Moon, Sun, Moon, Sun, Moon: Duck Harbor

Why We Must All Fight Pollution

Don't you just love walking on a beach? It is so peaceful by the ocean, serene ... But, wait! What the hell is that? I was thinking another balloon, off a cruise ship, but no. This time the offender turned out to be a chunk of blue foam. But where did it originate? How did it get into the Atlantic? How many bits had broken off during its voyage and been swallowed by ocean fish? Suddenly I felt overwhelmed by this toxic mess we humans have created, environmental pollution that is seemingly omnipresent in our lives. I have been trying to spread the word through this blog, and through Facebook ...

Last week my younger daughter told me, "I may have to un-friend you, Maman. What you post is stressing me out too much."

It's true that the flood of information on harm done to the planet is pretty depressing. I would prefer to share positive stories, like the CSI episode on hydro-fracking, broadcast two weeks ago, created by a team of environmentally-aware writers. Seems I'm not alone in this effort to spread the word. Sensible citizens everywhere are getting it. Green bloggers have begun to unite. Check out the collective energy throbbing at Ecocentric, a new blog about food, water, and energy. Every day a new petition arrives in my in-box. But we must do more than sign petitions, like the one against hydro-fracking or the one at Living Green, Living Well to stop genetically-engineered salmon (both of which I urge you to sign).

I'm heartened that there is movement on the plastics front, too. You can read about it in a HuffPost article by Jennifer Schwab, Director of Sustainability for Sierra Club Green Home. Over at Fake Plastic Fish, Beth Terry has been considering a blog name change to reach a larger audience. And, Los Angeles County banned the plastic bag last month.

What's more, people are buying books like No Impact Man and applying eco-policies to their lives. Consumerism may not be dead yet, but it is certainly undergoing a reality check. Baby bottles containing BPA remain on store shelves, unsold. More and more people are saying no to toxic chemicals and endocrine disruptors. Even Facebook has teamed up with the EPA to offer a game that will educate users and encourage real environmental action.

What bothers me is that our Congressional leaders and President Obama lag behind. It would be so easy for Michelle Obama to set an example, recycling the White House plastic, for instance. We must all fight pollution together.

What have you done today to stem the toxic chemical tide?

PB Boulangerie-Bistro: Bring on the Stars!

I know many of you have been looking forward to a report on the newest dining sensation in New England – that would be PB Boulangerie Bistro, of course. Since November is half over, Sven and I were able to get a spur-of-the-moment reservation. Yes, Wednesday was the big day: we finally got to dine at Wellfleet's marvelous new French bistro ...

"Oh! Philippe isn't here tonight" Valeria Rispoli exclaimed with great disappointment as she seated us at a small table in the center of the room. "Bon appetit!"

I was sorry to miss her husband, the famous chef, but glad to be there nonetheless. A slew of delicious-sounding specials rolled off our waitress's tongue, including butternut soup, a regular appetizer which B&B guests had described as fabulous. I felt a bit overwhelmed by the choice and regretted even more Philippe's absence. One dish that intrigued me was squid with ink-dyed pasta. Instead, I picked the risotto with black truffles and suggested to Sven that he might enjoy the cod with smashed potatoes, another favorite with our mid-summer and early-fall guests. We began with a yummy beet salad, and champagne, compliments of the chef.

This week the dining room was decorated with orange banners announcing the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau 2010, just like in restaurants and wine stores all over France. Sven asked Sebastien, the "sommelier," for a glass, but the rules did not permit opening the first bottle until midnight, November 18th. (Yesterday PB chefs started serving up a number of unexpected dishes, using the fruity wine. Even Boris decided to incorporate it into his bread.)

There was much excitement in the air, although PB has now been open five months. Only five tables were full at 5:30, and a lone diner sat hunched over the bar, leaning into his mussels from Chatham with obvious relish. Beyond him, I noticed Ben Zehnder in the kitchen, chatting with the assistant chef. While we were waiting for our entrées, the waitress brought complementary cups of butternut squash soup, yum! (Customers can also purchase it in the adjoining bakery.)

