HARWICH – Gov. Charlie Baker's new mandate on the size of public gatherings has forced the Harwich Town Band to cancel its planned summer concerts. Conductor Tom Jahnke said with 35 band members and four monitors, social distancing requirements would only allow 11 audience members at Brooks Park. “We think it best to cancel now instead of having to turn away people,” he said in an email. “I am extremely dis...

HARWICH PORT – A lobster clambake, with a side of community spirit, would go a long way in filling the void the coronavirus pandemic is creating in our dining and social habits this summer. Outer Cape Health Services plans to help satiate these desires with its “Lobster Without the Fest” fundraiser. In the past OCHS has held an annual Lobster Fest gala and auction event. Because of the pandemic, however, co...

HARWICH — Members of the public provided input last week on a zoning provision designed to meet the goals of the West Harwich District of Critical Planning Concern approved by the county last December. Town Planner Charleen Greenhalgh said the call for the DCPC was driven by a proposal to build a 7,400-square-foot retail store along Route 28 and to demolish an old sea captain’s home on the site. This raised a ...

HARWICH — Selectmen clearly plan to relocate next month's annual town meeting to the football field at Monomoy Regional High School and change the meeting date to a Saturday, but the board has yet to vote on the change. A group of town officials met at the field this past week with MRHS custodial staff to work through the details for its use and came away with the position that “it’s workable,” Board of Select...

HARWICH – Sometimes working backwards can be a good thing, at least when it comes to creating a school reopening plan in the midst of a global pandemic. According to Superintendent Scott Carpenter, that’s what district educators did in creating the plan for Monomoy Schools, securing its approval from the School Committee on Aug. 6. The plan, Carpenter said, was drafted after looking at similar plans from ot...

HARWICH — When the political season heats up, yard signs demonstrating candidate support have been known to fall victim to political prejudice. That was the case in and around Harwich Center last weekend, with numerous campaign signs torn up and trashed. On Sunday Selectman Ed McManus posted a photo on Facebook of his signs for U. S. Senate candidate Congressman Joseph Kennedy, County Commission candidate Mark...

HARWICH — A report by state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission investigators alleges the Port Restaurant and Bar violated several safety standards under the emergency order the commonwealth has in place to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second alleged violation of emergency regulations by The Port. Attorney Raymond Tomlinson said the restaurant is being targeted. “There is plainly a push in th...

Parents Given Option Of Continuing Remote Learning   HARWICH – While many school districts are preparing plans for three possibilities – a full return to school, a partial or hybrid return, and the continuation of remote learning – the 47-page draft Monomoy plan only includes a hybrid learning plan and plans to shift back to remote learning if necessary. A full reopening, said Superintendent of Schools Scot...

HARWICH — The Harwich Historical Society is looking for people to become a part of the town’s history by sharing first-hand experiences about living through the coronavirus pandemic. The society is collecting these experiences to help future generations understand what it was like living through this time. “Your observations now can be the primary sources for future historians,” Harwich Historical Society Dire...

HARWICH — Time may not be on the side of the planning board and Town Planner Charleen Greenhalgh as they work to shape a West Harwich district of critical planning concern article for the annual town meeting planned for late September. Greenhalgh and board members have been talking about putting together a document to meet the minimum DCPC guidelines for the September meeting and returning for additional provi...

HARWICH — Selectmen could not come to a conclusion Monday night on the hiring of a permanent town administrator. After two motions failed, the board agreed to retain Interim Town Administrator Joseph Powers for one year. “No comment,” Powers responded Tuesday morning to an email asking if he had made a decision on continuing in the interim town administrator job. Discussions on the choosing of a new town ad...

Tracking turtles isn’t as easy as one might think, but Michael Musnick, a passionate amateur herpetologist, is doing his best.  Holding an antenna and receiver, Musnick sets off down one of the grassy trails leading from the parking lot of Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve.  On the preserve’s 66 acres, somewhere, hides a female Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina). Wa...