Editor:

At Harwich’s expense, the state is willing to allow the developers of Pine Oaks Village 4 to endanger our river and water resources and to destroy 30-plus acres of native woodland in order to build 242 rental units, of which 80 percent would be affordable at widely varying rates. 

Normally, the state would refuse an application that seeks to violate seriously so many regulations of the Wetland Protection Act. And it should refuse that application now, when it requires us to spend tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to remove 75 percent of the nitrogen that’s already carried by our Herring River.

But because the POV development qualifies as 40B affordable housing, it would be exempt from most wetland regulations. It would be exempt even though it would add greatly to the nitrogen-load and to our expense, especially from Title 5 septic runoff during Phases 1 and 2. It would be exempt from protection even though it lies within the zone of contribution to the river and contains at least four wetland areas and at least one certified and protected vernal pool. 

The North Harwich neighborhood would be left with 10 densely packed and oversized multi-story buildings in its Low Density Residential Zone. It would be left with 242 rental units and 445 parking spaces connected by roadways, with over 20 acres clear-cut and heavily graded, where a native pine oak forest now stands, with structures and asphalt that would produce contaminated runoff and would eliminate the natural process of water absorption and retention.

 Besides contaminating our groundwater and costing millions for services and infrastructure, the housing project would destroy the character and integrity of an existing, historic neighborhood.

It’s wrong and unreasonable that the state should order us to decontaminate the Herring River while at the same time ordering us to pollute it further.

Paula Myles
North Harwich

Editor:

 I walk my dog, Wilma, three times a day or more. Sometimes she leaves a dog toy and we go back and get it. But one time she left her beloved brown bear. When we went back to get it, it wasn’t there. 

 Who takes dog toys? Who took her brown bear? We would like to get it back.

Kathy Booth
North Chatham

Editor:

The wise, earnest voices of young Harwich residents such as Jessie Swain and two Monomoy Regional Middle School students spoke in favor of choices for the best future outcome for everyone's health as well as our beautiful town of Harwich. 

Loud opposition was heard regarding ban of single-use plastic bottles, plastic takeout food containers and protecting the aquifer on Cape Cod from the use of harmful, toxic herbicides and pesticides. The majority of voters prefer choosing detrimental practices harmful to our health and the environment. One voter said the ban on single-use plastic bottles was detrimental to Harwich residents and guests. Harwich won't have guests if plastic continues to litter the natural beauty of this town. Perhaps those that oppose the single-use plastic water bottle ban and disposable plastic food containers ban should participate in the annual Tour de Trash hosted by the Harwich Conservation Trust. I do, and it's an eye-opener as to the lack of appreciation and respect for Harwich and Cape Cod shown by those that litter our roads, streets and ditches with their empty plastic bottles, cans and restaurant takeout containers for food. 

Mike Abdow spoke against the ban due to his concern about his charter boat business in Chatham. I think folks who are wanting to catch a fish are more likely to be concerned about the captain's credentials rather than the drinks in plastic bottles.

I drink the delicious Harwich town water and use a water pitcher made by Brita with a carbon filter. Just like Allin Thompson, I also drink it right out of the tap and think it's safer than water that's been stored in plastic bottles while the plastic toxins leach into the water (all based on science backed facts). Plus the FDA never tested water in plastic bottles. 

Without a healthy aquifer on Cape Cod, cancer rates will continue to go up. Folks will leave Cape Cod. Tourists won't come. Businesses will go broke. The future is bleak for Cape Cod when residents who vote make choices that only benefit a few individuals rather than everyone and the environment we all love and future generations.

Becky Mendible
Harwich

Editor:

The town of Chatham has only one official seal. It is the more simple, black and white one with “June, 1712” and with which the majority of us are familiar. The other image/emblem/artwork, in color, with the two lighthouses, while lovely and often used for a myriad of purposes by town staff or residents, or recently two select board members who have worked hard for their town, is not the town seal of Chatham. And to accuse people of cheating by using this non-seal in their campaign was petty, a wild exaggeration and a disservice to voters desperate for the truth these days. 

Just because someone “might assume” it is the seal is not a valid reason for these attacks. And I found the statement, “It’s immaterial what the real seal is” pretty stunning. People assume all kinds of things that aren’t true. In fact, there is far too much of it going on today. Please let’s search our consciences to not add to it — rather, stick to real facts, real issues and real civil behavior. 