The room was bustling and a bit noisy, but quieted as Sebastien began to hand-crank the "luminaire," an unexpected touch that made us feel as if we were truly back in France, in an earlier century. While Sven sang along to "Sous les ponts de Paris," I noticed a gentleman in an electric wheelchair had accessed a table with his lady friend, and thought how incredible it is to have a local establishment like this one. Check out my risotto! It was sublime.
Sven enjoyed his cod, too. "After the French Revolution, the nobility got wiped out," he was explaining. "So, there were a lot of chefs out of work. They started their own restaurants."

An adventurous diner, at a neighboring table, had ordered the squid. His wife said she was a French teacher. One look at their happy faces told me this outing to PB had been the highlight of their Cape Cod trip. I photographed his entree before it left the kitchen. Does it ever look good! "How was the squid?" I asked.

"Scrumptious!" he declared with a grin, as a trio vacated one of the booths, veteran PB diners, apparently.

"This is our third or fourth time," said the father when I asked about his meal. "And, we didn't have to wait tonight!"

I returned to our table and discovered someone had managed to refold my napkin, displaying the PB front and center. Our waitress? Sebastien? Certainly not Sven! It was another nice touch that reminded me this restaurant is indeed special.

"Know where the word bistro comes from?" my husband asked. "After the defeat of Napoleon, there were a lot of cossacks in the Russian troops, quartered in the fields west of the Champs Elysées. They wanted food fast, so they said, "Bistro, bistro!' and the name stuck."

Since the kitchen is open, we could watch the chefs, in their white toques, at work. No sooner had we finished dessert – creme brulée – than Sebastien brought "tarte tatin" and a narrow tray of pastries, the width of the table. Sven helped himself to a miniature "millefeuilles" and, before taking a large bite, announced, "These are called Napoleons in Sweden." He was about to tell me that the chef's hat originated in Turkey when Boris Villatte suddenly swept up to our table, off duty at last.

The baker told us how happy he was that we had finally made it in for dinner. What a sweetheart! We discussed vacation plans and how hard it is to find good organic flour in the USA, but that is for another post, and superfluous here. What mattered was the quality of the food. We had enjoyed an excellent meal and said so.

I was watching the ballet at three joined tables behind me, where two waitresses were helping Valeria set up for the next group of diners. Sebastien hovered nearby. I could not help but remark the conscious effort, on the part of each member of the PB staff, to make the dinner experience truly remarkable for every client. No wonder this place has garnered so many rave reviews. All I can do is add mine today. Bring on the stars!

Did you get to try PB this summer or fall? What was your favorite dish?

Silent Spring Institute Updates Cape Codders

There are elevated rates of breast cancer on Cape Cod, as I mentioned yesterday. After writing my blog, I attended a Barnstable meeting that featured Laurel Schaider of the “small but mighty” research organization Silent Spring Institute. Silent Spring looks for possible links between breast cancer and the environment, and recommends the Precautionary Principle. The SSI approach is prevention ...

During the first part of her speech, Dr. Schaider explained how pleased SSI was when the President’s Cancer Panel made its recommendations earlier this year as they are in line with what previous SSI research has revealed. “It was exciting for us to see the topic getting national attention,” she said.

The recommendations of the President’s Cancer Panel are:
• Filter tap water
• Don’t microwave in plastic
• Eat organic
• Minimize children’s exposure to toxics
• Avoid radiation
• Support research and the production of safe alternatives.

Her first slide offered the following equation: biological mechanisms (animal models) + human exposure = basis for action.

Dr. Schaider shared the results of a rat study, which was striking in its clarity. The control image of a normal rat's mammary gland showed a structure that resembled the branches of a healthy tree. The second image of the mammary gland of a rat that had been exposed to dioxin prior to birth, had fewer branches and stunted growth.

