Save our Bay on Holtec ballot question; keeping kids safe online | LETTERSCape Cod TimesSave Our Bay group wants state to get tough with Holtec over radioactive wasteOne of our responsibilities as citizens is to petition our government for redress of actions that injure people and the environment. Article One of the Massachusetts State Constitution enshrines the right to seek and obtain safety. This right summons us to speak out on Holtec International’s disregard for our communities and environment as a result of their illegal airborne radioactive pollution discharge during decommissioning work at the Pilgrim nuclear power station in Plymouth At the 2025 spring town elections, 14 Cape Cod towns, along with Plymouth and Scituate, citizens will have the opportunity to speak out on this serious matter via the ballot Holtec planned to dump radioactive wastewater in clear violation of notice from the Environmental Protection Agency and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) that this discharge was illegal an advisory petition question will appear on 16 spring town ballots Healey and her administration that they must enforce environmental laws and regulations to stop Holtec’s illegal airborne gaseous discharge of radiological and chemically contaminated industrial wastewater from Pilgrim Radionuclides must be isolated from our communities and the environment DirectorCape DownwindersSave Our Bay MA CoalitionHarwich Harwich voters will be asked whether to support Article 20entitled Great Sand Lakes Wastewater Construction The project involves an appropriation of funds for the construction of a sewer line along Queen Anne Road and sewer hook-ups for approximately 270 properties The project is critical for a number of reasons: First it will help reduce excess nutrients flowing into John Joseph Pond Kiddie Pond and Sand Lake by transporting human waste to the Chatham wastewater treatment plant instead of allowing it to leach into the groundwater from septic systems Excess nutrients compromise water quality and contribute to cyanobacteria blooms Bucks Pond has seen recurrent blooms and beach closures As stated explicitly in the application that Town Administrator Joseph Powers submitted for state funds for the project “The groundwater travels downgradient of the Great Sand Lakes coming into contact with wells 5-7 in the Town of Harwich The working area along with a major of the downgradient area is within multiple Zone II drinking water protectionareas Reliance on septic systems has resulted in excessive phosphorus (and other contaminants from Title 5 septic system effluent) loading into the groundwater which threatens the quality of the drinking water supply…”Third if Harwich does not approve an appropriation of funds for the project before June 30 we will lose forever the $31 million finance package that the 2025 MA State Revolving Fund Draft Intended Use Plan allocated to Harwich for the project Harwich is required to implement the project at some point anyway due to its inclusion in the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Missing the deadline means that Harwich taxpayers will have to pay millions more in the future to make the project happen Harwich taxpayers already pay for sewer flow to the Chatham wastewater treatment plant that is underutilized due to insufficient sewer infrastructure The Great Sand Lakes Wastewater Construction Project will use sewer capacity that we already pay for Implementing the project will result in a more efficient use of our tax money.Please attend Town Meeting on May 5-6 and vote yes for Article 20 The Hidden Risks: Protecting Children in a Hyper-Connected WorldRecent dialogue with students conducted by Children's Cove in partnership with The Monomoy Regional School District and The Institute for Responsible Online and Cell Phone Communication (IROC2) has revealed a stark reality: We are significantly underestimating children's engagement with technology and the inherent dangers they face The level of understanding displayed by these young individuals particularly regarding emerging technologies like AI This digital fluency comes with a troubling downside Most of the elementary and middle school students identified as "gamers," communicating online half the students reported being hacked or knowing someone who was Children who haven't yet reached high school are already encountering individuals online with malicious intent a nationally recognized expert on online threats points out so called digitally native children are the “unwitting test pilots of rapidly evolving technologies and they are bearing the brunt of the associated risks.” The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports a staggering 300% increase in online enticement of children between 2021 and 2023 The Children’s Cove 2024 Regional Report on Sexual Exploitation of Children reveals a similar shift with over half of all cases of sexual exploitation referred to Southeastern Massachusetts Children’s Advocacy Centers last year occurring exclusively online — sextortion or online exploitation without any in-person interaction This trend has been a longstanding issue on the Cape & Islands and the warning we delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic has stood the test of time: those who mean to harm and exploit children will follow them where they go The landscape of child sexual exploitation has shifted dramatically particularly since the pandemic accelerated the merging of our physical and online lives The outdated approach of simply confiscating devices is no longer viable and while the continued dangers of sexting and sharing nude photographs among teenagers remain a critical concern April was National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the pivotal role of parents and caregivers cannot be overstated The Monomoy students we spoke with are taught digital citizenship and safe technology use in school starting in kindergarten Where they are not permitted to use cell phones or gaming devices at school - this concerning activity largely happens in the home While students were taught additional skills for safety in these recent sessions we must loudly and clearly emphasize the responsibility of every adult in a child's life to understand technology and actively integrate safety into that child’s online world The internet is woven into the fabric of our existence present in everything from our appliances to our healthcare We must redefine "online" and recognize that every internet-enabled device is a tool It is imperative children are educated in specific regard to protecting personal information online They must  understand that all online actions are Public and Permanent® Jacob StapledonCommunity Engagement and Education Program ManagerChildren’s CoveBarnstable Voters at Harwich town meeting will decide whether to approve spending about $9 million to replace leaky windows and siding at Monomoy Regional Middle School Chatham residents will also have to vote at their town meeting to approve the work Both towns will also hold elections where the question will be decided The siding and windows need to be replaced to stop water from damaging the building’s interior and creating poor indoor air quality we have significant issues happening on the exterior both the siding and trim around the windows advance,” said Edward McManus co-chair of the Monomoy Middle School siding project building committee The town meeting will be held on Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m. at the community center at 100 Oak St. in the gymnasium. The 57-article annual town meeting warrant is available on the website On Monday night after a presentation by school officials the Select Board voted to support the article They had previously voted to indefinitely postpone the article but Chairman Jeffrey Handler said during an April 8 meeting they would review that decision pine trim around windows and the entire building is deteriorating and creating openings for rainwater plywood sheathing is rotting in some areas and rotting cedar drip edges no longer divert water away from the building McManus said that the spray foam insulation is also used to keep rainwater out and birds like to dig it out to use to make nests The school is located at Crowell Road in Chatham If the project is approved at the town meetings and following the procurement process The total project will cost $11.5 million and will be proportionally split between the towns of Chatham and Harwich Harwich and Chatham approved $2.5 million to pay for work on the project Harwich’s share of the project will be $6,918,300 and Chatham will pay $2,088,730 Taxpayers in the towns pay for capital projects at the middle and high school levels according to the Monomoy Regional Agreement The regional agreement says that capital projects at the middle and high school are split proportionally based on the enrollment ratio of students living in Harwich and Chatham in grades 5 through 12 23% of those students live in Chatham and 77% live in Harwich according to the presentation provided to the Select Board on Monday If borrowing for the middle school siding and windows is spread over 25 years the average impact on a home in Harwich would be about $58 per year and the impact on the average home in Chatham would be approximately $16 per year Borrowing for the subsequent middle school roofing project would add about $20 per year to a Harwich tax bill and about $6 to a Chatham tax bill Second phase of projectIn the second phase the project will include the replacement of the school’s roof With the exception of the areas replaced in 2018 after significant storm damage the middle school roof was last replaced in 1997 This project will be submitted for approval at town meetings in 2026 The total project cost is estimated to be $8.5 million with a state MSBA Accelerated Repair reimbursement of 37% which is not available for siding projects About $5.3 million will be proportionally split between Chatham and Harwich Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription.  