Cape & Islands News

Sandwich teacher criticized for doing her job

Boston TV stations are excited on a slow day, belabor the obvious
School Committee meeting tonight to address issue

"It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education."
                  - Albert Einstein.

L ast Thursday a Sandwich fifth grade teacher at the Forestdale School invited a Pathologist Assistant to speak to the class about her work and how school had inspired her. Many Forestdale area parents are now upset at the pathologist showing jars of human organs to ten and eleven year old students.

Albert Einstein said, "It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry."

Some parents at the Forestdale school seem to be trying to prove Einstein correct.

Boston television is having a heyday this morning on this issue, but the school officials are reacting calmly and professionally as the statements below demonstrate.

The school will hold a meeting on the matter tonight at 7PM at the Sandwich High School. When politicians get involved, all bets are off.

Statement from Dr. Mary Ellen Johnson, Superintendent of Schools:

I am aware of the concerns resulting from a science lesson at the Forestdale School in a fifth grade classroom. I have looked into the situation and determined that a fifth grade teacher invited a guest speaker, a Pathologist Assistant, to the classroom for a study on cells. Prior to the lesson, the students had developed a list of their own questions on cell development. The guest speaker did share examples of cell development from a scientific background. The children viewed slides of lung tissue, brain, skin, kidneys and spleen. They also viewed specimens of zygote and embryo development with a focus on the development of tissues to organs. They also viewed heart, liver and appendix tissues. The guest speaker spoke about her own experience in school and how this influenced her decision to become a pathologist assistant.

The principal and I will be meeting with the parents of the students involved to discuss the matter.  Because this is a personnel issue, no further comment is available at this time.

Statement from Robert F. Simmons, Jr., Caiman of the Sandwich School Committee

The School Committee is very concerned about these events. The Superintendent has met with the principal and will also be meeting with the teacher and the parents of those students involved.
Chairman Robert Simmons, (508) 477-7048, email bob@CapeSimmons.com.

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Largest New England Coastal Wind Project begins power generation

Fox Islands Wind Project dedicates turbines, generates power for two islands

The new Fox Island Wind turbines in Mid Coastal Maine turn gracefully like kinetic art above the state's symbol, the  pine tree. Above shows turbines from both sides. See the aerial of the site at the bottom.

Project along the popular Maine coast gets jump on Bay State project

This morning, Maine Governor John Baldacci joined the communities on the Fox Islands in a ceremony to dedicate the largest community-owned wind facility on the East Coast and the largest off-shore wind farm in New England. The Fox Islands Wind Project's three large-scale wind turbines will generate 4.5 megawatts of electricity for the islands of Vinalhaven and North Haven, providing clean energy to the islands' residents for decades to come.

The dedication marks the commencement of stabilized power supplies and lowered energy costs for the islands' residents, who currently pay more than double the national average for their power.

Governor Baldacci and Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree joined leaders of the Fox Islands project to dedicate the wind energy project, a model for communities up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

"The Fox Islands community wind project demonstrates that a local community can harness the power of a local, renewable resource and become an example to the rest of the State and the nation. This new wind installation puts Maine at the cutting edge of renewable energy development, and proves that coastal wind is a viable, low-cost energy source."
           - Maine Gov. Baldacci.

United States Senator Olympia Snowe also weighed in, saying from Washington, "The development, construction, and operation of the Fox Island Wind Farm is a testament to the collaboration of the island communities of Vinalhaven and North Haven, the Island Institute, USDA and Cianbro. This project is successful not only because it addresses the staggeringly high electricity prices on the island through renewable energy, but it also illustrates what other island communities, towns, the State of Maine and the country can accomplish. We must build on the success of this project and through this model I am hopeful that we can catalyze the renewable energy revolution."

The turbines' dedication is the result of strong support from the entire Fox Islands community since the project's inception. In a nearly unanimous vote in July 2008, island residents ushered in a new era of renewable power in Maine by approving the project, and the arrival of the turbines earlier this summer was hailed by local residents. Several other island and coastal communities are now looking at community wind power as a viable alternative to traditional energy sources.

The Maine coast is dotted with lighthouses like Cape Cod. This is Curtis Island Light at the entrance of Camden with the Camden Hill looming above opposite the wind turbines on Vinalhaven. cc2day photo.