During the second half of the meeting, Dr. Schaider reviewed SSI results, revealed last spring, from the collection from public wells on the Upper Cape. Those of you who follow this blog know that SSI testing showed higher concentrations of an antibiotic and a flame retardant. She said the next studies will feature water from private wells. 130 volunteers have already registered. This new study will examine data from all over the Cape, including Wellfleet. (Current funding only allows Silent Spring to study a total of 20 wells, which is not much in the grand scheme of things. Please contribute here so at least 50 can be included in the study.)

Wastewater treatment plants and septic systems do not prevent contaminants from excretion to enter our water supply (pharmaceuticals, for instance).

One of the conclusions I drew after this meeting was that development and higher- density living in Upper Cape towns like Hyannis certainly has an influence on the percentage of contaminants in water. Here, in Wellfleet, we are fortunate that 62% of the land mass lies within the National Seashore.

I was glad to hear Dr. Schaider put into words what the American Chemistry Council would prefer we not know: chemical testing is emerging as a breast cancer issue. Her conclusions were spot on: 1.) filter your water with a solid carbon block filter, 2.) prevent chemicals from getting into drinking water. We must insist on better maintenance of our septic systems. We must also support local efforts to protect wellhead districts.

This is the third Silent Spring update meeting I have attended. Read Dr. Schaider's November 2009 conclusions here. Unfortunately, she speaks very, very fast, which is hard on those of us who are scientifically-challenged. I probably missed a lot, so I suggest you check out the article in the Cape Cod Times this morning for further details ...

Bonus Post: Newcomb Hollow Beach, Late Afternoon

My Letter to the Editor Published by Cape Cod Times

It's pouring rain here in Wellfleet this morning. At noon, I will go to hear the latest conclusions of the Silent Spring Institute, to be announced in Barnstable, an event publicized by the Breast Cancer Coalition and GreenCape. Researchers have been analyzing pond water for several years, trying to figure out why Barnstable County has such a high breast cancer rate, a rate similar to Marin County in California. GreenCape is trying to prevent the utility company from spraying herbicides under the power lines, but a handful of individuals on the Outer Cape, like myself, are also working hard on their own. Emerging science shows allowing herbicides to contaminate our sole-source aquifer would be extremely short-sighted. Here's my latest letter to the editor, published yesterday by the Cape Cod Times, and once again, I have abbreviated the name of the utility to simply N:

"The Nov. 8 letter from two professors of environmental health at Boston University's School of Public Health frightened me.

The professors expressed concern about our sole-source aquifer and the fact that we have no other water source if herbicides are allowed to contaminate our water. Whoa! This is serious.

Cape Codders, are you listening? Our well water will contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals. The latest research indicates trace amounts can disrupt the hormone system. Need a quick crash course on Hormones 101 and why endocrine disruptors are so bad? OK: Synthetic chemicals can mimic natural hormones, upsetting normal reproduction and developmental processes. Male sperm counts have dropped. Breast cancer is up. Endometriosis has become more widespread. Synthetic chemicals are affecting the environment in a negative way and will make Earth a dramatically different place for our grandchildren.

At least we can have an effect on choices made locally. Rise up. Protect our drinking water and precious Cape Cod. Nontoxic means of vegetation control do exist. The federal government does not require herbicidal spraying. Take heed, as Professor Clapp and Madeleine Scammell suggest. Precaution is indeed the best approach. Don't let N contaminate our drinking water!"

Wellfleet to Hold Harborfest in June

I do not know what the objects in this photo are, but I found them interesting and picturesque. They poked out of the water at low tide and, without my glasses, from a distance, looked like seabirds, with buoys for bellies. I spotted this strange flock last week when Sven and I went to the harbor for some exercise. Wellfleet's marina has become one of my favorite walks. There's a nifty sidewalk that is one half mile long, so we have to walk it several times to get the type of workout LeCount Hollow Beach offers. More people will discover the marina this spring during Harborfest, now in preliminary planning stages. A date has been selected, June 12. There will be a boat show and the promotion of charter/fishing events, a Marine Flea Market, a "clamboil." The Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary will hold educational events in conjunction. The day will close with a concert or dance of some kind in the evening. Volunteers are still very much in demand, so if you are interested in participation or have any input to provide, please contact Paul Pilcher through town hall.

