HARWICH — After five months of deliberation, the appeals board last week approved the 40B comprehensive permit for Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod's project off Route 28 in West Harwich on a 3-2 vote. The approval paves the way for the creation of an eight-lot subdivision on 2.46 acres, of which six lots will provide affordable homeownership dwellings. The two lots along Route 28 will eventually be held in se...

HARWICH — The message was clear Monday night: the town will need more money to do the preservation work at Brooks Free Library. Two recent bid submissions have come in well over the $490,000 the town has dedicated to the project. “We're going to need more money to do this project and we don't have that money floating around,” Town Administrator Christopher Clark told selectmen. That position was supported b...

HARWICH — The conservation commission has issued fines to Francis Zarette, owner of the fish house along the Herring River, for work done outside the emergency order the commission approved in January to shore up the structure. The commission also issued its approval of the after-the-fact filing for the emergency structural work and site improvements, though there was opposition to that approval and an effort ...

HARWICH — Everyone had something to celebrate at the National Health Center Week legislative breakfast Aug. 16. The Community Health Center of Cape Cod held a grand reopening of its expanded Bourne office just the night before. The Duffy Health Center of Hyannis reported on its new program to cure Hepatitis C. And the event's host, Outer Cape Health Services, showed off its new space, much of it still under ...

HARWICH — Senior health inspector Meggan Eldredge has been named to replace Paula Champagne as the town's new health director. Selectmen on Monday night confirmed the appointment made by Town Administrator Christopher Clark. Eldredge has served in the Harwich Health Department for nearly five years. Clark told selectmen she has more than18 years of experience. “It's nice to see an internal promotion as well...

HARWICH — The Saquatucket Harbor waterside dredging and reconstruction project will be moving forward this fall, but no decision has been made at this point on whether the town will proceed with the landside project based on the bids opened last week. Selectmen on Monday night voted to award the waterside reconstruction project to BTT Marine Construction of East Boston, the low bidder. In doing so, selectmen a...

HARWICH — The last time viewers watched fireworks associated with the Harwich Cranberry Festival was a soggy Friday night in September 2008 along Red River Beach. This year, the tradition is being revived through the efforts of the Harwich Chamber of Commerce. “The Harwich Chamber of Commerce is the organizing and coordinating group for this long tradition in partnership with the Harwich Cranberry Festival,...

HARWICH — The town received several competitive bids for the Saquatucket Harbor marine side reconstruction project expected to begin in October. Two of the base bids were within the $7 million appropriation approved in the May for the project. There were seven bids filed with base bids ranging from $6.8 to $9.1 million. There were three alternates also provided in the bid package. The low bidder was BTT Marine...

For years, local youngsters have enjoyed hands-on lessons in biology, climate science and ecology thanks to programs sponsored by the nonprofit Friends of Pleasant Bay. Soon, they'll be getting those lessons out on the bay itself, on a custom-built floating classroom. The 35-foot-long pontoon boat is being designed by South Carolina-based American Pontoon and is expected to be built this fall and winter. If al...

HARWICH — The turnout was thin Monday night for the annual non-resident taxpayers meeting. Those in attendance learned about building and road projects on the horizon and the financial health of the town. Public access to Beach 22 off Shore Road in West Harwich continued to be a topic of discussion as it has for a number of years. Town Administrator Christopher Clark said the number one priority for beach nour...

HARWICH – “It is a very big deal for the museum!” Thus did Janet Cassidy, executive director of the Harwich Historical Society, describe the event held last Friday afternoon in the Brooks Academy Museum in Harwich Center. With some 25 Society members present, Chad Tragakis, president of the Potomac Decoy Collectors Association, presented the organization with an original and pristine A. Elmer Crowell duck deco...

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...