CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

Sandwich Teacher Union Sours School Choice

Union Snatches Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

What is the matter with teacher unions today? How disappointing is it to read that the Sandwich teacher union is staging a "work to rule" job action to punish the school district over contract negotiations?

Lately teacher unions seem to have incredibly bad timing. Those who followed the scandal that unfolded over Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School may recall that the entire story arc began with the Orleans charter school's teachers voting to unionize.

Why have the teachers in Sandwich gone 424 days without a contract? Since contract negotiations are held behind closed doors, we probably won't ever know the entire truth.

Could it be that the teachers' union "doesn't get it"? Could it be that their leaders are out of touch with the new reality facing public employee unions in this economy and political climate? Does the union realize that it might not be possible to squeeze the taxpayers of Sandwich for more money or super-deluxe benefit packages?

Despite recent melt-downs in the leadership of the Sandwich school district, we believe the district is doing the best it can to work with the teachers that have helped make Sandwich High School one of the best in the nation.

Lately teacher unions seem to have incredibly bad timing. Those who followed the scandal that unfolded over Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School may recall that the entire story arc began with the Orleans charter school's teachers voting to unionize.

Now we have Sandwich poised for success in the school choice competition, offering an excellent "product" - and here come the teachers shutting down the co-curricular activities that comprise a key part of the district's success.

If the district can't control its teachers any better than this, perhaps Sandwich should put aside its school choice plans and leave that to the more stable school districts.

                             VOTE in our POLL: Do you think teachers should be unionized?

Happy Dagon Day!!!

Received a Request at Big Collage Hell Night from a PR*M*T*M* reader to post this goodie from 3 1/2yrs ago, before Samhain escapes us altogether...

2600 Still Without Power On Cape Cod

Some May Not be Restored Until Wednesday

If you think we had it bad on Cape Cod, check out "the morning after" in Westfield Mass.

An October nor'easter hammered New England last weekend. It put up to a foot of snow onto some people, cqncelled schools in dozens of communities, and knocked out electrical power to millions of households on a teeth-chattering October weekend. While snow in October is not an earth-shaking news event for New Englanders, snowfall of that intesnity is very unusual.

Cape Cod escaped the snowfall via our location relative to the storm's center and warm ocean waters. However we did get terrific winds of near-hurricane force. Nantucket had a 69 mph gust, and many places on the mainland had gusts over 60 mph.

Those gusts did two very bad things. first off, the winds came during the peak of our local foliage season, while the leaves were still in the trees. The storm pretty much ended the foliage viewing season, although I've seen some fairly nice colors this morning as I drove around the upper Cape.

However, those leaf-laden tree branches were whipping all around during the height of the storm, and many of them fell down on power lines. As of this morning, NSTAR is reporting that 2600 proplr on Cape Cod are still without power. Some of these people may not be turned back on until Wednesday. This is news not well reported on Cape Cod, where temperatures are peaking in the 50s today before dropping near freezing at night.

Other parts of the state have the same problem in greater intensity, with a layer of snow to boot. NSTAR has precorded messages up, so don't expect any great enlightenment if you call.

We'll keep you updated as we learn more.

Where To Trick Or Treat On Cape Cod And The South Shore

Hi Kids!

Generally, Uncle Ted doesn't aim a lot of articles at 8 year olds, mostly due to Demographics. You little f***ers don't work full time, have very little money beyond an allowance, have zero purchasing power, and generally have to run whatever you want to buy past Mom and Dad. No credit, you can forget it.

However, this article is indeed aimed at you. It's a public service we perform every Halloween. We're not going to tell you to not take unwrapped candy, look both ways before crossing the road, don't trick or treat crack houses, etc... It's all sound advice, but we're in the Getting You More Candy business.

As Lucy Van Pelt once stated in a non-canon telling of the Great Pumpkin myth known as The Great Dolemite, "Those crackers in the rich neighborhoods be givin' up the good sh*t, like Hershey's Dark Chocolate and stuff." It's a sound theory. Go where the wealthy people are, gather the goods several times via clever costume changing, and- above all- Have A Plan.

Otherwise, you end up in poor neighborhoods, and you get whack stuff like Candy Corns and Bit O Honeys. At that point, you have to break out the eggs, and things get nasty... which is a shame, because it really doesn't have to be that way. In the great scheme of things, this is about the Redistribution of Wealth, and it runs in a steady stream from Them to You... and eventually the dentist, but that's your Mom's problem.

Heres where I go when it's time to get the goods:

If Mom or Dad have a sweet tooth, get them to ferry you around in the car to several wealthy neighborhoods. Properly executed, a sweep of all these neighborhoods will net you enough candy to basically be the Big Pimpin' kid in the elementary school. Candy to kids is sort of what cigarettes are to prison inmates.

