The Family Pantry of Cape Cod holds its annual Turkey Day and Toy Day programs once again this holiday season to support community households in need. Executive Director Christine Menard says the Pantry currently accepts donations for both programs as well as general donations for the presumably challenging winter season ahead.

The town of Orleans held its 2022 Fall Town Meeting on Oct. 17 at Nauset Regional Middle School. Of the 36 warrant articles addressed during the session, two prompted significant discussion: a home rule petition prohibiting the application of fertilizer and a funding article regarding town parking programs that was revised just days before the meeting.

The Brewster Planning Board and Select Board endorsed the final draft of the town's Local Comprehensive Plan during a public hearing on Oct. 12. According to the town, the plan strives to guide Brewster's land use decisions and policies over the next 10-plus years. Brewster's Vision Planning Committee completed the plan in September and following approval by town officials, the final draft will appear on Brewster's Fall Town Meeting warrant on Nov. 14.

The Center for Coastal Studies and community volunteers completed the seventh annual Outer Cape Clean-up on Oct. 17 at Race Point Beach. Over the course of the four-day program, participants picked-up trash and other debris from National Seashore beaches between Eastham and Provincetown.

20 September 2022 -- ORLEANS, MA -- The Duke d'Orleans - or at least his likeness - returned fully restored to Orleans Town Hall this September. Debra Dickinson of Dickinson Fine Art Conservation completed a two-year restoration process on the 200-year-old portrait and the painting of Orleans' namesake now hangs on the second floor of the town hall building within the Nauset Room.

01 October 2022 -- BREWSTER, MA -- Debate - and design - continue in Brewster as the town plans a new elevated boardwalk connecting Wing Island to Drummer Boy Park and the Museum of Natural History. While local officials say the public wants improvements to Wing Island's accessibility, the initial conceptual design received substantial community opposition this summer, leading to two new proposals for public input a a planned forum later this fall.

01 October 2022 -- HARWICH, MA -- Cape Codders now have access to new bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. The boosters protect against the original virus strain as well as the Omicron variant and were authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Aug. 31 and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sept. 1.

Brewster's brand new First Light Beach opened to the public on July 1, with parking exclusively for residents holding a valid permit. The evening before First Light officially opened for public use, the town held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the bayside beach, which sits on land formerly owned by Cape Cod Sea Camps.

The Massachusetts House passed a comprehensive reproductive health rights package this week - and State Rep. Sarah Peake says that in this era of a Trump Supreme Court watching state-level legislation becomes additionally important.

Last year, restaurant Apt Cape Cod received national attention after it shut down for a day to give its employees a breather from abusive customers. This year, it sees a better customer attitude -- but like most hospitality businesses is struggling to find enough workers.