HARWICH — The crush of summertime visitors is over and there are plenty of leaves on the ground, if only because of Hermine. And it's the first big weekend of the season-long Fall for Harwich celebration. Weather permitting, Saturday's going to be the ultimate beach day. It's the Harwich Cranberry Festival's Beach Day at Red River Beach in South Harwich, starting at 11 a.m. (and in case of rain, it happens S...

HARWICH PORT — Immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, artist Pamela Chatterton-Purdy went to her easel to express the deep emotions she was feeling and to try and find spiritual meaning behind the senseless violence. Now, 15 years later, her series of “Icons of 9/11” paintings are once again going on display in an exhibit at the Cape Cod Art Association. “Hard to believe that it has been 15 years...

HARWICH — The Resilient Family Farm is growing faster than a zucchini in the heat of summer, and it has caught the eyes of town officials. Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski last week issued a stop work order on portions of the farm that are within the 100-foot buffer zone of wetlands. The farm is located on 3.14 acres down a shelled driveway at 35 Chatham Rd. Owner Barry Viprino said he has added another ...

HARWICH PORT— The center of this village will see some changes in the near future, with Cumberland Farms planning to begin construction of a new convenience store in Mid-October and major plans for the former Dino's Harwich Port Grille property going before the planning board later this month. Even the United Gas station adjacent to the Cumberland Farms site, owned by Bassil Brothers Trust, got a facelift over...

HARWICH — The board of selectmen was scheduled on Tuesday night to go into executive session to consider the purchase of real estate at 397 Route 28, the former Handler's Auto Parts property that sits at the head of Allen Harbor. There is apparent interest in the purchase of the property, as the town's real estate and open space committee has also been discussing the property. That committee met on Aug. 19 in ...

WEST HARWICH — There is restoration activity taking place at the former Bishop's Terrace restaurant on Route 28 here. The activity has raised some eyebrows because the historic structure has sat vacant for more than three years. The work is reportedly being done to get the structure ready to be sold. The building, which according to tax records dates from 1778, was built by Job Chase, who owned the land fro...

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...

HARWICH — The town has only limited power over the use of drones within the community, town counsel has ruled in a legal opinion relating to a local regulation seeking to keep the devices away from public beaches. In early April members of the recreation and youth commission and Recreation Department Director Eric Beebe came before selectmen with a proposed regulation seeking to ban the use of drones and other...

EAST HARWICH — Firefighters from four towns and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation were busy this weekend battling a persistent fire in Hawksnest State Park. The fire started deep in the woods, making it difficult for firefighters to get to the fire and stage equipment to battle it. Deputy Fire Chief David LeBlanc said the department received a call about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoo...