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We look forward to seeing you all at the Fourth of July Parade! This year’s parade will include the Highland Scottish Pipe Band, Stilt walkers, DJ Lisa, the Freedom Labradors, and an array of July 4th -themed floats, antique cars, and walking groups. And kids, decorate your bikes and meet at the Post Office to bring up the rear! If you haven’t registered your float, car, or group yet, the form is available on the Civic Association website.
CSCA board members and volunteers will be handing out commemorative ribbons again this year. VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED! Please email carolstento@verizon.net if you’d like to help. In case of inclement weather, please check our website for parade updates.
The parade starts at 11 a.m., but Main Street and all its feeder roads along the parade route start closing at 10 a.m., so park early! Parking is allowed at the following locations:
- East side of Highland Avenue
- East side of Old Oyster Road from Coolidge Street to the Elementary School
- Lowell Park parking lot
- South side of School Street from Crockers Neck Road to Piney Road
- Old school property, accessible ONLY from Main Street
Important parade route and parking updates
Please read carefully and contact the Civic Association with any questions.
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Parking restrictions at the school property: There will be NO ENTRANCE FROM OR OUTLET TO OLD OYSTER ROAD. The demolition area will be fenced off so that neither vehicles nor walkers will be able to cut through to Old Oyster Road from the parking area. Parade parking will still be available on the field via the Main Street entrance, and all vehicles must exit onto Main Street after the parade.
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Parade route: The parade will proceed on the same route as in past years, except it will not end at the Main Street entrance to the school field. Parade vehicles are not permitted to turn into the school lot. Vehicles that need to head back toward the village should instead continue down Main Street and turn left on Screecham Way. Walkers may enter the school lot if they have cars parked there or rides waiting for them. If you're returning to the village on foot, walking back up Main Street is the most direct route.
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Parade participants: The instructions and process for registration and line-up for floats, antique cars, and walking groups will remain the same. The Civic Association Parade Committee will be communicating directly with all floats, antique cars, and walking groups about the parking changes and arrangements will be made for any specific needs they have.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation with this new configuration and look forward to a safe and enjoyable parade day. See you there!
Lisa Vasiloff, President
csca@cotuitcivicassociation.org
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COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT NEWS | | |
💧 Board of Water Commissioners
Looking for a convenient way to manage your water account? The Cotuit Water Department Customer Portal makes it easy to check your account balance, monitor your water usage, review your payment history, and pay your bill online—anytime, from anywhere. And while you’re there, sign up for eBilling. Going paperless not only reduces paper waste and mailing costs but can be especially useful for seasonal residents and snowbirds--never miss another bill due to mail-forwarding delays during the off-season.
To make managing bills even simpler, you can also enroll in AutoPay. Automatic payments from a bank account are processed as eChecks for a $0.50 transaction fee—less than the cost of a stamp and often less than the fuel needed for a trip to the Water Department office. Credit card payments remain available, with the current convenience fee structure unchanged.
With bills for the first six months of 2026 expected to be issued in mid-July and due at the end of August, now is a great time to enroll in the Customer Portal. To get started, visit: https://cotuitwd.authoritypay.com/. You’ll need your account number and Customer ID (CID), which can be found on your water bill.
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🔥 Board of Fire Commissioners
A message from Cotuit Fire Chief Sean Brown:
The Board of Fire Commissioners, Deputy Chief Clark, and I are deeply thankful to the voters of the Cotuit Fire District for your support for the Fire Department's budget article at this year's Annual District Meeting. We recognize that your continued support comes with a significant financial investment. We are truly grateful. We appreciate the level of interest in our organization that was expressed at the meeting. I assure you that I am eager to continue the conversations and discuss anyone's questions, anytime. Everyone in the District has an open invitation to call or sit down with the Deputy Chief and myself. Thank you again.
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🏛️ Prudential Committee
As of June 23, the Prudential Committee reports that progress continues on the Cotuit school demolition and site remediation project. Hazardous waste abatement has been completed. Electric service at the school building has now been disconnected. Our contractor expects to receive the final demolition permit in the last week of June, and the next phase of the project--removal of the roof and demolition of the 1970s-era addition--will begin shortly thereafter. We expect this phase of the project to last approximately two to three weeks. Fill, grading, and planting will then begin.
For safety reasons, please avoid the Cotuit school property until the demolition and planting is complete. Check the Cotuit Fire District website for further updates.
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Cotuit Firecracker Classic Road Race | | | Runners, start warming up for the Cotuit Firecracker Classic Road Race on Thursday, July 2. The mostly flat, 5K evening race provides a lovely tour through the village and benefits several local nonprofits. Yummy prizes from Centerville Pie Company will be awarded for each of 10 age categories, and all kids-race finishers will win an ice cream cone from Polar Cave. Learn more and sign up. | |
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Summer Reading Program at Centerville Library: Riot in the Garden with Stand Up Chameleon Jackson Gillman, Wednesday, July 1, 1-3 p.m. Watch a silly, science-based musical show, enjoy ice cream generously donated by Four Seas, and sign up for summer reading!
