With the state primary election approaching, here are some deadlines and details to keep in mind. For those currently not registered, the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for the Sept. 1 primary is Saturday, Aug. 22. With town halls closed or limited in hours and access, voters can register to vote online through the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office or download registration for...

CHATHAM – More than $1 million went into dredging the Stage Harbor entrance channel this past winter and spring. While the channel appears to have held up through the height of the boating season, that's expected to change, and officials anticipate dredging of the access channel will be a regular occurrence. “It's not going to go away, that's for sure,” said Coastal Resources Director Ted Keon. “The substantia...

CHATHAM – For two summers, the Monomoy Theatre has been dark. Unless a zoning change can be made soon to pave the way for redevelopment of the property, the theater is likely to remain closed for at least three more years, its owners say. In the coming week, Alexandra Properties, which purchased the 2.7-acre property at 776 Main St. and 70 Depot Rd. for $3.65 million last September, will be collecting the 200 ...

HARWICH — The appeals board will consider a variance request next week to convert a 17-acre sand and gravel pit into a solar/photovoltaic facility in East Harwich. The application was filed by DFN, Inc., Steven Clark, president. The property is identified as 0 Depot Rd. and is located in the Residential Rural District and a Water Resource Protection District. The parcel presently is a pre-existing, non-conform...

HARWICH — Selectmen on Monday night changed the date and location for the annual town meeting based on the persistence of COVID-19 and the need to conduct the session outdoors. The board voted to hold the annual meeting on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. at the Monomoy Regional High School stadium field at 75 Oak St. Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. was set as the rain date. The town charter calls for the annual me...

Thrift Shop Supports The Family Pantry WEST HARWICH — You wouldn’t call it “business as usual,” but the Second Glance thrift store is up and running, generating important revenue for the Family Pantry of Cape Cod. The priority now is safety, not sales. “We have had a number of returning customers who have been so grateful that we are open,” store Manager Carol Chaves said. “Our custom...

Proclamation Includes Locally Focused Addition HARWICH – The death of George Floyd sent shockwaves around the country, inspiring protests and demands for change. In Massachusetts, the Mass Association of School Committees (MASC) created a document it has encouraged school districts throughout the state to sign and adopt, though many, including the Monomoy Regional School District, had reservations. After le...

HARWICH — The attorney for two Harwich Port restaurants sparred with town officials and state investigators over alleged violations of COVID-19 emergency regulations during liquor license hearings last week. The hearings held by Interim Town Administrator Joseph Powers on alleged liquor license violations at Ember Pizza and The Port restaurants reached no conclusions after problems with remote participation ca...

HARWICH — The Nantucket Sound Bay Scallop Company is proposing to grow bay scallops in a small section of the Herring River. The company is seeking a class III marine aquaculture permit from the state Division of Marine Fisheries to cultivate scallops in the waterway. Daniel Ward and Jeffrey Lang are partners in the company. Lang owns the property adjacent to the river where scallops are proposed to be grown. ...

Finding outdoor activities that allow you to get moving and stay socially distant can be a challenge, even on Cape Cod, but the Monomoy Yacht Club has the answer: kayaking. Contrary to many local yacht clubs, which focus primarily on sailing, and in a few cases, boating, the MYC boasts an enthusiastic and sizable kayaking contingency, and is thrilled that only weather has necessitated kayaking cancellations th...

Two Local Authors Spin Tough Mystery Stories Fans of Paul Kemprecos’s Aristotle “Soc” Socarides series are in for a big treat — “Soc” is back in Kemprecos’s first-ever short story, “The Sixth Decoy,” which is set partly in Harwich and features a lost decoy carved by Elmer Crowell. The short story is included in “Nothing Good Happens After Midnight: A Suspense Magazine Anthology” (Suspense Publishing, 2020) ...

CHATHAM – Opening a restaurant in a pandemic is not for the faint of heart. In the case of the new Pate's restaurant, the owners knew what they had — a town and a location that was supportive, an iconic beloved restaurant with only two owners over more than half a century, and an experienced and well-regarded chef and management team with deep local roots. Cloyde Pate took over the hamburger and ice cream stan...

As September nears, local arts organizations are experimenting with what they can safely offer to residents left starved for culture and entertainment after a prolonged bout of COVID-19-induced cabin fever. Some are remote offerings, while some are masked and socially-distanced in-person affairs. Still others are trying a combination of the two, so those who don’t feel quite comfortable out mingling can enjoy wha...

We've all read the headlines about the U.S. Postal Service. A ban on overtime by the new postmaster general; the removal of mail boxes and mail sorting machines; reports of delayed delivery from across the nation; concern about the post office's ability to meet what will likely be a huge volume of mail as voters concerned about the pandemic cast mail-in or absentee ballots. Locally, we've been fielding calls f...

Beach Walks Never Change Editor: Mary Richmond’s “Learning To Love Nature” (Aug. 6) reminds us that we are “fortunate” in so many ways despite the changes brought by the Corona virus. Her childhood memories of watching hermit crabs trying on shells and her swimming underwater with eyes opened made us smile. The shorelines have changed and the beaches now have annoying rules. But a simple walk near the ocean...

ORLEANS — This is a tale of three Orleans bookstores. A new independent bookstore will open later this month, while a second will close and a third has already closed. Sea Howl Bookshop is taking over the 600-square-foot space occupied until earlier this year by the now-shuttered Main Street Books at 46 Main St. Booksmith/Musicsmith, which has been in operation since the late 1970s, will close its doors on ...