ORLEANS — You might say Lisa Simundson caught a wave and never let go. From living in Florida to moving to the Cape a decade ago, the new executive director of the Orleans Chamber of Commerce has spent her career writing about and promoting the special merits of coastal communities. “I grew up the Florida way,” she said last week. “You’re outside 365 days a year. If you don’t go to the beach today, you go...

ORLEANS — Ember Gardens and b\well finished first and second in the select board’s composite ranking of applications for the town’s two available retail marijuana licenses. Seaside Joint Venture was ranked third, Dune Wellness fourth, and Strain LLC fifth. Last night (June 2), the board was scheduled to vote on extending two invitations to negotiate host community agreements, a crucial step in moving forward...

ORLEANS — Orleans is the new owner of the Governor Prence Inn properties. On May 22, town meeting voted 246-34 – more than the required three-fourths – to buy the 5.5-acre downtown property and keep it off the market while ascertaining its best use for the community. In presenting the motion, select board member Mefford Runyon stressed that Saturday’s vote was about the acquisition, not the potential uses. ...

ORLEANS — The select board voted May 19 to cancel this year’s Fourth of July parade and fireworks, citing the need to err on the side of caution in opening up the town to what would likely be a huge crowd. But the Fourth of July Committee is already at work on a lower-key celebration for Independence Day that will stir up patriotic pride. News that events like the parade could be held at 50 percent capacity ...

ORLEANS — Final grades for five applicants for two retail marijuana licenses are due in the town administrator’s office today (May 27). The marks given individually by the select board will be tallied and the successful candidates, plus a back-up, will be announced at the board’s June 2 meeting. The top two will then begin negotiations with the town on a host community agreement, an essential step in acquiring ...

ORLEANS — Pending approval of a debt exclusion ballot at the town election Tuesday, Orleans is the new owner of the Governor Prence Inn properties. On May 22, town meeting voted 246 to 34 – more than the required three-fourths – to buy the 5.5-acre downtown property and keep it off the market while ascertaining its best use for the community. In presenting the motion, select board member Mefford Runyon stresse...

ORLEANS — Something more than a plain-vanilla roundabout is in the works for the intersection of routes 28 and 39 with Quanset Road in South Orleans. When members of the Orleans Improvement Association heard that the vexing confluence of multiple roads was going to be enhanced, they saw an opportunity to further their mission to “preserve and enhance the physical character of Orleans,” OIA board member Nancy J...

ORLEANS — There was some confusion of terms last week as the Eastham and Orleans select boards talked over their arrangements regarding the proposed dredging of Nauset Estuary. Was the draft document memorializing those thoughts a memorandum of agreement or a memorandum of understanding? “Understanding” came a lot closer to capturing the situation. At the Eastham board’s May 3 meeting, its vice chair Aimee Eck...

ORLEANS — The town’s present seems to be catching up with its future. Long-debated projects like the downtown sewer system are being built, and visions of better housing options are coming ever closer to reality. Less than two weeks before town meeting, which decides whether plans will become projects, the Orleans Citizens Forum held a busy session May 10 that covered three warrant articles: the Governor Pre...

ORLEANS — The Eastham and Orleans select boards agreed on an agenda for tonight’s joint meeting, but that may be where the agreement ends. The subject is a draft Expanded Environmental Notification Form, prepared by Woods Hole Group as a key step toward obtaining a slew of permits to dredge Nauset Estuary. To improve navigation and public safety for commercial and recreational users, the EENF calls for impro...

ORLEANS — Location, location, location. Again and again during last week’s five virtual community outreach meetings, each hosted by one of the groups hoping to win one of two available retail marijuana licenses, “where” appeared to be the central question for proponents and opponents. b\well’s proposal to set up a “boutiquey” shop at 29 West Rd. ran into heated opposition from owners of nearby condominium...

Meeting together last week, the Chatham Select Board and the Orleans Parks Commissioners approved a one-year extension of the annual agreement for the joint management of Nauset (North) Beach. And while the two boards haven’t yet tackled the divisive issue of dividing beach sticker revenues, they now have a framework for negotiations. The Orleans board is seeking to raise fees across all the town’s beaches in ...