CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

Drowning at Nickerson State Park in Brewster; Interview with woman who revived 8-year-old in near drowning in Yarmouth

Body found at 7:30 Sunday morning in Cliff Pond

BREWSTER - On right a State Police Trooper examines a raft at the scene of a reported drowning on Cliff Pond in the Nickerson State Forest in Brewster, Massachusetts Sunday morning. According to emergency broadcast reports, State Police received a call of a reported drowning at Cliff Pond around 7:30 a.m.

The unidentified victim was transported by ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital. State and local police spent over two hours at the scene before a tow truck arrived to tow an inflatable motorized raft and late model yellow pick-up truck with New Hampshire license plates from the scene.

Video/photo and report by David G. Curran.

Interview with woman who revived 9-year-old near drowning victim

WEST YARMOUTH -Kerry Kiefer in interview above by David Curran. She was a vacationer from Worcester and former cardiac therapist who happened to walk into the Town and Country Motor Lodge in West Yarmouth for directions to the nearest beach when she saw the excitement at the motel's swimming pool where an 8-year-old appeared to have drowned.

Kiefer did chest compressions and told the mother to breathe into the girl's mouth because the girl had no pulse and was not breathing.

Video and report by David G. Curran.

O'Brien on canal turbines; Coast Guard air-evacs crewman from cruise ship off Chatham; David Darling looks at our retail markets by town; Bodo joins the Dennis Police

TODAY's quote: "There's a tremendous need throughout America of solving our energy crisis
and we feel this is all part of it." - Greg O'Brien.

Those Cape Cod Canal turbines make the Boston media
Opponents try to compare it to the Falmouth situation

Greg O'Brien talks to FOX-TV's A.J. Burnett about the three proposed canal turbines at his Brewster home.

They would face the two new ones across the canal greeting travelers as they across the Sagamore Bridge.

FOX-25 in Boston is covering the New Generation Wind proposal to build wind turbines west of the Cape Cod Canal Scenic Highway on the Bourne side of the canal.

The developer plans to sell the energy to the national grid when the project is approved by the Cape Cod Commission.

There were seven turbines planned, but the project has been scaled back by more than half to only three to accommodate the neighbors, says the project's spokesman Greg O'Brien of Brewster.

They will face the two new turbines at the Mass. Military Reservation Pave Paws site on the Sandwich side of the canal.

O'Brien, who writes a blog on CapeCodTODAY, says, "The Falmouth situation is an anomaly. Yes, there is noise. It is an older turbine. Our turbine is far more up-to-date. There was really no permitting process for Falmouth."

O'Brien continued, "Our permitting process is a very extensive process through the Cape Cod Commission, it goes to the Bourne planning board, board of health. The issues that are experienced in Falmouth will not be experienced in Bourne and we don't feel it's appropriate for those two projects to be compared."

The project is opposed by Mark Cool among others who excoriates the Falmouth Enterprise editorial on his Facebook.

See the FOX video and story here.

Coast Guard transports ill cruise ship crewman
This was Air Station Cape Cod's 64th medical transports already this year

The Norwegian Dawn makes weekly round trips to Bermuda from Boston. Residents on our eastern shore often she her a few miles off our beaches.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew transported an ill crewman from a cruise ship approximately 46 miles southeast of Nantucket to Cape Cod Hospital Thursday.

The crew of the 965-foot cruise ship Norwegian Dawn contacted Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England personnel around 6 p.m., requesting assistance for a 35-year-old crewman experiencing abdominal pain.

A Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted the man and transported him to Cape Cod Hospital.

"After the flight surgeon determined the patient required medical care that wasn't available on the cruise ship, we dispatched the helicopter crew to transport him from the ship to the hospital," said Rick Arsenault, a search and rescue controller at the First Coast Guard District Command Center in Boston. "Our crew was able to get him the attention he needed much faster than having the ship come into port."

The Coast Guard is responsible for medical transfers at sea, and Air Station Cape Cod has completed 64 maritime medical transports since January 2011.

Sandwich economist analyses the Cape's retail markets

The Bourne Enterprise reports that when a local economics guru, David Darling, took a look at the retail scenes in our fifteen town, he said he discovered that while the town of Barnstable/Hyannis had the largest market share topping his list at 32 percent,  Bourne retailers made the highest wages, and Provincetown was the most attractive.

Not surprisingly Truro was the smallest at under 1 percent followed by Sandwich at 4 percent, Bourne 6 percent, Mashpee 7 percent, and Falmouth, 12 percent.

Read the Enterprise story here.

