Happy Holidays, Orleans!
It’s been a big year, hasn’t it, EXIT 89 readers? Orleans residents approved a major renovation of Eldredge Park — new pickleball and tennis courts, a trike track, a new playground, a basketball court, accessible pathways, benches, hydration stations, and lighting all around. We approved new solar arrays for three Town facilities, funded a new bulkhead for the Goose Hummock Town Landing, pushed through another phase of the wastewater project, and finally got the ball rolling on a new Fire-Rescue station, including greenlighting a crucial property purchase just last month.
Orleans is leading the way in affordable housing on the outer Cape. We saw the opening of 62 new housing units at Phare on West Road and the 14 new units at 107 Main Street are almost ready. New incentives for year-round rentals have been approved, along with new fees on professionally managed short-term ones.
Speaking of housing, our next issue — drumroll, please! — will explore the future of Main Street with an explanation of the new zoning bylaw, the “Downtown Overlay,” passed last month… stay tuned.
As we head into 2026, EXIT 89 continues to be committed to independence and impartial reporting, helping you understand new proposals and developments, weighing the pros and cons, and parsing the complicated municipal lingo. Clear writing, no jargon, no bias, no weeds. We promise.
We’ll also keep nudging you to attend Town Meeting.
Every vote really does matter.
Our reach is expanding — 1300 subscribers and counting. And we’re getting bigger, too. We’re pleased to announce that Orleans resident Steve Gass has joined our team.
We’re grateful for our financial supporters who keep us moving, grooving, and growing. THANK YOU!
If you haven’t contributed to EXIT 89, there’s no time like the present. Make a donation today! If you’d like, you can honor another resident by donating in their name. After filling out the donation form, email elaine@exit89.org and let her know the details of your donation and the individual it honors. We'll send a handwritten card notifying them of your gift, along with our thanks.
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Warm wishes for the holidays and New Year,
The EXIT 89 team