"It is exciting to see the turbines in operation," said George Baker, Fox Islands Wind CEO and Vice President for Community Wind at the Island Institute. "To see them providing benefits to these islands is the culmination of years of contribution by many people. These island communities are truly leaders in the field of coastal renewable energy," added Baker.

"This project demonstrates wind energy's reliability and cost-effectiveness," said Victor Abate, Vice President, Renewables for GE Power & Water, which supplied the turbines. "The Fox Islands Wind Project should serve as an example of how safe, clean, renewable wind energy can power America and create jobs. GE is proud to be a part of this project and we're confident that wind power will be a major source of clean, affordable energy for communities large and small."

The three turbines are expected to generate approximately 11,600 megawatt hours of electricity per year, supplying the island communities with cleaner, more affordable power. Any additional energy not used by the communities will be sent off-island to the grid. The electricity generated from the project is expected to offset 5,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The electricity generated from the wind power project is expected to offset 5,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Peter Vigue is the CEO of Cianbro, the general contractor for the project. "The success of this project is a result of the hard work and cooperation of all of the talented people who helped make these wind turbines a reality," said Vigue, "from the technical expertise of consultants, subcontractors, and engineers, to the hands-on quality provided by the crews in the field, to the wisdom of island citizens who know a pragmatic solution when they see one."

The project is a collaboration of several New England-based companies and organizations, including the Island Institute, Cianbro Corporation, EOS Ventures, Diversified Communications and Fox Islands Electric Cooperative.

Vinalhaven and North Haven Islands are in Penobscot Bay less than six miles offshore opposite the thriving tourist meccas of Camden, Rockport and Rockland. The wind farm in the aerial below spin in full view of the Camden Hills for Maine's summer visitors.

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MassDOT announces creation of Cape Cod Canal Area Traffic Task Force

Task force is response to requests by legislators for regional solutions to Cape traffic congestion

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) today announced the creation of the Canal Area Regional Traffic Task Force to build consensus on the immediate, near-term, and future transportation needs related to ongoing traffic congestion at the two canal bridges in the Cape Cod region. 

Congressman Bill Delahunt requested creation of the Task Force in response to recent congestion caused by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers repairs to the Sagamore Bridge and the long-term issues created by rising traffic volumes on the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.   Sagamore Bridge construction work began at the end of summer and is ongoing this fall and continuing in spring 2010.  One lane of traffic is reduced in each direction. The result has been significant congestion and in some cases traffic being stalled at the bridge and clogging highways in the area.

“I am confident, particularly with the valuable stakeholders included on the Task Force, that we will identify solid and meaningful recommendations for improvements.” - Tom Cahir, CCRTA Administrator

“Our goal is to bring federal, state, and local parties together to reduce  traffic congestion when possible and work toward new solutions to the region’s transportation challenges,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan.

“We need a better method to design, coordinate and implement transportation options in the Canal region,” said Congressman Delahunt.  “While long term solutions are examined, there is also a need to identify and fund specific transportation improvements aimed at alleviating the near-term congestion problems.”

At the direction of MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeff Mullan, the Task Force will be chaired by Tom Cahir, Administrator of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority.  Task Force participants will represent federal, state, regional, and local officials, including the Office of Congressman Delahunt, Army Corps of Engineers, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Cape Cod Commission, Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, Towns of Bourne and Sandwich, and other local business representatives.

The Task Force is expected to focus on near-term improvements necessary in spring 2010 when Sagamore Bridge construction resumes along with discussion of longer term solutions including alternate routes and other ways to mitigate traffic congestion affected by bridge work and action plans and preliminary cost proposals for recommended long term investments. 

“I am pleased at the leadership being displayed by Governor Patrick, Secretary Mullan and Congressman Delahunt in recognizing the adverse impacts associated with traffic congestion in and around the Cape Cod Canal Region,” said CCRTA Administrator Tom Cahir.  “I am confident, particularly with the valuable stakeholders included on the Task Force, that we will identify solid and meaningful recommendations for improvements.”

