Happy days are here again. Bluefish are still solidly in our area, and catches have been fantastic. Can we officially declare the five-year bluefish drought over? I don’t think anyone […]
EVICTION DEADLINE
Former Napi’s Workers Still Have Nowhere to Go
Manager Sabuda said he wanted no Black employees, Jamaicans charge
PROVINCETOWN — With seven days remaining before the Aug. 31 deadline on their eviction notices, five former employees of Napi’s Restaurant still had nowhere to go as of Tuesday this […]
THE NEWS INDUSTRY
While Chain-Owned Newspapers Struggle, Many Independents Thrive
Obscured by reports of newsroom job losses, a ‘rebirth of local journalism’
It’s a familiar story: “Hedge fund buys paper, guts newsroom.” Countering that narrative is another, much less familiar, but increasingly common one: “Local paper gains ground, wins subscribers.” The financial […]
HOUSING ANALYSIS
Surprises in Short-Term Rental Data
Community impact fee could apply to many properties here
PROVINCETOWN — The conversion of year-round rental property to short-term rentals has played a starring role in the housing crisis here. But it’s not the only player. An Independent analysis […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Henri’s Wallop Is More Financial Than Physical
Boats haul out, but squid, bluefish, and dolphins are here
The summer of big storms continues, with our first named storm rolling into the Provincetown waterfront over the weekend. Henri was initially predicted to hammer Cape Cod, but its sharp […]
PROBATE
They Worked for Napi for Years; Now They’re Being Evicted
After being fired by new management, they say, Jamaican workers must leave longtime homes
PROVINCETOWN — Anton “Napi” Van Dereck Haunstrup, the late art collector and owner of Napi’s Restaurant, had no children. But Ellis Wilson, he often told friends, was “the son he […]
SHELLFISHING
Temporary Moratorium Imposed on New Town-Owned Grants
Wellfleet Shellfish Advisory Board asked to recommend uses of HDYLTA Trust flats
WELLFLEET — The select board imposed a temporary moratorium on aquaculture grants on town-owned flats off Indian Neck on Aug. 16, pending a review by the town’s shellfish advisory board. […]
THE HOUSING CRISIS
Towns Look at Numbers to Compare Competing Bids
Tenant income-mix and financing plans are part of the decision
When bids to build affordable housing were opened in the last two weeks, describing plans for the former VFW site in Provincetown and for 95 Lawrence Road in Wellfleet, a […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Bluefish Reign, but Hypoxia Threatens South End of Bay
A major factor is lawn fertilizer raising nitrogen levels
As the water heats up, the bluefishing just keeps getting better and better. I recorded some extraordinary surface water temperatures last week: 77 degrees in the harbor, and 75 degrees […]
ECONOMY
Jamaican Business Owners Come to the Front of the House
After decades of hard work and saving, a few have managed to succeed
PROVINCETOWN — When Omar Neil first arrived on the Outer Cape in 2001, he shared a three-bedroom house with 19 other Jamaican temporary visa holders. Every day, a truck picked […]
THE CRISIS
Year-Round Rental Housing Melts Away as Real Estate Booms
New ideas for preserving existing rental units emerge on Nantucket
PROVINCETOWN — Early in the morning of June 11, seven Provincetown residents received the email that every renter here fears: “It’s been wonderful being your landlord, but I’m getting older […]
BUSINESS SCENE
Restaurant Relief Fund Brings Almost $9 Million to Outer Cape
23 P’town restaurants, plus one each in Wellfleet and Eastham, get funding
PROVINCETOWN — The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), created by Congress in March of this year to help restaurants and bars that suffered extreme loss of revenue due to the Covid-19 […]
INSECURITY
Behind the Housing Crisis, Anxiety
Homeless Prevention Council case managers find ‘no solutions’
EASTHAM — Allie Dubois and her family had been renting their house in Eastham for almost four years when their landlord decided to take advantage of the booming real estate […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Stripers Are Scarce, as Blues and Squid Take Their Place
Capt. Tom Smith pulls a relic from the ocean floor
We have fallen into what used to be the normal summer pattern, but which we haven’t seen here in eight years: striped bass have all but disappeared in our local […]
HDYLTA
2 Years Later, Planning Starts on Those Indian Neck Tidal Flats
Some call for balancing interests of shellfishing, boating, and upland owners
WELLFLEET — More than two years ago, town meeting voters bought 254.5 acres of shellfish flats for $2 million, with half the money donated by select board member Helen Miranda […]