Remember, some parts of Cape Cod are without power, so don't egg any dark houses. They may not have their lights off on purpose, and may even have candy.

?GREEN? WASHING YOUR DISHES!

Link: http://greenwithbetsy.com/

It took my husband and me a long time to work out the “greener” way to do the dishes (Old habits die hard.).  If you think about the number of dishes we do per day, week, month, year, you realize just how much water is consumed.  And most of us don’t do the dishes correctly. 

Do you keep the water running as you rinse your dishes and load them into the dishwasher?  You’ll save a lot of money and conserve water simply by turning off the water as you load.   Do you rinse the dishes so thoroughly before putting them into the dishwasher that they are practically clean?  (That’s what my husband does. I’m not complaining - at least he does the dishes!) The energy efficient dishwashers of today really don’t require much rinsing. They also use less water and energy.  You may want to consider upgrading if your dishwasher is over 10 years old.  Do you rinse dishes that really don’t need it?  Why rinse a water or juice glass – just put it in the dishwasher.  Do you reach for a new glass every time you get a drink?  Keep the same water glass or coffee mug throughout the day to cut back on the number of dishes you use.  The fewer dishes, the less there is to wash and the more water you save.  Do you run the dishwasher after every meal, even when it is not full? Master the art of loading the dishwasher efficiently and run it only when full.  Do you throw away the water you’ve cooked your vegetables in?  Why not recycle it and water your plants with it – they’ll thrive on the nutrition from the vegetables.

When hand washing your dishes, do it the old fashioned way.  If you have a double sink (if not, use a large pan), fill one with soapy water, one with clean.  Put the dirty dishes in the soapy side and then rinse in the other sink.  Many people hand wash each dish separately leaving the water running!

Lastly, always fix a leaky faucet.  Leaks waste more water than you think.

There are many common sense things you can do to conserve water and energy when washing the dishes.  Look at it as a game.  It will make you feel good, especially when you see your reduced water bill! 

Some information compiled from http://www.howtodothings.com/how-to-wash-dishes-without-wasting-water.

For more green tips, visit greenwithbetsy.com.

Eight D-Y supporters complain about a blog post

Letters from readers who refute The Observer's last post:

        Editor's note on Blogs

As of January this year it is estimated there were 152 million blogs on the Internet (as tracked by BlogPulse).
   CapeCodTODAY.com has over 300 CapeBlogs written by local people, some attributed, others anonymous. They represent each writer's opinions. Like Letters to the Editor, they are published verbatim.
   The anonymous writer is as old as America. The Federalist Papers, published anonymously at the time, now known to be written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, are considered the third most important document in the development of the US government, after the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution / Bill of Rights.
   The famous English writer Charles Lamb write as Elia in the 19th century.
   American newspapers and magazines have published anonymously written column since their birth, the most famous in recent times was T.R.B. in the New Republic.
   The most common reason for being anonymous is fear of persecution or job loss.
   These writers are sometimes called "Whistle Blowers", and without them democracy would be in greater peril than it already is.  They are protected under U.S. law.
   In the The Observer's case, we know the writer's credentials and professional experience and regard his writing as worthwhile and valuable for the public discourse on education or anything else.
   -wb.

The first letter:

From: "Bosmer Nord" <bosmer.nord@yahoo.com>
Date: Oct 29, 2011 6:36 PM
Subject: D-Y's "dy's "functional youth"

i just want to say a few things. i read the article and thought it was uncalled for, you shouldn't judge a school by looking up research, if you were to actually go to the school and attend it you would find its not that bad, sure, we have some bad kids who smoke in the schools bath room but that doesn't give you the right to judge the entire school. last year there were higher achieved MCAS scores then any school in the state. i just want to know exactly why you don't like the school. is your son/daughter going there and they are being bullied? or is there something else?

Bosmer Nord

Next letter:

From: "Jena Mota" <mota.jena@yahoo.com>
Date: Oct 29, 2011 8:18 PM
Subject: DY:"Dysfunctional Youth"

DY: "Determined Youth"

The opinion piece regarding DY being dysfunctional is one the most incorrect and outrageous pieces I've ever read. The writer of it has clearly never been a DY student or had a child attend. As a DY student myself I can honestly say that our school is one of the most unified schools on Cape. We cheer and encourage each other on a daily basis, whether it be sport wise or academically. We have a student body that pushes each other to reach our full potential. Just last week we had an enormous amount of student get accepted into National Honors Society. Yes DY may have some students who may not be like this, but that's only a small minority. Every school does. The majority of students are talented and smart individuals. From our 8-0 football team, to volleyball being ACL Champs, our always outstanding xc team, and the amazing field hockey girls, our school is full of the most talented students. And by the amount of students outraged by this article on our school you can tell how much we adore DY. Students have been using social networking sites Facebook and twitter to voice their outrage. The writer of this does not make one valid point throughout the entire piece, establishing nothing but a disrespectful tone and attitude towards our school. Out of the entire article the very last line was what got me angry enough to write this. Mr.Morrison, our assistant principal, is blatantly disrespected. He is one of the most understanding and caring authority figures at Dennis-Yarmouth. For the writer of this to say that our school should be handed over to the National Guard and that Mr.Morrison may "have connections" to make this happen is just outright rude. This anonymous writer unintentionally has done DY some good, he/she is bringing our school even closer than it was before. So thank you anonymous "observer". You mess with one dolphin, you mess with the entire pod.