Paulette Fehlig
Chatham

Editor:

Since when are unsubstantiated accusations considered news? In last week’s edition of The Chronicle, the day before the town election, you ran the headline “Select Board Candidates Accused of Misusing Town Seal And Other Campaign Violations.” But in fact-checking the accusations, you debunked all but one of them; the other had to do with a third party who erroneously labeled a political ad placed in The Chronicle as being “Paid for by the Dykens-Schell Re-Election Committee.” That would have been a violation had such a committee existed, as the required paperwork was never filed, but The Chronicle found no such evidence, stating in a separate story that Jeffrey Dykens and Mike Schell had financed their campaigns with their own money.

Stuart Smith did have a campaign fund, and according to The Chronicle, one of his four contributors was the woman who leveled the accusations at Dykens and Schell. If The Chronicle had found her accusations to be valid, you had a legitimate news story. But you didn’t. So why run the story anyway?

Brad Palmer
Chatham

Editor:

Thank you and congratulations to the citizens of Chatham who perseveringly fought to keep larger aircraft out of the airport. As a former crew member, the airport was not designed to accommodate this size or quantity of projected aircraft. Your successful final vote not only benefited your own community but also the safety and noise level of the surrounding communities.

Beverly Millar
Harwich

Editor:

Thank you to all the Chatham voters who took time out of their day on Thursday, May 15 to vote. The overwhelming support on election day was humbling and a referendum on how town government is operated and is not meeting the expectations of the year-round residents. The grassroots turnout of volunteers assisting in the campaign from all aspects of the political spectrum in our community was truly inspiring to me. I truly heard the voters' clear voice that town government needs to change and improve in its policy setting and operations. 

Thank you again for entrusting me in this important office and I will ensure that my actions reflect that trust. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with your thoughtful concerns and thoughts.

Stuart F.X. Smith
Chatham Select Board

Editor:

Sharing Kindness, a wonderful and local suicide prevention and grief counseling organization, wants to express our gratitude to the Harwich Stop and Shop and manager Laurie Lombard for their generous gift card donation. Ms. Lombard is a wonderful person! That gift card allowed us to provide water and snacks to the hundreds of walkers who participated in our annual Suicide Awareness Walk this past Saturday in Hyannis. Thanks also to Kevin Sousa at Stop and Shop who was a great help.

I, personally, would also like to thank other Lower Cape businesses that sponsored the walk: Harwich Paint and Decorating, Lower Cape Dental, Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters, JT's Seafood and Cape Self Care.

Lisa Forte-Doyle
Walk Committee and Hospitality Volunteer
Sharing Kindness

Editor:

This letter is written by the officers and the board of directors of the Harwich Chamber of Commerce for the chamber members, affiliate members and Harwich community residents. 

On or about Jan. 31, Executive Director Cyndi Williams, discovered that the chamber’s taxes had not been filed in a few years. As a 501(C)(6), non-profit organization, the chamber does not typically pay federal taxes. The chamber is, however, required to file tax forms to maintain its non-profit status.

Immediately upon this finding, the executive director and the accountant began the process of remedying this situation. A thorough investigation was conducted; documentation was filed with the IRS, and processes were updated to prevent this from occurring again. 

During this time, on or about March 14, an affiliate member also discovered this and brought this up at a meeting with the executive director and board president Julie Decouteau. The affiliate member was told that the correction was underway. The affiliate member requested copies of documents which are not public and are not legally required to be copied and shared, those being the chamber’s bylaws and meeting minutes. The affiliate member also made threats to go to the media with this discovery. The meeting was concluded. 

A second meeting would be scheduled after the executive director and president brought the affiliate member’s request to the full board. The next full board meeting was on April 30, at which time the board voted in support of keeping those documents internal. 

On May 9, the executive director and the board president shared with the affiliate member that the chamber’s tax forms had been filed, as well the board’s vote to maintain the documents requested remain internal. The meeting concluded shortly after that. 

As of the date this letter is written, the chamber is awaiting its reinstatement letter for non-profit status from the IRS. 

For full transparency, the officers and the board of directors wanted the community to be aware of the issue and the quick resolution.

We, the officers and the board of the Harwich Chamber of Commerce, have full confidence in the executive director and all employees of the chamber. They work tirelessly to support and promote the members, to provide leadership for the economic vitality of the community, and to foster and support for the quality of life and heritage of the seven villages of Harwich. 

Julie Decouteau
Brenda Schofield Correia
Paul Fox
Deb Gavron
Jennifer Bayuk
Brant Lemieux
Jonathan Pratt
Jeremiah Reardon
Sharon Safferstone
Catherine Wilson