HARWICH – During its budget review Monday, the board of selectmen sent a strong message to Monomoy Regional School District officials: cut your budget request. “The school committee felt this was the appropriate budget for the best education possible,” Monomoy Regional School District Superintendent Scott Carpenter said of the $42,801,403 fiscal 2023 request. “We’re in a very competitive landscape on Cape...

HARWICH – The Harwich-Dennis Rotary Club is sponsoring a fundraiser to help Ukrainian refugees. The local club has been communicating with the Rotary Club of Warsaw Wilanow International to aid in distributing humanitarian aid in Ukraine and Poland. The fundraiser is seeking donations online through Saturday, March 26. Money raised will be sent to the Rotary Club Warsaw Wilanow International in Poland for imme...

HARWICH – The Family Pantry of Cape Cod is launching a new feminine hygiene product program to help clients address the inequitable cost of menstrual products. “One in four low income individuals miss school or work because they do not have access to menstrual products to manage their monthly cycle,” Family Pantry Executive Director Christine Menard said. “The Family Pantry is committed to make sure these indi...

HARWICH – The chairman of the finance committee took full responsibility for a “mistake” that led to a complaint that the group violated the state Open Meeting Law. “It was wrong what we did, and we will rectify it, taking all corrective and remedial actions,” Chairman Jon Chorey said at the committee's March 15 meeting. Chorey said he has been communicating with attorney John Giorgio of KP Law, the town's ...

HARWICH – Police departments around the globe are a main source of funding for Special Olympics competitions, and members of the Harwich department will be taking a cold-water plunge to show their support. Deputy Police Chief Kevin Considine is the Barnstable County representative to Special Olympics Mass., working with representatives from every police department on the Cape to assist the nonprofit organizati...

Vice Chair Resigns Over Incident HARWICH – The finance committee has been accused of violating the state Open Meeting Law by continuing to deliberate after the committee officially adjourned its March 3 meeting. The town’s government TV station, Channel 18, captured 53 seconds of the committee deliberating after the official adjournment. The continued discussion after the close of the meeting involved the t...

HARWICH – Shelagh Delaney, the executive assistant in the town clerk’s office, has taken out nomination papers to run for the position vacated by Town Clerk Anita Doucette. Delaney will run against former executive assistant Phil Gaudet, who has also declared his intention to seek the position. Delaney replaced Gaudet as executive assistant in the town clerk’s office in February after a longstanding grievance ...

Resident Seeks To Wrap Yellow Tape Around Blue Fire Hydrants HARWICH – Hoping to show Harwich’s solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine, resident Peter Hughes is requesting that officials approve wrapping yellow tape around the 1,500 blue fire hydrants in town. “Everywhere you go people are talking about the war and saying I wish I could do something,” Hughes said Monday. “I can send money, but I w...

HARWICH – Major personnel changes have been made in the town clerk’s office in the past couple of weeks. Executive Assistant Phil Gaudet was laid off based on a union arbitration decision, shortly after which Town Clerk Anita Doucette moved up her retirement date and left the post she's occupied for the past 30 years. Gaudet had worked in the town clerk’s office for the past 16 months. He was terminated on Feb...

HARWICH – Selectmen on Monday night awarded the three-year food concession lease for the snack shack at Saquatucket Harbor to a New York City restaurant owner.  “We’re excited to be here and we’ll make it someplace you are proud and excited  about,” Becaf LLC, d/b/a Poco NYC owner Arthur Donowski told selectmen after the award was announced. Donowski and Sara Grizzle have operated restaurants in New York Ci...

HARWICH – The planning board is two members short, but tempers are flaring over efforts to fill one of the seats. Selectmen are being asked to consider a reduction in membership, foregoing the need for appointing additional members. At the selectmen’s Feb. 28 meeting, the board’s interview committee nominated Sandy McLardy for the planning board appointment. Selectmen Chairman Michael MacAskill took issue with...

HARWICH – A town meeting petitioned article seeking to ban hunting in the Bell’s Neck Conservation Area drew a lot of debate before the conservation commission last week. But the petition may face a setback in its goal, based on a legal opinion issued by Town Counsel John Giorgio. “To the extent that this article seeks to mandate that hunting not be allowed on the Bell’s Neck Conservation Area, it is not in pr...