Linda Hughes-Belford, D.O. Growing up, I spent most of my summers visiting family on Cape Cod, and I learned to sail on Long Pond in Wellfleet at the home of my Aunt and Uncle. As a young adult I attended Smith College for 3 years, studying Psychology, Religion, Math, and Education. I left Smith for a brief tour of duty in the U.S.Navy, where I worked as a Hull Maintenance Technician. It was fun learning how to weld and put out fires, but was not to be my lifelong career. I went on to obtain my Bachelor's degree in Psychology, … [Read more...]
Ponderings Fall 2023
OPC_Newsletter_23 FINALDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC Letter to the Editor
Published in the September 21st, 2023 edition of the Cape Cod Chronicle … [Read more...]
📌OPC Bulletin: After-Hurricane Update for Celebrate Our Waters
OPC-Bulletin-After-Hurricane-Update-for-Celebrate-Our-WatersDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC Bulletin: Hurricane Update for Celebrate Our Waters and Upcoming Programs
OPC-Bulletin-Hurricane-Update-for-Celebrate-Our-Waters-and-Upcoming-ProgramsDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC Update: Celebrate Our Waters and Our 20th Anniversary
OPC-Update-Celebrate-Our-Waters-and-Our-20th-AnniversaryDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC Bulletin – Celebrate Our Waters Registrations now OPEN
Time to Register! Celebrate Our Waters - Sept 15-17, 2023 Registration for events with limited spaces now open for Members on August 29th, 10AM. This year we are offering advanced registration opportunities to OPC members a week prior to the general public. Mark your calendars for Celebrate Our Waters, OPC’s signature event of the year, now bigger and better than ever! We’re offering dozens of events around Orleans to celebrate the beauty of our environment and our waters. Events requiring registration: Arey’s Pond … [Read more...]
📌OPC Bulletin – Save the Date: Celebrate Our Waters
OPC-Bulletin-Celebrate-Our-Waters-Save-the-Date-and-Cyanobacteria-Alert-at-Pilgrim-LakeDownload … [Read more...]
Plein Air Painting at Rock Harbor
Saturday, September 16th, 9:00am to Noon Canceled for This Year Addison Art Gallery cordially invites the public to watch award-winning artists paint at Rock Harbor Orleans on Saturday, September 16 from 9:00 to noon. The wet paintings will be brought to the gallery at 43 South Orleans Road and displayed as part of the Celebrate Our Waters Reception from 3:00 to 5:00. Paul Schulenburg, Jonathan McPhillips, Andrea Petitto and Maryalice Eizenberg are among the artists planning to paint en plein air.Plein air, French for … [Read more...]
Public Health Advisory – Pilgrim Lake
By the Orleans Health Department Public Health Advisory – Pilgrim Lake A Public Health Advisory remains in effect at Pilgrim Lake due to the presence of a potentially harmful algal bloom. It may be unsafe for people and pets, so please do not swim or play in the water at this time. If you come into contact with the water, rinse off. No adverse reactions have been reported, however if you are concerned please contact your health care provider for guidance. The Public Health Advisory will be withdrawn … [Read more...]
Pollinator Pathway Garden Walk
Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Road, Orleans MA Sunday, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., (Map location #22) Still Scheduled to go on at this time Join Regenerative Agroecologist Peter Jensen and Holistic Nutritionist and Horticulturalist Lynn Van Norman, for a walk through the water runoff terraced gardens, terraces and swales to learn about the progression of change that led to the removal of locust and Norway maples to make way for a solar panel array. Road, hill and solar panel runoff was threatening the … [Read more...]
Oyster Grant Tour – Skaket Beach, Orleans
Sunday, September 17th, 7:30am - 9:00am, (Map location #18) Canceled for This Year You will visit Mike’s Oyster Farm where you will learn about oyster life and our farming techniques. The oysters on the Orlean’s bay flats are raised from oyster “seed” from hatcheries and are kept in plastic mesh bags, placed in metal wire cages. These oysters are tossed around in their bags by the incoming and outgoing tides and are out of the water for 7 - 8 hours every 24-hour period, and we will visit them near low tide. You will see grown … [Read more...]
