HARWICH — The town has received a favorable financial assessment from Standard and Poor's on its ability to borrow general obligation and bond anticipation notes, but the strong financial standing was not enough to push the town's rating to AAA. The S&P Global Rating concluded that the town's long-term rating will remain at AA-plus, due primarily to pension liabilities. Selectmen on Monday night voted t...

HARWICH — During a presentation to selectmen and the finance committee Monday night, the capital outlay committee and Town Administrator Christopher Clark received praise for the planning process conducted this year. But the pricetag facing taxpayers is certainly an eye-opener. Clark had told selectmen in an earlier presentation he is focusing only on the first year of the seven-year plan, defining the project...

Special Town Meeting Suggested To Vote Ban   <Text> by William F. Galvin HARWICH — Selectmen should consider calling a special town meeting before April 1 to put in place zoning regulations on the sale and distribution of recreational marijuana, the town's attorney is recommending. If the town waits until the annual town meeting to act on a ban, there could be a gap between its approval by vote...

HARWICH — Inside Ruggie's restaurant in Harwich Center there is a Christmas tree that lights more than the corner it sits in and the window that faces onto Main Street. It serves to light the faces of little kids on Christmas Day. “I call it the 'Giving Tree',” Matt Rocco, one of the owners of the restaurant, said this week. The tree is an outgrowth of a program started 17 years ago at The Children's Center...

SANDWICH ─ What do you get when combine three talented seniors, a strong junior, and one spot-on diver? Nauset's record-setting performance in the 2017 Bay Colony Conference Relay Carnival. Setting a new meet record in the 200-yard medley relay were Nauset's Carlisle Nash, Jack Johnson, Tanner Cornell, and Coleman Norton, who blew away the previous record of 1:48.47 with their time of 1:44.69 to qualify for ...

HARWICH ─ After a tough start against the D-Y Dolphins last Friday, the Monomoy girls basketball team was able to celebrate their first victory of the season after defeating Cape and Islands League rival Sturgis West 31-21 at home on Monday night. Senior captain Maddie Leonard was the game's high scorer in the outing with nine points overall and eight rebounds, followed closely by junior Caitlin Daley with s...

HARWICH ─ Judy Collins is well aware that, given the country's current political climate, tensions are high. She hopes her music will help, and she's bringing her best to her Dec. 19 concert at Monomoy Regional High School. “It will be me singing everything I know,” said the award winning singer-songwriter. There will be Sondheim, 'Both Sides Now,' a lot of my hits.” Collins has been a beloved folk songst...

Imagine living in a fog of fear and suspicion in war-torn Brussels during the very first years of your life. This is the experience Francoise Webb of Harwich Port describes. Webb has written about her young years during World War II in her new memoir “Safe from the Madness.” “It was horrific what they did—and to witness that brutality,” she said during a telephone interview last week, speaking about the Naz...

“Bah Humbug!” Got a dose of the holiday blues? What’s so special about Christmas anyway, you say? Sounds like you need a healthy dollop of Scrooge’s journey through the past, present and Christmases yet to come. The Cape Cod Theatre Company, home of the Harwich Junior Theatre, comes to the rescue by giving us Eric Hill's adaptation of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol,” a welcome distraction for all during t...

Hunger, homelessness and despair often have a common trait: invisibility. So when firefighters and police officers camped out in public places over the weekend to collect food, toys and money for local social service agencies, it provided an important reminder of a hidden problem. Standing by the roadside or huddled around campfires, the first responders were taking part in the Homeless for the Holidays progra...

Winter Concert A Wonderland Editor: The annual Winter Concert was held Thursday, Dec. 7 at the Monomoy Regional High School in Harwich. Shame on you if you did not make the effort to attend. The program included selected holiday music, much in an upbeat, modern presentation. Music from the Jazz Band, 8-9 Band, Women’s A Capella, Combined Choirs, 10-12 Band and Select Choir highlighted the two-hour progra...

On Santa’s last practice run ‘round the world He lost his poor Rudolph as excitement swirled.   So back through the stars old Santa flew With reindeer and sleigh and the whole elf crew.   He headed toward Mass-a-chu-setts, they called it, For it was the last place his sled had hauled it.   He hoped the glow from his little friend’s nose Would guide him to its color of ...

    CHARLES “BABE” BARRETT 91 “Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill”           Charles A. “Babe” Barrett died December 8 th peacefully at home after a brief illness.           Babe was born in Harwich Port on February 7, 1926 to the late Bradford and Doris(Holmes) Barrett.  He was a member of the Harwich High School class of 1944, which he left early to join the...

Nancy B. Olson             Nancy B. Olson passed away on December, 9 th , 2017 at Cape Cod Hospital. She was 91 years young.             For 54 years, she was the beloved wife of George E. Olson, who passed away in 2001. They cherished every moment this life allowed them to be together. They graduated in the same class from Everett High School, Mass., where they were high school sweethearts.    ...

Dorothy "Theo" Vagenas Long             On December 6th, 2017, Theo Long passed away at Rosewood Manor in Harwich.             Harwich - Her daughter, Margaret Pappas, and Reverend Judith Davis were at her side. She was the beloved wife of the late LeRoy Long whom she was married to for 67 years. Theo leaves behind her son Jonathan Long, (Candace), of Charlottesville, Va., her daughter, Margaret Pappas,...

Let’s put it right out there: First Night Chatham needs additional volunteers this year and next. Needed immediately is a coordinator for the Kids Art Studio, which runs from 2 to 5 p.m. on the afternoon of Dec. 31, First Night. This is a message from First Night’s director of communications John Reed and his wife Alice, who works alongside him. During a recent interview in their South Chatham home the p...