HARWICH — The Harwich Conservation Trust is embarking on a fund-raising campaign to protect Cornelius Pond, a “coastal plain pond” that is considered a rare habitat. The trust has an agreement to purchase a 15-acre parcel that includes 1,000 feet of shoreline on the pond. “We're very excited about this project,” HCT Executive Director Michael Lach said. An anonymous donor has issued a challenge gift of $425,00...

HARWICH — The town of Orleans will be looking for a new executive director of its council on aging after Harwich Selectmen confirm the appointment of Judi Wilson as the town's new director of the council on aging. Wilson replaces Barbara Anne Foley, who retired on July 3 after 18 years as director. She and her husband are taking over management of the Commodore Inn in West Harwich. Wilson is scheduled to start...

HARWICH — The town has approved a design contract for road improvements along Route 28 from the Herring River Bridge to Upper County Road in Dennis. Selectmen voted to issue the first of a three-phase contract Monday night. The goal of the project is to create pedestrian connectivity, develop a consistent roadway cross-section, and provide Americans with Disability Act accessibility and bicycle accommodations....

HARWICH — A warm greeting and familiar face will be noticeably absent from the community center as Emily Mitchell trades her seat at the front desk for one at Cornell Law School. Mitchell has spent a lot of time in the community center going back to her days attending Halloween parties, participating in recreation programs and even attending her Junior Prom. The building played a central role in her life growi...

PLEASANT LAKE — There's no escaping the fact that a new building to replace the aging Cape Tech school will be costly. But according to projections released last week, it will be a bit less costly than initially thought. Owing to more detailed design information and some constructive pencil-sharpening, cost estimates for the new school have dropped from about $141 million to around $128 million. Speaking at la...

HARWICH PORT — The Wychmere Harbor Shellfish Lab is home to hundreds of thousands of growing soft shell clams, oysters, quahogs and mussels. Every summer since 1994, Assistant Harbormaster and National Resources Director Heinz Proft has hired three high school student interns to help run the lab for six weeks. This year’s interns are Kestrel Powers, Samantha Mahoney and Aidan Kotoski. From 8:30 in the morning u...

HARWICH — The planning board has approved modifications to the use and site plan special permits for Camelot, LLC's proposal to build a 12,400-square-foot mixed-use structure in the center of Harwich Port. The project, which now calls for four rental units on the first floor, and four three-bedroom residential units on the second floor, has been in the planning process for more than a year. But it ran into a r...

HARWICH — The town's pet burial grounds to be located on Queen Anne Road are beginning to take shape and could be open in the month of October, providing a tranquil sanctuary for deceased animal companions. The cemetery commission sought and was granted the use of the 2.5-acre parcel of town-owned land to establish the pet burial grounds in town meeting a little more than a year ago. In recent months the lot w...

HARWICH — With cease and desist orders issued by the building department a couple of months ago for mining and other commercial uses taking place on land in the Six Pond Special District, the appeals board had their hands full last week sifting through the details. Clifford DaLuze told the board he and his family own the property in question. He said his father has owned that land since the 1940s and after his...

HARWICH ─ If you've ever wondered what happens to all the baseballs launched over the fences at Whitehouse Field in Harwich, wonder no more. It's likely Walker has them. If not, he'll surely find them soon enough, along with lost tennis, lacrosse, and other balls at local fields. Walker is a 10-year-old black lab owned by Bruce Young, an EMT with the Harwich Fire Department. “My wife wanted a dog,” said Y...

HARWICH — “It's with a little joy, a little sadness and a little apprehension,” Health Department Director Paula Champagne said on Monday of her decision to retire after 30 years of service to the town, which included developing that department. Among her accomplishments, Champagne said was “building a department that is seen as a professional model across the county.” Champagne worked for the Barnstable Co...

HARWICH — Selectman Jannell Brown was in court Wednesday answering an assault charge, the second time she has done so in as many years. Brown pleaded not guilty to a single misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a family or household member, and a single charge of malicious destruction of property valued at less than $250. She was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim, and will return to court fo...