HARWICH — On the Saturday of Columbus Day, the Route 124 bridge over Route 6 will be dedicated to a fallen World War II hero. Bridges for the Fallen is working with the chamber of commerce to make it a day-long event, including evening firework. Gov. Charles Baker signed special legislation in June designating the bridge United States Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Ralph Wallace Burns Bridge. The legislation was...

HARWICH — A semi-tropical herbivore has been hanging out in Saquatucket Harbor. The last time a manatee was spotted in local waters was 2008 when a resident of Round Cove thought someone threw a piece of carpet into the water and then a nose rose to the surface. Deputy Harbormaster Bill Neiser said on Tuesday there was a report Sunday of someone seeing a manatee in Saquatucket Harbor. The first thought was ...

Though the sun, sand, and sea might beg to differ, it will soon be back to school time in Chatham and Harwich, with Monomoy, Cape Tech, and the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School all set to open their doors on Sept. 6.   Monomoy Regional School District Monomoy students will don their math hats this year with Math in Focus, which follows the Singapore Math framework, a method that aims for concept mast...

HARWICH — The real estate and open space committee has recommended selectmen not pursue the acquisition of the 24.6-acre Judah Eldridge parcel adjacent to Hawksnest State Park in the Six Ponds District of East Harwich. Town officials had previously sought to acquire and use this parcel as a wastewater recharge site, but voters rejected that plan. The committee voted to table further consideration of the proper...

CHATHAM ─ Runners who love the Chatham Harbor Run, but not always the sultry summer conditions of the race, will delight in knowing that there's a new race in town. Recently the Board of Selectmen approved the Chatham in the Fall 10K road race, officially slated for Nov. 20. Perhaps the best news for dedicated harriers? The new race will follow the same scenic course of the Harbor Run, but ideally with coole...

From the profits of her two children’s books about her calico cat, Annie Patches, Chatham author Marty Koblish raised $500 for the Jimmy Fund and presented the check toward cancer care and research to the family of Emily Coughlin of Chatham. Emily, now 11, will enter the sixth grade this fall. Six years ago she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. At the age of 4, she began 18 mon...

Even in the information age, some books are still banned in parts of America. To shine a light on this, the American Library Association (ALA) forms an annual list of “the top 10 most frequently challenged books,” along with celebrating the freedom to read during their yearly “Banned Books Week,” which is coming up on Sept. 25. Playwright Kenneth Jones brings to life the true-life censorship sto...

The Academy of Performing Arts has long produced Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Neil Simon’s large body of dramatic work, usually performing one of his plays a year. Last September it was the touching “Brighton Beach Memoirs;” this time it’s one of Simon’s lighter comedies, “Last of the Red Hot Lovers.” Born in 1927, Simon has written over 30 plays and almost an equal number of screenplays (based m...

YOU GUESSED IT Critics of proposed legislation to clarify the boundary of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, authored by Congressman William Keating, need to get their facts straight before smearing the effort. The proposed legislation has been drafted to confirm Congress’ original intent that the boundary of the Refuge is the “mean-low-water” line. The 1944 Declaration of Taking, which established the R...

Leave W. Chatham Alone Editor: I just watched the Aug. 23 Chatham Selectmen's meeting. I have to say I was quite surprised that so much time was spent discussing landscaping for a project that may never come to fruition. To further throw a nail into the coffin one has to wonder why a self-appointed committee has been gathering to discuss how to landscape this project with taxpayers'funds. I find this extrem...

Although opponents continue to deride the West Chatham Roadway Project and call into question if it will ever happen, it's pretty much a fait accompli. Although the work to streamline Route 28 through the West Chatham business corridor – removing the center turning lane and installing roundabouts at the Barn Hill Road and George Ryder Road intersections – has been delayed until 2018, there's no reason to doubt th...

A short walk from my home is the newest dormitory being constructed in Harwich. It is not actually housing for college students, but it could be. Its two multi-story connected buildings fill up most of a lot at the end of a cul-de-sac, offering enough housing for 20 or more. What may become the largest private residence in Harwich sits in a congested area with no water-view or other amenities. A bit farther fr...

William R. Schumann                   Willian R. Schumann, 74 of Harwich Port. Died on Friday, August 19, 2016 at Cape Cod Hospital.                   Born in Jersey City, N.J. He was the son of the late William C. and Josephine K. Schumann. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Gerie Snell Schumann.   A native of Basking Ridge, N.J. Bill graduated from Bernards High and Drew University. He an...

CHATHAM- Marguerite “Peg” Falconer passed away peacefully from a brief illness on July 8, three days after her 97 th birthday.   She died the way she lived with grace and surrounded by love. Elegant.  Kind.  Gracious.  Words one hears again and again when you mention the name Peg Falconer. Born in Quincy in 1919, to the late Edward and Margaret Walsh.   Her mother encouraged her to paint and often painted wit...

Anne Achilles O’Brien passed on August 12 as she had hoped, at home in Chatham surrounded by her four children. In addition to daughters Katrina (Avi) of Banning, Calif., and Marian (Trevor) of Matunuck, R.I., and sons Burges (Cindy) of St. Helena, Calif., and Matthew (Lori Ann) of Sebastopol, Calif., Anne is survived by her siblings Ted, Daphne and Steve (Gary) Achilles, and grandchildren Emilyn, Truitt, Theo, I...

              Louise V. Petrasko of Centerville &  Cheshire, Conn. , passed away peacefully at Cape Cod Hospital on August 20, 2016.  Born Louise Doane on July 21, 1923 in Milton, she was raised in Weymouth. She was married to her beloved husband Charles & lived most of her life in Cheshire, Conn. where she raised two children, vacationing frequently in Chatham with other family members at their hom...