CHATHAM — Think of them as retirement homes for American flags. As part of his Eagle Scout project, 17-year-old David Van Sickle of Chatham has made two drop boxes designed to receive old American flags awaiting proper disposal. “We were getting boxes of flags from the fire department,” he said. It's not clear how or why the practice started, but people have been bringing old flags to the firehouse for...

CHATHAM ─ Joan and Ed Lerner first started coming to Chatham Band concerts at Kate Gould Park roughly 60 years ago, so it only seemed fitting that for their 57 th wedding anniversary on Aug. 25 they settled into seats with a clear view of the Whit Tileston Bandstand. The Lerners weren't the only ones celebrating that night. The evening also marked the official celebration for the 85 th year of the red-and-...

CHATHAM — Expressing concern that important decisions might be made by as few as two members, Selectman Dean Nicastro is asking the conservation commission to change the way it votes. By unanimous vote, the board of selectmen decided to send a letter to Conservation Commission Chairman Michael Tompsett asking the commission to amend its regulations to require at least four votes to take action under the wetlan...

CHATHAM — In addition to being a former state environmental official and the current executive director for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, Andrew Gottleib is a four-term Mashpee selectman. And he knows that if constituents don't speak out about an issue, it won't be a priority for his board. That's why in some towns, wastewater planning hasn't really moved the political needle, he said. “In many resp...

CHATHAM — Thanks to several well-timed rainstorms, the town's water system is keeping up with demand this summer. But officials say that, with another four weeks of summer left, it wouldn't take much more than another heat wave to stress the system beyond capacity. There are also predictions for a warmer-than-usual autumn ahead, Public Works Director Tom Temple told selectmen last week. Water and Sewer A...

CHATHAM – The sandwich board sign announcing the town's farmers market was a familiar and welcome sight to many of the fans of the weekly market. Distinctively hand-lettered by artist Greta Ribb, it conveyed the intensely local and down-to-earth nature of the market. So it's understandable that many, especially the market organizers, were heartbroken when the sign was stolen. And then, unexpectedly, they we...

CHATHAM – The proposed demolition of a home along Stage Harbor Road was halted by the historical commission last week, the second time in recent months the group has put a hold on plans to raze a historic structure in the neighborhood. The action comes as the commission prepares for a meeting Saturday of Stage Harbor Road property owners to discuss the creation of a National Historic Register District in the n...

CHATHAM ─ If it looked like there was a party happening at the Marconi Maritime Center in Chatham on Monday, well, there was. But instead of celebrating all things maritime, this time the museum was looking to the skies as they hosted a festive gathering in honor of the historic partial eclipse. Attendees not only were given special opaque viewing glasses with which to view the moon as it passed in front of ...

CHATHAM – Human remains discovered last Thursday at an Uncle Albert's Drive property during excavation for a swimming pool are thought to be Native American in origin, according to police. Initial examination by a state forensic anthropologist from the Chief Medical Examiner's Office indicated there were two to three sets of remains, which were buried about four feet deep. It appears to have been a family buri...

CHATHAM – Despite a rough year for Chatham's Sharks in the Park – there were at least four attempted thefts, one of which was successful – the annual art exhibit finished the season with a frenzy. A bidding frenzy, that is. The online auction for the shark-shaped art ended last Friday at noon, and when the numbers were tallied, the total topped all previous auctions. According to Janice Rogers of the Chatha...

CHATHAM — Agreeing to codify certain state-identified “best practices” in financial management, public accessibility and human resources, Chatham has become the latest Massachusetts municipality to join the Commonwealth Community Compact. The town becomes the 297 th in the state – including every other town on Cape Cod – to join the program. Compact member communities get priority for certain state grant pr...

CHATHAM – On Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Ted Henken will give a talk at the Eldredge Public Library about the long-fraught relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. “The main areas that I focus on are economic reforms and the emerging micro enterprises in the private sector,” Henken said. Specifically, Henken will explain how an increased access to the internet has affected Cuba’s economy. “Cuba is t...