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The Brewster Ponds Coalition and the Town of Brewster present Brewster Pond Summit 2023 on Friday, June 16 from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Brewster Baptist Church (1848 Main Street, Brewster). The Summit will focus on the significant work being done to protect our ponds. While all impairment sources will be discussed, the focus will be on septic systems. The Summit will review what is known about pond impairment and the impact of septic systems, what needs to be learned, action taken and in progress, and the outlook for the future. The Brewster Pond Summit 2023 will include presentations and discussions by Town officials and experts from the Cape Cod Commission, MASSTC, and the Horsley Witten Group, LLC, reviewing completed and planned research, proposed updates to Title 5 regulations, funding sources, and governance of alternative septic systems. The Summit agenda will also include discussion of what is known about PFAs and other emerging contaminants. Their sources, health impacts, levels in ponds and drinking water, control methods and associated challenges will be presented. There will be time for your questions and additional discussion. A full agenda will be posted on this website soon. The Summit is an open forum to which Town and area residents are encouraged to attend. It will also be livestreamed. The event is free, but registration is encouraged for BPC’s planning purposes. Many thanks to the Leighton Team, a BPC Business Partner, for sponsoring this event.  Cycling Tour #1 Thursday, June 29, 2023 Beginning at 9:15 AM Join the BPC for the first of this summer’s FREE Cycling Tours that explore the backroads and kettle ponds of Brewster and beyond. The first event will be a ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail past four kettle ponds and into Harwich. Perhaps a rest stop in Harwich center for a drink and a stop at one of Brewster’s kettle ponds on the return, and maybe even a dip in the pond? Meet-up instructions will be provided prior to the event. Read the BPC Cycling Group “Rules of the Road” before signing up. Sign up here to attend this ride!  Sponsored by the Brewster Conservation Trust Saturday, July 8, 2023 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM Drummer Boy Park, Brewster Noted as the Cape’s favorite Conservation Fair, this year’s Brewster Conservation Day theme is “Native Plants - Healthy Habitats.” With over 30 unique exhibits, participants will learn about aquaculture, recycling and alternative septic systems through interactive exhibits. Native plant gardening, pollinators, our aquifer, ocean resources, herring migration and more will be featured throughout the day. And don’t forget to visit the BPC’s exhibit, once again featuring Shelly the Turtle and The Big Flush! More details will follow as the date draws nearer. Click here if you are interested in volunteering at Brewster Conservation Day. You can also visit the Brewster Conservation Trust website to learn more about this fun annual event.  Thirteen intrepid hikers chanced the rainy weather prediction to hike three miles around pristine Higgins Pond in Nickerson State Park on Saturday, May 20. The rain held off and everyone had a great time. The hike was led by BPC Board member Nancy Ortiz.  On Thursday, May 18 the BPC held two sessions of "Composting is Simple - And Simply Makes Sense," led by Peter Jensen and Lynn van Norman of Terra Firma Permagardens (BPC Business Partner). The well-attended sessions gave participants a wealth of information about how to compost kitchen vegetable waste and all about summer lawn, leaf and yard waste composting. Peter Jensen was thrilled to be presented with a BPC business partner yard sign (center photo, below). Town of Brewster Community Forum #1 Saturday, May 20, 2023 Bay Property Dining Hall 10 AM - 12 PM or 1 - 3 PM The Town of Brewster invites residents to this community event that will introduce the comprehensive planning process for both the Bay and Pond properties, share information about them, and gather feedback from the attendees. This forum will be the first in a series of six that will take place over the course of the planning process. The BPC donated $5,000 to the Brewster Conservation Trust toward the purchase of the former Sea Camps Long Pond property. We are very supportive of this planning process and to learning what the future holds for this beautiful part of our community. Registration for this event is limited to Brewster residents. To register for one of the above sessions, click here. To learn more about the Sea Camps, you can view this informative video.  Photograph credit: Merrily Cassidy, Cape Cod Times
The weekend of May 5-7 was a busy one for the BPC, during the 37th year of Brewster in Bloom. It was a beautiful Spring weekend, with residents and visitors alike taking advantage of all the happenings in town. On Saturday, May 6, BPC held two Herring Run Eco-Paddles with business partner SUPfari Adventures. Both the morning and afternoon sessions started from Upper Mill Pond and were led by SUPfari Adventure guides along with Brad Chase, from the MA Department of Marine Fisheries. They kept the Eco-Paddle groups engaged and asking many questions about the herring and Brewster's beautiful ponds, and a fun time was had by all. More Eco-Paddles are planned this summer so stay tuned for details! BPC and Shelly the Turtle were spotted in front of The Brewster Book Store on Saturday, talking to residents and visitors about the organization, its mission and events, and sharing recent publications and information. For the very first time, BPC participated in the Brewster in Bloom Town Parade on Sunday, May 7. A fun time was had by all, especially the BPC Board members and volunteers who decorated the float. Check out the photos below! Saturday, May 6 was a beautiful Spring day for the first 2023 BPC and SUPfari Adventures Eco-Paddles. A group of eager participants joined the SUPfari guides and Brad Chase, Diadromous Fisheries Project Leader with the MA Department of Marine Fisheries, on the herring run Eco-Paddles that started on Upper Mill Pond in Brewster. More Eco-Paddles will be held during the upcoming months, so stay tuned for details and how to register. Photographs courtesy of BPC and SUPfari Adventures. On Thursday, May 4, the BPC sponsored "Water Quality: Wastewater Overview 101" at the Brewster Ladies Library. Amy L. von Hone, RS, CHO, Director of the Brewster Health Department, presented a general overview of the Health Department's responsibilities related to the Title 5 Regulations, septic system monitoring, and the proposed 2023 Title 5 revisions. Ms. von Hone also shared a summary of the ongoing water quality monitoring programs in Brewster. A lively question and answer session followed, indicating high interest among the participants on the importance of maintaining the integrity of Brewster's water and keeping abreast of state regulations that will protect our water and its balance within our delicate ecosystems.  Luckily the rain held off making Saturday, April 29 the perfect day for the townwide “Beautify Brewster” cleanup. BPC had the biggest turnout ever, with 38 BPC volunteers participating in the two-hour cleanup that started at the intersection of Satucket and Slough Roads. Due to the large number of volunteers, five new cleanup routes were added. The Department of Natural Resources created very detailed sheets to document the type of trash picked up. The largest item collected was cigarette butts. However, single-use Nip bottles were a close second with 3,144 collected townwide. Tallying these bottles was helpful in the passage of the Single Use Nip Ban Article at the May 1 Town Meeting, making Brewster one of the Cape leaders in this important environmental initiative. BPC thanks all of our eager volunteers for their help in this annual endeavor.   |
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