Fisherman’s Village an intimate condo community in Hyannis offering a lifestyle close to the most iconic Mid-Cape locations to include JFK Hyannis Museum a wide variety of local dining and shopping A town house style unit is turn-key and ready for new owners to move right in The entry level has a sundrenched living room with a generous sized kitchen/dining room combination leading out to a private patio area with storage There is in-unit wash/dryer on the first-floor half bathroom The second floor has a primary & second bedroom with a modern full bath to include a walk-in shower Designated parking for one car with unassigned visitor parking available Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article The family home of the president is in nearby Hyannis Port (Hyannisport) CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 04: Taylor Swift attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04 (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) A Hyannis Port mansion formerly owned by Taylor Swift is on the real estate market with a price tag of $14.995 million. Mansion Global called it “the most expensive listing in the exclusive coastal enclave.” Family Handyman noted that the 1928 home overlooks a private beach and Nantucket Sound The 1.1-acre property comes with “200 feet of ocean frontage” and a 5,000-square-foot home with “seven bedrooms and a large dining room facing the water for hosting.” It also “features the whitewashed walls and sash windows evocative of a classic New England summer.” The home also sits across from the famed Kennedy compound which consulted public records for the property Swift owned the Marchant Avenue home briefly after a “summer fling” with Connor Kennedy The home's current owners are the ones who bought it from Swift the real estate transaction was done through an LLC approved by Swift's longtime business manager Before Swift's involvement with the property, the home was owned by the Coleman family, who were friends of the Kennedys dating back to the 1940s, according to information from the John F Download the app to LISTEN LIVE wherever you are and connect with us like never before Alex Flack stood at the confluence of Iyannough and Barnstable roads on May 1 to offer his view on the state of affairs in the nation "This is what democracy looks like." Thecrowd gathered at the rotary roared back: "This is what democracy looks like." And just like that a May Day protest against President Trump's policies on labor and immigration began standing on every green space surrounding the rotary in front of Wendy's and Citizens Bank by the airport parking lot came because they are unhappy about what they called Trump's dismantling of the government and the threats he is posing to democracy "I think economic issues are important and human rights issues are of paramount importance and I believe if everyone doesn’t have due process "The Fifth Amendment guarantees all persons Scattered throughout the crowd, were signs with the name of Kilmar Abrego Garcia the Maryland father wrongly deported to El Salvador Abrego Garica was sent to a prison in El Salvador after the administration admitted they made a mistake in spite of the Supreme Court telling Trump he must "'facilitate" Garcia's return to the U.S The protest, one of thousands planned across the country by the 50501 movement especially the recent deportations of people without allowing them due process But it included the actions and executive orders President Trump has signed that have hobbled labor unions and dismantled agencies that oversee the health and safety of workers "This May Day is perhaps the most poignant ever labor or a whole host of other issues because it seems like everything that is important to the beloved community is under attack by a regime that is determined to destroy and to dishonor the democracy that holds it together," Gregory-Davis said federal layoffs and firings will damage public services like Medicaid "I  believe we should stand up and fight for democracy," Dealy said "Everything is being dismantled and destroyed People are being hurt and harmed and we need to do something to stop it." An impromptu band gathered to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful." Signs carried sentiments in support of immigrants and against billionaires in support of due process and against Donald Trump Centerville resident Debbie McSorley said this was her fifth protest since Trump took office The retiree had participated in only one other protest in the early '70's against the Vietnam War Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape’s residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.  the intersection is also the main artery for ambulances traveling to Cape Cod Hospital from Route 6 Completion dates for the $18.4 million project keep getting pushed back — the latest projection is Oct according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation offcials expected the work to be finished in spring 2026 intended to improve safety and reduce congestion has so far involved moving the railroad tracks across Route 28 and adding new rails relocating utilities and widening the roads continues to install conduits for the traffic signals and lighting Comcast and Verizon – continue to work on relocating the wires according to the latest update from a DOT spokesperson Northern Construction plans to start sewer work and may soon switch to the next phase — installing curb and driveway aprons What still needs to be done?Still to be added a new traffic signal system and a shared use path on the west side of Yarmouth Road crossing Route 28 and connecting to Engine House Road New sidewalks and pavement markings and signs also will be installed The road improvements extend along Route 28 from Cedar Street to Engine House Road across from Cape Cod Gateway Airport Businesses along the route have been affected with parts of their entrances and parking lots reduced The roadwork is expected to be limited during the summer months to areas not affecting traffic Another nearby project is an extension of the Cape Cod Rail Trail multi-use path connecting Barnstable and Yarmouth for eight miles from Old Town House Road in Yarmouth to Mary Dunn Road in Barnstable, according to the DOT notice. Work began recently with tree and vegetation removal to prepare for construction A future shared use bridge over Willow Street and the railroad is to be completed in spring 2030 and the entire rail trail project is to be finished in summer 2031 The total cost of the rail trail project is $16.4 million The road and rail trail projects are the result of the Hyannis Access Study $100 million vision to improve access to the village of Hyannis the largest and most urbanized area in the town of Barnstable and on Cape Cod A 2013 commission task force comprising local officials business interests and residents recommended the improvements Susan Vaughn writes about transportation and other local community issues affecting Cape Cod residents and visitors. She can be reached at smharris@gannett.com Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. John Morgan had many persona as a musician and entertainer on Cape Cod and throughout New England from the 1960s to the 1980s and beyond “Happy Hour Entertainer was his brand,” his nephew and co-worker Morgan, who died in August of brain cancer at age 80, will be remembered by his family, friends and fans on Saturday, April 26, at 11 a.m. with the dedication of a outdoor bench and plaque in his name. The memorial is at the Hyannis Transportation Center at 215 Iyannough Road, in sight of Morgan’s former Pufferbellies nightclub son Joshua and daughter Anna Morgan-Barsamian came to the Transportation Center on Tuesday just after the bench and plaque were being installed Joshua brought a painting he had made of his father “He was a wonderful entertainer and a legend for sure but the job he was best at was as a wonderful husband and caring and loving father,” Suzanne Morgan said She said a celebration of his life last spring before he died drew a large group of admirers Anna said her father was able to spend a lot of time with his family before he died peacefully “It was important to keep his legacy alive,” John’s friend Dan McCarthy said He came up with the idea of the memorial and raised $10,000 through a GoFundMe campaign “I thought of him as a one-man tourist attraction,” McCarthy said “From ‘shoe shots’ to singalongs,” words on the plaque say “John’s endless enthusiasm turned countless evenings into treasured memories through more than 8,000 shows.”    