HARWICH – Stephen Ford s career in politics took him all the way to the United States Senate. But it was when he ran for and was elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2019 that he returned to the political arena he truly loved.
“He just loved Harwich,” his wife, Patsy, said. “He was glad to help give back when he became a selectman. He was sad he wasn’t going to be able to continue with it.”
Ford, the board s vice chairman, died April 9 after a years-long bout with cancer. He was 68.
Friends, colleagues and family members say Ford, a Harwich native, will be remembered as someone who never shied away from the hard work that often came with town government, as well as being a loving father, husband and grandfather.
HARWICH – The Board of Selectmen postponed a decision Tuesday night on whether to sanction two popular Harwich Port restaurants for multiple alleged violations of state COVID-19 restrictions on masking, social distancing and alcohol service over Memorial Day weekend and in mid-July of last year.
“We have been pressuring (Town Administrator Joseph Powers) to take action on this,” Selectmen Chairman Larry Ballantine said Tuesday. “Our feeling is this was very flagrant. They ignored the whole of Covid-19 regulations.”
Ember and The Port could lose their liquor licenses
The board decided Tuesday to wait until the liquor licenses for Ember and The Port come up for renewal next month to make a decision, which could involve anything from warnings to liquor license revocation. The board said it would likely devote an entire meeting to the hearing, and will also take into account noise complaints made against the establishments.
Hedges and other vegetation along Route 28 at Freeman Street are impairing sight line visibility along Route 28. WILLIAM F. GALVIN PHOTO
HARWICH Thanks to hedges and other landscaping, as well as a slight bend in Route 28, entering traffic from Freeman Street or Snow Inn Road in Harwich Port can be a white-knuckle experience. The traffic safety committee has asked the selectmen to make changes to improve visibility at the intersection.
Traffic Safety Committee Chair Gerald Beltis said the crossroad has been the site of 13 accidents in recent years. In a presentation to selectmen last week, Beltis told the board the design of Route 28 with hills and curves does not allow for adequate visibility for either drivers or for pedestrians seeking to cross Route 28 or to take turns from Snow Inn Road or Freeman Street. He said a vehicle exiting those side streets needs to be in the middle of Route 28 to see oncoming traffic.