While waiting for my coffee to brew early in the morning I often look out the window into my backyard. These days it is still a bit dark when I wake and the yard is often quiet except for my friend, the song sparrow, who seems to start every day with a song, no matter what. I wish I always felt so strong and happy that I could sing in the dawn. Soon the cardinal family is up and about and the first ...

If you enjoy novels set on Cape Cod, you will love the finely-crafted debut novel “Seeking Glory: A Novel About Relationships, Loss, and Finding Your Way Home” (Outskirts Press, Inc. 2018) by Patricia Hamilton Shook. Shook is a resident of Sharon with a timeshare in Yarmouth. But her Cape Cod roots run deep. She has known the Cape since she was a child staying in her grandmother’s cottage on a street that dead...

“A Chorus Line” explores the trials and tribulations encountered by professional dancers aiming for Broadway. After securing their coveted roles, the Cape Playhouse’s professional cast had some added hardships with this production—two days without power due to the tornado; an unexpected change in musical directors; and a blackout during their rehearsal time in NYC. In the end, the ensemble demonstrated grit, resi...

Last week’s tornado was violent, frightening and destructive, and now that most of the trees are cleared away and the power’s been restored, a proper damage assessment is taking place. The cost to municipalities, businesses and private homeowners will almost certainly be in the millions of dollars. But make no mistake: when it comes to disasters, this wasn’t the big one. The tornado that crossed Harwich had...

Can't Control The Weather Editor: This past Tuesday, the Chatham Police Department reported that it had come to their attention that some utility work crews had been "accosted, harassed  and screamed at by citizens demanding that power to their home be turned on." Who are you self-centered, obnoxious jerks? If you are  Chatham residents, I am so  ashamed and embarrassed you are my neighbors. If you are v...

             Carol Ann Luiken-Clute of Chatham, MA died on Thursday, July 25 at Cape Cod Hospital. She was born in Paterson, NJ on September 6, 1945 and is survived by her husband Charles (“Charlie”) W. Clute, Jr. and her brother Richard C. Luiken II as well as her nephews Stephen Luiken, Richard C. Luiken III, and nieces Kristen Williams and Heather Powell.               Carol spent most of her adu...

Bruce Alden Greene, Jr., Bruce Alden Greene, Jr., “Mickey”, 81, of Harwich passed away on July 23, 2019 after succumbing to cancer.  He is survived by his cherished wife Jacqueline Pentz Greene, children and grandchildren.  His funeral will be held on Friday, August 2, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Island Pond Cemetery, 13 Island Pond Rd, Harwich, MA 02645. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to...

The lights are back on and much of the debris has been cleared, but for some people, troubling memories of last week’s storm will linger for awhile. And experts say that’s not unusual. “It’s perfectly normal that, after an event such as a tornado, folks would have strong emotional and physical reactions,” said Dayle Lawrence, clinical director of Cape Cod Human Services, which is Cape Cod Health Care’s outpati...

ORLEANS — If a dog is man's best friend, who's a dog's best friend? Karl Oakes might try to deflect the praise, but one can imagine that tails wag at the mention of his name. Oakes has become the town's leading advocate for dogs that love to visit the beach and their owners who love to join them there. Brought up in apartment buildings, he couldn't have a dog and never owned one until “my daughter kind of fi...

ORLEANS — The board of directors of Cape Abilities is scheduled to vote today (Aug. 1) on whether to sign a letter of intent to allow the town's affordable housing trust fund to explore developing housing at the agency's 107 Main St. property. On July 24, the trust fund board voted unanimously to sign the letter. Cape Abilities bought the property last year for $480,000. It includes the former Universal Lodg...

  An Open Letter to Chatham Selectmen and Taxpayers by Gerry Milden  

Hillary LeClaire, Jr., age 86, passed away on July 15 at his home in South Chatham surrounded by his loving family, friends, and compassionate caregivers. He leaves his devoted wife of 55 years, Anne, his loving children of whom he was so proud, Hope of South Harwich and Christopher of South Chatham, as well as many nieces and nephews, his family of fellow Marine aviators, and his lifelong friend, Philip Smith of...

George Snider died suddenly at Cape Cod Hospital on July 9 th . Born in Boston in 1933, he attended Boston College High School and Boston College.  He ran in the Boston Marathon for 3 years during the 1970s and he enjoyed summering in Chatham with his family since 1965.  In Montreal, he enjoyed coaching his children’s teams in baseball, softball and hockey.                He was the second- ever graduate fr...

Robert A. Enos (known to all as Bob and to some as “Captain”) of Sagamore Beach, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth. He was the husband of Paula J. (Hyora) Enos and the late Joselyn Enos.           He was born in Taunton, the son of the late Manuel and Mary (Medeiros) Enos. He is survived by his daughter, Jayne Enos and son-in-law Gary Locarno of Boston, sons R...

LEROY F. JARRETT Civic, Business Leader CHATHAM – Leroy F. Jarrett, 91, of Chatham died July 22, 2019. He was born in Ludlow; the son of the late Leroy and Cecilia (Eilers) Jarrett. Leroy lived in Springfield most of his life and graduated from Cathedral High School and later graduated from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He was President of the New England Church Interiors (Retired). He was ...

CHATHAM – A tornado with wind gusts to 110 miles per hour touched down in Harwich Center Tuesday, uprooting trees and knocking out power to most of the town. The storm continued into Chatham, with winds gusting up to 90 miles per hour leaving a miles-long swath of damage in its wake.  Trimming damaged branches at Kate Gould Park, Chatham.  TIM WOOD ...