ORLEANS – For the better part of six decades, Cap't Cass Rock Harbor Seafood established itself as more than a legendary local eatery. For many in town, it was an emblem of classic Cape Cod. It's been more than two years since the restaurant closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Michelle Lamy couldn't stand to see the esteemed local landmark sit idle and unused any longer. So she bought it. Rock Harbo...

ORLEANS – If you want to make a veteran's day, take a moment to thank them. It might seem like a small gesture, but as Keith Arnold recalled, it's one that wasn't always readily given to those who served their country. "A long time ago, Vietnam veterans came home and they didn't want to be noticed," Arnold, a member of the Orleans Veterans and Memorial Day committee and a Marine Corps staff sergeant, told a...

ORLEANS – Two ballot questions will go before Orleans voters at the Jan. 10 election called to secure additional funding for the Nauset Regional High School renovation. The select board unanimously voted Nov. 9 to put the questions on the ballot. The town will join the other Nauset district towns of Eastham, Wellfleet and Brewster in holding elections on Jan. 10. One question will seek authority to move ahe...

ORLEANS – Three candidates were interviewed, but the select board didn’t have to look far to find an interim town administrator. Charles Sumner was unanimously identified by each board member as their top choice for the interim role on Nov. 2. The board voted to enter into contract negotiations with Sumner, who is expected to begin working for the town early next month. Sumner spent 29 years as the...

ORLEANS – As demand for fire and EMS services continues to outstrip personnel in the fire department, the town's fire chief made his case last week for a needed boost in department staffing. Fire Chief Geof Deering told the select board Nov. 2 that the fire department needs eight new members to adequately address call volume that continues to increase, not only in Orleans but also at neighboring fire departmen...

ORLEANS – As more police departments are exploring the use of body cameras, the town's chief of police last week argued that it might be better for his department to wait a year. Citing the estimated $179,000 cost over five years for body and cruiser cameras and the accompanying software, Police Chief Scott MacDonald recommended to the select board Nov. 2 that the town take more time to do research into the ca...

ORLEANS – It may be the Orleans Agricultural Advisory Committee, but the select board is considering whether or not some seats on the committee should be open to non-residents. Town Administrator John Kelly told the board Oct. 12 that as currently written, the committee’s charge limits participation on the seven-member panel to Orleans residents. He added that with the exception of ex-officio members, it ...

District Towns Asked To Support Additional $38 Million In Project Costs A district-wide election will be held in January in each of the four Nauset towns asking voters to commit an additional $38 million toward the district’s high school renovation project. The Nauset Regional School Committee unanimously voted Nov. 3 to hold elections in Orleans, Brewster and Eastham on Jan. 10. The process will mirr...

ORLEANS – Gathered outside the Orleans Fire Rescue headquarters last week, members of the department joined together to push Engine 175 into the station’s apparatus bay. The engine was fine. In fact, it’s brand new, and the Oct. 26 “push-in” ceremony was called to officially welcome the new vehicle into service. Town officials and residents gathered at the station to celebrate the new engine, w...

Task Force Also Recommends Recreation Staffing Changes ORLEANS – The town needs a new community center, but the task force charged with bringing that effort to fruition also says the town needs some staffing changes to help make it a reality. The community center feasibility task force presented its final report to the select board Oct. 19. It recommends that the town create a new position, the direc...

General Contractor Bid Approximately $30 Million Over Budget With the Nauset Regional High School renovation project running over budget, voters in the four district towns could be asked to commit more money to the project early next year. The Nauset High School Building Committee reviewed two general contractor bids that were submitted for the project at its Oct. 26 meeting. But the low bid came in ...

ORLEANS – After 13 months of work, the town's Governor Prence planning committee has concluded that the 5.5-acre property should be used for housing. Now the question is how to make it a reality. The committee presented its final report to the select board Oct. 19, recommending that the former motel site be used to accommodate a variety of housing types, mostly affordable rental units but also workforce housin...