The pages of The Chronicle often feature articles about the need for affordable housing, accessible child care, and creative initiatives designed to help year-round residents – particularly young families – stay in town. Our coverage reflects a broader public dialogue that’s been underway for years. Chatham, for instance, recently created a Chatham 365 Task Force to consider issues of sustainability. Ensuring tha...

Commissioner Plays Politics As Usual Editor: In his Nov. 27 letter, Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty apparently disagrees with those who seek a measured, well-researched, intelligent solution to Cape Cod’s seal and shark problem. In keeping with the lack of civility which pervades today's political discourse and instead of  presenting a cogent argument, Mr. Beaty chose to insult and bully those envi...

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” So goes a seasonal song by Johnny Mathis. A true statement – but not for everyone. For some the holidays can be difficult, a fact the rest of us should never forget. A newer part of the holiday season, “Blue” events are designed for those who, due to personal loss, addiction, illness, homelessness, etc., find this a difficult time. But what is the holiday season? Som...

It's an oft-repeated refrain: there isn't a single solution to the region's housing problem. That's not surprising, considering the problem itself is complex and multifaceted. Not only is there a dearth of capital “A” affordable housing – the kind that caps both the price and the income of buyers – the second-home market has increased the price of real estate beyond most workers, and apartments, even “attainable”...

Fortunately, folks in our neck of the woods take climate change and the resulting rise in sea level seriously. Chatham's experience in the past 30 years, since the 1987 break in North Beach, has provided a vision of how rising sea level will impact the shoreline in a number of ways. It's shown how unexpectedly flooding and damage can occur during a storm or even an unusually high tide, as well as the efficacy of ...

Letter Captures Right Spirit Editor: We laud Maria Mazzer’s recent letter "Take Care of Each Other" (Nov. 8). Her articulate response to the fracas that is consuming our nation was poignant and insightful. Her call to action for each of us to harness the power of compassion, kindness, and the words we speak, illuminates a clear pathway that each one of us can chose right now, today. It highlights how impera...

About 20 years ago, on a warm early June day, I was still wearing my neoprene waders. It wasn’t because the waters of Stage Harbor were still too chilly for me while I spent four hours scratching for quahogs. Rather, I figured I could get through enough of the spring before the summer shift over to digging steamers in my bare feet on the flats. Cooler canvas waders were for those who would be digging littlenec...

We were saddened this week to note the passing of Andrew Fitzgerald, the last remaining member of the Gold Medal Lifesaving crew of the CG36500. Like his crewmates, “Fitz,” as his friends knew him, was a humble hero. He rejected the label of heroism, saying he was simply doing his job when he helped propel the little rescue boat to rescue 32 men from the tanker Pendleton in 1952. He didn’t even mention the eve...

As we tuck in at our holiday tables, we know there are plenty of reasons to be thankful. And you’re one of them. That’s because, between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year, Cape Cod Chronicle readers dig deep to support the Family Pantry of Cape Cod through our Helping Neighbors campaign. Together, we’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars that help local families put food on the table. While there are m...

Public's Charter Input Sought Editor: A charter review committee of five members was appointed by the Chatham Board of Selectmen in conformance with our Home Rule Charter this past June. In August the committee was expanded to nine members. Current members, including me, are John Bendas, Steven Buckley, Gloria Freeman, Tom Geagan, George Lane, Rick Leavitt, Stuart Smith and Seth Taylor. The purpose of the c...

Any plan to cull seals would likely face extreme challenges, including overcoming the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the likely opposition of both local and national environmental organizations. There has been no authorized seal culling under the Act related to shark attacks since the law was passed in 1972, according to Mike Asaro, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Branch Chief of the National Oceanic and Atm...

A Spooktacular Good Time Editor: Thank you to all the groups and individuals who worked together to make the Halloween Happenings – The Halloween Parade, Cookout, Pumpkin Drop, Photo Booth and Monster Mash Bingo – a wonderful community event for dozens of local families. Special thanks to: Chatham Fire and Rescue, David Oppenheim and the Chatham Wayside Inn, Emily Dowal and the volunteers from Polhemus, ...