Led Firefighters, Guided Airport, Welcomed Visitors CHATHAM — The sudden death of Richard “Dick” Hunter Sunday morning has left a wide circle of friends reeling, and the Chatham Fire Department in mourning. Mr. Hunter was a career firefighter who rose to the rank of deputy chief, and was the longtime chairman of the Chatham Airport Commission. He was actively involved in civic life up to the time of his dea...

WEST CHATHAM — For many people, finding an affordable place to live and raise their children on Cape Cod can seem like an impossible dream. But for the two families who will be purchasing new Habitat for Humanity homes in West Chatham, those dreams are becoming reality. Those prospective homeowners, screened by Habitat and chosen by lottery, helped raise the first walls of their new houses in an emotional cere...

CHATHAM – Last year, the town managed to pull off an almost-normal Independence Day parade, despite COVID still being present in the community. With levels of infection even lower this year, officials anticipate record-breaking crowds for the July 4 tradition. And the number of parade participants has almost reached its pre-pandemic level, according to Independence Day Parade committee chair Justin Bohannon. A...

CHATHAM — Thanks to a newly installed temporary treatment system removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), one of the two Training Field Road public water wells is back online. While that provides some relief to the town’s over-stressed water system, abnormally dry conditions mean that mandatory water conservation measures are still important, town officials say. The select board last week issued re...

CHATHAM — In a perennial game of whack-a-mole, town officials ban parking in unsafe areas, only to see parking congestion appear in new neighborhoods. To try and break that cycle, the town will recruit an expert to take a broad look at the parking shortage around Chatham, with an eye toward finding fixes in time for the summer of 2023. Assembled at the direction of the select board in February, the working gro...

Young Humpback Fouled In Fishing Gear CHATHAM — Thanks to a cooperative effort from two marine conservation groups, a young humpback whale has a chance at growing old. Shark spotters with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy are credited with reporting the whale calf in trouble off Chatham last Tuesday. The calf had a black rope caught in its mouth and a large tangle of rope around its tail when rescuers fr...

CHATHAM — After lengthy study, the select board adopted regulations last week allowing mobile food vendors to operate in certain locations around town, including parts of downtown. Out of deference to concerned neighbors, one location – the former Eldredge Garage property – was removed from the list of potential food truck sites. The select board had previously favored allowing mobile food vendors at six locat...

CHATHAM – The closure of the National Weather Service Upper Air Station on Morris Island left a hole in the agency's weather balloon launching network, one that both weather service and town officials are eager to plug. The airport commission and finance committee have proposed relocating the station to the section of the airport property previously used as a storage area by commercial fishermen. Officials met...

Gallery, Shop Sales To Benefit Monomoy Community Services CHATHAM – Every day, dozens, sometimes hundreds of people walk “the loop,” the popular route along Main Street, Shore Road, Bridge Street and Stage Harbor Road. Along the way, they pass what is probably the most distinctive edifice in the Old Village, the 175-year-old John Hallett House, also known as “the green building.” For years, owners Tina and ...

Chef Lisa Whelan of Dancing Spoons Catering stood before a crowd of about 70 people, bottles of honey, ginger, and apple cider vinegar arrayed before her and a thick piece of cornmeal-encrusted fish browning on the burner. “This is a good substitute for cod – flaky, white,” said Whelan as she readied a fillet of white hake for its bed of broccoli slaw atop a cookie-sized fajita. Melissa Sanderson, chief ope...

CHATHAM — On a remote sandbar east of Morris Island, a life-and-death drama played itself out this weekend, with rescuers struggling to rescue five pilot whales that came ashore in a mass stranding. Ultimately, two of the animals were saved. “So we do consider that a success,” said Brian Sharp, who leads the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Team. The three other pilo...

CHATHAM – A lot of history will be on display in Chatham this weekend. History Weekend, sponsored by Historic Chatham, highlights the town's past by focusing on its museums and other institutions that promote history. Nine local organizations will be participating in events that begin on Thursday. The weekend happens to coincide with the 125 th anniversary of the Nickerson Family Association, which will sp...