HARWICH — Over the past couple of years the number of algae blooms in local ponds seem to be on the rise. Skinequit Pond in South Harwich has experienced two blooms just in the past two weeks, and for the second year in a row the West Reservoir in West Harwich had the blue-green shade that is emblematic of cyanobacteria. The town had a decade-long battle with algae blooms and fish kills in Hinckley’s Pond befo...

HARWICH — The sugar kelp farm that Mark Kelleher has been operating off the Herring River in Nantucket Sound will be expanded this year with the addition of juvenile bay scallops. Kelleher received approval from the conservation commission last week to experiment with growing bay scallops as part of the kelp farm the commission approve in 2018. Kelle h er told the commission he was somewhat disappointed w...

HARWICH — With insightful questions and a straightforward demeanor that would have been at home in a national presidential debate, members of the Monomoy Regional High School political action club questioned the candidates for the Massachusetts Ninth Congressional District during an online debate last Friday. The session was ably moderated by student Annalise Langelier. Incumbent William Keating, a Democrat, a...

HARWICH — An affordable housing trust session and a scheduled discussion by the board of selectmen on a proposed 100-unit residential development off Route 137 in East Harwich were halted based on the recommendations of Interim Town Administrator Joseph Powers. Because there is no formal permit application for developer Chris Wise's project, Powers recommended officials refrain from discussions. He told sel...

HARWICH — Financial leadership and stability, implementation of the comprehensive wastewater management plan and the creation of affordable and workforce housing were identified as priority goals for the coming year by the board of selectmen. Selectmen approved five goals on Oct. 19, also including as priorities economic development and working with the interim town administrator, financial director and reside...

The Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) and the town of Harwich Conservation Department have been chosen to jointly host an AmeriCorps Cape Cod member three days each week from this fall into summer 2021. The AmeriCorps member, Caroline Stephen from Marlborough, graduated from Roger Williams University in 2016 with a degree in psychology. They have done two terms with AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Co...

HARWICH — By all accounts, Peter Luddy was a man of community. He stood out under his pink ball cap. He loved Harwich and its people. Mr. Luddy, 66, who served as a selectman for seven years, passed away at home on Friday. Mr. Luddy moved to Harwich from Waterbury, Conn. in 1989. He established his painting business and shortly thereafter opened a paint and decorating shop. He was a gregarious character always...

HARWICH — Emergency repairs have been made to the roof of the historic West Harwich Schoolhouse, which has been vacant for more than two decades, during which the town has wrestled with what to do with the 1871 building. Selectmen Chairman Larry Ballantine said he received an email from former selectman Peter Hughes who had been at the former schoolhouse and noticed holes in the roof. Hughes recommended the to...

HARWICH — Opposition is building to the 100-unit apartment development proposed on 12 acres off Route 137 in East Harwich. There is a petition circulating seeking to block the development and at least one member of the board of selectmen is speaking out against the project. Selectmen this week agreed to hold a public forum next Monday on the proposed development based on the mounting opposition. A presentation...

HARWICH — Selectmen approved an extension of Interim Assistant Town Administrator Robert Lawton’s contract last week through Dec. 31, and also took steps to fill the position on a more permanent basis. Lawton’s agreement with the town had expired, and selectmen last week approved the new agreement, post-dated to Oct. 1. Interim Town Administrator Joseph Powers said the town of Yarmouth is also looking for an i...

HARWICH — The golf committee is taking steps to eliminate the special annual rate categories it has established for members of Cranberry Valley Golf Course who live in Chatham, Eastham and Orleans, reducing the annual rate categories to just Harwich residents and non-residents. Presently there are three categories and four different annual rate fees. Harwich residents pay $810; Chatham residents $835; and East...

WEST HARWICH — When historian Duncan Berry heard the West Harwich Baptist Church was for sale, he worried that the history of the church might be lost, and along with it, the history of the village and his own family. He recently decided to share some of that history in a public tour of the church cemetery, poring over old names and all-but-forgotten stories. Suffering from low attendance worsen...