Dennis Police have a new growler on the beat

The Register reports that it's been almost twenty years since the Dennis Police Department had a K-9 Unit, but it got one last month, and he's the youngest dog to ever pass the state's stringent requirements.

The weekly newspaper says that the German Shepherd K-9 patrol dog Bodo began working with Dennis police officer Henry Jessop six weeks ago, and Jessop says, "Bodo is very smart."

Read the Register story here.

Scroll down to:
Sea rescue book tops Kindle list (on right);
Assembly math forces re-vote;
CCBL player goes from 'standing room' to stardom at Fenway;
Gay lover's murder trial continued;
Early birds get the sand.

Body Found Off Brant Rock

May Be Missing Marshfield Boater

Police recovered a body off the Brant Rock/Ocean Bluff section of Marshfield yesterday (shown as red dot above), and it may be that of Zach Woods.

Police have been scouring the area since a boating accident on July 16th pitched two men into the water.

The boat's driver, Justin McDonald, pleaded Not Guilty to charges of operating a boat while intoxicated. Reports say that Justin admitted to drinking 10 beers before he crashed his boat into a jetty.

The crash threw McDonald and Woods into the water. McDonald was rescued by a kayaker, but Woods was never found. An intense police search of the area yielded nothing as the effort went from Rescue to Recovery.

A recreational boater saw a body in the water off Brant Rock yesterday, and divers recovered him last night. The Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, Marine Section, Crime Scene Services Section and the Plymouth County State Police Detective Unit were all in on the recovery efforts.

Our best wishes go out to the Woods family, and we urge all boaters to lay off the firewater.

Red Sox Win, No Trade Deadline Results

Red 10, White 2

The Boston Red sox held onto their AL East lead via a 10-2 pounding of the Chicago White Sox.

Jon Lester (11-4, 3.17) got the win for Boston. He enjoyed terrific run support. Boston has scored 47 runs in their last 4 wins.

Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis hit their 19th and 15th home runs respectively. Marco Scutaro drove in 3 runs, and 2 runs were driven in by Gonzo, Yook, and Jarod Saltalamacchia. Dustin Pedroia had the other one.

Boston (65-40) holds a 2 game lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees, who swept a doubleheader with Baltimore yesterday.

Andrew Miller (5-1, 5.45) gets the nod for Boston today, at 2 PM.

No Trades For Boston

The Sox struck out in the trade market yesterday, as the trading deadline approached.

They had actually made a deal for Rich Harden of the Oakland A's, but the deal fell through after I went to bed last night. We would have given up prospect Larrs Anderson for him.

The Sox also lost out on Ubaldo Jiminez, who ended up in Cleveland. Doug Fister ended up in Detroit, while Derek Lee went to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Boston will go the distance with their current starting rotation, it seems.

Cape Cod Baseball League Scedule

Sunday July 31, 2011
Braves at Kettleers Daryl Norris vs Chris Beck, 5:00 PM, Lowell Park
Commodores at Gatemen Brent Suter vs TBA, 5:00 PM, Spillane Field
Anglers at Mariners Dominic Leone vs Chris Stratton, 5:30 PM, Whitehouse Fld
Red Sox at Harbor Hawks Daniel Gibson vs Matt Dermody, 7:00 PM, McKeon Park
Whitecaps at Firebirds Max Garner vs Mike Hauschild, 7:00 PM, Eldredge Park

Monday August 1, 2011
Gatemen at Braves, Jake Boyd vs Slade Smith, 4:30 PM, Doran Park

Tuesday August 2, 2011
Kettleers at Whitecaps, Scott Griggs vs TBA, 4:30 PM, Stony Brook
Mariners at Red Sox, Kevin Carlow vs TBA, 4:30 PM, Red Wilson Fld
Harbor Hawks at Commodores, Trey Masek vs TBA, 4:30 PM, Arnie Allen Dmd
Firebirds at Anglers, John Brebbia vs Tim Cooney, 7:00 PM, Veterans Field
Harbor Hawks at Commodores, Scott Firth vs TBA, 7:00 PM, Arnie Allen Dmd

Standings

Eastern Division
Team W L WPCT GB L10
Harwich Mariners.. 23 17 0.573 0 6-4
Orleans Firebirds.. 21 17 0.549 1 8-2
Brewster Whitecaps.. 19 18 0.512 2.5 2-8
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.. 18 19 0.488 3.5 6-3-1
Chatham Anglers 14 26 0.354 9 4-6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Division
Team W L WPCT GB L10
Hyannis Harbor Hawks.. 27 13 0.675 0 8-2
Bourne Braves 22 17 0.561 4.5 4-6
Wareham Gatemen 20 21 0.488 7.5 5-5
Falmouth Commodores.. 17 23 0.425 10 3-7
Cotuit Kettleers.. 14 24 0.378 12 3-6-1

