ORLEANS — For decades, New Englanders looking for a daily antidote to life's stresses turned their radio dials to WGBH-FM for the start of “Eric in the Evening.” With the first notes of Tommy Flanagan's rendition of Horace Silver's “Peace,” listeners' souls were calmed and stirred. On the 90 th anniversary of the birth of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, radio host and musicologist Eric Jackson did it again...

ORLEANS — Townspeople are flocking to courses to learn how to “Stop the Bleed.” The monthly sessions given by the fire and rescue department with the support of the Orleans Citizens Forum are already fully booked into the spring. Twenty-five people attended a training Jan. 17 at the senior center, where Fire Chief Anthony Pike explained that the program had originated at the White House in 2015 as a way to r...

CHATHAM -- The first major winter storm of the season brought minor coastal flooding and a lot rain to the region. The usual hotspots -- Ryder's Cove, Little Beach -- experienced flooding at high tide late Sunday morning, but there appeared to be no major damage or erosion. More than 1.5 inches of rain fell in the area, leading to widespread flooding in roadways. There appeared to be washovers on North Beac...

The last thing I expected to find on a warm October day in Washington, D.C. was a Maine lobsterman. Or, rather, a statue of one. It was a brilliant, warm, breezy day. Rains from a couple days before had churned up the Potomac, resulting in the light rust mud color of the water, along with all manner of branches and leaves scattered across and under the surface. Having never been to the newly renovated Distr...

Constance Eleanor Laing Greenhalgh-Kilty of Chatham died peacefully in her sleep on January 6 th , midway through her 96 th year of an eventful life.  “Ellie” was born in Wellesley on April 22, 1923 and grew up during the great depression, raised by her mother Rena after her father passed away when she was 9. She moved to Chatham in 1947 and has lived the past 63 years in her current home. Ellie was predeceased ...

 N. William Atwater, age 84 of Tewksbury Township/Chatham, Mass, passed away peacefully at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on January 12, 2019 surrounded by family.  Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania to Neil and Mildred (Schmidt) Atwater, Bill received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology.  Upon graduating, Bill began a 43-year career with Foster Whee...

There’s a place where I’ve walked for over 50 years. Yes, it’s true, I’m ancient. I’ve seen this spit of beach change a lot in all those years. I learned to swim there. My children learned to swim there and my grandchildren swim there now. I’ve seen sunrises and sunsets, bad days and good days. I’ve walked any number of dogs there that began as puppies and ended up as grizzled, arthritic, old dogs.  O...

Churches Key To First Night  Editor: We should all be thankful for the support given to First Night Chatham by the churches in Chatham that provide venues for the events. Roughly half of the locations this year were town-owned properties with the balance being offered by our community organizations that provide venues for a very high level of artistic and entertaining performances which were enjoyed by all ...

CHATHAM – In May 2012, Mark Pawlina will have been a police officer for 37 and a half years. That, to him, seemed like a good time to try something different. Earlier this month, Town Manager Jill Goldsmith extended Pawlina's contract as the town's chief of police through May 31, 2021, a six-month extension of his current agreement. Pawlina agreed that will be his final contract extension and he will step down...

CHATHAM — Saying the “stingy” stipend they receive hasn’t been increased in years, selectmen this week proposed doubling their pay and that of the town moderator. Board members currently receive an annual stipend of $2,000, with an extra $500 for the chairman. At the board’s direction, staff surveyed the stipends paid to other boards of selectmen on the Cape, and found that they ranged from a low of $1,500 i...

CHATHAM – Dredging of the entrance channel to Outermost Harbor Marine wound up this week, and whether the navigation channel remains clear will depend in large part on this winter's weather. The Little Beach marine purchased its own small dredge to clear the sand, which drifts southward from Lighthouse Beach and North Beach Island. The marina has a maintenance permit to keep the channel open, said owner Farrel...

CHATHAM – For the past month, the hottest topic in town has been a letter to the editor headlined “Why Pay To Keep Young Families In Chatham?” The letter from Beverly Nelson, a Natick resident with a second home in Chatham, sparked a passionate response that went viral, spreading through social media and becoming the subject of conversation in coffee shops and town committee meetings. The Boston media even pic...

CHATHAM – Whether accessory dwelling units should be allowed by right or only by special permit has become a central point of disagreement in discussions about a draft zoning bylaw amendment that would let homeowners add a second, separate unit within a single-family dwelling. The planning board hopes to put the accessory dwelling units (ADU) before town meeting in May. It is designed to allow owner-occupants ...

CHATHAM – In a step toward covering the town's $17 million other post-employment benefit liability, Gov. Charlie Baker last week signed legislation authorizing a property tax surcharge to help address the financial obligation. The legislation allows the town to levy a 1.5 percent surcharge on property tax bills beginning in 2020, when the current 3 percent Cape Cod Land Bank excise tax ends. The new surcharge ...

CHATHAM — It’s not exactly business as usual at Coast Guard Station Chatham, but when it comes to their core missions – search and rescue, maritime security, law enforcement and environmental response – they are, as always, ready to respond during the partial government shutdown. While the funding lapse does not affect most branches of the military, the Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Securit...