WELLFLEET — Voters at the June 26 annual town meeting must prepare for a 53-article warrant that includes $3.3 million in Proposition 2½ overrides and debt exclusions. If all of […]
LEARNING
Lynne Ready Packs Up Her Toolbox
A gentle rebel retires from teaching preschool in Truro
TRURO — Lynne Ready says there is a sequence to teaching children how to use scissors. First, you must pick the right type of construction paper — not too floppy. […]
FRAUD ALERT
Online Rental Scam Targets the Desperate
Craigslist users are victimized, with no recourse
WELLFLEET — Gordon Kahn had spent an entire day searching online for an apartment for his daughter when he found a cute cottage on Craigslist. The 14 interior and exterior […]
JOBS UNFILLED
Truro, Down by 11 Employees, Faces Worker Shortage
Without enough staff, summer camp spots will be limited this year
TRURO — The town’s popular and affordable summer day camp will be able only to take children of Truro residents this year, the result of a failure to attract enough […]
OBITUARY
Columnist Marguerite ‘Beata’ Cook, 96, Was Up-Front About Everything
A gay woman who stayed centered in her Portuguese family
PROVINCETOWN — The day before Beata Cook drew her last breath, her niece and caregiver asked her, “Auntie, are you getting ready to die?” To which Cook replied, “I don’t […]
LEADERSHIP
Hoort’s ‘Hands-Off’ Management Led to Financial Crisis
‘You’re only as good as the employees you hire,’ says former administrator
WELLFLEET — The problems with the town’s financial management, which two temporary accountants are now trying to untangle, began years ago and mushroomed during former Town Administrator Dan Hoort’s tenure. […]
FISCAL CRISIS
Wellfleet Funds Not Certified by State Since 2018
The town has no general ledger or access to ‘free cash,’ says Interim Administrator Sumner
WELLFLEET — The town’s “free cash” account has not been certified by the state Dept. of Revenue for the last three years. This is just one of the mind-bending problems […]
OLD EXIT 12: BREWSTER ELECTION
Critic of ‘Liberal Mob’ Recruits School Board Candidates
Two in Brewster have links to Lange’s United Cape Patriots
BREWSTER — Voters will have an array of school committee candidates to choose from at the May 25 town election, including one who wants to reduce the number of school-choice […]
ECONOMY
The Housing Crisis, Up Close and Personal
Staff members at one small business share a work ethic and worries
PROVINCETOWN — When Relish owner Frank Vasello opened his West End deli and bakery in 2001, attracting customers was his main concern. Now, it’s finding staff. The trouble, Vasello says, […]
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK
Tax, Build, or Say Goodbye
In September 2000, I landed in Aspen as the first snow of the year dusted the Rockies and the Cape Cod Times was finishing a series on the Cape’s affordable […]
TAXES
3 Towns Consider Raising Short-Term Rental Tax Rate
But few decisions are made on how to spend the money
Town meeting voters this spring in Truro, Wellfleet, and Eastham will be asked to raise the short-term rental tax rate from 4 to 6 percent, to maximize what state law […]
THE DOOR REVOLVES
Wellfleet Taps Sumner as Interim Town Administrator
Meanwhile, volunteers push to finish town meeting warrant and budget
WELLFLEET — In three days last week, the select board held three meetings during which they delayed town meeting by three weeks, reviewed warrant articles, and decided to offer the […]
PIER REVIEW
Pier Corp. Controversy Goes On as McKinsey’s Role Changes Again
Town meeting indefinitely postpones an article to dissolve the board
PROVINCETOWN — Criticism of the board of the Provincetown Public Pier Corp., which led to an unsuccessful bid to dissolve the corporation at Saturday’s annual town meeting, grew intense in […]
SELECTION
Candidates Night Exposes Similarities and Tensions
Provincetown town election is May 11
PROVINCETOWN — The three candidates running for select board in the May 11 election named pathways to create more year-round housing and to push the long-delayed construction of a new […]
LAND
The Sun Has Set on the Land Bank, but Bounty Remains
Open space committee proposes two parcels for purchase at town meeting
PROVINCETOWN — Town meeting on Saturday will include requests to use some of the town’s remaining Cape Cod Land Bank funds to buy two small pieces of land for $300,000 […]