1888: Water spout seen off Cape. 1989 Beach drivers claim a victory in Cape Cod battle

1989: Sudden transfer of park superintendent hailed by Off-Road-Vehicle owners

   A police ORV roars along Nauset Beach looking for miscreants. cc2day photo

On this day in 1989, beach drivers claimed a victory in a Cape Cod Battle with the National Seashore.  The users of off-road vehicles claimed victory here after the disclosure of the sudden transfer of the superintendent of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

The report went on to state that environmental groups have deplored the reassignment of the superintendent, Herbert Olsen. National Park Service officials in Washington insisted the transfer was in no way connected with a long controversy over driving off-road vehicles on the seashore's beaches, a practice that environmentalists see as a cause of beach erosion and a threat to wildlife.  Sport fishermen on Cape Cod, who have been demanding for four years that more of the national seashore's beach be opened to their four-wheel-drive trucks, vans, station wagons and cars, were jubilant over the news that Mr. Olsen, who drafted the current rules on the vehicles, is scheduled to leave Aug. 13 to take charge of Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania.

   1888: Water spout spotted off Cape Cod

They link the transfer of Mr. Olsen, who has many supporters among Cape Cod residents, with recent high-level Interior Department proposals to double the amount of beaches open to vehicles.

Mr. Olsen denounced his transfer as ''punishment'' when he announced it to his staff last Monday. Sources in Washington said Andrew Ringgold, a career officer now serving in the Washington headquarters, would be his successor at Cape Cod.

Revenge Motive Is Seen

Sherrill B. Smith of Orleans, Mass., a longtime member of the local National Seashore Advisory Commission, said there was ''no question'' that the sport fishermen who head the off-road vehicle organizations had ''sought revenge'' against Mr. Olsen.

''They are certainly taking credit for his transfer,'' he said, ''whether or not it may be entirely coincidental.''

National Park officials in Washington said Friday that Allan Fitzsimmons, an assistant to Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan Jr. had been urging ''for some time'' a return to the old regulations that allowed the use of vehicles along 17 of the 50 miles of Cape Cod beach that the National Park Service controls.

These officials conceded that the timing of Mr. Olsen's transfer was ''unfortunate'' because it comes in mid-season and follows several boisterous demonstrations on the Fourth of July holiday by owners of off-road vehicle.

In informing his staff of the transfer, Mr. Olson said it was ''unreasonable, unacceptable and unwarranted,'' according to The Cape Cod Times in Hyannis.

Mr. Olsen could not be reached for an interview, but he was quoted in the Cape Cod Times as saying: ''If a man continues to do an outstanding job, why move him, especially when a number of critical issues here need resolution in the next few months or years?'' He added, ''The reassignment amounts to punishment,'' the paper reported.

George Berklacy, chief of public affairs for the Park Service, said: ''Herb Olsen's transfer was not a punitive measure. It follows our plan, instituted two years ago, to move park superintendents around after they have served 10 years in a park. Herb Olsen has been in charge of the Cape Cod National Seashore for 11 years, serving with distinction during that time.''

In the past three years, Mr. Berklacy said, Mr. Olsen had been offered two other Park Service posts of equal or higher rank than the Cape Cod job and had refused them. Now there was an opening at Valley Forge, he said, and the Park Service's mid-Atlantic regional supervisor had personally asked that Mr. Olsen fill it.

Susan Nickerson, executive director of the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod, said the transfer sent the message that a small special-interest group like the vehicle users could influence park policy. ''It is very disconcerting when a group that is often in conflict with conservation interests can orchestrate that kind of change of personnel.''

Mr. Fitzsimmons and Mr. Ringgold could not be reached for comment.

Most of the Cape Cod National Seashore lies along the eastern side of the Cape, stretching from Chatham past Provincetown. Nearly 5 million people visit its clean, wide beaches and enjoy the big surf each year. Some of the best striped bass fishing in the world is off these beaches.

For nearly 20 years after the Cape Cod National Seashore was created, surf-casting fishermen were free to roam most of its shore in beach vehicles.

But in 1981, as popularity put more pressures on the park, the Park Service, through Mr. Olsen, ordered vehicles restricted to a 17-mile stretch in Truro and Provincetown. The sports fisherman protested immediately, while environmental groups, who had been critical of Mr. Olsen for not acting sooner, cheered.

In 1985, after a suit by environmental protection groups, a Federal judge ruled that more should be done to prevent erosion and protect birds' nesting areas. As a result, the Park Service, again through Mr. Olsen, reduced the vehicle access to eight miles in warm months and banned it entirely in the winter.