When Pufferbellies opened in the former 1901 railroad roundhouse on May 7 “we had no clue what was going to happen there.” Up to 2,000 people showed up the first night and the club regularly drew 1,500 for the live entertainment provided by Morgan and bands He had visions of things,” his nephew said explaining the popularity of Pufferbellies and several other clubs John owned on and off the Cape “He knew what people wanted,” Ed Morgan said John launched the legendary John Morgan Happy Hour John Morgan began singing at area bars while a student at the University of Massachusetts he performed at the Improper Bostonian in Dennis Port the Sandy Pond Club in West Yarmouth and the Crystal Palace in Hyannis When John decided to buy the historic roundhouse in Hyannis which was a furniture warehouse at the time helped him “convert that old dumpy building,” Ed Morgan said John’s righthand man and manager at Pufferbellies was Jimmy Capaldo named for the small steam engines of the early 1900s Saturday and Sunday afternoons and hired bands for other times Disc jockey Gary Titus was a mainstay and very popular “John had a good feel for the music industry in New England,” Ed said  He had large followings at all his clubs and played a variety of music At Mount Snow’s North Country Fair John drew flocks of skiers on Saturday and Sunday nights and started a tradition there on Super Bowl Sundays — a beach party when he covered the floor in sand “Thousands showed up in bathing suits,” Ed Morgan said he bought a club called Somersaults that he renamed Flashbacks and took on the persona of Rico Flashback “Rico” was very popular and featured once in an ABC “Wide World of Sports” piece when John was skiing in Utah handled all the arrangements to install the bench that came from Utah King Landscaping did the installation and landscaping McCarthy got to know John Morgan when he made a documentary video on YouTube called the “Kings of Cape Cod” about Happy Hour entertainers a reception open to all will be held at Gannon’s Tavern at 959 Bearses Way in Hyannis Susan Vaughn writes about transportation and other local community issues affecting Cape Cod residents and visitors She can be reached at smharris@gannett.com Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.       Newton’s third law of motion states “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Sir Isaac’s law has been around since the 1600s On the surface it makes sense in the world of physics Photographing demonstrations can often encompass the third law Two sides squaring off on opposing sides of an issue There has been no shortage of protests so far in 2025 and no signs of a letup Traffic rotaries have become the new town greens as gathering spots for these events They offer high visibility and a captive audience as drivers queue up to round the circle it is best to start at the edges and work towards center making eye contact with people being photographed I always try to get names − this is time consuming but talking to people is what journalism is all about Fast-moving events can be distracting to photograph Identify what is visually interesting and stick with it Keep Newton’s law in mind: action and reaction Instead of centering all my attention on the protesters I turn around and take in the view of driver’s responses I saw the dog looking out the backseat window in the photo above it was joined by a child using a tablet to film the action with the initials OMG (Oh My God) across the back Sometimes one just needs to turn around to find a good photo HYANNIS − Construction is underway to transform the former 7-Eleven at 210 North St workers using a mini-excavator dug a new foundation from inside the skeleton of the old convenience store The project could become one of the first four-story buildings in the area following zoning changes that were approved in 2023 "It takes a little bit of time because we are only allowed to use a smaller machine," said project manager Renato Melo at the construction site This stage of construction could take about five weeks an elevator shaft will be built in the middle Plans call for removing the roof from the existing one-story building before adding new floors onto the current footprint "We're going to try to do the elevator as we go up we don't want somebody to have a staging for four stories high because the elevator shaft has to be done with brick or blocks," said Melo Construction costs are estimated to be $1.25 million Starbuck Construction Services of Hyannis bought the property in November 2023 said it's one of the first projects they are is seeing through completion saying the company ordinarily provides labor to local projects to help other businesses Renderings show that the first floor will have an exterior stone veneer with the rest of the building going up being wood The project will include two affordable units targeting households that make 65% of the area median income the company had hoped to make all units affordable but found that would be unfeasible when trying to secure funding Starbuck Construction will also have to pay almost $200,000 to connect to municipal sewers "It's been a learning curve for us," said Maia of the project "We tried to get some grants for affordable housing but it's not an easy process...we're just funding with all our private money even though we're going to have two affordable units The company has also bought the former First Church of Christ, Scientist, at 94 Stevens St. in Hyannis where plans call for two eight-unit buildings and two 12-unit buildings will feature four affordable housing units If the North Street property had been completely demolished the company would have had to comply with new codes That would have required bringing the building closer to the street instead of remaining where it is now So that's why we decided to just use the same footprint that we had," said Maia "It makes more sense than bringing it all the way to the street." Starbuck Construction estimates the project at the former 7-Eleven will be ready for tenants by summer 2026 "It takes some innovation and a little bit of coming up with better ideas...it's pretty exciting the new things that we learn as we're doing it," said Melo Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. BARNSTABLE — A Cape Cod priest and chaplain pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving under the influence at an arraignment in Barnstable District Court on Monday was also charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and marked lane violations Hughes declined to comment following the arraignment said he only just received a police report and declined further comment In an emailed statement on Monday, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River said it "is aware of the charges facing Father Chris Hughes who serves as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville and at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville The matter is currently under review by diocesan officials." Yarmouth police responded to a vehicle that crashed into a fence at 56 Route 6A Hughes allegedly told police he was the driver and that he was trying to answer a phone call when he swerved right Police conducted a field sobriety test at the scene with Hughes including a finger dexterity test Hughes allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test Hughes was taken to the police department where he allegedly agreed to a test Hughes' next court date for a pre-trial conference is May 15 Desiree Nikfardjam is a reporter covering breaking and trending news. She graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. You can reach her at DNikfardjam@gannett.com Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.    The three buildings of the Hyannis Inn at Main Street and High School Road will be converted to 52 studio and one-bedroom apartments following approvals by Barnstable site plan review and Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission A more ambitious plan proposed a year ago to demolish part of the existing motel and build a large residential and commercial building neighboring Main Street failed to get the historic commission’s approvals after several meetings with the developers, Sawyer Realty Partners of Newton, and their representatives. The historic commissioners did not like the design and size of the first proposal and said it lacked “a historical look.”  