In September, MassDOT Highway Administrator Luisa Paiewonsky convened a meeting of the Army Corps of Engineers and local, regional and state officials to develop solutions to ongoing construction related traffic problems.  A follow-up meeting hosted by MassDOT Highway District 5 identified additional steps to ease traffic.  Today’s meeting will take a broader, more comprehensive approach to regional traffic concerns.

For transportation news and updates visit the EOT blog or follow EOT on Twitter.

Courtesy of MassDOT.

Read more about the Sagamore Bridge saga here:

• Sagamore dissatisfaction
  
• Letter to Army Corps of Engineers
• USACE wakes up to the bridge problem
• Sagamore Bridge opens two lanes Sunday
• Chamber, local officials address Sagamore Bridge congestion headache
• Work to commence on Sagamore Bridge, September 14, 2009
  
• and see Ana Paulina's Entering Bourne Blog for an almost daily photographic update of the construction
  

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Gas main break, avoid Great Western Road in Dennis Monday

Gas main break, avoid Great Western Road in Dennis Monday

The area of Great Western Road between Upper County Road and Miller Road, closed due to a gas main break Monday. Map courtesy Google Maps.

According to the Dennis Police Department, just prior to noon Monday, construction crews digging on Great Western Road in the area of Great Western Way struck and punctured a gas main. 

As a result Great Western Road between Upper County Road and Miller Road has been closed to traffic.

Drivers are asked to avoid using this area of Great Western Road at this time.

We will update this post as more information becomes available.

Release courtesy of the Dennis Police Department.

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Cape Codders talkin' trash

Towns look to trim costs associated with waste manangement and recycling

Towns are looking at the way they sort recyclables as a means of saving money. At the Dennis transfer station (above), recyclables are separated, a method considered more costly than commingling. Photos by Gerald Rogovin.

By Gerald Rogovin

At least 12 Cape and Island communities are talking trash these days.

It's not the trash that professional athletes talk. This is more serious, involving the stuff that requires recycling, compacting, incineration and other types of disposal.

Things have changed since the early 90s

Transfer stations in the mid-Cape area -- specifically Dennis, Yarmouth, Harwich and Chatham -- were built in the early 1990s. Their focus then was on solid waste management, and getting waste onto trailers headed for the Rochester, Mass., SEMASS Resource Recovery facility.

Shipping and disposing Dennis's wastes at SEMASS costs the town about $130 a ton. The front end loaders used to put the trash onto trailers, the costs of containers and trailer rental all figure into the amount.

An alternative to SEMASS for Dennis is hauling some trash to the Yarmouth transfer station. But to achieve a saving, the town would have to add a compactor to increase capacity. That is still an unbudgeted cost item.

"The greatest economic benefit comes from avoiding the costs to ship and dispose material." - Mark N. White, EPG Consultant

A Quincy consultant studies Dennis

In a presentation to the town's selectmen last September, Mark N. White, a consultant with Environmental Partners Group, a Quincy environmental engineering firm, spelled out ways to make the station operation safer and more efficient. He and associates have been studying it for months.

His conclusions could probably have applied to the eleven other towns on the Cape and on Martha's Vineyard that the firm has been studying.

Key finding: traffic control

In White's investigation of the Dennis station, he concentrated on how to reduce traffic in and out of the facility and how to assure personnel that they can maintain control of the vehicles in the area.

Foreman Michael Smith described traffic in summertime as "really hairy."

Traffic in and out of the facility is a major sticking point for the Town of Dennis. The problem only increases in the summer as one attendant tries to manage the flow of traffic into the facility. Long lines and a loss of control only increase the town's costs.

White told the selectmen that it costs the town much more to collect and dispose of solid wastes than it receives in fees for the service. The town recycles about eight percent of its trash, when it should have a target of 15-25 percent, minimally.

Commingling vs. separation

That number can be reached, he said, if the transfer station commingles recyclables instead of separating them. Separation of glass, plastic, aluminum, cardboard and paper lengthens the process. That adds to costs. Commingling recyclables limits separation to just paper and cardboard from the rest.

In fiscal year 2008, recycling generated $133,000 in revenue, according to  Public Works Director David S. Johansen.

Describing the facility's gatehouse and entrance as its "nerve center," White noted that it falls on a single attendant to check stickers,  weigh special items, collect fees, monitor operations and answer questions.

