An Opportunity For Reflection  Editor: My name is Jim Nelson and I have spent some time researching my ancestry. Fortunately, it appears than I have less genealogical connection to the now infamous Beverly Nelson than the infamous Elizabeth has to the Cherokee Nation. One thing I do have in common with Beverly is that my family and I have the privilege of owning a home in Chatham. Our decision to move to...

Chatham selectmen heard the details of a recent comprehensive sidewalk management plan and the news was rather discouraging. There are 11 miles of sidewalks in town and 265 curb ramps, much of which requires repair or upgrade. The good news is that this inventory allows the town to rank the condition of sidewalks and curbs and determine how to prioritize repairs; only 1.78 miles are ranked as excellent, with more...

“Another op’nin,’ another show In Philly, Boston or Baltimo’ A chance for stage folks to say hello! Another op’nin,’ another show” In 1948, Cole Porter opened his great musical “Kiss Me Kate” with “Another op’nin,’ another show.” The song has become a Broadway anthem. The musical, which was based on William Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” was one of Broadway’s most enduring shows. I’ve been th...

Letter Opened A Much-needed Dialogue Editor: In recent weeks there as been an outpouring of feedback to the letter from Beverly Nelson.   Like everyone else, I was outraged and a little pissed off at Bev to say the least.  As time as gone by, though, I want to thank Beverly for her (in my opinion) misguided and uninformed letter.  Her letter began a conversation that was long overdue. Like most things in li...

Given the discussions that have gone on in Chatham recently about trying to sustain a diverse year-round population, the park and recreation commission's proposal to raise the annual resident beach sticker fee comes at the wrong time. Like death by a thousand cuts, each time town government raises a permit fee it digs into the limited resources of those who live here year round. Some, like building permits, ha...

The last thing I expected to find on a warm October day in Washington, D.C. was a Maine lobsterman. Or, rather, a statue of one. It was a brilliant, warm, breezy day. Rains from a couple days before had churned up the Potomac, resulting in the light rust mud color of the water, along with all manner of branches and leaves scattered across and under the surface. Having never been to the newly renovated Distr...

Churches Key To First Night  Editor: We should all be thankful for the support given to First Night Chatham by the churches in Chatham that provide venues for the events. Roughly half of the locations this year were town-owned properties with the balance being offered by our community organizations that provide venues for a very high level of artistic and entertaining performances which were enjoyed by all ...

The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard pride themselves on being semper paratus , or always ready. At sea, they answer the call when lives are on the line. In addition to their search and rescue function, the Coast Guard has taken on a variety of other duties, from securing our ports and responding to oil spills to monitoring endangered whales and intercepting drug traffickers. And year after year, come al...

Good Deeds Confirm Faith In Town Editor: I am writing to tell the story of the man and Chatham residents who saved my Christmas and confirmed my faith in the joy of living in Chatham. I was shopping on Main Street on Christmas Eve Day and lost my wallet. I discovered this when I went to pay for an item at the Candy Manor. The salesperson, Robbie Carroll, kindly told me to pay the next time I was in the stor...

Most people are exposed to live theater at the community level, through amateur or semi-amateur productions that are always high in enthusiasm, even if the quality may vary widely. On the Cape, we are blessed with many theaters, from scrappy amateur community companies to professionals presenting everything from classic musicals to cutting-edge dramas. The future of two of our region's most venerable theaters, ho...

The New Year – 2019 – there will never be another, what does it mean, other than to remember to write the new date on checks and documents, or to purchase an amusing doggie yoga calendar to organize ourselves for the next 52 weeks.  But even as wizened and weary Father Time ushers in the tiny diapered one, each new year we sense a change, a subtle shift of time. Jan. 1 gives us another chance to begin anew,...

Though a special place, Cape Cod has problems that towns, their institutions, and above all its residents need to fix. Complex and difficult to understand, faced with conflicting and sometimes self-serving solutions, the problems often make me feel lost. Learning their nature and getting a handle on proposals to address them can set my head spinning. Official activities of town meetings, boards of selectpersons a...