Barbara Allen Emery Armstrong, beloved “Grammy”, died peacefully in her home in Harwichport on Saturday, May 16, 2020, surrounded by her family.                   Barbara was born in Lombard, Illinois on January 26, 1931 to Howard Porter Emery and Naida Maginnis Emery. She grew up riding horses, loving art and nature. She studied at Lindenwood and DePauw University.                   In June of 1951, ...

HARWICH – As a former educator, Dr. Donna Bender has always had a soft spot in her heart for young people, which is why, when she saw signs announcing the homes of seniors from Monomoy Regional High School, she was struck by all that the pandemic had taken from them. She decided to do something to lift their spirits. “I don’t want to sound like a Pollyanna, but I am most happy if I do something for someone oth...

CHATHAM – A stripped-down annual town meeting warrant, reduced from 39 to 14 or 15 articles, should significantly shorten the session scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. next Monday, June 22, outdoors at Veterans Field. Voters will be seated in the baseball outfield in pairs of socially distanced chairs facing the left field baseline, where Moderator William Litchfield, Chairman of Selectmen Shareen Davis, Town Manag...

Impact Fund To Contribute As Demand Grows Threefold CHATHAM – In the past three months, the number of people served by the small food pantry at Chatham Elementary School has tripled. Given the demand, the pantry, which usually closes when school ends, will continue providing groceries to local residents through the summer. “We obviously have a desperate need that is not going away,” said Principal Robin Mil...

CHATHAM — Saying it would only worsen the crush of vehicles and pedestrians there, selectmen last week rejected a pilot program that would have allowed fishermen to sell their catch directly to customers at the fish pier. The proposal by fisherman Nick Muto sought permission to allow direct retail fish sales for a limited time at the fish pier, building on the success of similar programs in other locations, ...

CHATHAM – When Matthew Hillman arrived at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge as its new manager, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the town had just gone through a controversial review of the refuge's comprehensive conservation plan (CCP). While aspects of the final document still rankle some in town, Hillman found working with town officials and residents one of the most satisfying parts of the job. It's ...

CHATHAM — Despite the disruptions to life on land, the town is making good progress on several key waterways projects. The new trap dock at Old Mill Boat Yard is complete and is already being used by commercial fishermen, the long-awaited observation deck at the fish pier is basically finished, and there’s a plan for completing the dredging at Stage Harbor. In a recent update for selectmen, Health and Natura...

CHATHAM – Because of declining enrollment, there will be only one kindergarten class at Chatham Elementary School next year. The continuing drop in the number of Chatham elementary-age students has also created a disparity between the per-pupil costs at Chatham and Harwich elementary schools, which may require adjustments to the way the Monomoy Regional School District funds its early education program. “Th...

More than 25,000 free meals have been distributed by the Monomoy Regional School District since classes shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Nauset district has also been distributing free meals daily for all school-aged kids in the community over the past several months. Concerned about students continuing to receive the nutritional benefits the food provides after school ends next week, the Monomoy ...

HARWICH — The attorney for The Port and Ember restaurants in Harwich Port has asked the town to preserve evidence and produce records relating to alleged violations of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission’s advisory regarding the sale of beer and wine and on-premise consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorney Raymond Tomlinson, representing the restaurants, said in his notice to the town that...

HARWICH — Remote sections of the town often draw unwanted activities, and conservation lands seem to take the brunt of such spoils. That seems to be the case on land just north of Robbins Pond in North Harwich. The conservation commission is calling for enhanced enforcement in the 16-plus-acre area, including a former cranberry bog and other parcels nearby. Trash has been dumped in the area, dirt bikes roam fr...

HARWICH —The town's summer recreation programs are being put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recreation Department Director Eric Beebe said the summer playground program and the swimming and tennis programs were being canceled, at least for the beginning of the season. He'll be keeping a close eye on what will be allowed in the third phases of Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening of Massachusetts. “There ar...

HARWICH — Fundraising to preserve open space always takes a winding trail of commitments from the community. Perhaps no group has walked that trail more than the Harwich Conservation Trust, which is looking for more of those commitments to purchase a 6.65-acre parcel that will complete a 70-acre conservation puzzle along the Herring River corridor. HCT Executive Director Michael Lach said the path to the purch...

When I sat down at the computer to write my column this week I found myself gazing out the window at nothing in particular in a sort of stupor. My brain had gone silent, my thoughts had vacated and even my eyes didn’t seem to be working right. I had the energy of a sloth and to be fair, that may be underestimating the poor sloth. This wasn’t the first time I’d experienced ennui in the last few months but w...

In the next few years, the Monomoy Regional School Committee will face some significant decisions about the future of its two elementary schools. As we report this week, Chatham's declining enrollment means that Harwich is subsidizing more and more of the cost of running Chatham Elementary School. If the trend continues — and there's every indication that it will — in just a few years there may be only enough stu...

Love For The Love Caravan Editor: The Terraces Orleans wants to sincerely thank Rev. Wesley Williams and friends for organizing the “Love Caravan” that circled by our long term care facility on May 27. The whoop-whoop of the sirens, the honking horns, the line of decorated cars that looked as if it would never end was a sight to behold! Just awesome. We are so grateful to the Orleans and Brewster Police and...