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Summer is approaching, and the Civic Association is busy planning the Fourth of July Parade, celebrating the U.S. semiquincentennial. To help us plan, all walking groups, floats, and antique cars should complete the Parade Application available on our website by the June 27 deadline. We look forward to welcoming back past participants and encourage new groups and floats to join this year! As always, we need volunteers to assist with crowd and traffic control to ensure a safe event. If you can help, or if you have any questions, please email carolstento@verizon.net.
The CSCA board met with Town of Barnstable management on May 4. The Town asked CSCA to help Cotuit residents learn about the Town’s future resource limitations and financial challenges through CSCA-hosted community meetings and increased communications, and CSCA presented information on the concerns of Cotuit. Here are some of the highlights.
Beaches
- The Town will complete removal of the vegetation at Ropes by June 15 and then conduct monthly inspections and management. Phragmites treatment is annual and will take place in August/September.
- Seaweed removal has environmental constraints, but the Town will look into whether limited seaweed removal is possible at Loop.
Speeding
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Increased police presence is unlikely due to cutbacks, but BPD encourages us to report speeding (email traffic@barnstablepolice.gov), which will typically result in a speed trailer and increased enforcement in the reported area for about a week. BPD Traffic Division findings show that traffic enforcement only works temporarily and falls off quickly, and most offenders are local residents.
- Town Council will hold a meeting on 25 mph speed limits.
Town land adjacent to School property
- The Town will ensure that the conservation restriction language continues to allow parking. CSCA also asked the Town to repair the sidewalks off the access road from Main Street.
- The field will be on a three-week mowing cycle.
The Cotuit-Santuit Civic Association is looking for people interested in joining our 12-member board! Serving on the board is a great opportunity to support and engage with the community. The board meets monthly from April to December. We work to identify the needs and concerns of the Village and address them through education and communication with the stakeholders involved. We also hold community meetings on topics of interest to the Village and sponsor community-building activities such as the Fourth of July Parade, Village Cleanup Day, and Christmas in Cotuit. Email the address below if you might be interested in joining us.
Lisa Vasiloff, President
csca@cotuitcivicassociation.org
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COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT NEWS | | |
💧 Board of Water Commissioners
Did you know the Cotuit Water Department maintains more than just the water flowing from your tap? The department currently serves 2,332 water connections across the district through 53 miles of water mains and maintains 444 fire hydrants that support both public safety and daily water needs. The system includes five pumping stations, two water tanks, and a corrosion control facility that helps protect pipes and household plumbing by adjusting water alkalinity. Water demand rises sharply in summer months — on the busiest day in 2025, nearly 1.5 million gallons were pumped in a single day. Operations are funded through a combination of water usage fees and the district tax levy, supporting the staff, infrastructure, maintenance, and treatment systems needed to provide reliable, high-quality water service to Cotuit residents and businesses.
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🔥 Board of Fire Commissioners
The Cotuit Fire Department is pleased to announce that it has received a $1,987.87 Senior SAFE Program grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senior SAFE Program provides critical funding to help fire departments deliver fire and life safety education, prevention programs, and outreach services to residents of all ages.
This grant will help the Cotuit Fire Department strengthen its efforts to enhance community preparedness, improve home safety awareness, and support vulnerable populations. Our department’s Reassurance Program, for example, plays an important role in maintaining regular contact with community members who may benefit from additional support, wellness checks, and access to local resources. Funding from this grant will also assist with educational materials, public outreach, and other proactive programs designed to reduce risk and improve overall community safety throughout the Village of Cotuit.
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🏛️ Prudential Committee
The Cotuit Fire District election and Annual District Meeting, originally scheduled for May 26 and 27, respectively, were postponed due to an error in posting notice of the events. Both events will be rescheduled as soon as possible. Check the Cotuit Fire District website for further updates.
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Lowell Park is buzzing! The Cotuit Athletic Association (CAA) welcomes Coach Rob Cooper, head coach at Ave Maria University, and his talented assistant coaching staff to Cotuit for the 2026 season! The Kettleers season opens at home on June 13 at 4:30 p.m. against the Wareham Gatemen, but don’t miss the home scrimmage with the Lexington Blue Sox on Sunday, June 7, at about 1:30 p.m. Be sure to follow the Kettleers social media platforms for other upcoming events.
