HARWICH — Officials and citizens expressed mixed opinions about the town moving ahead with a pet burial ground on town-owned land during an update provided to selectmen on the project proposed by the cemetery commission. The pet burial ground and the future plan for the placement of a crematory on the 2.25-acre parcel on Queen Anne Road has fervent proponents and opponents, as was on display during the present...

Ups and downs are often part of the ride when school officials formulate a budget, but the roller coaster took a turn last week that’s likely to upset some stomachs in Harwich. The FY20 Monomoy Regional School District spending plan got a boost of more than $400,000 thanks to an increase in state aid and the likelihood that health insurance costs will hold steady rather than increasing 10 percent as expected. ...

ORLEANS – There was a charge in the atmosphere around the home team bench of the Cape Cod Furies. The energy was nearly electric, the chatter among players intense and determined, peppered with “let's do this!” and “c'mon ladies, we've got this!” even though a single goal had yet to be scored. Then came the third period between the Furies and the Vineyarders and a final score of 3-1 in favor of the home team, ...

HYANNIS – Fresh off a big win against Barnstable, the Nauset Warriors boys varsity hockey team conquered the Monomoy-Mashpee Monarchs 3-0 in a fast-paced outing at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center on Jan. 26. Freshman JJ Alger kicked things off for the Warriors, sending in the game's first goal at 6:22 in the first period with help from teammates Nick Dadoly and Cam Hull to give Nauset an early 1-0 lead....

CHATHAM – For the 10 years between 2005 and 2015, Tony Ntumba was a translator and photojournalist for the United Nations in his native country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fluent in six languages, he was the first person out of a U N helicopter, the chief means of transportation due to jungle conditions, ready to reassure the people of a village that this “group of white men” were there to help them....

There was a time not long ago when fishermen tried to get rid of big-jawed, sharp-toothed prehistoric-looking monkfish by kicking them out the scuppers. Now they steam 100 miles in often ugly weather to find them, bringing up thousands of pounds in weighted gillnets. “It makes up a fair part of my year, about a third of my income,” said Nick Muto, captain of the Dawn T. The fat-headed brown angler fish c...

If you’ve battled the flu and all its accompanying feverish and respiratory joys, you have a pretty good idea what my last week was like. But here I am, mostly recovered and ready to head out the door again. While I was sick, I had many hours to read quietly, stare out my window and try to find something to watch that didn’t bore me to death or upset me. I ended up reading. A lot. Since I couldn’t get out i...

An Opportunity For Reflection  Editor: My name is Jim Nelson and I have spent some time researching my ancestry. Fortunately, it appears than I have less genealogical connection to the now infamous Beverly Nelson than the infamous Elizabeth has to the Cherokee Nation. One thing I do have in common with Beverly is that my family and I have the privilege of owning a home in Chatham. Our decision to move to...

Chatham selectmen heard the details of a recent comprehensive sidewalk management plan and the news was rather discouraging. There are 11 miles of sidewalks in town and 265 curb ramps, much of which requires repair or upgrade. The good news is that this inventory allows the town to rank the condition of sidewalks and curbs and determine how to prioritize repairs; only 1.78 miles are ranked as excellent, with more...

Kindergarten Registration Registration for all children eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall of 2019 will be held at Harwich Elementary School and Chatham Elementary School on Tuesday, March 5, and Wednesday, March 6. Bring completed registration packet; visit Monomoy.edu for registration documents and requirements. All children who reach the age of 5 before Sept. 1 are eligible for enrollment in ki...

ORLEANS — The state will begin taxing short-term rentals of vacation homes, one or more rooms in houses, condos and the like beginning July 1. Town officials and business leaders are already thinking long-term about the uses of the new revenues. “Taxes will be collected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Aug. 20, and then on the 20 th of the month from then on,” Selectmen Chairman Alan McClennen said Jan....

ORLEANS — The selectmen put the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget under a microscope Jan. 23 and also talked about rearranging the five-year capital plan. They discussed un-budgeted needs in light of some surprisingly good news: the Cape Cod Municipal Health Group is likely to vote this week for no increase in health and life insurance premium rates. “They had a great year last year, with claims running very ...

              Delores Mary Eleanor Taylor Archibald (Del) passed away peacefully on January 11 at Rosewood Manor in Harwich.               Del was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1928. In 1949 she married the Rev. John Archibald and shared in his ministry until they moved to Boston in 1956 when John attended Harvard and Del worked as an executive secretary. John’s career then led them to Stamford, Con...

Sara Eldridge-Fellman passed away on Monday January 21, 2019 after a long battle with muscular dystrophy.             Sara was a life long Cape Codder; she graduated from Chatham High School and lived and worked in Chatham most of her life. Sara loved animals, the beach and spending time with her loving family.             Sara is the daughter of the late Leon and Nancy Eldridge of South Chatham and was pre...

CHATHAM – When a ban on single-service styrofoam packaging enacted by New York City Jan. 1 came up during a discussion with a group of friends, William Bystrom decided to research the issue. He ended up coming up with a petition to put a similar ban before voters at the May 13 annual town meeting. “We're dealing basically with food service articles,” such as take-out containers, cups and bowls as well as packi...