HARWICH — It's been a while in coming, but the board of health has rolled out the town's first e-permitting function. Additional express permitting may be coming soon for the conservation commission and building department. Harwich is one of six towns involved in the Accela e-permitting program being overseen by the Cape Cod Commission, designed to make filing permits easier and allow the general public to con...

The manatee that visited Harwich waters over the summer got a surprise last Thursday when it was captured by marine mammal rescue experts and shuttled to the Mystic Aquarium for rehabilitation. And then it had a surprise for researchers. It's pregnant. On Tuesday, veterinarians were conducting a routine medical exam on the manatee, named “Washburn” after the island in Falmouth where it was rescued. “An u...

The manatee that visited Harwich waters over the summer got a surprise last Thursday when it was captured by marine mammal rescue experts and shuttled to the Mystic Aquarium for rehabilitation. And then it had a surprise for researchers. It's pregnant. On Tuesday, veterinarians were conducting a routine medical exam on the manatee, named “Washburn” after the island in Falmouth where it was rescued. “An u...

After just one year on the job, Monomoy Athletic Director Brendan Case has resigned, according to an email sent by Superintendent Scott Carpenter to families in the school district on Saturday (Sept. 24). The email states that the reason for Case’s resignation, effective Sept. 23, is to “explore other options and have more time with his young family.” The email further states that a formal job posting for a...

HARWICH — After the emergency electrical inverter is replaced Wednesday, Brooks Free Library anticipates opening to the public on Thursday. The Library in the Lobby will remain open Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to Director Ginny Hewitt, but will be closed Wednesday so shelving, books and videos can be moved from the lobby back to the main library. The library will open again at 10 a.m. ...

WEST HARWICH — Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod is moving forward with an agreement to purchase Harwich Ecumenical Council for Housing property off Route 28, with an eye on building six affordable homes on the rear portion of the land. Habitat has applied to the board of selectmen for up to $300,000 from the town's affordable housing fund for the purchase of the land and is also requesting that selectmen provi...

HARWICH — There may be only one Monomoy Regional High School, but there soon may be some other schools in Massachusetts that bear a striking resemblance to it. Last month, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) announced that the new high school has been approved to become one of its model schools. Its designs and specifications will now be made available to other communities seeking to build sch...

EAST HARWICH — The message was clear Monday night that the town must continue to make short-term adjustments to the Route 39/Pleasant Bay Road intersection while it looks long-term at more substantial improvements. The idea of a roundabout as that long-term solution is gaining traction. Selectmen heard a presentation on the Road Safety Audit report on the intersection conducted by Steven Tupper, a transport...

HARWICH — Illegal drug use has had a major impact on the community, resulting in 20 deaths from overdoses between 2000 and 2015. The problem is not unique to Harwich; Barnstable County has the highest overdose rate per capita of any county in Massachusetts. “This is a serious concern Capewide,” Dt. Sgt. Robert Brackett said this week of the opiate epidemic. “Harwich is no different than other Cape communities....

HARWICH — For the second time in a month and the fourth time since the equipment was installed four years ago, a failed transistor inverter has closed public access to Brooks Free Library. Word of the latest failure came early last Friday morning. This is the second time in a month the town has gone without full access to its public library, and frustration levels are high. Selectmen on Monday night expressed ...

HARWICH — It's almost cranberry harvest time, and Harwich is celebrating this weekend with a parade and a festival of arts and music. The Harwich Hometown Parade is back this year, bringing floats, marching bands and family fun through Harwich Port and Harwich Center. A longtime staple of the Harwich Cranberry Festival, the parade is now an anchor event for the chamber of commerce's Fall for Harwich series. ...

HARWICH — The board of selectmen has altered its decision to reduce the funding for the architectural services associated with the restoration and preservation of Brooks Free Library. The board had voted a couple of weeks ago to cut services, reducing funding for the work by more than $16,000. But the board received some negative feedback from the architectural firm being considered to oversee the project, McG...