CHATHAM – Selectmen last week rejected an allegation that the signing of a federal airport grant contract by the town manager violated the Open Meeting Law, but agreed that greater transparency was appropriate for some ad hoc committees that had previously not complied with the law's requirements. The Open Meeting Law complaint was filed by James Fulton, who alleged that the law was violated when Town Manager ...

CHATHAM – For Dan Meservey and other West Chatham business owners, it's deja vu all over again. A decade ago, businesses struggled through several seasons as sewers were installed along Route 28, limiting and sometimes shutting down access completely. Last week, major construction began on the West Chatham Roadway Project, and although the road is ostensibly open to traffic, long delays and the torn-up surface...

Chatham First In Mass. With This Requirement CHATHAM — Though it’s not required by state law, Chatham restaurants reporting positive cases of COVID-19 among staff, patrons or vendors must now notify the public by placing announcements near entrances and by posting the information on their websites or social media accounts. The emergency order passed by the board of health took effect last Thursday, and ap...

In-person early voting for the Nov. 3 presidential election begins this Saturday, Oct. 17 and continues daily through Oct. 30, and residents planning to vote absentee or through early mail-in should have their ballots in-hand any day now. Chatham residents' mail-in and absentee ballots arrived at the town clerk's office Oct. 8 and are now being sent out. The ballots can be returned via mail or left in the drop...

CHATHAM – Like everything else during the pandemic, Halloween is not likely to be the same this year and may, for some people, be a bit more spooky due to the coronavirus. While conceding that popular Halloween neighborhoods will probably go ahead and hold celebrations, officials are considering a town-sponsored event as an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. “I'm thinking about the Elkanah neighborh...

CHATHAM – Work on the West Chatham Roadway project is well underway, with much of Route 28 between Barn Hill Road and George Ryder Road ground up and ready for resurfacing. Crews have also begun to clear the area where a new roundabout will be built at the George Ryder Road intersection. Another roundabout will be installed at the Barn Hill Road intersection. The work is expected to continue through the fall a...

CHATHAM — The fundamental idea behind the Chatham Ecumenical Council Helping Prevent Homelessness (CECH) is simple: The best way to fight homelessness is to prevent it from happening. Now in its 28 th year, the grassroots nonprofit focuses on helping families get through short-term financial crises so they can stay in their homes. “Our concern this year is that we have not seen an uptick in applications for ...

CHATHAM – A dozen Chatham Elementary School students and their teachers are in isolation after one tested positive for COVID-19. Superintendent of Schools Scott Carpenter said one classroom with a dozen students, a teacher and two teaching assistants was affected. He did not reveal the grade. At Tuesday's board of selectmen's meeting, Health and Natural Resources Director Robert Duncanson said the person who t...

Though each town on the Lower Cape has its own story to tell about the summer of 2020, on a regional level, COVID-19 appears to have done less economic harm than predicted. Robust visitor numbers from the Labor Day weekend clearly helped make up for a sluggish early summer. “We had a busier summer than I had initially expected,” said state State Sen. Julian Cyr, D – Truro, speaking for the Cape...

CHATHAM — Treating it like an idea straight out of left field – literally – voters gathered at Veterans Field for Saturday’s special town meeting summarily rejected a zoning bylaw change linked to the redevelopment of the Monomoy Theatre property. Seated in the baseball field facing the outfield, voters could imagine the project that would have created 24 condominium units on the property next door, just behin...

CHATHAM — If you’ve been missing the experience of browsing for books or using other services at the Eldredge Public Library, your wait is almost over. Beginning Oct. 13, the Library will be open for limited, in-library services by appointment only. Patrons must call 508-945-5170 to schedule a 30-minute appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They can browse books on the first floor only, ...

CHATHAM – The owner of the historic Nickerson house on Shell Drive, thought to be one of if not the oldest house in town, will seek the town's permission to keep it on the land where it’s stood for more than 300 years. Joe Giacalone said he'd like to relocate the house, built on the shores of Bassing Harbor by the son of Chatham founder William Nickerson, to a new spot on the three-acre lot and restore it as a...