Billed as a “shaken and stirred” version of perhaps one of William Shakespeare’s finest plays, Cape Rep and ASA Theatre’s collaboration of “MUCH ADO/about nothing” is certainly one wild and crazy ride. In this adaptation by Andy Arden-Reese, one of ASA Theatre’s founders, it’s easy to see how Shakespeare’s plots were a precursor for so many shows in our time: a multitude of characters caught in a series of mis...

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...

When traveling abroad, Ruth Odile Davis has spotted women wearing the art clothing that she has created in Odile Designs for the past 35 years. And it’s no wonder, since Odile Designs, with a shop in Harwich Center, has a following of over 8,000 fans and a loyal customer base. So when, on Aug. 12, Davis sent out an email titled “Big News from Odile,” the reception was bittersweet. The big news is that “a...

How rare are orange lobsters? Paul Davis has been a commercial lobsterman for 12 years, and the orange lobster he pulled out of a trap just east of Nauset Beach Sept. 7 was the first time he'd seen one of that color. “I've never seen anyone else catch one,” he added. Orange isn't the rarest color found in lobsters – that would be white or albino lobsters, which strictly speaking is a lack of color – but ...

ORLEANS – Orleans artist Florence Adams had a personal and visceral reaction to the unfolding and catastrophic events of Sept. 11, 2001. Her son David is an officer in the New York Police Department Emergency Services unit.  He was on duty that morning at the World Trade Center and she and her family spent agonizing hours not knowing if he had lived or died. Although David survived, many of his friends did not...

ORLEANS – The Housing Assistance Corporation has asked the town to contribute $1,876,624 toward the development of 14 rental units at the former Masonic Lodge at 107 Main St. Town officials are more than willing to do that, but a disagreement has developed over exactly where the money should come from. HAC needs a commitment from the town for the subsidy amount to apply for a $1.5 million state grant as well a...

New Urgency For Water Conservation CHATHAM — A special round of water tests this week revealed that a second public water supply well in Chatham now has levels of PFAS above state standards and has been shut down. Well 8 is adjacent to Well 5, off Training Field Road, which was shut down in April when levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances rose above the state standard of 20 parts per trillion.  On F...

David Charles Van Sickle June 11, 1930 – September 2, 2021 David Charles Van Sickle, beloved husband of Harriet (Happy) Campbell Van Sickle, died peacefully at home in Chatham on September 2, 2021 with Happy by his side. In addition to Happy, he leaves behind his four children, Judy Johnson, Susan Castle (Tom), Lisa Lentz (Don Wiley), Randy Van Sickle (Maggie); stepchildren David Halligan, Brad Williams (Kaye), B...

Douglas Barnes Rhodes, born on April 12, 1934 in Englewood N.J., passed away at home in Chatham on August 19, gazing out over Stage Harbor. He leaves behind his loving wife of 63 years, Nancy, and his three children Timothy (Karyn), Benjamin (Christine) and Susanna (Curt) Beckwith. He is also mourned by his gaggle of grandchildren: Brittany, Katie and Emily, Samantha and Holden, and Isabelle, Lila and Posey — and...

On August 31, 2021, Mark Safferstone went to be with the Lord.  He was born on September 3, 1948 and was preceded in death by his parents Irving and Sylvia (Graber).  He was born in Brooklyn, NY, raised in Niagara Falls, NY and relocated to Miami, FL in 1965 to finish high school and attend college.  While raised as a Torah-based Jew by his parents, in 1992 Mark accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and th...

Jane Meincke, 97, of Chatham, passed away peacefully on the 16th of July, 2021. A memorial service will be held at St Christophers Episcopal Church, Main St. Chatham on Friday, Sept. 10, at 11 AM. Burial will be held privately. Donations in Jane’s memory may be made to The Cape Symphony, 1060 Falmouth Rd. Suite A, Hyannis Ma. 02601 Notes of comfort may be made to Jane’s family at  www.chapmanfuneral.com ...

As we turn the calendar page to September, our thoughts begin to stray a bit from summer fun. I’m always a bit resistant to this, which you know if you read last week’s column. Summer hangs on for a few more weeks and I, for one, am not in a rush to push her out the door, even if Mr. Orion has already appeared in the night sky. Pumpkins, mums, and apples can just all hold their horses, as my grandmother would hav...

CHATHAM — While COVID-19 case numbers in the Northeast are very low compared to other parts of the country, they are unmistakably climbing. The two-week case average on Cape Cod has climbed 138 percent compared to 27 percent statewide. Orleans has a 14-day average daily incidence rate of 6.4 per 100,000 residents, lower than it has been in a month, and the lowest rate in Barnstable County. In the same time per...

In what seems to be a case of climatological bad luck, one corner of Cape Cod is still experiencing a drought, despite the recent rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Chatham and Harwich are still way behind in seasonal rainfall, while other parts of the state – and even the Cape – have recently experienced heavy rains and flooding. Following a dry spring and summer that prompted towns to impose restricti...