Editor:

This is a note of thanks to all of the Brewster Sea Camps volunteer committee members and town officials for their thoughtful and thorough work on the revised plans for the Sea Camps. It has been great to be able to take advantage of the property for so many different uses over the past few years (access to pool and beach, running and walking, recreation programs and special events), and I’m optimistic that the new proposal will continue to improve and enhance access to this wonderful space. I look forward to hearing more at the fall town meeting, and am hopeful for more improvements to come!

Chris Cregan Ellis
Brewster

Editor:

Potentially toxic cyanobacteria blooms in Chatham ponds, fewer scallops due to loss of eelgrass, and mandatory water use restrictions can all be mitigated with each of us making a few changes in how we care for our properties.

The Friends of Chatham Waterways (FCW) is working to educate residents and visitors as to why these things are occurring and how we can individually make impactful changes through the Chatham Water Pledge campaign. More than 120 individuals/organizations have pledged to skip the fertilizer, avoid pesticides, conserve water, and grow a Cape-friendly lawn. FCW provides each pledger with a metal yard sign indicating they've taken the pledge. Many have indicated it's about time we reduce fertilizer and pesticide use to improve the quality of our water. Show your support of Chatham’s water and take the pledge.

Go to chathamwaterways.org, to sign up and learn more.

Sherrie Burson
FCW Chatham Water Pledge committee

Editor:

Much has been articulated, and much more will be articulated, regarding reasons for and regarding reasons against Pine Oaks Village 4. When one thinks of adding an additional 1,000 residents to Harwich in this moment in time, a crystal ball would be needed to fully comprehend the scope of consequence.

PO4 advocates advance the intended benefit of continued growth, the most obvious benefit cited being a larger labor pool. Is this larger pool really a benefit, or are we engaged in a masquerade? Growth comes at a cost. Taxes do not go down. How much is a larger pool really a benefit? Will your plumbing repair be less? How do you quantify the benefits? Any anticipated benefits might be unintended expenditures, thus a consequence for all. Is growth by clear-cutting really the answer? My reply is an emphatic “no.” Redevelopment of already dense areas is an answer. Marching forward steadily with less ambitious rental opportunities is an answer. Enhancement of rental bylaws is the answer.

It remains a puzzle to me how a few citizens, all Harwich residents, have willfully chosen to attempt taking the town's destiny out of the town's hands by instituting a 40B approach. It should be considered that not all occupants of PO4 will work in Harwich. It also needs to be acknowledged that all future occupants of PO4 are presently living elsewhere. They are not homeless. Lastly, the 40B process, as I understand it, attempts to hamstring the zoning board from processes relevant to all town boards. PO4's expectation of review waivers from town departments oversight is not a neighborly act. Rather, it is an encroachment, an infringement on a neighbor. It is my hope that the ZBA will be fully transparent, that it will throw some caution to the wind and think of Harwich only, not Boston. With much credit, the initial meeting seemed very evenhanded. Should the ZBA render a fulsome determination not liked by our PO4 neighbors, let PO4 take the town of Harwich to court. If they must, let PO4 take all of us to court.

Matt Sutphin
Harwich

Editor:

 In the short time I’ve lived on the Lower Cape, I’ve come to love its people, small businesses, and deep sense of community. Yet, like so many who work here, I’ve faced how the lack of affordable housing can displace even the most committed. 

I moved from Boston to the Cape in early September, eager to support small businesses through my work with the Community Development Partnership (CDP). Having earned my MBA in entrepreneurship and quantitative finance, and with a strong background in microfinance and small business technical assistance, I was drawn by the opportunity to apply those skills where they truly matter. But within two months, the housing reality became impossible to ignore. 

When I showed up to move into my apartment in Brewster, on my first day of work, I was asked, “Are you Christian or Muslim?” and then had my tenancy revoked after being told “My experience with Black tenants in Chicago hasn’t been good.” It was a painful moment, but it didn’t deter me.

Fortunately, the CDP staff and community members showed me that this was not the norm for the community. The CDP stepped in, covering some nights in a hotel until a kind advisory council member in Orleans offered temporary housing. Later, another CDP advisory council member referred me to a shared short-term rental in South Yarmouth, another seasonal solution. I didn’t find year-round rental housing after two months of intensive search! 