Here are our subscription plans Editor's note: The body of the missing Harwich man has been found. Here's the latest update Members of the Brewster police and fire departments, Harwich police and state police were searching Tuesday for a 23-year-old man who was reported missing on Monday Police were searching around the Route 137 and Freemans Way area Harwich and Brewster police reported the man missing on the agencies' Facebook pages is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs 180 pounds He was last seen wearing tan pants and a blue shirt Tuesday rescuers continued to search areas off Freemans Way in Brewster and in nearby conservation areas The rescuers had searched until about 1 a.m Tuesday and then began the search again at morning light A state police helicopter was flown as part of the nighttime search A Barnstable County technical rescue team and rescuers from the Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Council were called on to conduct the search Anyone with information can call the Harwich Police Department at 508-430-7541 Brewster police posted on Facebook that the fire department and state police began a search for the man Police activity was increased in the area due to the ongoing search Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.       A Harwich man who was reported missing on Monday At about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Brewster police posted in a Facebook update that the 23-year-old man had been located. A search for him had been underway for more than 12 hours State police are continuing an investigation but there does not appear to be any foul play involved Brewster police announced they began a search around the Route 137 and Freemans Way area A drone was sent up Tuesday morning as part of the search rescuers were continuing their search in Brewster A Barnstable County technical rescue team and the Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Council and local and state police assisted in the search Desiree Nikfardjam is a reporter covering breaking and trending news. She graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. You can reach her at DNikfardjam@gannett.com Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans the Harwich Police Department announced they had found a missing man deceased in Brewster  The Harwich Police Department issued a missing person alert for a 23-year old Harwich man on Tuesday morning after he did not show up to work on Monday Search and rescue crews from around Cape Cod converged on the area of Freeman's Way in Brewster to search after his car was located in the area by family members Massachusetts State Police took over the investigation on Tuesday and officials had no additional comment about the matter environmental and health organizations from around Cape Cod came together to share important information with residents Hosted by the town of Harwich at the Cultural Arts Municipal Building at 204 Sisson Road health and environmental lectures by local experts Representatives from Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment were in attendance and hosted a table with information on water quality The County’s public health nurses provided health screenings including sun safety and “Ask a Public Health Nurse” health consultations Lab Assistant with Barnstable County Water Quality Lab Care Resource Coordinator/Reportable Disease Care Investigator A Harwich woman accused of killing several of her sheep has been indicted on 15 counts of animal cruelty Meredith Viprino pleaded not guilty to the charges during her arraignment at Barnstable Superior Court on Wednesday No lawyer was listed for Viprino as of Thursday According to a police report, a Harwich police officer received a call around 3:19 p.m. on Nov. 25, and the caller stated that their son had bought 35 Chatham Road in Harwich three days earlier The property was in foreclosure and had been put up for auction in July 2024 The caller and her brother walked the property on Nov 25 and saw dead sheep in a stall when they entered the barn The caller also said they met a woman later identified as Viprino The property's previous owner is listed as Barry Viprino Meredith Viprino told them "she knows about the deceased animals and she is leaving them to decompose," according to the police report The caller returned to the house the next day to put fresh water and hay in the stall for the three living sheep and only found one sheep still alive A Harwich police officer and animal control officer then went to the house where they met Viprino in the driveway and said they had been told about the dead animals and wanted to check any living animals in the barn Viprino allegedly told them there were no longer any living animals and she had killed the remaining sheep that morning by stabbing them in the throat they found two dead sheep with stab wounds in their throat A third sheep was also wounded in the throat but still alive though a veterinarian later had to euthanize this animal due to its poor condition The animal control officer counted a total of five sheep with evidence of neck lacerations and a total of 15 dead sheep "While checking further for any additional living animals inside the barn area I observed numerous deceased sheep in varying stages of decay some with skeletal remains showing," reads the police report "Many of the sheep were too badly decomposed to see if they too had suffered neck injuries." Police also found a lack of food and water in the stalls Viprino was placed under arrest and taken to the Harwich Police Department where she was later released on $500 cash bail In 2017, Meredith Viprino and her husband, Barry, were in regulatory hot water with their farming plans for property they owned in Harwich HARWICH – Following the retirement of John Rendon the select board Monday affirmed the appointment of John Harker as the town’s new harbormaster effective March 31 Harker is a former commanding officer in the Coast Guard and served as an executive officer supervising aids to navigation at sector Woods Hole maintenance and record keeping for floating and fixed aids to navigation from Cape Cod to Rhode island.According to his resume supervisor and mentor during 15 years of his 22-year career in the Coast Guard He referred to himself as a self-starter who is motivated progressive and advanced into executive management roles and command positions  Rendon spent 13 years running the harbor department after working in Chatham where he served as deputy harbormaster after spending four years at the U Coast Guard Academy and 21 years in the Coast Guard Rendon said he had some interaction with Harker while in the Coast Guard but got to know him better while the new harbormaster was serving at Coast Guard Sector Woods Hole when Rendon was serving as harbormaster.“I think very highly of him and he’s got all the maritime experience you want well-spoken and I think the harbor department is in good hands with him at the helm,” Rendon said of Harker this week from his residence in Horseshoe Bay Texas.Rendon had planned to retire in March but moved the date up to January because he wanted to spend quality time with his parents He will be back on the Cape in May for the summer so the town has not completely lost him to his Texas roots He said he will be around Saquatucket Harbor this summer “I loved every bit of my job,” Rendon said and being in a readiness state when needed was enjoyable It was a great place to work with the harbors rivers and beautiful waterways throughout the town making it enjoyable and challenging It was a great second career for me and it fit well with my skill set.”Rendon took on some major projects along the waterfront during his tenure He worked to upgrade all of the harbors in town including the reconstruction of the town pier in Wychmere Harbor; upgrading the parking facilities at Allen Harbor; a new ramp at Round Cove; and reconfiguring the Wixon Dock facilities on the Herring River His biggest accomplishment was the $3.6 million waterfront and landside renovations to Saquatucket Harbor.