Jena Mota
Yarmouthport

Next letter:

From: <izzymarinoofficial@gmail.com>
Date: Oct 29, 2011 9:19 PMTo whomever this may concern,

As a student of D-Y High school, I have a problem with this article. Commenting on budget issues and grievances that this individual may have with the school is their right, but titling it "D-Y's 'Dysfunctional Youth'" is not okay with me, along with many of my fellow students. Some students may have some issues in their personal lives, but grouping us ALL as "dysfunctional" is offensive and frankly, greatly unappreciated. There is not a "shaking down for lunch money" issue happening in the cafeteria. There is always a police officer and a number of staff members in the cafeteria who deal with any issues before they escalate to the level where they can even be called issues, and even then, any of us so called "problem children" are spoken to, and taken care of, if ever necessary. Problems do not go unattended or unpunished at our school. "Poor academics" are not to blame for one of last year's graduates getting into HARVARD. A lack of extracurriculars is not to blame for a student getting into Berklee College of Music. Our graduates have already proved to be successful. D-Y has such a large presence of school pride, and there is a reason for that. We have great teachers who push us to achieve the best that we can, sports teams that are spectacular, a music program that always brings home awards and titles, and the student body has such a sense of unity and cohesiveness. People need to take a step out of their ridiculing and judgmental shoes before casting their opinions on us as students. I speak for myself and many of my peers when I say that this article is greatly offensive, incorrect, and unnecessary. This is a form of slander, and not to mention bullying (from an adult directed at children, for that matter), and should be removed.

Sincerely,
Isabella Marino,
A Proud D-Y Student

Next letter:

From: "Patrick" <pjk922@gmail.com>
Date: Oct 29, 2011 10:05 PM
Subject: D-Y's Dysfunctional youth- a students perspective

Hello, my name is Patrick Kroyak, and I am a sophomore at D-Y Regional High School. I recently read the article "D-Y's Dysfunctional Youth" after seeing some less than kind words about it on Facebook. Yelling at the people who write these articles, and getting mad over them won't change anything, which is why I'm writing to you. I wouldn't be surprised if this email was deleted and you never read it, but I digress.
First of all, I would like to address the bad things that DY has been stamped with. People will say we have kids who smoke in the school, and I won't deny it. But every school does. I have friends and cousins in many school districts on cape, (chatam, pardon the spelling, Nauset, Barnstable, sturgis public charter, and sturgis public charter west, to name a few) and all have said that they have smokers and other substance users. It is NOT just D-Y, but for some reason, we seem to be called out on it.
Another thing people seem to associate us with is poor grades. They could not be further from the truth. I myself am a straight A student, and have many friends who are the same. Our MCAS scores are all higher than the state average if I recall correctly, and our teaching staff are amazing. We've had 2 students in the past 2 years who have attained full scholarships to Harvard, and the general ability to learn shown by students never ceases to amaze me. We also have, and I am not using hyperbole or giving an opinion here, the best arts program on the cape. Over 20% of our students are in the concert band program alone. This number would be astounding by itself, but it is just one of a multitude of arts programs. Our athletics teams are also very close together, although we may not always win, we are like a brotherhood / sisterhood, always willing to accept new members.
In the article, the author cited a story about about a boy being "bullied and shaken down for his lunch money". I can tell you that I have never seen this, and the table I sit a is centrally situated in the whole cafeteria. Also, we have a multitude of teachers, police officers, and lunch staff, always on the lookout. Although I can not say that it couldn't have happened, I can say that it was not the fault of the staff being lazy.
Finally, I make a plea to the people out there who write how "terrible" and "awful" D-Y is. These people (usually) have never actually experienced D-Y, and I ask you to not make negative opinions until you had actually seen it, and seen how wonderful it is. You wouldn't write a negative food review before actually tasting the food right? Bad metaphors aside, D-Y doesn't deserve the bad things associated with it. Yes we have financial difficulties, but every school district does. I can't really comment on our financial troubles, as I don't know all the figures, and don't want to be a hypocrite.
Thank you for your time,

Patrick Kroyak

Next letter:

