In the past few weeks, a high school student from the Lower Cape took his own life, leaving a gaping hole in his family, his circle of friends and his community. Far from a new phenomenon, teen suicide happens with striking regularity – and there are warning signs that, if heeded, can sometimes prevent tragedy. Child psychiatrist Dr. Bart Main of Cape Cod Human Services, a Hyannis-based group practice affiliat...

ORLEANS — Known as the commercial hub of the Lower Cape, the town may be on its way to a new status as the region's cultural capital. The Nauset Endowment Fund (NEF) rolled out plans this weekend to turn the Nauset Regional Middle School auditorium into the Nauset Performing Arts Center, a “dynamic, multipurpose facility for everyone.” Proposed upgrades include installing air conditioning to allow summert...

ORLEANS — Supporters are dreaming big about what shape Snow Library should take in the next decade. On Oct. 28, members of the Old Firehouse design group encouraged them to think even bigger. The group, a collection of architects, planners, and other involved citizens, has offered advice on projects ranging from the above-named firehouse to streetscape planning, intersection redesigns, and walkways intended ...

  Christopher Michael Aho              Christopher Michael Aho, 31 of Belgrade, Mont.,  joined our heavenly Father on October 25, 2016.             Born in Peterborough, N.H. on August 7, 1985 to Jan Hopkins and the late Michael Raymond Aho.  Chris attended school in New Ipswich N.H. and graduated from ConVal Regional High School in Peterborough, N.H.  As a boy, Chr...

The emergency shellfish closure of Nantucket Sound was lifted by the state division of marine fisheries at noon Monday. Officials said the algae bloom that potentially created dangerous toxins was still present but in very low levels.  Tests over the past few weeks had shown very low levels of toxin in shellfish, below safe levels. Read more this Thursday.

Chatham police were searching Saturday for a missing 24-year-old man who was last seen on foot in the area of the Lighthouse Beach parking area. Matthew J. Amsler, 24, of Chatham, was described in a press release as a white male, five feet ten inches tall with brown hair.  He was last seen wearing a red plaid long-sleeve shirt, tan pants and black shoes. He was reported missing at 10 p.m. Friday by his wife. ...

CHATHAM — A consortium of business owners and residents has signed a purchase and sale agreement for the Eldredge Garage property at 365 Main St., which the town had eyed for public parking. Board of Selectmen Chairman Jeffrey Dykens said the coalition aims to purchase the two parcels of land with the goal of cleaning up any environmental contamination there so that it may ultimately be suitable for purchase...

CHATHAM – Shellfish Warden Renee Gagne had a problem. AmeriCorps volunteers recently culled oysters grown out in the town's upwelling system to ready them to be distributed in various waterways. Then a potentially toxic algae bloom closed all of Nantucket Sound, including the various inlets and embayments throughout town, to shellfishing. At almost the same time, work began on renovations to Old Mill Boatyard,...

CHATHAM – TD Bank will close its branch at 693 Main St. in January. Customers were informed of the closure in a letter dated Oct. 17. Retail Market President Marion Colombo wrote that the branch office will close on Jan. 27. Lisa Sawicki, vice president and corporate communications manager for the bank, said in an email that the Chatham branch will be merged with the TD Bank in Harwich Port. “The decisio...

State senate hopefuls Anthony Schiavi, a Republican, and Democrat Julian Cyr agree on the central issues of the campaign. Both are pledging to be strong advocates for the Cape and Islands on Beacon Hill, and both are struggling to build name recognition with voters. So it's not surprising that, with the election less than two weeks away, they're attempting to underscore their differences. Cyr, who grew up work...

CHATHAM – With conditions on Chatham Bar the worst they've been in years, officials are being urged to fast track improvements to a Stage Harbor commercial dock purchased by the town earlier this year. The town purchased the Eldredge trap dock at May's annual town meeting for $1.5 million. Adjacent to the town-owned Old Mill Boatyard, where the harbormaster's office is located, the dock was leased back to the ...

CHATHAM – A $103,771 overdraft for police and fire overtime in fiscal 2016 caught the attention of the state department of revenue, which told the town in no uncertain terms that this sort of deficit spending isn't allowed. “I expect that this will not become an annual event,” Marie Jane Handy, director of accounts at the DOR, wrote in a bolded paragraph in a Sept. 22 letter to Town Manager Jill Goldsmith. “I ...

HARWICH PORT — The Cumberland Farms store here will close on Sunday, and demolition will follow shortly there after. The goal is to have a new store built and ready to open by the beginning of February, Rick Boyle, regional manager for the company, said this week. The plan is to construct a 3,585 square-foot store, slightly larger than the existing one. The plans show 1,864 square feet of retail space. It will...

HARWICH — Whitehouse Field will be getting permanent restroom facilities thanks to the Harwich Mariners Athletic Association. Selectmen have issued a license to the association to construct the new restrooms behind the bleachers at the field, and the town will take ownership when the project is completed. The restroom facility is expected to be completed by next spring. “Over the past four years, the Marine...