Senior and Veteran Real Estate Tax Abatement Programs

Applications are now being accepted for both the Senior & Veteran Real Estate Tax Abatement Programs. Both programs match municipal volunteer opportunities in the Town with eligible senior citizens and/or veterans who are qualified and able to volunteer their services in exchange for a reduction in their real estate tax bills. Program participants may work in a variety of jobs for the Town. New this year, in order to provide greater tax relief opportunities to our residents, we have expanded abatement options through these programs. Residents can now either receive a $1000 reduction in their tax bill in exchange for 78.5 hours of service or $500 off if they complete 39.5 hours. Applications are available at the Council on Aging and the Town Administrator’s office in Town Hall and are due December 13, 2019.

For more information on the Senior Tax Abatement Program requirements or to download an application click here, or contact Regina Egan at the Council on Aging; 508-896-2737 regan@brewster-ma.gov

For more information on the Veteran Tax Abatement program requirements or to download an application click here, or contact Susan Broderick; sbroderick@brewster-ma.gov 508-896-3701 x 1134

November Recycling Challenge: Tips Of The Week

Here are some recycling tips you can try this week to cut the amount of trash you create and improve your recycling:

1. Recycle the right things. For help, visit “RecycleSmartMA Recyclopedia at https://recyclesmartma.org
2. Don’t throw usable items away. Instead donate, sell, or swap them.
3. Keep it clean. Make sure recyclables are clean, empty, and dry.
4. Cut down on kitchen waste. Use washable towels instead of paper and store food in reusable containers.
5. Stop junk-mail. Try the “PaperKarma” app on your smart phone.
6. Recycle textiles in the Salvation Army bins at the Recycling Center.
7. Make recycling easy in your home. Set up an easy to use system.

Let’s cut the amount of trash we put in Pay-As-You-Throw bags by avoiding buying items that produce waste as well as recycling more of what can be recycled. Our goal is to reduce Brewster’s solid waste volume and increase the volume of recycling in November 2019. We’ll compare our efforts with data from November 2018.

For more information, check the “November Recycling Challenge” calendar for 30 tips.

Reminder: No Oyster Sunday 11/10/19

Reminder- There will be no Oyster Sunday on November 10th due to restocking. The program will resume on Sunday, November 17th starting at sunrise (6:30am) and Sunday November 24th at 1:00pm. Remember to bring a nonperishable food item on November 24th to help support the Lower Cape Outreach food pantry

Read more: Reminder: No Oyster Sunday 11/10/19

Regional Community Emergency Response Team Graduates Thirty-Eight Members

On Tuesday October 29 fifteen Brewster residents and twenty-three other members of the newly formed Brewster/Orleans/Chatham/Harwich (BOCH) Community Emergency Response Team received their graduation certificates after completing a 20 hour Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) basic CERT training program. These volunteers are now prepared to act as a community “force multiplier,” taking care of non-critical tasks like checking homes after an evacuation, reporting dangerous events, and offering basic medical care during and after natural or man-made disasters ultimately freeing trained professionals to focus on the more critical and dangerous rescue duties that they are equipped and trained to manage.

In addition to this disaster assistance local Emergency management and public safety officials from the communities plan to use the regional team in a variety of ways including providing logistical and management support during non-emergency events such as parades, volunteer recruitment activities, town meetings, and road races, and during emergencies when storm shelter administration, cooling/warming shelter operations, and emergency operations center functions are initiated.

The course was delivered over several weeks by a team of public safety officials from the participating communities and certified instructors from the Dennis-Yarmouth CERT team. Their training included:

• Disaster Preparedness: Addresses a variety of hazards specific to the communities and actions that participants and their families can take before, during, and after a disaster to prepare for and survive an event.
• Fire Suppression: Covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, and fire suppression strategies. The thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers, controlling utilities and extinguishing a small fire.
• Medical Operations: Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques. Evaluation of patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area and performing basic first aid.
• Light Search and Rescue Operations: Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, and rescuer safety.
• Psychology and Team Organization: Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and workers including PTSD.
• Course Review and Disaster Simulation: Participants review and practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions in a hands-on disaster scenario.

Congratulations to the newly certified members of BOCH Cert!  

Drink Brewster Tap

Retail Marijuana Update

On Monday November 4, Town Administrator Peter Lombardi provided an update to the Select Board on the status of potential retail marijuana establishments in Brewster. Here is a copy of his report and a related opinion from town counsel.