In the News
Spring Market Returns to Mashpee Commons
April 24, 2026 – Mashpee Commons will host a Spring Market in collaboration with the Mashpee Farmers Market on Saturday, May 2, from 12-3 PM. The outdoor event, held on Steeple Street, will feature face painting, entertainment, giveaways, sidewalk shopping and a preview of the vendors that will be participating in the 2026 Mashpee Farmers Market.
The event also marks the kickoff to Small Business Week and the grand opening of Artworx Beauty, a new makeup studio.
“There’s a special energy at the Commons when the Farmers Market returns, especially as we honor Small Business Week,” said Krysten Kelliher, Marketing Director, Mashpee Commons. “We’re excited for shoppers to rediscover their favorite local staples and be introduced to the many new vendors joining our community this season.”
Vendors will include local food purveyors, artisans and makers, along with some of Mashpee Commons’ retailers and service providers. Participants include Maple Hollow Bakery, DaSilva Farms, Oyst-Her Skin Care, Seabiscuits and many more. The event is meant to provide a sneak peek of the 2026 Mashpee Farmers Market season, which debuts on Sunday, May 24 at the Village Green. Guests can shop while enjoying musical entertainment from Lemonadio and Grace O’Shea.
Adding to the day’s excitement, Artworx Beauty will officially open its doors at 30 North Street. All are invited to join the ribbon cutting celebration at 12 PM. Guests can also stop by the shop throughout the day to enter to win prizes, including a prom makeup session, a gift basket with beauty supplies, and a makeup consultation. Owned by Kristin McKenzie—a local expert with over two decades of experience in the bridal industry—the boutique features organic beauty products, expert workshops, and special occasion styling.
The Spring Market also ushers in National Small Business Week, an initiative implemented by the Small Business Administration to celebrate entrepreneurs and small business owners. Mashpee Commons boasts a diverse retail mix, 70% of which are local businesses; more than half of those are woman-owned.
“This week serves as a celebration of the entrepreneurs who drive our local economy,” said Kelliher. “Supporting our neighbors and independent shops ensures that the unique character of our community continues to thrive and grow for years to come.”
April 8, 2026
The creation of a community kitchen is making headway in Mashpee. Mashpee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stephanie Viva updated the Economic Development and Industrial Committee (EDIC) on the initiative on March 31.
“It’s all coming along quickly. We’ve written a couple of grants,” Viva said. “We’re currently looking at the FSIG (Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program) Grant, which is a federal grant right now.”
At the January EDIC meeting, Viva said that the community kitchen has been an idea shared by the chamber and the Mashpee Farmers’ Market. The kitchen would bring food rescue initiatives, also called food recovery, to Mashpee and help support local businesses across the Upper Cape.
“We’re hoping to make it a visitor center in the front and a community kitchen in the back where some of our people can use that space, from small businesses to farmers’ markets,” Viva said. “We’ve got a few of them in town. We’ve got about eight people signed up now that are ready to rent it.”
Food rescue or recovery is the practice of collecting fresh, edible food that would otherwise go to waste from food establishments—restaurants, grocers, et cetera—and distributing it to local social service agencies, reducing food waste while supporting those who need food assistance.
In January, Viva told the EDIC that Triple M, a cannabis dispensary located at 29 Echo Road in Mashpee, offered to work with her without a lease. The unutilized space, Viva said, is 1,400 square feet.
“It’s not huge, but it might be a space in which we can test the waters for some sort of shared mixed-use kitchen for everyone to utilize,” she said in January.
Mashpee Town Hall could also make use of the kitchen, she said, for the Health Department or Recreation Department lessons.
“Baking lessons for kids are huge right now, and we just don’t have a facility like that in town,” Viva said.
Viva has been in contact with Town Manager Rodney C. Collins and Assistant Town Manager Wayne E. Taylor about the project. Town Planner Brian Tobin and Building Commissioner David Morris also support the project......
Read the full article on The Enterprise.
March 6, 2026
Mashpee TV Executive Director Chris Ball is not used to being the center of attention, but on March 19, the man behind the camera will be just that.
“Accepting awards is not me,” Ball told the Enterprise on Wednesday. “I like to just be in the background.”
While Ball’s work typically does happen in the background, it is exactly that behind-the-scenes work that earned him this year’s Citizen of the Year award from the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce.
“I always try to give back time. In this job, it’s a perfect outlet,” Ball said. “All these organizations have needs. Not only do we donate our own expertise here, but we also volunteer our own time. We make friends that way. They bring us stuff to put on the air. We’re always looking for content. They feel comfortable with us.”
He referenced one such instance involving the local nonprofit organization Heroes in Transition, which neighbors the Mashpee TV building on Industrial Drive.
“When they opened up their new building over here, they needed a couple of monitors and a touch screen,” Ball said. “So we went over there and helped them out on our own time.”
Ball and his Mashpee TV colleagues also assist the Mashpee Congregational Church and Christ the King, producing live videos of Mass and other religious events.
