The wind was coming from the direction of the ball field, or at least where you could normally make out the lights a mile and a half away at night. Up on this roof that I have been climbing up on since I was six, the treetops of the zelkova and the mountain ashes and the Bartlett pear trees I had planted as mere twigs swayed and swooshed their new green leaves in the breeze. Sunset over the Oyster Pond was com...

Just as the Constitution protects our right to publish and prevents the government from censoring speech, it also ensures that citizens can peaceably assemble without fear of interference by either the government or other citizens. Whether that was the intention of people who posted messages last week on social media that seemed to be veiled warnings about the planned protest in Harwich, we can't say for sure. Th...

Support Climate Change Initiative Editor: Those of us living on the bend of Cape Cod’s peninsula have already experienced enhanced erosion of our beaches, rising ocean temperatures wreaking havoc on our native species and an increased intensity of storms that announce that we are on the front lines of a climate emergency. Many voices have recently articulated the insight that our concurrent coronavirus cris...

At a time that requires so much of our leaders and ourselves, it seems wasteful to say to one of the three committed citizens running for selectman, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Yet, that’s the arithmetic. Incumbents Dave Currier and Meff Runyon want to stay, and Andrea Shaw Reed wants to join. When the music stops June 23, there will be only two seats available. Each hopeful has a good case to make. Currier, w...

On Cape Cod, where so many of us are focused now on economic survival in the midst of a pandemic, Minneapolis and other cities where protests have raged seems a world away. But as we’re fighting to salvage the summer of 2020, and our livelihoods, others are fighting for justice. We share the world’s outrage at the death of George Floyd last week. There is no excuse for a police officer to pin a man to the grou...

Salute To Connick's Legacy Editor: Once again, the coronavirus has disrupted another important town function. Our fire chief, Pete Connick, will be passing command to our newest Chief David DePasquele. This is an important ceremony to those who had the honor of serving with both Pete and David, and I wish I could attend as do many others. I've tried to find out just how many years Pete was an EMT instructor...

We get it, the messaging is getting a bit tedious. Wash your hands, maintain social distancing, stay home when you’re feeling ill, wear a mask. Three months into the pandemic, we’re so numb to those instructions that you could almost forget that they’re there to save our lives. So think about this. Following those rules might inoculate your checkbook. Given that so many local businesses rely on 10 weeks of ...

Impressed With Reed Editor: On June 23 I will vote for Andrea Reed for the Orleans select board. I ask that you join me in placing an extremely qualified and talented woman on the board to work for the future of Orleans, and the benefit of all of its citizens. I feel confident in this recommendation especially because I know that Andrea can be trusted always to act in the public good. She has the integri...

The New York Times recently detailed how Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin blocked a $13 billion grant to the U.S. Postal Service which was to be included in the CARES Act legislation. The Washington Post reported that the president threatened to reject the bill if a bailout for the agency was included. A compromise was reached providing the postal service with a $10 billion loan from the treasury department. ...

Monday's decision by the Chatham Board of Selectmen to cancel the Fourth of July parade, fireworks and Friday night band concerts was not unexpected; there's just no way social distancing, crowd size and other restrictions likely to remain in place for most of the summer could be complied with during those events. The vote by the board of health, endorsed by selectmen, requiring the wearing of face masks downt...

Like his colleagues, Orleans Selectman Cecil Newcomb wasn’t happy when bids to build the downtown sewer collection system and others for the treatment plant/disposal system came in $12 million over estimates. He cast the only vote against putting that sum into a June 20 town meeting article to make up the difference. A second vote was required to put that request on the June 23 ballot for a debt exclusion. Aga...

Know Candidates' Positions Editor: Within the framework of decisions we are all making these days, determining who to vote for for selectman June 23 in the Orleans general election is an exceptionally important task. When you go to vote, educate yourself on the candidates' positions on matters of importance to the well being of the community both in the present and for the preservation of its character and ...