“How's the paper doing?” That's one of the most frequent questions I'm asked, and I know other members of The Chronicle staff hear it often as well. It came up quite a bit in the past year thanks to two things: COVID and increasing publicity about the loss of local newspapers and news coverage nationwide. The short answer is that the paper is doing just fine, thanks. We were certainly nervous in March 20...

It doesn’t seem to make sense, people being evicted from cottages where working folks have lived for years so that the town can assume ownership of property that is going to be developed into affordable housing. That’s what’s happening in West Chatham, but of course the situation is more complex than it appears. Three residents may lose housing on the Buckley property, which town meeting voted to buy for affor...

Find Different Fire Station Site Editor: The other day, I was standing at the front door of my home on a beautiful sunny day looking across Eldredge Park Way at the skateboard park and further into the beautiful green ball fields. I was feeling very fortunate to have been living here in Orleans for over 20 years surrounded by an emerald in the heart of Orleans. Suddenly, it was shattered when I realized ...

In rebuffing the Orleans Select Board's request that it bond $1 million for the 107 Main St. housing development, the community preservation committee has its priorities wrong. The move could also endanger the project or increase its cost to taxpayers. The Housing Assistance Corporation, the only respondent to the town's request for proposals to develop the former Masonic Lodge property into affordable housing...

A Big Wedding Thank You Editor: Chatham has been our second home for almost 20 years.  As a result, when our son and daughter-in-law got engaged, they wanted to have their wedding here.  They wanted their family and friends to experience the true gem that Chatham is and all that it has to offer.  This past weekend was their wedding celebration and it was just beautiful in every way possible.  Our guests dis...

Next Tuesday, Harwich voters will choose from among three candidates to fill the seat on the board of selectmen left vacant by the untimely death earlier this year of Stephen Ford. The good news is that all three are strong candidates; the bad news is that only one can end up on the board. We've been impressed with Jeffery Handler, Julie Kavanagh and Mark Kelleher. All have strong ties to Harwich and have been...

Garage Sale Benefits Pantry Editor: Thank you to all who stopped by my garage sale in support of the Family Pantry of Cape Cod. Last week I delivered an envelope of almost $1,300 in cash to this wonderful organization that provides food and clothing to all who need it. Now I have a cleaner garage, and anyone who made a purchase is doing their part for the environment by re-using something instead of buying...

For those of us who lived through it, it's hard to believe that 20 years have passed since Sept. 11, 2001. The memories of the events of that day, the images of the smoking Twin Towers and their subsequent collapse, are vivid and as clear as that morning's skies, as is the horror at the death and destruction caused by 19 hijackers whose actions did more than just destroy symbols of western hegemony. They set in m...

Solution To Coast Guard Issue Editor: After many months, the feds have turned a deaf ear to the knowledgeable voices of fishermen, the maritime community and local government officials regarding the need to keep the US Coast Guard 42-foot rescue boats. Why?  Because they can’t find replacement parts for boats designed for the challenging waters of Chatham.  The federal government is not known for “Yankee in...

Thanks For The Joy Editor: A grand celebration of life has been taking place every Tuesday evening this summer at Brooks Park in Harwich Center. After last year’s dark season, the Harwich Town Band, under the direction of Tom Jahnke, has been playing its heart out. Audience members have been cheering, clapping, and singing along to familiar melodies. Kudos to all who have given their time and their talen...

Labor Day has been a federal holiday since 1894 and was celebrated earlier in some locations, including Massachusetts, which passed a law establishing a day set aside to celebrate workers in 1887. In most locations it's a respite for workers, although here on Cape Cod, the rest has to wait, as Labor Day marks the end of summer with a long holiday weekend that usually signals the final opportunity to capitalize on...

When crafting an update to the Monomoy Regional School District agreement, school officials might want to consider a slight language alteration that would allow changes to the document to be brought before any town meeting, not just annual meetings. School and town officials have been advised that the wording of the existing agreement only allows changes to be made at an annual town meeting. This came up after...