TRURO — Two cottages that were moved to a town-owned lot on South Highland Road in February 2024 were supposed to be renovated and ready to house town employees by […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Bass Are Here, There, and Not Everywhere
Flounder on the shoals, bluefish in the sound
Striped bass are playing hide and seek with us now. One day we have them good, with big numbers of fish around and feeding well, and the next day there […]
PROMISES, PROMISES
Health Officials Tighten Oversight at Sandbars Inn
Noise, rowdiness, and no one in charge: ‘The same conversation we’ve had for several years’
TRURO — The board of health is all too familiar with complaints about the Sandbars Inn at 570 Shore Road. Many of them stem from lack of oversight of the […]
HOUSING
Board Approves $500K for 26 Shank Painter
‘Forgivable loan’ would be repaid if developers fail to build 40 units
PROVINCETOWN — The town’s effort to get 40 condos — 30 of which would be sold to town residents at below-market prices — built at the site of the former […]
TAXING
In Eastham, Property Tax Is a Hot Topic
Comparisons to other towns and the recent past can offer lessons, Bienvenue says
EASTHAM — Property taxes have been in the spotlight in Eastham this year. In the annual town election, two candidates for select board told the Independent that rising taxes were […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Another Washout, but This One With a Bite
The bass are here and so are the bottlenoses
We had another weekend washout with clouds and cool temperatures, but this time the weather didn’t stop the fish from biting. Striped bass moved north of Billingsgate Shoals and smack […]
REGIONAL RESPONSE
New Plans for Housing at Seasonal Communities Meeting
Leaders from Cape, Islands, and Berkshires discuss next steps for the new designation
PROVINCETOWN — On an unseasonably hot Friday in May, local leaders from Cape Cod, the Islands, and the Berkshires gathered at town hall to discuss the state’s newest response to […]
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
London Owner Wants to Demolish 1805 House and Build a Larger One
Truro’s historic properties are among the least protected in Barnstable County
TRURO — A 220-year-old house peeks out from behind a wall of foliage on land wedged between Castle and Truro Center roads. The house at 3 Castle Road is a piece […]
AQUACULTURE
Provincetown Oyster Farmers Want to Grow Sea Urchins, Too
Growing a native species that was overfished, the Chutes hope for both algae cleanup and winter income
PROVINCETOWN — Michael and Kalliope Chute, who have operated the Mermaid Menu oyster farm on the flats in Provincetown Harbor for several years, hope to expand their business this summer […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Another Weekend, Another Storm
Flounder persist, stripers arrive, and there are new rules for recreational bluefin tuna fishing
Another weekend storm has hampered our efforts to get out there and go fishing. This time, south to southwest winds gusting to 35 m.p.h. and rain stifled any idea of […]
SALVATION
Condemned Wellfleet House Gets a Reprieve
Helen Wilson buys Peace Valley house to save it from receivership
WELLFLEET — Helen Miranda Wilson says she has been staring at the house at 177 Peace Valley Road her whole life. And what she’s seen there has not always been […]
SITES
Prep Work for Redeveloping the Truro Motor Inn Has Begun
‘No surprises’ emerge on inspection, but buildings will likely be torn down
TRURO — Progress on the dilapidated Truro Motor Inn is happening slowly, with the work in view now focused on preparing the site for redevelopment. The property was taken from […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
A Late Nor’easter Takes Boats and Stalls Stripers
When storms track west, beware on the bay side
Just when the striped bass were starting to take hold, with good numbers of large fish settling into the area around Billingsgate Shoals, along comes a late-season winter-like nor’easter. This […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Flounder, Basking Sharks, and Algae
Watching the ‘Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt’
I’m starting to sound like a broken record: we are still waiting for the big charge of striped bass to arrive in our waters. There have been reports of spotty […]
NO SERVICE
DOGE Cuts Cancel Grants for AmeriCorps
County officials and nonprofits scramble to preserve jobs
WELLFLEET — AmeriCorps, the federal agency that funds community service projects, has terminated $530,000 in grants for work on the Outer Cape undertaken by AmeriCorps Cape Cod (ACC) and through […]