The members were pleased with the new plans presented March 5 that involves minimal exterior changes The commission approved the exterior paint colors for the stucco buildings that will be white with charcoal and black trim I’m glad you saved the buildings and the trees,” commissioner Tom Doherty told local attorney David Lawler Member Corey Watson also said he liked that the new plan keeps “the beautiful trees in front.” Apartments are allowed by right under current zoning and were approved on Jan Site plan review is a process to assure development standards are met in all business Officials from several town departments take part in site plan review Efforts to change the motel property built in 1954 have been going on since February 2023  when it was sold for $7.75 million to 473 Main St Partners LLC,  David and Jessica Rosenberg, founders of Sawyer Realty Partners. The company specializes in adapting hotels for reuse officials OK'd a plan to convert one building on the back of the two-acre property facing South Street to 20 apartments in a different zoning district The new building proposed last year would have provided 47 studio and one-bedroom units and stores on the first floor The three existing buildings would have remained as motel units One of the buildings includes an office and a swimming pool that will remain under the new plan The commissioners balked last year at the size and design of the proposed new building saying it didn't fit in with the rest of Main Street even though four-story buildings are allowed under new zoning approved in 2023 The zoning allows for certain types of housing as long as developers follow a form-based code developers no longer have to appear before a variety of town boards and commissions for approval Last year the historic commissioners were worried that the new building and design would dwarf other nearby properties and create a “tunnel effect” along Main Street with other approved four-story buildings They also did not like industrial-style building design and that it would have been so close to the street Lawler said the changes would be “in keeping with the traditional Main Street.”  He said the new apartments would appeal to younger and older professionals who may work downtown presented revised plans at two more meetings in May and September last year clapboard siding and brick and some green space along Main Street They still failed to get the commission’s approval and withdrew the applications each time without prejudice before presenting the latest plan commission alternate member Peri Wentworth said the commission makes “hard decisions for the town “This is what we hoped for as a downtown corner" Wentworth said said he was happy with the inn’s new plan and that it would be staying open during the winter and generates a lot of business and reduces crime,” Lawler said at the March 5 meeting Ten units will be offered under affordable guidelines “Main Street has improved since the ‘80s,” Lawler added 2024) – Whole Foods Market will open a new 42,560-square-foot store located at 790 Iyannough Road Hyannis The store is a relocation of the existing Hyannis store down the road (990 Iyannough Rd) which has served the community for more than a decade larger store’s design draws inspiration from the Cape’s coastal conditions incorporating themes of wind and water into a palette of soft neutrals and deep earth tones The store’s product assortment will feature more than 370 local items from New England Forager for Local & Emerging Brands at Whole Foods Market Features of the new Hyannis store include: All food at Whole Foods Market must meet the company’s rigorous Quality Standards high-fructose corn syrup and more than 300 flavors sweeteners and other ingredients commonly found in food all beauty and body care products must meet the company’s body care standards which ban more than 240 commonly used ingredients Founded in 1980, Austin-based Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading natural and organic foods retailer and the first certified organic national grocer in the United States. Part of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores, Whole Foods Market serves customers in more than 530 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. To learn more about Whole Foods Market, please visit  https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/ This week in Cape Cod restaurant news a new taco place opens in Hyannis and a new-to-the-Cape Brazilian restaurant is under construction In last week’s food news from the Cape and Islands we said goodbye to Little Miss Cupcape owner Taylor Stump who moved her bakery from Main Street in Hyannis to a spot on 250 Newbury St The move came after a decade during which the newly minted business school grad got an on-the-job education about baking and a visit from Aerosmith front man (Tyler’s nephew was on the construction crew that transformed the Hyannis bakery into a fairy-tale confection of pink and white.) New Mexican taqueria opens in HyannisMaybe we all just need to eat more carbs. The Hyannis location of Woolfie’s Bakery also closed in November But the property at 477 Yarmouth Road in Hyannis was not empty for long husband-and-wife team Ilija and Mily Sapundjioski opened Amilia’s Taqueria & Bar The brightly painted spot with cacti and other desert-loving plants Mily Sapundjioski said Amilia’s specialties which are stuffed with roasted beef and accompanied by consomme for dipping the $4.50-for-two street tacos (the smaller Amilia’s (“It was partly my husband’s name partly mine and we liked it,” Mily Sapundjioski explained) serves other Mexican fare quesadillas and plates with rice and beans “I always wanted to own a Mexican taqueria,” said Mily Her husband is from Macedonia in Southeastern Europe Mily said Amilia Taqueria is in the process of transferring Woolfie’s liquor license and expects to be serving a full bar by May Brazilian fare is on the way in HyannisWe’ve been hearing a lot of speculation about what’s going into the former Outback Steakhouse in Hyannis’ Festival Plaza so we dropped by last week At least three or four workers were sawing and hammering the gutted space using the name on the temporary sign –  Boteco do Manolo & Marcelo – I turned to Barnstable licensing records Minutes of an October licensing meeting showed Boteco Do Manolo Hyannis LLC applied for a new Annual All Alcohol Common Victualler and Daily Live & Non-Live Entertainment license for a 232-seat restaurant with one performer daily with amplification recorded music below conversation level and seven TVs An internet search shows Boteco Do Manolo is described as a casual dining Brazilian restaurant with locations in Boston Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts. Contact her at gfriss@capecodonline.com. Join the Cape Cod Times free Facebook group,Good Stuff at Cape Cod Restaurants to share tips and participate in food polls Whole Foods Market opened a new 42,560-square-foot store located at 790 Iyannough Road The store is a relocation of the existing Hyannis store (990 Iyannough Rd) larger location draws inspiration from Cape Cod’s coastal elements incorporating wind and water themes into its design with soft neutrals and deep earth tones accentuating the space The Hyannis store’s product assortment includes more than 370 locally sourced items from across New England each selected to meet Whole Foods Market’s stringent quality standards “After serving the Hyannis community for more than a decade we are excited to welcome customers to this new location,” said Bill Earley “This larger store allows us to offer a more elevated shopping experience with an expanded selection of local products that highlight the best of what New England has to offer We look forward to welcoming customers into this beautiful new store and providing them with the excellent service they expect from our knowledgeable team members.” Opening morning, customers were treated to coffee from Jim’s Organic Coffee and pastries from Pain D’Avignon Bakery. The first 300 shoppers in line were given a limited-edition Hyannis tote bag and a Secret Saver coupon As part of the celebration, Whole Foods Market donated a Nourishing Our Neighborhoods van to Family Table Collaborative enhances the ability of local food rescue organizations to transport surplus food to areas facing the greatest need For more information on the features and product assortment in the new Hyannis store, please visit here Austin-based Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading natural and organic foods retailer and the first certified organic national grocer in the United States Whole Foods Market serves customers in more than 530 stores across the U.S. please visit https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/ A Hyannis shopping plaza that used to feature a Whole Foods Market grocery story has sold for $44.1 million to a Maryland real estate company Southwind Plaza on Route 132 spans 258,110 square feet including Home Depot The properties — 65 Independence Drive and 990 Iyannough Road — were bought by Continental Realty Corporation in a sale recorded on Jan according to the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds Continental Realty Corporation is a commercial real estate company headquartered in Baltimore The company has a portfolio value exceeding $4 billion The company could not be immediately reached for comment On its website, Continental Realty describes the property as a "well-known center that everyone needs to drive by on their way to the market" with "several barriers to entry in this market including almost no vacancy very little available land and no new retail under construction." The plaza is the company's only commercial property listed on its website for Massachusetts Two large retail spaces are available for new tenants Dallas-based Bandera Ventures bought the plaza for $61.7 million from Boston Wilder Co Whole Foods was located at 990 Iyannough Road for more than a decade. The grocery store relocated down the road last fall into a new 42,560-square-foot store at The Landing at Hyannis a redevelopment project by WS Development of the former K-Mart plaza Joann the fabric and craft retail chain with more than 800 stores across the country In a statement to USA TODAY, Joann confirmed it will be closing roughly 500 of its stores around the country "to ensure the best path forward" for the company "This was a very difficult decision to make given the major impact we know it will have on our Team Members our customers and all of the communities we serve," the statement said The news comes after the company twice filed for bankruptcy in the last year, including a filing just last month. An exact timeline for the closing hasn't been announced yet but in the most recent court filings the company said they want to start closing sales immediately According a court filing the following Joann locations in Massachusetts will be closing: the only store in Massachusetts that will be staying open is the Milford location The Milford store is located at 91 Medway Rd HYANNIS — More than 200 protesters showed up at the Hyannis Rotary Tuesday, March 4, with signs, flags, bullhorns and drums to protest President Trump’s actions in his first six weeks in office Sponsored by the four Cape Indivisible groups — Upper Cape Outer Cape and Cape Cod Women for Change — the protest was called People stood with signs reading “Uphold Checks and Balances,” “It’s Time for DOGE to get out of DODGE,” and “Trump and MAGA = the anti-Christ,” and a host of other sentiments. Some held the American Flag upside down as a sign of the country’s distress and constitutional crisis A few older women sat on rolling walkers with seats by the rotary’s edge Cars passing within feet of the protestors honked their horns “I’m not happy with Trump or Elon or any of the policies,” said Pat Cruz of Hyannis “I’m afraid we’ll be annexed by Russia.”   Diane Riche called what Trump is doing “a coup from the inside.”   “Trump didn’t run on eliminating the offices in charge of each independent agency,” she said “Nobody voted for Elon Musk and his complete disregard and gutting of the government and the indiscriminate firing.”   The protest is one in a series of protests encouraged by the Indivisible Project Indivisible is a grassroots movement made up of separate groups across the U.S. Its mission is to “to elect progressive leaders The group claims that Trump’s actions include raiding the treasury and eliminating parts of the government by illegal means The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency has fired tens of thousands of federal workers since Trump was sworn in earlier this year arguing it is seeking to downsize government by eliminating waste Trump joked that aides should "throw out" any agency head dissatisfied with Musk's work Many of Musk's firings have been met with lawsuits, as have other DOGE efforts to access sensitive personal information from agencies like the Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service The public is divided on the cuts, according to recent polling. A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted Feb. 26-28 found 51% approved of Trump's efforts to cut staff at government agencies and 49% disapproved. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll from Feb 24-26 found 55% of respondents said the cuts were doing more harm than good and 39% of respondents had a favorable opinion of Musk A plan to change hearts and mindsRiche said the protests are a slow drawn-out plan to change the hearts and minds of legislators who support Trump and encourage them to push back against the President’s agenda “He ran on bringing the economy down on day one and he has not made any single effort to do that,” she said Republican legislators have faced their own protests at town halls held in their districts Constituents have been angry about the federal program They have questioned the legitimacy of Elon Musk’s position and his access to federal databases Marie McHugh carried a pizza box with a message from her father “He’s trying to save his beloved USA from becoming a Russian satellite,” the message read “We like to believe that our protests will be enough for these people to do the right thing,” Riche said “To get a handful of Republicans to see this is not what people want.”  An invitation to the protest on the internet reminded people not to engage in violence or with counter protesters (This story was updated to updated to add a photo gallery Reporting by USA Today reporter Riley Beggin was used in this story A 37-year-old Hyannis man with sentenced to 19 to 20 years in prison on April 11 on kidnapping and other charges according to the Barnstable Police Department Following a three-week jury trial in Barnstable Superior Court Anthony Russ was found guilty of kidnapping assault and battery with a dangerous weapon larceny from a person and intimidation of a witness on April 7 Russ was arrested in July 2022 in connection to an incident involving a 24-year-old that took place June 30 zip-tied the person's hands behind their back before putting the person in the trunk of his car Russ then held the person against their will in a basement and assaulted them using a large kitchen knife The sentence includes three years of probation following release from prison a Barnstable Superior Court jury acquitted Russ of killing 18-year-old Jacques Sellers in Hyannis three years earlier Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.   An agency that has provided a haven for survivors of domestic and sexual violence for 45 years on Cape Cod will soon have more space to continue its counseling and advocacy services Independence House in Hyannis held a ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday for a 3,466-square-foot building at 106 Bassett Lane The new building will include an expanded food pantry specialized therapeutic space to support the mental health and safety for adults and children exposed to domestic and sexual violence and other special services The current Cape-style house will be for administrative offices “This shows what is possible with Congressional support and from local officials,” state Sen “We should be judged as a community for what we do for vulnerable people on the Cape and Islands.” Independence House Executive Director Lysetta Hurge-Putnam thanked the officials the building committee and community members who supported the effort over the past five years to get the new building She said the center is where survivors have found safety health and wellbeing and are connected with other services The clients who get the support “will benefit from reduced loneliness in obtaining the $3.46 million grant from Congress in December 2022 as part of the Omnibus Spending Bill Keating said that while many grants are being canceled in the current administration “this one made it in.” The audience applauded “people will have a safe haven and be in a community that cares and can bring lives forward as they should be.” He stressed that the agency is not just for survivors Sue and Richard French of Barnstable Village were acknowledged for their 36 years of volunteer service to Independence House “I never thought I’d see this day,” Sue French said after the ceremony The description of the new building states that “the increased and adequate