Beach Walks Never Change Editor: Mary Richmond’s “Learning To Love Nature” (Aug. 6) reminds us that we are “fortunate” in so many ways despite the changes brought by the Corona virus. Her childhood memories of watching hermit crabs trying on shells and her swimming underwater with eyes opened made us smile. The shorelines have changed and the beaches now have annoying rules. But a simple walk near the ocean...

Ah, how perceptions change. Not long ago, masks were considered theatrical devices, Halloween disguises and the work gear of doctors and dental techs. In February, as I saw the COVID-19 writing on the wall, I began making and wearing them. At that time, anyone wearing one in public was given weird looks and a wide berth. A few months went by and now, anyone not wearing one is either clueless or a social deviant...

Movement Built On Nonviolence Editor: The success of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was due to the principle of nonviolence. “We must not let violence overcome non-violence,” quoted Diane Nash of the Freedom Riders. We met John Lewis and C.T. Vivian in 2015 on Martha's Vineyard. These heroes and heroines of the Civil Rights Movement knew that they were the precious children of God, despite a worl...

A significant piece of Chatham history is in danger, and it will take a community effort to save it. The full Cape on the shore of Bassing Harbor was built sometime before 1725, one of only four buildings in town from the so-called First Period of American architecture, from 1629 to 1725, and it may in fact be the oldest house in Chatham. A recent architecture study confirmed the age of the home. More importan...

It’s true that sometimes it’s not overly crowded at Schoolhouse Pond, the town’s only residents-only swimming beach. But other times the beach is packed beyond capacity and people are unable to follow social distancing rules. People, many of them children, are regularly exposing themselves to an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission. It’s happened more than once, and more often than town officials would probabl...

Noticing Small Act Of Kindness Editor: We have been enjoying Harding’s Beach in Chatham since May 1987. We often take for granted the daily service of the life guards but this past Sunday we witnessed the kindness and consideration of one of Chatham’s “finest.” There had been a significant improvement to Harding’s this past spring when tons of sand were dredged out from the boat channel and the resulting sa...

It comes down to personal responsibility. No matter how much we wish it could be so, there is no way to mandate that people wear masks and socially distance in private settings. Face covering mandates in public spaces are difficult enough to enforce; try telling someone having a few friends over that they must wear masks while entertaining in their back yard. And yet, taken to extremes, failure to comply wi...

Facebook Page Opens Eyes Editor: A few weeks ago, I joined the Facebook page America Backs the Blue. I didn’t know what it would be like, but every day there are incredible postings of positive things: families proud that their relatives are joining the force, photos of African American children hugging a member of the force, brave K-9 partners, the list goes on and on. A long time ago I saw a Peanuts ca...

“Well, she got her daddy’s car And she cruised through the hamburger stand now Seems she forgot all about the library Like she told her old man now And with the radio blasting Goes cruising just as fast as she can now   And she’ll have fun, fun, fun Til her daddy takes the T-bird away.”   In the summer of 1963, the Beach Boys exploded on the popular music scene. “Surfin’ Safari” had ...

Like cancer, racism is most dangerous when it is hidden. When it is overt, bigotry can at least be confronted. But insidious racism can exist in a community that prides itself on inclusion and tolerance. The signs can be subtle, like the defacement of local Black Lives Matter lawn signs, or letters to the editor that marginalize the protest movement.  At The Chronicle, we try to call out such behavior when we ...

Stay Engaged Editor: OK, I’ll admit it: I am a little worn down by the world. Obviously, COVID-19 has made life harder, much more for some of us than others for sure, and we each have our own family/life/work challenges to face. But there is more to all this, and for me it’s the backdrop of the constant and relentless assault on truth, science, responsible environmental regulation and the very democratic pr...

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” Like the Wizard of Oz, the Trump administration is blustering, threatening and bullying states to fully open schools in the fall. Like the small, frightened man behind the curtain, they're trying to further their own interests through the art of distraction, threatening to take away federal funding if schools don't reopen. It's certainly true that until scho...