Lower Cape TV Podcast

23 August 2024 — CAPE COD, MA — New parents struggling with perinatal mood disorders during pregnancy or after the birth of a child are far from alone, but fear, judgement, and impossible standards keep people from seeking help, and a lack of certified health practitioners makes it even more difficult for Cape parents to find it. Efforts have begun to train professionals and change the conversation from shame to support.

21 August 2024 - WELLFLEET, MA -  As the demand for Wellfleet's Food Pantry has grown, the organization's space needs have too - and it has now reached a point where it needs a new home. It expects to be a temporary trailer this fall, but has fingers crossed the town's Senior Center might provide a longer term solution.

23 August 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — The Orleans Police Department's annual block party has become an August ritual — and a key block in an ongoing community building effort.

16 August, 2024 — CAPE COD, MA — Previously, LCTV has looked closer at several of the efforts to turn back time on Cape Cod's original flora and fauna. This week in our ongoing coverage of eco-restorations, we're looking regionally at how the restorations ripple effects trickle into the local economy and future generations. We are also asking about the policies: where are the challenges and the barriers? And why is the drive to nurture our nature so strong on Cape Cod?

9 August 2024 — YARMOUTH, MA — The nonprofit Friends of Bass River received a $4.75 million grant this spring to help restore the longest river on the Cape Cod. In our ongoing coverage of ecological restoration on the Cape, this episode explores work underway to return 52 acres of retired cranberry bogs to natural wetlands and replace the bridge at Crab Creek - both key steps in addressing the high nitrogen levels in this critical estuary and its ponds. The organization hopes to bring back the once-abundant scallop population along with the state's second largest herring population.

16 August 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — Eastham Native Lisa Albino will become the Cape's first female fire chief September 6 as she takes the helm of a department she's worked at for almost four decades. During her tenure, she said, she looks forward to further serving the community she loves.

16 August 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — As the first day of school approaches, Nauset Regional High School prepare to welcome new students in the midst of a 3-year, $169 million renovation project. We caught up with administrators and teachers for an update on the project and what this school year will look like.

9 August 2024 — CAPE COD, MA — This week, the Massachusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center wrapped up their inaugural all-star program, where eight young minds tackled some key issues facing Cape Cod today. We spoke with some of the all-stars and the organization's president, Rob Brennan, about what they're taking away from this summer.

9 August 2024 — YARMOUTH, MA — The nonprofit Friends of Bass River received a $4.75 M grant this spring to help restore the longest river on the Cape Cod. In our ongoing coverage of ecological restoration on the Cape, this episode explores work underway to return 52 acres of retired cranberry bogs to natural wetlands and replace the bridge at Crab Creek - both key steps in addressing the high nitrogen levels in this critical estuary and its ponds. The organization hopes to bring back the once-abundant scallop population along with the state's second largest herring population.

9 August 2024 — CAPE COD, MA — Cape Cod's Visiting Nurses Association has been in contract negotiations since February with the union of their registered nurses in the field. On Tuesday, the union decided to hold a strike authorization vote. We caught up with some VNA nurses about the crisis in home healthcare across the peninsula.

01 August 2024 — HYANNIS, MA — With its newest $14.6M federal grant, the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) reaches a new milestone: more than half the buses on Cape Cod produce low to no emissions.

2 August, 2024 – CAPE COD, MA – Scarce days off, low pay and relying on the mercy of Mother Nature make the agricultural community vulnerable to mental health challenges such as overwhelm, anxiety and depression. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources found a mental health support model fitting for the farming community – a Peer Support Network – because no one understands farmers better than farmers.

30 July 2024 — HYANNIS, MA — After 11 months and 30,000 hours of collecting, cleaning, shoveling, building, teaching, and more, the 25th year of AmeriCorps Cape Cod came to a close last week. In the graduation ceremony, which honored 18 graduates and several service partners, almost all speakers touched on the strong sense of community among AmeriCorps members and with the places they serve. We spoke with program manager Kat Garofoli and year 25 graduate Hannah Van DiVier about what the next 25 years holds for the organization.

02 August 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — The season's first powerful hurricane, Beryl, rolled across the Caribbean into Texas, at times packing category 5 power over the Atlantic.  Experts say this could be the first of many - and many more powerful - storms this season. We visited with Danielle and Matt Noyes from 1° Outside and Chip Rielly from Barnstable County to learn more about what to expect.

23 July 2024 — BREWSTER, MA — Chefs Izabelle and Rob Crisanti are preparing to take on the iconic cones, clams and community at Kate's Seafood and Ice Cream, a Brewster staple. This summer, they're learning the ropes from John and Kate Ohman, who founded Kate's 39 years ago, and they hope to bring their own flavors to the clam shack next year. We spoke with the two couples about the past, present and future of the restaurant.

26 July, 2024 – EASTHAM, MA – Over 200 Cape Codders attended the public information session at the Sheraton in Eastham, July 17, called by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The presentation about the leasing process and the environmental assessment was cut short to give more time to the public's comments and questions. BOEM is proposing lease sales of 1 million acres, some of it 20 miles outside lower and outer Cape Cod, for construction and operation of a wind power station with the capacity of supplying energy to 5 million homes.

