CHATHAM – The planning board approved a preliminary seven-lot subdivision plan for the former Monomoy Theatre property last week. It's the latest step in the redevelopment of the 2.7-acre property by owner Chatham Productions LLC. The proposal will require final subdivision approval by the planning board as well as a special permit from the zoning board of appeals to develop single-family homes on six of the l...

CHATHAM — The town will likely be storing 3,000 feet of dredge pipe at Harding’s Beach, and the parks and recreation commission wants to make sure the equipment doesn’t threaten visitors’ safety or the beach’s scenic vista. Coastal Resources Director Ted Keon briefed the commission on Feb. 23, saying the current dredging of Stage Harbor is transporting sand west to Cockle Cove, where it will nourish south-si...

Due To Morris Island Erosion CHATHAM – Erosion of the bluff at the Morris Island headquarters of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge has continued in recent weeks, although the pace has slowed compared to earlier this year. Its inexorable march, however, has convinced federal officials to halt the release of weather balloons from the National Weather Service's upper air inflation building on the property and ...

While Carefully Watching For Possible COVID-19 Resurgence Punctuated by warnings that new virus variants may set back the fight against COVID-19, public health officials are pushing to accelerate the vaccination process. On Cape Cod, a large regional vaccine clinic is expected to open perhaps as early as this week. The vaccine site is being established at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstabl...

HARWICH — The 26-unit Royal Apartments project was approved last week by the planning board over the objection of residents in the neighborhood who were concerned with density, traffic and parking issues that will be generated by the conversion of the assisted living facility to apartments. The proposed apartments would be located in the former Royal of Harwich assisted living facility at the corner of Bank an...

HARWICH — Wastewater infrastructure projects may be put on hold while the town makes adjustments to its comprehensive wastewater management plan. “I’m not willing to advance building any hard assets anywhere unless we go through this endeavor first,” Selectman Donald Howell said. “We’re not even sure what should be built, where and how big it should be built. I wouldn’t support anything going to town meting.” ...

HARWICH — The planning board has given its unanimous approval to a 4,000-square-foot boat maintenance and repair shop along Route 28 in West Harwich, despite issues raised about the aesthetics of the planned metal structure. Allen Harbor Marine Service proposed construction of a 60-by-78-foot building with a maximum height of 25 feet at 282 Route 28, to the east of Villa Roma Restaurant. The project required s...

HARWICH — Property owners made it clear to selectmen Monday night that the time is not right to place additional taxes on rental units. Selectmen were weighing a couple of draft warrant articles for the annual town meeting warrant that could have increased rental taxes by 2 to 5 percent, but decided to table the proposal for now and take it up again at a later time. Room rental and home rental taxes here are c...

The Monomoy Regional School District launched a pooled COVID-19 testing program this week, designed to identify spread of the disease among students and teachers who show no symptoms. But as of Tuesday, only about half of the school population had agreed to be tested. Superintendent of Schools Scott Carpenter said more permission slips are being received each day, and he hopes by the end of the four-week poole...

HARWICH – Even during normal times, high school basketball seasons quickly pass by for the players, coaches and officials involved. This year, considering all of the high school athletic seasons were shortened due to COVID-19, the basketball season seemed to go by especially fast. It even seemed quick for the teams that played the longest, such as the Monomoy boys basketball squad, which advanced all the way t...

FALMOUTH – The Nauset Regional High School girls basketball team had two goals for this season: win every game and finish the season with a Cape and Islands League Atlantic Tournament title. In the end, Falmouth got in the way of both goals. The second-seeded Warriors’ season ended in heartbreaking fashion, as they fell to the top-seeded Clippers 49-45 in the Cape and Islands Atlantic Tournament championshi...

FALMOUTH – No team wants to see their season end with a loss. However, for the Cape Cod Furies, a co-op hockey team comprised of girls from Monomoy, Nauset and Cape Cod Tech, plenty of room for optimism remains after advancing to the Cape and Islands League Tournament semifinal. Despite the fact the Furies’ season ended Saturday with a 4-0 loss to top-seeded Falmouth in the league tournament semifinals, Addie ...

When we first saw our house 37 years ago, it was about this time of year. It was a traditional Cape built in 1929 and occupied by only one family all that time. We fell in love instantly. There were old lilacs and many trees even with the tiny lot. The house itself was old and very small, rundown and in need of a lot of work. We didn’t care. It was in a neighborhood I had played in many times as a child, was with...

Cape Rep Theatre in Brewster, with support from the community and the state, is in the midst of transforming the property's historic Crosby Barn from a storage space for scenery and props into a fully restored performance space which will double as a venue for rehearsal, classes and community events.  The Crosby Barn, the final building on the Cape Rep campus to be renovated, was built in 1889 by one of Brewst...

Brian Porter still recalls how he felt when he began his first job in the boatbuilding shop at Arey’s Pond Boat Yard while he was attending Nauset Regional High School. “I was like, ‘This is awesome. It’s like woodshop all day and I’m getting paid for it,’” recalls Porter, who also spent a couple of his teenage years interning for the now defunct Pleasant Bay Boat and Spar Company in his hometown of Orleans. “...

The so-called “mansion tax” proposed in Chatham is an innovative way to fund affordable and attainable housing, but it needs much more discussion and refinement before it goes before voters at the annual town meeting set for June 12. A one-half of one percent surcharge on real estate sales of more than $2 million, the fee would provide a steady stream of revenue to complement other sources, including property ...