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...

HARWICH — Neither snow nor cold weather could keep AmeriCorps of Cape Cod staff members away from the heathlands of Thompson's Field Monday, where they worked with the town on a management program for the conservation area. Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski said AmeriCorps' fire corps was on loan from the Cape Cod National Seashore for four days this week to continue the Thompson's Field conservation mana...

HARWICH — Town Administrator Christopher Clark said on Tuesday he plans to remain in town and direct his attention to getting ready for the upcoming town meeting in May. Clark made the statement after learning late Monday night he was not selected for the town administrator's position in Millis, where he was one of three finalists. The Millis board of selectmen voted unanimously to offer the job to Michael Guz...

HARWICH — It could be an interesting election season with two long-serving members of the board of selectmen stating they will not be candidates for re-election. Their decisions come at a time when the remaining three members of the board will have had a total of five years' experience. Selectman Peter Hughes has served for 15 years as a member of the board. He served three terms in the late 1990s and early 20...