HARWICH — Selectmen on Monday night took a major step toward becoming a Green Community with the adoption of an energy reduction plan. The plan seeks to reduce energy consumption by the municipality by 20 percent in the next five years. With the adoption of the plan, assistant town administrator Evan Melillo told selectmen, all five of the criteria for the Green Communities program have been completed and by n...

HARWICH — The historic West Harwich Schoolhouse may have inhaled another breath of life Monday night as selectmen express support for issuing proposals for the vacant building's use, likely through a licensing agreement. The board also voted to support a Preservation Massachusetts application to place the building on the organization's “most endangered” list. Over the past two weeks selectmen have been disc...

Stalled Teacher Contract Talks Blamed HARWICH – Jawsome Hour, an academic support period that saw success during its trial run last year at Monomoy Regional High School, is no more, and likely won't return until a favorable agreement can be reached in the Monomoy Regional School District's ongoing contract negotiations between teachers and administrators. Monomoy's teachers have been working without a contr...

HARWICH – Monomoy proved a dominating force in their rainy Oct. 13 game against Rising Tide, but while the rain fell, the goals didn't and the Sharks had to settle with a 1-1 tie against the Herons in Cape and Islands League play. “I feel like we absolutely dominated possession and shots and corner kicks and every other conceivable category other than the scoreboard, so we need to put the ball in the net,” sai...

HARWICH – Logan Routhier netted his first and second varsity goals for the boys soccer team on Oct. 13 as the Sharks triumphed against Sturgis East 3-1 in Cape and Islands League play. The win boosted Monomoy's record to 7-5-2 overall and 7-3-2 in the league, giving fans attending the rain-soaked outing something to smile about. The Storm found its way to the scoreboard first when Aidan Smith sent in a free...

HARWICH – Abby Wallace, Katie Ganshaw and Abby Higgins might play soccer for Monomoy High, but they're pretty darned good at flag football, too, as evidenced by their respective performances in the annual Powderpuff Game, held Oct. 10 in honor of Homecoming week. While the junior girls gave the game their best effort, with Kelsey Olson, another top MRHS soccer player, leading the way, the seniors owned the gam...

HARWICH – It just wasn't Monomoy's night. First the Sharks lost captain and key player Kyle Charlot to injury in the opening drive. Then the visiting West Bridgewater Wildcats unleashed a scoring fury on the home team en route to a 36-6 victory that left the Sharks feeling more than a little deflated. The majority of West Bridgewater's touchdowns came in the second quarter, during which they scored 24 points i...

Most of the time when I head out for a day of exploring outdoors I pack a small bag with a sketchbook, some drawing pens, sunscreen, bug spray and my camera. I also bring my binoculars and water bottle. In the car I keep an assortment of field guides and something to nibble on. These simple things prepare me for a day of observation, wandering and simple enjoyment. I rarely have a plan but rather let the d...

Mission Paved The Way For Moon Landing CHATHAM – “It was 0430 when the helicopter pilots and Navy SEALSs gathered in the ready room of the USS Essex to be briefed for their mission. By 0630 four helicopters lifted off the aircraft carrier. The CSM splashed down at 0711. At 0820 its three astronauts landed back on the Essex.” In the den of his home in the Riverbay section of town, Don J. Broderick recalled t...

It was a “light bulb moment,” an “aha!” thought that sparked Bill Wilson to take the first step to create a program that would save so many people, relationships and even entire families. That spark was so simple yet so innovative: “Who knows how a drunk thinks more than another drunk?” He knew he needed to talk to another alcoholic to stay sober. The idea that in order to maintain sobriety if you are afflicte...

The Monday after Labor Day, when I found my father’s truck missing from his driveway, I had been planning on spending the day editing video mostly. The car that was parked in front of his house when I arrived was unfamiliar. Late model import sedan – an import – dark blue. Not the white Ford Ranger used in the family landscaping business that sits right outside his kitchen table window in West Chatham. The Mea...

Roar Out To Supporters Editor: On behalf of the Chatham-Nauset Lions, I extend a hearty roar of thanks to the following places of business that supported our seventh annual Pancake Breakfast: Chatham Village Market, Friends’ Marketplace in Orleans, Stop & Shop in Orleans, Star Markets in Harwich, Harwich Port and Orleans. Their generosity enabled us to substantially increase our club’s scholarship fund....

Cash figures in two stories in this week's paper. First, the town of Chatham has backed away from a plan to accept only credit and debit cards and checks for payments at the transfer station. There was an undercurrent of unhappiness about the idea that cash wouldn't be accepted to pay for disposal of items like mattresses and electronics. We understand the town's position – the transfer station handles more th...

CHATHAM – After more than 30 years in town, the Organic Market will close its store here on Nov. 3 in order to concentrate on its other markets in Dennis Port and at Mashpee Commons. “We're really sad to not be in that location anymore, but really excited about what the future holds for us,” said Rory Eames, president and owner of the company. Prepared foods have become a major part of the Organic Market's ...

ORLEANS — Town hall went back to its roots as a schoolhouse Tuesday, introducing 40-plus Orleans Elementary School fifth graders to their local government's people and services. At the end of the morning, the students strolled around town-owned Sea Call Farm. Selectman Kevin Galligan, the first to greet the classes, asked what they thought selectmen did. “Make decisions,” a girl said. To get something done, ...

ORLEANS — It's not the imposing black monolith from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” but the proposed six-foot-tall enclosed sewer pump station control panel at the entrance to Snow Library's parking lot was a bit of a shock to some. “I think we're kind of gobsmacked here,” library trustees chair Mary Beth Fincke told town officials and consultants who presented the proposal to her board Oct. 9. Later, she said, “Ri...