The two Outer Cape towns with the poorest records of creating affordable housing — Truro and Wellfleet — will both surely fail to meet upcoming deadlines in their existing housing […]
Local Journalism Project
WELLFLEET TOWN MEETING
Democracy and Dugouts
This year’s meeting on the ballfield brought out the quirks of New England town government
WELLFLEET — Take me out to the town meeting — if Wellfleet doesn’t win, it’s a shame. For it’s one, two, three motions to call the question and you’re out, […]
THE LOCAL JOURNALISM PROJECT
Emerging for a Summer of Reporting
Introducing the Independent’s 2021 journalism fellows
The Independent is hosting four young journalists in its summer fellowship program this year. We asked them to introduce themselves by describing their experiences of emerging from the pandemic into […]
RELIGION
Gay Catholics Seek Solace and Spirituality at St. Peter’s
Social justice concerns and service lead to ‘a richer faith’
PROVINCETOWN — Mike Dubour was in the process of converting to Judaism. He was tired of the lousy version of Catholicism he kept receiving — what he described as “hatred […]
COURT REPORT
A ‘Sextortion’ Case Reveals Silent Crisis for Teens
Abstinence-only advice on sexting is not working
EASTHAM — On Nov. 6, 2020, a girl walked into Eastham’s police station, alone. Like a growing share of her generation, she was facing a new digital form of sexual […]
ECONOMY
For Local Fishermen, Change Is a Way of Life
Whatever the crisis, the answer is: adapt
WELLFLEET — For a few days of each week this summer, Will Barrio hung up his waders and went out to wire electrics. Normally, Barrio would wait to grab his […]
CLOVERLEAF PROJECT
Water Quality Issues? Check Your Septic, Says Beebe.
Truro health agent points to inspections and testing
TRURO — Health and Conservation Agent Emily Beebe had a lot of things to say about water quality and the Cloverleaf affordable housing proposal, both in a letter to the […]
JOURNALISM
Commission on Local Newspapers Passes House Vote
Concern for future of journalism grows as chains take over
An amendment to an economic development bill calling for a statewide commission to look at what’s happening to local newspapers passed the Mass. House of Representatives on July 28 and […]
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
One Year and Counting
I received a nice note this evening from Sadie Hutchings, the Provincetown veterinarian (and our new “Animal Clinic” columnist). “I think you guys must have just had a birthday for […]
FAMILY
Covid Changes Connections Across Generations
Ironically, it’s harder when grandparents and grandchildren live near one another
Every Monday night, Sue Eldredge meets her daughter and granddaughter over Zoom for dinner. In a way, that’s a lot more togetherness than they had before the pandemic, when she […]
RESILIENCE
Nonprofit Groups Adapt and Persevere in a Crisis
Virtual services and fundraising aren’t easy, but there are a few surprising benefits
Updated Aug. 18, 2020. When the lockdowns of mid-March first hit, the Cape’s nonprofits were faced with a series of questions. Organizations like the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod […]
TRANSITIONS
A Decision Well Beyond Their Years
How Outer Cape eighth graders choose a high school
For Jen Rhodes of Wellfleet, it was obvious where her eighth-grade son, Jack, should attend high school in the fall. She’d sent two daughters to technical schools, and knew that […]
CANDY
The Chocolate Sparrow Flies Away
A beloved store is now a sweet memory
WELLFLEET –– On Main Street, there isn’t much to do if you’re under 10 years old. Sure, there are art galleries, coffee shops, and clothing stores, but those are pretty […]
LOCAL LORE
On Outer Cape Cod, Legends Buzz
A review of three of the most enduring tales
From pirate ships to alien sightings, folklore is part of life on the Outer Cape. The tales have long traveled from person to person, and it’s a tradition to bring […]
YOUNG VOICES
Hope For Local Journalism
Student stories in this week’s issue: We’ve written about how local businesses and town governments are coping with the coronavirus pandemic, but Garrison Guzzeau reached out to nonprofits from Eastham […]