Plastics and Aquatic Habitats Talk
What Can You Do? Snow Library, Orleans - Saturday, 1:00pm - 2:30pm, (Map location #14) Canceled for This Year Join Education Coordinator and Naturalist Morgan Peck of Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to learn how plastics are affecting our aquatic ecosystems. Focusing on local examples, such as sea turtles and shorebirds, learn the how plastics enter our food webs, and what you can do to help reduce these pollutants from our habitats. … [Read more...]
Tour a NEW Pollinator Garden at OCT
Orleans Conservation Trust, 203 South Orleans Road, Saturday, 12:30pm - 1:30pm, (Map location #13) Still Scheduled to go on at this time - INSIDE The Orleans Conservation Trust is undertaking a project to convert traditional lawn to native pollinator habitat at their office at 203 South Orleans Road, Orleans. Learn about the many decisions involved in such a project, including how to design a native garden, where to source native plants, and how to effectively terminate an existing lawn. We will discuss the resources that … [Read more...]
Orleans Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour
20 Overland Way, Orleans, MA Friday, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Map location #1) Still Scheduled to go on at this time Join us on Friday, September 15th between 3:00pm to 5:00pm for tours of the new Orleans Wastewater Treatment Facility at 20 Overland Way. The tour includes a walk-through of the facility and the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the current plans for Orleans wastewater management. The facility includes a multi-story administration building with administrative spaces, laboratory, control room, … [Read more...]
📌OPC Bulletin – Summer is Here!
OPC-Bulletin-Summer-Season-is-Here-v2Download … [Read more...]
📌OPC Bulletin – Welcoming June, the start of Summer Season
OPC-Bulletin_-Welcoming-June-The-start-of-the-Summer-SeasonDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC Bulletin – Thank You and Reminder
OPC-Bulletin-Thank-Yous-and-RemindersDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC May 2023 Bulletin
OPC-Bulletin-Register-now-for-Composting-Workshops-in-MayDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC Spring 2023 Bulletin
OPC Bulletin_ Spring 2023 - Upcoming Events and WorkshopsDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC March 2023 Bulletin
OPC-Bulletin-March-2023-Things-to-do-this-SpringDownload … [Read more...]
📌OPC February 2023 Bulletin
To Celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we’ve created a new logo. We hope you enjoy it! Moreover, we hope you can join the Orleans Pond Coalition during this special 20th anniversary year by becoming a member, volunteering, participating in our events, and helping to spread the word by telling your friends. With your help, we will safeguard Orleans’s most precious resource: our waters. Orleans Blue Pages are being updated The Orleans Blue Pages is our compendium of what Orleans citizens and Cape Codders can do to help clean up our local … [Read more...]
📌OPC November 2022 Bulletin
Orleans Pond Coalition Annual Meeting Recap and Thank You We think autumn is such a beautiful time for reflection. Crystal Lake is so extraordinary this time of year. Annual Meeting Recap This past Sunday we celebrated our 19th annual meeting. Thank you to all the brave souls who ventured out last Sunday in the heavy rain. For those of you who were unable to attend, you missed a good one! So let’s recap. First, welcome to our new directors: Ginny Farber, Clint Kaiser and Rich Levy. Great additions to our Board of Directors! Second, … [Read more...]
Ponderings Fall 2022
Click to view Ponderings Fall 2022 … [Read more...]
📌2022 OPC Annual Meeting – October 23rd
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE: Orleans Pond Coalition Annual Meeting October 23rd at 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. After two years of meeting remotely via zoom, we are delighted to announce this year’s annual meeting will be in person. Please join us to celebrate this year’s success’s and learn more about what’s going on at OPC. We are also fortunate to have the inventor of the technology we are using in our Oxygen Demonstration Research Program – Dr. Paul Gantzer as our keynote speaker. You will not want to miss this exciting review of this … [Read more...]
