Looking at the real estate sales figures for June, you'd never know we're in the midst of a pandemic. “In 30 years in the business, I think this is the busiest I've ever been,” said Sandra Tanco, a broker with Kinlin Grover Real Estate in Harwich Port. A combination of pent up demand, low inventory and interest in second homes — driven largely by the pandemic — broke real estate records on the Cape in June,...

Fatal Attack In Maine Is Stark Reminder CHATHAM – The death Monday of a woman in Maine from an apparent shark attack is a stark reminder that even though sightings are down this year, the apex predator is still present in area waters. Between June 1 and July 19, there were 54 percent fewer sightings in Cape waters compared to last year, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. But that doesn't mea...

CHATHAM — If you’re wondering about the validity of sea level rise, visit Jackknife Harbor Beach. An unofficial sign erected there warns visitors that the sandy parking area floods at extreme tides, but somebody has scratched off the “extreme” and written “every.” With erosion threatening the beach’s access road, the Pleasant Bay Alliance and the town are working on solutions that preserve public access whil...

CHATHAM — Members of the board of health this week said they’re hopeful that better enforcement, parking restrictions and signs will prevent overcrowding at Schoolhouse Pond so they can avoid ordering it closed over COVID-19 concerns. The board voted to limit parking at the beach by 50 percent and to revisit the topic at its next meeting. Though the health department has received numerous complaints that ...

CHATHAM – For the first time in as long as anyone can remember, the traditional summer town meeting — held to update seasonal residents on local issues and solicit their input — will not happen. Instead, the 13-member summer residents advisory committee, which has sponsored the event for a number of years, is putting together a pre-recorded video presentation which will cover many of the same topics, although ...

CHATHAM – The death Monday of a woman in Maine from an apparent shark attack is a stark reminder that even though sightings are down this year, the apex predator is still present in area waters. Between June 1 and July 19, there were 54 percent fewer sightings in Cape waters compared to last year, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. But that doesn't mean sharks are not present off the coast, in ...

CHATHAM — Although there’s plenty of business left unfinished from this year’s stripped-down annual town meeting, none of it warrants convening a special town meeting in September, selectmen decided Tuesday. With COVID-19 still spreading at an alarming rate nationwide, and some concern about a potential resurgence of the illness locally in the weeks ahead, the board resolved last week only to hold the specia...

In Bid To Limit Overcrowding CHATHAM — Selectmen this week rejected a second request by the board of health to ban parking on Sam Ryder Road in a bid to reduce overcrowding at Schoolhouse Pond Beach, opting instead to limit on-street parking to residents only. “We’re still having the issue of overcrowding on the beach,” Parks and Recreation Director Dan Tobin said. Health and Environment Director Robe...

Nursing homes have been Petri dishes for COVID-19. Across the country, 133,351 cases and 37,213 deaths from the virus happened in nursing homes, among both staff and residents. In Massachusetts, there have been 23,760 probable or confirmed cases in long-term care facilities, with 5,312 deaths as of July 16. There was at least one case of COVID-19 reported in 386 of the state's 413 nursing homes, according to the ...

As we pass the two-week mark after the Independence Day holiday weekend, public health officials are watching for any sign of an increase in COVID-19 cases on Cape Cod. And some evidence may be emerging. Key pandemic indicators in Barnstable County remain low, with just 13 new cases reported Monday. But the trend is beginning to rise. The rolling one-week average of new cases Monday stood at eight, up ...

Parking lots and baseball fields have become places of worship as local churches move services outdoors, providing at least some measure of personal connections to congregations that have been meeting virtually for months. Last Sunday, members of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church met in-person for the first time since the pandemic shutdown. About 110 members of the church participated in a socially distant ou...

Pop-up Testing Clinics Planned In Chatham And Harwich; Several Local Restaurants Close This story was updated at 4:20 p.m. July 24. CHATHAM –State officials have updated the number of positive cases of COVID-19 stemming from a July 12 party in Chatham to 13. A pop-up testing clinic will held Monday in Chatham to test anyone who was at the party or has been in close contact with someone who was there. H...