Chatham's town government is running pretty smoothly. Taxes are low, water is flowing, streets are paved, and trains, so to speak, are running on time. We understand as much as anyone that things aren't perfect; the shoreline is a mess, spending could be reined in, and there are some big projects on the horizon, which will need steady guidance from the top. It seems to us this isn't the time to disrupt the system...

On Monday Harwich voters will face a 69-article annual town meeting warrant containing a lot of weighty and, in some cases, costly articles. There are more than $30 million in debt and capital exclusion requests and the operating budgets for the town, Monomoy Regional School District and Cape Cod Tech push the number beyond $65 million. There are several major issues on the minds of voters, foremost among them...

Eleven years ago, my wife and I moved to Harwich Center. At first reluctant to consider living here, when our agent showed us assets like the community center and Brooks Free Library, and a house that met our criteria, we changed our minds. This column, my 48 th , marks completion of four years spent learning about and deepening my appreciation for Harwich, a feeling strengthened reading the 2017 Annual Town R...

Board Can Use New Blood Editor: As we approach the upcoming election in Harwich, we would suggest serious consideration for Tom Sherry for selectman. Though new to the political scene, he is a fine, hardworking, sincere man. Tom is interested in the future of this beautiful town and its people. An undeniable asset is Tom’s willingness to listen to his constituents. He has a calm, patient demeanor and will w...

E lection, Town Meeting Deadlines Letters relating to Chatham's annual town meeting and election will be accepted for publication through the issue of May 3. Irrigators Should Pay For Water Editor: I am writing in support of the editorial regarding water rates.  We have owned our vacation home in Chatham for 20 years.  During that time we have seen countless number of McMansions built, all with ma...

Any deaths from opioids are tragic and wasteful. We have seen our share of them in our local communities, and while not always high profile, they have the same devastating effect whether the cause is spoken about or hushed up. The more than 500 Cape Codders deaths due to opioid overdoses since 2000 have caused emotional anguish, social instability and economic woes throughout the community. Various agencies ha...

“I don’t believe in frettin’ and grievin’ Why mess around with strife I never was cut out to step out and strut out Give me the simple life.”   While doing research for a course on The Great American Songbook that I’m teaching with Steve Bornemeier as part of the Learning Series sponsored by the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library, I came across the old song “Give Me the Simple Life.” I’ve alway...

Rev. Russ Allen, a Chronicle columnist and retired minister, delivered the following words at the Peace Candle Ceremony Sunday morning at the Federated Church in Orleans. The announcement was simple yet shocking. Yarmouth Police K-9 Officer Sean Gannon. EOW: 4/12/18. (EOW means “End of Watch.”) I light the Peace Candle this morning in honor of this 32-year-old married law enforcement officer killed in the...

Election, Town Meeting Deadlines Letters relating to the annual town meeting and election in Harwich will be accepted for publication through the issue of April 26. Letters relating to Chatham's annual town meeting and election will be accepted for publication through the issue of May 3.   Get The Facts Straight Editor: I don’t write many letters to newspapers but Kathy Jones’ tea party letter (...

Disappearing into the crowd of boarding passengers at the Gare De L’Est, her blonde hair tinged with pink ends against the white windbreaker picked up in London earlier in the week, Sofie boarded the train to Germany yesterday morning. My child is 15 now, and these partings are becoming more poignant since they will become less frequent. High school years race by, I am told. I texted to reassure her I would re...

It's clear that the major driver of increased water use in Chatham over the past few years has been irrigation systems. They're much more commonplace today than they were even a half decade ago; it seems wherever there is new construction, an irrigation system is installed so the new owner can enjoy a beautiful verdant lawn. Which, by the way, is completely antithetical to Cape Cod; our soil does not naturally...

Election, Town Meeting Deadlines Letters relating to the annual town meeting and election in Harwich will be accepted for publication through the issue of April 26. Letters relating to Chatham's annual town meeting and election will be accepted for publication through the issue of May 3.   Who's Advising Selectmen On Airport? Editor: Four times in Superior Court, the Chatham Selectmen have tried ...