The Eastwind Gallery
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Eastwind Gallery, 34 Main St., Orleans (Map location #11) Still Scheduled to go on at this time Fourteen local artists work and exhibit at Eastwind Gallery and Studio at 34 Main Street, Orleans (beneath Watson’s at the corner of Main Street and Route 6A). From 10:00 until 2:00 on the Saturday of Celebrate Our Waters, studio artists will create and exhibit works. Inspired by and depicting the unique scenery of the Cape, beautiful works fill the gallery. … [Read more...]
Vernon Smith’s Orleans
A Sense of Place – Panel Discussion The Centers for Culture and History in Orleans (10) In conjunction with the extraordinary exhibition current on display at the Centers for Culture and History in Orleans entitled Vernon Smith’s Orleans – A Sense of Place, there will be a panel discussion of the various works on display and anecdotes about the artist. Included on the panel will be the co-curators of the exhibition, Bill Wibel and Kevin Rita. Vernon B. Smith (1894-1969), was an American regional artist, often … [Read more...]
Get to know Orleans
through its Historical Markers (self-guided) Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. starting at Rock Harbor Fun Tent (Map location #3) Canceled for This Year Pick up a pamphlet showing Historical Sites of Interest in Orleans at our Celebrate Our Waters Event Headquarters, Rock Harbor Fun Tent, or download the app at CHOCENTERS.ORG. Choose among three walking tour options. “Orleans’ Historian Bonnie Snow’s Walking Trails: Main Street,” “East Orleans,” or her map of “Historical Sites of Interest in Orleans.” Learn about the … [Read more...]
📌OPC June 2022 Bulletin
Upcoming Events and Activities SAVE the Date The Family Fun Tent, Beach Yoga, Tour d’Orleans, bird and nature walks and all varieties of water sports including paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing are back for another fun-filled weekend. This year the Paul Fulcher Memorial Bonfire on Saturday night will be celebrating Orleans’ many water volunteers. So all you herring counters, water samplers, members of Boards and Committees, come out to be recognized for your service. We will also have new events including a kayak paddle and … [Read more...]
📌OPC Reminder: Please Vote Today – Tuesday, May 17th, 2022
We’re almost there! Let’s not lose momentum. Please vote Tuesday May17th Thank you to all OPC members who were able to attend last Monday’s Annual Town Meeting and vote yes for the 3 key wastewater articles. There is just one final step to get the job done. Please mark your calendar and vote yes on Tuesday for Ballot Question #2 – Fund Meetinghouse Pond Area Sewer Collection System Construction. A yes vote is needed for construction to be approved. Importantly, waiting will forfeit our favorable top of the list position to … [Read more...]
📌OPC April Bulletin
It's almost time for the Orleans Town Meeting May 9th - 6:00 p.m. - NRMS Gym In preparation for this community event the Orleans Pond Coalition would like to bring the following items to your attention. A Town Meeting review letter from Orleans Select Person, Andrea Reed Andrea Reed on Environmental Progress:…. ‘I strongly support (the articles for wastewater and budget question) and hope we pass.’ Wastewater Progress: Articles 18 & 19/Ballot Question 2 Article 18 Sewer Assessment General Bylaw defines how we measure, … [Read more...]
📌 Pointer to Town of Orleans Sewer System FAQs
Town of Orleans Sewer System FAQs … [Read more...]
Water, Water, Everywhere: River Herring Are Harbingers of Spring
by Mary GriffinOrleans Pond Coalition The return of river herring to their native spawning grounds in freshwater rivers and ponds from the sea is a welcome sign of spring. Orleans Natural Resource Manager Nate Sears says, "Some may rely on the groundhog, but Cape Codders trust only the herring." According to Sears, "The herring run at Pilgrim Lake, like many other runs in the region, is so special because it is only possible with the support of the community. The journey of these fish and the promise of their return seems to inspire and … [Read more...]