“The Harwich residents trusted me to get the job done and provided support in town meeting,” said Rendon “I hope they thought the money was well spent and that we improved the waterfront It was a wonderful town to work in and there was so much help from all of the various departments and maritime assistance cases and it took a team.”“The two Johns they’re cut from the same cloth,” Town Administrator Joseph Powers said of Rendon and Harker and implementation of the Cape Cod Maritime Response System and partnered with Barnstable County dispatch and regional harbormasters to unify efforts and increase operational effectiveness and safety according to his resume.Harker has a masters’s degree in homeland security with a concentration in emergency management and geographic information technology from Northeastern University He has also served as an adjunct professor at Endicott College developing and teaching courses in business negotiations and management counter terrorism and emergency management and preparedness      Harker’s appointment comes with a six-month probationary period He must obtain his state harbormaster’s certification within two years His starting salary is $101,617 and it will increase to $104,159 when he obtains the certification but there will be no one to keep a close eye on them Natural Resources Director Don Yannuzzi is resigning effective Friday “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made,” Yannuzzi said as it has been a privilege to serve the town of Harwich in these capacities,” he wrote in his letter of resignation I am no longer able to feasibly manage the commute and travel requirements associated with these roles.”  Yannuzzi said he cannot afford to live on the Cape For the past half of a year he has been living in Middleborough “The harbor department has been the reason I’ve stuck through some of the rollercoasters,” he said Yannuzzi served as the director of natural resources He worked in the town’s harbor department before he was hired as director of natural resources in September 2023 replacing longtime director Heinz Proft when he retired.His departure will come about three months after harbormaster John Rendon retired after serving for 13 years New harbormaster John Harker took over the position at the beginning of this month after a 22-year career in the Coast Guard.Oversight of the town’s herring fishery is a major component of Yannuzzi’s position Harwich has a long history of herring providing an economic boost to the town From 1870 to 1900 the herring run generated among the highest annual revenue of any town in the state  A harvesting moratorium was put in place in 2005 based on low fish counts and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Committee has approved a plan created by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the town’s natural resources department to lift the ban.Last year the diadromous fisheries leader with DMF and a Harwich resident but the select board cited an absence of staff and volunteers to re-open the fishery Chase said at that time that he anticipated the ban would be lifted this year there are no decisions I know of,” Yannuzzi said of lifting the ban this year.Yannuzzi said he has had three residents interested in volunteering at the herring run reach out to him in the past year but once they learned of the commitment required He said he has relied on Harwich Conservation Trust staff whom he called “the best group one could ask for.” But he said there aren’t enough volunteers to oversee the run It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride trying to get department staffing where it needs to be he said.The town is now advertising for a new director of natural resources with an annual pay range between $89,816 and $112,035.Among tasks listed for the director are serving as shellfish constable herring warden and natural resources officer and being responsible for enforcing statutes polices and regulations related to facilities and natural resources and the harbor management plan.Yannuzzi indicated he was willing to help the department “to ensure a seamless transition,” and he remains open to discussing potential remote opportunities to support continuity in departmental operations He said he has not had a response to his offer.When asked if he has another job waiting though he added that his ultimate goal is to become a Massachusetts Environmental Police officer The former Royal Harwich Village Assisted Living facility in Harwich is set to begin its new life as a housing development later this year The site at 328 Bank St. has been converted into the Dylan James Apartments featuring 26 new apartments in two side-by-side buildings Developers expect the project to be ready for occupancy in August Rents for start at $1,800 for studios and one-bedrooms "We don't have anything set through the state as listed as affordable housing but we do accept all forms of payment and vouchers," said Marketing Coordinator for Newman Properties Kevin Leech Payments and vouchers accepted include Section 8 The HomeBASE program helps families eligible for Emergency Assistance Family Shelter by providing up to $30,000 over two years with the option of a third year and the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program gives short-term emergency funding to help with eviction The assisted living facility closed in 2019 and was vacant for roughly two months before Newman Properties of Brookline and Longfellow Design purchased it with plans to gut the buildings and turn them into homes for year-round Cape residents The renovation process began at the end of 2022 kitchens with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances Some units have in-unit laundry but on-site laundry will also be provided for the entire building Half of the units also have private outdoor patios or porches Interested applicants can go to the property's website at www.dylanjamesapartments.com which will direct them to the vacancies page where they can see units the Harwich Planning Board voted unanimously to approve with conditions a modification of a site plan special permit to allow for a change in the exterior lighting after recommendations from the Harwich Historic District and Historical Commission Newman Properties and its affiliates own and manage over 500 residential units and many office and retail properties The company has bought and sold over $500 million worth of property in areas surrounding Boston In December, Newman Properties also bought the 1988-built Harwich East Plaza by the intersection of Orleans-Harwich Road (Route 39) and Brewster-Chatham Road for $11.5 million, according to the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds The Harwich shopping center features East Harwich Market HARWICH PORT – Construction has begun on the last vacant lot in the center of Harwich Port  Main Street HP LLC is constructing a mixed-use development on the lot across Route 28 from Cumberland Farms that is expected to house a major restaurant retail shops and five one-bedroom apartments on the second story.Plans for the project have been in the works for several years The planning board approved the mixed-use development in August 2022 and issued an extension for the project last summer we’re proceeding with the development fully We’re committed to getting it built,” said owner Dennis Miller.A foundation will be dug this week and construction on the building will begin in May He said the project will be completed and ready for occupancy by spring 2026.When the mixed-use development was approved by the planning board the project called for a 3,000-square-foot restaurant two 1,000-square-foot retail shops and five one-bedroom apartments on the second floor Miller said there could be some internal adjustments in restaurant and shop sizes but nothing that would alter the conditions of the permit Earlier plans to move forward with the project were delayed while he tried to locate an anchor restaurant for the building.