The pressures on in the summer

Summer weekends multiply the pressure, he said. About five vehicles enter the area every minute. Transactions take at least two minutes each. There are only four parking spaces inside the gate. That leads to long lines of cars and declining control of vehicles by the attendant.

Communities that have switched to commingling recyclables have seen participation by their citizens rise, White said. As a consequence, more material is being recovered. "The greatest economic benefit comes from avoiding the costs to ship and dispose material," White pointed out.  "Some communities claim that single-stream recycling is removing as much as half of their waste stream," he added.

Falmouth gives residents a choice

Falmouth's selectmen last month gave residents a choice in the effort to save money: if you dispose of trash at the town dump, it will cost you $2.50 a bag. The town has curbside trash pick-up/recycling services.

When people use the dump, the town must take it to the Otis transfer station on the Massachusetts Military Reservation before it is shipped by train to SEMASS. That adds $66 a ton for hauling.

A private hauler charges Falmouth $94 to take away the curbside trash pick-up/recycling material. That cost is underwritten by property taxes, according to the town manager's office. Town Manager Robert Whritenour estimated that the new fee will generate $242,000 a year, which will equal the dump's shortfall.

"Segregating all of the materials now required under environmental department regulations means that a facility needs a lot more room, equipment and manpower to do it," White said. "Together with the age of transfer station buildings -- they're getting tired; some are close to 20-years-old --towns are taking a new look at what their facilities consist of, and they need to remain useful going into the future."

USA #1 in trash disposal

Americans are still Number #1 in trash disposal. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, we dispose of 4.6 pounds of trash per person per day each year. More than half of that ends up in landfills or is incinerated.

Added costs to ship trash elsewhere and the decline of space for landfills has spawned a new philosophy in the country known as "zero waste".

It means producing less waste and recycling whatever you can. White's message is being heard by Cape Cod towns, probably none too soon.

Gerald Rogovin began as a journalist in 1948 in dailies, weeklies, radio and magazines; and in the past 9 years back to weeklies and magazines. In between, for 36 years, he headed his own public relations firm in Boston. He lives in Yarmouth Port with a skepticism confirmed by 60 years in the inky trade, and he also blogs for us on Rog's Gallery.

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Steamship Authority announces cancellations due to weather

Inclement weather affects SSA schedule today

The Katama's Hyannis to Nantucket (and Nantucket to Hyannis) trips have been cancelled today. Photo by John Fitts.

The Steamship Authority has announced cancellations today, Friday, November 13 due to inclement weather. The following trips have either been cancelled or will be reviewed on a trip by trip basis:

All trips today on the Nantucket Route between Hyannis and Nantucket are on a trip by trip basis due to weather.

The M/V Eagle's 9:15am Hyannis to Nantucket trip and the 12:00pm Nantucket
to Hyannis trip have been cancelled due to weather.

The M/V Katama's 11:30am Hyannis to Nantucket and the 2:15pm Nantucket to
Hyannis trips have been cancelled due to weather.

The M/V Iyanough's 8:00am Hyannis to Nantucket and the 9:30am Nantucket to
Hyannis trips have been cancelled due to weather.

For more information regarding trips between Hyannis and Nantucket, please
call 508 228-0262 or 508 771-4000.

All trips between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard on the Martha's Vineyard Route are on or near schedule. There are currently no cancellations reported on this route. For more information on trips between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard, call 508 548-3788 or 508 693-0367.

Information courtesy of the Steamship Authority.

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Barnstable Community comes together in wake of hate crime

Town officials, religious leaders, students & residents attend unity rally at Barnstable High

Town officials and local religious leaders took to the stage Tuesday night to speak out about the desecration at the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Center in Hyannis last week. Photos by Gerald Rogovin.

By Gerald Rogovin

Barnstable is no place for hate.

The message, repeated over and over by about 20 speakers, virtually ignited  a crowd of more than 400 enthusiastic people at a "unity rally" at Barnstable High School Tuesday evening.

They were gathered in response  to the ransacking of the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Center in Hyannis last week.

Cape Clergy from all faiths show support

Loud applause and cheering greeted  the speakers, who included town officials, students and clergy of almost all faiths from across Cape Cod and as far away as New Bedford. They were present to show their support to the Chabad congregation and its rabbi, Yekusiel Alperowitz.

