Fire-Rescue Station Project Update

Planning for a new Orleans Fire-Rescue Station continues to move forward. The Fire-Rescue Station Building Committee is actively meeting to guide the design process, working closely with The Galante Architecture Studio to evaluate site plans and develop a facility that meets the needs of today’s department and tomorrow’s community. 

This project builds on years of planning and recent Town Meeting actions, including the approval to purchase property at 56 Eldredge Park Way for the future station. As design work progresses, community engagement remains a key priority. 

Join us for Fire-Rescue Station Open Houses
Chief Geof Deering is hosting a series of informal drop-in sessions where residents can ask questions, learn more about the project, tour the current facility and share feedback: 

• Wednesday, March 25 | 3:00–5:00 PM
• Monday, March 30 | 12:00–2:00 PM
• Tuesday, April 7 | 9:00–10:30 AM
• Wednesday, April 15 | 4:00–6:00 PM
• Friday, April 24 | 9:00–11:00 AM

Visit the Fire-Rescue Station Headquarters webpage for the latest updates, meeting materials, and ways to stay involved. 

Share Your Thoughts on Arts, Culture and Heritage in Orleans 

The Town of Orleans is beginning work on a Cultural Comprehensive Plan to better understand how arts, culture, and heritage contribute to our community’s quality of life and local economy - and to help shape a vision for the future. 

We’re inviting residents and visitors of Orleans to share their experiences and ideas. Whether it’s events you attend, places you spend time, local traditions, or the ways you experience creativity, history, and the arts in everyday life, your input will help us understand what’s working, what’s missing, and what you’d like to see more of in Orleans. 

The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and will help guide both near-term and long-term planning. 

Take the survey here

Spring Ahead with Free Recreation Programs

With the days getting longer, it’s time to spring ahead and sign up for one (or all three) of Orleans Recreation’s upcoming free programs!  

Ecological Gardening & Native Plants
Spring is here, making it the perfect time to take a thoughtful approach to your garden. Join Sophia Pilling of Sweetfern Gardening to learn how to create spaces that are beautiful for people while also providing food and shelter for wildlife and supporting healthy plants. The program will include local knowledge, visuals, and plenty of time for questions and answers.
 
This after-hours event will be hosted at Sunbird, with snacks and beverages available for purchase. 

Saturday, March 28 | 4–6 p.m.
Location: Sunbird, 85 Route 6A 

Herbology for Allergies
Join Katie Powell of PoWELLness Creations for her first lecture with Orleans Recreation. This program will explore how herbalism can offer medicinal and therapeutic support for everyday concerns like seasonal allergies.
 
Part of the Sunbird after-hours series, with beverages and snacks available for purchase. 

Saturday, April 11 | 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Location: Sunbird, 85 Route 6A
 
Guided Hike with Jamie Demas: Mill Pond Valley
Get outside this spring with a guided 1.5-mile hike led by Orleans Conservation Trust (OCT) Trustee Jamie Demas. Thanks to our partnership with the OCT, participants will explore a landscape shaped by both natural forces and human history. Once cleared for agriculture, the area still features old fruit trees and remnant cranberry bogs. Along the trail, you’ll pass an ecological restoration area where native grasses and pollinator plants are being reintroduced, as well as cedar trees, historic stone walls, and plant ID markers. The hike includes stops at a freshwater “duck pond” to look for waterfowl and at Mill Pond, part of the Nauset Estuary. 

Saturday, May 9 | 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Location: Mill Pond Valley Trail, 13 Champlain Rd
Duration: 1.5-mile walk (some areas may be wet)
Parking: Limited spaces at the trailhead; additional parking permitted on the right side of Mill Pond Rd (not on Champlain Rd)
 
Pre-registration is required for all program: orleansrecreation.com 

Still Grateful: Recognizing Ongoing Storm Response Efforts 

It has been a couple of weeks since the winter storm that brought widespread outages, fallen trees, and significant disruption to Orleans - and recovery is still ongoing. 

Department of Public Works crews continue to be out in neighborhoods across town, working street by street to clear debris and address the lasting impacts of the storm. Their work did not end when the power came back on, and their continued presence is a reminder of both the scale of the storm and the effort required to recover from it. 

