Still No Plans For Future Development  HARWICH — The land remediation work on the 3.14-acre Handler Auto Parts site along Route 28 in Harwich Port is nearing completion, but there remains no plan for the redevelopment of the land, which commands sweeping views of Allen Harbor and its marsh. Jeff Handler said this week no decisions have been made on future plans for development of the property, which is zone...

HARWICH — The grounds around the A. Elmer Crowell barn at Brooks Academy are looking shabby, Harwich Center resident Paul Doane told members of the Brooks Academy Museum committee last week. Doane, who volunteers at the historic barn where the renowned decoy carver did his work, said the trees lost during last year’s tornado and the drought this area experienced over the summer have created dire landscape cond...

HARWICH – The Harwich Police Department has a new member, and he’s here to teach kids in the Monomoy School District not to vape. If he gets a few treats in the process, that’s all the better. Fritz isn’t your average member of the force. Unlike his bipedal fellow officers, Fritz is an 18-month-old German shorthaired pointer and it’s his job, quite literally, to sniff out e-cigarettes and vaporizers on school ...

HARWICH — The more than 300 voters who turned out for the annual town meeting on Saturday spoke in strong support of protecting the environment, putting in place a ban on the sale of commercial single-use plastic water bottles and approving a resolution supporting the adoption of a town policy on climate change. Resident Patrick Otton put forward the petitioned article seeking to create a bylaw making it unlaw...

Special District, Multi-family Update OK'd HARWICH — It was long awaited, but residents finally got the opportunity to act on the annual town meeting warrant in an outdoor setting on Saturday. Five operating budgets were approved totaling $68, 957,862, a 1.4 percent decrease from last year's budget. Voters also approved unanimously a zoning amendment that creates a West Harwich Special District with a focus...

HARWICH — Town officials have been focusing on preservation of the historic character of the community over the past couple of years. The approval of the West Harwich Special District zoning amendment in the annual town meeting on Saturday was one step, and the historic district and historical commission is considering additional protective measures. The commission is working on extending the period of the his...

HARWICH —The chamber of commerce has issued its annual series of awards to local businesses and community members making outstanding contributions to the town and the chamber. The awards were announced during the chamber’s annual meeting, which was held virtually this year. Executive Director Cyndi Williams said after the announcements that the awards were presented in person following social distancing protoc...

HARWICH - At Saturday's annual town meeting, voters joined other Cape towns in approving a ban on the sale of single-use plastic bottles under one gallon. The assembly also approved a zoning amendment that puts in place regulations for the West Harwich District of Critical Planning Concern. The article drew limited debate, but another zoning amendment expanding and relaxing some provisions for multifamily dwel...

HARWICH — The public safety facilities on Sisson Road may be the new location for the Barnstable County live burn training facility. Selectmen on Monday night endorsed Fire Chief David LeBlanc collaborating with the county in establishing the training center at the rear of the fire department headquarters. In a memorandum to selectmen, LeBlanc said the county’s center for public safety training is in a stat...

HARWICH — The public will have greater access to Brooks Free Library beginning next week. Changes underway include the ability for patrons to browse inside the historic library as well as several physical changes. Alcoves have been turned into more secure offices for staff and Plexiglas shields installed to separate workers from the public in compliance with COVID-19 protective measures. The COVID-19 pandem...

HARWICH — The nearly seven-acre Cedar Spring Herb Farm off Long Pond Drive has been sold to a nonprofit organization that provides breast feeding education. For the past 23 years the farm has served as an herbal sanctuary dedicated to connecting people and plants with wellness. Donna Wood Eaton has been the sanctuary steward and overseen the operation of the farm she owns with her husband, Brad, consisting of ...

HARWICH — After rejecting the Monomoy Regional School District budget two weeks ago, selectmen approved an adjusted budget presented Monday night by Superintendent Scott Carpenter. The adjusted budget of $41,261,134, with Harwich’s contribution of $26,820,046 reduced by $140,000, still has to be approved by the Monomoy Regional School Committee, which is scheduled to meet on Thursday evening. The finance commi...