From: "George Farah" <jorgefarrah@gmail.com>
Date: Oct 29, 2011 11:37 PM
Subject: D-Y's Dysfunctional Youth - To Whom It May Concern,

I recently read an article entitled D-Y's "Dysfunctional Youth" by an Observer posted on October 27th, 2011 and felt disheartened by it. The Dennis Yarmouth School District run by Superintendent Carol Woodbury happens to be a fully capable school district in Yarmouth, MA. Many points of information were made by Observer from various "sources". The false assumptions and accusations made from Observer disgruntled me, as they were not true. In the second paragraph, Observer mentions, "It's no secret that DY is one of the worst performing school districts on the Cape, and students are leaving at an alarming rate!" Well after researching the hard facts on the Department of Education website through the Massachusetts State Government, I have found that Dennis Yarmouth's Percentages for Passing and Advanced for all three subjects (Math, Biology, English) yielded slightly under par or over the percentages of comparable schools on Cape Cod. Dennis Yarmouth High School's 10th graders from last year received 88%, 77%, and 82% for English, Math, and Science respectively. Comparable schools, such as Barnstable or Bourne have percentages of 87%, 80%, 81% for Barnstable, and 87%, 82%, and 78% for Bourne. I do understand however that Barnstable is a bigger school with more pupils, in fact nearly double Dennis Yarmouth's, however this is no excuse to have poorer performance in 2 of the 3 subjects that MCAS tests. Dennis Yarmouth is then not "-one of the worst performing schools on the Cape..." rather one that is keeping up with the pack.

A comment was made as to the salary that Superintendent Woodbury receives as a result of her 6-year contract. This figure works out to $166,666.00 a year, which on the American Association of School Administrator's website is slightly above the $135,180.00 average a superintendent in New England makes per year. This is merely an average, there are salaries higher and lower then the number discussed before. If Observer has something to say about Superintendent Woodbury's salary then by all means attend a town meeting in either Dennis or Yarmouth and preach to the town officials about your concern.

The Pilot Program of Dennis Yarmouth High School that incorporates 8th graders from both Mattacheese Middle School and Nathaniel H. Wixon Middle School is one that is not necessarily for cost cutting measures, but rather one that uses a new system of learning called the STEM program. This program is geared towards forward thinking students, it challenges them to not only think about an answer to a problem, but how does this relate to real life, how is it applicable to a student's life. Through using Science, Technology, English, and Math, students are able to troubleshoot through problems, achieving less of a remember this, remember that kind of classroom to more of an interactive classroom. The Technology in this program does not involve ankle bracelets as mentioned in the article by Observer. "This ‘teamwork' uses electronic tools too, but in a different way. The ‘tools' I am referring to are two students with ankle monitoring bracelets in the program." According to Observer, he or she found out about these students from sources. Unless the sources mentioned are from in the walls of Dennis Yarmouth High School or are the actual students themselves, then information from secondary sources are not that reliable. As seen by the US Government and Iraq, there definitely were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but see where we are now? There were never weapons of mass destruction, and the intel that the FBI/CIA uncovered from "sources" were not reliable.

If Observer would like to change something instead of harshly criticizing the Dennis Yarmouth School District, then do something about it rather then point the finger at people other then yourself. The principles of the United States government allows for citizens to be part of the government, so if there is something that you would like changed then go right ahead. Dennis Yarmouth, just like any other school district is feeling a pinch and is turning to anything to balance the all-important budget. The future plans of the school district are merely plans, not set in stone yet. For the past 3 years, Dennis Yarmouth has sent students to Harvard University, Northeastern University, Yale University, and several hundreds of other Colleges and Universities. So please Observer, do not rant on a district that is merely trying to make do with what they have. Going through the Dennis Yarmouth School district is truly a rewarding and fun experience, one that will always be in my heart.

Sincerely,
George Farah
Dennis Yarmouth Graduate of 2011
Stonehill College Class of 2015 Biology- Premed Major
Resident of South Yarmouth, Cape Cod

Next letter

From: "Taylar R" <taylar1441@hotmail.com>
Date: Oct 30, 2011 9:31 PM
Subject: "D-Y's Dysfunctional Youth" Article

To whom it may concern,

I can't think of any words or appropriate words to describe how angry I am that you have published such an outrageous article about my school Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School. For starters, 99% of this article is completely false and absurd. The allegations that this "anonymous" person is accusing are completely ridiculous and out of control. As a senior at DY, I have never once in my four years attending heard of or witnessed a kid being "shaken" down for money in the cafeteria. It would never happen because there are plenty of staff that walk around during lunch monitoring behavior and if something gets escalated then it is shut down very quickly. The fact that this person is basing an entire school population on TWO eighth graders is ridiculous. Something that had happened between two eighth graders does not represent the entire school. DY is such a great school and it has many programs that are very successful. Our sports teams are ACL Champs, our music program is exceptional in the state, in the past couple years, there have been two seniors who are currently attending Harvard University, and the valedictorian of my class is planning on applying and hopefully going to Harvard. Many of our students have been noticed for their academic achievement. So you can't say that everyone is failing. You can't call an entire school "dysfunctional" and not back it up with evidence. This entire article has no evidence and therefore is incorrect. What makes this article even more hilarious is that there are numerous misspellings in it. If this person wants to bash on a high school for low grades then they should probably check themselves first. You will probably be seeing numerous messages from my fellow classmates over the next couple of days. We have enormous pride being DY Dolphins and will not back down until this article is retracted. You can't published something this absurd and not get any crap for putting it up. DY has its faults and is not perfect but DY is not alone in it either. EVERY school in America has its problems and you can't put it all on one school. It's not right. I love DY and I am proud of my school and my class. And as I walk across that stage in a few months, I will still be proud of my school and for the rest of my life.

Sincerely,
Taylor, R.
a PROUD DY Dolphin Senior.

Next letter:

From: Maureen Tuohy-Bedford <maureentuohybedford@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 9:29 AM
Subject: The 'Nameless' Observor'

Maureen Tuohy-Bedford/West Yarmouth here.

Well, my main - and only - objections apply to 2 subjects: (1) The Observor, for ranting ANONYMOUSLY and (2) Cape Cod Today for PUBLISHING ANONYMOUS rantings !

The Observor SHOULD - with all his or her knowledge and interest in the education of our youth - know how very critical it is to teach our youth that their opinion has value, and that a person needs to OWN their opinion - and actually stand behind it ! How easy (a.k.a. cowardly) it is to spout from the mountain-top, wearing a mask.

Cape Cod Today SHOULD - with all their knowledge and interest in the education of our youth - know how very LAME and IRRESPONSIBLE it is to publish anonymous anything. Makes me think of rag magazines and newspapers.

KUDOS to the D-Y students - present and past - who OWN their come-back opinions and comments. THAT has merit.

Maureen Tuohy-Bedford/West Yarmouth.

Last letter

From: olivia dean <olivia.deann@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 9:34 AM
Subject: Re: DY's "Dysfunctional Youth"

Also, the 8th graders are in a different lunch than the upper class men. Your article makes it seem like its upper class men that are "shaking down" the 8th graders for their lunch money. Its really another 8th grader that was doing it, and he is kicked out of DY now. Also the 8th graders have a different passing time than the rest of the upper class men to further get rid of bulling and to protect them. So your article is off base and your facts are wrong. So at least change the facts.

On Sat, Oct 29, 2011 at 11:58 PM, olivia dean wrote:

Hello, my name is Olivia Dean. I am a sophomore at Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School, and i am very hurt by the article published 'D-Y's "Dysfunctional Youth."' Not only is this article cruel to the school's name but also to the students. Did you even think about how a title like this one makes the students feel? "D-Y's "Dysfunctional Youth"' I personally feel attacked by this title. Are you trying to call me dysfunctional? I am an aspiring Neurosurgeon, I volunteer at Cape Cod Hospital so I must be dysfunctional correct? You are welcome to your opinion but its just that, an opinion. And I happen to know a fact, every school has bullies. Its a known fact, so by "targeting" DY like this, makes you look bad. How about Barnstable? Have you looked at their school? Also, "This "teamwork" uses electronic tools too, but in a different way. The "tools" I am referring to are two students with ankle monitoring bracelets in the program. We all know you don't get these for good behavior or because a kid made a "bad choice".It's more like the kid is a major problem and is getting a head start on their "career choice"" your quote, okay so the kid made a bad choice did something wrong but what you lack on this is your research, there's a lot of ways to get an ankle monitor. They didn't necessarily hurt someone. Also, the kids getting an education, what gives you the right to say they don't belong or deserve a chance like this one. "The other "Teamwork" happens because the eight grade hall is near the tenth grade hall. Evidently this is not by coincidence as these two grades also share the gym together for Physical Education class and change in the same locker room. Really? I can't imagine that this is emotionally healthily or free of any bullying. No seriously, did educated people really come up with these variables? Technology is great and so is mentoring, but I don't imagine this is how these student expected to be exposed to it." Again your quote, I'm not saying i support or don't support the pilot program but I do think it gives these kids a better opportunity. Look at the size of DY we don't have enough room for these extra kids as it is. So yes they have to share a gym class and a locker room. However, just because someone gets bullied doesn't mean everyone participates in this act. Besides what do you think happens in real life? People get bullied. At least at DY if the children bring it to the attention of Mr.Morrison, or even a trusted teacher, the act will be written down on a statement pad and taken care of. Not every case results in the bully getting suspended, but at least someone knows and can help the victim. Everyone in DY is a family, we might be at each others throats sometimes but we all come together when we have to. I find this article distasteful. I would like this article revised, or simply taken off. Or at least hear my words and know that people from DY do not think what you are saying is okay. Thank you for your time.