Now, I’m relocating to Springfield, where housing costs are nearly 50 percent lower than on the Cape, and year-round rentals are available and accessible. I’m leaving a community I’ve come to love but not my commitment to support small businesses. I'll continue offering lending and technical assistance to small businesses in Western Massachusetts at the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, helping communities grow and succeed. 

The CDP and its partners are doing great work to expand affordable housing, but more is needed urgently. Communities, local leaders, and organizations must come together to accelerate these efforts so that those who serve and strengthen the Cape can also afford to live here. 

Kwaku Ofori
South Yarmouth

Editor:

In response to Ed McManus' letter “POV4 In Line With Town Plans” (Oct. 30): Where will the water come from when the Cape is in a perpetual drought? Where does the rent or money go for the sale of these units? Why are the generations of people from North Harwich that don't want it being overlooked, and would you want it in your backyard? One more question: will I get an abatement? Imagine buying a house and not one of the Realtors thinks of telling you that this monstrosity might go up. Where does it end?

Nicholas Holt
Harwich

Editor:

These are the times that ignite our compassion and resilience. SNAP benefits will not be released on Nov. 1. There are no plans, at this time, for additional funds from the state. In Massachusetts, approximately 260,000 residents aged 60 or older receive approximately $330 per month, while persons of all ages receive $6.44 per day. 

Here are the local numbers of our elderly neighbors who will not receive benefits: Brewster 190, Chatham 124, Dennis 448, Eastham 103, Harwich 338, Orleans 180, Provincetown 182, Truro 40, Wellfleet 64, and Yarmouth 692.

Now is surely the time to unite and to contact your state representative and senator to request that funds be provided to nourish our neighbors. Your prompt attention is warranted and appreciated. 

Mark I. Berson
Orleans

Editor:

We are students from the Monomoy Regional High School Diversity Club, and we’re hosting a Solo Cup Fundraiser to support communities in Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa. Our goal is to raise funds to provide relief and essential resources to those impacted. We’re inviting the Cape Cod community to join us — every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Your support means the world as we work together to bring hope and help to those in need. Please send your donations to the Monomoy Regional High School, 75 Oak St., Harwich MA 02645.

Mimi van der Burg
On Behalf of the Monomoy High School Diversity Club

Editor:

The Chatham Farmers Market will continue to be inside of Shop Ahoy Liquors on Tuesdays from 2 to 5 p.m. for the offseason! 

Thus far, energy and vibes have been high while the market continues to grow. If you’re frustrated by supermarket prices and quality, the market offers fresh produce and eggs from Seapuit Farms, local fish from the Chatham Harvesters, as well as grass-fed Angus beef, poultry, and artisan cheese from the Farmhouse Meats and Cheese. This week Lighthouse Keepers, Classic Wines and the Cape Cod Pickle Company will be added to the lineup. It has been a thrill to provide these hardworking people with a place to offer their products to our community. 

Josh Norris
Shop Ahoy Liquors
West Chatham

Editor:

The Animal Welfare Club and the Young Women's Club of Monomoy High want to thank the Harwich Stop and Shop for giving us such a great place to raise money for the Purple Leash Project, as well as Independence House. All the managers and assistant managers are wonderful!

Lisa Forte-Doyle and Beth Howe, co-advisors
Animal Welfare Club
Jazmyn St. John, Advisor
Young Women's Club

Editor:

Do you feel like you have been used for someone else's benefit or taken advantage of in a selfish, mean or unfair way? For example: $300 to $350 million for an unneeded ballroom that caused part of the people's White House to be destroyed without any discussion? Or $40 billion for an Argentina bailout while people in our own country go hungry? Or $400 to $600 million to retrofit the "gift" of a 747 aircraft for the president's use after he is out of office?

The above brings to mind the 1976 film "Network,", starring Peter Finch as the anchor Howard Beal saying "I'm fed up and I'm not going to take it anymore!" When will we Americans come to this realization?

Edward Fried
West Chatham

Editor:

Some time ago, I met a lady at Seaside Cemetery attempting to plant a geranium at a grave. It turns out the grave belonged to Clarington E. Snow, 1889-1971. He fought in the Spanish-American War and was the great uncle to Mrs. Barbara Ross Langford of Orleans. The family lived years ago at the corner of School Street and Main Street in Chatham.

