Cape & Islands News

Wampanoag are now a federally recognized tribe

Coming out party last night at Coonemessett Inn 

The 1,486-member Mashpee Wampanoag tribe threw a party last night at Coonemessett Inn with an open bar, a twist on history's reports of our Native Americans relationship with "firewater" a century ago. This time the Indians picked up the tab for the palefaces.

A few minutes after 4 pm the call cal which set the tribe up on its final, one-year leg to recognition. 

Cape Cod's own native American tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoags, whose ancestors greeted the Pilgrims to Plymouth and The Cape in 1620, were given preliminary federal recognition approval.

Glenn Marshall, chairman of the tribe's council, said in a statement, "This is a great day for the Mashpee, but also for this country. We have always believed that the truth of our petition would be recognized, although it has been a long and hard struggle."

The tribe is expected to receive a final determination by March 31, 2007.

 What about The Casino?

Next week, the state legislature will vote again on allowing the state's three dog tracks to each have 2,000 slot machines. 

It the bill pases both house, which is predicted, Governor Romney has vowed to veto it, but early reports suggest that the legislature may be "veto-proof" on this issue and pass the bill again with a two-thirds majority. 

If that happens Romney won't have to go home to Nevada to place a bet on his election, but he'll still have to wait a while.

Our own Indian Nation won't get final recognition until this time in 2007, and then they have to decide which billionaire they'll allow build a casino for them.

The tribe has said it doesn't want to build on Cape Cod, but in Bristol or Plymouth County. 

Imagine, a Trump Tower in :"Beautiful Downtown New Bedford" by the decade's end. 

Read other reports about recognition:

• The Shock of Recognition
• Slots of Fun on the Cape?
• The odds against a local casino
• Slots in Raynham = Casino on the Vineyard
  

Charter review, Condo conversions, no to Outermost House

Stories from The Cape Codder this week

Barnstable Gym gem, Boston bound, Principal steps down

News from The Barnstable Patriot

Retail curfew may move from voluntary to law
A two-year-old voluntary curfew for Hyannis retail stores could move could become required by law

What you should know about Darby land
Should the COMM district residents pay the town for an easement and conservation restriction on land we already own? An item, 2006...

CAPE COD COMMISSION-Foes throw a high, hard one
The president of the Barnstable Town Council wants to declaw the Cape Cod Commission, stripping the land-use agency of its ability to dig in and shape development.

Gymnastics gem
By Kathy Manwaring. When Allison Szatek started gymnastics at age 7, it was simply a hobby. As she grew older, that hobby became ...

Boston bound
By Kathy Manwaring. By day, Alicia Crowell- Furrer is a mildmannered bank executive. Early mornings, evenings and weekends, however ...

MME principal to step down in 2007
By Edward F. Maroney. The founding principal of the Marstons Mills East Horace Mann Charter Public School has given almost a year ...

KKK material distributed at Barnsatble Airport, other cape locations

The Globe reported this morning that U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Chad Blair  is distributing KKK material on the Cape Cod base.

That alone is not illegal, but his activities may violate the military code. The accused works as a procurement officer at Air Station Cape Cod on Otis Air National Guard Base.

See the story here. 

