CHATHAM – The number of new homes as well as additions and renovations to existing houses increased in 2018, but last year also saw a decrease in the number of demolition permits issued by the town. The estimated value of both new homes and additions and renovations also increased substantially last year. According to the community development department, 1,060 building permits were issued in 2018, a 16.6 p...

CHATHAM — As they do each April 1, a stalwart group of Chatham firefighters will lead a frigid swim in Nantucket Sound to raise money for a worthy cause. This year’s beneficiary is the family of Michele St. Aubin of Brewster, who is battling advanced pancreatic cancer. Hundreds are expected to attend the swim, which happens at Harding’s Beach at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 1. Donations of any amount will be a...

CHATHAM – While towns to the north look to upgrade cell phone coverage and install call boxes at beaches this summer in response to safety concerns in the wake of last year's fatal shark attack in Wellfleet, local safety officials say they are as ready as they can be for such an event and aren't planning any major initiatives despite the remoteness of the town's outer beaches. The most significant effort being...

Uncertainty Surrounds Future Of Historic Playhouse CHATHAM – The Monomoy Theatre stage will be dark this summer for the first time in more than 60 years. When the curtain will rise again at the historic Main Street theater is uncertain. Artistic Director Alan Rust said that the company that has an agreement to purchase the property plans to renovate and preserve the buildings, and that will take time. “W...

CHATHAM – Say goodbye to Sharks in the Park. Say hello to Art in the Park. The Chatham Merchants Association's wildly successful art exhibit featuring sharks bowed out last summer, ending its several-year run by raising more than $70,000, half of which went to the contributing artists and half to the association to support its activities. Even before sharks took a PR hit with two attacks last summer – one f...

ORLEANS — Brian Burke and his wife are empty-nesters. But thanks to Brian’s Little Brother from Harwich, he’s got somebody to help him build a new birdhouse. “I had him draw up some plans on a pad of paper,” Burke said with a chuckle. “The last one was about six feet tall and about four feet wide.” Burke has been a Big Brother to nine-year-old Nicolai for almost a year now, and loves the experience. ...

Uncertainty Surrounds Future Of Historic Playhouse CHATHAM – The Monomoy Theatre stage will be dark this summer for the first time in more than 60 years. When the curtain will rise again at the historic Main Street theater is uncertain. Artistic Director Alan Rust said that the company that has an agreement to purchase the property plans to renovate and preserve the buildings, and that will take time. “W...

WEST CHATHAM — With the controversial Route 28 reconstruction project set to begin, state officials are downplaying the likelihood of disruptions to local residents and business owners. But while the state’s contractor will not be working during the peak summer months, the same can’t be said for utility contractors. The project contractor, Falmouth-based Lawrence-Lynch Corp., provided the town with a work sc...

CHATHAM — Officials last week unveiled scaled-down plans for a new 10,200-square-foot senior center proposed for town-owned land off Middle Road. But before bringing the plan to town meeting, proponents want to make sure they’ve answered questions about the cost and the location. At a public meeting hosted by selectmen Saturday, architect Joel Bargmann of the Boston-based firm Bargmann Hendrie and Archetype ...

Summer Season May Be Possible, Says Principal  CHATHAM – The mystery of who is buying the Monomoy Theatre was solved Monday when a Morris Island Road homeowner announced that his company plans to purchase the Main Street property. Gregory T. Clark of Alexandra Properties in Newton Upper Falls, announced during the public forum segment of the board of selectmen's meeting that his company has an agreement wit...

CHATHAM – The town will file a new order of taking for seven Stage Neck roads after reaching agreement with several property owners who sued to invalidate a previous taking. Selectmen next week are expected to approve an article for the May 13 annual town meeting authorizing an order of taking for Battlefield Road, Cedar Street, Champlain Road, Port Fortune Lane, Sears Road, Stage Harbor Road and Stage Neck Ro...

CHATHAM – Most of the municipal fish pier will be closed to the public for the next few months as construction crews replace the facility's popular observation deck. Sciaba Construction Corporation was scheduled to begin staging equipment at the pier first thing Monday, but heavy snow at the company's headquarters in Walpole delayed its arrival. The company was expected to be on scene early in the week, but ex...