“Once upon a time there was a tavern Where we used to raise a glass or two Those were the days my friend We thought they’d never end We sing and dance forever and a day We’d live the life we choose We’d fight and never lose For we were young and sure to have our way”   Gene Raskin wrote “Those Were the Days” and Mary Hopkin sang it. The song reached number two in 1968 on the Billboar...

Every generations has leaders that leave their mark on a community. During the past several weeks, Chatham has lost two such people. A few weeks ago, cancer took Jean Young, a former board of health member and consummate volunteer whose passion for making life better for children found expression in almost every aspect of her life. From her work at both the elementary and middle schools, organizing the after-p...

First, let’s state the obvious. The possibility of a school shooting on the Lower Cape, however remote, is terrifying. And it’s sickening that, in this age, we’re holding active shooter drills in our schools and training the nurses to apply tourniquets. But mass shootings happen, and ignoring that possibility is irresponsible. If you’re tempted to invoke the “it can’t happen here” perspective, know that you’re...

Club Helps Out Learning Program Editor: Once again, the Harwich Evening Women’s Club has come through for the families of the Monomoy Cooperative Learning Programs, a self-sustaining extended day program. Through their generous donation for the summer program, several families were able to receive financial assistance to attend the seven-week program. I would like to thank them on behalf of the families t...

Daffodils in the middle of May. But no tulips yet. I measure the march of spring by an immovable date on the calendar, specifically my birthday in the second week in May. The tulips should be up now. They are not. Sometimes they are passed. I cannot even find them. Meanwhile, daffodils are typically out around Easter. Whenever that is. They’re out then, in one fashion or another, in April. So now I am all s...

Stairway To Heaven Editor: I just received a receipt for a donation to the Eldredge Public Library. And I think I have read in The Chronicle that the current librarian is retiring. Which got me to thinking: what was the name of the Chatham librarian back in the 1940s and 1950s who was stone deaf? Stone deaf but able to hear the thoughts of anyone even thinking about climbing the old circular staircase to t...

When Harwich voters go to the polls on Tuesday, May 15, they will have to weigh the value of experience against new candidates who have contributed little to municipal government. Our recommendation is to take the experience. Ed McManus sits on the finance committee and is a member of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates. He served as a selectman for 11 years, stepping down from the board when he was el...

Chatham's town government is running pretty smoothly. Taxes are low, water is flowing, streets are paved, and trains, so to speak, are running on time. We understand as much as anyone that things aren't perfect; the shoreline is a mess, spending could be reined in, and there are some big projects on the horizon, which will need steady guidance from the top. It seems to us this isn't the time to disrupt the system...

On Monday Harwich voters will face a 69-article annual town meeting warrant containing a lot of weighty and, in some cases, costly articles. There are more than $30 million in debt and capital exclusion requests and the operating budgets for the town, Monomoy Regional School District and Cape Cod Tech push the number beyond $65 million. There are several major issues on the minds of voters, foremost among them...

Eleven years ago, my wife and I moved to Harwich Center. At first reluctant to consider living here, when our agent showed us assets like the community center and Brooks Free Library, and a house that met our criteria, we changed our minds. This column, my 48 th , marks completion of four years spent learning about and deepening my appreciation for Harwich, a feeling strengthened reading the 2017 Annual Town R...

Board Can Use New Blood Editor: As we approach the upcoming election in Harwich, we would suggest serious consideration for Tom Sherry for selectman. Though new to the political scene, he is a fine, hardworking, sincere man. Tom is interested in the future of this beautiful town and its people. An undeniable asset is Tom’s willingness to listen to his constituents. He has a calm, patient demeanor and will w...

E lection, Town Meeting Deadlines Letters relating to Chatham's annual town meeting and election will be accepted for publication through the issue of May 3. Irrigators Should Pay For Water Editor: I am writing in support of the editorial regarding water rates.  We have owned our vacation home in Chatham for 20 years.  During that time we have seen countless number of McMansions built, all with ma...