A Candidate Who Looks Out For All Editor: I urge Chatham voters to consider Seth Taylor in the coming election. He is a fiercely independent Chatham man who, when he speaks out strongly and clearly for what he thinks is best for the town, has been a voice for those of us who do not wish to see outside business interests that are destroying Chatham’s soul in their ongoing efforts to take over and rapac...

“Put me in coach, I’m ready to play, today Put me in coach, I’m ready to play today Look at me, I can be centerfield.”   I’ve heard John Fogarty’s “Centerfield” about 20 times in the past two weeks. Fogarty, lead singer of the Creedence Clearwater Revival, wrote a great song. It has become one of baseball’s anthems along with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Spring is here, and spring and baseball are s...

We cherish our shoreline. It is the beautiful sand beaches and ocean waters that have drawn so many of us to Cape Cod; for the long-timers, it is one of the reasons generations of families remain. Take a dive into most of the clear freshwater ponds and when you surface you know how fortunate we are to live here. Walking along the miles of ocean shoreline makes us thankful for its preservation. We have an obligati...

While it's only a coincidence that the release of an administrative decision regarding a proposed revetment on Shore Road came just days after a new break was formed in South Beach a few miles to the south, both events highlight the dynamics of Chatham's eastern shoreline and provide guidance as to how officials can approach these highly complex issues. The administrative decision upholding the denial of a 108...

We love our water; we love to drink it, cook with it, wash our whitey whites in it, bathe in it and swim and fish in it. But once we’ve used it, the love affair is over. We just want to flush it out of our lives, which is what we’ve been doing for a good long time. Water conservation and its waste is not a new concept. Greek playwright Aeschylus in 470 BC penned, “By polluting clean water with slime you will ne...

Questions Need For Chatham PAC Editor: I write in response to the letter from Rick Leavitt describing a new group called Chatham Citizens for Responsible Government (CCRG), which is self-described as a Political Action Committee, a PAC.  The letter also stated that CCRG “pledges to work diligently for a responsible town government, fairly addressing the needs of one Chatham.”    That’s not wha...

Frank Bryan, author of “Real Democracy” : “A town meeting is a legislature of citizens, for citizens, and by citizens. The fact that each citizen of the town is also a legislator separates the New England town meeting from all other forms of democracy.” From Wikipedia: “A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used…in New England…since the 17th century, in which…members of a community...

COA Friends Boost Programs Editor: The Friends of Chatham’s Council on Aging thank the many citizens who have responded to our recent membership drive to become members of the Friends of Chatham’s COA and who have generously given additional supporting donations. With these additional supporting donations, the Friends of CCOA has been able to assist in funding the new replacement bus the COA uses...

There was a sense of excitement Sunday among a crowd at the Lighthouse Overlook, not unlike a day a little more than 30 years ago. In both instances, the raw power of nature was on display and the future of an important segment of the community hung in the balance. In January 1987, the ocean broke through North Beach opposite the lighthouse; shoaling, erosion and tidal changes caused by that breakthrough event...

Encouraging kids to develop a love for books and reading is the job of every adult. The simplest way is by setting an example. Unfortunately, some adults couldn't be bothered, such as our sitting president, who has been famously quoted as saying that he doesn't have the time to read books. That's the sort of excuse a middle school student makes. Somehow, his predecessor found the time to not only read books, but ...

Many Reasons For Plastic Bag Ban Editor: I would like to respectfully respond to Mr. Summers' recent concerns (and one of yours) about Chatham's single-use plastic bag ban which began the first of this year. I'll try to be brief and go point by point: 1) Using heavier plastic bags is not "skirting," but rather complying with the regulation: "Single use plastic bags for the purpose of this regulatio...

Once again, there will be no skydiving in Chatham this summer. Some residents will no doubt greet that news with cheers. Others will see it as giving in to “not in my backyard” pressure. Most will see little or no impact to their own lives and will move on with a shrug. Yet there is a lesson here that residents, and especially the town's business community, should heed. It's been more than three years since...