CHATHAM – The owners of the iconic house at 233 Seaview St., which overlooks Shore Road and Chatham Harbor, last week asked the historical commission to lift an 18-month demolition delay imposed last April. Owners Ronald and Ann Cami have agreed to retain the central core of the structure, built in 1927, but at a hearing Dec. 4 the commission asked to see revised plans before it formally lifts the demolition d...

CHATHAM – For more than two years, town officials, neighbors and Chatham Bars Inn have wrangled over the use of two inn-owned properties on Chatham Bars Avenue. After prolonged negotiations and a court-ordered remand, it appears as if all sides have agreed on the future of the properties. Last week the zoning board of appeals approved a special permit to allow the former bowling alley at 45 Chatham Bars Ave. t...

CHATHAM — Bids have been opened from contractors hoping to build the new observation deck at the fish pier, and for town officials, it was like an early holiday gift. The low bid for the job, which includes the replacement of aging fuel tanks, is $1.48 million, about $400,000 less than expected. With a conservative contingency fund, the total project cost is expected to be $1,628,540. The winning bidder is W...

CHATHAM – In early June, while ramping up for the busy summer season, the staff at the Chatham Historical Society's Atwood House and Museum learned that within weeks, one of the largest donations the museum has received in several years would be arriving. “It happened very quickly,” said Executive Director Danielle Jeanloz. The donation came from Sears Atwood Eldredge, a Chatham native now living in St. Pau...

CHATHAM – At two public forums last week, residents encouraged the planning board to move forward with a zoning amendment allowing accessory dwelling units in single-family homes, but recommended that limits be placed on the number of units allowed annually and suggested that the language of the bylaw be tightened to prevent abuse. Support was not unanimous, however, with several residents warning that the byl...

CHATHAM — With the closure of Toys “R” Us in Hyannis and Benny’s in Dennisport, among other retail chains, organizers of local toy drives worried that some needy local children wouldn’t find as much under the Christmas tree this year. Now, there appears to be reason for some cautious holiday optimism. “We surpassed our donation amount last year by quite a bit. I’d say, more than doubled it,” Deputy Chatham P...

HARWICH – When the Monomoy Regional School District put out a request for bids for a busing contract in January and again in November, they anticipated sifting through a host of proposals. Instead, they received none. With a need to get plans firmly in place for the next school year, the Monomoy school committee approved Superintendent Scott Carpenter's recommendation that the district begin working with the C...

CHATHAM – Folks will be celebrating Christmas By The Sea this weekend as the Chatham Merchants Association sponsors its annual holiday stroll. Events kick off Friday with a light parade and lighting of the town tree and continue all weekend long with activities, including a newly improved scavenger hunt, and open houses in many local shops. Christmas By The Sea has been a mainstay of the town's holiday season,...

CHATHAM — Like other towns in the region, Chatham has a lack of affordable housing. But it also has a scarcity of available housing for families capable of paying a mortgage, since properties under $500,000 often sell immediately after going on the market. A group of citizens and stakeholders hope to start addressing that problem using a novel approach: a private entity that quickly buys up a property that’s...

CHATHAM – Your holiday season will be a little busier this year with the addition of a wonderful new gala to support Chatham’s children. “The Spirit of Giving: A Special Evening of Fashion, Friendship and Community to Benefit the Chatham Children” will be held on Dec. 4 in the Monomoy Room at Chatham Bars Inn. What is planned as a first annual event will benefit social services agency Monomoy Community Service...

CHATHAM — As a concrete step toward helping young families afford to live in town year-round, selectmen are examining the possibility of offering child care vouchers to subsidize the cost of preschool care. The recommendation is one made by the town’s economic development committee in 2016 and brought to the fore by the new Chatham 365 Task Force. Though several different models are under consideration, u...

CHATHAM – A court has ordered the town to consider revised plans for use of the warehouse building at 45 Chatham Bars Ave. owned by Chatham Bars Inn. The dispute between the town, inn and neighbors over use of the 9,500-square-foot building, once a bowling alley but used as a warehouse since the 1970s, has dragged on for nearly three years. Two previous appeals were filed with the zoning board of appeals. The ...