“We are in a moment right now where it has never been more apparent that housing equals health care,” Andrea Aldana, director of Housing Advocacy for Community Development Partnership (CDP), said last week during an Orleans Citizens forum on affordable housing. “Our ability to control the pandemic is really closely tied to access to safe, decent and affordable housing that allows people to shelter in place and pr...

ORLEANS – The historic Captain Linnell House, long a well-known restaurant, has been sold and will be converted back into a private residence. The 2.28-acre property at 137 Skaket Beach Rd. sold for $1.45 million. Its current assessment is $813,300, according to the town's assessing records. The buyers were Joseph and Linda Beals, according to John Ciluzzi, the realtor who sold the property. Built by sea ca...

The holiday season always puts a big demand on area food pantries, but this year the Lower Cape Outreach Council is facing an even greater need for donations due to the challenges area families are facing due to the ongoing pandemic, which has cost many folks on the Lower Cape their income. This morning, registered families will pick up turkeys, fresh produce, and all the fixings for a delicious Thanksgiving d...

ORLEANS — Cape Cod Healthcare is proposing to redevelop the Lobster Claw restaurant property at 42 Route 6A, demolishing the existing structure and constructing a $5.6 million, 6,500-square-foot, multi-use medical building. The facility will offer primary, specialty and urgent care services, with on-site x-ray and lab drawing for the Lower and Outer Cape regions beginning in 2022, according to a press release....

ORLEANS — The town’s investment in studying housing uses for the former Cape Cod Five operations center has led to a plan for 62 rental units at the West Road site. Pennrose, which recently developed the Village at Nauset Green affordable housing community in Eastham, has signed a purchase and sales agreement with the bank, which relocated its central office to Hyannis last year. The developer plans to create ...

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...