Decals and pins worn by an audience that appeared to range in age from eight to 85 and posters proclaimed the central message that Barnstable is no place for hate.

Over 20 speakers addressed the 400+ crowd all calling for the community to stand together against acts of hate.

The hateful act that brought them together

The speeches in support of Chabad were loud and directed at the three Barnstable High School students charged with vandalizing the synagogue. According to Rabbi Alperowitz,  the vandalism was discovered last Wednesday morning. Doors were kicked in and
religious items strewn about. Images of Adolf Hitler and anti-Semetic  symbols were downloaded to the rabbi's computer.

Police discovered some stolen items from two of the suspects found in an apartment building behind the synagogue. A third was arrested at the high school. All were juveniles.

The day after the break-in, Town Manager John C. Klimm, Town Council president Frederick Chirigotis and Sue Rohrach, an aide to State Senator Robert A. O'Leary met with Alperowitz to discuss the vandalism.

"We are friends, neighbors, family. We will not tolerate acts of bigotry, prejudice and hate!" - Frederick Chirigotis, Town Council President

Community charged with standing together against prejudice

Chirigotis led off the speeches at Tuesday's rally, calling for the community "right here in this room to stand together. We are friends, neighbors, family. We will not tolerate acts of bigotry, prejudice and hate!"

That set the tone of all who followed with comments.

Jan Smith of the Anti-Defamation League of New England, a co-sponsor of the rally, brought the crowd to its feet with a vigorous endorsement of Barnstable Police Chief Paul B.  MacDonald. He had expressed pride in the department, saying, "We have no greater satisfaction in our work than in solving a hate crime.

Smith told the audience, "What a wonderful community! How many citizens have heard a police official describe his department's pride in solving a hate crime. You ought to be proud."

Alperowitz said that "the community is being very supportive. People from all religions have e-mailed or telephoned, offering support. The high school sent an official apology letter, and they are cooperating with all of our proposals."

Chabad-sponsored "Good Deed" Award established

One is the establishment of an annual "Good Deed" award that Chabad will sponsor. It will honor five town teens.

Apologies were repeatedly extended to Alperowitz and the Chabad congregation by priests, rabbis, interfaith groups on Cape Cod, a representative of the Buddhist faith, students  and Janice Barton of the No Place for Hate committee. Each reiterated that
the ransacking of the synagogue had challenged  them and their organizations to combat ignorance in all its forms.

Blake Blais, president of the Barnstable High School senior class, told the crowd, "Please know that the majority of the students are saddened by the actions of those three. They don't represent the school community, although they are a part of the community."

All should be treated with respect and dignity

School Superintendent Patricia D. Grenier explained that "we try to convey to students the core values of society. One is that every person deserves to be held in respect and dignity. We have the students seven hours a day, five days a week. But then they return to society. Those 5,700 students -- I thank all of you who are here tonight -- are not flawless. But they are so much more than the three who made tonight's event take place," Dr. Grenier added.

The 90-minute program concluded with a procession of the speakers and students holding lighted candles as they walked across West Main Street to the Chabad building.

Gerald Rogovin began as a journalist in 1948 in dailies, weeklies, radio and magazines; and in the past 9 years back to weeklies and magazines. In between, for 36 years, he headed his own public relations firm in Boston. He lives in Yarmouth Port with a skepticism confirmed by 60 years in the inky trade, and he also blogs for us on Rog's Gallery.

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FEMA Flood Insurance Forum scheduled for Provincetown and surrounding communities

FEMA representatives to meet with Ptown residents and officials tomorrow

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will meet with officials and residents of Provincetown, and surrounding communities at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 12, 2009, for a public forum on flood insurance and updated Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The forum will take place at The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown.

"A structure located within a special flood hazard area shown on a flood map has a 26 percent chance of suffering flood damage during the term of a 30-year mortgage. It makes sense to manage that risk with the insurance." - Ivy Frances, Chief of the Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch in FEMA's Boston office.

