CHATHAM – Shark warning signs have been installed at all town beaches and many town landings, and lifeguards are keeping a sharp eye out for seals near designated swimming areas. As of late last week, lifeguards had observed three seals in Oyster Pond this summer, although none were within 300 feet of the swimming beach. Because the seals did not come close to the designated swimming area, the beach was not cl...

ORLEANS — Lots of new faces have been showing up at selectmen's meetings lately. Many of them belong to dog owners who are hoping for fewer restrictions on walking their animals, but on July 17, that contingent was joined by dozens who turned out for the annual summer informational meeting. Several town department heads gave updates and took questions. Snow Library Director Tavi Prugno reviewed a building prog...

ORLEANS — The town had hoped to use part of the former Nauset Knoll Motel property above Nauset Beach for parking during its planned retreat from the town lot below due to erosion. This summer season has indeed seen parking at the site, but very much not the way the town wanted. The new lease holders for what is now the Nauset Beach Inn have put up signage inviting beach goers to take a right just before the t...

The Family Pantry of Cape Cod has always focused on providing clients with nutritious food choices, and there's evidence that it's paying off from a medical point of view. The Pantry hosts the "Foods to Encourage" program, led by Barnstable County public health nurses, which provides free simple health screenings for visitors. They've found substantial improvement in those metrics for clients who visit the Pantry...

CHATHAM – For the second time, local artist Steve Lyons has had his work stolen while it was being transported in Europe. Ten paintings and a found object sculpture were removed from a shipment from the Terramar Hotel in Sitges, Spain, where Lyons' work was being exhibited. The works were bound for Chatham, where several were due to be shown in two upcoming shows, including the artist's first exhibit in New Yo...

CHATHAM – For the second year in a row, the town has been awarded a Massachusetts Dredging Program grant. The $100,000 grant will be used to dredge an estimated 14,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Aunt Lydia's Cove mooring basin and the area around the municipal fish pier. The area was last dredged in April 2017, according to Coastal Resources Director Ted Keon, and since then has shoaled due to storms and...

CHATHAM – Under the town's demolition delay bylaw, the historical commission can postpone the razing of a building determined to be historically significant by up to 180 days. Often an owner works with the commission to find a way to renovate and restore the building or move it to a different location where it can be preserved. But just as often, an owner waits out the delay period and knocks the building down...

CHATHAM  —  The long-awaited observation deck at the fish pier is starting to materialize.  Starting late last week, crews erected massive laminated timber frames on the south and east side of the packing house, which will eventually support the joists and the deck surface. Installation has included large, custom-fabricated stainless steel hangers. The contractor, Walpole-based Sciaba Construction Corp., ha...

HARWICH  —  Saying they’re using empty classrooms to meet the need for more early childhood education offerings in the district, the Monomoy schools will soon be hosting a YMCA infant and toddler care program at Harwich Elementary and a Head Start preschool class in Chatham. The school committee voted last week to approve contracts for each program. Both are in the process of recruiting students with the goal ...

HARWICH — The 90-degree temperatures kept participation to a minimum in Saturday's third annual Cape Verdean Festival in Brooks Park, but it was nonetheless a day to celebrate the late Mabel Gomes Canto, who was recognized for her commitment to the community. Each year the festival honors a person who has made major contributions to the community. Shawn Fernandes, vice president of the festival committee, reco...

Dust is unwelcome in Brent Hemeon’s Harwich Port wood workshop.  Among the power sanders, routers, planers, and saws, there is a HEPA filter attached to the ceiling which picks up tiny particles. As a result, the air in the 1,120-square-foot, well-lit workshop, which the 74-year-old lifelong Harwich resident built himself, is pleasant and clear. In fact, a visitor can’t even smell the slabs of wood stacked aga...

CHATHAM – A pair of two-run innings led the Chatham Anglers to a 6-4 victory against the Harwich Mariners, keeping the home team at the top of the Cape League the night before the annual All-Star Game.  The visiting Mariners took an early lead in the July 20 outing, scoring their first run in the second inning when Dylan Neuse came in on a single to right from Chris Lanzilli, putting Harwich ahead 1-0. Anot...

Leave Politics Out Of It   Editor: Best parade I ever attended—except for the Democratic contingent. Politics should have been left out.  Thomas Collins South Grafton   Churches Share Abolitionist Past Editor: Thank you for your two thoughtful articles in your respective newspapers about the current exhibit about slavery at Pilgrim Church Harwich Port. I celebrate Pilgrim Church’s research a...

A tornado. In Harwich? Unbelievable as it seems, that's what National Weather Service officials say happened – in Harwich and in Yarmouth – Tuesday. Viewing the devastation in Harwich Center, it was easy to believe. Many mature trees were knocked to the ground, branches fell on vehicles and buildings, and the front lawn of Brooks Academy looked, well, as if a tornado had struck. Front end loaders had to be use...

Wednesday noon update The recovery from the tornado that struck the area Tuesday continues. Harwich Center was hardest hit, but Chatham suffered extensive damage to trees and utility lines. By late Wednesday morning, the number of outages in Harwich had decreased from Tuesday's 93 percent to 67 percent, according to Harwich Police Sgt. Aram Goshgarian. While Route 124 was still closed, Sisson Road and oth...

CHATHAM -- With temperatures soaring into the 90s—and the heat index reaching triple digits—the town has opened a temporary cooling station at the community center. A notice on the town's website urges residents to call the fire department for heat-related emergencies.  Captain Mark Higgins said although no heat-related calls had been received by mid-day Saturday, the air-conditioned community center on Main S...