HARWICH — The man who has set town property lines, located parcels with limited descriptions and assured town projects are located on municipal property is retiring after 18 years of serving as the town's professional land surveyor. Paul Sweetser spent his last day in the office on Monday. “Retirement will be bittersweet,” Sweetser said on Monday. “I'll really miss all of the people I worked with up here over ...

HARWICH — Over its 30-year existence, Harwich Conservation Trust has preserved and protected more than 550 acres of diverse natural resources in this town, and the non-profit group is facing a financial deadline for procurement of another vulnerable 15-acre parcel. HCT Executive Director Michael Lach said the trust has little more than a month to raise $112,000 to secure the purchase of the parcel adjacent to ...

HARWICH — The town has received notice from the state Department of Environmental Protection that it has conditional approval for zero percent interest rate financing for the East Harwich sewer construction phase of its comprehensive wastewater management plan, which could save the community more than $16 million over the 30-year payment period. “It's a significant savings,” Town Administrator Christopher Clar...

HARWICH — Though the town is seeking a corresponding drop in the tax rate, property tax valuations in Harwich have increased by nearly 7 percent. That means the valuation of the average single-family home has jumped from $506,403 to about $542,000. “You’ve seen it in the market,” Board of Assessors Chairman Richard Waystack told selectmen last week. To keep the tax levy steady, the town is proposing a tax ra...

HARWICH – After a friend gave Bob Doyle a copy of the pocket edition of the Constitution of the United States, he decided to order 100 copies. The inside of the back cover of the compact pamphlet announces the goal of distributing 100 million copies by encouraging people to order and share 100 copies. “My wife said what will you do with 100 of them?” said Doyle. “I said wait and see. All of a sudden, I'm order...

EAST HARWICH — Tormented by persistent bad weather and equipment problems, the long-delayed Pleasant Bay dredging projects might seem to be cursed. But officials say they’re confident the streak of bad luck is coming to an end and the dredging of Round Cove will take place this fall as planned. The dredging adjacent to Fox Hill in North Chatham, near the entrance to Ryder’s Cove, along with the Round Cove dr...

HARWICH — On Sunday, dozens of people gathered in the crisp air at Island Pond Cemetery to give thanks to veterans past and present who sacrificed part of their lives for the nation. Under bright skies and brisk temperatures, dozens of people gathered at Island Pond Cemetery to mark Veterans Day Sunday. ALAN POLLOCK PHOTOS ...

SOUTH HARWICH — At the eastern tip of Red River Beach, it's hard to miss the thousands of yards of sand that have built up against the jetty, creating a wide swath for beachgoers to enjoy. But on the back side of the barrier beach, the river itself is eating away at the dunes, threatening the paved vehicle turn-around. A new plan to stem that erosion would use Community Preservation Act funds to extend the j...

HARWICH — In its bid to improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Harwich is doing more than just checking off the boxes on some form; it's making enhancements that help real people. That's the word from a consultant who reviewed a limited number of town buildings and facilities for accessibility. Valerie Fletcher of the Boston-based Institute for Human Centered Design was retained t...

HARWICH PORT – As it has for a quarter of a century, Brax Landing Restaurant, which overlooks Saquatucket Harbor, will give back to the community by hosting its annual free Thanksgiving dinner for seniors, veterans, group home residents, the disabled and those alone or in need. Started by former owner Rod Leidner, the tradition has been continued by current owners of the restaurant, Tad Peavey and Jeff Gomes, ...

WEST HARWICH — On Sunday, Americans come together to honor veterans, on what will be the 100 th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. With all its witnesses now gone, the bloody battles of the Great War seem impossibly long ago and intangible. An artist, most likely a soldier in the trenches near Verdun, painstakingl...

Voters turned out in high numbers for Tuesday's state election, deciding several local races and ballot questions as well as contests for governor, federal and state legislators. In the only contested local race, Harwich voters sent Elizabeth Harder to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates for a two-year term. She won over incumbent Peter Hughes 3,390 to 2,752. Both had applied for the seat when Ed McMan...