We remain incredibly grateful to the Town of Orleans Department of Public Works, Fire-Rescue, and Police Department, along with the many utility workers and contracted crews, who responded with professionalism, resilience, and care for the community. During the height of the storm, these teams worked around the clock in difficult and often dangerous conditions to keep residents safe, restore access, and bring the community back online. 

Even now, as cleanup continues, their dedication has not slowed. 

We also recognize the many partners and volunteers who supported response efforts, including those who staffed warming centers and helped connect residents to critical resources. 

And to our residents - thank you for your patience, cooperation, and for looking out for one another. That sense of community continues to carry Orleans forward. 

We are still not over how extraordinary this response was - and we are deeply appreciative of everyone who played a role.

Brush Disposal Fee Waiver Extended to Support Storm Cleanup 

In the wake of last week’s winter storm, many Orleans residents are continuing the important work of clearing fallen branches and storm debris from their properties. 

To support these efforts, the Town of Orleans has extended the residential brush disposal fee waiver at the Transfer Station through Tuesday, March 24. Residents with valid Orleans Transfer Station stickers may dispose of storm-related residential brush at no charge during this period. 

This temporary waiver is intended to provide additional time for safe and thorough cleanup as conditions improve and debris removal continues across town. 

Please note that the waiver applies to residential brush only, and commercial loads are not eligible. All other Transfer Station rules and hours remain in effect. 

We appreciate the community’s continued patience and cooperation as recovery from the storm progresses. 

Lifelong Learning Opportunities at 

Snow Library 

The Friends of Snow Library continues to offer opportunities for residents to learn, connect, and explore new interests through their Lifetime Learning program. This long-standing community offering features a series of short-form courses designed to make lifelong learning accessible and engaging for all. 

Each session includes a diverse range of topics, from arts and literature to science, culture, and local history, led by knowledgeable instructors from across the region. Courses are offered in both in-person and virtual formats, with many recorded to allow for flexible viewing. 

With a suggested donation of $10 per course, the program remains an affordable way for residents to stay curious, meet others, and take part in the vibrant intellectual life of the Orleans community. 

To learn more, view the current course offerings, or register, visit the Friends of Snow Library website. 

Vote by Mail

The Town Clerk’s Office will be mailing Vote-by-Mail application postcards to residents at the end of March. If you’d like to vote by mail for any or all elections this year, simply complete and return the postcard. 

Ballots will be mailed to you several weeks before each election. Please note that ballots cannot be forwarded by the post office, so be sure your mailing address is up to date. 

The State will send additional application postcards in July and September to those who have not yet signed up. 

Prefer to vote in person? No action is needed - just discard the postcard, and we’ll see you on Election Day. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office. 

Nominations Open: Mercy Otis Warren Cape Cod Woman of the Year

Nominations are now open for the 25th Annual Mercy Otis Warren Cape Cod Woman of the Year Award, recognizing a Cape Cod woman who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made a meaningful impact in the community. 

Since 2002, this award has honored individuals who have contributed to the arts, education, business, and community life, while exemplifying a strong commitment to volunteerism and civic engagement. 

Residents are encouraged to nominate someone whose work has made a difference in Orleans and on Cape Cod. Nomination details and submission information are available through Barnstable County. 

Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Supported by State Grant 

The Town of Orleans has completed an upgrade to the HVAC system at the Water Treatment Plant, supported in part by a $124,876 grant awarded in 2023 through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Clean Energy Results Program.

This project, with a total cost of $402,562, was funded through a combination of state grant funding and Town Meeting appropriations approved by voters at the May 2022 Annual Town Meeting and October 2024 Special Town Meeting.

The HVAC system is a critical component of the facility, helping to protect equipment from corrosion and ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality drinking water for residents. With the upgrade now complete, the Town expects to see improved system reliability along with meaningful cost savings, including reduced energy use and lower ongoing maintenance costs.

The Town is sharing this update to acknowledge the grant support that helped make this project possible and to highlight continued investments in maintaining essential infrastructure.