The plovers are back. The small shorebirds have begun returning to the area pretty much on time, according to local officials. The birds have been sighted on Nantucket Sound and Atlantic beaches, and efforts have begun to erect protective measures to help ensure a successful nesting season. Plovers have been spotted on Red River Beach, Bank Street Beach and Merkel Beach in Harwich and at the east end of Har...

HARWICH — Selectmen on Monday night revisited votes on the annual town and school district budgets, generating debate on the spending habits of the community and whether the board should take a stronger position on reducing taxes. Selectman Michael MacAskill has made his position clear, repeatedly saying the growth in the annual operating budget is unsustainable and the town needs to take a break on funding ca...

HARWICH — “Sip, Sample and Sparkle,” the theme for the 18 th Toast of Harwich, is a good characterization of the annual spring kickoff event sponsored by the chamber of commerce at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club on Pleasant Bay.  “It's an event where people like to dress up and come out and enjoy their local restaurants, sample some wines, and see what's new,” said Chamber Executive Director Cyndi William...

HARWICH — The 2.25-mile reconstruction of Lower County Road received the endorsement of selectmen on a 3-2 vote Monday night. The project has been estimated to cost $5.5 million, but Department of Public Works Director Lincoln Hooper told the board he is anticipating bids to be much lower. Hooper told selectmen his department sees this project as the priority road improvement for the community. The project was...

HARWICH — When Tom Gagnon started work with the Harwich Police Department in 1986, the job was a bit different. Law enforcement involved less paperwork, the number of calls was much lower, and what's now known as community policing was just, well, policing. This week, Gagnon will retire as deputy chief after a 33-year career in Harwich. It’s actually been a public safety career of around 40 years for Gagnon,...

HARWICH — Selectmen have made it clear in the FY20 budget process that the cost of capital projects, debt exclusion votes, and increases in the Monomoy Regional School District budget are not sustainable and steps need to be taken to curb spending. When Town Administrator Christopher Clark put forward his balanced budget earlier this month, he was proposing an increase in the room occupancy tax from 4 to 6 per...

HARWICH — Plans have been filed for the redevelopment of the Stonehorse Motel facilities along Route 28 in South Harwich. The planning board will hear the proposal to use new dormitory structures for seasonal workforce housing next month. The petitioner is Main Street Stone Horse, LLC, which purchased the 2.6-acre site earlier this month from Outer Cape Health Services, Inc. for $750,000. The Secretary of Stat...

HARWICH — Selectman Michael MacAskill said this week he will be seeking another three-year term on the board of selectmen. He will join Stephen Ford and Thomas Sherry as candidates vying for two seats on the election ballot in May. “People my age are leaving because they can't afford to live here any more,” MacAskill said. “Fees and taxes are driving them out of town. I'm trying to draw attention to a fiscal c...

HARWICH — Residents will be asked in town meeting in May to ban the procurement or distribution of water or any other beverage in plastic bottles on town owned property. While selectmen seemed supportive of the concept, the board had a number of questions about implementing such a bylaw and postponed a vote pending some wording changes. “We don't need to question the toxicity of plastic. There is no question i...

HARWICH — The historic district and historical commission and residents of Harwich Center had nothing but positive comments last week on the newly presented development plans for the former gas station site in the village. It took the commission less than 30 minutes to unanimously approve a certificate of appropriateness for the mixed use development proposed for the Harwich Center Historic District. Saumil Pa...

HARWICH — Though National Grid will be continuing their replacement of mains and equipment in some locations, enough work will be complete in the next few weeks to allow the utility to lift the moratorium on new natural gas connections, a spokesman said. “We have a small section in Harwich that we’re still working on,” Robert Kievra said. “When that Harwich section is completed, approximately 14 miles of the...

Fund Our Future Forum Shines Light On Impact Of Budget Cuts  BARNSTABLE/HARWICH – While the Monomoy Regional School Committee again reviewed the proposed budget for fiscal year 2020 prior to its approval March 14, educators from several Cape districts shared the impacts of budget cuts in a Fund Our Future forum held at Cape Cod Community College. The Monomoy budget totaling $40,751,482 was unanimously appro...