CHATHAM – Once again, dozens of five-foot-long, brightly decorated sharks will be swimming into Kate Gould Park. The Chatham Merchants Association-sponsored Sharks in the Park, one of the town's most popular events and a sure indication that summer is on the way, will be set up this Friday, May 19, and will be open to the public thereafter. Local businesses sponsor the sharks, which local artists decorate u...

NORTH CHATHAM — Faced with the potential of someday paying a premium as one of the town's largest consumers of drinking water, Broad Reach Healthcare is turning down the tap. The parent company of Liberty Commons and the Victorian announced last week that it voluntarily put in place water conservation measures that, at least at first blush, seem to be having a beneficial effect. Based on an analysis of ac...

CHATHAM — By a healthy margin of 1,289 votes to 706, Shareen Davis unseated Selectman Seth Taylor in Thursday's annual town election. The unofficial election results were released shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. The selectmen's race was the only contested one on the ballot. Davis thanked her supporters and election volunteers, and said the series of meet-and-greet events she held during the campaign ga...

CHATHAM – In last-minute ads, fliers and emails, incumbent Selectmen Seth Taylor is criticizing comments made by challenger Shareen Davis regarding the retail sale of marijuana in town. At the League of Women Voters candidate forum April 20, Davis said the town should not dismiss the retail sale of marijuana outright. Taylor also said the subject should be addressed “rationally” and that people should “not get...

CHATHAM – In the past, summer workers could count on finding a room in one of the town's many dormitories or rooming houses, many of which were located in the Old Village and downtown. Today, those locations represent some of the town's priciest real estate, and places like the Hawes House and the Epicure dorms have given way to private residences or upscale condos. But with the scarcity of workforce housin...

CHATHAM — State officials came to town last week to hear from small business owners about what the commonwealth can do to encourage job creation and business growth. What they heard was pretty clear: when it comes to government intervention, less is more. The May 5 session at the community center was led by Carolyn Kirk, deputy secretary of housing and economic development, with help from the Cape Cod Chambe...

CHATHAM – Voters at Monday's town meeting decided that being good neighbors – and having clean water – was more important than any shortfalls that might be contained in an inter-municipal wastewater treatment agreement with Harwich. By an overwhelming vote of 220 to 61, voters endorsed the inter-municipal agreement (IMA) that calls for up to 300,000 gallons per day of sewage from East Harwich to be treated ...

WELLFLEET — Lifeguards routinely put themselves in harm's way to save people from drowning. But if a swimmer is attacked by a shark, should a lifeguard enter the water to try and help? “It's a tough one,” Orleans Natural Resources Manager Nate Sears said. Current protocols indicate that lifeguards should attempt a rescue as soon as the shark has left the area, “but who's to say when the shark has left the ar...

CHATHAM – The two candidates for selectman raised nearly the same amount of money in the weeks leading up to today's election, with Seth Taylor's total exceeding Shareen Davis' by less than $100. Taylor spent more money than Davis, however, by more than $2,500, according to campaign finance forms filed last week. Davis campaign treasurer Deborah Connor reported receipts of $9,774 between Jan. 1 and May 1. E...

CHATHAM – Voters at Monday's town meeting decided that being good neighbors – and having clean water – was more important than any shortfalls that might be contained in an inter-municipal wastewater treatment agreement with Harwich. By an overwhelming vote of 220 to 61, voters endorsed the inter-municipal agreement (IMA) that calls for up to 300,000 gallons per day of sewage from East Harwich to be treated ...

CHATHAM – The two candidates for selectman raised nearly the same amount of money in the week's leading up to today's election, with Seth Taylor's total exceeding Shareen Davis' by less than $100. Taylor spent more money Davis, however, by more than $2,500, according to campaign finance forms filed last week. SEE SETH TAYLOR'S CAMPAIGN FINANCE FORM HERE SEE SHAREEN DAVIS' CAMPAIGN FINANCE FORM HERE ...

CHATHAM – Discussions and compromises worked out over the past few months will likely avoid a number of potential controversies in next Monday's annual town meeting. That's not to say, however, that there won't be spirited discussion over some of the 40 articles on the warrant. Specifically, contention appears to be brewing over Article 38, which seeks approval for the selectmen to enter into an inter-municipa...