In Case You Missed It

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Concerns of Cotuit survey. The results are key in helping the Civic Association shape the agenda for our meeting with Town officials on May 4.

Cotuit Fire District News

May is election month for the Cotuit Fire District. Here are the key dates, times, and locations:

• Tuesday May 19, 7 p.m.: Budget and Candidates Night at Freedom Hall. Learn about the Fire District budgets and the candidates for Fire District offices. This year’s candidates are:
  • David Churbuck for Board of Water Commissioners
  • Adam Zais for Board of Fire Commissioners
  • Seth Burdick and Wendy Solomon for Prudential Committee
• Tuesday, May 26, 4–8 p.m.: Election Day for the Cotuit Fire District. Vote at Freedom Hall or by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are available at the Cotuit Water Department beginning April 30. They must be returned in person to the Water Department or mailed to the District at P.O. Box 1475, Cotuit, MA 02635 and received by 4 p.m. on May 26.
• Wednesday, May 27, 7:30 p.m.: Annual District Meeting in Hamilton Hall at the Cotuit Federated Church. Residents must attend in person to vote.

💧 Board of Water Commissioners

The Cotuit Water Department monitors and maintains 53 miles of water mains that serve our community. Some portions of the system date back to 1936, making continued investment in replacement and renewal an important part of long-term planning. While most sections of the system continue to perform reliably, aging water mains require increased maintenance and are more vulnerable to leaks and service interruptions over time. For that reason, the District takes a proactive approach by identifying priority areas for replacement based on age, condition, water quality, and operational needs.

As part of the proposed FY27 budget, funding has been requested to replace a section of aging water main on Roosevelt Road and Truman Lane. This project is expected to improve system reliability and address recurring concerns (discoloration) in the surrounding neighborhood.

Investing in infrastructure today helps protect the safety and service our community depends on tomorrow.

🔥 Board of Fire Commissioners

The Cotuit Fire Department remains active on multiple fronts as we head into spring. Our station renovation project is progressing well, with the framing of the new addition now underway — a visible milestone for the department and community. We appreciate everyone’s continued patience as we work through construction and do our best to minimize impacts in the area.

Operationally, our crews remain busy responding to emergency calls and providing high-quality EMS and fire services. Recently, our members provided assistance during a crane collapse incident on Main Street, working with Town agencies and a heavy-duty removal company to ensure scene safety and support operations.

The Department conducts regular training to ensure our members are prepared for a wide range of fire, medical, and other types of emergencies, and we are working on several internal initiatives focused on training, safety, and long-term planning to better serve Cotuit now and into the future. As always, we thank the community for your ongoing support.

🏛️ Prudential Committee

The Prudential Committee recently put the Cotuit school building demolition and site remediation project out for public bid. The lowest qualified bidder was S&R Construction with a bid of $1,587,666 (which is $273,765 less than the amount authorized by voters last year). This bid includes the full scope of the project, including hazardous material abatement, demolition, and site restoration. After review by our Project Manager, the Prudential Committee accepted the bid, and the parties have now entered into a contract. Demolition begins on or about April 24 and will be completed no later than June 15. The landscaping site plan is available for review on the CFD website.

Community Bulletin

Cotuit Cleanup Day

The Civic Association hosts its annual Cleanup Day on Saturday, May 9 (rain date May 16). Please join your fellow villagers in keeping our neighborhoods litter-free and beautiful. Participants will meet at Lowell Park at 10 a.m. to receive their area assignment and equipment (trash bags, grabbers, and gloves). To sign up, contact Carol Stento at carolstento@verizon.net or 508-380-5784. Please include a phone number and the full names of those in your group. The CSCA thanks Sal Santolla of Cotuit Garage for donating the use of his dumpster for this event.

• Mother’s Day Dress Up, Dance & Craft Party, Saturday, May 2, 2 p.m. Children are invited to dress up, dance, and create crafts for their loved ones. Register here.
• Children’s Book Week, May 4–9. We’re hosting a fun reading challenge for kids! Download and print our bingo reading template, complete five challenges in a row, and visit the library to claim a reward.
• Memory Techniques with Barnstable Council on Aging, Tuesday, May 12, 10 a.m.–noon. Overview of memory techniques, learning styles, and strategies for remembering names, words, and appointments.
• Little Free Library Discovery Walk, Monday, May 18–Saturday, May 23. Pick up a map and passport at the library, and go on a self-guided tour of Little Free Library boxes in the village!
• Author Talk: Freeman’s Challenge with Robin Bernstein, Thursday, May 21, 4–6 p.m. Harvard historian Robin Bernstein discusses her award-winning book Freeman’s Challenge, about a formerly incarcerated Black man who sought pay for his labor and faced deadly consequences, and the roots of America’s prison-for-profit system. Bernstein will be joined by moderator Fran Rodgers, followed by Q&A. Register here.

• The Friends are sponsoring a Community Paper Shredding Event on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clean out those file cabinets and desk drawers, and bring your documents to the library for secure disposal. $10 per banker’s-sized box.
• The Friends’ annual Plant and Bake Sale is Saturday, May 23, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Freedom Hall. Donations of plants and baked goods will be greatly appreciated, and volunteers will be needed to help with plant pickup and setup during the week before the sale. If you’d like to volunteer your gardening, baking, or transportation skills, please contact:
  • Diane McAdams (508-345-2651 / dlmcadams1@live.com) for plant sale information, help dividing perennials, or just some advice. Plant donations may be dropped off to the driveway of Margaret McQuillan at 251 School Street starting Monday, May 18, and to Freedom Hall on Friday, May 22, from 10–2 p.m.
  • Karly Scrivener (508-332-2368 / scrivener.bvm@gmail.com) or Alberta Guerin (339-793-1704 / Aguerin113@gmail.com) for bake sale information.
• Next up: the June Book Sale. The Friends are looking for donations of books that are no older than 10 years, in very good condition, and without annotation. Please bring books to the library by June 1.