Report on Oyster Recycling After Oysterfest

It is wise to collect and recycle oyster shells after Oysterfest, apparently. Know why? If all the shells from the 2010 festivities had been recycled back into the water, Wellfleet would have removed 10% of the nitrogen created by a segment of the winter population, numbering 300 residents. This act would also produce 300,000 to 1,500,000 "free" oysters and filter 22 million gallons of water. I got this information from a recent report submitted by Curt Felix and circulated by Paul Pilcher, Chair of the Economic Development Committee, which will become the game plan for next year. Sounds good to me ....

"Forty Years of Mice Piss"

Anyone who lives in the woods knows that a mouse invasion is a constant threat. In winter, mice want in. If the roof is insulated with fiberglass, they will make cozy nests and come back year after year. Here in Wellfleet, we also have chipmunks, in particular, one chipmunk, who looks upon Seagull Cottage not as a part of Chez Sven, but rather as Chez Moi. This chipmunk hides nuts and steals the seeds Sven feeds the birds, then hides these seeds in what would be considered clever hiding places, if one were a chipmunk. We have tried traps that kill, and traps that do no harm. The supply of invaders never seems to cease, however.

This fall the small room ceiling became such a popular hangout for the little furry creatures that Sven and I decided to do something about what my husband inelegantly called "forty years of mice piss." We had the wallboard demoed, and today the foam guys came to spray closed cell insulation. I did not spend as much time researching this go-round as when we did the Green Room, but consulted our friend Nate Cook, contractor extraordinaire, instead. He recommended closed cell due to the higher R factor (6.4 per inch) and the fact that moisture cannot get in. We also changed the fourth window in the small room. Sven and I are pleased as punch with the result. This new insulation will cut way down on the cost of heating the cottage. It will also be a much cozier accommodation in winter and cooler in summer. What's more, the mice hate foam and can no longer access the walls. Victory at last!

Thoughts on Local Food and the Food Safety Bill

Since the weather is perfect this weekend, lots of non-resident taxpayers are around. I saw them at PB Boulangerie Bistro yesterday, when I stopped in for bread. The air was redolent with the sensuous aroma of apple tart and almond croissants, fresh from Boris’s gigantic imported oven. I stood there and waited ten minutes, the time required for the tourists in line to make up their mind, enough time for a cloud of sweetness to descend and follow me back outside, baguette in hand. My hair still smelled tantalizing by the time I reached Wellfleet Marketplace. I wanted to pick up some beef raised in Truro for a beef stew, but it was all sold out. There wasn’t even any stewing beef in the freezer. I could have bought ground beef, but I’m not too crazy about pre-ground, even when it's from a Truro farm, so we had quiche instead. Still, I want to salute the Marketplace for stocking more local food. There’s talk that Preservation Hall will house a farmer’s market or an organic veggies and fruit co-op in its basement, which would be a marvelous addition for year-round residents. I have a friend who keeps repeating, “We are what we eat,” and I remember her words whenever I go shopping with my canvas tote and basket. There's an obesity epidemic in the USA, and I believe it is, in part, due to all the high fructose corn syrup pumped into everything.

The Food Safety bill may reach Congress shortly. It is extremely complicated. From what I understand, small farmers will be in jeopardy if the bill passes without sensible amendments to protect them. Remember all those factory eggs that were recalled two months ago? The mega producer merely received a slap on the wrist, as did the bankers who created the worldwide mess with their credit default swaps. From recent raw milk raids, I have realized the FDA is pro-BigAg and no longer feels the obligation to pretend otherwise. We need our small farmers and local food more than ever. Please take a moment to read this post by a food blogger in the know and educate yourself on this important issue. We are what we eat …

Does your town have local food options? Has your awareness of food and nutrition changed of late? Do you think genetically modified food should be labeled?

Bonus Post: Wellfleet Harbor, Today at Sunset

Green Working Group Rolls Up Its Sleeves ...

Papers everywhere. Yesterday morning I tried to make my way through three months of neglected paperwork. When you have a busy life, papers tend to accumulate in piles. On the table, on the bed, on the dresser. I simply do not have the time and energy to file in season. Remember, innkeepers do not get weekends off!

