Conflicted. That's how we feel about the prospect of the new administration in Washington being more amenable to rolling back the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's claim to somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 acres of the waters and submerged lands west of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. We've already stated our agreement with town and state officials that the federal agency overreached by including ownersh...

The holidays and Super Bowl have moved on with the last straggling snowbirds, leaving us in the dust of February. The month in which Candelmas (Groundhog Day) was celebrated is smack between winter and spring, and is short but deadly, causing humans to do anything to spice it up, not the least of which is giving a rodent its own special day. But Punxsutawney Phil and Massachusetts Ms. G aren’t the only va...

Chatham Deserves Better Editor: Last Monday’s town meeting was special. In addition to the usual housekeeping articles, voters chose not to listen to the negative noise and instead opted for preservation for the town: the Eldredge Garage and a conservation lot off Barn Hill Road. We also corrected an inadvertent error made by our assessors and staff. We all make mistakes. To the town’s credit, the error was...

Gratitude All Around Editor: Wow! Your article in the Jan. 19 Chronicle ("Look For The Good") gives special meaning to "a little child shall lead them." It is important to cherish the good that is all around us. We can all build our own gratitude wall. Think of the effect this would have on those we come in contact every day. Thanks for writing this great inspiring story. Let's agree to "hold fast that whic...

“Good morning, Mr. President.” “Good morning Sean. And it is a good morning, an American morning, a good American morning.” “I trust you slept well, sir.” “Fantastic. Like a baby. I always sleep like a baby, sound, so sound you can't hear a pin drop.” “Have you composed your morning tweets yet, sir?” “I tried, over breakfast – fantastic breakfast, by the way, best eggs ever, must be American, Ameri...

Robert Siegel, host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” interviewing Alan Burdick about his book “Why Time Flies?” asked The New Yorker staffer: “One question that sums up much of what you write about is what is the meaning of now?” Burdick’s response suggested that “now” consists of a present that is a product of the past and the creator of the future. What was influences what is which anticipates what is to co...

“There’s a party going on right here A celebration to last throughout the years So bring your good times, and your laughter, too We gonna celebrate your party with you Come on now Celebration Let’s all celebrate and have a good time Celebration We gonna celebrate and have a good time.”   Kool and the Gang recorded their anthem to good times in late 1980 and it reached number one on t...

From our somewhat isolated enclave here at the Cape's elbow, we've watched the way the new administration of President Donald Trump's relationship with the national media has gone from bad to worse. Even after just a few days in office, it's clear that the new president has brought with him a new paradigm not only in the way he conducts the nation's business, but also how he communicates with the public and the p...

ARL To The Rescue Editor: Our thanks to the Animal Rescue League of Boston in Brewster for answering our call to help a young speckle-feathered seagull who sat for hours in a pouring rain across from our home. The bird appeared healthy and alert with a wondering look of "who will save me from becoming a coyote's midnight treat?" The competent technician noted a damaged leg and drove our feathered friend to ...

Parking in downtown Chatham has been a matter of public concern since, well, way back. Chamber of commerce documents record discussions of parking problems from the 1940s, maybe earlier. Every once and a while small steps are taken to try to improve the situation – the reconfiguration of town parking off Stage Harbor Road a few years back, for instance – but like a vacuum, what additional spaces can be created ar...

Donations Keep Kids Warm Editor: Chatham, you have done it again! Community organizations, businesses, churches and individuals came forward to provide warm winter clothing and holiday wishes to over 200 of Chatham’s children. The Chatham Children’s Fund, Monomoy Community Services and The Chatham Angel Fund collaborate year-round to support Chatham’s families with children in a variety of ways. Special ...

When mixing in a food processor with frozen berries, heavy cream is not interchangeable with Greek yogurt. I mean, sure, the result is delicious – fruity whipped cream. But there was a point, right around the 1¾ cup mark, where my throat wouldn't actually swallow. It was like being Thanksgiving-worthy full, but in a matter of a minute. This was 7:30 p.m. this past Sunday night. Weather was clear, windless a...