Editor:

The Harwich Zoning Board last week approved the 60-unit, 90-bedroom Pennrose affordable housing development at 124 Queen Anne Rd., aka 456 Queen Anne Rd. Although this project did not receive as much attention as the 242-unit Pine Oaks Village 4 housing proposed for North Harwich, the 456 Queen Anne development as designed is far too large for the location defined as a “high crash cluster” area. That got ignored, as well as many other concerns, in the rush to push this development through.

I attended the June 11 zoning appeals board meeting of the review of waivers from local requirements and regulations, and I think I can sum it up in one word: pathetic. While the zoning board was merrily handing out a waiver for this and a waiver for that, the concerns from established local residents were a no-go.

From reducing the number of units, re-routing the entrance from Queen Anne Road to Route 124, and addressing the development of the remaining seven acres, as well as a (rumored) potential widening of Queen Anne, none of these concerns were addressed in any meaningful way. It served as a reminder that Harwich town officials aren’t too keen on really listening to their local citizens when it comes to debating the merits of land development.

I do believe the approval of this development will come back to haunt us. I live on Queen Anne Road and it is a mess and guaranteed to get worse. Think major redesign in the future, and say goodbye to any lasting semblance of neighborhood character. With the increase of tourists and the 456 Queen Anne and POV4 developments, Queen Anne Road will become difficult to navigate, let alone live on. The one thing you can have trust in: your town officials don’t care.

Jan Raffaele
Harwich

Editor:

Like most Harwich residents, we eagerly await the full restoration of Brooks Academy, our very historic gem of a building. Its stately façade and interior spaces remind us of our storied past and will guide our future programming.

Although the restoration has been a start and stop affair for many years, we are optimistic that we’re on a track to completion, albeit slower than most of us would like! To that end, we plan on periodically updating residents on its progress.

In 2023 the foundation work was completed. It was then decided that an elevator was needed for full ADA compliance. To gain efficiency and cost savings, the town decided the best course would be to combine all the remaining needs of the building into one construction contract. This increased the scope of the project and the project languished until funding was cobbled together through town and CPC funds.

We now have approximately $1.9 million for the restoration moving forward. Last fall the town held a designer selection for both the owners project manager and architect. The contracts were awarded and work began on developing drawings and specifications. The work inside will include the installation of the lift, which requires relocation of some doors. On the exterior the siding and windows will be restored and then repainted. It includes historically accurate windows and work on the façade. It should go out for bids in September. Optimistically, work could begin in late fall with a completion date of June 2027. 

Many folks have questioned the removal of the clapboard on the Sisson Road side. This was done to check the structural integrity of that section. It will be fully replaced during the next phase of the restoration.

We are happy to answer any questions regarding the project. We invite interested residents to join us for our monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m. in town hall’s hearing room B. We will also keep you abreast of developments via The Chronicle.

Like most folks, we’re anxious to see this magnificent building brought back to its full glory. We’re honored and excited to be part of its restoration!

Bob Nickerson, chair, Brooks Academy Commission
Patsy Ford, vice chair
Kyle McDonald, clerk
Lynne Zalesak
Diane DiGennaro

Editor:

She changed the face of this corner of the Cape as a primary instigator of both the Chatham Marconi Center and Pleasant Bay Community Boating. More important than the real estate, buildings and boats reborn at these sites is the enthusiastic vigor she helped instill at these enterprises.

It is inspiring to see scores of volunteers in both organizations helping to secure a sense of the history of communications and its future plus the skills and teamwork required of good sailors.

Roz will leave her mark for generations to come. Thank you, Roz!

Michael and Ann Westgate
Chatham

Editor:

It was another beautiful Cape Cod morning as I prepared a breakfast to be enjoyed on the deck listening to my favorite radio station, WFCC 107.5 Cape Classical. Instead I was greeted by what could only be described as some form of rock music, with indecipherable lyrics interspersed with mention of God and Jesus, followed by what sounded like two pubescent wannabe radio hosts not talking about anything relevant. I had read in April that the previous station owner had to sell the station due to “rapidly changing media and economic landscape” (read corporate greed).

