ORLEANS – The Orleans Historical Commission put off until its Dec. 9 meeting a vote on when focus groups will be convened to discuss the proposed East Orleans Historic District. During the virtual Nov. 12 meeting, Commissioner Joan Nix said the focus groups, which are anticipated to have up to eight participants each, will initially be held for only property owners within the proposed historic district that ru...

ORLEANS — Acknowledged as “the father of planning in Orleans,” Dr. Kenneth McKusick, 89, died Nov. 4 at his home on Namequoit Road.  Dr. McKusick, noted for his work on the planning board and board of water and sewer commissioners, “passed away peacefully in his sleep last night,” Select Board Chair Kevin Galligan said as he opened his board’s meeting last week. “We offer our sincerest thanks and gratitude for...

ORLEANS – Residents have until Sunday, Nov. 22 to offer their comments to town officials or Cape Cod Commission staff regarding the Orleans Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. Lev Malakhoff, commission transportation planner, recommends that people who wish to comment should first look at the materials pertaining to the Complete Streets plan on the commission's website. On Nov. 5, the commission held a vi...

EAST ORLEANS — In a session that lasted more than four and a half hours, voters at Saturday’s special town meeting made key decisions about the town’s financial future, showed interest in some big-ticket projects, and approved limited marijuana retail operations in town. The entire warrant was a bit of an experiment in COVID-safe voting, with voters casting ballots from their vehicles using hand-held electroni...

ORLEANS — With so many local families focused on making ends meet during the pandemic and the economic crisis, making the holidays bright might be fairly far down on the list of priorities. But as it does each year, the Homeless Prevention Council is working to make sure that, even during COVID-19, holiday wishes can come true. “Those kids are going to come downstairs on Christmas morning hoping for a gift und...

ORLEANS — Jessica Shiever’s heart may have been pounding with joy when she walked up the driveway last week, but soon she was pounding nails to help make her Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod home a reality. The Eastham resident was chosen in a lottery for the new house going up on Quanset Road on a lot purchased by the town’s affordable housing trust. Last week, Shiever met on-site with Mike Sullivan, Habit...

EAST ORLEANS — In a session that lasted more than four and a half hours, voters at Saturday’s special town meeting made key decisions about the town’s financial future, showed interest in some big-ticket projects, and approved limited marijuana retail operations in town. The entire warrant was a bit of an experiment in COVID-safe voting, with voters casting ballots from their vehicles using hand-held electroni...

ORLEANS — Bill Amaru, a longtime commercial fisherman and advocate for sensible fisheries management, has been named to the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission. Established in 1961, the commission advises the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries and includes nine members representing conservation, recreational and commercial fishing interests, including seafood dealers. Commissioners are appoi...

ORLEANS — On Nov. 4, the select board hopes to clear up a somewhat murky situation regarding polluted Uncle Harvey’s Pond. After hearing clarifications of a couple of points, they may be ready to have Town Administrator John Kelly file a Notice of Intent (NOI) with the conservation commission to review a remediation project to use an aluminum sulfate treatment that will reduce phosphorous in the pond. Althou...

ORLEANS — The expectation remains that the owners of the Governor Prence Inn will sign a letter of interest allowing the town to explore potential reuses of the hilltop site, including housing. An update in executive session was on the select board’s agenda last night (Oct. 21). As attorneys hammer out final details of the letter that could lead to an agreement for the town to purchase the property (with vot...

ORLEANS — Only one of the Nauset Regional School District’s seven schools increased its enrollment over last year’s, according to an Oct. 1 enrollment report reviewed by the Nauset Regional School Committee Oct. 8. Eastham Elementary’s gain of two students came as the other four elementary schools showed drops of 35 (Brewster’s Eddy), 24 (Orleans), 11 (Brewster’s Stony Brook), and three (Wellfleet). The midd...

ORLEANS — Opinion is divided in the community over retail recreational marijuana sales, so it should be no surprise that the planning board couldn’t agree on a town meeting article allowing such businesses. By a vote of 2 in favor to 3 against, the board decided Tuesday not to support a zoning amendment that would allow two such establishments in Orleans and restrict them to the Limited Business, General Bus...