HARWICH — The landside plans for redeveloping Saquatucket Harbor is rapidly taking shape. With the architectural design work almost 75 percent complete, the Saquatucket development committee will be bring the project before the board selectmen next week. The landside project, which incorporates the 5.2 acre town-owned harbor site and the newly acquired 2.2- acre former Downey property, will provide additional ...

Firefighters everywhere know that, when it comes to fires or injuries at home, senior citizens are particularly vulnerable. A successful state grant program is helping to ensure that firefighters and elder advocates continue to team up to keep seniors safe. The Senior SAFE grants are an offshoot of SAFE, the Student Awareness of Fire Education program that has provided millions of dollars for fire safety educa...

HARWICH — Selectmen made it clear Monday night the new coat of paint for Brooks Free Library should be white, and town counsel has questioned the historic district and historical commission's jurisdiction over dictating colors on the library in the Harwich Center Historic District. As part of the restoration project for the facade of the library, which is made up of the 1855 bank building, the 1880 Brooks buil...

HARWICH — Former selectman Larry Ballantine has taken out nomination papers for another run for the office. Ballantine served on the board for six years before making the decision in 2015 not to seek a third term. “I was worn out last time, but I'm fully rested,” Ballantine told The Chronicle on Thursday after taking out papers. He is the second candidate to take out nomination papers for a seat on the boar...

HARWICH — The community preservation committee gathered in a legally posted meeting last Thursday evening and revisited its recommendations for applications to be funded through the Community Preservation Act at the annual town meeting in May. A previous meeting of the committee held on Jan. 12 was called into question for potential violations of the state Open Meeting Law for failing to specifically identifyi...

WEST HARWICH — The fish house on the edge of the Herring River is in danger of collapsing. On Monday, Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski was crafting an emergency certificate that will allow minimum repairs to stabilize the structure to prevent its falling into the river and causing environmental damage. Usowski said she got word of the imminent danger on Friday from the owner, Francis Zarette, who had ...

HARWICH ─ Jordan Fisher's primary passion in his short life was basketball. Armed with that knowledge, and a deep desire to honor their son, cousin, and nephew, Fisher's family members came before the school committee this week to formally request the retirement of his basketball jersey and number. “We lost our son Jordan in a fatal car accident,” said his mother Charlene Fisher. “Our lives have been shatter...

HARWICH — Selectmen began rolling out a plan to address the ballot question that was approved in November allowing the use of recreational marijuana and the sale of pot through retail stores. Town Administrator Christopher Clark said legal matters relating to the use and sale of marijuana were discussed at the recent Massachusetts Municipal Association conference. The town of West Bridgewater approved a tempor...

HARWICH ─ Beverly Johnson never thought at the age of 80 she'd be part of a public protest. However, incensed by the election of President Donald Trump and fearful of policies that could potentially compromise quality of life for millions, Johnson joined more than 100 others on Jan. 21 in the Harwich Stand. Participants gathered shortly after 10 a.m. on the corner of Pleasant Lake Avenue and Main Street, eve...

HARWICH — The permitting process for restoration of the face of Brooks Free Library has the historic district and historical commission seeing red. Commission members are leaning toward requiring that the1855 bank building and 1880 Brooks building be restored with historically accurate colors, which include brown, gray, off-white and brick red. Efforts to restore what has been called the “jewel” of historic...

HARWICH — Town officials are asking federal and state representatives to help give the Army Corps of Engineers a nudge in expediting permits for the Saquatucket Harbor waterside reconstruction project. There are serious concerns that the absence of federal permits could set the project back yet another year. “This marina reconstruction project is well supported by the citizens of the town, it is an important r...

HARWICH ─ When Mary Jo Keenan went for medical testing in 2005, it was for something minor, which happened to lead to something major when Keenan was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Now, more than 11 years later, Keenan is lending her support to the annual Dancing for a Cure fundraising event, while soldiering on through her own ongoing treatments. Like many women, Keenan had no symptoms regarding her ovarian...