CHATHAM — With high-tech barriers or deterrent systems apparently off the table for the 2019 summer season, town officials are preparing other measures designed to keep swimmers safe from sharks and seals. Those measures include better communication, patrols, and first aid kiosks on the outer beaches. A memo from the parks and recreation department indicates that all lifeguard, beach patrol and harbor patrol...

CHATHAM — With the commercial fishing and visitor seasons rapidly approaching, delays in rebuilding the fish pier observation deck are causing nerves to fray. “It’s becoming a safety issue,” commercial fisherman Doug Feeney, chairman of the town's Aunt Lydia's Cove committee, told selectmen Monday night. Commercial fishermen are unable to unload their catch in the usual way because the electric fish hoists h...

CHATHAM – Despite dredging this past winter, shoals have filled in the channel between Outermost Harbor and open water, making the marina inaccessible two hours either side of low tide. The town has provided about 30 moorings in the open water off Morris Island where the marina will stage boats for its customers. During the times when the marina basin is inaccessible, customers will be shuttled to their vessel...

CHATHAM – About 100 government, business and community leaders met at the community center Tuesday to provide input into the economic development planning process launched by Gov. Charlie Baker last month. The “engagement session” sponsored by the governor's economic development planning council focused on gaining a Cape perspective on six topics that will inform Baker's economic development policies in his se...

CHATHAM – Between fiscal years 2018 and 2019, use of the town's online bill paying system increased by 60 percent. The figure is likely to increase with the introduction of a new system that allows people to pay more bills online with fewer fees. Beginning with the next round of water bills, scheduled to be issued in the next week or two, residents and property owners will be able to pay free of charge with el...

Nauset Beach from the parking lot south will be closed to vehicles beginning Friday, May 31 at noon due to unfledged piping plover chicks in the vicinity of the ORV corridor. The town's natural resources staff announced the closure Wednesday afternoon, saying they will continue to monitor the situation daily and open the trails as soon as possible under a state permit that allows vehicle access with escorts on...

CHATHAM – When Monomoy Regional Middle School students want a drink of water, they visit the nearest hallway fountain or turn on the tap. When students in Kenya want a drink of water, they have to walk, sometimes many miles. To help ease their situation, MRMS students are raising funds through their first Walk to Water event with the goal of creating a water station near a school in Kenya. According to MRMS li...

Charter Review Group At Odds Over Allegations CHATHAM – Members of the charter review committee are at odds over an allegation of Open Meeting Law violations, with some members finding the complaint valid while others calling it “garbage” and “preposterous.” “At no point in time has this committee in my opinion done anything except bend over backwards to try to adhere to open public process,” said committee...

Each community in Massachusetts publishes an annual town report, usually about the time of the annual town meeting. The reports cover the previous year and contain a wealth of information and statistics that provide insight into how towns operate, municipal priorities and the people who make local government work. The Chatham, Harwich and Orleans reports for 2018 have all arrived—Chatham was the last one, beco...

YARMOUTHPORT — In 20 years as head of Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, Vicki Goldsmith of Harwich has seen political and public support for affordable housing ebb and flow. But as she looks forward to her retirement in December, Goldsmith is as optimistic as ever. “There’s been such an upsurge in energy from the towns,” she said. More towns have established housing trusts to help them purchase property when...

CHATHAM — Amid the bustle of the holiday weekend, more than 100 people paused Monday to remember those who died in service to the nation. The U.S. Coast Guard’s honor guard takes its place in Monday’s Memorial Day observance. “This is not just another three-day weekend,” said SPC Ted Miller, U.S. Army, Ret....

CHATHAM — Amid the bustle of the holiday weekend, more than 100 people paused Monday to remember those who died in service to the nation. The U.S. Coast Guard’s honor guard takes its place in Monday’s Memorial Day observance. “This is not just another three-day weekend,” said SPC Ted Miller, U.S. Army, Ret....