space will provide safety and privacy to meet the need for new and additional services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Barnstable County.” Independence House serves from 7,000 to 10,000 Cape residents every year Hurge-Putnam said in an interview last year on her 25th anniversary with the agency Independence House has a variety of programs and services operating out of four Cape Cod offices: Falmouth Orleans and Provincetown as well as Hyannis BARNSTABLE — A 36-year-old Yarmouth man charged with killing another man in a Hyannis parking lot pleaded not guilty during his Monday arraignment at Barnstable District Court Alex Greene was held without bail without prejudice after he was arraigned on the murder charge In court, a prosecutor said Barnstable police officers went to a North Street parking lot near Washington Street in Hyannis around 1 a.m. Sunday to answer calls about a gunshot The first officer on the scene found a man who had been shot in the head and immediately began life-saving measures Hyannis Fire and Rescue personnel soon arrived to treat and bring the victim – 41-year-old Hyannis resident Tony D Johnson – to Cape Cod Hospital where he was pronounced dead around 1:30 a.m Officers also found one spent shell casing and one live round near Johnson's body Witnesses told officers after they heard a gunshot One witness told an officer that he and Johnson were at a nearby bar together when Johnson left to get his jacket from the witness's car and did not return a Barnstable officer found the dark pickup truck with Greene and his wife in a Yarmouth convenience store parking lot had exited the car and was pointing officers to the firearm on the ground Greene had his hands in the air and was sobbing Greene was eventually taken into custody and charged with murder and booked at the Barnstable Police Station authorities claim Johnson had been urinating next to a car and exposed himself to Greene's wife before Greene allegedly shot Johnson Greene is scheduled to appear in court on April 7 for a probable cause hearing HYANNIS — Baxter’s Boathouse Restaurant, with its waterfront location and docks for pleasure and commercial fishing boats has come onto the market in the last few months The Town of Barnstable is considering buying it The Town Council will hold a public hearing on March 20 to take comments on the possibility The first step would be a vote appropriating $160,000 to assess the building Town Councilor Felicia Penn said she thinks it would be money well spent so the Town can make a sound decision on the “once in a lifetime opportunity.”   The 6,358 square-foot restaurant and docks and three small parcels of land totaling just over half an acre have been in the Baxter family for more than six generations Altogether the properties are assessed at $2,744,300 currently trustee of the property with Rebecca Carson wants Barnstable to have first dibs on buying it “I would love to have the town steward the property,” he said Chuck Carey of Carey Commercial is the listing agent for the property He said it would be "logical" for the town to purchase the property The town already owns a third of an acre at 115 Pleasant St. The vacant lot adjacent to Baxter’s is nearly useless Combining it with the Baxter property would open a portion of the waterfront to the public “Hyannis Harbor is exceptionally small for the size of the town,” he said in a phone interview on Feb “If they combine it (vacant lot) with this the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”  “This is exactly what we should be doing as a town,” Town Councilor Betty Ludtke said in a telephone call Feb I would love to see the town have a little more influence in that area.”  Ludtke likened it to the town’s past purchases of the old Barnstable Fairgrounds and the Cape Cod Airfield in Marstons Mills She and Penn aren't the only ones to raise the possibility that the area could become a commercial fish pier similar to the one in Chatham visitor deck and space for passive recreation The property was originally the location of a commercial fishing dock and fish market in 1919 when the Baxter family first purchased the land Baxter's Boathouse Restaurant to open mid-AprilNo matter what happens Baxter intends to open the restaurant in mid-April He said there was a possibility of leasing the building from the town until officials decide what to do with the property "We're going to keep it going as long as we can," he said "It's not like we’re going out of business Everyone seemed to have bought a boat after COVID." Baxter's Boathouse employs more than 100 staff during peak season They bring in about 50,000 customers a year The public hearing will be held on March 20 at Barnstable Town Hall at 6 p.m. Town Council may take action on the agenda item.  Written comments may be submitted to: https://tobweb.town.barnstable.ma.us/boardscommittees/towncouncil/Town_Council/Agenda-Comment.asp The text of the agenda item is available for review on the March 6 and 20 Town Council Agenda and at the Town Clerk and Town Council offices Joann has started going-out-of-business sales at some of its stores around the country including more than a dozen locations in Massachusetts including the one in Hyannis at 665 Iyannough Road Joann said it received court approval for the restructuring plan last week and began the closing sales on Feb which it said "could continue for several months." The company hasn't given an exact timeline for the closures Joann said it started closing sales on Feb 15 at the roughly 500 locations it plans to shutter The company hasn't said exactly how long the sales will last According to USA TODAY most stores have base discounts around 10-20% with some Christmas items discounted as much as 75% off The remainder of Joann's stores aren't impacted and will remain open as usual The retailer has more information available for customers on its restructuring website, joannrestructuring.com the following Joann locations in Massachusetts will be closing and are currently having going-out-of-business sales: the only store in Massachusetts that will be staying open is the Milford location at 91 Medway Road Melina Khan is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY Network - New England, which serves more than a dozen affiliated publications across New England. She can be reached at MKhan@gannett.com This cheerful four-bedroom Cape in Hyannis comes with a colorful backyard that will make anyone with a green thumb feel at home "It's a charming and solid house," says Patty Flynn of William Raveis Real Estate & Home Services. Step outside into the backyard and relax on the new composite deck. The real draw of 35 Walnut's backyard are the beautiful flowers and what Flynn calls "a gardener's delight" with plenty of perennials that add extra color to the fenced-in yard. If you're looking for more storage space, there's a one-car garage and unfinished basement. This house also comes with a generator and central AC. Contact: Patty M. Flynn 508-801-6907, William Raveis Real Estate & Home Services Protesters gathered in several communities across the region Saturday afternoon as part of a nationwide demonstration against the Trump Administration called “Hands Off.” In Hyannis, more than a thousand people gathered at the rotary to protest a variety of actions, including the dismantling of federal departments and threats to the Medicare and Social Security systems. People also protested in Falmouth, Plymouth, and Dartmouth among other communities. Larger demonstrations took place in Boston and Providence. With at least 1,300 demonstrations across the country, it was the most widespread public dissent in Trump’s second term so far. Many of the Hyannis protesters said they wanted to take some kind of action against Trump and gathering seemed like one of their only options. “The only power we have right now is to peacefully protest,” said Diane Roche with Indivisible Upper Cape, one of the groups organizing the protest. “The title of the rally is ‘Hands Off’ and it’s ‘Hands off our social security, our Medicare, our bodies, cancer research — hands off our democracy,’” she said. Leah Stockwood lives in Sandwich. She arrived with a group of friends and their small children. “The time has come for us to stand up,” she said. “Trump and Musk, sorry, they’ve got to go.” Ninety-five-year-old Osterville resident Art Cornell held up a handmade sign that read, “Korean War Veteran opposes Elon Musk.” He attended the protest with his wife, who is 93. “Our president is not fit to be president,” he said. “Getting rid of a lot of the