Rows and flows of angel hair And ice cream castles in the air And feathers canyons everywhere I’ve looked at clouds that way   But now they only block the sun They rain and snow on everyone So many things I would have done But clouds got in my way   Joni Mitchell wrote the song and Judy Collins sung it on her “Wildflowers” album released in 1967. It is a wonderful song and Judy Colli...

ORLEANS — In 2017, the town started delivering on some promises it made to itself while preparing to make more. A new police station rose quickly at the corner of Eldredge Park Way and Route 28 while a consolidated DPW/natural resources headquarters began construction at the transfer station. Voters kept funds flowing to water quality projects and approved construction of the core of the downtown sewer colle...

HARWICH ─ If the Nauset Warriors were looking for an easy run against the Monomoy Sharks on Dec. 15 in Monomoy's home opener, they didn't get it. Though the visiting Warriors ultimately eked past the Sharks in the second half, Monomoy put up one heck of a fight, taking a 20-12 lead into the half before Nauset rallied back for a 48-29 win. Nauset took an early lead in the outing, netting nine points to Monomo...

HYANNIS ─ The start of the 2017-2018 season has been a toughie for the Monomoy-Mashpee Monarchs boys varsity ice hockey team, but if their Twitter feed is any indication of their spirit, this is one determined team. After losses to Abington and Nauset, a post appeared on the social media site praising the team's perseverance and will as the Monarchs continue working toward that first victory. The season k...

HARWICH ─ To say that it was a tough night for the Monomoy girls basketball team would be overstating the obvious, but in spite of a tough 46-5 loss to Nauset on Dec. 15, the Sharks worked tirelessly throughout the game regardless of the scoreboard. Monomoy's lone basket came from senior captain Maddie Leonard, who found the hoop in the third quarter, with the remaining three points coming from successful fr...

HARWICH ─ The Family Pantry of Cape Cod is typically closed on Sundays, but Dec. 17 was different. It was Toy Day, an annual event that this year will allow more than 600 families to celebrate Christmas with a little something special. Pulling off the feat that is Toy Day requires immense dedication and determination, not to mention planning, the latter of which begins in at the start of September, long befo...

Janice B. Liva               WESTON- Janice B. Liva, of Weston and Chatham, passed away on Saturday November 25, 2017 following a rare illness that she bravely fought for the past 20 years. She passed in the arms of her loving husband, Kevin G. Tubridy of Weston with whom she shared a 40 year love story.               Born in Medford on January 29, 1953, she was a daughter of Lorraine (Loanes) Liva of...

CHATHAM — Critics of the West Chatham Route 28 reconstruction plan say they believe the project will take much longer than advertised to complete, impacting local businesses and traffic through 2021 or later. The board of selectmen is repeating its request to have MassDOT officials come to town to clarify the project time frame. In May, responding to a request by project opponent David Burns, selectmen as...

CHATHAM – The zoning board of appeals has cleared the way for an iconic windmill to be moved to a new home. The structure, which stood along Chatham Harbor since the early 1930s, will be relocated about 175 yards to the south on property owned by the great niece of the original builder. Declared an historically significant structure by the historical commission, the windmill – which was built as a summer co...

CHATHAM – The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources approved legislation last Wednesday to restore the western boundary of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge to mean low tide. In last year's comprehensive conservation plan for Monomoy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared as the western boundary an administrative line in Nantucket Sound that essentially added nearly 4,000 acres ...

CHATHAM — Addressing concerns that the deteriorating observation deck at the fish pier might collapse under the weight of summer visitors, selectmen Tuesday approved a conceptual plan to rebuild the structure with one that is stronger, more durable, and handicap-accessible. The plan, prepared by Marion-based CLE Engineering, calls for a $1.2 million deck that is self-supporting, rather than supported by the ...

CHATHAM — Thanks to the generosity of complete strangers, 14 needy families will soon be enjoying a holiday feast, delivered by a trio of Chatham firefighters. Firefighter Scott Long said he was approached by a year-round Chatham family interested in helping out some neighbors. “They had an idea about delivering meals for the less fortunate for Christmas,” Long said. Initially, the family planned to do th...

CHATHAM – A Federal Aviation Administration skydiving safety risk assessment released Tuesday concludes that with some minor mitigation efforts, Chatham Municipal Airport is safe for skydiving. The four-page report dated Dec. 18 comes at a time when the town is engaged in two lawsuits over skydiving at the airport. Based on the report's findings, selectmen said in a statement issued Tuesday that it was tim...

CHATHAM — At just seven years of age, having battled a rare form of cancer since he was four, Jesse Nash has earned his badge of courage. And Sunday, surrounded by friends, parents and members of the Chatham Fire Department, he literally received that badge, becoming the department’s honorary chief. “When people think of firefighters, they think of strength, bravery and courage,” Fire Chief Peter Connick...

HARWICH — The board of health voted unanimously this past week to vacate the cease and desist order issued to Resilient Family Farm last April and to drop the court appeal it had filed seeking adherence to suitable manure management practices. The board of health no longer has jurisdiction over the manure management at the farm because there are no longer horses kept there, Health Director Meggan Eldredge told...