Not too long ago the Orleans harbormaster, a bit worried, asked a longtime fisherman to keep watch on a young guy who had started bullraking in Cape Cod Bay with no more experience than watching a few videos on YouTube. “In two days I made about $28,” said Chris Viprino, the young guy in question, on a recent overcast day at Rock Harbor. “I spent a winter doing it. Too stubborn to do anything else.” Viprino...

Not that there was much doubt, but white sharks have returned to local waters. And with the holiday weekend upon us, beach managers are urging the public to take responsibility for their own safety. On June 17, state shark biologist Greg Skomal and a crew from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy tagged three white sharks that were feeding on a whale carcass just south of Monomoy Point. The next week, boaters ...

ORLEANS – A town-wide flyover salute and a virtual “parade in place” will highlight this year's July 4 activities in town. Last year's July 4th parade was produced by a newly formed committee, taking over for the previous committee that stepped down after many years of dedicated service. The new committee was gearing up for an even more successful second year at the helm when COVID-19 struck, forcing shut-down...

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...