people who are essential to the running of this country, that’s what I’m opposed to.” Like Cornell, others expressed alarm at the huge number of federal jobs that have been cut in the last two months. Jane Ward of Centerville served as a physician in the Air Force for 26 years before she retired. “I am heartbroken to see our country being dismantled,” she said. “My priorities, having been in the Air Force as a physician, are national security and healthcare and science. And it’s all being dismantled.” Others highlighted their support of reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights, including Liz Speed, a gynecologist from Sandwich. “I’m here for all of it,” she said. “Freedom and democracy.” Seventy-year-old Marianne Barbosa of Hyannis says she has stood up for what is right her whole life. She wanted to protest Trump Administration policies and the power that billionaire Elon Musk has been given to reshape the government. “Trump is sitting in the White House. Elon Musk is president. Neither of them should be there,” she said. “Wrong is wrong.” Several people said they worried about whether the United States would continue as a democracy under Trump. Jazmine Hogan-Donaldson of Centerville said she is concerned that a Constitutional crisis is playing out after Trump Administration side-stepped court orders. “I’m concerned that Trump is making himself a dictator,” she said. “And he is destroying the country. He’s dismantling it like he’s private equity and he’s going to sell it off to his rich friends. And the rest of us are going to suffer.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by CAI (@wcai_npr) Maura Healey's administration announced in a press release WinnDevelopment wants to turn the site into 120 mixed-income apartments called Harbor Vue Seventy units will be affordable to households earning less than 60% of AMI with 16 units further restricted for households earning less than 30% AMI The Boston developer has also committed to reserving 25% of the apartments for those making at or below 80% area median income for 40 years This means all 120 units will count toward the town's subsidized housing inventory WinnDevelopment CEO Gilbert Winn said the project will benefit "workers and consumers who are critical to the businesses the fuel the Hyannis and Cape and Islands economy." "We are grateful to the EOHLC for acting quickly to recognize the unique opportunity to build affordable and middle-income housing "Together with the other housing awards announced today the administration has proven time and time again that it will smartly and aggressively direct its resources to address the current housing crisis in the Commonwealth."  Tax credits and subsidies awarded to 14 housing projectsIn total the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $158 million in low-income housing tax credit and subsidy awards for 14 affordable housing projects that will create 1,138 affordable housing units in 12 communities across Massachusetts Funding stems from the $1 billion tax relief bill signed by Healey in 2023 the bill raised the low-income housing tax credit to $60 million annually a $20 million increase to support the creation of affordable housing “High housing costs are one of the biggest challenges facing Massachusetts residents Our administration is refusing to kick the can down the road," said Healey in a statement "We need to increase housing production across the state to lower costs – and these affordable housing awards will help us get there." Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz Two months after a state Land Court judge voided a Barnstable zoning board's 2024 decision to deny a drive-thru permit for a new Wendy's restaurant in Hyannis the legal dispute is back in court — this time over whether the board violated a court order in its ongoing disagreement about the appropriateness of allowing the fast food chain’s signature window service Property owner Arista Hyannis, LLC has plans to transform the former Santander Bank building at 715 West Main St The highway business zone the site is in allows restaurants by right but a special permit is required for a drive-thru The Zoning Board of Appeals initially denied the special permit in January 2024 and the potential impact on the neighborhood The property is close to a busy intersection and Barnstable High School Arista appealed the decision last February directing the zoning board to revisit its decision The court specifically prohibited the board from considering previous traffic-related concerns instructing it either to identify alternative zoning-based reasons for rejecting the drive-thru or to approve the proposal At its Feb. 26 meeting, the board brought the matter up for reconsideration and ended with voting to approve the special permit but only "under protest" and with conditions Members voiced their unhappiness with the court's determination about the special permit "I don’t think any of us want to approve it I think no one wants to approve it but we are stuck," Chairman Jacob Dewey said during the hearing Member Manny Alves reiterated the overall agreement that the drive-thru did not meet the standards under the town's zoning ordinance that specifies in addition to the usual special permit guidelines a use "will not substantially adversely affect the .. comfort and convenience of the community." He and others said they are especially uncomfortable with a drive-thru service being available across the street from the high school which they argue would incentivize inexperienced drivers to use an already busy intersection In its decision to allow the special permit the board wrote that it "continues to find that after an evaluation of all the evidence presented the proposal would represent a substantial detriment to the public good or the neighborhood affected due to the requested drive-through The board disagreed with the court's finding and continues to raise concerns over traffic volume parking impacts and how each interact with the neighborhood and its unique location given its proximity to the high school campus directly across the street." The board stipulated that all light and noise related to the drive-thru "shall not trespass beyond the property line," and ordered "any impacts from light and noise on the abutting properties from the drive through" to be immediately corrected The board further called for all mechanical equipment associated with the structure such as air conditioners and electric generators to be screened from neighboring homes and the public right-of-way and for drive-thru window hours to be "the same as the hours of operation of the indoor restaurant and shall at no time exceed 10 p.m." accusing the board of disregarding the court order that prohibited discussing traffic-related concerns in its review of the special permit The company argues that the board's reference to traffic concerns including traffic volume and turning movements directly contradicts the court's directive to disregard those issues Arista also claims the board's latest decision included new such as the restrictions on light and noise which the developers contend are arbitrary and unenforceable Arista is seeking a court ruling to annul the board's decision and issue the requested special permit The company claims that by referencing the traffic concerns and introducing the new conditions "without evidence," the board overstepped its authority The complaint also notes that the board's decision was made "under protest," implying the board’s refusal to fully comply with the court's ruling The zoning board went into executive session for about 45 minutes during its March 26 meeting to discuss the matter The court's ruling has sparked wider discussions about the town’s zoning laws particularly about allowing drive-thru in certain areas who is representing the zoning board in court at the board's February hearing noted that the zoning ordinance had been changed in recent years to allow a drive-thru with a special permit She suggested there may be a need to look at the ordinance and consider some changes While it wouldn’t have an effect on the case LLC bought the Santander Bank property in July 2022 for $1.3 million according to a deed with the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds The current building already has a drive-thru and Arista noted in court documents it has already committed to making improvements to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow on the site A site plan approval granted in April 2023 confirmed that the project met necessary entry and exit requirements