Harwich Selectmen race, Chatham conservatiuon purchases

Harwich & Chatham news from The Chronicle

Marsland Makes It A Selectmen’s Race In Harwich
HARWICH ---There is competition for the one seat on the board of selectmen being vacated by member Donald Howell. East Harwich resident ...
Options For New Town Administrator
HARWICH --- Selectmen interviewed three administrative search firms last Monday night, and hope to make a decision by next Monday on which one will help find ...
Harwich Principal To Serve As Gabrieli’s Coordinator
HARWICH --- Harwich High School Principal Kevin Turner will serve as the Cape and Islands campaign coordinator for Chris Gabrieli, a businessman and Democrat ...
Police Nab Alleged Heroin Dealers
HARWICH — Marking the largest seizure of heroin in recent memory from this part of Cape Cod, police last week arrested three people and seized around 1,000 ...
Stand-alone Cell Tower Proposed
Board’s Vote Provides Retired Selectmen Access To Health Insurance
HARWICH --- Selectmen voted Monday night to reaffirm the state statute that extends health benefits to selectmen who have served six years and have become ...
Selectmen Present Resolution Praising Melville’s Service
HARWICH --- Selectmen presented a resolution honoring Town Administrator Wayne Melville for his 18 years of service on Monday night...
Conservation Foundation Purchases 8.4-acre Valley View Farm
CHATHAM --- Acting quickly to protect 8.38 acres of pristine open space, the Chatham Conservation Foundation purchased the tract of land off Barn Hill Road which was once home to Valley View Farm, with the intention of turning it over to the town as open space...
Land Bank Seeks To Buy 11-acre South Chatham Tree Farm
CHATHAM --- Calling it the most desirable piece of undeveloped land the town could protect, the land bank open space committee Tuesday submitted an article seeking the purchase of the 11-acre McCoy property off Old Queen Anne Road, which is also known as the South Chatham Tree Farm...
Stand-alone Cell Tower Proposed
CHATHAM --- The town’s first stand-alone cellular telephone tower proposal will be the subject of a zoning board of appeals hearing next month...
Restoration Of Full Harbormaster Budget
CHATHAM --- The finance committee has voted to back the restoration of funds cut from the harbormaster’s department budget by the board of selectmen...

Read the rest of these Chronicle stories here, and comment below.

Teacher's arrest, compromise on D-Y funding, more

News from The Register

Read the rest of these Register stories and more here, and comment below. 

Burgling, Police assault in Yarmouth

WEDNESDAY MARCH 29th, 2006
MAN CHARGED WITH BURGLARY, ASSAULTING POLICE
YARMOUTH – A Dennis man was arrested after allegedly beating up an ex-girlfriend and then resisting arrest. Police responded to a call from the victim and after talking with her went to the scene at a cottage at 1276 Route 28 where they discovered the front door kicked in and the suspect bleeding from head injuries.

Police say the man was intoxicated and became belligerent when officers tried to place him under arrest. He was also treated by Yarmouth EMTs. 36-year old Rodney E. Costa (pictured) was charged with unarmed burglary, assault, assault and battery, resisting arrest and two counts of assault and battery on a police officer.

Read the rest of the Cape Wide News stories here, and comment below. 

Bourne "one-woman crime wave", Sandwich : summing up

Upper Cape Cod news

Read the rest of these Upper Cape Codder stories here, and comment below. 

Pier improvements get hearing, Rabies hit Cape Tip

Lower Cape Cod news from The Banner

In the Arts
See this week’s Banner to read about The Truro Group, a brand new consortium of Truro Artists that are celebrating their new alliance with a show at the the Truro Library located off Standish Way in North Truro....

Banner stories and more here, and comment below. 

News from Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich & Bourne

Upper Cape Cod News of the week:

Falmouth  
Task Force Provides A Broad Range Of Health Services And Support To Women   Selectmen Resolve To Move Ahead On Bog Demo Project   
Jude Wilber Challenges Kevin Murphy For Selectman's Seat   
ConCom Grants Fifth Continuance On Request To Build In Sippewisset

Mashpee   
Burning Ban Lifted, For Now
Some Parents Vent Frustration, Most Offer MHS Support During Hoax Period    

Sandwich   
High School Advanced Placement Classes Not Cancelled, Booras Says   
SSelectmen Question FinCom's Plan To Boost School Budget   
Community Preservation Committee Balks At Funding Sports Complex

Bourne   
Candidates Take Aim At Issues   
Police Department Hits ‘Rock Bottom’, Budget Woes Coupled with Lack of Staff to Blame   
Resident To Have Final Say In Library Expansion   
Vote On New School Awaits Firm Bids, Projected Cost Increase May Be A Wash For Taxpayers
Shore and Harbor Committee Opposes Dredge Dumping, Fire Department $60,000 Boat Purchase

Read these Enterprise stories and more here, and comment below.