CHATHAM — As any seasoned First Night reveler will tell you, Chatham’s family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration wouldn’t be the same without music. But this year, they’re striking up the band like never before. Inspired by new musical acts like Chicago Total Access, a Chicago tribute band; Beatles tribute band Studio Two; and rock band The Placeholders, First Night organizers chose “Strike Up the Band” as th...

CHATHAM – In 1998, the chamber of commerce was notified that Chatham was one of several towns in the state not represented at the State House with its own flag. The chamber sponsored a contest to come up with a town flag design; 23 artists submitted 63 different designs for consideration. The winning design—the Chatham Twin Lights and Coast Guard Station in a field of blue, with a cod, lobster, scallop and cla...

CHATHAM — Educators know that a key way to boost school performance in older children is to encourage reading, almost any kind of reading, when they’re young. So in Chatham, they’ve found a new way to bring the books to the kids. As part of the Monomoy School District’s effort to encourage early childhood literacy, school officials and volunteers have installed a Little Free Library at Lake Street Terrace, a C...

CHATHAM — For 24-year-old Summer Fulcher, her husband Jimmylee and their two young children, New Year’s Day will be more than just the start of a new year. It’s the beginning of a new life. The four will be moving into a new home on Crowell Road, the newest addition to an innovative housing program in town. “It’ll be perfect,” Summer said. Because it’s New Year’s Day, both she and her husband get the day of...

HARWICH — Royal Apartments, LLC is proposing to convert the former Royal of Harwich Village assisted living facility at the corner of Bank and Parallel streets into 26 apartments. The conversion from the former assisted living facility to multifamily use proposes no exterior changes to the building and minimal reconfiguration to the interior of the existing structure. In plans filed with the planning board, th...

HARWICH — The board of health has approved new operating procedures for a proposed new pub and cafe to be located in the current Red’s Pizza location in Harwich Center. The proponents are planning to purchase the business and establish the Seal Pub and Cafe at 703 Main St. Red’s Pizza, at the intersection of Pleasant Lake Avenue and Main Street, has been operating for several years with a plastic and paper pla...

HARWICH — As the town and state prepare more restrictive regulations governing the sale of tobacco products, a new smoke shop has opened in Harwich Center. New state regulations went into effect on Dec. 11 and the town’s new board of health regulations went into effect on September. Additional provisions will be effective Jan. 1 prohibiting retail stores with tobacco licenses from selling flavored tobacco prod...

HARWICH — The Harwich Port Commons building in the center of the village has sat empty for the past year, but plans have been submitted to the planning board to utilize the retail space on the first floor for a fast-food/takeout business called Harwich Port Common’s Farmer’s Market. The plans were filed last with the planning board by property owner 525 Camelot LLC and principals Paul and Diane Manning. The Ma...

HARWICH – It's rare in high school sports to have every available team member see playing time in a game, and rarer still to have each player score, but that's exactly what happened in the Monomoy girls varsity basketball team's 57-23 victory against Rising Tide on Dec. 18. The 2019-2020 Shark squad is a decidedly young team, boasting no seniors and only two juniors, with eighth graders, freshmen and sophomore...

ORLEANS – Sandwich might have come away with a win against the Cape Cod Furies on Dec. 21, but that doesn't mean the home team made it easy for them. In spite of the score, the Furies skated furiously, playing with a tenacity that had their head coach smiling at game's end. “I thought we battled really hard,” said Furies head coach Addie Weeks following the 3-1 loss. “Sandwich is always strong, but I'm really ...

HARWICH — Royal Apartments, LLC is proposing to convert the former Royal of Harwich Village assisted living facility at the corner of Bank and Parallel streets into 26 apartments. The conversion from the former assisted living facility to multifamily use proposes no exterior changes to the building and minimal reconfiguration to the interior of the existing structure. In plans filed with the planning board, th...

HARWICH – This winter, the Harwich Conservation Trust will sponsor a series of presentations at the community center. There is no cost to attend, but a suggested donation of $5 will be accepted.  On Saturday, Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. learn about “Fishers: Biology and Behavior” with Jason E. Zimmer, District Supervisor of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Southeast Wildlife District. The fisher (Mart...

CHATHAM – There might be Legos scattered about the Monomoy Regional Middle School room that houses the Robotics Club, but don't be fooled. These aren't your grandparents,' or even your parents' colorful bricks. They, and the students that use them to create working robots, are building the future one connection at a time. Kenny Watts makes adjustmen...

As I settle in to write about the end of one year and the beginning of the new one, a flock of robins is busily stripping the holly tree I can see through the window of its berries. They are gorging themselves on this frigid but sunny afternoon and I can hear them chuckling back and forth as they work. The berries we may see simply as pretty winter decorations are life saving food for birds like robins, cardin...

We've just passed the longest night of the year, and the days will soon begin to lengthen. It seems a natural time to remember those who will no longer be with us as the old year—and, indeed, the old decade—passes and new light comes into our lives. Benjamin Nickerson had an incredible knowledge of Chatham and its history, and was instrumental in creating the Nickerson Family Association compound which now ser...

Save Historic Home  Editor: I recently learned that the oldest surviving residence in Chatham has been slated for demolition. At first I thought it was a joke or a rumor but recently I learned that it is true. Chatham’s historical commission has done all it can within its power to save the structure by imposing an 18-month demolition delay on the structure. However over a year has past and unless somebody s...