The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority has made its buses free on Fridays. Tom Cahir, the CCRTA administrator, said fare-free Fridays would help workers and tourists as the Outer Cape […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Elsa Makes a Mess in the Harbor
Southeast gusts of 61 mph at high tide create havoc
Unrelenting storms continue to ravage the Cape this summer, with the latest being Tropical Storm Elsa, which blasted us last Friday afternoon, July 9. It was a really bad combination: the […]
SHORT-TERM RENTALS
New Tax Yields Windfall, but Not for Housing
Provincetown’s $2 million goes to tourism, stabilization, general funds
PROVINCETOWN — The tax on short-term rentals has generated a financial windfall for the four Outer Cape towns, newly released figures from the state show. The added revenue for the […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Things Were Just Fine, and Then…
After a sudden drop in water temperature, the fish were gone
We take three steps forward and two steps back, which is an old story with fishing. Things were going very well, as striped bass fishing was consistently solid and bluefishing was […]
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Outer Cape Projects Attract Mostly Off-Cape Developers
Provincetown’s CHR will not be bidding, but the CDP joins a proposal
Two large affordable housing projects proposed in Wellfleet and Provincetown have attracted the interest of several off-Cape developers. The Provincetown-based developer Community Housing Resource will not submit proposals for either […]
DUE DILIGENCE
Blasches List Their Endangered House for $5.5 Million
The building that led to house-size limits in Wellfleet’s National Seashore
WELLFLEET — The controversial Blasch house at 1440 Chequessett Neck Road is on the market. Mark and Barbara Blasch, who built it in 2010, are asking $5.5 million for the […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Bass Are Running in Huge Numbers
Whales are scarce, but white sharks are appearing
Striped bass fishing dramatically improved this past week, with huge numbers of mixed-sized fish moving into the area between Wood End Light and Race Point. Most of the fish ranged […]
THE CRISIS
Leaders Issue Call to Action on Housing
Cyr wants ‘a fundamental reimagining of what we are willing to do’
PROVINCETOWN — State Sen. Julian Cyr and Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Wendy Northcross convened a panel of housing experts last week that focused on what individual towns can […]
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Lawsuits Stall Habitat Houses in Wellfleet and Truro
Appeals usually fail, but delaying tactic can still kill a project
Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, whose efforts are generally welcomed by communities, has been embroiled in court battles for the last several years over plans to build four affordable […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Trouble With the Bass Rules: Throwbacks Don’t Survive
Mackerel and squid are here, and bluefish are close behind
Bass fishing exploded in our area this week. And the big fish have arrived. Capt. Nico Pace of the Cape Tip’n, Capt. Russ Zawaduk of the Lisa Z, Capt. Rich […]
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
After 20 Years, 8 Units May Be Built in Wellfleet
The town and abutters settle suit on Paine Hollow project
WELLFLEET — A court fight that has derailed the building of eight affordable rental units on Paine Hollow Road appears to be on the verge of resolution. Lawyers for the […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Bluefish, Bass, and Flounder Fishing Improves in the Bay
But whales have been mostly absent
Fishing is heating up, with bluefish showing up in the bay and keeper-size striped bass being caught more and more. In the last week, striped bass keepers were taken off […]
HOUSING
‘Barracks’ Dormitory Proposal Could Get a Vote Thursday
Patrick’s project aims for 112 seasonal beds, 16 year-round rentals
PROVINCETOWN — The planning board will again consider Patrick Patrick’s seasonal worker dormitory proposal at its meeting on Thursday, June 10 and could offer a final clearance that would allow […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Bass Get a Bit Bigger
With the temperature, hopes are rising among fishermen
What a difference a week makes. We went from a November-like Memorial Day weekend storm to a blistering July-like heat wave. Fishing has improved somewhat. Striped bass are filtering in […]
ON MACMILLAN PIER
Pirates Move Out, Sharks Move In
Barry Clifford’s Whydah building is for sale for $9.75 million
PROVINCETOWN — Visitors to MacMillan Pier this summer are guaranteed a sighting of a great white shark — 12 feet long and with plenty of teeth. But the toothed creature […]
