CHATHAM — Saying it's time for the town to once again have a mooring officer, waterways advisory committee Chairman Peter Taylor has asked the harbormaster to quantify the cost of managing the town's mooring permits each year. “Things aren't getting done because we don't have a mooring officer,” Taylor said at last Thursday's meeting. He had asked the committee to consider requesting an audit of mooring fee ...

CHATHAM – It's been a long struggle for Dale Eldredge. A native who graduated from Chatham High School in 1993, Eldredge spent a dozen years working to acquire the title to a lot on Stony Hill Road owned by his family. Originally owned by his grandmother, the property's ownership was shared by a number of aunts and uncles; Eldredge had inherited his share when his father passed away. Over the years he was able...

CHATHAM — As usual, there is no shortage of ideas about how the town should spend its Community Preservation Act funds. So far there are proposals to use the money for restoration work at the Atwood House Museum and Chatham's VFW post building, and to advance the effort to create National Register historic districts in South Chatham and along Stage Harbor Road. At the Jan. 9 meeting of the community preserva...

CHATHAM – Town purchase of the downtown Eldredge Garage property will be the main focus of next Monday's special town meeting. The 11-article warrant also includes another land acquisition, several expenditure requests and a number of housekeeping measures. The meeting was called in large measure to bring the purchase of the Eldredge Garage property at 365 Main St. before voters. Article 4 seeks $2.5 millio...

CHATHAM – An email sent Monday by Selectman Amanda Love to her fellow board members appears to have violated the state Open Meeting Law and at least the spirit of the town charter. Noting the upcoming retirement of Fire Chief Michael Ambriscoe, the email asks that the board discuss promoting Deputy Fire Chief Peter Connick to the chief's position. Under the town's charter, the town manager is responsible fo...

CHATHAM — In the summertime, a parking space in downtown Chatham can be priceless. But breaking down the potential cost of the Eldredge Garage property, depending on how the land is used, the price of a parking space there can be pegged at somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000. Speaking for a coalition of business owners and residents seeking to have the town acquire the land at the upcoming Jan. 23 special ...

CHATHAM – Justin Post, the town's building commissioner for the past four years, has resigned to take the top building department job in Wellfleet. Post's last day on the job was Friday. He starts his new position of building inspector in Wellfleet Jan. 23. “I am honored to have served the people, businesses, and contractors of the town of Chatham and also as honored to have learned from and to have worked ...

CHATHAM – This past summer, the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge attracted more plovers and terns than previous years, although productivity was mixed. According to a report by refuge wildlife biologist Kate Iaquinto, more piping plovers and terns nested on Monomoy this summer, and while tern productivity was up, fewer plover chicks fledged than last year. The refuge saw 52 pairs of federally-threatened plo...

CHATHAM — Though the headline article is the acquisition of the former Eldredge Garage property, the Jan. 23 special town meeting has a few other items to pique voter interest. The board of selectmen voted last week to close the warrant, which contains 11 articles. Selectmen voted 4-1 to recommend approval of Article 4, the acquisition of the Eldredge Garage land at 365 Main St., for possible use as open ...

When dawn broke Sunday, Lower Cape residents were greeted by about a foot of snow.  Official measurements were still being made, and the region was still expecting an additional inch of two of snow from ocean-effect squalls throughout the day.  Those who ventured out to shovel were greeted by bitterly cold temperatures. Read more, and see updated information and cancellations on our Storm Center page . ...

Thirty years ago, the ocean broke through North Beach opposite Chatham Lighthouse.  Today, the effects of the inlet that formed soon after are still being felt.  Watch this Chronicle video to learn more.    

CHATHAM – The Avis Chase cottages in the Old Village, vacant for the past two seasons, may once again host visitors from Philadelphia this summer. In a decision handed down last month, the Massachusetts Appeals Court reversed a Barnstable Superior Court decision awarding the three properties to the Young Women's Christian Association of Boston. The Boston organization had sued the Young Women's Christian Assoc...