CHATHAM — The president of the United States doesn’t like sharks. As it turns out, that’s working out nicely for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. The nonprofit group has received a surprise surge in donations from Trump critics who are apparently seeking to make a political statement while also supporting white shark conservation and education. In 2013, Trump received a Twitter message challenging hi...

When filmmaker Craig Dudnick met Alice Tregay, he had no idea that she had played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement. At the time, he was working on a documentary about the struggles of the African American community in Evanston, Ill.; Tregay's brother was the community's first black firefighter, and she provided some photographs for the film. “She liked the film I made and said she had other things I...

CHATHAM – A waterfront home on Stage Island played a role in the recent U.S. Justice Department tax fraud case against a Connecticut man. Hyung Kwon Kim, a South Korean citizen but a legal U.S. resident since 1998, pleaded guilty to failing to report more than $28 million kept in Swiss bank accounts. He was sentenced Jan. 25 to six months in prison and paid more than $300,000 in restitution to the Internal Rev...

CHATHAM — Some activities that have become part of the downtown Chatham summer streetscape may soon be regulated, like balloon sales at town band concerts, street performers, merchants displaying their wares outdoors, and mobile vendors. Selectmen have asked staff to draft a bylaw revision covering these topics and to try to have it ready for the annual town meeting in May.  A public hearing on the draft byl...

CHATHAM – For the town's conservation department, a couple of days of work by14 AmeriCorps Cape Cod members can clear six months worth of projects from the calendar. “They're terrific workers,” said Assistant Conservation Agent Paul Wightman. “In one day they can go in and clear a trail, create a scenic overlook and put signs and a fence up.” The town has more than 22 conservation properties, and last month...

Dissenting View Says Court Should Decide Issue CHATHAM – The House Committee on Natural Resources has issued its report on legislation setting the boundary of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge at the low tide mark, paving the way for the full House to vote on the bill. The report, dated Feb. 2, also includes a dissenting view by three members of the committee who say that a final decision on the boundary...

Town, Citizens Group Commit To Working Together To Address Crisis CHATHAM – Most weekday mornings, traffic traveling east on Route 6 comes to a standstill in Dennis, where the highway narrows into a single lane. Many of the vehicles are heading here, where the occupants work but can't afford to live. “We're becoming a bedroom town,” said Selectman Shareen Davis. The lack of affordable housing here is not...

CHATHAM – Construction activity continued at a brisk pace last year. While the number of building permits increased by only 3 percent, the total construction value of the permits jumped 15 percent. While most building numbers were up over last year, building activity hasn't yet caught up with 2015, which saw the town's highest-recorded permit values as well as a number of new homes. That year 49 new houses wer...

CHATHAMPORT — Thanks to the generosity of local philanthropists, 10 Lower Cape organizations are sharing $30,000 in grants to enhance the quality of life in Chatham. The grants were announced at a reception last week held by the Cape Cod Foundation, which manages the Chatham Fund endowment. Recipients gathered at the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center to share their stories. Theresa Malone of Monomoy Communi...

CHATHAM — When it comes to encouraging young working families to stay in Chatham, the town’s economic development committee has voiced some creative ideas. Last week, selectmen said they’re listening. The committee has raised the need for more affordable child care, and the need to control water rates, as two ways to ease the financial burden on working families. Selectmen last week agreed to schedule discus...

CHATHAM — With two worthy candidates nominated to have parts of the community center named after them, selectmen have decided that the town needs a policy on the naming of town facilities. At their Dec. 5 meeting, the parks and recreation commission voted unanimously to support naming the community center gymnasium after the late Gary Anderson; they also unanimously favored naming the lobby in honor of the l...

CHATHAM — Depending on your point of view, a proposed change to the town’s zoning bylaw would either create new housing opportunities for working families or open the town to an untamed avalanche of residential development. The zoning amendment would allow property owners to build “accessory dwelling units” on their properties by right. It aims to replace a bylaw provision designed to encourage the developme...