CHATHAM – The controversy over the western boundary of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge is a complicated issue, and the way the story has been portrayed in the media – that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took over some 4,000 acres of water and submerged land west of the island in 2016 – isn't the way the agency sees things. “That is false,” Refuge Manager Matthew Hillman said of the spin the town and s...

CHATHAM — In a ruling last week, a state appeals court panel decided that a lawsuit filed by a woman who was seriously hurt in a skydiving landing at Chatham Municipal Airport in 2012 could proceed. The justices overturned a lower court ruling that the lengthy liability waiver signed by jumper Tricia Cahalane had indemnified Skydive Cape Cod and the other defendants in the case. In their July 3 ruling, Justi...

CHATHAM — If they’d rather not shark around for an available free parking space, visitors to downtown Chatham have a new option: the lot at 365 Main St., the former Eldredge Garage property. Under a newly signed contract, Chatham Valet, Inc., is operating the site as a paid parking lot, sharing the revenue with the town. While Chatham property owners can park for free, all others pay $15 per day for all-day ...

CHATHAM - Each year, it seems that there are more protected piping plovers nesting on area beaches than the year before. Ospreys, once on the brink of extinction, can be seen everywhere. And don't even start with seals, which can be found by the tens of thousands on Monomoy but are protected by federal law. If you’ve ever wondered why, you’re not alone.   Piping plovers Given the number of times they s...

Thousands crowded downtown Chatham Wednesday for the town's annual July 4 parade. The Chatham Independence Day parade committee released the award winners on Thursday. In the overall awards, third place went to the Friends of Monomoy; second place to Bog Lane Farm; and the top award winner was Phillips Farm Family. Other award winners were: Best Youth: Monomoy Regional School District. Most Patriotic:...

CHATHAM – The board of selectmen has rejected pursuing private property for a new senior center. At an executive session Monday evening, the board declined two proposals from private property owners that were the result of a request for proposals the town put for privately owned parcels that might be suitable for a new council on aging facility, according to a statement released Tuesday. “Out of fiscal prud...

CHATHAM — Contractors are hoping that the most recent adjustments to the Mitchell River drawbridge will allow it to function properly, at least through this summer season. The two-year-old bridge has been prone to swelling during humid weather, causing the center span both to stick shut and to not close completely after being opened. Last week, crews from bridge contractor SPS New England, Inc., spent three ...

CHATHAM – Vandals caused $46,000 in damage to solar panels at the town's capped landfill in May, according to police. A blunt object was used to smash 45 of the photovoltaic panels, a meter and inverter components, said Lt. Michael Anderson. Security cameras in the area were not operational at the time, and there were no witnesses to the May 4 incident. Police don't believe the incident was a random act of ...

Though the Bob Murray Housing With Love Walk might have taken its last steps in 2017, those at both the Harwich Ecumenical Council For Housing and the Chatham Ecumenical Council for Preventing Homelessness know the need is still great, which is why they've combined forces for the first Mini Love Walk. Slated for July 12, folks from CECH and HECH will be walking the Chatham to Harwich leg of the Bob Murray walk...

CHATHAM – For Stuart Varney, the sometimes-controversial host of Fox Business Network’s Varney and Co. since 2012 and a part-time Chatham resident, Chatham’s Fourth of July parade is one of the highlights of the year. “I just like that feeling of the town of Chatham coming together for this event,” he said during a telephone interview last week. “It’s a long parade; the whole town is there.” Varney will spe...

With July 4 landing on a Wednesday, this week promises to be busy on both ends. If you've arrived for the summer or are just visiting, there's plenty to do over the next several days. Beginning, of course, with Independence Day parades in both Chatham and Orleans. Chatham's parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. while Orleans starts at 10 a.m. (see below for Orleans event details). More than 100 entries are expected...

CHATHAM – “We're losing homes at a significant rate.” Historical Commission Chairman Frank Messina was speaking at a hearing for yet another demolition of a home on Stage Harbor Road, but was talking more generally about why the town adopted and the commission often enforces a delay on the razing of buildings determined to be historically significant. “We want to make owners stop and think about it,” he sai...