If you see a handful of kids on bicycles out and about in East Harwich, they’re not just having a good time. They’re called the East Harwich Neighbors and they’re on a mission—helping those that need it most during the region’s COVID19 crisis. For the past few weeks, roughly since schools closed, Mercy McLardy, Abby McLardy, Paul McLardy, Caleb Escher, and Autumn Escher have been dropping off fliers around the...

The halls of local schools are largely empty this week after concerns about COVID-19, the virus that causes coronavirus, continue to impact communities at the local, state and national level. In an email to parents from Superintendent Dr. Scott Carpenter, the Monomoy Regional School District announced Saturday that schools would close as of March 16, likely through the end of the district’s April vacation, wit...

HARWICH — Residents along the western end of Queen Anne Road made clear their opposition to the expansion of the Industrial Light Zoning District into their neighborhood during a planning board public hearing last week. Residents who live in the residential area protested a proposed zoning amendment put forward by the board seeking to expand the industrial zone by 35 acres. Town Planner Charleen Greenhalgh sai...

HARWICH — The conservation commission has been sued by property owners along Wychmere Harbor for denial of a request to relocate, reconstruct and maintain an existing set of beach access steps and decks and construct a new dock, ramp and float system at 30 Harbor Rd. The suit was filed by attorney Glenn A. Wood of Rubin and Rudman, LLP of Boston on behalf of Alfred and Carol Novak who, through their agent Shor...

HARWICH — The Trampoline Center along Route 28 will be getting a face lift for the first time in its 60 years of operation. The planning board last past week approved a number of improvements, including a snack shack and parking upgrades. Michael Doucette made the presentation before the board on behalf of Donna Smith, owner of the center. He said the business enters is in its 60th year of operation with littl...

UPDATED MARCH 14, 8 p.m. In an email to parents from Superintendent Dr. Scott Carpenter, the Monomoy Regional School District announced Saturday that schools will close as of Monday. The Nauset Public Schools will also be closing as of March 16. On Friday, Superintendent Robert Sanborn confirmed that Cape Cod Regional Technical High School will be closed for two weeks beginning March 16. Students will be wo...

HARWICH — Clearing the way for repairs to the leaky belfry, crews carefully removed the church bell from the First Congregational Church Monday afternoon to applause from a small group of spectators below. Having cut away one of the columns to create a sufficiently wide opening, crews gingerly removed the 182-year-old bell from the belfry of the Fir...

HARWICH — The good news is work at the intersection of Routes 137 and 39 is nearly finished. The bad news is that work will continue north on Route 137, necessitating several detours and closures over the coming weeks. Access to the commercial area in East Harwich has been difficult, to say the least, as the town works on installing sewer mains. On Monday officials gathered to work out a traffic control plan f...

HARWICH — The state, several local agencies and Cape Tech are working together to provide more technical training and employment opportunities for adults through a new school program aimed at providing training for under-employed and unemployed adults. On Friday a dozen adult Cape residents graduated from the newly established program after completing a seven-week HVAC training program run in conjunction with ...

HARWICH — Given the town meeting battle last year that nearly saw a rejection of the $69 million budget, town officials have sharpened their pencils, and Interim Town Administrator Joseph Powers has presented selectmen with a proposed budget for FY21 that represents a 0.33 percent increase. The selectmen, finance committee and capital outlay committee met in a lengthy session on Saturday to go over the budget,...

HARWICH — Sara Chase lives on the south side of Route 28 in South Harwich, on the opposite side of Route 28 from the utility lines that run from pole to pole along the edge of the state highway. Chase assumed she would not have to worry about the beautiful English elm tree on the lawn in front of her home. Chase owns the Captain James M. Ellis House, built circa 1865, and she has cherished the English elm that...

NORTH HARWICH — Nearly a month after the brutal attack that almost took its life, Scottie, the seven-year-old Welsh pony, is on the mend. While the close-knit community of equestrians on Cape Cod is still trying to come to grips with the cruelty of the crime, things are beginning to get back to normal, stable owner Claire Bangert said this week. “Scottie is recovering,” she said. The horse is now at a veter...