Given COVID-19, the economic crisis and a nation deeply divided on issues of race, politics and climate change, how would you rate the year 2020? Survey says? Dumpster fire. But today, we focus on reasons to be thankful – and there are many. Social isolation has forced us to think about what’s important in our lives: our friends and loved ones, our coworkers, and our health. By depriving us of much, the pan...

Found Shark Cove Cartoon Offensive Editor: Am I the only one who found your “cartoon” offensive (Shark Cove, Nov. 12)? You owe the Christian community of Chatham a sincere apology for such an offensive rendering. You should be ashamed. Keith Bradley Chatham A Quaint Airport No More? Editor: This is in response to Allan Brooks’ letter from last week, “What shows an ignorance is moving next to an...

When a truck ran into trouble last week in the new roundabout at Main Street and George Ryder Road in West Chatham, it took little time for the naysayers and opponents of the West Chatham Roadway Project to take to social media to say “I told you so.” The incident bore out their worst fears: that the changes would condemn the road to a future of accidents and traffic snarls and kill the West Chatham business dist...

Questions About Airport Plans Editor: Don’t be deceived by the letter last week from a local pilot who is amazed that a minority group can impede the “improvements” at the airport. Perhaps it is the pilots and the airport commission who are the minority. At a time when the town wants to create a people-friendly West Chatham neighborhood center, which happens to be in an airport runway protection safety z...

Drive-Through Was All Treats Editor: The Harwich Community Center trick-or-treat Halloween drive-through would not be possible without donations from our generous sponsors: Ann and Arthur Steidel, Break Time Vending Co., Brenda Weeks Travel, The Cape Cod Chronicle, Christmas Tree Shop, CVS East Harwich, CVS Harwich Port, Main St. 6 Post Office Square, Dairy Queen, Dr. Gary Campagna, Pleasant Lake Avenue ...

In Harwich, the Brooks Academy Museum, built by Sidney Brooks in 1844 as Pine Grove Seminary, needs a new foundation. The question before the town is whether to place a basic foundation underneath the historic structure at about $570,000; put in a foundation plus a partial basement at $900,000; or a foundation plus a full basement for about $1.2 million. The building is certainly important historically and aes...

This week marks the 400th anniversary of what is being called “The Turning Point.” After an arduous 10-week voyage across the Atlantic, the passengers and crew of the Mayflower sighted land – most likely the Nauset highlands somewhere around Orleans or Eastham – and headed south toward the Hudson River Valley, their destination. However, the Pollock Rip shoals east of Monomoy, soon to become infamous for their sh...

These are unprecedented times; not only the past four years, but the past few days and weeks. There's simply nothing in American history that could have prepared us for what we've just been through. As we write this, voters are still going to the polls and the outcome of the 2020 election won't be known, in the best case scenario, until late Tuesday or early Wednesday. More likely, the final result, at least i...

Time To Renew Masks Commitment Editor: Chatham residents and guests have been, for the most part, exemplary with their mask wearing. The images we see around town and in local media reflect well on our collective choices. From time to time, however, we see things that cause concern. Like the picture that appeared in the Oct. 22 Chronicle on page 47 regarding a pumpkin carving and pizza party on Little Beach...

“Mr. [Stephen S.] Foster kept his feet and held the crowd at bay, showing our religion to be falsehood and hypocrisy, when [Captain Stillman Snow], a member of the orthodox [Congregational] church, who had just come from his meeting (and it was said from the sacrament), leaped like a lion onto the platform. His eyes flashed fury if not fire; his teeth and his fists were clenched, and he seemed a spirit from the p...

Harwich town officials have known of Chris Wise’s plans to construct a 100-unit residential complex on 12.27 acres off Route 137 in East Harwich since July of last year, when the developer went before the affordable housing trust to discuss the concept. As the project has become more defined and Wise works toward shaping an application for a 40B comprehensive permit to build 75 market rate and 25 affordable housi...

Help Save Sand Pond Woodlands Editor: Thank you for the recent article about the “race” to save the Sand Pond Woodlands. Susanna Graham-Pye’s description of its “magic” and Don Schall’s exploration of the extensive variety of plant and animal species captivated my heart. As a washashore who values the special places on Cape Cod, especially in Harwich where I live, I encourage everyone to contribute whatever...