bridgewater, James Keith.  The area on which the house was built was a colonial outpost and garrison.  This was important because it was in this very house where in 1676 the wife and son of King Philip, also known as Metacom, were held during King Philip’s War.  The Keith House is recognized as the oldest parsonage, or rectory, in America.

Coming from the Native American word meaning ‘where the spirits dwell’ Hockomock is seen by many as the site of strange occurrences to this day.  This has earned the area the nickname the ‘Bridgewater Triangle.’  Sightings of UFO’s, bigfoot, ‘black helicopters,’ and thunderbirds have been reported in this area.  Despite these possibilities I headed down to the swamp not expecting anything out of the ordinary. 

Though separated into three completely independent towns East, West, and Bridgewater proper are all parts of one beautiful whole.  Having the opportunity to pay respect to some dearly departed relative in East Bridgewater and also getting to take a walk in the ‘Bridgewater Triangle’ made the trip one to remember.  Since they are all connected I highly recommend taking a day and visiting all three of the Bridgewater towns, it is well worth it.  Have fun and happy traveling!

The Colors of Fall & Apple Macaroon Pudding

       It seems kind of funny that I have been going to the Cape now for 45 years and had never seen a cranberry harvest, until this year, and it was on the last day on our way off the Cape. The bog had been flooded and the cranberries where all afloat along one side of the blog having been corralled. The truck had been pulled up beside the bog and the harvester had already been sucking the berries out of the bog and spitting them into the trailer. This was all taken in as we were driving by on the freeway, and of all times not to be in a position to pull off, have a good camera and be able to take pictures. Then again my wife was probably thankful for this, as over the years I have been none to have gone through whole vacations with a growth coming out of my face known as a camera.
      Over the years we went to Ocean Spray when they were still located in Plymouth on many occasions. We have gone through the museum and have seen the story that tells about the Crane-berry and how bogs got started. I have spent time reading about the different harvesting tools for both wet and dry harvests, and how they can tell a good berry from a bad one, and why berries bounce. I would love to spent time down in the kitchen area learning new recipes and trying new products, and remember when they started to introduce cranberry juice blends. We would get to try them there, then see how long it took to get on the market in our area while bragging to my friends that I had already had this while on vacation. I have to admit I really miss going to Ocean Spray since they have moved. But I guess that is progress.
      Anyway cranberries are not all that color the Cape this time of year. No it is not the Berkshires, it you want that, take a two and a half hour drive west. But the Cape does have it's trees that turn color, there are the every always green pine trees, Then there are the colors of the farmers markets with their maze and pumpkins. There are the colors of the fall festivals including the Scallop and Oyster festivals. And has anyone noticed how pretty mussels and littlenecks can be, the dark colors of the shells against the light sand and the greens of fresh seaweed. Ok that is the artist thing coming out of me. But look around and take it all in. Fall on the Cape is not boring or dull, or drab, there is color to be found all over and to be experienced. Get on the web and find what festivals and craft shows are going on. What farms are open to visit, and experience the smells that make the changing of the seasons special. And if you have the chance to go visit a bog during harvesting, stop and take it in and be a part of what makes the Cape so special.
      Well enough for this week, I'm already frustrated that I am not there taking it all in, so someone go do it in my place till I can get there, and remember someone needs to check the lamp in the lighthouse and be sure it stays lit because I really need to find my way back.
      This weeks recipe is another from the Mother-in-Law's files. This one is at least 30 or more years old and was gotten while she was with my Father-in-Law at a convention in San Francisco. So in reality who knows really where it originated but it is a wonderful recipe for this time of year and is fairly easy to make. So on with show.
     
      This weeks recipe: Apple Macaroon Pudding

• 
        3        each     eggs, light beaten
     2 1/4   cups     sugar
        1        cup      flour
     3 3/4   tsp.      baking powder
        3/4   tsp.      salt
         3      cups    chopped apples
         1      Tbsp.   vanilla

      Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl gradually add sugar to eggs while beating them. Next mix in flour mixture to egg mixture, then the vanilla, and finally mix in the apples. Pour the final mixture into a well greased large pan ( 9 X 13 ). Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. This can be serviced warm or cold and with or without cream, ( use milk if your trying to stay healthy ).         

Remember Willie Whistle?

...Or Lester Lightbulb?

Nostalgic Bay State TV clips elicit a hearty chuckle and childhood memories for some.

by Jonathan Mayo

I recently discovered some very funny and nostalgic clips from the days of broadcast TV in Massachusetts.  We all remember "Wilie Whistle" from WSBK,  and Masschusetts Electric's "Lester Lightbulb" I've also included some other items of local interest.
Enjoy!

Police investigate Coast Guard man's death; Our beaches get a clean-up; Is Sandwich Town Hall ready?

TODAY's quote: “The town just doesn’t have the finances to do this sort of cleaning.”
- Barbara Howard on Seagull Beach.

Coast Guard member Jeffrey M. Svoboda's death probed on Cape Cod

The Massachusetts State Police and U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service are looking into the death of a 25-year-old Coast Guard member formerly of Clinton Township.

Jeffrey M. Svoboda, on right, died Sunday at home in Buzzards Bay, Mass., where he served at the Coast Guard's Air Station Cape Cod, Coast Guard spokesman Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Hall said.

He was not on duty at the time and officials do not suspect homicide, Hall ... Express-Times.
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Cape Cod communities participate in coastal cleanup program

Monday morning was not a beach day.

Clouds obscured the sun, fog cloaked the surf, and the sand was cold and damp. Nonetheless, a dozen members of the Garden Club of Yarmouth turned up at Seagull Beach in West Yarmouth at 9 a.m., some in brightly colored raincoats, to grab trash bags and pick up debris.

"They didn't think we would be out here," laughed Marybeth Christensen, referring to some of the event's organizers, "but we're gardeners. We go outside every day."

The cleanup Monday was part of an international movement by the Ocean Conservancy... Register.
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Will Sandwich Town Hall be ready?

Town hall on Main Street was still without its familiar columns this week and workers were racing in and out of the building, carrying tools and other construction materials.

From the inside and the outside, the building appears to be a long way off from finished, let alone ready to accept visitors for a rededication ceremony planned for next Saturday.

But the committee organizing this ceremony still has Friday at 3 PM penciled in on the calendar as the day it will begin setting up for the ceremony. Invitations to the ceremony have all been sent out to dignitaries and other prominent people in town, inviting them to a preceremony reception next Saturday at 10:30 AM... Sandwich Enterprise.