HARWICH — Vandalism at parks and beaches is nothing new, but this year’s activity is worse than the occasional upturned bench or overturned trash can. “I’ve been here for 14 years, and I’ve never seen it as bad as this,” Harwich Recreation Director Eric Beebe said. Late at night on Aug. 12, vandals struck the bathhouse at Bank Street Beach, plugging sinks, ripping a urinal from the wall and apparently try...

HARWICH – Hundreds of members and supporters of the Harwich Conservation Trust turned out Monday night to delve into the 400-year history of the Pleasant Bay area as seen through records and artifacts uncovered at the 49-acre Kendrick farm. The effort is an ambitious five-year undertaking to merge archeological and historical research and uncover a generation-by-generation history not only of one family, but of t...

HARWICH — A blue-green algae bloom turned the waters of the West Reservoir in the Bell’s Neck Conservation Area bright green Monday. Town officials warned people not to swim or allow dogs to swim or drink water from the reservoir. “The whole West Reservoir is a murky blue-green,” Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski said after posting three warning notices along the shoreline where people might come in conta...

Peake: State May Provide Disaster Relief Money Municipal expenditures related to the July 23 tornado are not likely to reach the threshold required for federal reimbursement, local officials say. Qualifying expenditures in Harwich total $1,256,200, according to Town Administrator Christopher Clark, and slightly more than $438,000 in Chatham, according to Finance Director Alix Heilala. Yarmouth reported $4...

HARWICH — Sandy Robinson remembers well the day she was offered the job working in the administration/selectmen’s office in town hall 19 years ago. “Assistant town administrator Juell Buckwold called to offer me the job and I said my first grandchild is about to be born any minute,” Robinson responded. “Now she’s in her second year in college. It’s like a lifetime in the blink of an eye.” But, the executive...

HARWICH — Selectmen made it clear Monday night they support a referral of the Captains’ Row area of West Harwich to the Cape Cod Commission as a district of critical planning concern, but they held off requesting a pending a recommendation from the planning board. Residents of the area have come together in support of protecting the historic structures, many built by 19 th Century sea captains, along a stretc...

HARWICH — There is a new watercolor exhibit at the cultural center focusing on a dozen of the historic structures along Captains’ Row in West Harwich. There has been a major effort by residents of the West Harwich area to protect the historic character of the neighborhood, which was established by sea captains, ship builders and merchants. This summer the Harwich Historical Society has a Captains’ Row exhibit ...

NORTH HARWICH — Three decades ago, the Family Pantry of Cape Cod began as a storage closet filled with canned goods at Holy Trinity Church, with a handful of volunteers collecting food donations and making them available to people in need. It was a simple case of neighbors helping neighbors. Denny Duggan of Harwich, one of the five founding members of the Family Pantry, remembers holding meetings in the kitc...

HARWICH — It took a major commitment of staff and tree service companies, but Cranberry Valley Golf Course is back in full swing. The golf course was closed for nine days in the wake of July 23 tornado. Nine holes were open last Thursday and the full course was available for play on Saturday. The closure was a major financial hit. The course suffered the loss of nearly 200 trees and will need replacements. ...

HARWICH — There has been a strong connection between the island of Brava in the Cabo Verde archipelago and the town of Harwich for more than a century. That bond is about to become a little firmer with a planned visit of President Francisco Tavares, the mayor of Brava. Albert Raneo informed selectmen last week that Tavares will visit the community on Aug. 28. There are numerous residents of Cape Verdean descen...

HARWICH — When it comes to controlling vaping, smoking or other nicotine use among students, Monomoy High School has traditionally had an old-school approach, issuing multiple-day suspensions when kids violate the rules. “We’re rethinking that,” Assistant Principal Janie Girolamo told the school committee recently. “It really doesn’t serve any purpose” to have violators miss out on their classes and miss out...

HARWICH — Concerned that the huge piles of brush and debris at the landfill are a fire hazard, the town is hiring a contractor to break down the 40,000 cubic yards of material collected after the July 23 tornado. Fire Chief Norman Clarke, Jr. told Town Administrator Christopher Clark last week that that “massive brush/debris pile [is] beginning to show signs of generating heat at the DPW (Department of Public ...