ORLEANS – The select board last week got a glimpse at two very different educational realities. At Orleans Elementary School, the student population continues to decline. Gail Briere, chair of the Orleans Elementary School Committee, told the board March 22 that since the 2020-2021 school year, enrollment at the school has fallen from 175 students to 145 this year. The same holds true at Nauset Regional Hig...

ORLEANS – In a demonstration outside of the Church of the Holy Spirit last week, Peter Jensen held an apple up before a small crowd of observers. He cut out a quarter of the apple, which he used to represent the amount of land on Earth. The remaining 75 percent of the apple represented all of the Earth's water. The message was clear. If we want to better protect our water, we must make good use of the land. ...

ORLEANS – After months of advertising, one key town hall position has been filled and other vacancies could soon follow. Michael Solitro will begin work as Orleans' new assistant town planner on April 3. The hire provides much needed staff support for the planning department and its director, George Meservey. "The planning office in Orleans does short-range and long-range planning, as well as serving a regu...

ORLEANS — With public works operations now headquartered on Giddiah Hill Road, the select board wants to see the site of the town's former DPW building on Bay Ridge Lane put to better use. But there won't be any action taken on the matter this spring. The board unanimously voted March 22 to take an article seeking $100,000 for a feasibility study looking at options for the property off of the warrant for the M...

ORLEANS — Nauset administrators could be ready to name a new Nauset Regional Middle School principal as early as next week. Two applicants, Brendan Fox and Stephen Centerrino, have been identified as finalists for the job, the district announced March 22. Both candidates met with Nauset students, parents and staff as well as members of the community at the middle school on March 23. The search for a new mid...

Broader Question Of Noise Regulations Remains ORLEANS – A lengthy debate over noise and outdoor music at the Barley Neck Inn has been put to rest. But for town officials, the broader question remains as to how to better regulate noise in town. A settlement was reached between the inn’s owners, Phil and Claire Ruggieri, and abutters guiding outdoor entertainment and food and alcohol service on the inn’s...

Judi Wilson To Help Steer Recreation Department Through Transition ORLEANS – As efforts continue to shore up recreation operations, one town staffer has been tapped to help guide the department through a period of transition. The proposed budget for fiscal 2024 includes a $10,000 stipend for the town’s senior center director, Judi Wilson, who will be tasked with helping mentor and guide the town’s next...

Town Could Be In Line For Healthy Federal Grant ORLEANS – There’s a window for the town to secure federal funding to perform needed work at the fish ladder and herring run at Pilgrim Lake. But it may not stay open for long. There’s money available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service to potentially dredge the run and perform other work, and that’s an incentive for the town to act sooner r...

Funding To Be Sought In Interim To Shore Up Summer Staffing ORLEANS – The timetable of a federal grant that would help get eight new firefighter positions off the ground has led town officials to put off pursuit of those positions until the fall. The fire department was to apply for a $2.59 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response [SAFER] grant, which would cover the cost of funding sa...

ORLEANS — Residents were given the floor Monday to weigh in on what they want to see in Orleans' next town administrator/manager, but feedback during a public hearing held by the town manager search committee was minimal. Just three people spoke in person at Monday's hearing, which was designed for the search committee to listen and take in comments and suggestions from members of the public. A few others join...

Officials in the four towns that make up the Nauset Public Schools asked Superintendent Brooke Clenchy for an honest budget for the coming fiscal year. They got what they asked for. Faced with rising costs, staffing shortages and needs extending beyond the classroom, the Nauset Regional School Committee on March 9 unanimously approved a $32.9 million operating budget for fiscal 2024, an increase of 7.6 perc...

ORLEANS – The Barley Neck Inn has new managers, and owner Phil Ruggieri didn't have to look far to find them. Across the street, Cameron and Tyler Hadfield have built a reputation for themselves in recent years at their popular breakfast spot The Rail. Now the brothers will look to put their touch on the inn by taking over dinner service at the restaurant. "The energy level is good and there's an interest i...