Editor:

Two years ago, our building at 791 Main St. in Chatham experienced a fire. Thanks to the swift action of the Chatham Fire Department and support from neighboring towns, the fire was safely extinguished and fortunately there were no injuries. Over the past 24 months, we have navigated through a complex reconstruction process. With the expert help and guidance of Eastward Companies, along with assistance from the town of Chatham Building, Health and Water departments, as well as the historical business district commission, the rebuilding is now complete. During this time, we had the pleasure of collaborating with several officials from the United States Government. As of March 12, the U.S. Department of the Interior has taken stewardship of 791 Main St., which will now serve as the official headquarters for the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. We warmly welcome them to their new downtown location and are excited to have them continue their important work overseeing Monomoy Island and the refuge for our community.

The Grattan Family
Chatham

Editor:

Chatham’s woodlands continue to be chipped away (pun intended) by development. Bit by bit, we're losing a part of our heritage, recreational opportunities, homes for our wild neighbors, protection for our drinking water supply, and mitigation to impacts of a changing climate. Some loss of our forested land is necessary for the general wellbeing of the community, for example new wells, water treatment facilities and pump stations. For these purposes Chatham has been willing to sacrifice our woodlands. At the same time, town meeting has demonstrated consistently that our community understands and appreciates the values of our open spaces and woodlands and has chosen to protect them from development. 

Housing, of course, is also a priority. The select board has taken bold steps to move forward with three projects, with one more on the horizon. It’s disappointing, however, that three of the four are in primarily undisturbed woodlands: Meetinghouse Road, a portion of the Buckley property, and the parcel on Stepping Stones Road. There’s an understandable tension between open space and housing as land is finite. But it doesn’t have to be, and shouldn’t be, a binary choice. We can have both.

Commercial and residential properties have come on the market and sold to private developers. Have none of those been suitable for affordable housing? Our neighboring communities have successfully utilized already developed parcels for new housing. They have saved their open spaces and woodlands for recreation and enjoyment by all their citizens. Chatham can and should join them in selecting developed sites for housing rather than our precious woodlands.

DeeDee Holt
Chatham

Editor:

I work at Broad Reach Liberty Commons nursing home and every week I read The Chronicle to the residents there. Their favorite part is the animals up for adoption in the Pets of the Week from the Animal Rescue League. They love me to read to them, and we talk about their names and how fun it would be to have one. And then I always get very sad for the animals and I wish them to have a family. So I wanted to stop reading about them but the residents made me continue because it’s their favorite part. They always ask about the animals. I've realized then to combat my sadness, at the end of reading about the animals, we always have a little prayer session and ask the universe, God and all the powers that be that these animals get adopted to a wonderful, loving family. And wouldn't you know it? The other day my girlfriend sent me a picture of one of the animals that we had actually talked about: Penny, the beautiful black dog. So I was able to come to work the next day and tell them all how Penny got adopted. They were so happy...it just brought a lot of joy to them. I wish I could have the time to adopt one of those cute dogs or cats. Maybe someday I will be able to but until then, we will hope for the very best for each one of these animals. And thank you for trying and doing your part to make the animal world a little bit less lonely.

Gayle Capulli, activities assistant
And the residents on Oyster Pond West Liberty Commons 

Editor:

Those of us growing up on Davis Lane years back were never surprised when a new building project would come up for review during the winter months. Most of the neighborhood would be away for the winter back then, and the board of selectmen, anticipating additional tax revenue, were always happy to support the work and help create employment. 

My memory goes back to 1957, the old changing room cabanas having been replaced by the Wychmere Harbor Club. The club benefited from an extraordinary amount of accretion after the initial jetty, built in 1905, was extended. As the land and subsequent building construction continued to expand, the only road servicing the property effectively shrank. Relative to the volume of improvements at the club, Snow Inn Road has become an alley. 

Most would ask, “When is enough, enough?” I have read through the memorandum to date, along with the letters in support by most club members living removed from the property. I was somewhat bemused as I read through letters submitted by neighbors. Many have done much to alter the character of the neighborhood as I once [experienced] it. Now comes before them a construction project larger than the East Harwich Stop and Shop. I ask that the Cape Cod Commission, its deliberations perhaps promulgating greater access to this site, recognize that this alley, Snow Inn Road, may differ when compared to past project deliberations by CCC. I ask that you consider restraint. This is squeezing an over-ripe tomato through a fine tube. There is a plan for a smaller building. At what point does enough become enough?

Matt Sutphin
Harwich

Editor:

I believe, after reading Article XVIII of the Massachusetts Constitution, that Mr. Taylor has a strong case.

Institutions are the focus of the amendment, not individuals. I can only applaud The Chronicle for standing behind a principle that is vital to the survival of any community. Mr. Taylor's efforts are certainly in line with both the law and traditions well founded in the history of the Commonwealth. To me, the effort to raise funds to help an elderly individual pay taxes reflects the tradition of Chatham in previous centuries to maintain an almshouse to support those who due to death, infirmity or property loss could not support themselves. Almshouses had their shortcomings; by 1879 Massachusetts law forbade children to be inmates in almshouses, fearful they would embrace the "pauperism" legislators feared was bred in such establishments. Other than this, there were no laws passed against providing economic support to people. If you check the town reports from the Great Depression, you will find the town doling out financial aid to individuals during this critical crisis in U.S. history. With the economy and tax structure the way it is, supporting the elderly in need of tax support today is a modern manifestation of what Chatham and other towns in Massachusetts did in the past.

Donald Franke
Chatham