Olivia Dean.

                             VOTE in our POLL: Do you think teachers should be unionized?

Group maps a new bike trail extension

Inaugural Bike Network Master Plan Workshop Draws working group to Wellfleet

   Truro residents gather around maps showing their town's current and potential bike and pedestrian routes at the first in a series of bike trail network workshops held Saturday at the Wellfleet Senior Center. Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet residents marked up their respective town maps to reflect their preferred routes and priority development. Photo by Teresa Martin.

Plan will design bike trail from Wellfleet through Truro to Provincetown

By Teresa Martin.

A gray cold Saturday morning didn't detour more than 30 bike and pedestrian supporters from bringing their network ideas to the first in a series of Master Plan workshops. The inaugural workshop, held at the Wellfleet Senior Center, sought public input and hands on planning participation for an expansion of bike routes in Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet.

Plan in progress
The group represented a variety of interests, including the Lower Cape Bike Coalition, seashore homeowners, town committee members, and residents who simply wanted to learn more.

"There is no one master plan yet," explained Clay Schofield, Cape Cod Commission transportation engineer, in response to one attendee's repeated requests for specific details.

"We are the plan," he said pointing to everyone in the room, noting that the purpose of the workshops and everyone's participation is exactly that - to share details which will become the master plan.

Funding sought
Funding requests triggered Saturday's workshop. The commission and the National Seashore have filed grant requests for federal money to better plan and manage bike and pedestrian traffic in Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet.

Although the federal government has not yet awarded any grant money for the effort, the commission and seashore said community input today is essential to creating a project that works for the region. The groups hope to plan an interconnected network, rather than isolated projects.

Heavy use
The current rail trail, where old railway beds became bike paths, runs 22 miles. Schofield said 400,000 people a year use the system, with peak use of 400 people per hour.

Recent repaving and ongoing maintenance isn't enough to keep up with the demands generated by this volume of traffic. In addition, safety issues arise from crossing busy Rte 6, as well as from competing use of routes by cyclists, pedestrians, and cars.

Initial ideas
The Master Plan, as it now stands, primarily articulates a handful of key goals, including themes of:

• Safety
• Interconnection of elements
• Support for multi-modal transportation
• Minimal environmental impact
• Better biking experience for both visitors and year round residents

Beyond these goals, the plan has nothing set in stone, although it offers up some ideas as places to start. The wide variety of potential options range from building and extending paved bike paths within the national seashore to removing an auto lane on Rte 6 and incorporating bike paths instead, to everything in between.

No consensus in workshop
The assembled group made it clear there was no consensus on the best approach. One seashore homeowner decried an additional paving within the park. Another resident spoke stridently against losing any portion of Rt6 to bicycle traffic.

Other individuals advocated for pedestrian and unpaved trails, commuter needs, family vacation needs, and serious bicyclist use. Another noted the needs of in-line skaters. Several people talked about ensuring path design so that the trails weren't too steeply graded and were accessible to people who rode bikes, not just bike athletes.

Regional Transportation Authority invoked
Busses and the lack of bike racks on busses proved to be a hot spot with the audience.

"Those busses can accommodate only two bikes. That is incredibly inefficient," stated one woman, to nods from those around her.

Safety ideas
Safety issues also triggered a strong reaction, with some attendees demanding cyclists needed education, while others argued that drivers needed to learn to share the road. Everyone agreed Rte 6 was a hazard, but no one agreed on the best method - tunnels, bridges, stoplights, or just running for it - for crossing.

One idea, which gained traction, was that town beach sticker offices and beach entrances provided an ideal venue for educating bikers and drivers alike. In addition, these locations would reach both visitor and resident.

Working sessions
The most productive portion of the day, though, happened when pencils met paper. Armed with large maps of current and proposed options in each of the three towns and sharpened pencils, the groups divided up by town.

Using local knowledge, attendees identified areas of safety issues, "activity centers" (aka, places people wanted to get to and from), population areas, and other factors. They proposed routes and solutions.

Then, they repeated the exercise with maps of proposed rail trail extensions, applying very local knowledge and expertise to draft plan.

More to come
This input, reiterated Schofield, forms the heart of the workshop, which isn't about sharing one plan but about creating a plan by all, that serves region's real needs.

He said there would be additional times and locations for other workshops, but they are not yet scheduled.

Teresa Martin is a well-known Cape Cod technology and business leader who served as  C.E.O. of the Cape Cod Technology Council and was a founder and officer of the OpenCape Corporation, which is dedicated to fixing the Cape's dropped cell calls and upload issues. Read Teresa's tech blog, Cape Eyes on CapeCodToday.com here.