I obtained a veteran's memorial grave marker and an American flag for the grave, and planted the geranium. Mrs. Langford gave me permission to put this in The Chronicle.

Wally Bicknell
Chatham

Editor:

I just want to take a moment to compliment the Chatham Cemetery Commission on the cleaning of the headstones at the various cemeteries in town, especially Union Cemetery, where I walk. What an improvement! They look like new! These headstones are so important to our history and offer a wonderful glimpse into the past with their unique inscriptions. Now we can actually read them. What a great way to honor those who have gone before us. 

If you haven’t toured the cemeteries recently, please take a few minutes to have a look at them. Kudos to the cemetery commissioners!

Mala Meehan
Chatham

Editor:

As discussed in an article in this paper, the downtown beautification committee is proposing an ambitious concept for the redesign of Kate Gould Park. We can thank the Chatham Merchants Association for taking the initiative to contract with Bartlett Tree Experts to assess the 58 trees in the park and recommend a tree management plan. Resulting from the 79-page report is the recommendation that the large maple tree near Main Street is a hazard and should be removed. This tree was severely damaged in July 2018 by tornadic winds that ripped through downtown. The consultants determined the maple was in extremely poor condition and a danger to the public. If there is no other course of action, such as pruning, then certainly the town should remove it.

The tree warden has determined that two additional trees should be removed. One is the large linden just behind the maple. Bartlett rated this tree low on the suitability for preservation scale. Does that make it a candidate for removal now? With the large maple gone, space and sunlight may encourage the linden to flourish. 

The third is a large honey locust near the sidewalk. Bartlett assessed it to be in fair condition and rated high on the suitability for preservation scale. Why should this one come down? 

The aggregate asset value of 58 trees in the park is determined to be $307,462. Bartlett appraised the linden and the honey locust values of $14,836 and $10,580, respectively. Is removal of these assets throwing away $25,416? If they are replaced, it will be many decades before their replacements mitigate the loss of two mature trees. What a shame if they need only care, such as pruning or cabling. The tree warden will hold a public hearing on the tree removals on Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. at the annex. If you wish to comment, please attend.

In last week’s Chronicle, Kristin Andres wrote a piece about the important roles trees play in our lives, the lives of our wild neighbors and the beauty and charm of Chatham. When trees come down, with them go all the shade and coolness they proved on sizzling hot summer days. To get a good understanding of why we should require tree removal be kept to a minimum, I suggest reading her article in Conservation Conversations — it is worth reading, as is the Bartlett report.

Trees in public places such as parks and streetscapes must be cared for like other valuable town infrastructure assets. I hope the town will consider the tree maintenance program Bartlett proposed and build a budget that will provide for the care and preservation of our exceptionally beautiful and valuable mature trees throughout town. 

DeeDee Holt
Chatham

Editor:

The cliche of selling one's soul to the devil in order to gain temporal benefits while sacrificing eternal salvation has been revisited in the modern world far too often. Now, however, we see a disturbing illustration of this age-old deal with the devil in our current politics.

A group of powerful elected officials have relinquished their Constitutional responsibilities to the caprice of what, at any other time or place, would surely be described as a disturbed and power-hungry authoritarian. This group of politicians who refer to themselves as members of the Grand Old Party have abandoned any sense of what they had professed to represent. Ideas expressed by the original founders such as individual freedom, the supremacy of law, and the most fundamental, that power needs to be checked and balanced, have been bargained away in a Faustian manner for the sake of individual gain and partisan dominance.

Cruelty, retribution and threats have become the cudgels to intimidate the reluctant to make them succumb to this pressure and stay silent about their concerns. As a result, truth dies and duplicity thrives, becoming a major weapon to discredit any detractor or resistor. All this under the cynical disguise of fostering Christian values upon what they perceive as an increasingly decadent society.

It's time for those "GOP" legislators to realize the course they are following will have destructive outcomes with untold consequences in the future, for them and the American people. Fulfilling the mandate of a legislature with the power to enforce the laws they pass and to limit the power of the executive is the only pathway possible to regain their legislative souls.

As in Goethe's “Faust,” it is not too late to repent and change the dangerous abdication of their sworn Constitutional duties. That is, of course, if they ever believed in the principles of the Constitution in the first place.

J. P. Roache
Harwich