No New Issue on August 10

Due to other commitments of our editor, Chatham Kids Magazine will skip the week of August 10-17. During that time there will be no issue #15, but issue #14 will still be available. We will return on August 17.

Issue #13 is out this Wednesday.

Chatham Kids Magazine Issue #12 Cover Revealed

The final cover for the fourth issue of Chatham Kids Magazine's 2016 run has been revealed.

According to the cover, the mag (released on July 20) will review The Secret Life of Pets and interview Nate Healey of the Monomoy Theatre, plus feature a brand-new crossword puzzle.

News Bite: Rescued Shark Jamison Returns to Cape Cod

Last year, on July 13, a Great White Shark somehow wound up on the beach in Chatham. He was successfully released, tagged and named ‘Jamison.’ Now, it has been over a year, and Jamison has been spotted again.

The shark has now apparently found the waters of Chatham still to be hospitable, and passed by last week. However, it can still not be taken as a complete confirmation that Jamison is still alive. However, there is a large chance that he is.

Keep watching this blog throughout the summer for more updates on Jamison and Chatham’s sharks!

"The Secret Life of Pets" Review

Illumination Entertainment was founded in 2007, and released their first feature film, Despicable Me, in 2010. A sequel was put out in 2013, then a spin-off arrived in 2015. Aside from the franchise, they also put out Hop (2011) and The Lorax (2012). The Secret Life of Pets is their latest film, and will be followed by Sing, which comes out this Christmas.

The film follows Max (Louis CK), a spoiler terrier who is separated from his owner along with new dog Duke (Eric Stonestreet). The two meet maniacal bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart) while a rescue mission, led by Max’s love interest Gidget (Jenny Slate) sets out to find them.

The film is very entertaining and will delight kids of all ages (mostly)! Filled with jokes and gags that will keep even adults laughing, the films seems to answer the question on everyone’s minds: what do our pets do when we leave every day? The answer is probably a bit more mundane than the film puts it, but still, it is an
exciting adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

Verdict: A fun family escapade! 8.5/10
Age Recommendation: 5+ (PG for action and some rude humor)

The Secret Life of Pets is playing now at the Orpheum. Click here for movie times.

Fourth of July Parade Video Compilation

We have compiled most of the video footage we took of this year's Fourth of July Parade and put it into one video. Enjoy, and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!

The Monomoy Theatre's "One Man, Two Guvnors" Review

Francis Henshall (Nate Healey), surrounded by Stanley Stubbers (Daniel Shea) and Rachel Crabbe (Caroline Jackson)

One Man, Two Guvnors is, without a doubt, one of the funniest plays I have ever seen. The play opens today at the Monomoy Theatre in downtown Chatham, and has made people laugh so hard that milk comes out of their noses (well, not really, but close). The play, directed by Terry Layman, runs until this Saturday.

Travel to Brighton, England, in 1963, where the story centers around Francis Henshall (Nate Healey), a man with two clients (or governors): Stanley Stubbers (Daniel Shea), who has murdered a man named Roscoe Crabbe; and Rachel Crabbe (Caroline Jackson), Roscoe's twin sister who is impersonating her brother. Oh, and she is also Stanley's girlfriend (which just makes things a whole lot more complicated). The play is mainly about Francis' struggle to keep his two governors from finding out about each other, while courting the lovely Dolly (Arlene Bozich) and blaming everything on his "dear friend" Paddy.

Kyle Brand, who choreographed last year's Damn Yankees and this year's The Drowsy Chaperone, as well as being in the latter, returned as Lloyd Boateng, a man of many talents who has come straight out of Brixton Prison, and is the only one who knows Rachel's secret.

So, expect fourth wall breaking, musical interludes, and comic relief to keep you going, in one of the Monomoy Theatre's best comedies!

Final Verdict: Such a funny play, with audience participation included!
Rating: 9/10
Age Recommendation: 13+ (adult situations and references)

Fourth of July Parade 2016 Full List of Winners

Well, they have been announced. The winners of the 2016 Fourth of July Parade are listed below, complete with their float numbers in order to be identified, if you have a memory like a steel trap.

Overall Best in Parade - The Bridge Street Buccaneers (#73, pictured right)

Overall 2nd Place - Chatham Health & Swim Club (#61)

Overall 3rd Place - Woman of Fishing Families (#89)

Best Youth Float - Ken Owens Memorial Soccer Jamboree (#29)

Most Patriotic Float - Phillips Family Farm (#1)

Best Small Float - Cobb Family (#85)

Best Large Float - Chatham Pottery (#101)

Best Civic Float - Chatham Turkey Trot (#64)

Funniest Float - Martha and Philip Hoffman (#80)

Come to the Eldredge Library for a Doctor Who Event on Saturday!

While the popular BBC television series by the name of Doctor Who won’t return to our screens until this year’s Christmas, the spirit is still alive in Chatham! The Eldredge Library’s resident Whovian, Sam, is holding a special drop-in event to celebrate Doctor Who Comics Day this Saturday, July 9 in the library’s teen room.

There will be games, activities, and even trivia and cosplay contests! It is open to Doctor Who fans from grades 5 to 12, and begins at 2:00pm and ends two hours later, with the trivia contest beginning at 2:30. Costumes are encouraged, and the grand prize for the contests is every fan’s dream: a photo signed by Peter Capaldi, the man who plays the Doctor!

Fourth of July Parade 2016 Review

I have to say, with this year’s impressive lineup, the parade HAD to be good! And I am glad to say that it very much was!

This year there were over one hundred floats, and each and every one of them did not disappoint. We had Chandler Travis Philharmonic playing their quirky tunes, Where the Sidewalk Ends bookstore with their larger-than-life Pete the Cat, the ever-entertaining Chatham Band and much, much, much, much more!

