CHATHAM – “There's no such thing as just leaves and dirt.” That mantra, recited by Monomoy Regional Middle School science teacher Melinda Forist, was repeated by students recently as they dipped nets into the brackish water of a vernal pool located behind the school. The nets came up with leaves and dirt, for sure, but also contained a number of wriggling and squirming creatures. Students counted nine tadpo...

CHATHAM — Suffering a clear case of sticker shock, selectmen last week asked committees to scale back plans for a $4 million waterfront facility envisioned for 90 Bridge St. Answering a mandate by voters who purchased the land for future commercial and recreational marine uses, the town’s three water-related advisory committees worked with a consultant to find options for the small parcel next to the Mitchel...

CHATHAM — This year, good tidings will be coming to the children of Chatham courtesy of an actual one-horse open sleigh. And it’s a sleigh with a story. On Saturday, Dec. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m., visitors to the Chatham Historical Society’s Atwood House Museum will be able to see the fully-restored sleigh, which was rescued from the basement of the former Eldredge Garage before it was razed. Visitors are encourag...

CHATHAM – The town's annual Christmas celebration officially gets underway this Sunday when Santa Claus arrives at the Chatham Fish Pier. Santa will arrive in style, on the historic CG36500 motor lifeboat, featured in the book and film “The Finest Hours,” at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3. He'll be escorted by members of the Chatham Coast Guard Station and greet children at the pier. After making his way through the crow...

CHATHAM — Selectmen agree that it’s probably time to consider hiking water rates to better maintain and expand the town’s water system. But they don't want to do so in a way that soaks low-income residents or small businesses. Meeting as water and sewer commissioners Tuesday, the board held a hearing on a complex proposal that would increase the amount customers pay for water, both to raise revenue for capital...

CHATHAM — Having provided a measure of financial stability for local families for decades, the Chatham Children's Fund is now enjoying a little stability of its own – just in time for the holidays. On Monday, resident David Oppenheim said he and his wife, Gail, intend to make the office at 210 Stony Hill Rd. available to the Children's Fund on a permanent basis. It's a boon for the longstanding nonprofit, wh...

On Sunday, 450 local families queued up at the Family Pantry's headquarters in Harwich, and a satellite center in West Barnstable, to receive Thanksgiving dinners. Each left with a turkey and grocery bags filled with potatoes, vegetables, stuffing and a pie, courtesy of the Family Pantry and its donors. Now that's something to be thankful for. As we've done each Thanksgiving since 2004, The Cape Cod Chronic...

CHATHAM — In an organizational meeting last Thursday, members of the new Eldredge Garage Property Planning Committee said they'd already received scores of suggestions for the re-use of that prime downtown real estate. The nine-member panel was chosen by the board of selectmen to review the potential uses of the property at 365 Main St., which was purchased by town meeting last January for $2.5 million. The ...

CHATHAM – Cockle Cove Beach has seen its share of erosion in the past decade, but last month, for the first time, storm-driven waves claimed a section of the town beach's parking lot. The storm also breached a dune and sent water from Nantucket Sound into the marsh behind the beach. Cockle Cove is “probably the foremost hot spot we have, with some of the highest erosion rates along Nantucket Sound,” said Coast...

CHATHAM – At a recent luncheon for veterans at the current senior center on Stony Hill Road, participants gathered for a group photo. But before that could happen, tables and chairs had to be moved out of the way, and one guest stumbled and nearly fell to the floor. “At the end of the day, I saw that as a perfect anecdote” for what's wrong with the current council on aging building, said COA Director Mandy Spe...

Preliminary survey results indicate that parents favor reconfiguration of the Monomoy Regional School District's two elementary schools in order to keep both viable as enrollment continues to decline. A majority of parents support creating “upper” and “lower” elementary schools, with students in pre-K through grade two attending Harwich Elementary School, and grade three and four students going to Chatham Elem...

CHATHAM — On the 99 th anniversary of Armistice Day, a grateful community gathered at the community center Saturday to thank the town's veterans. “What does it mean to be a veteran?” asked retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Robert Franz. For his part, his service left “an indelible imprint on the soul,” and as a veteran, he said he views life differently. When he sees news reports of American troops in...