Coast Guard rescues Canadian off Provincetown

Ptown Coast Guard crew saves Canadian sailors from winter storm
Hurricane force winds continue in Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that two Canadian sailors are safe after receiving report of the upcoming dangerous winter storm from a U.S. Coast Guard aircrew and getting a tow to Provincetown from a Coast Guard boatcrew, Sunday.

"They didn't seem to know there was a storm comin."

Sailors aboard the 37-foot Rodeo were about 150 miles east of Provincetown onFriday when an HU-25 Falcon jet crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod was performing offshore storm track weather warnings and was contacted by the sailors.

"They called us just before we made our last broadcast and headed back to Cape Cod," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Spencer Vince, a crewman aboard the Falcon who was making the broadcasts. "They didn't seem to know there was a storm coming so we told them what the scenario was. They took the warning seriously."

The sailors were on their way from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Long Island, N.Y., but headed toward Cape Cod, after hearing the Coast Guard's weather warning.

At 12:37 a.m., Sunday the sailors called the Coast Guard again reporting their engine was failing and they would need a tow into port. The engine did fail, leaving the sailors in 12 to 15-foot seas with occasional 20-foot swells and no power more than seven miles south of Provincetown Harbor.

An urgent marine broadcast was issued, but due to severe weather conditions, commercial towboat companies were unable to tow the Rodeo.

A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Provincetown was dispatched to tow the Rodeo into port and arrived on scene around 1:35 a.m.

The anchor wasn't holding and with the weather, it was too dangerous to remove the sailors from the Rodeo.

In addition to the 12 to 15-foot seas, the crews also faced 40 to 50-knot winds that gusted up to 60 knots with only 20 feet of visibility.

At around 5:13 a.m., the crews were in Provincetown Harbor and tried to anchor the sailboat and remove the two people aboard. However, the anchor wasn't holding and with the weather, it was too dangerous to remove the sailors from the Rodeo.

The station crew once again took the sailboat in tow, but the towline parted. After putting the sailboat into a stern tow again, the towline then came off the bow of the sailing vessel. Each time the tow was broken, the Rodeo drifted further and further out to sea because of the high winds and seas.

After several tows, both vessels moored safely at MacMillan Wharf in Provincetown at 7:07 a.m.

The local harbormaster assisted the Coast Guard crew at the dock and also took the sailors to get them warm. They declined a trip to the hospital.

"This case is the biggest reason why we highly encourage all mariners to listen to the radio for weather warnings and take appropriate action," said Scott Backholm, the search and rescue controller at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England. "These broadcasts really can save your life. Luckily these sailors were listening to our broadcast and were able to head back to shore."

The man and woman aboard the Rodeo are from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. There were no injuries reported.

Hurricane force winds up to 65-knots and seas of 30-feet still continue for portions of the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.

Schwarzenegger Halloween; A book about your house; Sandwich teachers to cease volunteering; MMA goes Green with the wind; Cape Reps move west

TODAY's quote: "This Halloween, the most popular mask is the Arnold Schwarzenegger mask.
And the best part? With a mouth full of candy you will sound just like him." - Conan O'Brien.

He wrote a book about your house
Eastham author's "The Evolution of the Cape Cod House"

   From left: Full Cape, Three-quarter Cape, Half Cape, and its English 14th century ancestor.

The "Cape Cod House" is easily the most imitated design for a home in America. Now an Eastham author has traced its roots back to England where our earliest settlers came from.

There are three basic Cape Cod house types: Full Cape, Three-quarter Cape and Half Cape, and they are all variations on the same elements. Many have compared them to a boat built upside down, and the early setters here never built them facing the sea as folks do today because the sea was where they worked, and no one wants to look at his "factory" after work.

Arthur P. Richmond's new book "The Evolution of the Cape Cod House: An Architectural History",  gives a detailed account of one of America's most popular and recognizable architectural styles according to The Cape Codder. Read the story here.

Sandwich teachers still without contract after over 400 days
Union says they will cut back on extracurricular student activities

MMR goes Green with wind
Saves taxpayers over $1.5M a year

Under Secretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton visited the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Oct. 28 for a ribbon cutting ceremony for two new wind turbines.
   The 1.5 megawatt wind turbines, in addition to another already in place, were built to offset electrical costs for powering numerous groundwater cleanup systems at the reservation.
   The turbines will pay for all the Air Force's electric needs for groundwater remediation at the military reservation, saving more than $1.5 million per year, officials said. The turbines will also offset emissions generated by fossil-fueled power plants, reducing the Air Force's carbon footprint.
   Read the Military.com story here.

The Sandwich school teachers have worked without a contract for 424 days according to this week's Sandwich Enterprise.

Despite this those same teachers have raised the academic standing of their high school to a level to be included in this year's Newsweek's list of America's 500 best high schools. The town's school board and union have still not agreed on wages or a salary freeze.