“I’m far enough along with a couple of people and very confident in going forward,” Miller said of interest expressed in the restaurant space so I’m very confident.”Potential tenants want 400- to 600-square-foot shops or 1,500-square-foot shops so it is likely some of the spaces may be reconfiguring There is very little retail space available in Harwich Port right now who owns several properties in the village   Miller said his project  and the redevelopment of his neighbor's building on the corner of Bank Street and Route 28 in which a clothing store is proposed are expanding the village to the east It will tie in with the new Saquatucket Harbor to Bank Street sidewalk under construction he added.There will also be a lot of parking added with the two projects Miller’s lot is about three-quarters of an acre but he added two additional properties he owns at 571 and 569 Route 28 to the site plan to increase parking Most of the parking will be located behind the new building.There is a lot of interest in making improvements to infrastructure in Harwich Port A traffic study funded by the town made a number of recommendations for improving traffic and pedestrian safety and sidewalk lighting would be great additions to the village Harwich Port could be the quintessential seaside village on the Cape A New Jersey skilled-nursing management company, with locations in Worcester, Quincy, Taunton, Harwich and other Massachusetts communities is being accused of billing Medicare and Medicaid for unreasonable and unnecessary services The allegations against RegalCare Management are outlined in a complaint filed by the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office and the state Attorney's General's Office are three of 19 skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut accused of wrongdoing The complaint alleges that "RegalCare systematically caused Medicare to be billed for the highest level of skilled rehabilitation therapy services at RegalCare’s facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut despite patients not clinically needing those services," according to a news release Tuesday from the office of U.S The complaint references RegalCare owner Eliyahu Mirlism company executive Hector Caraballo and Stern Therapy Consultants The facilities in the complaint provide transition care to patients after a hospital stay A request for comment from RegalCare was not immediately answered Cape Cod Times reporting was added to this story Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.   HARWICH – Harwich’s roadways are the least safe among four Lower Cape towns according to the Cape Cod Commission.Commission staff members were in Harwich last Thursday for one of several hearings being held on the agency’s Vision Zero Action Plan which seeks to make roadways throughout the Cape much safer by 2050 The Harwich meeting focused on the Lower Cape communities of Harwich identifying crash statistics and intersections that need to be addressed to meet the goal of the action plan.On an average day there are 13 crashes reported on the Cape One pedestrian or bicyclist is struck every three days From 2018 to 2023 there were 29,587 crashes reported on Cape Cod resulting in 81 fatalities and 644 serious injuries.The Vision Zero Action Plan seeks to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 50 percent by 2035 and 100 percent by 2050 The commission is working with Kimley Horn a transportation and traffic engineering firm through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program to develop the plan.An assessment of accident data was undertaken in all Cape towns and identified by accident numbers and severity of dangerous conditions on roadways in each town Public input has been collected through outreach sessions held last summer.“Most accidents are preventable,” said Colleen Medeiros   transportation program manager at the commission.Of Harwich statistics indicate Harwich roadways are the least safe to travel of the four towns based on accident numbers The statistics provided were for a six-year period from 2018 to 2023 no fatalities and only eight serious injuries no fatalities and nine serious injuries.The plan identifies the stretches of roadways where the highest numbers of crashes occur in each community In Harwich there are two stretches with similar numbers: Main Street from Bells Neck Road to Chatham Road experienced 256 accidents Queen Anne Road to Pleasant Lake Avenue experienced 248 accidents.In Brewster it was the stretch from Main Street (Route 6A) from Harwich Road to Milestone Road with 222 accidents There were 145 accidents at Eldredge Parkway-West Road from Skaket Beach Road to South Orleans Road (Route 28) In Chatham there were 377 accidents along Main Street (Route 28) from Pleasant Street to Old Harbor Road The plan also identifies other roadways in the towns with high accident rates.The entire Route 28 corridor was recognized as a high injury network “We feel we understand where the critical locations are intersections and lengths of street sections,” said William J A plan will be drafted for review over the next month It will include recommendations for addressing the problematic areas which will include redesigning intersections placing warning signs for curves and intersections including narrowing roadways to slow vehicle movement Education will also be an important component in changing traffic safety culture said Scully.“Who will pay for all the improvements?” inquired Patrick Otton   Medeiros said along the two state roads the state and federal government will be responsible for the changes She said the state will cover the remaining Vision Zero improvements but the town will have to apply for the funding for projects once the report is completed She said the towns should start talking about prioritizing the projects now but a lot of issues can be done by towns without going for Vision Zero funds,” said Scully.Among suggestions were towns taking the lead in having private property owners trimming vegetation to provide better lines of sight and the use of signage to warn motorists of various conditions Other suggestions included having local traffic safety committees become more active in traffic safety education.Harwich Traffic Safety Committee Chair Linda Cebula said the  primary focus seemed to be on vehicle safety improvements; she asked what steps will be taken to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists who often travel back roads or face vehicles zipping through crosswalks that information should be here,” Cebula said Scully said a lot of that information will be in the education portion of the plan Medeiros said the concerns can also be addressed in partnership with local traffic safety committees through pamphlets and school education programs  The plan is expected to be completed by June A Harwich shopping center has sold for $11.5 million, according to the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds The 1988-built Harwich East Plaza is by the intersection of Orleans-Harwich Road (MA Rte 39) and Brewster-Chatham Road and features East Harwich Market The plaza spans 42,987 square feet on 4.6 acres, according to the listing. The property was 86.25% leased Newman Properties of Brookline bought the site for $11.5 million in December from Burlington-based Linear Retail which owns and operates retail properties throughout Massachusetts including the Yarmouth Shopping Center on Station Avenue featuring Stop & Shop and Pilgrim Hill Marketplace in Plymouth after making some initial capital improvements and lease up," said Newman Properties Principal and CEO Matthew Newman in an email "We are happy to have the existing tenants in the plaza and looking forward to to adding some synergistic tenants into the mix." Newman said the company is also turning an assisted living facility into 26 apartments at the corner of Bank and Parallel Streets in Harwich Linear Retail bought the property for $10.5 million in 2008 The town has recorded the assessed value as $8,107,400 and learn about locations around town,” said Mewhinney.Then save the date of May 10 at noon at the cultural center for the open market for all of the Plein Air works created.On Wednesday there will be an expressive art workshop at the center Mewhinney is urging people to come and express themselves while joining with artist Mitzi Bramble for a creative “trust in process” experience using expressive arts techniques It’s a free workshop and anyone is invited Mewhinney said.A Spring Fling open reception is scheduled for Friday It will be a creative Art Week exhibit of multiple medium works by 25 of the artists with studios in the 204 Mewhinney said there will be more than 50 pieces of work displayed and light refreshments will be served.The following day will be open studios day with artists available to meet with members of the public from 11 a.m Mewhinney urged people to attend and learn more about the cultural affairs department and the creative artists in the cultural center The local artists will be joined by the Guild of Harwich Artists on that day for a community art project The public will be encouraged to paint a small square that will be attached to a four-by-seven-foot replica of a whale.