As always, please obey parking signs and use the parking available at the old Cotuit Elementary School. Parking attendants will be on hand to help. And if you can’t make it to the Park, the recent media equipment upgrade should provide a much better listening and watching experience!
The CAA is still searching for housing for players and interns. If you would like to open your home and provide a room, contact Shelley Tomyl at shelleytomyl@comcast.net for more information. If you’d like to volunteer with the CAA and the Cotuit Kettleers to help with the 2026 season and beyond, reach out to any board member or ask for information during any home game.
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Cotuit Library Kitchen Tour, June 25, 10 a.m-3 p.m. Go on a self-guided tour of exceptional kitchens in Cotuit, showcasing thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and inspiration. This special summer fundraiser supports the Cotuit Library’s programs, collections, and community services. Guests will enjoy access to a curated selection of private homes throughout the village, followed by a closing reception. Purchase tour tickets here or, if you’d like to volunteer at the event, sign up here.
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America 250 at Cotuit Library: A summer series exploring the people, ideas, and legacy of the American Revolution. This series begins Monday, June 22. View all the programs honoring democracy, and stop by the library for an America 250 bookmark!
For kids:
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CPR Babysitter's Class with Cotuit Fire Department, Saturday, June 27, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Register here.
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Author Talk with Lauren Wolk: The bestselling author and Newbery Honor winner shares her first picture book, The Outermost Mouse, followed by an engaging craft and book-inspired activity. All ages are welcome! Register here.
| | Friends of the Cotuit Library | | Go on a book treasure hunt! The Friends’ Annual Book Sale to benefit the Cotuit Library is on for two days in Freedom Hall on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations of gently used books can be dropped off at the library until June 6. (No textbooks, encyclopedias, or dictionaries, please.) | |
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On Thursday, June 4, the Historical Book Club discusses Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, by Patrick Radden Keefe. 6 p.m. at the Cotuit Library.
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Strawberry Festival, Saturday, June 13, noon-2 p.m., HSSC lawn. Fresh strawberries, biscuits, and whipped cream – yum! $14/$12 members. Purchase tickets online.
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HSSC Annual Meeting, Tuesday, June 16, 6:30 p.m., HSSC lawn.
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On Thursday, June 18, Cotuit Chronicles presents MassDOT’s Executive Director of Megaprojects Delivery, Luisa Paiewonsky, who will talk about the history and future of Cape Cod bridges. 7 p.m. at the Cotuit Library.
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On Saturday June 27, follow Tommy Burgess down Main Street while he spills the tea on Cotuit Village’s hub. The 90-minute Historical Walking Tour meets at Freedom Hall parking lot at 10 a.m. $15/ $10 members. Reservations are required--email info@cotuithistoricalsociety.org.
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As part of his ongoing work with HSSC, Phil Odence has been gathering info about Cotuit homes that have been owned by the same family for more than a century. He’s identified about 20 so far but doesn’t want to miss any. If you live in one or know of any, email Phil at info@cotuithistoricalsociety.org. Look for an HSSC paper and presentation in the future!
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- “Can We Talk?” June 21, 4-6 p.m. in Hamilton Hall. Rev. Liz Walker’s model for this spiritually inspired, non-denominational, clinically supported safe space for sharing our pain is being replicated in communities across the country. A core team of CFC members has been trained in this powerful model and will host monthly Can We Talk conversations here in Cotuit. All are welcome!
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An Evening with Bill McKibben, Tuesday, June 23, 6:30-8 p.m. in Hamilton Hall. Join the author, environmentalist, and founder of 350.org and Third Act—for a powerful community conversation on faith & hope. Please register for this event, as seating is limited.
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Vacation Bible School/Day Camp, June 29th-July 3, 9 a.m.-noon. Get ready for Snowball Mountain Challenge, an ice-cold summer adventure packed with cool winter activities. Open to kids pre-K through 6th grade. $15 per child/$25 family maximum. Scholarships available. Register here.
