70-Plus Article Town Meeting Warrant Now Closed CHATHAM — The board of selectmen Monday voted to close and sign the warrant for the May 13 annual town meeting, capping a detailed review of more than 70 articles over several weeks. Board members voted to endorse a number of the initiatives, including a possible shark barrier at Oyster Pond Beach, funds to renovate the VFW post, and a measure to change the boa...

CHATHAM – After more than two years of stop work orders, zoning board hearings and court battles, resolution has finally been reached over the use of two properties on Chatham Bars Avenue owned by Chatham Bars Inn. The zoning board recently tied up loose ends on permits for 45 and 20 Chatham Bars Ave., properties that the Shore Road inn had owned for years and bought back in 2015 from a previous owner of the i...

CHATHAM — In the latest effort to fix the sticky Mitchell River drawbridge, crews will begin major repairs on April 8 which could take nearly two months to complete. During that time, Bridge Street will be closed to through traffic. On Monday, MassDOT officials notified the town that the bridge contractor, SPS New England, will be on site starting April 1, installing detour signs and informational message bo...

CHATHAM – For many local businesses, especially larger ones, the biggest problem these days isn't finding employees, it's finding housing for employees. Workforce housing – not means-tested affordable housing, but “attainable” housing for those with good jobs and salaries – is at the root of many of the issues local towns are struggling with, particularly attracting and retaining young people and families. Bro...

CHATHAM — On Monday, a crowd of April Fools will make a splash at Harding’s Beach, renewing a rite of spring and raising money for a worthy cause. Led by an intrepid pack of Chatham firefighters, the group will take a brisk swim at 4:30 p.m., and swimmers and spectators are encouraged to make donations. This year, the proceeds will benefit the family of Michele St. Aubin of Brewster, who is fighting advanced...

HARWICH — Selectmen have made it clear in the FY20 budget process that the cost of capital projects, debt exclusion votes, and increases in the Monomoy Regional School District budget are not sustainable and steps need to be taken to curb spending. When Town Administrator Christopher Clark put forward his balanced budget earlier this month, he was proposing an increase in the room occupancy tax from 4 to 6 per...

HARWICH — Plans have been filed for the redevelopment of the Stonehorse Motel facilities along Route 28 in South Harwich. The planning board will hear the proposal to use new dormitory structures for seasonal workforce housing next month. The petitioner is Main Street Stone Horse, LLC, which purchased the 2.6-acre site earlier this month from Outer Cape Health Services, Inc. for $750,000. The Secretary of Stat...

HARWICH — Selectman Michael MacAskill said this week he will be seeking another three-year term on the board of selectmen. He will join Stephen Ford and Thomas Sherry as candidates vying for two seats on the election ballot in May. “People my age are leaving because they can't afford to live here any more,” MacAskill said. “Fees and taxes are driving them out of town. I'm trying to draw attention to a fiscal c...

HARWICH — Residents will be asked in town meeting in May to ban the procurement or distribution of water or any other beverage in plastic bottles on town owned property. While selectmen seemed supportive of the concept, the board had a number of questions about implementing such a bylaw and postponed a vote pending some wording changes. “We don't need to question the toxicity of plastic. There is no question i...

HARWICH — The historic district and historical commission and residents of Harwich Center had nothing but positive comments last week on the newly presented development plans for the former gas station site in the village. It took the commission less than 30 minutes to unanimously approve a certificate of appropriateness for the mixed use development proposed for the Harwich Center Historic District. Saumil Pa...

HARWICH — Though National Grid will be continuing their replacement of mains and equipment in some locations, enough work will be complete in the next few weeks to allow the utility to lift the moratorium on new natural gas connections, a spokesman said. “We have a small section in Harwich that we’re still working on,” Robert Kievra said. “When that Harwich section is completed, approximately 14 miles of the...

HARWICH – Jesse Nash might have been a beloved Chatham resident, but he was a cherished member of the Monomoy community, which is why the MIAA student ambassadors at Monomoy Regional High School are holding a special day in his honor. On April 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. children of all ages and their families are invited to come by Monomoy Regional High School for a Touch-a-Truck event and special 3 vs. 3 soccer...

HARWICH – Caitlin Ross first started ice skating when she was 6 years old, taking to the sport immediately. At the end of April, after more than two decades of hard work, Ross will be traveling with her Theatre on Ice Boston team to the Nations' Cup Competition in Epinal, France. Ross's skating journey began in her childhood through a learn to skate program held at the Charles Moore Arena in Orleans. Upon seei...

Organization Marking 40 th Year In the state of Massachusetts almost one in three women has experienced rape, physical violence, and stalking by a partner. Nearly 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men have been the victims of non-rape sexual assault. In 2008 domestic violence was declared a public health emergency in the state. These facts, courtesy of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, are...

What if you had the option of living forever—would you choose to do so? That is one of the questions posed by the play “Tuck Everlasting” that will be performed at the Cape Cod Theatre Company, Home of the Harwich Junior Theatre, on weekends from March 29 to April 20. “I love the story of ‘Tuck Everlasting,’” says the play’s producer and director Nina Schuessler, who has also served for 23 years as the comp...

March and April may be spring months in other areas but here they tend to be more of a teaser than a pleaser. One day is cold and snowy and the next is balmy and bright. I never know which clothes to wear or throw in the car. I do know that putting my hat and gloves away too soon will not be to my advantage. Just this past week we’ve had a little bit of beautiful weather full of singing birds and blooming croc...