In the afternoon, I held the first meeting of the Green Working Group here at the house. It was exciting to interact with citizens who are as eager as I to see Wellfleet go green and non-toxic. We discussed many different ideas and approaches for two and one half hours. I was able to share with the group exciting news about Preservation Hall. So that you have all the details, I will simply quote the statement made by Marla Rice, President of the Board of Directors:

“We are happy to announce a remarkable Challenge Grant from Tern Foundation to support our use of energy efficiency features in the renovation of Wellfleet Preservation Hall. Donations will be matched dollar for dollar. Many of our thoughtful donors will appreciate this opportunity to contribute to the Hall while spreading clean energy to protect the beautiful natural environment of our town, Cape Cod and the planet.” (The Tern Foundation has awarded Wellfleet Preservation Hall a matching grant of $15,000 over two years to help the Hall invest in energy efficiency and solar panels. Contributions will be matched dollar for dollar. The first installment of $7,500 must be matched by December 15, 2010.)

A November Day in the Life

My day began by checking emails, as I warmed my hands with a cup of hot coffee. I have been meaning to order new sheets from Coyuchi, so set about this task first thing. There’s nothing like organic cotton, and it is much better for the environment. Unfortunately, the saleslady sent me the wrong list and then left on a trip, so I was unable to complete that task. Since we have demo-ed the cottage, I vacuumed up the last bits of fiberglass insulation, broken wallboard, and evidence that mice had been living in the walls. I donned gloves and a mask for this unpleasant job. In the afternoon, we headed down to Provincetown to pay for this winter’s heating oil. The weather was not as cheery as the day I took the photo above, near High Head. After Cape Cod Oil, we went food shopping. I had not been to the Shank Painter Road supermarket since it changed hands and was very sorry to discover Stop & Shop has moved into the space previously occupied by A&P. Now the food sold is identical to the chain store in Orleans, only there is less choice and very few organic options. If I lived in P-town, I think I would shop only at the Bradford Health Food Market, in the center of town. We drove through Wellfleet on the way back and stopped at Marketplace to buy wine. At Stop & Shop I bought some lamb from NZ so will cook that for dinner tonight. I noticed that the lady in front of the liquor store has had a new change of clothes. She is so unexpected, don’t you think? Once back home, Sven cut up firewood and I dug up the flowerbed in front of the house as the wind whipped through the barren branches over my head. I planted white tulips for spring, surrounded by little blue flowers, also bulbs, whose name I forget. Sven had hoped to spend the day reading. Ha! Too much to do, even in the off-season!

Plans for Outer Cape Health Relocation Move Forward

Could this be the road to the new Outer Health Center? I think not. It is dirt, and one-lane, and leads to Dyer Pond ... but the new site will definitely feature pine trees.

On Monday, my friend and blog reader Bruce Bierhans came to speak to the Economic Development Committee, of which I am a member, as you know. Bruce is an excellent local lawyer, but also holds important positions on the Preservation Hall and Outer Cape Health boards, a busy man in other words. Bruce described progress on the Outer Cape Health building relocation project. Here is his update: A consultant will be hired within a week. A site will be selected from three under consideration, and an architect will be chosen. Then, in three years, Wellfleet will have a new magnificent GREEN building to serve the medical needs of our community. There will be courtyards and windows, if Bruce has his way. (“We don’t want it to feel like a box," he said. "It should be a friendly place to walk into.”) Whichever site is chosen will also house the new pharmacy, which will open down the road from Chez Sven this March, a space currently under lease for three years. The Outer Cape Health board has obviously been working and thinking hard, and I salute them. Wellfleet will have a federally qualified health center, with all the bells and whistles. Hurray!

Now readers, a question: How important is it, in your opinion, that the site chosen be located on Route 6?

