Editor:

I would like to acknowledge and thank the Brewster Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Brewster Historical Society for the scholarship they awarded me this fall. Their generosity will go a long way in supporting my future academic and career aspirations. I encourage Brewster residents to look into the opportunities available to them through the annual Brewster Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Henry Blanchard
Brewster

Editor:

The best kind of town government is when partnerships form with a common goal to make the town a better, healthier, more responsive, more inclusive space. That’s just what has taken place with Harwich’s new foodscrap collection program at the transfer station. Our Garden Club of Harwich’s conservation committee approached Director of Public Works Link Hooper with the idea of starting a foodscrap collection program. Link agreed to partner with us to make it happen. We’ve spent this year visiting other local landfills, researching options, designing signage and figuring out specifics before debuting this program. Residents have enthusiastically embraced this program and have patiently put up with us as we worked out the kinks.

We’d like to thank Link and his crew for their unwavering support of this initiative. They’ve been gracious about the extra work involved in an effort to bring Harwich in line with environmental best practices. Thank you to the water department for putting out the information in their water bills. And thanks to all the residents for their patience, co-operation and participation!

In just two months, we’ve kept nearly six tons of foodscraps out of the waste stream. We invite you to participate. The foodscraps are collected bi-weekly by Black Earth Composting and taken to their facility to be turned into rich compost. That compost will then capture more carbon. It’s a healthy ending to our efforts!

Look for signage near the garbage drop off. Please avoid dumping in plastic bags unless they are certified compostable. You can go to the DPW website for further information and a complete list of what is accepted at www.harwichhighway.com/. Harwich has a strong sense of earth stewardship and we are honored to be a part of it.

Diane DiGennaro, chair
Garden Club of Harwich Conservation Committee

Editor:

It has been refreshing to read a local newspaper with articles and information relating to my own and neighboring communities without having to read about the fractious national political arena. So it is especially disappointing to see The Chronicle now publishing letters to the editor expressing personal political opinions. I would hope that you continue to publish letters pertaining to our local issues only. Since The Chronicle does not publish national news, it would be best not to publish opinions on national politics.

Debbie Swenson
Chatham

Editor:

A shoutout of thanks to all those who packed the South Chatham Village Hall for the South Chatham Village Association's 25th annual meeting Sept. 7. Special appreciation to our informative speakers: Ted Keon, director of coastal resources; Mike Schell, chairman of the affordable housing trust and the select board; Charlie Adams, vice president of Pennrose; and Tim Wood, editor of The Chronicle.

Many issues were presented followed by a question and answer session. 

See you next September!

Carol Gordon, president
South Chatham Village Association

Editor:

The Sept. 12 edition of The Chronicle stated the amount privately raised was $400,000 to create and install the sculpture “Wind Dance” at the South Orleans Rotary. This was an error. 

The amount privately raised was $47,500. These funds came from the Orleans Improvement Association’s (OIA) garden tour and private donations over the past several years. OIA appreciates local support and will continue to work on projects throughout the community.

Nancy Jorgensen, president
Orleans Improvement Association

Editor:

It has been said, “Town libraries are a beacon of knowledge, empowerment and community development.” We should value the role of the town library, and yet a decision has been made to close the town library one day a week because they cannot find part-time help.

Maybe the “financial pot” should be sweetened. Harwich has the only board of library trustees in the state of Massachusetts where each trustee receives a yearly stipend. This has been happening for several years! No other community offers this! So why can’t funds be available to offer a higher salary to part-time employees? The library director and town officials need to be creative and work together to solve this embarrassing town issue!

Donna Richardson
Harwich

Editor:

I agree with Mr. Phillips' letter requesting "to show your work." I just wish he would do the same as his letter contains serious errors. The apex of inflation was reached in 2022 (monthly peak 9.1 percent, with yearly average 8% – US Bureau Labor Statistics) and the 10-year record high all-grade retail gasoline price was $5.03 per gallon(US Energy Information Administration). I will check, but I think Joe Biden was the president, not Trump.

Chet Mohr
South Chatham

Editor:

Regardless of whether a conservative or a liberal, facts should matter to you during an election. A letter writer recently attributed the following to Biden and Harris; more than half are inaccurate and most of those that were true either cannot or should not reasonably be the fault of a president. In fact, only one, “the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan,” potentially could have been impacted by Biden/Harris.

“Historic inflation.” False. Inflation was worldwide and caused by the COVID pandemic and the associated supply chain disruption. The highest inflation in America was 23.7 percent in 1920, 17-plus percent in 1917/18, 14.37 percent in 1945, and 13.55 percent in 1980. 

“Record high gas prices.” True. Gas prices hit $5.07, however, presidents have very little to do with gas prices in the short term. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and economic recovery from COVID were the cause of high gas prices. 

“Record high consumer debt.” False.

“Disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.” True. 

“Rise in violent crime.” False. Violent crime has gone down. Figures from large cities show a 9.1 percent drop in murders from 2020 to 2023, and data from more than 200 cities show a continuing decline so far this year.

“Massive amount of taxpayer dollars given to Ukraine.” True. Ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty is critical to U.S. interests and controlling Russian aggression.

“Willingness to allow millions of illegals…” False. The GOP has repeatedly blocked proposed immigration reform.

“Record number of drugs being distributed across the border.” False.The steep rise started in mid-2020 under then-President Donald Trump. Federal data for drug seizures by weight are trending down under Biden.

Peter Cholakis
Harwich Port