ORLEANS — A new revolving fund will receive fees from courses run by the recreation department, but that bookkeeping change is just a bunny hop compared to the strides envisioned by the recreation advisory committee. They want to grow the town’s programs, and also find out what sort of community center Orleans would like to have. “We have an opportunity to influence the board of selectmen as they approach th...

ORLEANS — A tattoo studio, which would be the only one between Hyannis and Provincetown, may be coming to Main Street in the village center. Eastham native Sean Shea, a body artist with a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design, hopes to open a “tattoo sanctuary filled with art, sculptures and a few plants” at 64 Main St., formerly the location of Mr. Ken’s Barber ...

ORLEANS — When the town’s top elected officials meet for the first time as a select board, a woman will be among them. Andrea Shaw Reed, outgoing chair of the planning board, drew 1,393 votes at the town election Tuesday to join Mefford Runyon, who received 1,251 votes to win another term on what will now be known as the select board. Incumbent David Currier, with 911 votes, was not returned to office. ...

ORLEANS — If democracy dies in darkness, as The Washington Post’s slogan declares, it appears to thrive in sunlight, even in the midst of a pandemic. Saturday morning’s outdoor annual town meeting at the Nauset Regional Middle School track drew 439 voters, more than double the number required for a quorum. Many sat in socially-distanced pairs, with some sporting colorful umbrellas. Most wore masks. An opera...

ORLEANS — When the town’s top elected officials meet for the first time as a select board, a woman will be among them. Andrea Shaw Reed, outgoing chair of the planning board, drew 1,393 votes at the town election Tuesday to join Mefford Runyon, who received 1,251 votes to win another term on what will now be known as the select board. Incumbent David Currier, with 911 votes, was not returned to office. ...

ORLEANS  —  If democracy dies in darkness, as  The Washington Post ’s slogan declares, it appears to thrive in sunlight, even in the midst of a pandemic. About 400 voters turned out Saturday morning for an outdoor annual town meeting at the Nauset Regional Middle School track. Many sat in socially-distanced pairs, with some sporting colorful umbrellas. Most wore masks. An operating budget for almost $40 mil...

ORLEANS — The four towns of the Nauset Regional School District may not have to vote on the high school building project until next spring. Last week, the regional school committee asked the Massachusetts School Building Authority to move its deadline for approval of the project, already extended to Nov. 1, to May 31, 2021. For the $132 million effort to advance, town meetings in Brewster, Eastham, Orleans, ...

ORLEANS — After hearing the three hopefuls running for two seats on the board of selectmen discuss the hard choices facing the town, Orleans Citizens Forum moderator David Lyttle said the electorate will have “a really tough choice” among them June 23. “I commend all of you,” he said during the virtual public forum Tuesday night. “I think you are all excellent candidates.” Incumbents David Currier and Mef...

It’s looking like picnic weather for the outdoor town meeting set for Saturday at 10 a.m. at Nauset Regional Middle School, at least as of Tuesday morning. On Monday afternoon, the board of water and sewer commissioners held a virtual public forum on the wastewater-related articles on the June 20 warrant. During the session, Selectman Kevin Galligan said he expects to move Article 42 — to approve $12,218,000 in a...

ORLEANS — Rain is predicted for the morning of Saturday, June 20. So is an outdoor town meeting. That long-range forecast is just one view; another prediction shows a string of rainy days leading up to a cloudy but dry June 20. “If possible, we’ll just postpone it to the next day,” Moderator David Lyttle told selectmen at their pre-town meeting session June 3. “These are remarkable times that call for remarkab...

ORLEANS — When is a closing an opening? When it’s a purchase that will ensure public access to Sipson Island, which has been privately held since 1711. On Monday, the Sipson Island Trust and its partner, the Nadler family, closed on the purchase of the Pleasant Bay gem from the Dietrich family trusts. The Trust now owns six lots and will acquire two more from the Nadlers when an additional $585,000 is raised, ...

Has anybody here seen my old friend Bobby? Can you tell me where he’s gone? I thought I saw him walkin’ up over the hill With Abraham, Martin, and John.                          - Dick Holler ORLEANS — As Summer Bates started walking up over the hill to the middle school parking lot Saturday, tears came to her eyes. A torrent of people was pouring down to the village green to join a protest march in so...