Issue 15 | September 2026 |
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From the Manager's Desk
As we begrudgingly turn the calendar from summer to fall, our attention shifts from providing programs and services to our year-round residents, second-home owners, and many summer visitors in peak season to prepping for Fall Town Meeting and continuing our important work on various important policies and projects. That said, while you were enjoying beach days or welcoming guests, you might have missed some major milestones in local government this summer.
In July, we completed a comprehensive update to Brewster's Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (more below) and released a draft of our first-ever Ponds Management Plan. While Brewster has always been a leader in protecting our precious water resources, together, these plans reflect a significant achievement. They document the outstanding work that we have done to date and identify priority actions for us to undertake in the coming years.
We appreciate everyone who sent in comments on the ponds plan, which is expected to be finalized later this fall. Thank you to the many stakeholders, including the Brewster Ponds Coalition, for their participation and partnership on these initiatives. I'd also like to convey special appreciation for the expertise and leadership of Dr. Kim Crocker-Pearson (featured below) for all of her work on the ponds plan.
Look forward to enjoying these beautiful September days!
Peter Lombardi
Town Manager
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Table of Contents
From the Manager's Desk
Committee Corner
Council on Aging Board
Department Profile
Council on Aging
Meet Our Team
Elton Cutler, COA Director
Project Updates
Integrated Water Resources Management Plan (IWRMP)
Sea Camps Spotlight
Fall Hours/Closings
Tennis Courts
In Focus
Ripple Effect Awards
Important Dates
Fall Town Meeting
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
Police/Fire Citizens Academy
Seasonal Items
Cultural Council Applications Open
Drive-Thru Flu and COVID Vaccine Clinic
Informational Video
Housing on the Move: Spring Rock Village
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Committee Corner
COA Board
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Left to right back row - Lynda Schulyer, Jill Beardsley, Eva Orman, Jan Crocker
Left to right, front row - Jay Green, Sharon Tennstedt, Andrea Nevins
| | The COA Board advises and supports the COA Director in planning and implementing a wide range of programs. Based on community needs assessments conducted in 2016 and 2023, the Board worked with staff to develop the first 5-year Age-Friendly Action Plan for FY19-FY23, followed by a second Plan for FY25-FY29. Based on this work, the Board collaborated with the Director to apply to join the AARP national network of Age-Friendly Communities and received this certification in March of this year. This complements Brewster's certification as a Dementia-Friendly Community received in 2025. These certifications recognize Brewster's commitment to become a more livable community for all residents. | |
Meet the Chair
Sharon Tennstedt
Years served: 11
Q: What is one thing you wish the public knew about the board?
The Board, as is the staff, is always open to hearing from residents, especially about programs or services of interest to them.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
Our strong sense of community.
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Meet a Member
Eva Orman
Years served: 3
Q: What motivated you to serve on the board?
After 25 years in aging services across the Cape, I wanted to use that experience in the town I’ve called home for three decades. Serving first as an alternate member was a valuable introduction to the Board’s work before I stepped into a full seat. My position on the COA Board lets me apply my gerontology background in a practical way for Brewster residents.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Brewster?
My early morning walk with my dog Jed on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. With dog walkers, runners, cyclists, and familiar faces, the trail feels like a small community in motion.
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Department Profile
Council of Aging
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Our residents visit our facility for social activities, fitness classes, and nutritious meals. The department provides wellness checks, case management, recreational programs, and much more. A lesser-known service we offer is free technology trainings.
AARP Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly are complementary designations aimed at making cities, towns, and states more inclusive, accessible, and supportive for aging populations. While they have overlapping goals, they focus on different aspects of community life.
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Meet Our Team
Elton Cutler
COA Director
Years with Brewster: 3
Q: What is one of your favorite things about your position?
Every day offers a unique opportunity to build a community where older adults truly feel seen, valued, and empowered.
Q: What is one of your favorite things about Cape Cod?
One of my favorite things about Cape Cod is its unique blend of historic charm and coastal beauty.
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Little Free Art Gallery
To celebrate National Good Neighbor Day on September 28th, we are unveiling a new Little Free Art Gallery at the COA. These are miniature public art spaces are modeled after the popular Little Free Library movement. They operate on a simple "leave a piece of art, take a piece of art" philosophy to make art accessible to everyone.
Stay up to date on the latest news, events, and programs provided by the Brewster Council on Aging through their Bayside Chatter Newsletter.
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Project Update
Integrated Water Resources Management Plan
Protecting the Town’s water resources is a long-standing community value for Brewster. For this reason, the Town first developed an Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRMP) in 2013 that identified the actions the Town needed to take to protect drinking water, ponds, and coastal waters. Earlier this year, we completed a comprehensive update to the IWRMP that describes the work completed since 2013, what has changed over the past decade plus, and highlights the projects and actions that need to be implemented to continue to protect Brewster’s water resources.
What Is An IWRMP?
The IWRMP Update provides a detailed evaluation of all the water resources in town, describing their current health, identifying potential water quality threats, and describing the work the Town has done to address these threats and future plans to continue to protect water quality. The Town’s water resources are all interconnected as rain that falls on the ground can infiltrate into the aquifer below and flow to a drinking water well, pond and/or a coastal estuary.
There are key updates for each of the following important water resource areas:
- Coastal Estuaries
- Fresh Water Ponds
- Drinking Water
- Stormwater
More information can be found on the IWRMP Fact Sheet.
What Can You Do?
While the quality of Brewster’s waters is well protected thanks to our extensive open space, proactive land use policies, and benefits of our geography, there are important actions that you can take to help minimize the pollutants entering ponds and drinking water systems. They include:
- Reducing the area of your lawn
- Minimizing fertilizer applications on your property
- Avoiding the discharge of hazardous materials into your septic system, on your property, or on your street
- If you live next to a pond or wetland, maintaining or planting at least a 50-foot wide natural, vegetative buffer between your home and the pond or wetland to capture pollutants from stormwater runoff or fertilizer applications before they enter the pond or wetland.