• On Thursday, May 7, the Historical Book Club discusses History Matters, by David McCullough. 6 p.m. at the Cotuit Library.
• Docent Day is Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. at the Homestead. We’re looking for warm and welcoming folks to greet and engage our visitors. No need to be a Cotuit history expert — we’ll teach you everything you need to know.
• The Museums and Gift Shop open for the season on Friday, May 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus there’s a Gift Shop sale (with 50% off sale items).

• “Transgender Experiences from Those Who Live It,” Thursday, April 30, 6:30–8 p.m. in Hamilton Hall. A PFLAG Cape Cod panel of transgender individuals and parents will offer a window into their lives, speaking about how they came to understand themselves and their loved ones, what they knew and when, how they responded, and how they’ve felt throughout the process.
• CraftFest Cotuit Volunteer Fair, Sunday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. It takes nearly 100 volunteers to bring off this beloved village event (August 15–16 this year), which generates financial support for the CFC ministries and our partners at Family Table Collaborative. Come find ways you can help! If you’d like to volunteer, email office@cotuitfederatedchurch.org.
• In “A Sankofa Journey: The African in America,” Robin Joyce Miller explores the African American journey through mixed-media artwork and storytelling. Miller’s work will be on display in Hamilton Hall throughout May.
• “Can We Talk?” May 17, 4–6 p.m. in Hamilton Hall. Rev. Liz Walker’s model for this spiritually inspired, community-based, clinically supported safe space for sharing our pain has now been replicated in over 20 communities across the country. A core team of CFC members has recently been trained in this powerful model and has been preparing to host Can We Talk conversations here in Cotuit. This is a monthly offering for the wider community to join in this time of hospitality, vulnerability, and sharing. All are welcome!

• Saturday Vespers, 5 p.m.; Sunday Orthros, 9 a.m.; Sunday Liturgy, 10 a.m., followed by potluck coffee hour.
• Summer schedule begins Memorial Day weekend.
• Electronics recycling! If you’ve been thinking about a spring clear-out, now’s the time to collect your retired digital equipment, TVs, lamps, fans, hair dryers — pretty much anything that plugs in. On Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Greenday Recycling will be in St Michael’s parking lot, ready to take an extensive list of items for a small fee ranging from free to $40.

• Spring Open House, Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission.
• Behind the Glass: Tiffany’s History and Today’s Market, with Duncan Gray from Eldred’s Auctions, Wednesday, May 6, 2–3 p.m. $20/free for members.
• Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission for moms.
• Pocket Illuminations: A Hold to Light Postcard Workshop with Artist Justine Crosby, Saturday, May 16, 1–4 p.m. Create your own hold-to-the-light postcards using translucent papers, bold shapes, and color. $60/$50 members.
• Museum Mondays, Monday, May 18, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission.
• Stained Glass workshop, Thursday, May 21, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Learn the art of Stained Glass in six hours and leave with a fun piece of art! $275/$250 members.
• Evening with Justine Crosby, Friday, May 29, 5–6 p.m. Join us for a special evening celebrating exhibiting artist Justine Crosby. $35/$25 members.

Get your steps in during National Walking Month with the launch of BLT’s newly expanded Hike Barnstable Celebration. Now happening over two months, Hike Barnstable boasts a full calendar of events that is sure to appeal to nature lovers of all ages, interests, and abilities. You’ll spot Cotuit locals leading our weekly bird walks, exploring coastal ecology at Kalmus Beach, talking about seaweed, and more. Other programs include a bog walk, Sandy Neck Beach walks, a Lady Slipper Walk, a children’s spring garden party, and a family-friendly Tiny Trekkers stroll. And keep track of your trail miles so that you can enter our “17.76” hiking challenge that celebrates the revolutionary health benefits of walking. To stay in the loop, sign up for BLT’s bi-monthly e-newsletter.

CBGC kicks off the 2026 season with its annual plant sale (and a raffle!) outside the Cotuit Fresh Market from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 9 — just in time for Mothers’ Day! Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the Barnstable Scholarship Fund for the benefit of a high school senior. Plant donations are needed and may be dropped off on Friday, May 8, in Nancy Jarvis’ driveway at 825 Main Street (next to the Market). Call Joanne Miller at 508-524-1817 if you have any questions or need help with donations.

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 hosting a Spring Open House on Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m. Cotuit families of students in grades K–12 are invited to visit, take a campus tour, speak with administrators, teachers, and students, and learn about the academic, athletic, and arts opportunities at Cape Cod Academy. Tours start at 10 and 10:45 a.m. Call 508-428-5400 or email admissions@capecodacademy.org if you’d like to set up a tour for another time.

Barnstable and Beyond

This month’s Town Council meetings are on May 14 and 28, at 6 p.m. in the Hearing Room at Barnstable Town Hall or via Zoom.

Fun Fact

Cotuit signs of spring: Dinghies return to the beach, channel markers return to the harbor, and osprey return to the skies.

Thanks for reading and we’ll see you again next month!

Osprey in flight. Philip Odence

The Cotuit-Santuit Civic Association is a volunteer-led non-profit to educate and inform on local issues and build community through events like the 4th of July Parade and Christmas in Cotuit.

Cotuit-Santuit Civic Association | PO Box 121 | Cotuit, MA 02635