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CraftFest Cotuit will be August 15-16 this summer. Volunteers are needed to make this beloved village event a success. It takes nearly 100 volunteers to pull off this weekend 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 begins Memorial Day weekend: Saturday Vespers, 5 p.m.; Sunday Orthros, 8:30 a.m.; Sunday Liturgy, 9:30 a.m., followed by potluck coffee hour. | | Cahoon Museum of American Art | | | Summer Open House at the Cahoon Museum, June 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Everyone’s invited for a festive day filled with art, family activities, food, and special celebrations! Free admission. | | Celebrate National Trails Day and Great Outdoors Month with Barnstable Land Trust this June. Explore free Hike Barnstable programs, including a Mill Pond Preserve hike with BLT’s Executive Director, a wildflower walk at Fuller Farm, the student-led Floating Garden installation at Eagle Pond, several wonderful educational walks at Sandy Neck Beach, a Nordic Walking introductory program, volunteer days, children’s events, beach clean-ups, and more. And we also hope you’ll take a minute to learn about BLT’s exciting For Now and Forever initiative, enabling us to continue important work like the protection of special properties in Cotuit. See you on the trails! | | Cotuit Bird and Garden Club | | On June 10, the CBGC will hike the Fort Hill Trail in Eastham. This 1-mile easy loop on solid surface will take under an hour to complete. The trail offers a spectacular view of Nauset Marsh, plus wildlife sightings, ocean views, and some of Cape Cod’s best birdwatching. Lunch will follow. Meet at Lowell Park at 10 a.m. to carpool. Call Joanne Miller with any questions, 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 invites Cotuit families to join the 2026 Summer Experience on Cape Cod Academy’s campus in Osterville. CCA is offering educational and fun activities for all ages, including swimming classes, arts and crafts, cooking, a variety of sports camps, and science programs, as well as one-on-one summer tutoring programs for students entering K-12. Families can even rent out the pool. Cape Cod Academy is also enrolling for the 2026-2027 school year. Learn more and set up a tour. | | Cape Cod Ballroom Dancers | | | Casual Dance, Saturday, June 13, 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Hamilton Hall at Cotuit Federated Church. $15/$10 for CCBD or USA Dance members. | | | | |
Want to lodge a complaint with the town? Look up property? Stay in the loop on traffic situations and beach status? Use the My Barnstable app to access information, receive notifications, report problems, and keep up with the latest town news. You can even use the app to report a traffic situation to the Barnstable Police: On the home screen, tap Barnstable Police Department. Then, on the Police website, tap the menu icon, select Traffic Division, and open the Online Traffic Complaint Form. (Or open the form directly at barnstablepolice.gov/traffic-complaint-form.) | |
Beach water monitoring program returns
Starting June 1, Barnstable County’s Department of Health and Environment will begin weekly water quality monitoring at more than 350 marine and freshwater beaches across the region. The program collects and analyzes more than 4,500 water samples each season to help ensure beaches remain safe throughout the summer. Look for Barnstable County beach water quality signs posted at participating beaches (including Ropes and Loop), and track results online throughout the summer season. Learn more about water quality at our beaches on the Barnstable County website.
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Recycle your boat shrink wrap!
Each shrink-wrapped boat can leave behind nearly 30 pounds of plastic waste every season. Thanks to a partnership between Barnstable County’s Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, WHOI Sea Grant, and five Cape Cod towns, that material is being recycled instead of ending up in landfills. Last year, more than 60 tons of boat shrink wrap were recycled through participating collection depots across Cape Cod, including Bourne, Chatham, Eastham, Falmouth, and Wellfleet. Boat wrap recycling is free to Cape Cod residents through July 31. Learn more on the Barnstable County website.
| This month's Town Council meetings are on June 11 and 25, at 6 p.m. in the Hearing Room at Barnstable Town Hall or via Zoom. | | |
Seth Burdick
Town Councilor for Precinct 7
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Office hours on the second Wednesday of the month (June 10) from 4-5 p.m. at the Cotuit Library. Seth can be reached at 774-228-0308 or by email:
seth.burdick@town.barnstable.ma.us
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Kip Diggs
State Representative
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Office hours on Monday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. Kip can be reached at 617-722-2380 or by email:
Kip.Diggs@mahouse.gov
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