Editor:

At approximately 40 acres, changing zoning on the Pine Oaks Village 4 property to 10,000-square–foot lots with 24-by-32-foot Cape houses equals approximately 150 homes. Isn't this a better use of the land in North Harwich?

Joan Jones
Harwich

Editor:

The Creative Art Center’s recent Summer Gathering was a tremendous success, thanks to our community's incredible support and generosity — donors, sponsors, bidders, and friends.

We’re grateful to our auction committee, auctioneer Domonic Boreffi, the Chatham Beach and Tennis Club team, Seabreeze band, and our attendees for making the night special. The Summer Gathering has long been one of our most important fundraisers. New to it this year was our Fund-a-Need, proceeds from which will enable us to expand scholarships, improve accessibility to our studios, enhance safety lighting, and protect our plumbing with a new clay trap system.

Thanks to your generosity, you helped support our mission of providing art for all! We know the arts play a vital role in nurturing our well-being. We are proud to serve as a conduit in our community for connection and creative expression. If you haven’t experienced the Creative Arts Center, please visit us and see what we are all about!

Amy D. Middleton, executive director
Creative Arts Center

Editor:

The Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) would like to congratulate The Cape Cod Chronicle on 60 years as an indispensable and independent news source for folks on the Lower Cape. HCT is particularly grateful for The Chronicle's long track record of environmental reporting during an era that has brought enormous change to our beautiful corner of Barnstable County.

In 1960, the combined population of Chatham, Harwich, Brewste and Orleans was about 10,500 people, according to U.S. Census records. By 2020, that number had risen to more than 36,500. Along with that population rise came an unprecedented level of development and construction. Cape Cod was transformed from a sleepy backwater to an in-demand residential and tourism destination.

While open space and public access to the land was considerably buttressed in Outer Cape communities by the creation of the Cape Cod National Seashore in the early 1960s, much of The Chronicle's coverage area had no similar protection. Concerned citizens, town governments and organizations like the Harwich Conservation Trust stepped into the breach, seeking ways to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life.

The Chronicle has been a valued leader and companion along this environmental journey. That's where the hard work of unbiased journalism comes in: attending the meetings, taking the time to explain complex issues to readers, keeping people informed about possible changes to the towns that they love. This takes time, professionalism and dedication, exactly what The Chronicle has provided to our community over the years.

Some parts of the country have become news deserts, where communities lack sources of credible information. Civic engagement and awareness of issues can be eroded without objective media sources. But thankfully, we have The Cape Cod Chronicle, shining a light on our region. 

The Harwich Conservation Trust is deeply appreciative of The Chronicle's work over the past six decades, and we look forward to more great work in the years to come.

Tom Evans, president
Harwich Conservation Trust Board of Trustees

Editor:

How many times have I heard dog owners say after leaving a plastic bag full of poop on the side of a trail, “I will pick it up on the way out.” How many times does the owner actually follow through on this promise? Does he or she take a different route back and not pass the bag, forget to pick up the bag, hope someone else will pick it up for them, or simply have no intention of disposing of the bag properly in the first place? Bags are available at most trailheads for a reason. Leaving a plastic bag full of poop is harmful to other animals, poses a sanitary issue for hikers, is detrimental to the environment and simply looks really bad. We can do better than this. Please be a responsible dog owner and clean up after your pet. Leaving a plastic bag full of poop trailside is not “cleaning up.” 

Nancy Ortiz
Brewster

Editor:

 My apologies that I have not read the June 19 “Disgusted by Trump’s Parade” letter, nor did I actually watch the parade (I’d like to think I have better things to do with my time than engage in Soviet-style self-flattery).

I would be grateful if the writer could explain further exactly how NPR, USAID and VOA engage in and demonstrate the propaganda he asserts; particularly USAID (recently gorged by the inbred Voortrekker).

Why does the writer demand the previous writer cite “specifics?” Why could it not simply remain his opinion that the entirety of the parade debacle be seen by many as “disgusting,” or at least a “waste?”

The flag waving was rather transparent and boorish, and so what if the writer wanted to vent personally against the convicted rapist and convicted felon? What is wrong with that?

Finally, while I can concede an academic lacunae, I would not allow Fox News to have been my bread-and-butter resource for an analysis of the withdrawal of troops/equipment from Afghanistan.

Let’s just agree I am pleased I don’t have his nerve in my tooth, or better, such a bee in my bonnet.

Mark Phillips,
Grand Junction, Colo.

Editor:

Margaret Mead’s famous quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world…Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,” was clearly at play on June 14 when approximately 400 concerned citizens, along with five million people throughout the nation in over 2,000 other locations, assembled on the front lawn of the Chatham U.U. Meeting House to stand together in community. This was not a demonstration of divisive political ideologies; it was a testament where wisdom and moral clarity called us all to truth, justice and collective action. It was a unity of concerned citizens to protect the rights cherished by all. 

No time in our history has it been more evident and important to be a responsible, informed citizen through reliable news sources. Hundreds of thousands throughout the world this past week have been awakening to the dangers of authoritarian leadership and the threat to the removal of personal freedoms at the hands of leaders worshiping the gods of power and greed. Demonstrations and protests have been worldwide. Reliable news sources give evidence of this every day, and more and more people are awakening to the fact that this possibility exists everywhere, not just in Russia, Turkey and China. 

We in Chatham have not lived through one day in Ukraine, Iran, Israel or Palestine nor in a country with authoritarian leadership, and are now being awakened to what that could look like. A threat of nuclear war? Loss of values, freedoms and rights we have always taken for granted? 

James Baldwin said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

We now have a second opportunity to join together in community on Thursday, July 17 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the same U.U. Main Street location in a national celebration of John Lewis and his “Call for Good Trouble.” Come join your voices with those of other responsible, informed citizens to protect the welfare of us all. Let’s grow that 400 to 800 informed, committed and concerned awakened citizens. 

We are reminded to use the three public parking lots at the community center, Oyster Pond and behind the Orpheum Theater and not park in the CVS/Chatham Market private lot in consideration of their customers. Also, please do not use their bathroom facilities. 

Come make your voices and concerns heard!

Gail Tilton 
North Chatham

Editor:

At this time of year when many drivers round the Orleans rotary and head toward the Outer Cape on Route 6, they drive as if their vehicle has morphed into a new Lamborghini and they're on the Autobahn.

The other day, when driving on Route 6 in Eastham, a vehicle flew by me like a bat out of hell with a license plate that read "2 SHRINKS." 2 SHRINKS what? Needed?

Mike Rice
South Wellfleet