HARWICH — Selectmen began rolling out a plan to address the ballot question that was approved in November allowing the use of recreational marijuana and the sale of pot through retail stores. Town Administrator Christopher Clark said legal matters relating to the use and sale of marijuana were discussed at the recent Massachusetts Municipal Association conference. The town of West Bridgewater approved a tempor...

HARWICH ─ Beverly Johnson never thought at the age of 80 she'd be part of a public protest. However, incensed by the election of President Donald Trump and fearful of policies that could potentially compromise quality of life for millions, Johnson joined more than 100 others on Jan. 21 in the Harwich Stand. Participants gathered shortly after 10 a.m. on the corner of Pleasant Lake Avenue and Main Street, eve...

HARWICH — The permitting process for restoration of the face of Brooks Free Library has the historic district and historical commission seeing red. Commission members are leaning toward requiring that the1855 bank building and 1880 Brooks building be restored with historically accurate colors, which include brown, gray, off-white and brick red. Efforts to restore what has been called the “jewel” of historic...

HARWICH — Town officials are asking federal and state representatives to help give the Army Corps of Engineers a nudge in expediting permits for the Saquatucket Harbor waterside reconstruction project. There are serious concerns that the absence of federal permits could set the project back yet another year. “This marina reconstruction project is well supported by the citizens of the town, it is an important r...

HARWICH ─ When Mary Jo Keenan went for medical testing in 2005, it was for something minor, which happened to lead to something major when Keenan was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Now, more than 11 years later, Keenan is lending her support to the annual Dancing for a Cure fundraising event, while soldiering on through her own ongoing treatments. Like many women, Keenan had no symptoms regarding her ovarian...

HARWICH — The community preservation committee will be revisiting the 14 votes it took two weeks ago on Community Preservation Act project recommendations. The posting of the Jan. 12 meeting was called into question over improper notification to public issue, and town counsel recommended a new posting and vote occur. The committee has scheduled the new session for Thursday (tonight) at 6 p.m. in town hall. ...

HARWICH — There will be some scary scenes in the wetlands behind Grand Slam Entertainment next fall. The conservation commission last week approved a request for a determination of applicability for a temporary haunted forest to be created in the weeks leading up to Halloween. Grand Slam Entertainment owner Phillip “Skip” Fennell was before the commission a few weeks ago making a preliminary presentation on...

HARWICH — Robert Widegren, who served on the board of selectmen and the planning board, along with many civic organizations, has died at the age of 87. The board of selectmen held a moment of silence in Mr. Widegren's honor Monday. Mr. Widegren came to Cape Cod in 1972, continuing his career with New England Telephone, later known as NYNEX. But he's best known for his contributions to town government and ...

HARWICH — Town officials are ready to move forward with the rental of space at the Harwich Middle School after the finishing touches were placed on a use policy that would provide for recreational, educational, cultural and social use of the town building. Town Administrator Christopher Clark praised the effort of Community Center Director Carolyn Carey for putting together the use policy that in most ways ref...

HARWICH — Recreation is the big winner when it comes to accessing Community Preservation Act funds in town meeting this spring. The community preservation committee last week recommended only four articles for the warrant and three are for recreation purposes. The committee met last Thursday night in a session that is questionably compliant with the Open Meeting Law. New Business on the posting of the meeting ...

HARWICH — The town's population has decreased by 1.5 percent over the past 15 years, but Harwich remains an expensive place to live and more subsidized rental housing is necessary to make the community more affordable, the latest version of the town's housing production plan concludes. The plan will be the subject of a public hearing on Jan. 30 by selectmen and the planning board. The latest version of the pla...

HARWICH — The Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative, which oversees the solar farm at the former town landfill site, is facing financial issues and has asked selectmen for assistance with funding administrative operations. Selectmen last week agreed to pay an administrative fee to the organization for its oversight of the solar array at the town's landfill, money CVEC officials say they need to stay financial...