PROVINCETOWN — Almost a year ago, town meeting voters endorsed two measures to regulate the ownership of short-term rental properties here and prevent consolidation of the industry in the hands […]
LOCATION, LOCATION
Shellfish Dept. Answers Fears With Positive Harvest Data
After boom years, and with more pickers, wild oyster numbers ‘head back to normal’
WELLFLEET — At select board meetings throughout the summer, wild oyster harvesters used the public comment period as a platform to decry the state of the town’s wild fishery. “I […]
WELLFLEET HARBOR
Turning the Tables on Mayo Beach
A lease agreement with Mac’s highlights inconsistencies in procurement procedure
WELLFLEET — The select board on Sept. 10 reviewed the only bid received for the leasing in 2025 of the town-owned sandy lot at 255 Commercial St. between Mac’s on […]
ECONOMY
Obscure Regulation Limits What Employers Can Charge Staff for Housing
The rule hasn’t been updated in 20 years and affects all minimum-wage workers
PROVINCETOWN — As the cost of living has become increasingly untenable for workers on Cape Cod, many local businesses have had to sign leases on rental properties, or buy properties […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
A Fall Bass Run
There’s Wicked Tuna and then there’s real-life tuna fishing
A fall bass run has evaded us for about six years, but this week there was clear evidence that one is underway. As everybody out here knows, the weather has been […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Call Them Fluke or Summer Flounder — They’re Back
Charlie Souza says goodbye to Mr. Chips, but fishing won’t leave him
Well, it’s official: the fluke are back. After a 10-year absence, they are turning up both in Cape Cod Bay and on the backside beaches. This past week, good catches […]
HOUSING
Truro Select Board Postpones Taking of Truro Motor Inn
It is unclear who should receive $1.6 million in ‘just compensation’
TRURO — The select board decided at its Aug. 27 meeting to table a motion that would have executed the taking by eminent domain of the now-empty Truro Motor Inn […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Of Flukes and Flukes
Catching big fish, freeing a sea turtle, and getting unhooked
Fishing bounced back in a big way this past week with striped bass and bluefish biting well; many boats had some big catches. As has been the case most of […]
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Truro Part-Timers Worry About Housing and Health
A forum was the first project of revived part-time resident advisory committee
TRURO — At a forum organized by the Truro Part-Time Resident Advisory Committee on Aug. 19, several part-time residents advocated building more affordable housing in town, with some saying the […]
WELLFLEET HARBOR
Marina Committee Blames Former Staff for Poor Management
Interim harbormaster says budget is inadequate to address concerns
WELLFLEET — Following three resignations in the harbormaster’s office within a two-week period earlier this summer, members of the town’s marina advisory committee claimed former staff failed to address critical […]
BUSINESS
Owner of Seashore Park Inn Halts Auction With Bankruptcy Filing
Perkins put the LLC that holds Orleans motel into Chapter 11 last week
ORLEANS — Taylor Perkins, a hotelier based in York, Maine, purchased two motels and a vacation-rental property in three different Lower Cape towns in the last two years through a […]
INFRASTRUCTURE
13 Electric Buses Will Join CCRTA’s Fleet
At $1 million per bus, the goal of an all-electric fleet is still a decade away
PROVINCETOWN — The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority received a $14.6-million federal grant in July that will pay for 13 new hybrid-electric buses at around $1 million each, along with […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Invasion of the Dogfish
Schools of small sharks are here, and they’re beating the bass and blues to the bait
As we roll from summer into fall, the fishing, regrettably, remains sporadic and most days just not very good. Bluefish are still hard to find, and the striped bass aren’t […]
AQUACULTURE
Off the Tides, the Work Goes On for Oystermen
Culling, sorting, tumbling, tagging, and selling are unseen tasks of the trade
WELLFLEET — Jimmy Mulpeter stands under the shade of a patio umbrella on an August afternoon, holding oyster after oyster against a metal gauge before tossing them into one of […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Caution: Humpbacks in the Harbor
The commercial bass season comes to a close
This has been quite an interesting week on the waterfront. Pogies have invaded Provincetown Harbor by the thousands, and that usually attracts predators such as tuna, striped bass, and bluefish. […]