📌 2022 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule
From: Kalliope Chute <Kalliope.Chute@barnstablecounty.org>Subject: Eastham/Orleans HHW e-docsDate: March 30, 2022 at 8:40:49 AM EDT Good morning, Enclosed, find e-docs for Eastham & Orleans household & sm. business hazardous waste collection events. 2022 Household Hazardous Waste Collection_Eastham Orleans (PDF)Download 2022 HHW-Brochure_ Eastham Orleans (PDF)Download 2022 Small-Business-HHwaste-flyer (PDF)Download 2022 All_Cape_Small Business (DOC)Download 2022_Visitor_authorization_form (DOC)Download … [Read more...]
📌OPC March 2022 Bulletin
Connecting to Our Clean Water Future Dear Friends, As Phase I of the Orleans Wastewater Infrastructure Project nears completion later this year, we thought that the attached notice from Tom Daley, Director of the Orleans Department of Public Works and Natural Resources, would be of interest to our community, and particularly helpful to those who work and reside in the downtown area. It provides timely information and advice about when and how to arrange your connection to the first leg of the town’s advanced new wastewater system. Your … [Read more...]
📌OPC February 2022 Bulletin
Do You Love our Waters??? It’s Time to Dive In and Get Your Feet Wet We’re recruiting for multiple water-related volunteer activities. Make new friends, help watch over our waters, learn more about how your actions can make a difference to water quality. It’s fascinating…. And fun! Cyanobacteria Monitors. OPC in conjunction with APCC is monitoring Crystal and Pilgrim Lakes, Uncle Harvey’s, Icehouse, and (starting this year) Cedar Ponds. Help us track this threat to our ponds and provide safety warnings to humans and pets. For more … [Read more...]
📌OPC January 2022 Bulletin
Special Reports from OPC and APCC on two major Fresh Water programs in Orleans Your Voice is Needed to Help Secure Funds to Improve Water Quality on Cape Cod! You may have seen Legislation in the news this month outlining approval of a new bill called the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) providing Barnstable County with $41.3 million in grant federal funds. “Cape Cod has a tremendous opportunity to utilize (these) American Rescue Plan Act funds to make progress in key areas for our region, including protecting our water, … [Read more...]
Ponderings Fall 2021
Click to View Ponderings Fall 2021 … [Read more...]
Scavenger Hunt
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Rock Harbor Fun Tent (Map location #3) Canceled for This Year It’s a challenge for your family and friends!!! Begin at the Family Tent at Rock Harbor where you can get your “hunt” bag and list of 10 small easy to carry items which can be found around the beaches, bike trail and Orleans Town Park by Snow Library. All you need to do to win a prize is to complete the “hunt” by filling your bag will 1 each of the 10 items in the fastest time. There will be a sign-up sheet at the … [Read more...]
Terra Firma Water Walk
Saturday 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. at 155 Monument Road (Map location #15) Canceled for This Year Stormwater runoff mitigation can be beautiful! Join Regenerative Agroecologist, Peter Jensen and his wife, Holistic Nutritionist and Horticulturalist, Lynn Van Norman, for a dynamic and engaging “Aquifer Protection through ecosystem strengthening and resilience walk”. This will be a pleasant walk through Road and Driveway Runoff Raingardens, Downspout Keyhole Gardens, Tuscan WaterWalks, Hillside Lithic Swales and Hugel Terraces on their … [Read more...]
Addison Art Gallery Demonstrations, Reception & Exhibition
Saturday 3:00 to 5:00 at Addison Art Gallery (Map location #16) Still Scheduled to go on at this time As it has since the inception of Celebrate Our Waters, The Addison Art Gallery will host a reception from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023. In addition to the beautiful artwork, established artists will demonstrate painting and be available to discuss their inspirations and processes. Orleans native Jeff Norgeot will be signing his new book of poems and photographs, Through … [Read more...]