19 July 2024 — ORLEANS — Orleans released a draft of its digital equity plan this week for public comment. Spanning 64 pages, a vast array of findings, and 18 different recommendations, the plan features a lot of information. We sat down with Steven Tupper, Deputy Director of the Cape Cod Commission, and Mike Solitro, Assistant Town Manager for Orleans, to discuss what exactly the plan is saying and why digital equity on the Cape matters.

12 July 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — Indira Venkat, senior vice president AT AARP Research visits with Lower Cape TV to share results from a new study that raises an economic red flag for the near future. The vast majority of Americans over age of 50 believe they don't have enough saved to support themselves in retirement -- and 26 percent say this means they will probably never be able to retire.

19 July 2024 – WELLFLEET, MA – In late June, Wellfleet saw the biggest mass stranding of dolphins in U.S. history. It was uncharted waters even for the experienced rescue teams. In the wake of the stranding the rescue team is trying to answer the question of why it happened and why there is a steady annual increase of these events on Cape Cod. Unprecedented in numbers it made headlines wide and far and had a whole community engaged in the rescue efforts. Pattie Walsh, rescue volunteer worked tirelessly to save 146 stranded dolphins during four fateful days.

12 July 2024 — How has Cape Cod's various plastic bans impacted local business? Two regional hospitality brands, Wellfleet Harbor Seafood Company, and The Knack, share how they've adapted and what sustainability means for both culture and bottom line.

July 05 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — From data that shows a 60% increase in housing prices to zoning that allows just 2% of the Cape open for multi-family house, the new Cape Cod Commission housing strategy plan puts a stake in the ground with both data and actionable tools. It also brings forth potential regional solutions including from zoning and permitting changes,  funding and financing program, and even a community landbank .

11 July 2024 — BREWSTER, MA — In Massachusetts, 37% of Massachusetts housing is rentals. In Brewster, it's only 17% — but that's about to change with Spring Rock Village, a new affordable housing development which just received $6.7 million in state funding. Preservation of Affordable Housing and the Housing Assistance Corporation are leasing the Millstone Road property from the town to create 45 units of affordable rental housing. We caught up with town officials about what Spring Rock Village means for Brewster.

3 JULY, 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — Welcome to the dog days of summer here in Orleans. Two restaurants in town, La Bella Vita and Three Fools, have gotten variances to the health code that allows them to seat dogs in designated outdoor spaces. We spoke with restaurant owners and the health department about what exactly this means.

5 July 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — Starting July 01, parking at Eastham's two oceanside beaches requires a new beach sticker. Nauset Light Beach and Coastguard Beach are operated by the National Seashore, who, as per an agreement with the Town of Eastham, offers designated parking spaces for Eastham taxpayers. The only valid proof of identification is from now on the new ocean beach specific sticker.

28 June 2024 – CAPE COD, MA – The Cape Crushers, the regional high school mountain bike team, is getting into gear to represent Cape Cod in the national series in Pennsylvania in mid July. For these young bicyclists, obstacles in the way mean opportunities for progress.

27 June 2024 - CAPE COD, MA -  Holtec, the company holding the contract to manage Plymouth's Pilgrim nuclear power shuttering - has put tritium on the table. It says letting radioactive water evaporate or releasing it into Cape Cod Bay are "standard practice" - but not everyone agrees.

21 JUNE 2024 — BREWSTER, MA — After more than three decades of hitting the right notes as a music teacher at two of the Nauset District's elementary schools, Eddy and Orleans Elementary School Director of Instrumental Music Leah Belliveau is retiring. She'll leave behind a legacy of inspired students and colleagues, but will continue producing KidNews, the Lower Cape TV program that features reporting from students in the Nauset schools.

21 JUNE 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - "It's in Orleans" has become a popular slogan for Orleans' Chamber of Commerce. This will now ring even truer on the first Friday of each month this summer, when one can find food, drink, music and shopping throughout Orleans from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of the town's new First Friday initiative. First Fridays extend the evening hours of many businesses and aim to bring the community together on summer evenings, organizers told us.

JUNE 21, 2024 — BREWSTER, MA — Brewster held the first town celebration of Juneteenth on the Lower Cape this week, which included live music, a reading of the emancipation proclamation, tours of the windmill and blacksmith building in Drummer Boy park, and educational programming. Assistant Director of Brewster Ladies Library Devon Evans, who helped organize the event, said this Juneteenth celebration was the first of many.

14 June 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — The Lower Cape's animal rehabilitation center just got a little bit bigger. Wild Care, a nonprofit animal care organization in Eastham, cut the ribbon Friday for a much-needed expansion to its center. A culmination of five years and almost a million dollars, the new building will help Wild Care volunteers treat animals and inform the community more efficiently.

14 June 2024 — CAPE COD, MA — During Cape Cod Coastal Resilience week, the Coastal Zone Management department of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shared ways that citizen science - through the  My Coast App - can help inform policy and trained people in how to make best use of it.