Fall Ocean, Always Different

Here in Wellfleet, we are having several days of rain and wind. Sven and I do not go down to the beach much when it's raining. Instead, we have been making trips to the dump with demo-ed wallboard and raked leaves, two activities this fall. I was putting together a series of seven photos, seven days of ocean, but the weather did not cooperate, so here are a few of the shots from last week, with its clement weather. I find it fascinating how different the beach looks from day to day. Notice the navy blue Atlantic and, for Sunday and Monday, since I have no photos, imagine crashing surf and rough, gray seas.

Finishing the Season in Style

This weekend Chez Sven received its last guests of the season. (If more book over the next two months, that’s fine, but for now our calendar is empty.) When guests check in, I usually ask what their professions are. If I forget at check-in, I will ask over breakfast the following morning. Knowing professions helps with activity-choice recommendations here on the Outer Cape. So, anyway, on Saturday, over breakfast, I asked these guests what their professions were. The husband said cardiologist. The wife hesitated half a second and said, “Member of Congress.”

Whoa! You can bet that response caught my attention. We have had a judge from the UK who knew the Prime Minister and folks who work at the United Nations on behalf of the Swedish government, but this is the first time a member of the United States Congress has chosen Chez Sven. Now, I am not going to tell you which district she represents, or why she was on Cape Cod, because our Congressmen and women deserve to have a private life, too. I can share that she's a Democrat. You can bet the morning conversation suddenly veered into environmental issues. I also shared the weekly Provincetown Banner, with photos of Dan Wolf and Sarah Peake on the cover, suggested PB Boulangerie for dinner, and promoted "Promise" at WHAT. On Sunday, we had progressed to talking Food Inc. and the need for labeling on genetically-modified salmon. When the couple left, I gave them a copy of Our Stolen Future by Theo Colborn, the world's specialist on endocrine disruption.

Prior to departure, the Congresswoman toured the premises. Everything met her approval. She’s even going to tell her friends about us. More members of Congress in perspective …. Woo-hoo!

Why do you think I chose the photo above to illustrate this post? Where do you think the photo was taken?

Nightmare Scenario

Now that the renovation of Seagull Cottage has begun, and the cold makes it impossible to book Liberty Coin Suite, our Green Room is the only room available for guests. It is beautiful (see above, and yes, the walls of the Green Room ARE yellow.) Indeed, the Green Room never fails to produce smiles. All our rooms usually please our guests. They say, “Wow!” when they climb the blue stairs to Liberty Coin Suite. Seagull Cottage guests often exclaim, with delight, “Why, this is a whole house!”

Despite all the praise, whenever I show guests to their room, I always worry something may go wrong. So, I today I'm imagining what would be a nightmare scenario, ie. worst-case remarks, none of which anyone has ever said to me, thank goodness ...

TAKE 1

Mm: "And, this is going to be your room …"

Guest: "Don't you have anything larger?"

TAKE 2

Me: "Here's your room …"

Guest: "Where’s the water view?"

TAKE 3

Me: "And, this is going to be your room …"

Guest: "Did my husband remember to tell you I’m allergic to down? Ah-choom! No, guess not."

TAKE 4

Me: "And, you will be staying in this room …"

Guest: "There’s a strange smell in here. Do I get to look at other options before moving my stuff in?"

TAKE 5

Me: "And, this is going to be your room …"

Guest: "The last place we stayed had bedbugs. Sure hope there are none here …"

What's Happening this Weekend?

There's an interesting event going on in Wellfleet today, in case you happen to be around, the Annual State of the Harbor Conference, which offers a lot of specific information about Wellfleet Harbor and is always worthwhile. (I attended last year's conference but do not know whether I will be able to make it this morning or not.)

I also want to mention the buzz about "Promise," performed as a world premiere at WHAT, added at the last minute and outside the regular season. Here's a chance to see a play before it goes to Broadway. Read about how this production came about and why Wellfleet was chosen here.