Since then, the sports fishing and vehicle organizations have been demanding Mr. Olsen's transfer and a return to the 17-mile limit.

Scroll down for more "It Happened TODAY on Cape Cod"...

Easy ambiance in East Orleans

For those stuck in traffic crawling along Routes 6A or 28, Orleans can seem like a bottleneck clogging the divide between the Lower and Outer Cape. Drivers slingshotting from Suicide Alley around the Orleans rotary miss most of the town altogether. But just off the busy main roads, a sidestep away from Nauset Beach, lie several coves with public landings that make a fine place to launch a boat, fish, or just sit in the sun. Of course, Trail Hound delights in finding the geocaches hidden in these little gems of shoreline.

“This Beautiful Place” lives up to its name: an exquisite piece of shoreline between Nauset Harbor and Mill Pond. A sandy trail encircles part of the shore, beckoning walkers to the water as well as boaters and fishermen.

Not far away, at the end of Tonset Road, is another landing and geocache, “Down By the Sea.” The site is popular with kayakers.

“Asa’s Landing,” on Gibson Road, is another appealing fishing and boating spot. The multicache hidden there offers a short stroll along the shore – make sure it’s not high tide if you want to find the second stage.

Down toward The River leading to Little Pleasant Bay, there’s a second cache now at Kent’s Point Conservation Area, “Don’t Climb the Bank,” in case you really need another excuse to visit the wooded trails on this breezy point.

The inlets of East Orleans offer cool breezes, a place to sit quietly, get sand between your toes and access to the waterfront – who needs the crowds at the beach?

Happy trails!

Images, from top:

This Beautiful Place

Kayakers at Tonset 

Asa's Landing

Beach Plum

Kent's Point

Extremism on the Cape?

The very name Tea Party Patriots is a misnomer
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel

The Tea Party has always been here. It just cahnges it's names from time to time.

The Plymouth Rock / Cape and Islands Tea Party Patriots have announced monthly meetings starting in August.

It would seem a particularly inauspicious time to come out of hiding.

Eighty-some-odd percent of the American people blame the Tea Party extremists for the debt ceiling fiasco that has sent the Dow down 560 points at the time of this writing, drawn the condemnation of business leaders and Republican columnists. Bond rating agencies threaten to lower America's credit rating, which will cost every one of us dearly.

Does that sound like an attractive recruiting message?

• These arrogant politicians think they know more about climate change than 98% of climate scientists.
  
• They would give us poisoned air and water.
  
• They oppose abortions under any circumstance.
  
• They would do away with the air travel safety net.
  
• They oppose federal aid to education.

The very name Tea Party Patriots is a misnomer

Take our Poll:
Who's to blame for the
Debt Ceiling debacle?

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. What real patriot would work to destroy the very government the world has, until this debt crisis, looked up to as a model to be emulated?

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity" wrote Martin Luther King in 1963.

"Never was a patriot yet but was a fool" wrote John Dryden in 1681.

Just to establish my own credentials on the issue, I proved my love of country in World War II. I flew 35 missions as a B-17 bombardier in the Eighth Air Force.

I was proud of the Marshall Plan to help restore Europe after the damage we did to stop Hitler.

I am proud of our compassionate government that looks after our needy, sick, and aged.

I fail to see any merit in tearing such a humane structure asunder because some radical sloganeers are intractable.

Richard C. Bartlett, Cotuit

Man Seriously Injured in Falmouth Motorcycle Accident

65-year-old motorcyclist has life-threatening injuries

FALMOUTH - A man was taken to Falmouth Hospital with possible life threatening injuries after a motorcycle accident.

While the motocycle appeared slightly damaged (see photo above), the driver's shoe was thrown off and lies on the pavement beneath the bike.

The man, who is about 65 years old was involved in an accident with a car on Woods Hole Road at Kettle Hole Road at about 8:30 AM Saturday (07-30-11) morning according to Falmouth Fire Capt. Greg Clements.

The unidentified man was later transported by MedFlight helicopter to a Boston hospital.
-Photo by David G. Curran

New boutique hotel in Newport will amaze you

The Vanderbilt Grace sets a new standard for dining in this classy seaport town

Alright, I admit it, this is an outright bribe to seduce you into dining at the Muse by Jonathan Cartwright in the Vanderbilt Grace in Newport. Above is the Flourless Chocolate Cake with Almond Crouquant, White Chocolate Powder and Mint Ice cream. Serge Detalle photo.