As I had heard nothing further, I was hoping that the owner truly meant what he said about his appreciation for classical music lovers, the “honor” it was to own Cape Classical, and had decided not to destroy the listening pleasure of so many loyal listeners for a mere $362,000. But that is not the case. Cape Cod Classical is no more, and although there is nothing that can be done about it, I will do my very small part of protest by not listening to, nor supporting in any way, any of the other stations still owned by Cape Cod Broadcasting Media.

Bill Stoeckert
East Orleans

Editor:

This is a letter in support of Ron Bergstrom for Barnstable County Commissioner. I served in leadership roles with more than one of the current candidates for commissioner while I was on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates for seven years. Ron is by far the one I trust to be altruistic and grounded in reality. 

As commissioner, Ron has supported and helped implement programs that create a better quality of life for Cape Cod residents. For example, the Shine Program provides free counseling to help Cape seniors navigate the health care system, the AquiFund helps people gain equitable access to financial assistance to manage the expense of sewer hook ups, and the county dredge keeps our waterways open and beaches nourished. Ron knows how the county actually operates and what the limitations are given the paucity of funding sources available for county government in Massachusetts. Ron is not out for himself, and he is a true team player well liked and respected. Indeed, Ron Bergstrom is by far the candidate I support to be trustworthy with taxpayer dollars and have the best interest of others in the forefront of his mind. 

Randi Potash
Chatham
The writer is a Chatham Select Board member and former member of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates.

Editor:

Thoughts of our upcoming Independence Day have been on my mind lately as we get closer to the 250th birthday of our nation and celebrating this milestone as a country. In the midst of all that, my thoughts go to the past couple of years that have been, and continue to be, so upsetting to many of us as our democracy is under daily threat from the very people who are entrusted to safeguard and protect our democracy and who are currently in control of our government. It's almost unbelievable to witness the thirst for power and hunger for control, the blatant disregard for our Constitution, the ongoing illegal war, innocent people dying, the flagrant corruption and deceit throughout each branch of our government, the attacks on our free press, our voting rights, and our freedom of speech, the glaring racism and white Christian nationalism on full display; all of this from the highest people in power.

The destabilizing and sometimes violent effects of not having a comprehensive immigration policy, the growing and incomprehensible disparity of wealth, the outrageous and unauthorized funding (our tax dollars) being diverted from the very policies and programs that support us — we the people — our health and well being, our children's education, scientific research and the protection of our environment, and for the most vulnerable, the people who need it the most. In the meantime, massive tax breaks are given to corporations and the wealthiest in our country. The leaders of the Republican party (often referred to as misleaders) are part and parcel to this president and to the erosion of our integrity as a democracy along with human decency and truth. My sign I held at a recent rally said, "This is not a right or left moment, it is a right or wrong moment." We are called to be so much more than this.

This Independence Day, our country is still a work in progress, our democracy as vulnerable today as it was 250 years ago. I think this is where the invitation comes — do we want to be part of the solution or part of the problem, do we want to live up to the ideals and values of our Declaration of Independence? Do we want the values and ideals of an authoritarian, fascist regime to be in charge? Authoritarians and their followers want us to believe we are divided, foment discord and hate. There is a clear strategy of daily distractions, of misinformation and disinformation, the difference being the intent. The current practice is spreading false information with the intent to mislead and manipulate “we the people.” 

And that's why I, and maybe you, need to be reminded of E Pluribus Unum — Out of Many, One — the Latin motto that the founders of our country chose to symbolize our ideals and our values, as a multifaceted country. They could probably not imagine the complexity of the world we live in today, but unity and diversity, while in some ways opposite, are truly our super powers. 

On this July 4, let's consider how we might honor and be a positive, life-giving part of this great experiment, with kindness, respect, curiosity, inclusivity, service and humility. May we stand up for justice with peace, for all of us, not just some of us. And vital to our democracy, let us all exercise our right to vote, so that we will continue to grow and strengthen our democracy, as flawed as it may be, where "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

Dawn B. Tolley
Chatham