I spent some of the parade marching with a new(ish) band by the name of Canon Hill. I was blown away by their performance(s) [as I always am] and I hope to see them in future parades!

I would even dare to say that this year’s parade was better than the last year’s, and it was much better than the year before. But it was definitely one of my favorites ever (and if you catch me saying the same exact things next year, let me know!).

It would take me pages and pages to talk about every great float in the parade, but unfortunately I’m out of space here. But, in short, the parade was amazing! Happy Independence Day, everybody!

Verdict: 9.5/10
Hope to see another great parade next year!

Chatham Kids Magazine Issue #10 is out this Wednesday.

Chatham Kids Magazine Issue #10 Cover Revealed

The final cover for the second issue of Chatham Kids Magazine's 2016 run has been revealed.

According to the cover, the mag (released on July 6) will review the 2016 4th of July Parade and the first Band Concert of the year, plus feature an interview an interview with local author Sara Pennypacker on her new book.

August 2016 in Movies

Summer Movie Season is, no doubt, the best time for movies to be released. There are many reasons for this, but it would take a whole extra post to list all the reasons why. In this post, we will give you an exclusive preview of the best kid-friendly films released in August.

Nine Lives
Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) is a billionaire whose workaholic lifestyle takes him away from his loving wife Lara and adorable daughter Rebecca. Needing a present for Rebecca's 11th birthday, Brand buys a seemingly harmless cat from a mysterious pet store. Suddenly, a bizarre turn of events traps poor Tom inside the animal's body. The owner of the business tells him that he has one week to reconnect with his family, or live out the rest of his days as a cute and furry feline named Mr. Fuzzypants.

Rating: PG for thematic elements, language and some rude humor
Release date: August 5
Age recommendation: 8+

Suicide Squad
Intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) assembles a team of dangerous, incarcerated supervillains, including Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and the Joker (Jared Leto) for a covert mission.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content and language
Release date: August 5
Age recommendation: 13+

Pete's Dragon
Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford), a woodcarver, delights local children with stories of a mysterious dragon that lives deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. His daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) believes these are just tall tales, until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley), a 10-year-old orphan who says he lives in the woods with a giant, friendly dragon. With help from a young girl named Natalie (Oona Laurence), Grace sets out to investigate if this fantastic claim can be true.
Rating: PG for action, peril and brief language
Release date: August 12
Age recommendation: 8+

Kubo and the Two Strings
Young Kubo's (Art Parkinson) peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) to unlock a secret legacy. Armed with a magical instrument, Kubo must battle the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) and other gods and monsters to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known.
Rating: PG for thematic elements, scary images, action and peril
Release date: August 19
Age recommendation: 8+

So, there you have it. While August may not have a lot of movies, there is still enough to keep your kids entertained.

It's Band Time in Chatham! First 2016 Concert Review

“It’s band time in Chatham.”

That phrase was coined when the Chatham Band started after World War II, and it has become an ever-popular phrase in the town since then.

On Friday, July 1, the Band began their first concert of the year. They were greeted with a huge, easy-to-please crowd. The Band played their best hits, including the musical version of Band Time in Chatham, Bingo Was His Name-O, God Bless America, and the popular Bunny Hop.

The players in the Band are better than ever, and you can look for their float in the Fourth of July Parade this year as well.

So if you have a free evening on an upcoming Friday, I heartily suggest you check out the Chatham Band concerts. Fun for the whole family! Thy start at 8:00pm and are held at Kate Gould Park downtown.

Rating: 10/10

Age Recommendation: EVERYBODY of all ages who wish to spend time with family and friends, listen to great music and have a fun evening in Chatham!

July 2016 in Movies

Summer Movie Season is, no doubt, the best time for movies to be released. There are many reasons for this, but it would take a whole extra post to list all the reasons why. In this post, we will give you an exclusive preview of the best kid-friendly films released in July.

The BFG

Steven Spielberg reimagines Roald Dahl's classic tale: Ten-year-old Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) is in for the adventure of a lifetime when she meets the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance). Naturally scared at first, the young girl soon realizes that the 24-foot behemoth is actually quite gentle and charming. As their friendship grows, Sophie's presence attracts the unwanted attention of Bloodbottler (Bill Hader), Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) and other giants. After traveling to London, Sophie and the BFG must convince Queen Victoria (Penelope Wilton) to help them get rid of all the bad giants once and for all.
Rating: PG action/peril, some scary moments and brief rude humor
Release date: July 1
Age recommendation: 8+

The Legend of Tarzan

Many years after he left Africa behind, Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård) returns to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary, unaware that he is actually a pawn in a Belgian captain's (Christoph Waltz) deadly plot.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, some sensuality and brief rude dialogue
Release date: July 1
Age recommendation: 13+

The Secret Life of Pets
Ever wonder what your pets do when you're not home? This film sets our household friends on an unforgettable adventure featuring Jenny Slate, Kevin Hart, Albert Brooks, Steve Coogan and more.
Rating: PG for action and some rude humor
Release date: July 8
Age recommendation: 6+


Ghostbusters
A much-anticipated remake of the 1984 classic, this film features a paranormal researcher (Melissa McCarthy), a physicist (Kristen Wiig), a nuclear engineer (Kate McKinnon) and a subway worker (Leslie Jones) trying to rid New York of ghosts that can possess humans.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: July 15
Age recommendation: 10+ 

Ice Age: Collision Course
After four other films, this movie is sure to top them all! Scrat's epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age World. To save themselves, Sid (John Leguizamo), Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary), and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, traveling to exotic new lands and encountering a host of colorful new characters.
Rating: PG
Release date: July 22
Age recommendation: 8+

So, there you have it. This month, there is definitely enough to keep your kids entertained.