A letter sent to the Sandwich School Committee October 21 states, "that all union members are being asked to "cease volunteering in activities for which you have not signed a contract. These activities include both paid and unpaid volunteering,"

Some of the activities teachers are being advised not to volunteer for include science fairs, book fairs, fundraisers, field trips, mentor groups, chaperoning and school council.

The letter further explains the rationale for the actions being taken by the union, saying they are "designed to support our negotiating team and activate the School Committee to take care of business and to be respectful of the union."

Read the Sandwich Enterprise story here.

Cape's State Reps await redrawn district lines
Peake, Turner, Atsalis to slide west

The Register reports on the changes in three of the local State Representative's districts. The newspaper says that if the Massachusetts House and Senate approve the proposed redistricting maps, 4th Barnstable District Rep. Sarah Peake, D-Provincetown, would take over Precinct 3 in Brewster, which has been held by Rep. Cleon Turner, D-Dennis.

Turner would gain Precinct 3 in Yarmouth and Precinct 1 in Barnstable, both formerly held by 2nd Barnstable District Rep. Demetrius Atsalis, D-Barnstable.

                             VOTE in our POLL: Do you think teachers should be unionized?

Read the Register story here.

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Cape Wind 14, Alliance 1;
Millions lose power;
Talking twin babies;
Guards at Bank of America;
Occupy counterpoint.

1938: Mary McCarthy and Edmund Wilson at Gull Pond. 1997: Spec House come-back. 1991: Stranded Whales Freed

1991: Stranded whales freed

Rescuers working to free 18 stranded pilot whales that ran aground yesterday on Fisher Beach in Truro. All 18 were successfully herded into deep water at high ide and all apparently survived.

1997: Spec houses back in season

In 1989, Carol Konner was burned -- and burned badly. ''I lost $8 million and went broke,'' said Ms. Konner, a tough-talking 60-year-old developer who was a major player in the Hamptons building boom of the late 80's -- and who finally has started to build again.
   Last year at this time, Ms. Konner was either planning or building four houses. This year, she is actively working on 26...
   But with all kinds of residential construction booming in hot spots like Long Island's East End, speculative building of vacation homes has returned to the Hamptons and to a lesser extent in Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod... NY Times.

1938: McCartthy & Wilson in Wellfleet

Two of America's most famous literary figures of the 20th century made Wellfleet and Gull Pond fairly famous. Here's an excerpt from the current edition of the New York Review of Books on the couple and their life at Gull Pond.

At Gull Pond

When Mary McCarthy and Edmund Wilson, who married in 1938, were getting on well, they found each other mutually stimulating and, in the company of friends, they excelled at repartee, not argument. Although McCarthy had little good to say, either in interviews or in her own memoirs, about Wilson as a husband, she clearly benefited as a writer of fiction from his sustained encouragement and support. It seems that the couple agreed for the most part on political and literary matters, but were often at odds over things mundane. Wilson, by his own admission, tended to misbehave at precisely those times when they were getting along well.

Considering their marital difficulties, it is not surprising that Wilson made fewer entries in his journal during the years the marriage lasted. The passages dealing with Cape Cod nature are, however, of great interest to us...

Gull Pond May 21, 1942- The ladyslippers were out, sprinkled so sparsely around the brink of their solitary flowers-deepening in a couple of days from flimsy stooping ghosts as pale as Indian-pipe to a fleshy veined purplish pink swollen between pigtails and curling top-knot that also suggested Indians; and along the white sand of one side, where the bowl of the pond shelved so gradually, the little white violets with their lower lips finely lined as if with beards in purplish indelible ink, their long slim rhubarb-purplish stalks and their faint slightly acrid pansy smell, grew with thready roots in the damp sand; they were yellowish like ivory here, but on the opposite more marshy bank (with its round stones, its patches of red irony water, its shooting-box with a flock of square black and white decoys, its steeper banks, its dead gulls and fishes) their effect was not quite so dry and they showed a vivid white like trillium where they bloomed against the deeper and the more luxuriant green.

As one walked in the water one encountered pines putting out their soft straw-colored bunches of cones and smelling with a special almost sweet-fern fragrance. The baby cones seemed almost embarrassingly soft, almost like a woman's nipples.-When we got to the shallow channel between Gull Pond and the next one, I found a mother herring trying to get through from the latter by gliding and flapping on her side. She was silvery with purple-silver along the upper part of her length. At the mouth of the channel there were several of them splashing and when I came close I saw that the water was all dark with a whole crowd of them-from above they are just roundish muddy streaks under water. The sand here, flat and more marshy and grown with gre en rushes, was all tracked with the trefoil (?) of gulls' feet, where they had come to get the fish... NY Review of Books.

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