PROVINCETOWN — Spend enough time learning about Cape Cod’s housing crisis and you’ll eventually hear something about ADUs, or accessory dwelling units. By definition, an ADU is a smaller residential […]
News
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COUNTY POLITICS
Recall Provision for Commissioners Is Nixed Again
The commissioners won’t endorse the Assembly’s proposal
BARNSTABLE — The latest effort to add a provision to the Barnstable County charter allowing for the recall of a county commissioner has failed, after not securing the support of […]
STAFFING
Wellfleet Town Hall Welcomes First HR Director
Christine Ezersky takes the job created by voters at September’s special town meeting.
WELLFLEET — Christine Ezersky walked into town hall on Jan. 9 as the town’s first-ever human resources director. Voters at a Sept. 10, 2022 special town meeting approved Article 4 […]
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
OCHS Proposes New Addiction Recovery Clinic in Wellfleet
In-person therapy would be added to outpatient addiction program
WELLFLEET — The first clinic in the region to offer intensive in-person counseling to patients battling substance use disorders is currently in the works and would operate in the building […]
DEMOGRAPHICS
Birth and Death Statistics Show an Aging Population
There were three deaths for every birth here in 2022
With the books closed on 2022 and town clerks across the Cape working on their annual town reports, the Independent took a look at the birth and death records for […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Celestial Dances in the January Sky
Conjunctions come into view in the winter sky, no telescope needed
The Moon and four bright planets put on a playful show this month. No telescope or binoculars are needed, and, fortunately for us during this cold winter stretch, the action […]
RARA AVIS
This Week’s Bird Sightings
Confirmed bird sightings on the Outer Cape in the week preceding the Independent’s deadline on Tuesday, Jan. 17 included the following, based on a report prepared by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet […]
PROVINCETOWN: THIS WEEK'S CURRENTS
Sharing the Road
Meetings Ahead Most meetings in Provincetown are in-person, typically with an online-attendance option for both committee members and residents. Click on the meeting you want to attend on the calendar […]
TRURO: THIS WEEK'S CURRENTS
Forget About Fossil Fuels
Meetings Ahead Most meetings in Truro are remote. Go to truro-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch. The agenda includes instructions on how to join. Thursday, Jan. 19 Climate […]
WELLFLEET: THIS WEEK'S CURRENTS
The Buy-Down Bridge
Meetings Ahead Most meetings in Wellfleet are remote only, but some are held in person. Go to www.wellfleet-ma.gov/calendar and click on the meeting you want to watch, then follow the […]
EASTHAM: THIS WEEK'S CURRENTS
The Present Is Female
Meetings Ahead Most meetings are being held in person, but some are still remote or virtual. Go to eastham-ma.gov and click on the meeting you are interested in to learn about meeting locations […]
DEMOLITION
Seashore Will Spend $8 Million to Raze 44 Buildings
Houses that might have been restored became the Park’s albatross
TRURO — About half of the abandoned buildings at the former North Truro Air Force Base will be razed by 2024 thanks to an $8-million grant to demolish derelict structures […]
RESCUE
Housing Could Get $11.4M From County ARPA Pot
Addressing homelessness, affordable housing, and the ‘missing middle’
BARNSTABLE — An advisory committee established to recommend best uses of the $41.4 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding sent to the county says the $11.4 million remaining […]
HOUSING SOLUTIONS
Teaming Up to Bring Vail’s Strategy Home
P’town, Vineyard, and Nantucket, ask state to OK new deed restrictions
PROVINCETOWN — A housing strategy involving deed restrictions that was devised in Vail, Colo. and has been duplicated in Lake Tahoe, Calif. could soon be coming to the Cape and […]
ARPA UPDATE
$10M for Towns and $5M in Small Grants Slowly Progress
Countywide programs await Assembly approval
BARNSTABLE — The federal American Rescue Plan Act sent $41.3 million to Barnstable County. That money has now been divided into four separate pots: $12.8 million will be spent by […]