Chef Jonathan Cartwright pleases the palate and eye with his creations

By Walter and Patricia Brooks

The room where a sumptuous breakfast was included looked out on the gardens and town. Serge Detalle photo.

Pan Sear Cod Filet and Kennebunkport Lobster Raviolo, Asparagus & Champagne Froth. Serge Detalle photo.

Lobster Spring Roll with Carrot Diakon Radish and Snow Pea in a Thai Inspired Spicy Sweet Sauce. Detalle photo.

Crispy Braise Pork, Pickled Shitake Mushrooms & spiced Reduction. Serge Detalle photo.

Tartar of Dry Aged Beef "Cocktail" with Slow Cooked Free Range Egg, Arugula Salad & Horseradish Ice Cream. Serge Detalle photo.

The garden area was for dining too. Pat Brooks photo.

Part of our living room in our suite. Serge Detalle photo.

To describe the Vanderbilt Grace as a boutique hotel is like describing one of Newport's other mansions as a beach shack.

The recently opened Vanderbilt Grace in Newport Rhode Island is a world class hotel with the type of service one sees only in the very best European hotels.

It is a part of the equally regarded  Grace Hotels Group.

As world class travelers, it takes a lot to impress us, but the Vanderbilt Grace managed to do that from the first minute inside the door as they hand you a glass of champagne. It's a half block up from Newport's shopping thoroughfare, Thames Street, in the middle of this uniquely preserved and spectacular seaport.

First of all the hotel itself is gorgeous and elegant.

Secondly, the service of the staff reminds us of the Taj and Oberoi hotels in India, and like them, they really make you feel catered to and pampered.

A mansion built for love

This in-town mansion was built by Afred Vanderbilt  in 1909, and the former Vanderbilt Hall is a quintessential Newport mansion that in recent years has been restored to its former glory.

Artes Magazine has a facinating story about Alfred and Vanderbilt Hall. It was originally erected by Alfred for Agnes O'Brien Ruiz, wife of the Cuban attaché, who became his mistress after one day managing to bring her unruly horse under control in the city's park.

This fervent affair drew the wrath and indignation of the Vanderbilt family, and it soon came to an end.

Tragically, Ruiz herself was disowned by her husband and committed suicide a few years later.

The Muse by Jonathan Cartwright

However we came not to sleep in a quite beautiful suite in this lover's seraglio, but to dine at an all new fine dining restaurant under the direction of Grace Hotels Group Chef de Cuisine, Jonathan Cartwright called the Muse.

Perhaps the best way to impress you with the elevated status of this restaurant is to tell you that on the menu, which had ten main dishes and six appetizers, there are four which include foie gras.

Regular readers of these reviews are aware that foie gras is my wife's choice for her last meal if she is ever on death row.

Serge Detalle appears

On the night we dined at the Muse last week, I happened to notice a photographer leaving the kitchen laden down with an obviously high quality digital camera and equipment, so being my usual assertive self, I accosted him and asked if he would email us some of the photos he had obviously just taken.

My wife and I are both good photographers, but Serge Detalle's work makes us look like rank amateurs as these photo demonstrate better than any words.

Bringing Serge from Paris to shoot the photos for the hotel's website and promotions, is an indication of this group's attention to detail.

Now the food

We were not disappointed at the meal which followed as the Muse delivers international food and wine with homage to many of the local culinary traditions of Rhode Island.

This hotel's restaurant menu offers selected dishes created by Chef Cartwright including some classic New England favorites.

Grand Chef Relais and Châteaux Jonathan Cartwright is easily one of the most celebrated chefs in New England.

He is also executive chef at Vanderbilt Grace's sister hotel, The White Barn Inn and Spa in Kennebunk, Maine - the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star dining experience north of New York City.

A lazy summer evening slips by unnoticed

We have often been subjected to overlong dinners where the pace of the presentations is too languid, but we spent over three hours in the Muse, and the time seemed to fly by.

Of course, Chef Cartwright surprised us several times between courses with tiny tastes, and the two servers were efficient and watchful.

The Vanderbilt Grace Hotel website:
Email: res@vanderbiltgrace.com
Phone: (888) 826-4255
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 6:00pm - 9pm, Friday - Sunday: 6pm - 9:30pm, Bar: 11am - 11pm. A jacket is required for dinner.

The pricing: all tasting menus. Four course - $75, five course - $95, and seven course - $120.

Choose the latter and you'll not regret your decision.

And to finish on a sweet note, below is the Graham Cracker Crusted Goat's Milk Cheesecake with Fresh summer berry Salad, Strawberry Sorbet & Candied Almond captured in another outstanding photograph by Serge Detalle, and the front entrance a half block up from Thames Street below that.