Fitting together all the pieces of the Nauset Beach experience isn't easy, and it's even harder when the ocean is tapping on your shoulder. Last week, selectmen and Woods Hole Group consultant Leslie Fields wrestled with responses to recent storms that have forced the town to demolish the beach's iconic clam shack and move the decades-old gazebo to higher ground. In the short term – for this summer – the to...

Orleans Won't Collect Proposed Surcharge to Help Fund Patrols, Endangering Resident Access ORLEANS - Meeting as park commissioners, the selectmen expressed dismay Wednesday at Chatham's proposal to help fund patrols of its section of Nauset Beach by adding a $65 surcharge on stickers for non-resident over-sand and self-contained vehicles. "I'm relieved to see Chatham finally engaged and putting something fo...

ORLEANS — Town meeting in May will weigh in on a variety of initiatives to address the community's needs, not least among them a commitment to continued wastewater and water quality efforts to the tune of $4.2 million. Concerned about the lack of housing for all in Orleans? You can vote to fund an affordable housing trust. Worried that the town will otherwise take too long and incur greater costs to meet its...

ORLEANS — A meeting with state legislators on the concerns of seniors last week morphed into a conversation about the Cape's aging power delivery systems. On March 16 at the senior center, state Sen. Julian Cyr and state Rep. Sarah Peake welcomed state Rep. Danielle Gregoire, House chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs. Modestly admitting that she hadn't even been a member of the committee before bei...

ORLEANS — Snow Library has a lot going for it, and it's going to have a lot more going for it if the aspirations expressed at a public forum March 21 are realized. With consultant Mary Braney encouraging comments, about 20 people shared their ideas about the library's present and future. It was one of several general and targeted forums held as part of a needs assessment; another was scheduled for last night...

ORLEANS — The day after the Nauset Beach clam shack was demolished, town officials planned to talk about an alternative food service plan for this summer. The March 21 session was to be held after the newspaper's deadline, but documents in the selectmen's (meeting as park commissioners) packet indicated interest in a Mobile Kitchen Unit like those used by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protec...

ORLEANS — “ORLEANS IS OPEN” say the signs up and down Main Street, a reminder that shops and restaurants are still doing business during sewer construction. In another sense, Revoli Construction's excavators are doing a good job of keeping Main Street itself open, with two crews digging in to build the system toward routes 6A and 28. But there were other signs on some Main Street doors Monday, including Orle...

ORLEANS — With time and tide against them, the park commissioners voted 4-1 Monday to terminate John Ohman's lease for Liam's at Nauset Beach and demolish the storm-damaged concession stand. “I want to express our appreciation for Mr. Ohman's 28 years of shepherding this special business for the town,” commissioner Mefford Runyon said, “and thank him for 28 good years.” The commissioners, who more often mee...

ORLEANS — There was a grand opening on Main Street Monday, ill-attended save for construction crews and police officers. Shortly after 7 a.m. March 12, Revoli Construction opened the pavement of Main Street in front of Snow Library's parking lot to begin construction of the downtown sewer system. Giant earth-moving equipment clanked into position as pavement was ground down to dirt. Selectman Alan McClennen...

ORLEANS — “Don't change the onion rings recipe.” That's what Liam's at Nauset Beach owner John Ohman heard when he took over Philbrick's snack shack there almost three decades ago. But, as Ohman realizes more than most, there's no stopping change when an ocean and a shoreline meet. On Monday at 5 p.m., selectmen and other town officials will talk about whether to tear down Liam's in the wake of the weekend's...

ORLEANS — What do you like about Snow Library? What would make you like it more? Two public forums about the “strengths and weaknesses, opportunities for improvement, and specific aspirations that community members might have for their library” will be held March 14 at 7 p.m. and March 21 at 2 p.m. They'll be hosted by consultant Mary Braney at the library. But you don't have to wait to share your thought...

ORLEANS — The growing support for more housing options manifested itself last week when the selectmen asked the planning board to take a look at expanding its proposed apartment development bylaw amendment to include areas outside the village center district. On Tuesday night, the planning board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on the idea March 27. The extraordinary series of events was set in mot...