Walk & Tour of Sarah’s Pond Oxygenation Demo
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. along Quanset Road (Map location #20) Still Scheduled to go on at this time Join OPC project coordinators Eric Spengler and Judith Bruce for a walk to and tour of OPC’s Oxygenation Demonstration Project at Sarah’s Pond. See the equipment and hear about phase II of this project and the effect on the Pond. Easy paced walk but steep driveway for access to pond and equipment. Meet on left hand side of Quanset Road just past Davis Road. Please turn around and park on Davis Road side of … [Read more...]
Sipson Island Kayak & Walk*
Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Canceled for This Year Sipson Island is now open to the public after being in private hands for 300 years! We’ll enjoy a tour of the island hosted by the Sipson Island Trust after a paddle through Pleasant Bay with Guide and kayaks provided by SUPfari Adventures. This tour is offered free of charge; we request a gratuity for our SUPfari Guide and please consider a donation to the Trust in support of their work to “undevelop” and restore the island, via sipsonislandtrust.org. This trip … [Read more...]
PRESS RELEASE: Monday April 26, 2021
Side Stream Saturation comes to Orleans By: Eric Spengler, VP Orleans Pond Coalition The Orleans Pond Coalition announced this past week that it has successfully installed new equipment into Sarah’s Pond as part of its Oxygenation Demonstration Project. ‘The new equipment we are exploring is based on technology called side stream saturation (SSS). We’re excited about its potential,’ said past president Judith Bruce. ‘It’s so different from our earlier work. We’re now calling this phase II of our Oxygenation Project.’ OPC’s … [Read more...]
Water, Water, Everywhere: An Orleans treasure: 109 Portanimicut
By Karen Back One might think that someone having grown up in a home literally surrounded by water – Cedar Swamp, Paw Wah Pondand Little Pleasant Bay – might become blasé about the wonder of the experience. Not so for 84-year-old, RachiaHeyelman, who has a life lease on 109 Portanimicut Road and has made a personal and financial commitment to keepingthis bay fronted parcel undeveloped, by its transfer of ownership to the Orleans Conservation Trust (OCT.)From her, one is exposed to a wealth of knowledge about this specific site in South … [Read more...]
📌Replay of the 2020 OPC Annual Meeting from November 8th
For those who were unable to be with us on November 8th for the 17th Annual Orleans Pond Coalition Meeting, we recorded the event. If you wish to see the meeting and the featured presentation by Dr. Kenneth Wagner just click the link below. Dr. Wagner reported on OPC’s Sarah’s Pond nanobubble demonstration project, and he gave us all a primer on cyanobacteria. Recording of OPC Annual Meeting … [Read more...]
OPC President’s Presentation
Orleans Pond Coalition President’s Report - without videoDownload Orleans Pond Coalition President’s Report - without videoDownload Orleans Pond Coalition President’s Report - complete - compressedDownload … [Read more...]
📌2020 OPC Annual Meeting (via Zoom) – 5:00 PM November 8th
YOU ARE INVITED TO:THE 17th Annual Meeting of the Orleans Pond CoalitionNovember 8, 2020 at 5:00 PM Register Today via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tYvnhOd-SGmN9a57_aQr1w After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Featured Speaker: Dr. Kenneth Wagner, PhD., Water Resource Services, Inc. Dr. Wagner holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Cornell University, with his Ph.D. earned in Natural Resource Management in 1985. He has over 40 … [Read more...]
📌2020 OPC Annual Membership Renewal and Appeal
As summer draws to a close, we hope you had wonderful times enjoying our waters. We all felt joy and relief to be out of our houses walking the beaches, swimming in the cool waters, and being out in boats, kayaks and paddleboards. For many of us, our waters are central to our quality of life. This has been a strange and challenging year, but also a year to take the time to think about what is important in our lives--what brings joy to our hearts and peace to our souls. This was a year to celebrate approval at Town Meeting of the … [Read more...]