Brewster Fire/Rescue Conducts Boat Operations Training

On an annual basis Brewster Fire/Rescue responds to a number of reports of distressed swimmers, potential drownings, missing persons, and overturned vessels on Cape Cod Bay and the many ponds located within the Town and Nickerson State Park. These type of incidents increase markedly during the summer months when the community experiences a significant growth in population.

Based on the considerable differences in the bodies of water that we protect, diverse boat equipment, and a lack of launching sites the fire department is compelled to operate under two diverse, yet well-defined operational guidelines when responding to these events. To ensure our personnel are prepared to operate within these directives and employ the essential search and rescue techniques required to achieve a positive outcome at these life-threatening events the department conducts annual refresher training each June. The photos here show members of the department conducting training on Long Pond with the departments 17’ Boston Whaler and 13’ Zodiac fast boat.

Summer Saturdays at Stony Brook Gristmill

Beginning Saturday, June 29, the Stony Brook Gristmill and Museum (830 Stony Brook Road) will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m through August 31. See the millworks in action, purchase fresh ground organic cornmeal, learn about 19th Century Brewster and watch a weaver at work on our antique loom. Family friendly and free.

The Stony Brook Gristmill is owned by the Town of Brewster and managed by the Mill Sites Committee.

Faces of Brewster Photo Exhibition at Town Hall

The Town of Brewster proudly announces the gallery style display of “The Faces of Brewster,” images from the Caro A. Dugan Collection, currently on loan from the Brewster Historical Society. The photographs are arranged along the corridors of the main level in Town Hall for all to enjoy, as you visually step back in time to the early days of Brewster’s inhabitants. Taken predominantly between 1887 and 1914 by Brewster native and Cobb family descendant, Caro Dugan, and Cornelius Chenery, who often boarded with the Dugan family. The most famous of the subjects in the exhibit is an image of Helen Keller with her doll and teacher Anne Sullivan. They had visited Brewster on vacation, staying at the Freeman-Hopkins House. Many of the photographs depict everyday life in our beautiful rural town, as well as periodic portraits of residents.

Our heartfelt thank you is extended to not only the Brewster Historical Society and the Brewster Ladies Library, but to Skip Atwood and Anne Miller as well. The tireless efforts of the pair to catalog, arrange, and display each photograph in Town Hall made the display of this collection possible. Additionally, we thank Tom Thatcher for preparing the walls within Town Hall as the backdrop of this historic and thought provoking display.

Brewster Select Board Member Elected to Cape Selectmen’s Association Executive Board

Mary Chaffee was elected to the Executive Board of the Cape Cod and Islands Selectmen and Councilors Association at the group’s annual meeting June 14. The Association works to advance and protect the interests of Cape Cod and the Islands towns by bringing municipal leaders together to share knowledge and experience. Members include each town’s selectmen/select board members as well as Barnstable’s city councilors.

Recent meetings of the Association have addressed the short-term rental legislation, alcohol-related harm in Barnstable County, marijuana issues, property tax classification, and recycling. Each spring the Association hosts an annual meeting with the Cape and Islands legislation delegation to discuss current issues impacting the region.

The new President of the Association is Andrew Gottlieb, a Mashpee Selectman and Executive Director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod.

Assessors' Annual Inspections

Starting the week of June 17, the Board of Assessors is conducting annual inspections of properties with building permits issued or completed in 2018. The inspections will be performed by an appraiser employed by pk Valuation Group of Sandwich, MA on behalf of the Brewster Board of Assessors. The appraiser will be measuring and listing property to check for accuracy with the Town’s records and will also take pictures of the property. She will also be re-measuring and re-listing property as part of our Cyclical Reinspection Program as required by the Department of Revenue,

The appraiser will be driving a black, 2011 Toyota RAV 4 with Massachusetts plates. She will also have a picture ID with her. The appraiser’s information is also on file with the Brewster Police Department.

We appreciate your assistance and cooperation during the inspection of your property. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 508-896-3701 ext. 1137.

Open Position: Natural Resource Officer

Brewster is seeking applicants for a Natural Resource Officer. Position performs a variety of environmental, administrative, ecological and law enforcement duties to protect and manage the Town’s shellfisheries, natural resources, waterways and conservation land. Duties include, but are not limited to; assists in patrolling of conservation areas (ponds, beaches, open space, etc.) to enforce applicable statues; supervise shellfish propagation projects; prepare and maintain required logs, reports & manuals. Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resource Management, Conservation, Environmental Science or a related field and 2 years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. This is a 40 hour a week, Personnel Bylaw Grade II position, with a starting pay range of $25.68 - $29.80 per hour. Please Send cover letter, resume and Town employment application to Robin Young, ryoung@brewster-ma.gov Deadline for priority review 7/6/19. Position open and applications accepted until filled. Job description in PDF format EEO/AA.