Connelly noted that the Land Court judge felt the evidence from the Arista's traffic engineer was credible She also noted that the judge was not swayed by arguments presented in nearly 100 letters of opposition submitted by community members many of which came from people who don't live nearby and focused on issues not tied to zoning Heather McCarron writes about climate change in addition to news and features in Barnstable and Brewster I need to eat out more I haven’t had a chance to try the Bourne Breakfast Club, which hit the happy milestone of 1 million views on its video of food photographs last week And Romeo’s, a new place in Falmouth named after the owner’s loyal dog, is not back from winter break until Feb. 14 for Valentine’s Day Spoon and Seed closed permanently in April taking a job teaching culinary arts at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich 3 in the rustic wooden building at the corner of Kidd’s Hill Road and Thornton Drive “I thought there was a need for a sandwich shop because of the new Independence Park apartments and offices in the area,” said owner Jason Siscoe Popular in the first week of Kidd’s Hill Kitchen have been the Cuban sandwich with braised pork shoulder and smoked Virginia ham and the chicken pie with all white meat and no veggies Kidd’s Hill Kitchen also offers clam chowder and two other hot soups each day Opening week included three-bean chili and apple-butternut squash bisque changes daily with offerings such as lasagna chicken piccata and roasted chicken thighs with mashed potatoes “Kidd’s Hill Kitchen right now is 100% takeout I plan to have (in nice weather) a small patio area and picnic tables out to the front and off to the side where there is an enclosed patio,” said Siscoe How you might know Jason SiscoeSiscoe and his family owned Wimpy’s Seafood in Osterville for 21 years before selling it in 2017 and also owned Riverway Lobster House from 2009-2021 when it was turned over to the Family Table Collaborative Siscoe ran the Kalmus Beach concession for a decade then two years ago took over the private West Beach Club in Hyannis and the open-to-the-public Courtside Cafe at the members-only King’s Grant Racquet Club in Cotuit The Dennis Port restaurant made the list for its stunning waterfront views, creative and seasonal menu and engaging community events throughout the year. Read more about it and peruse the whole list here Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts. Contact her at gfriss@capecodonline.com. Join the Cape Cod Times free Facebook group, Good Stuff at Cape Cod Restaurants Want to catch up with what’s happening with Cape Cod and the Islands restaurants We're starting a new weekly column called Tidbits Each week we'll present you with a roundup of goings on in the Cape and Island food scene we are looking at two eateries in Hyannis that have closed and one bakery/cafe that has expanded to a new location Have news to share about your restaurant on Cape Cod or the Islands? Want to chat with other local foodies and share your input on polls and other Cape Cod Times food stories? Join our free Facebook group, Good Stuff at Cape Cod Restaurants for another way to share in the Cape and Islands' food scene Woolfie’s ― Breakfast, Lunch & Tavern which in June opened what was planned as a year-round location at 477 Yarmouth Road in Hyannis we announce the permanent closing of our Hyannis location,” wrote owner Dale Shadbegian on the restaurant’s Facebook page He wrote that the decision came “after some changes in my personal life and at our Dennis Port location known for 50 years of baking oversized blueberry muffins at its summer location in Dennis Port planned to expand to serving dinner at the year-round Hyannis spot Shadbegian told the Cape Cod Times in August The tavern received its liquor license on Oct longtime owners of the restaurant at 620 Main St wrote this message on the restaurant’s Facebook page “It has been such a pleasure serving you in the Cape and Islands community for the past 4 decades We deeply appreciate all of your support for our business over the years and have great memories of times we spent together while you dined with us Now it's time for us to turn the page and retire We hope to run into you in town as we enjoy our days off It’s not just the dough at Pain D’Avignon that is on the rise: The Hyannis-based bakery and cafe has added a restaurant at 71 Crowell Road in Chatham that serves brunch every day from 10 a.m In addition, Pain D'Avignon’s new Pizza Lab sharing the complex with its bakery and restaurant at 15 Hinckley Road serves Neapolitan pizza in a modern decor that includes a neon-lit slice of pizza over the bar with cream of pistachio stracciatella (a rich Italian cheese) and crispy prosciutto ($24) and Capri with Grande Mozzarella (a high quality Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. A 36-year-old Yarmouth man faces a murder charge after authorities say he shot a man on North Street in Hyannis early Sunday morning Barnstable police officers went to a North Street parking lot near Washington Street in Hyannis around 1 a.m The first officer on the scene saw a man who had been shot in the head and immediately began life-saving measures Hyannis Fire and Rescue personnel soon arrived to treat and bring the victim – a 41-year-old Hyannis resident – to Cape Cod Hospital where he was pronounced dead Witnesses told officers that a dark pick-up truck had left the area after the shooting A Barnstable officer found the car and its driver a short distance from the North Street parking lot That person was taken into custody and was eventually charged with murder and booked at the Barnstable Police Station where he is currently held without bail Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois called the shooting "an isolated matter" and said the person taken into custody will be arraigned on Monday morning at Barnstable District Court Massachusetts State Police detectives also lent a hand in investigating A new plan is in the works for a large 110-year-old Hyannis building with a history of many uses at the corner of Main and Ocean streets The building has been vacant for more than 20 years since the last attempt at development The 1915 brick building has been a grocery store, the Hibel Art Gallery a museum and a performing arts venue among other uses Alberto’s Restaurant occupied the rear of the building for 14 years before moving across Main Street to its current site around 1993 The applications to demolish the 8,254-square-foot one-story building and construct a commercial and residential complex will come before the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission Wednesday night The plans submitted to the commission call for a new four-story building with 3,860-square-foot commercial space on the first floor and 22 dwelling units on two floors above and a basement based in Marlborough and previously in Hyannis The company’s manager is Marcello Mallegni who said in a telephone call Monday that the plans are basically the same as those submitted in 2008 when he was involved in financing the project as manager of LBM Financial The application with the commission shows detailed plans that include building materials A rendering of the building shows a corner entrance at Main and Ocean streets with columns and a tower structure above to the top two floors Although the building name on the rendering says “Marcello’s,” Mallegni said it will not be called that and was just used for the drawing The 2008 project by developers Robert Bradley and Bernard Laverty under the name of One Ocean Street also proposed demolishing the old building and building 22 two-bedroom condominiums in the building and on the adjacent lot at 345 Main St. according to a Barnstable Patriot story on April 10 The plan also included 12,000-square feet of non-residential space on the first floor The 2008 project was approved by the town planning board and town council but was never finished after the property went into foreclosure and was sold at auction in September 2008 to the mortgagee LBM Financial went through several transactions on the Main and Ocean Street property between 2012 and 2019 when it was transferred as Bornbam Associates for $100 according to Barnstable assessor’s property records the vacant lot next door where a movie theater once stood the home of Leamar Industries Stone Supply company valued at $4.2 million for the building and land he also bought the Roadhouse Café on South Street with Ricardo Conrado for $1.1 million from jazz great Lou Colombo Mallegni will present his