“Bring your creative ability,” said Mewhinney in the auditorium there will be a featured performance by the Sound Dunes Big Swing Ensemble The concert is free and light refreshments will be served There will also be a host of activities around town during the week All week long she is encouraging people to explore the many art galleries and exceptional talent in Harwich Join the social media movement by locating great “selfie spots” in town and take a picture and share it with the cultural center There will be a list of great selfie spots on the center’s website but be sure to tag them @harwichculture and #inspireharwich   “We can’t wait to see what you come up with,” said Mewhinney Art Week also features a Wine and Watercolor Bouquet painting event led by artist Jodi French Art fans who want to learn more about the artists and writers who lived in Harwich in years past there is a self-guided tour of Island Pond Cemetery that features writers and poets who are interred there The exact burial locations and their history can be located on the 204 website Mewhinney also encouraged people to watch social media to stay informed of any additions to Art Week programming Members of the Harwich and Chatham select boards had very different reactions to last week’s summit held to discuss opening up the Monomoy Regional School District agreement to revise its funding formula Chatham board members accused their neighbors of holding proposed repairs to the Monomoy Regional Middle School “hostage,” while a member of the Harwich board said Chatham’s attitude at the April 8 session was akin to “negotiating with terrorists.” While they said they remain open to talks Chatham board members indicated they were not inclined to open the regional agreement said that the current funding formula is unsustainable and indicated disappointment at the Chatham board’s position The two boards held separate debriefings on last week’s session Chatham late last Tuesday and Harwich on Monday Caught in the middle of the situation is the middle school project which calls for nearly $12 million to replace trim siding and windows to address water intrusion that has contributed to air quality problems inside the school Both towns’ voters must approve the expenditure at town meeting and subsequent elections for the project to proceed Last year both towns approved borrowing $2.5 million to begin work on the project Harwich’s share of the remaining estimated cost based on the same funding formula that governs the district budget while Chatham’s share will be $2,088,730.While the Chatham board unanimously supported the article the Harwich board voted unanimously to recommend that it be indefinitely postponed a procedural method for killing the measure Both towns' finance committees support the articles members of the Harwich board indicated they were open to changing their recommendation on the middle school repairs when the school building committee will deliver a report on the project Chatham officials were taken by surprise by the Harwich board’s position on the project “I was blown away,” said Chatham board chair Michael Schell who attended the April 8 session with board member Jeff Dykens “I was flabbergasted.” Until there is a resolution of the middle school disagreement “I don’t know that we’re going to have a lot to talk about” regarding the funding formula Recommending postponement of the middle school project is “egregious,” said board member Shareen Davis and risks the health of students and staff as well as making no economic sense “It’s just going to end up costing both towns more money,” she said “It’s just outrageous.” Board member Dean Nicastro was even more blunt “It’s almost as if this is a bargaining chip to get Chatham to change the formula,” he said I’m not inclined to open the formula.” Schell agreed saying his impression was that the middle school project is “kind of a hostage to a willingness on Chatham’s part to amend the formula to their benefit.” Board member Cory Metters also criticized Harwich for having no “crystal clear plan” regarding changes to the funding formula Harwich pays 76 percent of the budget while Chatham covers the remaining 24 percent who attended the April 8 session with board member Peter Piekarski was to start a conversation on the regional funding formula “We had no plan other than to listen and understand,” he said It was clear from the outset of the meeting that Chatham officials were not there to listen but to “respond and defend,” he said Watching the Chatham board’s reaction to the session made it clear that there is no intention on Chatham’s part to open the regional agreement “Now I have clarity as to precisely where Chatham is with this regional agreement,” he said Harwich board member Michael MacAskill said while he intends to support the middle school project at town meeting — despite the board’s previous vote — the increase in the town’s share of the Monomoy budget will eventually force cuts to school funding Monomoy school spending currently represents 41 percent of Harwich’s annual budget while it is 21 percent of Chatham’s total spending Town Administrator Joseph Powers said.Chatham board members brought up the town’s providing Harwich with sewage treatment at its wastewater plant and the previous agreement for both towns to pay for their own elementary school That was disingenuous and akin to “negotiating with terrorists,” MacAskill said “Sooner or later town meeting is going to say no” if Harwich share of school funding continues to escalate The problems with the middle school originated in renovations done when the building was Chatham’s middle and high school “It doesn’t seem to me that they’re tethered in reality,” he said of Chatham’s position regarding the regional agreement’s funding formula Harwich board member Julie Kavanaugh also said she would support the middle school project at town meeting “I wouldn’t want members of my family to have to go into a building that has the problems that one has,” she said She expressed support for the two boards to continue a dialog with the aim of strengthening the school district “Let’s continue to support it.” Harwich board members said their initial vote for indefinite postponement was at least partly based on a lack of information School building committee co-chair Ed McManus said the group was prepared to make a presentation but previous select board agendas were unable to accommodate them He and the select board members agreed that the building committee would give its presentation at the board’s April 28 meeting it is ultimately up to the voters,” Handler said Schell said the Chatham board remains open to hearing Harwich’s concerns about the funding formula but won’t be intimidated into making changes to earn support for the middle school project “But to say we’re not going to do something that everybody has to be able to see is crucially necessary this year as a way of leveraging the argument that they’re trying to make…I can’t entertain it A MedFlight helicopter took one person from a crash scene in Harwich Monday Police and fire officials responded to a single-car crash on Long Pond Drive near the intersection of Cahoon Road on Monday A Subaru was on its side after striking a utility pole. The MedFlight helicopter landed at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich. Police and fire officials responded to the crash that shut down a section of the road. The road was closed from 137 Long Pond Drive to Cahoon Road, according to a 2:19 p.m. post on the Harwich Police Facebook page Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Wychmere Harbor Real Estate LLC has withdrawn plans to build an 80-room hotel at the storied beach and tennis club on Wychmere Harbor On March 25, attorney Andrew Singer sent letters to the Town of Harwich and the Cape Cod Commission asking that redevelopment plans be withdrawn without prejudice “The Applicant will not be proceeding with the redevelopment as previously submitted and will be exploring alternatives,” Singer wrote in the letter to the Cape Cod Commission A commission subcommittee had voted not to recommend the plans on March 14 A full commission vote had been scheduled for March 27 Withdrawn without prejudice means the company can resubmit plans in the future The project had called for razing an existing 32-room hotel and replacing it with a new 80-room hotel and adding more than 10,000 square feet of floor area A wastewater treatment plant and improved stormwater drainage were also planned for the 20-acre property on Wychmere Harbor plans did not meet coastal resiliency goals one of 11 regional policy goals that a development having a regional impact is supposed to meet the hotel would have been in a flood plain the full Commission had to find the development consistent with the Cape Cod Commission Act The subcommittee found the expansion was inconsistent with the regional policy in terms of coastal resiliency (vote was 3-2) that the probable benefits of the plan outweighed its probable detriments (vote was 4-1) and the DRI was not consistent with the Cape Cod Commission Act (vote was 4-0-1) Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape’s residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com The demolition of a West Harwich church, built in 1841, is postponed for now after the Harwich Historical District and Historical Commission imposed a 12-month demolition delay South Yarmouth company Davenport Companies is proposing a full demolition of the First Baptist Church property at 62 Route 28 including the clock tower and steeple before constructing an exact replica of the existing structure to be used for year-round workforce housing The Greek Revival church was built in 1841, according to Massachusetts Historical Commission