CHATHAM – With the state ruling in the town's favor in a dispute over dredging in Chatham Harbor, officials are investigating expanding the footprint where dredging is allowed to include most of the northern section of the harbor in the expectation that the main navigation channel will be shifting over time. “Things are changing so quickly,” said Natural Resources Director Robert Duncanson. “North Beach Island...

CHATHAM – There's actually some good news for boaters: The town's dynamic, shoal-ridden waterways are no more difficult to navigate this summer than last. In fact, some spots have improved. A little. But local knowledge still remains critical, and conditions are subject to change at any time, Harbormaster Stuart Smith told a capacity crowd at an informational meeting at the community center Saturday sponsored ...

CHATHAM – Construction of a new observation deck at the municipal fish pier won't be completed until after the July 4 holiday. “The deck may be up, but it won't be open to the public in time for July 4,” said Natural Resources Director Robert Duncanson. The $1.6 million construction project at the pier, which includes a new deck and replacement of underground fuel tanks, has been delayed by wet weather, con...

Limited Dates Allowed During Mondays On Main Events CHATHAM – One of the criticisms organizers of last summer's inaugural Mondays on Main heard was there weren't enough food choices available during the event. This year they proposed adding a local food truck to the weekly music festival, but didn't anticipate opposition from downtown restaurant owners. At Monday's board of selectmen's meeting, a number of ...

Volunteer Water Monitoring Program Turns 20 CHATHAM — Aside from supporting their town’s wastewater management efforts and being responsible homeowners and boaters, there’s not much individual citizens can do to clean up local waterways, right? If that’s what you think, the Pleasant Bay Alliance has an opportunity for you. The group is recruiting new volunteer water quality monitors who will collect sc...

The Eighteenth Mercy Otis Warren Cape Cod Woman of the Year Award was presented to Chatham’s Juliet Bernstein in ceremonies at Tales of Cape Cod/Olde Colonial Courthouse in Barnstable Village June 5. The 105-year-old activist received a bronze statuette sculpted by Cape Cod artist David Lewis, based on his full-size statue of Warren that stands in front of the Barnstable Superior Court Building. The award was pre...

CHATHAM – A two-year study aimed at gaining a better understanding of the hunting and feeding behaviors of the region's great white sharks will get underway within the next few weeks. A collaboration between the state division of marine fisheries, the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, the new study involves placing tags containing accelerom...

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...