“Sometimes the Congregational Church has trouble with their live videos, so we try to help them out,” Ball said. “Christ the King, the same thing. We’re here to help people.”
Ball got his start in Mashpee TV nearly 13 years ago, when the town asked him, Brad Sweet, and his best friend, Jim Vaccaro, to run the community access stations in place of Comcast, which wanted out.
“So when they did the new contract for the town, probably about 13 years ago now, they said that they wanted the town to take it over and they were going to give the town a percentage of cable revenues and some money for capital expenditures,” Ball said. “So, the town then asked Jim, Brad and me to start up a TV station.”
He had no experience in television or information technology (IT), he said....
Read the full article on The Enterprise.
March 6, 2026
Pink Door Catering in Mashpee partnered with World Central Kitchen last week, a worldwide nonprofit that provides fresh meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises, to prepare and distribute 1,750 meals across the Cape in the aftermath of the historic blizzard.
Pink Door Catering owner and chef Matthew L. Lombardo said the kitchen was dug out Wednesday morning, and luckily, it had not lost power. He then received a phone call.
“Someone from World Central Kitchen called and said, ‘We have called 50 people on the Cape, and we are having a hard time finding someone who can make food for us tonight,’” Lombardo said. “World Central Kitchen needed 1,200 people fed by 4 PM [Wednesday]. Our vibe here is that if we have the chance to help the community, we are in. I told them we would take care of it.”
Lombardo said he and three other employees then went into “absolute beast mode” to prepare the meals. Pink Door Catering cooked all the pasta and chicken it had on hand, which totaled almost 100 pounds of pasta, and ground and sauteed beef to create a pasta dish.
Lombardo said the pasta dish was enough food for about 1,000 people. To cross the finish line, employees crafted 150 wraps or sandwiches with deli meats such as turkey or ham.
“We did not start cooking until 11 AM, so we pulled this off in five hours,” Lombardo said. “It was incredible. We had to dig out our catering truck for oven space to keep food hot, so we fired the truck up, and pretty much had food cooking on every spot we could possibly cook food.”
Lombardo said it was a “great community moment,” as Pink Door Catering’s local produce company, Ring Brothers, delivered 1,000 apples and bottles of water to pair with the meals. Dino’s Pizza and Sports Bar also provided sauce for the pasta dish, as Lombardo did not have sauce on hand and did not have time to make any before the pickup deadline.
World Central Kitchen then asked the catering company to cook 500 meals on Thursday.
“After doing 1,200 meals, we were like, ‘Easy,”’ Lombardo said...
Read the full article on The Enterprise.
March 4, 2026
FALMOUTH, MA—This fall, hundreds of Cape Cod builders, subcontractors, suppliers, and small businesses will set aside their busy workloads and donate labor and materials to build a three-bedroomhome in just one week for Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod.
A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on April 28, marking the start of preparations for the September 21–25, 2026 Home Builders Blitz Build. During the five-day build, Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod (HBRACC)members will construct a Cape-style home at 805 Gifford Street Extension in Falmouth. The Blitz home is one of four affordable homes being built behind
the Falmouth ReStore as part of Habitat’s continued effort to address Cape Cod’s housing crisis.
A Home BuildersBlitz is a home constructed from frame to finish in just one week, donated to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod. Habitat Cape Cod will select a local family from qualified applicants to purchase the home. The Home Builders Blitz partnership between Habitat and HBRACC began in 2013 and continues every two years, with successful builds in Orleans, Harwich, Brewster, Dennis, and Falmouth, highlighting the urgent need for affordable homeownership for local families and the commitment of the home building industry to supporting that goal.
Wendy Cullinan, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, said, “The 2024 Blitz family included a local plasterer who was originally scheduled to work on the very house that ended up becoming his own family’s home. It was a full circle moment that really shows what the Blitz is all about, neighbors helping neighbors and the local workforce literally building the community they live in.
Habitat homeowners include teachers, nurses, municipal employees, restaurant workers, tradespeople, and small business owners.”...
Read the full article on Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod's website.
February 20, 2026
Mashpee, MA – The Mashpee Chamber of Commerce has announced its 2026 Annual Award Winners, recognizing the individuals and businesses driving economic vitality, community stability, and regional growth in Mashpee.
The honorees will be recognized on March 19 from 5–7 PM at The Club at New Seabury during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony.
Citizen of the Year -- Chris Ball, Mashpee TV
Chris Ball is being honored for his extraordinary civic contribution and countless unpaid hours supporting the Town of Mashpee and its nonprofit ecosystem. Through Mashpee TV, Chris ensures transparency, access, and visibility for town government, schools, local nonprofits, and community events strengthening civic engagement and informed participation.
Beyond broadcasting, his support spans Christ the King Parish, the Mashpee Food Pantry, Boys & Girls Club, Dana-Farber, Heroes in Transition, Mashpee Pops, the Mashpee Farmers Market, Mashpee Middle-High School, the Recreation Department, and more. His steady presence amplifies organizations that form the backbone of Mashpee’s social and economic infrastructure.
