CHATHAM — Officials say a minke whale that spent last Thursday in Stage Harbor before dying in the Oyster River apparently had an underlying health condition that caused it to become stranded. The 18-foot long whale was first spotted in the area of the Eldredge trap dock before 6 a.m. Thursday, and onlookers watched in amazement as it swam under the floats at Old Mill Boat Yard. When it emerged from under th...

More than a postcard backdrop, the Cape's working waterfront is an economic engine. And it deserves continued financial support from the state, said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who is also the chairman of the state's Seaport Economic Council, which is making sizable investments in the shorefront infrastructure in Chatham and Harwich. Polito visited Old Mill Boat Yard in Chatham and Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich Por...

CHATHAM – Like anything new, it's taking a little time for boaters to get used to the fact that they need to pay a fee to access the town's waterways. A waterways user permit is now in effect, required for any vessel launched from a public ramp. The permit costs $150 for nonresidents and $50 for residents, and covers all vessels except canoes, kayaks and any unregistered boat. While officials are empowered ...

CHATHAM — Like a sticky cupboard on a humid day, the new Mitchell River drawbridge sometimes jams when it closes. Open for just over a year, the bridge cost taxpayers about $14 million, and town officials sometimes have to park a truck on top of the span to force it to lower fully. “Clearly that's not something we want to have to do every time,” Natural Resources Director Robert Duncanson said. Though the...

CHATHAM – Stage Harbor Road appears to meet the criteria as a National Historic Register District, but a determination on South Chatham's eligibility will have to await a site visit by a Massachusetts Historical Commission official. Betsy Friedberg, National Register Director for the commission, will be in town July 19 to tour both areas. In April the town's historical commission requested an opinion of the...

It's been a big week for sharks. At least nine shark sightings were reported, including two eight- to 10-foot sharks seen a half mile off Campground Beach in Eastham on July 9 and one just south of Race Point Beach in Provincetown on July 10. Several shark alerts were posted on the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity smartphone app for sharks sighted off Truro and Orleans. Dr. Greg Skomal and his...

CHATHAM -- Officials confirm that the minke whale seen feeding in Stage Harbor Thursday has died.  Its remains were located Friday morning in the Oyster River. It is not immediately clear what caused the animal's death, though it did sustain injuries apparently while diving under a pier at Old Mill Boat Yard. 18-foot minke whale that apparently didn't want to leave Stage Harbor Thursday. The adult whale was...

CHATHAM – The shark spotting season is off and running, with researchers putting eyeballs on three great white sharks last Thursday. Of the six research voyages as of Monday, sharks have been seen on five of the days. Also, seven previously tagged white sharks have been detected on acoustic receivers in Chatham and Orleans waters. Shark scientists say this is typical of the previous three years they've cond...

CHATHAM – Cockle Cove Beach has been in rough shape for some time. It's been almost two years since a significant amount of sand has been brought in to build up the eroding beach, and officials are worried that its condition could deteriorate further before a planned fall or winter dredging project at nearby Mill Creek can provide an additional buffer between Nantucket Sound and the beach parking lot. Last wee...

CHATHAM – In what has become a tradition on the Wednesday before July 4, members of the Chatham Merchants Association, artists and supporters last week helped relocate the Sharks in the Park exhibit from Kate Gould Park to the front lawn of the Eldredge Public Library. Along with the 50-plus sharks, the move also included the video monitoring equipment that has thus far recorded the theft or attempted theft of...

CHATHAM – The scene was quintessentially American and particularly Chatham: thousands of people lining Main Street, many in red, white and blue garb, flags galore, clear blue skies and a light sea breeze. A perfect July 4 for a perfect Independence Day parade.   With more than 100 entrants and some 2,000 participants, ranging from kids in mini-cars to the town's oldest resident, the parade had something f...

CHATHAM – At the Eldredge Public Library last week, University of Oregon professor and immigration expert Daniel Tichenor discussed the turbulent history of America’s often hostile attitude towards immigrants and ways in which they have contributed to the enhancement and bettering of our nation since its founding. Tichenor began by reminding the audience that we have always been reluctant to welcome immigrants...