records though the faith community dates to the mid-18th century considered the oldest Baptist community on the Cape was formed in 1757 and first met in North Harwich 15 the company sought permission for the demolition Residents and town officials expressed concern about the entire building being destroyed and hoped to see more of the structure salvaged Commission chair Mary Maslowski said Davenport could return before the board with plans on how to preserve more of the building removed demo-delays for plans in front of us in making the decision that we think this is a better alternative than no alternative for 12 months out,'" said Maslowski Before the vote, the Davenport Companies Vice President/Chief of Staff Jamie Veara said engineering reports say that the building is no longer structurally sound or safe citing extensive water leaks and an internal ceiling collapse in August 2022 "We believe the only way to preserve the external aesthetic appearance and style is to start over anew .. total restoration following demolition in our opinion is the way you work with and not diminish the historic value," said Veara Commission member Paul Doane said he supported turning the site into housing they built it similar to what was there,'" said Doane The Davenport Companies won the bid to acquire the church and build 10 to 13 market-rate housing units on the property ranging from 600 to 800 square feet Davenport Companies will pay the church $300,000 The town will be reimbursed $10,000 for expenses Davenport Companies has agreed to place a historic preservation restriction on the exterior of the features to ensure it will be maintained in perpetuity A state trooper was taken to the hospital on Sunday morning, after crashing into a utility pole around 973 Orleans-Harwich Road in Harwich due to slick road conditions "Preliminary information indicates that the vehicle hydroplaned on the wet road conditions," the state police said in a statement The National Weather Service website described temperatures at 6:50 a.m Sunday as 46 degrees around Chatham Municipal Airport with foggy and misty conditions The trooper was brought to the hospital for evaluation and was released shortly after "We appreciate the personnel from the Harwich Police and EMS Department who responded to the scene to ensure the safety of the Trooper and passing motorists," reads a statement from the State Police Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.      HARWICH – There could be new development and a shuffling of shops in Harwich Center if the planning board approves special permits sought for 711 and 715 Main St  Saumil Patel of 711 Main St LLC and 715 Harwich LLC has filed two applications with the planning board One proposal calls for a 1,120-square-foot addition to the structure that houses Main Street Liquors and the other seeks to split the commercial space from which Food Mart 711 now operates into two 1,500-square-foot commercial rental units The village center will not be losing its convenience store The plan is to combine the convenience store with the liquor store at 715 Main St “With inflation people aren’t spending as much and it has become a little different when running a convenience store so we thought if we combine them (with the liquor store) we could cut down on costs,” Patel said “There still is a demand for groceries.”    Under the plan the Lovely Nails business now behind Main Street Liquors would be relocated to one of the newly created units at 711 Main St  “Lovely Nails wanted to expand and was looking for more space and parking and that gave us the idea to move them over there,” Patel said “The second unit will be a fast food take-out We are looking for a tenant at this point.”  There will be no building footprint changes and no exterior changes to the building nor will there be any changes to the parking at 711 Main St. according to Patel.Main Street Liquors will be changing its name to Main Street Market with the addition of the convenience store and fast-foot take-out deli at the 715 Main St The expanded building will provide 6,400 square feet for the market The building will be squared-off with a single story 1,120-square-foot addition.Partition walls will be taken out to increase the single commercial unit and Main Street Market will be the only tenant on the ground level of the building Patel said.There will also be a reconfiguration of the parking lot to meet parking requirements he added.The historic district and historical commission unanimously approved the proposed addition  The planning board hearings will be held on Tuesday The board will consider site plan review special permits and fast foot take-out special permits for both properties “We want to keep thriving in Harwich Center,” Patel said of the changes (Headlines on this story were updated to meet our standards.) A South Yarmouth company wants to repurpose the First Baptist Church property in West Harwich and turn it into year-round apartments for teachers The Davenport Companies won the bid to acquire the 62 Rte 28 church and build 10 to 13 market-rate housing units on the property ranging from 600 to 800 square feet "We're hoping this can serve as workforce housing," said The Davenport Companies Vice President/Chief of Staff Jamie Veara in an interview The Historic District and Historical Commission will hold a public hearing at Town Hall at 6 p.m Veara said the company has filed a notice of intent requesting a full demolition including the clock tower and steeple before setting out to construct an exact replica of the existing structure Veara said several engineering reports have shown the building is no longer structurally sound or safe after extensive water leaks Preservation of the historic structure will be a key focus of the proposal the plan calls for the stained glass windows to be removed "What we're looking to do here is retain the look of the church and the way it is suppose to look .. we're mindful of what we're asking for but at the end of the day we think it will be far beneficial to the community than its current condition," said Veara The Cape Cod Times mobile app gets you to the heart of the matter — fast. Whether breaking news, sports, entertainment or weather get succinct, personalized coverage along with award-winning videos, captivating photography, and interactive user features. Download the app HARWICH — Along a stretch of Great Western Road and the Cape Cod Rail Trail the forest gives way to a wide-open vista overarched by big sky framed by uplands and carpeted by a bog where cranberries have been farmed for as long as anyone can remember Standing at the edge of the bog on a recent morning as insects sang summer's swan song, Harwich Conservation Trust Executive Director Michael Lach was appreciative It's a sight appreciated by many who drive and the trust is in the midst of an effort not only to keep it from future development but also to return it to the stream and pond meadowland it was before it was a cranberry farm The trust has just begun fundraising for what it's calling the Cape Cod Rail Trail Land Preservation Project with a goal of $3.5 million to preserve the 50-acre site it's been farmed by the Thacher family since the late 1950s having taken over from his late father who began working the bog when he was a teenager and eventually bought it from its previous owner "This property is the largest remaining undeveloped landscape left in Harwich So important to protect on a variety of levels," Lach said Thacher said he's been talking with the trust for a while about eventually turning the land over to them as he prepares to step away from farming it. He thinks ecological restoration of unused cranberry bogs is a worthwhile endeavor is encouraging the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded "We'll miss some of the cranberries around, but there's not a lot of money in it unless you rebuild the whole bog to plant hybrids," Thacher said 'An oversupply of cranberries'Lach noted that the Cape Cod and New England cranberry industry is at a crossroads and "what we have been witnessing is an oversupply of cranberries from the Midwest and it's been driving down prices for many years for local growers." In Barnstable, Sandwich: 'We've had to adapt': Renovated bogs, hybrid cranberries give Cape farmers a boost. while others are downsizing and trading traditional varieties for higher producing hybrids that require less land and care "One is to convert the upland to subdivisions Another alternative is to turn to a local land trust or town to see if there is interest in acquisition for conservation." The Harwich Conservation Trust has agreed with Thacher that he will continue farming for two more years after they are successful at raising funds to buy the land and they already have a purchase and sales agreement in place Then the trust will move into the ecological restoration phase If there wasn't a preservation plan in place Lach noted that the upland areas of the Thacher property would offer enough space for a nine-lot subdivision "which would forever alter the view for everyone enjoying the Cape Cod Rail Trail and also driving along Great Western Road "It would also send more nitrogen (from septic systems and runoff) into the Herring River estuary which is already suffering from impaired water quality," he said Trust President Thomas Evans said projects like the Thacher property effort are "going to take on significant importance and recognition especially as towns begin to realize the role they can play in natural nitrogen attenuation which in turn can save towns millions of dollars in addressing their wastewater issues." then the Cape loses its designation as a special destination and its economy along with that "We are a business godsend for cranberry farmers who can no longer compete and desperately need a business exit," he said Making the Thacher project all the more valuable is the fact that the property is in the middle of 400 acres of surrounding conservation areas "This is really a key piece of the larger land conservation puzzle in this part of the Herring River watershed," Lach said. "We have 33 acres of town conservation land to the north, to the west we have 80 acres of town and HCT protected lands, to the southwest we have over 250 acres of the town-owned Bell's Neck Conservation Lands and to the south we have HCT's 30 acres of Coy's Brook woodlands." the Thacher property had two streams flowing through it from Flax Pond and Sand Pond Restoration will involve reestablishing the stream flows filling the perimeter ditches to allow for more upland and wetland habitat connectivity for wildlife and digging off the agricultural sand layer to expose the native seed bank the trust has received pledges for about $50,000 toward the project and they're waiting to hear about a state grant The organization is also planning to submit a funding application for a grant from the town's Community Preservation Act fund "and we are reaching out to the Cape community and beyond for donations," Lach said Heather McCarron writes about climate change The  Cape Cod Times is providing this coverage for free as a public service. Please take a moment to support local journalism by subscribing.  HARWICH – A 49-year-old Centerville man has been charged in the death of a Hyannis man following a head-on collision on Route 6 Thursday Zarchary Fena was charged with motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence of alcohol after his vehicle crossed the Route 6 median and struck a vehicle driven by 48-year-old Mario Da Paixao According to a press release issued by Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois Friday afternoon witnesses reported that Fena’s vehicle was swerving and changing speed rapidly in the eastbound lane before crossing the median into the westbound lane The accident occurred at the 84.2 mile marker on the highway in Harwich Fena was arrested after being taken to Cape Cod Hospital Harwich Fire Department personnel determined at the scene that Mr Paixao could not be resuscitated.Fena was charged with manslaughter while OUI negligent operation of a motor vehicle and marked lanes violation He was ordered held on $5,000 bail and is scheduled for probable cause hearing in the Orleans District Court May 5 The accident remains under investigation by members of the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s office Harwich Police and Fire Departments and other agencies according to the press release.This is a developing story Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website Top hats were in fashion and people connected through telegrams rather than texts And the need for family and friends to come together Planning your funeral in advance means your family won’t have to when the time comes >>LEARN MORE Services that honor the individual and provide peace of mind for families >>SEE OUR SERVICES Unparalleled care at every step with unique and personalized memorial services >>SEE OUR SERVICES Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Bridgewater Chapman Funerals & Cremations - East Bridgewater Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Falmouth Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Harwich Funeral Home Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Harwich Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Marstons Mills Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Martha’s Vineyard Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Mashpee Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Wareham Chapman Funerals & Cremations - West Falmouth Funeral Home Chapman Funerals & Cremations - West Falmouth Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Yarmouth © Chapman Funerals & CremationsSupported by SRS Computing Your browser may not work with certain site. Upgrade now. Wychmere Hotel's plans to expand in Harwich will not have the support of a Cape Cod Commission subcommittee whose members say the project is too large in scope too close to the water and threatens coastal resiliency in an already busy harbor the subcommittee charged with reviewing the project voted 4-0-1 against giving its blessing to the plans The group will ask staff to draft a decision to submit to the full Commission saying the project is satisfactory in some areas but falls short in others The full commission will close the public hearing on March 27 before taking a final vote The project calls for razing an existing 32-room hotel and replacing it with a new 80-room hotel adding more than 10,000 square feet of floor area Plans also call for building a wastewater treatment plant and improving stormwater drainage for the 20-acre property on Wychmere Harbor The subcommittee found that plans were consistent with most of regional policy plan goals but that it failed to meet consistency standards with coastal resiliency because of its location in a flood plain They also found that it failed to meet waiver requirements The Town of Harwich referred the expansion plans to the Cape Cod Commission in October 2024 as a Development of Regional Impact The Commission is authorized to review and decide if Developments of Regional Impact are consistent with 11 goals of the Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan and whether the benefits of the plan outweigh the detriments who represents owner Wychmere Harbor Real Estate said the subcommittee’s vote was a recommendation only He will argue that the project deserves approval when the full commission meets in late March “The subcommittee took several votes on Friday,” Singer said in a telephone interview March 17 “Most were in favor of finding consistency with the RPP (Regional Policy Plan) why we believe the subcommittee was in error making the final votes they made.”  The Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan requires the Commission to find a development is consistent with several factors The subcommittee was unanimous in the findings that the expansion was consistent with regional policy plans for water resources They also found that plans for transportation community design and cultural heritage were consistent with the regional policy plan But the subcommittee found the expansion was inconsistent with the regional policy in terms of coastal resiliency (vote was 3-2) that the probable benefits outweighed the probable detriments of the plan (vote was 4-1) and the DRI was not consistent with the Cape Cod Commission Act (vote was 4-0-1) Commission staff had suggested that the expansion was not consistent with one of the goals of coastal resiliency because the hotel’s footprint and use in a flood plain was expanded and that there was no overriding public purpose to the plan building a new wastewater treatment plant and capturing and treating stormwater was sufficient for the committee to find a net benefit to the project “We all acknowledge this is a sensitive area,” Singer told committee members “The overwhelming environmental benefits in this sensitive area I think that granting this waiver allows all of these improvements to wastewater I think that is worthy of that compelling interest.”  (WLNE) — A Massachusetts State Trooper was injured after crashing into a utility pole in Harwich Sunday WCVB reported that the incident occurred on Orleans Harwich Road before 7 a.m Police said that the car hydroplaned due to the roads being wet The trooper was taken to the hospital and then released HARWICH — For years, Jake Brown and his wife Milly Archer have enjoyed living near the cranberry bog they own alongside Hinckleys Pond at the town border with Brewster When leasing the bog out to a local farmer Now they're poised for a change as the Harwich Conservation Trust begins its Hinckleys Pond-Herring River Headwaters ecological restoration project soon We just love the place," said Brown during a recent walk with his wife to check out another ecological restoration project the conservation trust is close to completing at nearby Cold Brook awesome place with great habitat," but the couple expect that the Hinckleys Pond-Herring River project "will increase habitat diversity even more A project years in the makingYears in the making, the project was given final approval from the Harwich Conservation Commission on Sept "We're excited about it going to construction later this fall," said Harwich Conservation Trust Executive Director Michael Lach The project involves rewilding two former cranberry bogs, including the Brown family's 11-acre bog on the northwest side of Hinckleys Pond, which is connected by streams to Seymours Pond and Long Pond — both straddling the border with Brewster and important herring habitat. The other property is on the southeast side and comprises 31 acres along the Cape Cod Rail Trail Rewilding, generally, means restoring ecosystems and reversing biodiversity declines by allowing wildlife and natural processes to reclaim areas no longer under human management, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature The trust purchased the larger property from the Jenkins family in 2021 It's a different situation with the smaller bog — Brown and Archer will continue to own it but they've granted the trust an easement with a conservation restriction that will allow their bog to be restored to a natural state Lach said the trust has been working on design and permitting for the past three years and the effort has also gained financial support NOAA approved APCC's grant, which Lach said includes $1.6 million to complete the ecological restoration construction that will help enhance the health of the 174-acre Hinckleys Pond. Rewilding the wetland will increase biodiversity, restore about 500 feet of pond habitat that helps migratory river herring, and create wheelchair accessible trails opposite the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Restoration of the bogs will involve reestablishing stream flows "One of the techniques is to dig back the sand layer which has been added over the years through agriculture and underneath you have the old seed bank that hasn't been exposed to daylight for over a century," Lach explained "Then you get this profusion of plant growth that really increases the biodiversity." Lach said the trust hopes the rewilding will provide an "outdoor classroom" for students from Cape Tech giving them the chance to learn about the evolving field of ecological restoration "These innovative eco-restoration partnerships create educational opportunities for local students who represent the next generation of environmental decision-makers," he said Harwich isn't alone with efforts to preserve old cranberry bogs as open space and convert them to natural riverine systems. A similar project, the Coonamessett River restoration and there are efforts underway in Barnstable and Yarmouth Harwich Conservation Trust President Tom Evans in an email predicted that ecological restoration of retiring cranberry bogs on Cape Cod is "going to take on significant importance and recognition especially as towns begin to realize the role they can play in natural nitrogen attenuation Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world. Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com A Centerville man pleaded not guilty Friday in Orleans District Court to manslaughter while driving under the influence after a 48-year-old Hyannis man was killed in a two-car crash on Route 6 Thursday evening in Harwich Zachary Fena, 49, also pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide driving under the influence of liquor or .08% negligent, driving under the influence, negligent driving and a marked lanes violation, according to the office of Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois witnesses said that the eastbound vehicle Fena was driving was seen swerving multiple times prior to crossing the highway median into the westbound lane and hitting the other vehicle head-on When state police arrived they found the two vehicles with debris scattered across both lanes Zena's vehicle was in the median facing west The second vehicle was found in the eastbound breakdown lane Fena was taken to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis There were no passengers in either vehicle a judge ordered bail set at $5,000 with conditions of release A probable cause hearing is set for May 5 in Orleans District Court Police are continuing to investigate the crash Neighbors are wary about plans to expand Wychmere Hotel in Harwich by first razing the existing 32-room hotel on Snow Inn Road and then putting up a new three-story hotel with 80 rooms Concerns include a road that some say is too narrow to accommodate increased traffic flow, impacts to pedestrian safety and drawing more people to a venue that only has so much space to accommodate them. The comments are part of a review by the Cape Cod Commission on the expansion plans A wastewater treatment plant and work on surrounding areas are also proposed Because of the scope of the project, owner Wychmere Harbor Real Estate LLC had to submit a Development of Regional Impact application to the Commission The Commission is charged with reviewing projects that trigger certain thresholds including a certain increase in construction space and impacts that would be felt by the wider community who represents Wychmere Harbor Real Estate presented project details to a Commission subcommittee on Feb The proposed development would include a new three-story hotel building of 82,660 square feet An upgraded wastewater facility would be built Parking would be reconfigured and electric vehicle charging stations installed director of Harwich Planning and Development submitted a list of permits and variances the owner would need to have approved by various boards committees and departments to comply with town bylaws and regulations and a conservation commission notice of intent because the project is so close to a coastal bank Select Board and Department of Public Works will be involved in reviews Too much traffic for narrow Snow Inn Road?The majority of the 55 comments made were from neighbors who are worried that Snow Inn Road the only way in and out of the Wychmere property is too narrow for increased traffic that would result from an expansion A letter submitted by Bill and Colleen O’Brien said the traffic volume has increased exponentially since the Club "transformed into an exclusive wedding destination that hosts multiple weddings simultaneously three or four days a week during the summer and fall and a beach club that entertains hundreds of members daily.”  The Wychmere Resort and Beach Club takes up nearly 20 acres around Wychmere Harbor Snow Inn Road measures from 16 to 19 feet according to a letter submitted by Harwich resident and civil engineer Robert Nickerson It has no sidewalks and limited places where pedestrians and bicyclists can get off the road because of traffic "The increased traffic generation by increased rooms is not that significant as shown in a traffic study," Singer said in a Feb but he acknowledged concerns were raised about the existing conditions of the road neighbors and town to come up with solutions.”   Owners are preparing a supplemental submission to the Commission that addresses those concerns The next Commission hearing will be on Feb Drones in the Northeast: Cape Cod town reports nighttime sightingsCape Cod TimesHarwich is one of the latest communities in the Northeast where residents and law enforcement have reported drones in the skies above According to a release from the Harwich Police Department a resident and an off-duty Harwich police officer both reported seeing drones in separate sightings Thursday night The department said a resident called the police on Dec 12 to report "unknown drone activity" over her home The resident said she went outside around 9 p.m and saw "10-15 drones" She could not hear the machines the off-duty Harwich officer saw similar drone activity near the Public Safety Complex on Sisson Road The drones are similar to those reported over the last couple of weeks in New Jersey, New York and more recently Connecticut The Harwich release said the department has forwarded its reports to the Boston office of the FBI and the Massachusetts State Police But some New Jersey lawmakers want more information from the federal government about the drones The drones, some described as large as bicycles or small cars Unmanned craft have flown over Naval Weapons Station Earle, Picatinny Arsenal and the National Guard A public affairs official confirmed at least two drone flights in Naval Weapons Station Earle airspace but said no direct threats were detected On Sunday night, more than a dozen drones reportedly followed a 47-foot Coast Guard boat near Island Beach State Park, harassing the crew, according to U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th District, the Asbury Park Press reported. Material from a USA TODAY story by George Petras and Stephen J. Beard was used in this story. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cape Cod Baseball League (@officialccbl) Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here