It is the season of the celebrated pumpkin, in one story a Cinderella coach, in reality a perfect vehicle to transport us from the jack o’lantern to the cornucopia centerpiece. A pumpkin is a gourd, squash, vegetable or fruit, depending on which reference material you choose to employ, always the diva of every bountiful autumnal display, resplendent in traditional orange, buttery warm white, and even trendy green...

“ Tiny bubbles Make me warm all over With a feeling that I'm gonna Love you till the end of time.”                - Leon Pober ORLEANS — The Orleans Pond Coalition may not be prepared to aerate Sarah's Pond “till the end of time,” but it's all in on backing a two-year demonstration project using “tiny bubbles” to restore the pond's health. On Nov. 6, the conservation commission decided unanimou...

Voters turned out in high numbers for Tuesday's state election, deciding several local races and ballot questions as well as contests for governor, federal and state legislators. In a close contest, Chatham resident Ronald Bergstrom, a Democrat, won a seat on the Barnstable County Commission, beating incumbent Republican Leo Cakounes, a Harwich resident. Bergstrom won Chatham and Orleans, while Cakounes carrie...

CHATHAM – With public safety their top priority, selectmen voted Monday to investigate ways to set up a net or other barrier around the swimming area at Oyster Pond Beach to keep out both seals and sharks. The step is a short-term measure the town can implement next summer in response to citizen concerns about the increasing number of seals and sharks in local waters, board members said. Actually reducing shar...

The cause of the fire that nearly gutted a commercial building off Main Street Thursday was likely electrical, according to the state fire marshal's office. The early morning blaze destroyed most of the northern side of the building at 37 Kent Place, behind The Children's Shop and just off the town offices parking lot.  The Emack and Bolio's ice cream shop occupied the first floor of that section of the buildi...

Donald O. Chapman                         A memorial service will be held for Donald O. Chapman on Saturday, November 3rd at 2pm at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Harwich Port. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Donald’s memory to the Chatham Nauset Lions Club, PO Box 1241, Orleans, MA 02653. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.doanebealames.com ...

William R. Clark, 76, of South Chatham, formerly of Harwich and Billerica, passed away peacefully on Wednesday October 24, 2018 with his loving family by his side.  He was the son of the late Thomas H. Clark and Helen A. Clark (Francis) of Charlestown.             He is survived by his four children.  Daughter Kathleen Fraize of Brownfield, Maine, daughter Pamela Brennan and her husband Kevin of Fairfax, Va., ...

CHATHAM-David Martin (78) of Orleans, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 surrounded by his loving family.             David was born in Taunton, the son of the late Stephen and Catherine (Duffy) Martin.  He is also survived by his brother Paul and his wife Cindy and his sisters Nancy Thompson and Rosemary Smith.  David is predeceased by his brother Ba...

Nancy (Polky) Copeland 83 of South Chatham died peacefully in her home on October 24th.              Nancy was born and raised in St. George, Maine where she was married and began her family.  Later she moved to Groveland.  She was a skilled seamstress and with a friend created “Daffy Duds Originals.”  Her sewing continued throughout her life making wedding and prom dresses.             Nancy moved to South...

            CHATHAM — Stuart Turner Upson, 57, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 9th, 2018.  He was the son of the late Howard and Joyce Upson, both of Chatham.             Stu grew up in Wilton, Conn. and vacationed with his family every August at the end of Andrew Hardings Lane in the Rolphe family’s Driftwood cottage, which succumbed to the sea along with other homes nearby as a result of the break in N...

CHATHAM – With the board of selectmen slated to discuss the impact of seals – and sharks – on the town's beaches, fishing industry and economy next Tuesday, scientists say the issues are being clouded by misinformation and speculation about both species. Some residents have sounded alarms about the increasing seal population and the resulting attraction of great white sharks to Cape waters. They say they are a...

CHATHAM — Environmental technicians found themselves up the creek last week, looking at marsh grass and other vegetation. Consultants from the Horsley Witten Group spent Thursday and Friday examining and photographing the vegetation just inside Muddy Creek as part of an effort to track changes in the waterway's flora following the installation of the Route 28 bridge two years ago. While the results from t...

CHATHAM – There's no disagreement about the need for a new upweller to grow out quahog and other shellfish seed vital to the town's commercial shellfishing industry, which is the most valuable wild shellfishery in the state, according to Shellfish Constable Renee Gagne. And the small town-owned parcel on Bridge Street adjacent to the Mitchell River appears to be the best spot for a new building to replacing the a...

CHATHAM – The planning board approved the town's latest housing production plan last week. The document will now to go the board of selectmen for its endorsement before being submitted to the state for certification. An update of the town's 2013 housing production plan, the document provides strategies for reaching the goal of having 10 percent of the town's year-round housing stock classified as affordable. C...

CHATHAM — Last weekend’s coastal storm, the first of the fall and winter season, caused only minor splash-over flooding in typically vulnerable neighborhoods. But it might have been the first volley in a messy skirmish with Mother Nature. The storm was the remnants of Hurricane Willa, a Category 5 hurricane that made landfall on the Pacific coast of Mexico before reentering the Gulf of Mexico and streaming u...