Business of the Year -- Pink Door Catering (Matt Lombardo)
Pink Door Catering fuels Mashpee’s event economy while consistently supporting nonprofit fundraisers and community initiatives. Known for its “no job too big” approach, the company plays a vital role in strengthening local events, tourism activity, and charitable fundraising efforts across the region. Positive.Vibes.Only
Start-Up Business of the Year -- Island Pickle (Bill, Tammy & Adi)
Less than a year ago, the site was a vacant dirt lot. Today, Island Pickle is a high-energy recreational hub generating foot traffic, employment opportunities, and year-round economic activity. Their rapid transformation reflects strong private investment and confidence in Mashpee’s growth.
Social Connector Award -- Kai Childs
Kai Childs is recognized for strengthening Mashpee’s business network through mentorship, strategic connection-building, and community outreach. Her work with EforAll supports business development while fostering collaboration across industries and organizations.
Community Impact Award -- Cape Kid Meals
Cape Kid Meals continues to address childhood food insecurity across Cape Cod, and here in Mashpee ensuring students have access to nutritious meals outside school hours. Their work directly supports workforce stability and family well-being - critical pillars of regional economic health.
Unsung Heroes
Nominated through ballots at Town Hall, the Senior Center, the Library, and CapeSpace, this year’s Unsung Heroes are:
● Greg McKelvey (Kiwanis)
● David Williams (Mashpee Babe Ruth Baseball Club)
● Mary Stickley (Mashpee Middle-High School)
Unsung Youth
Nominated by police officers, educators, Boys & Girls Club staff, and Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors:
● Gianna Diauto
● Jayden Williams
● Alice Clark
“The strength of Mashpee’s economy is directly tied to the strength of its people,” said the Mashpee Chamber Executive Director Stephanie Viva. “These award recipients demonstrate how leadership, service, and entrepreneurship create lasting economic and community impact.”
Community members are invited to attend the March 19 celebration at New Seabury. Event details are available at: www.mashpeechamber.com/annual-meeting
February 12, 2026
The 23rd Annual Abraham Penn Community Award, named after the founder of Puritan Cape Cod, has been given to Kerry Munroe, owner of The Picnic Box.
In 1919, Abraham Penn founded Puritan Cape Cod with two key principles in mind: service to the customer and service to the community. He instilled these values in his two sons, Milton and Howard Penn, who in turn passed them on to the third generation, and current owners of the company, Rick and Jim Penn.
At a reception this morning at Puritan Cape Cod’s Hyannis store, Munroe was honored, along with leaders of the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce who nominated her for the award.
Chambers from across the Cape were invited to submit nominations. Puritan Cape Cod awarded the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce a $1,000 donation in Munroe’s name for nominating the eventual winner.
When applying for the award, the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce stated that Munroe is an individual who places people first and uses her business as a force for good. Her impact touches families, seniors and workers throughout Mashpee and the Cape Cod community. She has provided meals for 55+ communities and contributed to the Southport Scholarship Fund for Mashpee High School.
Munroe has also contributed to Toys for Tots and provides food, warmth and facilities for the fire department’s “Homeless For The Holidays” toy drive. Additionally, Munroe provides a “pit stop” to Heroes in Transition for the annual Ruck4HIT Race.
Read the full article on The Enterprise.
Falmouth Commodores scholarship applications open until May 1, 2026
January 20, 2026
The Falmouth Commodores are now accepting applications for their two different scholarships – the George Creighton Scholarship and the Chuck Sturtevant Outstanding Service Award. Applications are being accepted until May 1, 2026.
The George Creighton Scholarship is awarded each year in memory of George Creighton, a long-time volunteer and past president of the Falmouth Commodores. Mr. Creighton was very active in youth sports and baseball in particular. Recipients must be high school seniors who are residents of Falmouth or Mashpee. The scholarships are awarded in recognition of student sports participation, academic achievement, volunteerism, and financial need. Three $1,000 scholarships are awarded each spring.
The Chuck Sturtevant Outstanding Service Award is given annually in honor of Chuck Sturtevant for his many years of service and dedication to the Falmouth Commodores and the Cape Cod Baseball League. The award is presented to individuals who have been involved with the team as a bat kid, long-term host family member, intern or other significant volunteer. Recipients will be considered regardless of residency. One $2,000 scholarship is awarded each spring.
Please share this information with anyone who fits the requirements listed above. Both scholarship applications can be located on the Falmouth Commodores website at https://capecodleague.com/falmouth/about/scholarships. Completed applications may be
mailed to Falmouth Commodores/Scholarship, PO Box 1911, N. Falmouth, MA 02556 or emailed to Dick Wenderoth at dwenderoth861@gmail.com and must be received no later than May 1, 2025.
Award recipients will be notified of their status in early May. They should be available to attend a pre-game recognition event at a Falmouth Commodores game, and provide a photo and bio for the Commodores’ website and program guide. Please direct any questions to dwenderoth861@gmail.com.