It was years ago now, but once upon a time quite a few iconic local businesses that are now open year round closed their doors right after Labor Day. Chatham Bars Inn, the Chatham Squire, Cape Sea Grille and the Chatham Wayside are among the many businesses that made the jump from seasonal to year round, benefiting the local community by generating much needed off-season economic activity and employing local folk...

Shame For Not Voting Editor: So, the election is over, and maybe your candidates won or maybe they did not. Maybe the votes on the public questions went the way you had hoped, or maybe they did not. But if things didn't turn out as you had hoped and you didn't vote even though you could have, keep your mouth shut! Yes, you have the right of free speech and can legally voice your dissatisfaction, but if you ...

Inflation and the state of the economy were major factors in this week's mid-term election, and two stories in this edition bring that particular problem into sharp focus for local residents. The Nauset Regional School District will hold a second district-wide election Jan. 10 to get voter approval to spend an additional $38 million on the Nauset High School construction project. Originally estimated at $131 m...

Who Benefits From Solar Panels? Editor: At the airport commission's meeting held in October, the commissioners discussed the pending project of installing solar panels at our airport. At face value, this sounds like a great idea. Solar energy is good for the environment. Although the initial upfront cost to buy and/or install the equipment might be high, that cost should be outweighed by the savings incurre...

In next Tuesday's state election, there are some choices that are clear and others that are not as straightforward. Attorney General Maura Healey, for instance, is the obvious choice for governor over Trump-endorsed Republican Geoff Diehl. Massachusetts has never been shy about electing Republicans to statewide office, and has been well-served by moderate Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. Diehl is not in the moderat...

A Middle Ground On Housing Editor: The Harwich selectmen are frustrated with the lack of progress being made toward increasing the supply of affordable housing in town. Meanwhile, the locals are frustrated at the rate at which trees continue to fall only to be replaced by more cookie-cutter trophy homes, designed to lure in more out-of-town money, to drive up real estate values and with them tax revenues, m...

The Nov. 8 mid-term election is heavy on state-wide races, but includes several of local interest. This week we offer endorsements on two of those contests. Barnstable County Commission The contest for a seat on the Barnstable County Commission between challenger Ronald Beaty and incumbent Ronald Bergstrom is a classic liberal-conservative battle. Although partisan politics plays only a limited role at th...

Fishing Column Fan Editor: The recent article, “How Chatham Became a Fishing Center,” by Bill Amaru, was outstanding in every way. It was very informative, thorough, educational, and engaging, and I learned a lot. This caliber of writing is rare and so appreciated. I’m looking forward to more. Thanks, Bill! Donna Ricciuti-Faucher Dennis   License Question Benefits All Editor: The law in Massach...

Sorry, Leo. We're not convinced. Harwich cranberry farmer Leo Cakounes has become the public face of the Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment, a political action committee aimed at defeating a question on the Nov. 8 election ballot that would increase the tax on income above $1 million. Cakounes is a smart guy and a very good farmer who has done many positive things for his community and the Cape, but in t...

Alternative Airport Uses Editor: This is one more comment on the issue of the Chatham Airport. I understand that it is fiscally advantageous to our town to have the airport. However, seeing poll after poll on candidates positions on policy issues made me consider the Chatham Airport in terms of meeting Chatham's serious needs and problems. The number of small planes owned by residents of Chatham and O...

Library Support Appreciated Editor: Thank you to all who contributed to the success of the South Chatham Public Library's first annual Authors' Night. It was a full house at the Chatham VFW as authors Sally Cabot Gunning, Steve Koppel, and Judy Lannon presented their work. Support such as yours is so appreciated. Come visit us at the library, now open Friday 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ...

Much is made today of our divided society, of the mutually exclusive wants, needs and interests of the different factions in our country. This makes any sort of cooperative endeavor difficult, if not unthinkable. But for 50 years, a loose confederation of volunteers from Chatham have given their time to help out their fellow citizens with no thought about ideology, politics or other personal concerns. Anyone i...