CHATHAM – The pandemic has taken an enormous toll on small businesses everywhere, and the St. Christopher's Gift and Consignment Shop on Main Street in Chatham is no exception. After more than 40 years in business the shop will close its doors for good at the end of July. The decision to close was the result of a number of factors, according to Pam Hufnagel, a member of the church vestry committee which made t...

A Lesson In Boating Safety CHATHAM — Four young men are lucky to be alive after their boat capsized in the North Cut Friday afternoon. Officials say the case is proof of the town’s rescue capabilities – and the need for common-sense boating safety. The four men were fishing in a 15-foot Boston Whaler when their boat was overturned by a wave. All four went in the water, Fire Chief David DePasquale said. ...

CHATHAM — Judging from the crowded parking lots, busy shops and restaurants, and the steady traffic on roadways and waterways, the Independence Day weekend was a busy one – despite COVID-19. As of early this week, there had been 150 deaths from the novel coronavirus in Barnstable County, with a case count of over 1,500 people since the start of the pandemic. “The public health data continues to show us po...

CHATHAM – When Abigail Dudley moved from Massachusetts to Oregon six years ago, she knew it was going to be temporary. When it came time to move back, she wanted to look for a job in a small school system, and after doing some research, the only district she applied to was Monomoy. “It just all seemed so exciting, just so much more innovative and kind of like cutting edge from what I would think a teeny little...

Popular Tourist Attraction Finally Completed A Year Behind Schedule CHATHAM – The newly rebuilt observation deck at the fish pier is getting rave reviews for its solid construction and spaciousness. It better be; the $1.7 million project took 18 months to build, more than a year more than originally planned. “I thought it was awesome,” said Selectman Jeffrey Dykens. “It's just too bad it took so long.” B...

HARWICH – As colleges and universities across the country, including the University of Massachusetts, announce continued remote learning for the fall semester, parents in the Monomoy Regional School District are eagerly awaiting plans for the reopening of schools this fall, which Superintendent Dr. Scott Carpenter said at this point still remain unclear. “The priority from the state is getting people back into...

HARWICH — The weather could have cooperated a little more over the July Fourth weekend, but the gray clouds did not keep people from going to the beaches. “The beaches were still pretty crowded,” Recreation Department Director Eric Beebe said on Monday. In fact, the beaches have been very busy, beginning with the warm weather in June. Beach sticker sales are showing a slight increase over last year, treasurer ...

HARWICH — With the third phase of Gov. Charlie Baker’s Reopening of Massachusetts, municipal government became more accessible on Monday. The doors to town hall and a number of other public buildings are open, but in many instances appointments are required ahead of time to meet with town staff. Town Administrator Joseph Powers said the town has been working on compliance with the mandatory safety standards...

HARWICH — The affordable housing trust will contribute $37,800 to the housing authority's rental assistance program to ensure funding is available as the new fiscal year begins. The housing authority is seeking $200,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the program in the annual town meeting. Because the session was put off until Sept. 28 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the funds won't be available until t...

HARWICH – Voters cast ballots in very low numbers in Tuesday's annual town election due both to the absence of any elective races and the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 807 voters, about 5 percent of those registered, cast ballots during limited polling hours. Town Clerk Anita Doucette said 346 ballots were cast by mail. Most, 327, were absentee ballots, and another 19 were early voting ballot requests. She said voti...

With The Help Of Monomoy Players, Centerville Coyotes Play To First 2020 Win   COTUIT – If you thought you heard the crack of a bat and the slap of a ball against a glove in Cotuit on Monday evening, you weren’t dreaming. Baseball is back, and with it came the Centerville Coyotes’ first victory of 2020, a come-from-behind 4-2 win against the New Bedford Whalers. The game marked the first for the Coyotes,...

HARWICH – We’ve all been spending quite a lot more time indoors than was once normal. It’s only natural that when we venture out of our homes for necessary errands, we tend to see the once familiar world around us with fresh eyes. Take a look at those flowers! Wow, those planted containers are just stunning. I wonder who has been taking care of these garden b eds during the quarantine? If you are asking ...

Institution Poised To Adapt To Pandemic Changes WEST BARNSTABLE — It was eerily quiet at the Cape Cod Community College campus on a recent visit. The parking lot was empty, concourses vacant. While summer traditionally is the season of fewer enrollments at the college, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact and will change the way students will be educated. “This is part of life, learning how we na...

It’s been a long few months of being more or less housebound, alone or together. For some it has been a nightmare, but for others it’s been a blessing of sorts. As things ease up a bit, it is easy to tell the most social amongst us, as they were out and about and eagerly seeking company for drinks, dinners and group activities as quickly as they could. The rest of us may feel a bit of regret as life resume...

The newly rebuilt observation deck at the Chatham Fish Pier is certainly an improvement over its predecessor. Solidly built, spacious, attractive and made of more durable material than the previous wooden deck (situated in one of the harshest environments one can imagine), it will no doubt weather storms, sun and salt spray for years, hopefully decades, to come. But getting to the point of opening the deck to ...

Chatham Selectmen Fail Voters Editor: If you have ever thought about serving as a volunteer on a Chatham board, think twice. Your efforts will not be appreciated unless you cede your right to speak freely and express an honest opinion. Don’t ever criticize the board of selectmen or you’ll not be re-appointed. Despite entreaties from friends, colleagues, and concerned citizens, I was not re-appointed to t...