Towns throughout Barnstable County, including Provincetown, are receiving updated flood maps as part of FEMA's nationwide Map Modernization Program.  The Barnstable County maps, previously scheduled to become effective in June, 2010, are not scheduled to go effective until summer, 2011.  With flood map changes underway, this is an important time for residents to gather information about flood insurance options and map changes that may affect their flood insurance rates in the future.  Those who have a federally backed mortgage, or plan to refinance with a federally backed lender, will be required to purchase flood insurance, if they find that their home is located in high-risk flood areas. Purchasing before the flood maps become effective will lock in the lower-risk zone and save significant money.   

Residents are urged to look at the new preliminary flood rate maps to both become familiar with the flood risks in their community and to see whether their flood zone has changed.  The maps can be viewed at their city or town offices and in many cases on their town's website or library. Each town received both a paper copy and a digital copy of the new maps to share with their residents for review before they become finalized. The link to the proposed new maps for Provincetown can be found at www.provincetown-ma.gov/Floodplain.html  or www.ptownlib.com.

According to Ivy Frances, Chief of the Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch in FEMA's Boston office, "A structure located within a special flood hazard area shown on a flood map has a 26 percent chance of suffering flood damage during the term of a 30-year mortgage. It makes sense to manage that risk with the insurance."

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

You can sign up for Flood Hazard Mapping email updates on the FEMA site here.

Release Number R1-09-091, courtesy of FEMA.

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Hit and Run History lends a hand to Cape Verde

Historical Adventure show brings local aid worker to disease-stricken island

CHATHAM - Luisa Schaeffer, an outreach worker at the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, is returning to help her native country's struggles against a deadly epidemic -- thanks to a local television show heading there this weekend.

For "gumshoe historian" Andrew Buckley and his crew of Hit and Run History, the trip to Cape Verde was supposed to be easy. A working vacation in the best sense. This was the first stop on their series following the track of the first American voyage ‘round the word - the Columbia Expedition - after leaving Boston.

"Their first reaction was, ‘Aw, we can't go.' But when they realized I wasn't suggesting that, they quickly said, ‘No, we have to go!'" - Andy Buckley.

Then they learned last week that the island nation off the west coast of Africa has been hit by an epidemic of dengue fever. Nearly 10,000 are infected and six have died of the incurable mosquito-borne illness previously unknown in this arid archipelago. Last Wednesday the Hit and Run History (HRH) crew applied for their visas at the Cape Verde Consulate in Boston, but returned home to learn the country had declared an epidemic.

Buckley explained the situation to his crewmembers, and assessed the risk. "Their first reaction was, ‘Aw, we can't go.' But when they realized I wasn't suggesting that, they quickly said, ‘No, we have to go!'"

As more information came through the HRH fan page on Facebook, Buckley read about efforts in  rockton to provide relief by the Cape Verdean community in Massachusetts. That's what put him in contact with Brockton Neighborhood Health Center's Schaeffer. Buckley asked how HRH could help, thinking of using excess room in their checked baggage. He also suggested the camera crew might be able to document and relay reports of what is happening in Cape Verde to the interested audiences in Southeastern New  England.

But as they spoke, Buckley saw a greater opportunity. Recently, a translator whom HRH recruited in a summertime competition had suddenly cancelled, leaving the crew with an extra pre-paid, non-refundable ticket. Schaeffer is a native of Cape Verde, with family living in the capital, Praia. "When Luisa explained she had assembled the first relief shipment out from Boston the previous Friday," said Buckley, "I asked if she would be would like the ticket to continue her relief work in Cape Verde."

Schaeffer readily agreed. With the help from the airline, Buckley was able to change the ticket on humanitarian grounds. Now the five-person crew will be accompanied by a local on their flight. "We'll have a much greater insight into what is going on. Aside from the history we're chasing, talking about John Kendrick bringing Columbia into the harbor here to prepare for the long voyage around South America, we'll get to meet the people, and tell their stories as we tell ours. We're glad to help."

Dengue fever is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease of humans. In recent years it has become a major public health concern in the tropics. The geographical spread of both the mosquito and the virus has led to the global resurgence of epidemic dengue fever in the past 25 years, according to World Health Organization (WHO). There is no known cure to the disease.

2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world's population, are now at risk

WHO says some 2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world's population, are now at risk from dengue and estimates that there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries.

