HARWICH — There is a proposal in the works to restore oyster beds in the Herring River that could also serve to improve estuary's health. The oyster reef proposal would be a cooperative venture between the town's natural resources department and the conservation commission. Oysters have become a recognized source of filtration for the ability to process carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus at high rates, byprodu...

HARWICH — The board of selectmen Monday night voted to approve draft special legislation allowing the establishment of a Dennis, Harwich and Yarmouth Clean Water Partnership, which could lead the three towns into an agreement to share a wastewater treatment plant located in Dennis. The special legislation seeks to lay down the groundwork for the powers, duties and liabilities of the partnership and establish t...

HARWICH — The town will be weighing the interest of boatyards in leasing a section of Saquatucket Harbor parking lot to store deep-draft boats, including sailboats without dis-masting, over the winter. The issue of winter boat storage on town property has been contentious in recent years. Harbormaster John Rendon said he has had requests from a number of slipholders in Saquatucket Harbor to be able to store...

HARWICH — There is no better time to be in town than Harwich Cranberry Festival weekend, with the usually warm days and hints of fall in the evening, the red berries igniting the bogs and the festivities flowing like a perigean spring tide. This weekend is the most energetic of the year in town, with the Harwich Cranberry Arts and Music Festival hosting two days of great music and large crowds of people at the...

HARWICH — The historic district and historical commission will be acting on a notice of intent for the demolition of a historic structure at 52 Route 28 in West Harwich. The structure, the former Capt. George Winchell Baker House, was built circa 1870. The Route 28 corridor through West Harwich has been the focus of an initiative to establish a Captains' Row Historic District extending from the Herring River B...

HARWICH — The town has lost two department heads this past year and a third department head, Treasurer/Tax Collector Amy Bullock, has been offered a position in the town of Dennis. To retain employees, Town Administrator Christopher Clark sees the need to implement some “anti-poaching initiatives.” What often drives the decision to leave a position in one town to take a similar position in another town is comp...

HARWICH — The fire department has received a $70,866 Assistance to Firefighters grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to replace aging nozzles, add additional capabilities and provide training. “It's a huge bonus for us,” Fire Chief Norman Clarke, Jr. said on Monday of the grant that will cover the cost of replacing values and nozzles on firefighting equipment. The grant is critical because it ...

HARWICH — Outer Cape Health Services, Inc. has received a $1 million pledge gift from Tom and Trish Kennedy to assist with developing new healthcare facilities in Harwich Port and Wellfleet. The gift is the largest private donation in OCHS history, which dates back to 1987. The gift is being made through OCHS's capital campaign program, Enhancing Spaces, Impacting Lives. The campaign will support the opening o...

A series of “incredibly generous” donations has pushed the Helping Neighbors summer fund drive over the $100,000 mark. “I think it's amazing,” said Family Pantry of Cape Cod Executive Director Christine Menard. Two $5,000 donations, one anonymous and one from a local woman in memory of her husband, helped bring the campaign to a triumphant conclusion. All of the donations received by the Pantry during the e...

HARWICH — The board of appeals has been sued over the issuance of a special permit allowing the construction of a two-story addition on a single-family dwelling on Braddock Street. The special permit was issued to 34 Braddock Lane Realty Trust, Bruno Visco and Sandi Conroy trustees. The suit was filed by the abutters, Paul McCourt, Peter McCourt and Brian McCourt, property owners at 36 Braddock St. The appe...

SOUTH HARWICH — There is a tremendous need for affordable workforce housing in town, and the community development team will be looking at a proposal this week to utilize the Stone Horse Motel property to provide those accommodations. Trish Kennedy, CEO of Zudy, the South Harwich-based software company, said on Tuesday she and her husband, Tom, have a purchase and sales agreement on the 2.61-acre Stone Horse M...

HARWICH PORT — Spectators will be able to “Feel the Rhythm of Harwich” during the Harwich Hometown Parade that will roll through the village on Sunday, Sept. 9. That rhythm may have a little bit of a go-kart hum to it. This year's Grand Marshal is Emulous E. “Buddy” Hall, a lifelong resident of Harwich, who dedicated almost 50 years to community service and who has kept youngsters smiling for 58 years with Bud...