The full IWRMP Report can be read online..
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Sea Camps Spotlight
Bay Property Updates
Fall Construction & New Tennis Courts
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Another successful Community Pool season has come to a close. Residents and visitors alike enjoyed our summer event series at the Bay Property. As we transition to the fall, public use hours will be 8am to 6pm beginning Tuesday September 8 through October 11.
Starting on October 12, the Bay Property will be closed for the 2026-2027 off-season to safely accommodate multiple planned large capital projects, including:
- water main replacement
- building demolition
- fiber optic cable installation
- tennis court construction
- septic system replacement
- building renovations
One of the projects identified in the Bay Property Comprehensive Plan, is the creation of new tennis courts. The Town has submitted a grant application for four (4) new courts with the United States Tennis Association for $140,000 and expects good news shortly. Additionally, an application to fund the new courts has been submitted to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) seeking funding on the Town Meeting warrant in November. Both applications have been supported by the Recreation Commission, Recreation Department, and Town Administration.
The final design for the new courts and various permitting processes are still underway. Town staff has engaged stakeholders throughout, including the tennis and pickleball communities. It is expected that the tennis courts at the Stony Brook School will be renovated into much needed full pickleball courts once the new tennis courts at the Sea Camps are completed. We also plan to make minor upgrades to the multi-purpose athletic fields adjacent to the new tennis courts at the Bay property this offseason.
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In Focus
Ripple Effect Awards: Barnstable County Recognizes Dr. Kimberly Crocker-Pearson
Pictured to the right at Brewster Conservation Day 2025, Dr. Kimberly Crocker-Pearson was recently recognized for "bringing together science, public health, and municipal policy to strengthen the protection of Brewster’s ponds and water resources".
Created by Barnstable County’s Clean Water Center as part of the inaugural Cape Cod Clean Water Week, September 13–19, the Ripple Effect Awards celebrate people whose work has created meaningful and lasting change for the Cape’s groundwater, ponds, estuaries, and other water resources.
Dr. Crocker-Pearson played a key role in the development of Brewster’s inaugural Ponds Management Plan this year, helping strengthen the use and accessibility of more than two decades of water-quality monitoring data and identify opportunities for improved pond protection.
Through her work with Brewster’s Natural Resources Advisory Commission, Conservation Commission and Board of Health, Crocker-Pearson has helped translate scientific findings into practical municipal policy while encouraging collaboration and science-based decision-making. Her ability to communicate the connections among pond ecology, conservation and public health has also helped make complex water-quality issues accessible to the community.
Dr. Crocker Pearson was also recognized by the Select Board at Town Meeting this spring with a Public Service Award for Environmental Impact for her exemplary leadership and community advocacy.
To read more about the Ripple Awards and the other recipients, visit the Barnstable County webpage.
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Interested in Volunteering?
The following committees have vacancies:
- Cemetery Commission
- Energy & Climate Action Committee
- Housing Partnership
- Natural Resources Advisory Committee
- and more!
Learn more and apply to serve!
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Save the Date! Special Town Meeting 2026
The Special Town Meeting will be held on Monday, November 16, 2026, at Stony Brook Elementary School.
A guide for Citizens Petitions is recommended reading for residents considering a Citizens Petition. Residents are also encouraged to contact the Town Manager's office for technical assistance. The priority deadline for citizens petition this fall is October 2, 2026.
In advance of Town Meeting, Town Administration will hold an information session in early November. Over the next two months, the Select Board and Finance Committee will review and vote on Town Meeting articles.
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9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
Friday, September 11, 2026 at 10am
The Brewster Fire Department will be hosting their annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Fire Headquarters (1671 Main Street). Please note the change in time this year to 10am.
The ceremony recognizes first responders, civilian victims, and their family members who were impacted by the terrorist attacks that occurred 25 years ago on September 11, 2001 in New York City, Washington D.C, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
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Fall 2026 Public Safety Citizens Academy
Tuesdays 6pm-8:30pm
Sept. 29 - Nov. 17
The Town of Brewster Fire and Police Departments are excited to offer a Public Safety Citizens Academy this fall. This 8-week interactive program is designed to give residents a first-hand look at the services provided by our public safety professionals.
Participants will learn about a wide range of topics through classroom presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the men and women who serve our community, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of how the departments work together to protect Brewster.
The Citizens Academy will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00pm to 8:30pm from September 29 through November 17, 2026. Space is limited, and advanced registration is required.
Applications are available online and are due September 15. Paper applications are also available at the Police & Fire Departments.
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Drive-Thru Flu and COVID Vaccine Clinic
Thursday, October 15 from 1pm to 4pm
The Brewster Health Department, in partnership with the Council on Aging, Cape Cod Healthcare Pharmacy, and the Brewster Local Emergency Planning Committee is hosting the annual Flu and COVID Vaccine clinic at Our Lady of the Cape Church Parish Center Parking Lot, 468 Stony Brook Road.
Pre-Registration is required - please schedule an appointment by:
- calling CC Healthcare Central Scheduling at 508-957-8600
- visiting Cape Cod Healthcare Pharmacy online scheduling portal (have your insurance card available)
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Brewster Housing on the Move:
Spring Rock Update
| | Join Jill Scalise, Housing Coordinator and Donna Kalinick, Assistant Town Manager, on site at Spring Rock Village, an affordable housing community off Millstone Road. Learn about the project timeline, public process, and other details about this housing development that has been a decade in the making! | | | | |