14 June 2024 — BREWSTER, MA — On your marks, get set, swim! Last weekend, the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition held its 25th annual "Against the Tide" Nickerson State Park, a swim race event where participants raise money for the organization's community programming. With informative speakers, music, and of course, swimming, dozens of people helped MBCC in its mission to spread awareness about preventing breast cancer.

06 June 2024 — EASTHAM, MA — Ospreys love choosing utility poles — and other human structures — for nest sites but it turns out this might not be the best real estate match.  Eastham's Wild Care has begun working with Eversouce as a sort of real estate relocation expert to help eggs find a safer home.

02 June 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — Beach Road in Orleans may be on a path to make the popular road more bike and pedestrian friendly ... before a tragic accident happens. At the end of the current feasibility study, the town will have four bike lane layouts to choose from.

30 May 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — Garden Coach Priscilla Husband says planting season is here - and understanding plant size, light, and water demands help create a garden that works today and tomorrow.

31 May 2024 — CAPE COD, MA — We are wrapping up bike month by gazing into a future where bike riders will be able to pedal through 88 miles of bike lanes stretching from Bourne to Provincetown. A vision where both bike and pedestrian safety as well as accessibility could add to Cape Cod's local economy.

24 May 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — Jeff Talmadge from We Need a Vacation in Orleans says Cape Cod and Islands have moved past the COVID era blip. The company has been tracking seasonal rental data for decades and says this season sees bookings slightly above pre-pandemic levels while pricing has moved closer to pre-pandemic levels as well.

May 23 2024 — CHATHAM, MA — This week Cape Cod had its first confirmed white shark sighting of the season, just as the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and the MA Division of Marine Fisheries kicked off 2024 research plans and recapped data from last year.

24 May 2024 — YARMOUTH, MA — Cape Cod prides itself on welcoming visitors, but many people experience a different, less welcoming Cape. Advocacy organization No Place For Hate Barnstable says racism, intolerance and discrimination affect both our democracy at large and the Cape community specifically. To bring about change NPFHB convened two region-wide meetings gathering State representatives, the District Attorney, advocates and the public to brainstorm new solutions.

17 May 2024 – BREWSTER, MA – May is National Bike Month. It has been promoted for almost seven decades to encourage more Americans to try biking, and at the McGraw Center in Nickerson State Park, that means everybody – regardless if the pedals are operated with feet or hands. Adaptive biking season has officially started.

05.12.24 — PROVINCETOWN, MA — When fishing boats go down at sea, coastal communities seem to grieve with one heart.  For fishermen and their loved ones, every day is a risk they take to be able to work at sea. In this short film, fishing families share their heartbreaking stories.

29 April 2024 - ORLEANS, MA - The Orleans Fire Department swore in seven new firefighters, celebrated two promotions, and announced several service awards at a ceremony on April 29.

3 May 2024 - PROVINCETOWN, MA - The Fine Arts Work Center and the Provincetown IB public school held their annual collaboration between artists and poets and K-8 students. During the event, student poets read their work, the gallery hung student works, and the two community organizations celebrated the power of art across generations.

3 May 2024 - BREWSTER, MA - During Brewster's annual street "spring cleaning" 230 volunteers shredded more than 1,000 pounds of trash that over-wintered along 30 miles of roadside - and gathered a trash-snap of Brewster's use habits, from nip bottles to plastic bags.

Introducing 2024 Person of the Year Hal Minis Brewster is lucky to have volunteers like Hal who donate their expertise to improve the community. Watch to learn more!

23 April 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — Cranes hoisted into place the long awaited sculpture at the Rt 28 and Rt 39 rotary in Orleans.  The Orleans Improvement Association led the effort to cap off the reconfigured intersection with art and supporters say the planer steel sculpture by Chatham artist Tom Odell adds a gentle motion of sunshine and shadow, completing the look of the reconfigured intersection.

26 April 2024 — ORLEANS, MA — Braving the rain, volunteers and organizations came together to give Orleans' beaches a makeover to celebrate Earth Day. With a focus on the theme Planet vs Plastics seventeen beaches and landings got litter-free and summer-ready.

26 April 2024 — TRURO, MA — What's on the menu at the Truro Community Kitchen? This week there's some extra green in each bag as the program launched its reusable take out container program.

If you walk through the right-of-way under the power lines in Harwich, just north of Bay Road, you can leave the snacks at home and get your dose of antioxidants from pawpaws, chokeberries and hazelnuts. The Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod is bringing back a half century old movement by planting perennial crops on Cape Cod's marginal lands.

The Nauset School District embraced hydroponic farming, hoping to promote healthy eating habits, while teaching students important lessons about resource management and sustainability.

Pastor David Brown first stepped through the doors at the Chapel On The Pond in 2017, a century after it was built. Pastor Brown fell in love with the church, and when asked if he would like to become its new pastor, he made the church his new home. The congregation was small, but the handful of churchgoers would soon grow to a full house foot stomping, dancing and singing parishioners. Every Sunday the music spills over to the quiet and narrow Pond Road. Everyone is welcome to join this mostly Jamaican faith community. That is, if it will still be there after the end of March.   Watch the story