Friday, September 13th, 1:00 p.m. at 44 Main Street Keen-eyed watchers of developments in downtown Orleans are celebrating the installation of a new Public Art Sculpture “Ripple Effect” at the corner of Main St. and Brewster Cross Road.This hand-crafted bronze and etched black granite sculpture now occupies the circular space embedded in the brick sidewalk.“Ripple Effect, created by Dave Holbrook will be formally dedicated on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. at an event sponsored by the Orleans Cultural District with a Reception following at Parish … [Read more...]

Join us for a special program at the Snow Library, Orleans on Saturday, October 7th. Join the Orleans Pond Coalition and Education Coordinator and Naturalist Morgan Peck of Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Learn how microplastics are affecting our water resources and wildlife, including sea turtles and birds. Learn common sources of these microplastics and what you can do to help reduce these pollutants from entering our local waters Date:  Saturday, October 7th Time:  2:00 - 3:30 pm Location: … [Read more...]

John Dugan I am a retired anatomic pathologist and have been living full time in Orleans with my wife, Carol since Spring, 2020. Professionally, I worked at Lahey Clinic (now Beth Israel Lahey Health) in Burlington, MA for almost 34 years before retirement after completing residency and fellowship training at the University of Pennsylvania. I have 3 adult children who all live west of the Mississippi River, as well as 3 "grand-puppies." We chose to live in Orleans because of the natural beauty of Cape Cod and its waters, as well as for … [Read more...]

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  The Public Health Advisory will be withdrawn … [Read more...]

Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Road, Orleans MA Sunday, September 15th, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., (Map location #19) 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 vernal pool and wetlands … [Read more...]

Sunday, September 17th, 7:30am - 9:00am, (Map location #18) 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 oysters which have been split … [Read more...]

What Can You Do? Snow Library, Orleans - Saturday, 1:00pm - 2:30pm, (Map location #14) 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...]

Orleans Conservation Trust, 203 South Orleans Road, Saturday, 12:30pm - 1:30pm, (Map location #11) 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 informed such decisions, and how OCT is going about … [Read more...]

20 Overland Way, Orleans, MA Friday, June 6th, Sessions at 3:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m. – registration only PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF YOUR TOUR. ALL TOURS WILL DEPART PROMPTLY AT THE SCHEDULED TIME. Join us on Friday, June 6th between 3:00pm to 5:00pm for tours of the 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 … [Read more...]

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...]

Carol and I paddled from Lonnie's Pond over to Pochet Island on Thursday and were surprised to see horseshoe crabs along the shoreline, mating. It was the day after the full moon at a high tide. There's a great chapter entitled "At a Horseshoe Crab Orgy" in William Sargent's classic: Shallow Waters: A Year on Cape Cod's Pleasant Bay. Anyway, here are a few of the pictures that I took. - Tim Counihan (5/9/2020) … [Read more...]

Saturday 4-6 at Addison Art Gallery (1) Come meet Cape Cod nature author, essayist and radio commentator, Robert Finch who will be signing copies of his books, including his latest book released this summer, The Outer Beach: A Thousand-Mile Walk on Cape Cod's Atlantic Shore, apoignant, candid chronicle of a beloved nature writer’s fifty-year relationship with an iconic American landscape. Those who have encountered Cape Cod – or merely dipped into an account of its rich history – know that it is a singular place. Robert Finch writes … [Read more...]

Saturday 4-6 at Addison Art Gallery (1) Amy Sanders will demonstrate building depth and luminosity with pastel as she works towards bringing a painting to life through multiple layers. Pastel particles retain their individuality within layers. If carefully layered using strokes in a variety of colors, weights and direction, light bounces among the particles creating a unique radiance. Questions and comments from audience member of all ages will be encouraged and add to the event. The soft pastel medium can trace its roots back to … [Read more...]

Sunday 12-1:30 at  Goose Hummock Docks Led by members of the Goose Hummock staff, begin with a 30 minute lesson followed by a 90 minute paddle around scenic Town Cove, weather permitting. Paddleboarding offers a different and fun way to get out on the water and experience paddling this gorgeous area. This tour is best suited for people 15 years of age and over, and a guardian is required to accompany all minors. Warm dress is recommended, as it is likely that participants will get wet while on the tour. Paddleboarding is a full-body workout, … [Read more...]

Saturday and Sunday 11-2 at Goose Hummock Docks Led by members of the Goose Hummock Outdoor staff. Kayaks supplied by Goose Hummock. Our guides will lead you through Nauset Salt Marsh Estuary located within the Cape Cod National Seashore, replete with winding creeks and coves. It is home to a wide array of marine and avian species and offers amazing wildlife viewing. This tour is slightly more demanding than our Town Cove Tour and is recommended for conditioned paddlers with prior kayaking experience. Age 15 and up with minors accompanied by … [Read more...]