My Letter to the Editor Published by the Banner

"Rise Up Against Spraying!" is the title the editors gave my most recent letter, published in yesterday's Provincetown Banner. I have abbreviated the name of our utility company in the copy presented here. I know a lot of you count on this blog for the latest on this topic, which is sometimes not covered in local papers, and I know you know which utility company we are referring to ... Here you go:

"On August 30th a resolution was passed and signed by the Eastham Board of Selectmen to request that N. abandon its current plan to use herbicides along the rights-of-way on Cape Cod and commit to a no-spray pesticide-free policy of vegetation management under the power lines on Cape Cod and the Islands. Last week the Wellfleet Board of Selectmen signed a similar document.

Despite a March 26, 2010 letter signed by legislators, opposition from all towns involved, thousands of signatures on petitions, and a one-year moratorium obtained by the Cape Cod Commission, N. is still moving forward with its spraying program, which will commence 1/1/11. In the past, the utility company controlled vegetation, as required by Federal law, by mowing. You may have noticed N. is cordoning off the power lines with fences and iron gates. Their citadel attitude must be challenged.

New research shows that the absorption of even minute amounts of toxic chemicals can disrupt hormone systems, affect reproductive behavior, and increase cancer-risk.

We need to protect our water supply. I, for one, do not want to drink well water laced with herbicides. The EPA New England-Web-site’s sole-source-aquifer page states, 'Local residents and businesses may be more willing to protect an aquifer through local action if they learn their drinking water originates from a vulnerable underground supply.' We know about the vulnerability of the water supply on the Outer Cape. Once contaminated, that’s it. No recourse, no second chance.

I salute the Eastham Town Administrator Sheila Vanderhoef and Wellfleet Town Administrator Paul Sieloff, as well as the Selectmen of Wellfleet and Eastham, for having taken a stand against the spraying of herbicides under the power lines.

If you live in Eastham, Wellfleet, or Truro and drink well water, you need to be concerned about this issue. I urge Outer Cape citizens to mobilize in support of these resolutions. Please spread the word. Do not allow N. to contaminate our drinking water!”

B&B Etiquette: When Is A Hug Appropriate?

This photo of Uncle Tim's Bridge was taken two days ago, before the rain. It is one of the many landmarks in Wellfleet that guests enjoy visiting. I don't always suggest the bridge as a destination, but it's so picturesque that often people find it on their own while exploring our pretty little town. Part of the fun of a B&B stay is the opportunity to discover a different region of the country and get tips from local folks on what to see and do. Sven and I treat our guests like friends to whom we extend hospitality. We try to make it clear that staying at our bed & breakfast is very different from staying at a motel. There is no maid service here, although the rooms are spotless when guests move in. We provide a comfortable bed and a wholesome breakfast, as well as lively conversation, if a guest is up for social interaction. Often our guests do become friends and return year after year.

I often ask myself when is a hug appropriate at departure? The response to this question is never cut and dried. I have learned to take a cue from the guests themselves. Recently, we had a couple from the Boston area who visited last fall as well, and plan to make their Outer Cape excursion an annual one. I was not sure whether they felt we knew each other well enough for hugs, but Toinette came towards me, arms open. I enjoyed giving her a hug.

Sometimes I will hug a first-time guest, but not often. The couple to the right, for instance, almost got hugs, and probably would have appreciated the recognition that we enjoyed their company. They were from England, in New England for a wedding. They spent a lot of time talking history with Sven. The wife is in publishing. The husband was one fourth Russian, one fourth Finnish, and actually looked as if he could have been an extra in The Last Station, last year's film about Tolstoy and wife Sonia. They left without hugs, but we have been in touch several times since then, by email.

Usually an innkeeper can tell whether a hug is appropriate. It's normal for genuine affection to develop when guests stay several days. This is another reason that we do not do one-night stays ...

How Did Wellfleet Vote?

Seventy-one percent of the town's population voted, with 187 absentee ballots.

The State Senate election motivated a lot of Wellfleetians. The winner was Dan Wolf, a name I believe we will hear a lot about in the future.

Keating defeated Perry to replace Delahunt as Congressman from the 10th district, in a race that was followed by the national media. (Massachusetts was one state to elect all Democrats, perhaps in reaction to the hijacking of one of two Senate seats last January by a candidate supported by money from outside the state?)

