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...

HARWICH — With temperatures reaching above 50 degrees and the earth softening beneath our feet, we find our eyes wandering toward the garden plot in the back yard and wondering what can be done to improve on last year's harvest. Some of those questions can be answered on Saturday at the annual Meet Your Local Farmers gathering at the community center, sponsored by the Harwich Conservation Trust and the Cape an...

HARWICH — Parishioners Monday argued against the issuance of a liquor license to a restaurant located 25 feet from the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Harwich Port, saying it would be detrimental to the mission and spirit of the church and expressing concern for the safety of the congregation. Selectmen granted the license anyway on a split vote, but excluded serving hours on Sundays. Capeside Kitchen, Inc...

HARWICH — With a major focus on Harwich Center underway and town agencies looking at ways to revitalize the village, the new owner of the property at 718 Main St., a 25-unit apartment complex, has plans to upgrade the facilities. The complex, owned by 718 Main Street Realty Trust since 2001, was sold three weeks ago to 718 Main Realty LLC for $3,250,000. The property was purchased in 2001 for $1,535,000. The p...

HARWICH — The Board of Health has agreed to put forward a regulation or bylaw that will ban smoking on public beaches and other recreation department properties in town.  Recreation Director Eric Beebe made a pitch to the health board last week after the recreation and youth commission discussed banning smoking on public beaches more than a month ago, coming to the conclusion such a regulation should be implem...

HARWICH — With Deputy Police Chief Thomas Gagnon retiring in two weeks after 33 years of service, Selectmen on Monday night appointed Lt. Kevin Considine to become the next deputy police chief, effective April 7. Gagnon's retirement, scheduled for April 6, will create several vacancies in the chain of command in the police department. On Monday night, Police Chief David Guillimette put forward a series of reco...