The Point

At this time of year we can be bombarded by Christmas music: it’s on the radio, in stores, and all too often stuck in our heads. If you’re growing weary of the same old songs, but still want to get into the holiday spirit, there are many opportunities for live musical performances. On The Point, we talk with the leaders of the Cape Symphony and the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra about the themes in their Holiday performances.

A group of middle schoolers on Martha’s Vineyard believe adults aren’t doing enough to protect the environment. Since 2018 they’ve been meeting during every lunch and recess to take matters into their own hands. Their first mission: to ban plastic bottles across the island. Laurelin Kruse has the story.

Giving Tuesday has gained momentum over the past few years as a way to encourage donations to non-profits. But giving doesn’t always mean writing a check: there are a number of ways we can give back to community organizations, and all of them have a good chance of making you feel good at the same time. On The Point, we discuss the needs of our community and how we can all contribute.

Our book experts talk plays on The Point. Have a house full of guests this week? Why not read a play together! We'll try to inspire you with plays that range from classics to recent playwrights, which are all well worth reading, by yourself or as a group.

With over 70 published books, Marty Sandler is one of Cape Cod's most prolific authors. Earlier this month he was awarded the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature for his book 1919: The Year that Changed America . We talk with Marty about his career, what historical lessons we can draw on in today’s political and social climate, and what topics he hopes to focus on next.

WCAI News Director Steve Junker hosts a roundup of some of the week's top local and regional news, including: Dennis runs afoul of the ACLU over random searches of coolers for alcohol; Cape towns facing subpoenas over marijuana agreements will avoid testifying before a grand jury; and offshore wind companies get pushback on a proposed uniform turbine layout.

Harvest festivals were common events in Native American and European cultures well before the 1600’s. Why did the harvest festival of 1621 become “The First” Thanksgiving, what was the true relationship between Wampanoags and Europeans at that time, and why have so many facts been omitted from history books? We sort through fiction and fact with David Vanderhoop, Wampanoag native and co-founder, with his wife Saskia, of Sassafras Earth Education ; and David Silverman, professor of Native

We think about the things we are thankful for this time of year, but what if we did that daily? Researchers have found that adopting a daily habit of thankfulness makes us healthier and happier. Our panel of mental health experts look at what the research tells us about physical and mental benefits of gratitude.

Manipulating Congressional district maps to favor one political party over another is not a new strategy, both parties have been using this tactic for years. Yet over the past decade Congressional district maps across the nation were gerrymandered to favor Republican candidates. We discuss efforts to make maps more reflective of the population, and strategies Massaschuetts can adopt to make publicly elected officials better reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth.

WCAI News Director Steve Junker hosts a roundup of some of the week's top local and regional news, including: the upcoming 2020 Census could have big implications for the Cape region; the Coast Guardsman found guilty in a 2015 shooting rampage in Bourne is seeking to have his conviction overturned; the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) hold an election that could be a referendum on a planned gaming hall; and the season’s first cold-stunned sea turtles have begun washing ashore.