Despite earlier predictions that it would come ashore on Cape Cod, Hurricane Henri made landfall further to the west on Sunday, sparing the Lower Cape from virtually all its effects. The minimal hurricane came ashore at Block Island, R.I., bringing wind gusts of around 70 mph. As it moved northwest and inland, Henri dumped heavy rains that caused localized flooding in Connecticut, New York and western Massachu...

CHATHAM – The historical commission has placed a demolition delay on a Bridge Street house that may be as much as 250 years old, even though the owner said it is uninhabitable in its current condition. The house at 322 Bridge St. suffered extensive water damage to its foundation and first floor and the previous owner did nothing to address the problem, William Riley, attorney for current owner Steven F. Veninc...

CHATHAM – The fate of what many believe is the oldest house in town hangs in the balance after the zoning board of appeals failed to approve a plan for the redevelopment of the property on which the building has sat since about 1700. Joe Giacalone, who owns the nearly three-acre property at 68 Shell Dr., asked to continue the Aug. 12 special permit hearing when it became clear that there weren't enough votes t...

CHATHAM – The planning board is struggling to figure out how Chatham Municipal Airport fits in with its effort to rezone the West Chatham neighborhood center. Last week, the board declined to take on the task of developing a zoning overlay district for the airport's runway protection zone (RPZ), which overlaps the West Chatham neighborhood center. Board members said it was premature to take any action at this ...

CHATHAM – Jack Garver had a German shell to thank for his art career. Wounded during the Battle of the Bulge, he was sent to a hospital to recuperate. Because he'd received a concussion, protocol required that he see a psychiatrist. That doctor noticed drawings and doodles Mr. Garver was doing and asked if he could do a few drawings for his office. A mural for the hospital followed, after which Mr. Garver was ...

CHATHAM — The beach on the Chatham side of Jackknife Harbor is popular with beachgoers and paddlers, but vehicles, pedestrians and the current flowing under the new Muddy Creek bridge are threatening to erode the narrow dirt road that provides public access. Working with the Pleasant Bay Alliance and the town of Chatham, environmental consultants are proposing a means of stemming the erosion using natural marin...

CHATHAM – The town could be looking at paying $500,000 to $1 million a year for decades to maintain access to Stage Harbor. But dredging may not be the only solution to the continuing shoaling problem. A pending coastal resiliency study includes a proposal for a system of structures that would deflect currents away from areas where there has been extensive shoaling in recent years. Vertical metal sheets, simil...

While Officials Mull Facility's Future CHATHAM – As member of the council on aging board mull over the future of the town's senior center, a group of local residents has volunteered to brainstorm new approaches that might garner more support from voters. “I think we need new, innovative ideas,” board member David Speciale said during the COA's meeting Monday. He said he was approached by several individuals...

WEST CHATHAM — Saying the town mistakenly posted the meeting as public, state transportation officials threatened to cancel a final on-site inspection of the West Chatham roadway project Tuesday if the select board and public insisted on attending. In the end, MassDOT representatives consented to allow one member of the select board to attend the walk-through with representatives of general contractor Lawren...

But Supports EPA’s Requests CHATHAM — In a somewhat perfunctory vote last week, the board of health supported a request by the EPA to get additional documentation as part of an assessment of the airport master plan. But absent any immediate public health concerns, a majority of members declined to get more deeply involved in the debate over the plan and the future use of the airport. Health and Natural Re...

CHATHAM — It’s a topic on the minds of many residents, and one that recently jumped to the top of the priority list for the town’s select board. It’s PFAS, and it’ll be the subject of discussion at an upcoming virtual meeting. At its annual meeting on Aug. 18, the Friends of Chatham Waterways will host Laurel Schaider, Ph.D., of the Silent Spring Institute. Schaider will speak about per- and polyfluoroalkyl ...

Breakthrough Case At Liberty Commons CHATHAM — Despite the fact that the highly contagious Delta variant now accounts for most instances of COVID-19, case numbers remain steady or have edged up only minimally in recent weeks.  But new infections continue to emerge, including two at Liberty Commons Nursing Home and one at the Chatham Community Center that prompted town officials to cancel the remainder of t...