Sarah Peake, who seems to be almost universally appreciated for all the hard work she does on our behalf, won re-election as Representative in General Court, 1319 to 438 & 34.

And, the Governor's race? Patrick received 1134 votes; Baker, 522; Cahill, 108; Stein, 41.

Raising the Progressive Torch: Start with Pollution 101

It’s election day and I hope you are all out voting.

I often harp on toxic chemicals in the environment. Today let's start with the mercury that caused the National Seashore to put up warning signs about eating the fish that swim in our ponds. The mercury originated far, far away. This is the problem with pollution these days. It’s gone global. I thought Wellfleet’s ponds had been polluted by acid rain from American coal plants, but apparently not completely. Here's a Cape Cod Times article by Doug Fraser informing us most of the mercury comes from China. Incredible!

Pollution is not something we study in schools. Forward-thinking institutions may offer courses on the environment, but there’s no required course yet, a Pollution 101, that would bring knowledge of toxic chemicals into the cerebral baggage we carry with us through life. (I learned a lot from Slow Death by Rubber Duck. I also recommend Our Stolen Future, which has an excellent chapter about the travels of a hypothetical PCB molecule, created in Alabama and now lodged in a polar bear in the Arctic.)

If you are not sure what PCB stands for, never fear. I wasn't either. Only recently have I begun to master the acronyms for chemicals. Sometimes I think chemical names are part of the ruse, that the industry would prefer we not retain the l-o-o-ng chemical names, or even the acronyms, for that matter.

PCB stands for polychlorinated biphenyls. Here’s Theo Colborn:

“The story of PCBs and how they have spread throughout the planet and into the body fat of almost every living creature is one of the most fascinating and instructive chapters in the history of the era of synthetic chemicals. Of the 51 synthetic chemicals that have now been identified as hormone disruptors, at least half, including PCBs, are ‘persistent’ products in that they resist natural processes of decay that render them harmless. These long-lived chemicals will be a legacy and a continuing hazard to the unborn for years, decades, or, in the case of some PCBs, several centuries.”

And, you’ve got them in your house. Oh, yes. Your Wellfleet rental cottage, your Manhattan condo, your Newton colonial. Think furniture, mattresses, electronic equipment. Read all about it in this excellent Time Magazine article: Chemical Safety Scientists Come Out Against Chemical Flame Retardants in Ordinary Products.

Yesterday I received a lovely comment from Tim and wanted to share part of it with you: “I'm writing …to say what you are doing regarding informing your fellow citizens - Wellfleetians and beyond - about the dangers of chemicals in our shared environment is nothing short of what I call ‘necessary heroism’. With the vile political climate unfolding and the expected horrendous results for progressives in tomorrow's elections, it is imperative that more people such as yourself continue to speak up about the utter arrogance and uncaring ways of companies that perpetrate the use of chemicals upon us. With our national government in such ruins, local communities such as Wellfleet and individual states - and citizens - will have to carry the progressive torch.”

Thank you, Tim. Everyone, join me. Raise the progressive torch. Educate yourself, so that sharing knowledge with legislators is an option. They are just like us. They had no Pollution 101 course in college. Democrats and Republicans both need to realize the depth of this problem. Endocrine disruptors are destroying the world as we know it and must be stopped.

What's New Under the Power Lines?

If you happened to be in Wellfleet this past weekend and had occasion to drive east towards the ocean, you would have noticed something unexpected. Check out the sturdy wooden fence that went up recently on either side of Long Pond Road. It is not clear who gave permission for the utility company to block access to the rights-of-way or, indeed, whether anyone was consulted ahead of time. Similar fences are going up all across Cape Cod. Not only are there fences. The utility company has also installed metal gates that can be locked. This show of force provides evidence that the plan to spray up to five herbicides has not been abandoned for one minute. Wellfleetians were out removing vegetation a couple weeks ago to prove there is a non-chemical option, one that does not put pregnant women, children, and pets at risk of endocrine disruption through the contamination of our sole-source aquifer: mowing and pruning, a safer method that was used successfully in the past.

Incoming Tide ...