HARWICH — The second reading of the town fuel efficient vehicle policy was approved Monday night without a hitch, but efforts by the administration to put the policy in motion required exhaustive debate. The policy is part of the town's effort to implement the Green Communities program approved by town meeting in May. Two of the five criteria for the program were approved in town meeting and the town fuel effi...

HARWICH — Selectmen on Monday night deferred moving forward with an application to expand the Schoolhouse parking lot, instead agreeing to appoint a seven-member committee that will look at parking issues throughout the town. Parking has become the hot topic in Harwich Port this year with an expanding business climate attracting more people into the village coupled with the loss of some parking spaces to new d...

HARWICH — The owner of Resilient Family Farm, who has been battling with the town for nearly two years over permitting issues, has filed a lengthy lawsuit in Barnstable Superior Court claiming he has been defamed by regulatory boards and department directors and administrators. Barry Dino Viprino has been doing battle with the town over the commercial status of his farm at 35 Chatham Rd. as well as wetland iss...

HARWICH — The waterways committee is supporting a pilot program growing kelp off Herring River this winter, with the understanding that project proponent Mark Kelleher will work with Harbormaster John Rendon to resolve any potential navigation issues. Kelleher will be doing business as Kelpeher Farms and presently is going through the permitting process to locate two kelp arrays outside Herring River. One woul...

HARWICH – It was the All-Star Game that almost wasn't, but after a rain-dampened afternoon at Whitehouse Field, the first pitch was finally thrown just after 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night in the annual battle between East and West, this year won by the West with a final score of 4-3. Umbrellas dotted the stands for the majority of the event thanks to intermittent but at times heavy showers passing over the Lower C...

ORLEANS – Curling is a sport that's been around since the 1500s, originating in Scotland before becoming popular in Canada with the immigration of the Scots. Evelyn and John Nostrand of Chatham competed for years. Their immense love of the sport is why they're lending their support in the creation of a new curling club at the Charles Moore Arena in Orleans. “People are interested in it for the socializing and ...

HARWICH – Cape Cod has been home to many bands in the past, and one struggling to make a name for itself is Canon Hill. Around since 2013, the band has changed its lineup several times in its four-year history, but the two constants have been vocals and lead guitarist Logan Tichnor and drummer Ben Hayden. “Me and Ben were in eighth grade,” said Tichnor, “and Ben was in a band, but then he wasn't in a band anym...

Elements Theater Company is doing what it does best in Noël Coward’s “Blithe Spirit,” with spot-on accents, perfect diction and impeccable attention to historical detail. Written during World War II, the comedy of manners was an effort by the playwright to provide a lighter perspective on death by borrowing elements from the supernatural and romantic comedy. The play opens on wealthy couple Ruth and Charles Co...

Trouble just seems to follow Tom Sawyer, and Tom doesn’t seem to want to steer clear of it either. Aunt Polly has her hands full raising both Tom and his brother Sid. The mischievous child is always in the middle of one pickle or another. He’s late for school, never finishes assignments, explores where he’s not supposed to go and sneaks around all with a twinkle in his eye and a tick in his pocket. When one of...

The Benefits Of Seniority Editor: Mr. Lindsay, David Bixby,and J. Denis Glover: The Chatham airport has been here a lot longer than you have, and why weren't you aware of the proximity to your property when you bought your home here? Barry Fulcher Chatham   Democracy Not In Action Editor: Congratulations to the folks of Wellfleet who convinced MassDOT to change their plans for a roundabo...

“First the tide rushes in Plants a kiss on the shore Then rolls out to sea and the sea is very still once more” The Righteous Brothers I’m a beach guy. Not everyone is. I’ve been going to the same beach between Holway Street and Andrew Harding's Lane for more than 70 years. The water there is always too cold. This year, the spring, or the lack of spring, had me totally discouraged. I was afraid it wou...

We’ve had a stretch of great weather recently, and it seems like more people than ever are taking to kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to explore area waterways. It’s a fun, healthy, family-friendly activity that’s popular with lots of visitors – many of whom haven’t spent much time on the water. Becoming a recreational boater usually requires a little financial commitment: buying the boat, maintaining it, tran...

ORLEANS — This time, there were no shells flying over the dunes. A crowd gathered in the parking lot at Nauset Beach July 21 to commemorate the centennial of the only enemy gunfire to strike American soil in World War I. In 1918, a German submarine fired at a passing tug and its barges, with stray shells landing on shore. Selectmen Chairman Alan McClennen set the stage. “You all arrived on Beach Road,” he...

ORLEANS — Rather than plunge into a multi-million-dollar plan to preserve Nauset Beach uses, the selectmen will consider treading water for a year. Faced last week with two options presented by DPW/Natural Resources Director Tom Daley – reconstructing rest room and administration facilities in the parking lot or rebuilding up above on the Hubler property – the board asked its consultants to explore a third p...

ORLEANS — The most eloquent witness at last week's dog hearing never made a sound. Sitting placidly or resting on his side, Bear the dog let his human companion, Peter Christian, do the talking as the selectmen responded to complaints about Bear biting people in town. Just weeks before, the board ordered another dog euthanized. Animal control officer Duane Boucher detailed several incidents: a man bitten ...