HARWICH — At 31, Jeff Locantore is the youngest resident of Pine Oaks Village, an affordable housing development here. He lives independently despite having cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder, and don't get him wrong. He's glad to have his apartment, having spent seven years on the waiting list to obtain it. But it's not really the experience Locantore had hoped for. He'd feel more comfortable being among p...

As eighth graders from the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School in East Harwich were walking along the Vietnam Memorial during a visit to Washington, D.C. last week, student Kayo Torres spotted several veterans standing near the far end of the reflective wall. He walked up to them, stuck out his hand and thanked them for their service. His fellow students fell in line behind him, and soon a line snaked along the...

HARWICH — After several months of review, discussions with retail distributors and consideration of broader restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, the board of health will be proposing new regulations in a public hearing next month containing just one major change: an increase from 18 to 21 in the legal age to purchase tobacco products. Health Director Paula Champagne said there were a number of additio...

HARWICH — The battle over Resilient Family Farms and town regulatory control continues as the board of health seeks to address an alleged unlicensed piggery and manure management issues at the Chatham Road farm. Farm owner Barry Viprino was before the board of health a week ago addressing charges in a cease and desist order issued in April relating to the piggery, the absence of a wholesale food license and ma...

HARWICH — The Salt Block Food Truck moved into Harwich Center this week from its former station in the parking lot across from Saquatucket Harbor. The planning board approved the change of location for the special use permit previously granted to Jennifer and Douglas Ramler of Cape Sea Grille, owners of the food truck. The Ramlers were before the planning board last Tuesday seeking the transfer of location to ...

HARWICH — The landside Saquatucket Harbor renovation costs could be an outstanding issue with some members of the board of selectmen as the town looks toward going out to bid for elements of the project next month. The latest estimate for the project prepared by Brown Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects, Inc., Harbormaster John Rendon stated in a memo to selectmen, is $3,637,171. That number caught the e...

HARWICH — The threat of an oil spill in local waters is a serious environmental concern, and state, county and local officials trained together in the Herring River on Monday to contain a simulated plume of pollution. The daylong exercise was sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Protection and focused on training for Harwich and Dennis fire departments and harbormasters. But it also included Chat...

HARWICH — The water department is presently pumping more water from the aquifer than the state Department of Environmental Protection allows, and town officials are asking the state to grant permission for the town to increase its annual pumping volume. Water Department Superintendent Daniel Pelletier said they presently have permission to pump 786 million gallons per year and they are seeking to increase the ...

HARWICH — The Brooks Academy Museum and the Elmer Crowell Barn will open on Father's Day and admission will be free. There are several new exhibits for visitors to enjoy, including an art show titled, “The Exchange Building,” featuring art from local high school students. There are a lot of sights to see in the museum this year, including a new exhibit featuring “magic lanterns.” The exhibit is titled “Cape Co...

HYANNIS — Some see it as a dedicated revenue stream that could help Cape communities pay for wastewater infrastructure. Others say it's an unreasonable burden on homeowners just trying to meet mortgage payments and property taxes. There seemed little room for consensus in the SRO hearing room at Barnstable Town Hall June 10, when hundreds turned out to tell state legislators what they thought of plans to tax...

HARWICH ─ For the blue-clad graduates of Monomoy Regional High School, their June 4 commencement was all at once a look back at the past mixed with hopes for the future as speakers recalled the mile-long main hallway of Harwich High, where many started their journey as freshmen, and the transition to Monomoy while wishing their fellow graduates success going forward. Valedictorian Colleen Cronin called upon ...

HARWICH — The town's newly approved housing production plan recommends hiring a part-time housing coordinator to assist with addressing housing needs. Housing Committee Chairman Arthur Bodin was before selectmen Monday night seeking support for the position. Bodin said his committee fully supports hiring a coordinator, pointing out no current town staff position addresses the housing issue. The need to hire...