property applications to the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission Wednesday at 6:30 p.m in the Barnstable Town Hall conference room 1.5-bathroom unit puts you at the center of the village’s dynamic scene an expansive living area connects seamlessly to a private balcony – envision your morning brew or evening unwind The primary bedroom features a private half bath and walk-in closet this condo is perfect for comfortable living and effortless entertaining Don’t let this opportunity pass you by The demonstration was part of similar protests Friday in Washington One of the largest flags at the protest was held by Rick Jorgensen of Sandwich It flew from the mast of the USS Sarsfield off the coast of Vietnam where Jorgensen served in the Navy in 1972 “I’m appalled at what this administration is doing.” As a former federal employee in fish and wildlife refuges he is also most concerned about “our land and waters and air” and the regulations being pushed back and the managers being cut Many others expressed their concern and anger over the expected layoff of more than 76,000 Veterans Administration employees according to a memo leaked from a VA chief of staff Christopher Syrek The memo said the goal is to return its staffing to 2019 levels of 399,957 employees Veteran Will Remillard of Harwich said he has already experienced the cuts locally when his annual physical at the Veterans Affairs Clinic in Hyannis was canceled He said he was told there are no appointment openings for lack of employees a 26-year Air Force veteran who helped organize the stand-out with the Mid-Cape Indivisible organization said 25% of the federal workforce are veterans the draft dodger,” said one of the worst cuts has been in a suicide hotline that was closed because there was no one to answer the phones She has many family members who are veterans who was said he is getting some veterans services Marge Brogan of Marstons Mills expressed her anger that her son is dying of cancer while getting services in a West Roxbury veterans hospital Erin and Mark King drove from Woburn to the Cape because they couldn’t find a veterans protest that was closer She said her husband’s life was saved while serving in the Navy on the USS Chosin during Operation Iraqi Freedom “Now they’re trying to cut our throats pretty much,” Mark King said as he held a flag Erin King said she was very pleased to see so many supporters at the rally “It’s just appalling what the government is doing not just to us (veterans) but to the active duty and reserve officers," Janet Lewis of Brewster Many people at the protest said they are angry about many other actions by the Trump administration “I’m upset about everything he’s doing,” said William Hall of Cotuit who served in the Marine Corps after the Korean War “I don’t know how people could vote for him.” “I’m for respect," Deb Ewing of Marion said "I don’t want to be hateful,” but she is grateful that people are standing up “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Anne McManus of Sandwich said of the mass layoffs in the country “I’m very concerned as a senior about what’s happening.” Susan Vaughn writes about transportation and other local community issues affecting Cape Cod residents and visitors. She can be reached at smharris@gannett.com A crestfallen Michael Mecenas surveyed the charred ruins of the Brazilian Resource Center in downtown Hyannis and still saw reason to hope “I’ve been working so hard." So much has been done for the community Mecenas said Hyannis Fire Chief Peter Burke Jr had called him immediately after the fire at 70 Center St was reported to the department around 12:30 a.m “it was just mind blowing to see the whole thing coming to an end.” Yet Mecenas is heartened by the outpouring of support from the community. A GoFundMe campaign is already underway to help the organization “I’m so grateful how the community is coming together so many people sharing the GoFund link through the social media," he said This is exactly what I always pictured the community coming together as one even though it’s very sad and it’s tragic." What is the Brazilian Resource Center?Town Councilor Matthew Levesque who has volunteered for the organization for more than four years was at Mecenas' side Wednesday as he dealt with the aftermath The Center provides numerous services for immigrants and anyone in need from helping with citizenship and finding jobs to school enrollment who collects donations from local grocery stores for the center's food security program at least twice weekly formerly known as the Brazilian Health Ministry A firewall protected those businesses from fire damage The inferno was primarily confined to the back of the building and the front businesses "sustained smoke damage but no fire damage," the chief said Five hours before the fire broke out the Center had held a special program “and everything was fine,” Mecenas recalled According to the Hyannis Fire Department a passerby reported the fire to police just before 12:30 a.m "The initial arriving fire companies were confronted with substantial fire showing from the second floor" of the building West Barnstable and Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills were also called and initial responders entering the building encountered additional fire across the first floor A second alarm brought additional crews from COMM The Barnstable Police Department evacuated and sheltered nearby occupants during the fire which was declared under control by 2:30 a.m Most fire companies had cleared the scene by 6:45 a.m. with Hyannis Fire remaining until about 10:45 a.m but one firefighter was taken to Cape Cod Hospital with minor injuries; that responder was later released included classroom spaces and a medical clinic providing initial care while helping people connect with primary care physicians and health insurance There were 58 children enrolled in the center's wellness program The center has also provided food to more than 7,000 individuals since January this year — up from 5,435 last year — and assisted more than 16 homeless people "We serve anyone that comes through the door who needs help," Mecenas said The organization has been in operation since 2017 Mecenas said the organization just renewed its lease there for three more years The fire is under investigation by the state Fire Marshal’s Office The  Cape Cod Times is providing this coverage for free as a public service. Please take a moment to support local journalism by subscribing.  HYANNIS – Housing Assistance Corporation’s new headquarters will make it easier for employees to work as a team while providing more space for training The housing agency will move into the new building at 255 Independence Drive in Hyannis over the weekend and is expected to be up and running on Tuesday The organization has outgrown its current Hyannis home at 460 West Main St and some are required to work remotely part of the week we have not had enough square footage to actually have all our staff come in full time,” said Magnotta “Being able to have space for people to come in and do their work will be a huge change for us and the staff.” residents seeking help should be able to easily tap into a variety of housing services in one location “We’re really seeing this as a housing resource center with this idea that someone in need or a client can come in and really have the benefit of that one-stop shopping,” said Magnotta employees celebrated the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour Housing Assistance bought the 22,000-square-foot office building from Barnstable real estate developer Stuart Bornstein for $5.6 million on July 2 The new office is just under three miles from its current headquarters The new building will be one of three regional housing resource centers and the home for the agency’s Education and Housing Counseling programs and services Housing Assistance also operates a regional housing resource center in Orleans and plans to open another location in the Upper Cape A key feature of the new headquarters will be a 1,000-square-foot training space that will allow for employees to attend in-person and remote classes Housing Assistance’s existing home has two floors with Cape Cod Healthcare and South Coast Legal Services occupying the upstairs and Housing Assistance downstairs Magnotta said those other two tenants will remain in that building at this time When Housing Assistance leaves the building the organization will go through the permitting process to move the Winter Street shelter there That shelter is operated by Catholic Charities