- Sounds of Summer Concerts on the Village Green: Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a relaxed outdoor concert. Please register to help vendors prepare.
- Cape Jazz and Blues, Wednesday, July 1, 6-7:30 p.m. Register.
- Bad Apple Band, Wednesday, July 29, 6-7:30 p.m. Register.
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Cotuit Library Annual Cornhole Tournament is a lively, community-driven fundraiser that brings together friendly competition, great energy, and an afternoon on the Village Green. Friday, July 10, 4-8:30 p.m. Competitors arrive by 4 p.m. for check-in; bags fly at 4:30–4:45 p.m. Register your team.
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Dream Tale Puppets invites families and puppetry lovers to join the fun at the Summer Puppetry Series at Freedom Hall in Cotuit.
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Build Your Own Toy Theater Workshop, Tuesday, July 7, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (drop-in), for children ages 4 and up and their families. Free admission.
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Jack and the Beanstalk, Monday, July 13, 11 a.m., for ages 3 and up. Free admission.
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Alice, or the Red King’s Dream, Wednesday, July 22, 11:00 a.m., for ages 5 and up. Admission: $7.
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Badger Meets the Fairies by Margaret Moody Puppets, Monday, July 27, 11:00 a.m., Admission: $7.
Door opens at 10:45 a.m. for the 11:00 a.m. performances. Admission fees (cash only) are payable at the door.
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On Thursday, July 9, the Historical Book Club discusses By the Fire We Carry: The Generations Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, by Rebecca Nagle. 6 p.m. at the Cotuit Library.
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On Thursday, July 16, Cotuit Chronicles presents our own fire chief Sean Brown, who will talk about the history and future of Cotuit’s fire house. 7 p.m. at the Cotuit Library.
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Saturday, July 18: The Taste, 5 p.m. on the HSSC lawn. Good food and drink, games of chance, and a live auction.
- The Museums and Gift Shop are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday-Sunday.
| | Volunteers are needed to make CraftFest Cotuit (coming August 15-16) a success. It takes nearly 100 volunteers to pull off this beloved village event, which generates financial support for the CFC ministries and our partners at Family Table Collaborative. If you would like to volunteer, email office@cotuitfederatedchurch.org. | | St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church | | |
- Summer schedule in effect: Saturday Vespers, 5 p.m.; Sunday Orthros, 9 a.m.; Sunday Liturgy, 10 a.m., followed by potluck coffee hour.
- St Michael is holding its annual Yard Sale and Food Fair on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
| | Cahoon Museum of American Art | | |
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Brush Off Live Auction Cocktail Party, Saturday, July 11, 5-7:30 p.m. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while bidding on artwork by talented local and regional artists, all in support of the museum and the vibrant arts community. $75.
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Bracelets and Bubbly: Nantucket Basket Bracelet Workshop, Friday, July 24, 4:30-7:30 p.m. $200 /$180 members.
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Evening with Nantucket Basket Maker Jack Kaminski, Friday, July 31, 5-6 p.m. $35 /$25 members.
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Sailors Valentine Pendant Workshop, Thursday, July 30, 1-4 p.m. $165/$150 members.
| | It’s a great time of year to explore nature locally! Need ideas? Visit the newly refreshed Words in the Wild installations along BLT trails in Cotuit and elsewhere, and don’t miss the Floating Garden 2.0 at Eagle Pond, a research initiative with the Town of Barnstable and St. John Paul II students. On Monday, July 13, join us at Fuller Farm for a Titcomb’s Bookshop program: An Armful of Birds with author Caron Benson and WCAI host and author Elspeth Hay. On Wednesday, July 15, BLT’s Annual Meeting for members and donors takes place at Cape Cod Community College. Finally, take a minute to learn about BLT’s exciting For Now and Forever initiative. | | Cotuit Bird and Garden Club | | The Club’s members-only Annual Garden Picnic is at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, at the home of Nancy Jarvis. In addition to the luncheon, plans for the day include a Yankee plant swap and lawn games, so bring a plant to swap and a lawn chair. If you would like to learn more about or join the CBGC, call Joanne Miller, 508-524-1817. | | Cotuit Nursery School is accepting registrations for the 2026-2027 school year, offering a half-day program Monday through Thursday for students aged 2.9 to 5. Two- three, and four-day options are available. Call 508-428-1470 or email cotuitnurseryschool@yahoo.com for more information or to schedule a tour. | | Cape Cod Academy is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year and hosting Tuesday Tours on July 7, 14, 21, and 28. Cotuit families of students entering grades K-12 are invited to visit, take a campus tour, and learn about the school’s academic, athletic, and arts opportunities. Families interested in the Lower School (Grades K-5) should visit at 9 a.m.; those interested in the Middle and Upper School (Grades 6-12) should visit at 11 a.m. To set up a tour for another day or time, call the Admissions Office at 508-428-5400 or email admissions@capecodacademy.org. | | Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers | | | Casual Dance, Saturday, July 11, 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Hamilton Hall at Cotuit Federated Church. $15/$10 for CCBD or USA Dance members. | | | | |
