HARWICH — The 12-acre photovoltaic array proposed for East Harwich received unanimous support from the appeals board this past week. There was no public comment offered on the proposal for a variance for the solar panels. The project is being proposed by DFN, Inc., Steven Clark president, owner of a 17-acre site between Depot Road and the Chatham town line, just north of the Harwich Town Forest. Access to the ...

HARWICH — In the past two weeks, the conservation commission and board of appeals have approved modifications to the Wychmere Beach Club redevelopment project. With one more approval needed — from the planning board — groundwork at the complex is scheduled to get underway this week. Wychmere Harbor Real Estate will go before the planning board on Thursday, Sept. 10 seeking an amended site plan review special p...

Just in time for the 400 th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower this fall are two books about the Mayflower for young readers. “The Adventures of Plimoth Plantation as Told by the Mayflower Mouse” (iUniverse, 2020) by Marian R. Carlson is a charming retelling of the Mayflower story from the diary of Uncle Sam, an English mouse. Uncle Sam is able to scurry unobserved “through my network of passages” ar...

In times of uncertainty and isolation, connection and self-expression are more important than ever. In the spirit of finding a silver lining around the cloud of COVID-19, the Coop restaurant in North Chatham is hosting an outdoor art show over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring the work of the talented artists of Uniting US. Strict social distancing will be observed at the show...

Readers Have Mixed Experience During Unusual Season For some, it was the worst summer. Ever. Others had the exact opposite experience. The pandemic brought permission to slow down, spend time with family and enjoy some of the natural resources the Cape has to offer. With the approach of Labor Day weekend, the official last hurrah of the season, we asked readers to tell us about their experiences durin...

Disappointed By Anti-racism Vote Editor: As your recent article stated, the Monomoy Regional School Committee passed the Massachusetts State Association of School Committees’ anti-racism resolution at their monthly meeting and I applaud them for doing so. But in spite of strong positive support from Dr. Carpenter and committee members Terri Russell, Sharon Stout and Tina Games, the Monomoy vote was not unan...

For years, swimming has been prohibited in the Cockle Cove Creek that runs along the Cockle Cove Beach parking lot, where it bends east to merge with Buck's Creek and empty into Nantucket Sound. Consistently poor water quality readings resulted in essentially a permanent closure. A 2005 study failed to find conclusive evidence of a specific source of the contamination, ruling out effluent from the sewer plant, ro...

There are those who will roll their eyes when they read this week’s story about the Harwich town seal, which portrays a Native American standing next to a Great Plains-style teepee, rather than the traditional wetu dwelling used by Wampanoags. It’s admittedly a small detail, but it’s not inconsequential. We choose to believe that Harwich residents 123 years ago included a Native American on their new town seal...

Back-to-school anxiety is perfectly normal. But this year, it’s the parents who are worried about sending their kids to classes, while the kids are anxious about not going back to school – or at least to their normal school environment. It’s more evidence of the world gone topsy-turvy thanks to COVID-19. “I would say that probably more than 50 percent of my caseload is kids and parents with anxiety, anxiety th...

ORLEANS — With parts of Nauset Regional High School suffering air circulation problems, classes will be fully remote when instruction begins Sept. 16. That’s a switch from the original hybrid plan that called for split weeks of home and in-school learning. “We will… remain remote until the ventilation system is repaired and brought up to COVID standards,” Principal Chris Ellsasser wrote to teachers Tuesday m...

ORLEANS — With a million-dollar operating budget shortfall forecast for the fiscal year beginning July 2021, the select board and other officials are taking a hard look at expenses and revenues in a series of fiscal stability workshops. Last week, the focus was on fees the town charges for its services, and the potential for asking October’s special town meeting to make some changes that can take effect as early ...

CHATHAM – The Chatham Squire, perhaps the town's best-known restaurant, closed Sunday for deep cleaning after four staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Owner Todd Hearle said the iconic restaurant would remain closed to indoor dining until Thursday to allow additional cleaning. Natural Resources Director Robert Duncanson confirmed that four Squire employees tested positive. One person tested positive...

ORLEANS — In an attempt to put the horse before the cart, the affordable housing trust hosted a virtual meeting Tuesday with owners of homes surrounding 107 Main St., the property it purchased this year for conversion to residences. Members heard the kinds of questions that often arise much later in the process, and promised to continue working on a plan that will satisfy the neighbors and the town’s housing ne...

Ronald Kendall, Jr, passed away peacefully at home on August 21, 2020 surrounded by his loved ones, following a sudden brief but courageous battle with cancer. Ronnie (also known to others by his nickname, (Raz) was a native of and life-long resident of Harwich. He attended Harwich schools.       Ronnie is predeceased by his parents, Ronald and Barbara Kendall of Harwich, and his brother, Thomas Kendall of Har...

John R. Pfeffer died peacefully on August 16th at the age of 94. He was residing at the time along with Linda, his wife of 66 years, at Moorings Park in Naples, Fla. John and Linda were long time summer residents of Chatham where Linda’s parents started visiting in the late ’40s. He is survived by Linda and their three children Steven, Tom and Mindy as well as seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. J...