In-person early voting for the Nov. 3 presidential election begins this Saturday, Oct. 17 and continues daily through Oct. 30, and residents planning to vote absentee or through early mail-in should have their ballots in-hand any day now. Chatham residents' mail-in and absentee ballots arrived at the town clerk's office Oct. 8 and are now being sent out. The ballots can be returned via mail or left in the drop...

CHATHAM – Like everything else during the pandemic, Halloween is not likely to be the same this year and may, for some people, be a bit more spooky due to the coronavirus. While conceding that popular Halloween neighborhoods will probably go ahead and hold celebrations, officials are considering a town-sponsored event as an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. “I'm thinking about the Elkanah neighborh...

CHATHAM – Work on the West Chatham Roadway project is well underway, with much of Route 28 between Barn Hill Road and George Ryder Road ground up and ready for resurfacing. Crews have also begun to clear the area where a new roundabout will be built at the George Ryder Road intersection. Another roundabout will be installed at the Barn Hill Road intersection. The work is expected to continue through the fall a...

CHATHAM — The fundamental idea behind the Chatham Ecumenical Council Helping Prevent Homelessness (CECH) is simple: The best way to fight homelessness is to prevent it from happening. Now in its 28 th year, the grassroots nonprofit focuses on helping families get through short-term financial crises so they can stay in their homes. “Our concern this year is that we have not seen an uptick in applications for ...

CHATHAM – A dozen Chatham Elementary School students and their teachers are in isolation after one tested positive for COVID-19. Superintendent of Schools Scott Carpenter said one classroom with a dozen students, a teacher and two teaching assistants was affected. He did not reveal the grade. At Tuesday's board of selectmen's meeting, Health and Natural Resources Director Robert Duncanson said the person who t...

Though each town on the Lower Cape has its own story to tell about the summer of 2020, on a regional level, COVID-19 appears to have done less economic harm than predicted. Robust visitor numbers from the Labor Day weekend clearly helped make up for a sluggish early summer. “We had a busier summer than I had initially expected,” said state State Sen. Julian Cyr, D – Truro, speaking for the Cape...

CHATHAM — Treating it like an idea straight out of left field – literally – voters gathered at Veterans Field for Saturday’s special town meeting summarily rejected a zoning bylaw change linked to the redevelopment of the Monomoy Theatre property. Seated in the baseball field facing the outfield, voters could imagine the project that would have created 24 condominium units on the property next door, just behin...

CHATHAM — If you’ve been missing the experience of browsing for books or using other services at the Eldredge Public Library, your wait is almost over. Beginning Oct. 13, the Library will be open for limited, in-library services by appointment only. Patrons must call 508-945-5170 to schedule a 30-minute appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They can browse books on the first floor only, ...

CHATHAM – The owner of the historic Nickerson house on Shell Drive, thought to be one of if not the oldest house in town, will seek the town's permission to keep it on the land where it’s stood for more than 300 years. Joe Giacalone said he'd like to relocate the house, built on the shores of Bassing Harbor by the son of Chatham founder William Nickerson, to a new spot on the three-acre lot and restore it as a...

CHATHAM — With the burgeoning need for affordable and attainable housing, selectmen are methodically moving ahead on several initiatives. “We do hear a lot of criticism about us not getting things done, but I think we’ve been very thoughtful in our approach,” Selectmen Chairman Shareen Davis said at last week’s board meeting. “We’re taking these steps in a way that’s going to build on itself, in a way that’s r...

CHATHAM — Boat owners will soon be able to do something they’ve wanted to do for a long time: renew their mooring permit or waiting list application from their computer or smart phone. Making good on a longstanding goal, town officials are rolling out a system that allows mooring holders and people on the waiting list for moorings to renew and pay online. Given the green light by selectmen last week, the softw...

CHATHAM – An accessible path has been completed in Chase Park, providing access to the historic grist mill and community labyrinth at the back of the downtown green space. “It's looking pretty good,” said Frank Messina, a volunteer at the Godfrey Grist Mill, which dates from 1797 and is one of the oldest working mills on the Cape. The winding path provides access from the parking lot off Shattuck Place to t...