This morning we received a delivery of shells for our driveway. 
The German children, staying here, were fascinated. I told them the story of our archeologist guest and the midden, up Old King's Highway. Most innkeepers will not accept children, but I find their energy so invigorating. After a daily excursion into town, they run around the house in frantic games of hide and seek. Yesterday they went whale-watching. Last night they enjoyed Wicked Oyster. Today the family will try to go to PJs for lunch and Catch of the Day for dinner. I explained how PJs went green, with bio-degradable packaging, which drew smiles. (Germany is way ahead of us with its recycling programs.) Our German guests also approved of our recycling of oyster shells! Last night I attended Town Meeting. A proposal for a new athletic field off Lawrence Road drew a lot of speakers, many of whom spoke in opposition. I even got up and protested the assertion that tourists need a track for running: our German guests have enjoyed jogging around Dyer Pond, a natural trail with a carpet of pine needles underfoot. The article was defeated.
The big event was defeat of Article 32, proposed by the Planning Board, to limit house size. Some folks criticized the complicated wording. Others decried a possible lack of construction work in time of recession. Short-sighted of them, if you ask me. Many Wellfleetians, who do not usually come to Town Meeting, showed up last night. Selectman Berta Brunooge expressed her exasperation when she realized the opposition in the room and stated to the assembled crowd, "You supported this three years ago!" Ah yes. But not the same people were present. Berta requested a hand count, after the traditional voice vote. The numbers were 128 in favor, and 168 against.
Town Meeting was adjourned at 11 pm. It will continue tonight, when the petitioned article for bio-degradable packaging is to be presented. I urge all those who care about the environment to show up.
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jerusha · 726 weeks ago
Tonight we get a chance to cut down on Wellfleet's contribution to the humumgous rafts of plastics literally choking the life out of our oceans. We also get a chance to speak out for Mom & Pop restaurants vs Fast Food chains -- and say Aye! to desperately needed affordable housing.
Be there or be square.
Even non-voters can speak to an issue with permission of the moderator -- or offer a silent, supportive presence and witness living American history at an open New England Town Meeting. (bring a canteen, a seed catalog to browse, a sketch book to enjoy, or some knitting -- if you knit)
janet · 726 weeks ago
chezsven 82p · 726 weeks ago
Zuleme · 726 weeks ago
Champion of My Heart · 726 weeks ago
That's a shame about the McMansion provision. We had a weird fire code fight in our community over the requirement of sprinkler systems in huge houses (like what's required for commercial buildings). People were against the rules, but honestly ... if your house is as big as a commercial building, then the same fire suppression rules should apply.
My fav was the dork who got up an argued against having to put in a water cistern for firefighting on his land because of the environmental impact. Sigh ... he ended up building like a 6K-square-foot house with a @#$@# swimming pool (on top of a mountain). Don't forget the miles of private road he cut into the mountain side.
It was pretty aggravating for us little people in normal sized houses who already live here.
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stan · 726 weeks ago
Though that big house @ "The Gut" is very visible from the road and thus a lightning rod for criticism- to get some context on the issue one must view the same spot from the water. The shore is lined with many, many VERY large houses - landlubbers are simply spared the view by the hills. It's hard to be opposed to the Blasch house when one sees how many - and how big - all the neighboring houses already are!
The encroachment of large, year-round luxury homes has occurred all over the Cape, for decades now, from Chatham to Truro. If Wellfleet cannot or will not mandate architectural guidelines, then there's not much to fret over - Change, like the tides, is constant (and property tax revenue is always attractive).
That said, in fairness, I would only add that I find the Blasch home to be very well designed, well integrated into its surroundings and constructed of very high grade materials with top shelf workmanship - certainly a nicer, higher quality home than many of the very large, outdated neighbors clinging in vain to the dunes above the ocean. I'm just pleased it's not another industrial wind turbine power generation facility!!
Melanie · 726 weeks ago
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Christine · 725 weeks ago
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