The BNHC is asking for donations of cash and the following items to help fight dengue in Cape Verde: mosquito repellent, vitamin C, Tylenol (acetaminophen), hand sanitizer, and rubbing alcohol. The drop off location is at the Brockton Adult Day Health, 764 N. Main St. Brockton, MA. Contact Sonia Alves at 508-897-0600.

Hit and Run History is a production of the Cape Cod Community Media Center, being broadcast to 60,000 homes. The pilot episode screened in nine locations this summer, including the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and the Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum. It was awarded Massachusetts Cultural Council Grants from the towns of Marshfield, Wareham and Chatham. Buckley is the foremost authority on the Columbia Expedition and its commander, John Kendrick. He's been on the trail of this story since 1995, beginning with research for his novel The Bostoner.

"This is new history," says Buckley. "Except for a handful of experts, no one really knows the story of the Columbia Expedition. Yet, it had such a profound and lasting effect on American and world history. Without it, there would have been no Lewis and Clark - no ‘sea to shining sea.'" Because epic sweep of the story, HRH developed the approach of telling it in serial form, mixing the best elements of history, travel and reality television.

As a concept show, HRH's approach is to get out to the locations where microhistory occurred. They visit the places where historical figures lived and talk to local historians who can give their personal insights. The film crew also gets involved in the telling of the story, with a focus on the "making of" the documentary. Over a dozen locations scattered throughout eastern Massachusetts were filmed, including the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Salem's Derby Wharf and Hull's Fort Revere.

This second installment, including footage shot in Cape Verde, is projected to be completed in February 2010, and will be screened throughout the state starting in March. The pilot is currently being offered for consideration to networks like the Travel Channel and PBS.

Become a fan of Hit and Run on Facebook.

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National Marine Life Center benefits from Marine Biological Laboratory donation

Donated equipment to help NMLC, lessen impact at landfill

The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole takes their commitment to the environment seriously. One component of their effort to “go green” with their Loeb Laboratory renovation involves recycling some of the furnishings by donating them to the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay for reuse.

The National Marine Life Center (NMLC) is building a new hospital to care for the hundreds of marine animals that strand each year on Cape Cod. Their current phase of construction includes the building exterior, infrastructure, and sea turtle ward. This phase is scheduled for completion within the next several weeks, just in time to admit the cold-stunned sea turtles that are beginning to appear on Cape Cod shorelines.

A team from MBL delivers a fiberglass tank to the National Marine Life Center site. Photos courtesy of NMLC.

When fully complete, NMLC’s 15,000-square foot, 200,000-gallon facility will be the only marine animal hospital in the United States capable of simultaneously housing under one roof injured sea turtles, seals, dolphins, and pilot whales.

The donated equipment from the MBL includes a rectangular tank, a 390 KVA standby generator and automatic transfer switch, sixteen durable laboratory-grade sinks, a fume hood, two steam dishwashers, storage cabinets, chairs, and file cabinets. With the help of the MBL's construction managers, Shawmut Design and Construction, MBL facilities staff delivered the equipment to NMLC. “We were tremendously excited to receive this gift from MBL,” exclaimed Kathy Zagzebski, NMLC President and Executive Director.  “The equipment will save us money and be put to good use in our science and educational laboratories.”

"The MBL is committed to reducing our environmental impact and is pleased that the National Marine Life Center can benefit from this used equipment," said Richard Cutler, Director of Facilities and Services. "Recycling of these materials is not only helping the NMLC as they build their new hospital, but will also reduce the amount of materials that may otherwise be left for a landfill as unused waste."

The National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay is an independent, not-for-profit marine animal hospital, science, and education center. Its mission is to rehabilitate for release stranded sea turtles, seals, dolphins, porpoises, and small whales, and to advance scientific knowledge and education in marine wildlife health and conservation. Since admitting its first patient in 2004, the National Marine Life Center has cared for 67 animals. For more information or to donate, visit www.nmlc.org or call (508) 743-9888.

The MBL is a leading international, independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to discovery and to improving the human condition through creative research and education in the biological, biomedical and environmental sciences. Founded in 1888 as the Marine Biological Laboratory, the MBL is the oldest private marine laboratory in the Americas. For more information, visit www.MBL.edu.

Release courtesy of the NMLC.

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