HARWICH — The effort to establish a Cape Cod Toy Library, a facility that fosters healthy child development through free play, remains alive, but in West Barnstable, not Harwich. It’s been a couple of years since Chatham resident Deb Willsea floated the idea of the Cape Cod Toy Library, based on a similar project she founded and which has been successful in Rochester, N.Y. Willsea sought to purchase the former...

HARWICH — The latest plans for a proposed mixed-use development at the former Getty gas station lot in Harwich Center were well received by the planning board last week, although issues were raised regarding the buffer zone at the rear of the lot and how the new building will fit into the character of the historic village. This is the second time around for project proponent Saumil Patel, who withdrew an earli...

HARWICH — Harwich Retail made two presentations on Tuesday on its plans for property on Route 28 in West Harwich, one to residents of the community and the other to the planning board, but in both sessions residents made it clear they do not want the 7,489-square-foot retail store the company is proposing located in their village. The project proponents held a 4 p.m. meeting in town hall with 20 people in atte...

HARWICH – The next to the last commencement at the current Cape Cod Regional Technical High School building, which will be replaced by a newer structure in 2021, was held Saturday afternoon. In the presence of a standing-room-only audience of family, fellow students and friends, 109 seniors from Cape towns from Mashpee to North Truro received their high school diplomas and/or technical certificates during a ce...

HARWICH — The dispute between The Port Restaurant and Bar and the abutting Perks Coffee Shop and Beer Garden became a little more fractious this past week, with 541 Main Street LLC, The Port, filing suit in state Land Court challenging the planning board’s issuance of a site plan special permit for Perks. This is the second challenge The Port, managed by Justin and Jared Brackett, has filed in the past few wee...

HARWICH — Brooks Academy Museum will celebrate the 175 th birthday of the historic Brooks Academy building with its seasonal opening Sunday. Native son Sidney Brooks supervised the construction of the building, completed in 1844, which initially served as the Pine Grove Seminary. Today the building belongs to the town of Harwich and is operated as a museum by the Harwich Historical Society. Sunday's opening w...

HARWICH — Selectmen agreed Monday night to establish an ad hoc noise containment committee to develop a policy designed to prevent noise from outdoor entertainment venues in commercial districts from disturbing people living in adjacent residential neighborhoods. Residents who live in and around Harwich Port are especially concerned about the increased volume of music emanating beyond the business district. Ov...

HARWICH — The cemetery commission this past week voted to return the 2.25 acre parcel that had been approved for a pet cemetery on Queen Anne Road to the board of selectmen. That action puts to rest the year-long battle among factions in town over whether a municipal government should be involved in such an enterprise. There has been considerable debate about whether the town did due diligence in developing a ...

HARWICH — While selectmen have approved an increase in a couple of disposal area fees, the board balked at placing a $10 fee on stickers for the Treasure Chest, the town's swap shop. The board also agreed to hold the line on the price of residential disposal area permits for this year. The proposed $10 fee for the Treasure Chest sticker drew debate last week, but questions were raised about the nature of the f...

HARWICH — There was more of a congenial atmosphere last week than previously in the planning board session with the proposed developers of a retail store proposed on Route 28 in West Harwich, even as the board contemplated sending the project to the Cape Cod Commission as a limited discretionary referral. Harwich Retail LLC is proposing to build a 7,489-square-foot store on property at 48 and 52 Route 28; the ...

HARWICH — The town and Monomoy Regional School District received good news this week from bond rating firm S&P Global, which upgraded the town's credit rating to AAA. That could mean substantial costs savings on borrowing. The change is particularly welcome with the town embarking on a multi-million dollar sewer project in the coming years. “Having the AAA rating ensures that the town will enjoy low int...

HARWICH — A proposal to change the harbor management plan to allow the sale of beer and wine at the Dockside Seafood Shack at Saquatucket Harbor drew a storm of protest in the public hearing before selectmen last week. On a split vote, selectmen agreed to make the change to accommodate the beer and wine license at the snack shack. Harbormaster John Rendon said the amendment was being made to address the pro...