Restaurant of the Year, mental health facility, hiring freeze for Seashore: Top stories
It's time for another edition of the Cape Cod Times news roundup, where we highlight the stories on the Cape Cod Times website that our readers enjoyed the most over the past week. Currently featured on the site is a story about Cape Cod Times photographer Steve Heaslip's plans to spend a week at sea with Massachusetts Maritime Academy cadets, coverage of a cyber security breach in Bourne, and a look at piping plovers on the Cape.
The Cape Cod Times sports page also has continuing coverage of high school sports scores with daily roundups, plus a feature about a basketball duo at Upper Cape.
And for those looking for something to do during school break, we have a list of activities and events.
Here are the most popular stories on the Cape Cod Times website last week.
According to USA Today's 2025 Restaurants of the Year list, The Rooftop at Pelham House Resort is one of the top places to eat in America.
Food writers across the country nominated restaurants that excited them, restaurants they would recommend to friends and family, and restaurants they'd return to again and again.
'We are so very grateful to be put on the map like this. I think this will give a lot more people the chance to hear about what we are doing here,' said John McCarthy, a managing partner at Pelham House Resort.
What makes this Cape Cod waterfront spot so special? Click the story link to find out.
More: This stunning waterfront restaurant named one of best in U.S. — here's what to try
While The Rooftop at Pelham House made USA Today's 2025 Restaurants of the Year list, that doesn't mean we don't have other favorites that we wish had made the list. Food editor Gwenn Friss answers the call for all the Cape Cod foodies who want to check out other places worth visiting in addition to The Rooftop at Pelham House.
Who made our wish list of Cape Cod restaurants we think could fit on USA Today's Restaurants of the Year list? Click the story link for the full menu.
More: 10 best Cape Cod area restaurants we wish made USA TODAY's Restaurants of the Year list
In January, Gov. Maura Healey filed her fiscal 2026 budget which revealed budget cuts to the Department of Mental Health. That includes the closure of Pocasset Mental Health Center.
Barnstable County Sheriff Donna Buckley said the closures and budget restrictions will "put more people in emergency rooms, in police cruisers or in jails."
State Sen. Dylan Fernandes told the Times that the Center is funded through the fiscal year and there won't be an immediate closure. In the meantime, Fernandes said he's working on a budget amendment that could keep the Center open.
Where will families go for help if the Center does close, and what happens next? Click the story link to read all the details.
More: Cape Cod mental health facility to close, state budget cuts cited. 'There's nothing.'
The Cape Cod National Seashore typically hires seasonal workers to handle its surge of visitors every summer, including rangers, lifeguards, fee collectors, shorebird researchers, maintenance and tram drivers. If a federal hiring freeze, announced Jan. 20, continues, then things could be looking a lot different at the Seashore.
'If there is much more of a delay in hiring these seasonals I think visitors will see the impacts in delayed response time to emergencies, reduction of ranger-led programs, reduction in hours and days open for visitor centers, and cases where trash accumulates and restrooms are not as clean,' said Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, on Feb. 5.
Why is there a federal hiring freeze and what else does this mean for the Seashore? Click the story link to read the full story.
More: Cape Cod National Seashore summer services may be at risk with hiring freeze
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.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Times top stories: Restaurant honored, Seashore not hiring
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