Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Quick Article Index . . .
WAG Spring
Show 2011 - "Those Were the Days."
A-tisket a-tasket;
A green and yellow basket.
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EverythingWestport.com Saturday,
April 16, 2011 Town of
Westport receives an increase In Chapter 90 transportation funds. Two
for the road! Westport's
two favorite son legislators are already hard at work, successfully securing
an additional $145,480 for the maintenance of municipal roads and bridges in
Westport for the upcoming fiscal year. And newly re-elected Highway Surveyor
Jack Sisson can hardly wait to get the money.
Left: Representative Schmid (second from right)
is pictured with House
Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (second from left) and
family members during his January swearing-in ceremony. The increase in Chapter 90 Transportation funds couldn't have come at a
better time. This funding level represents a 30% increase over the funding apportioned to Westport during the current fiscal year. Last year the town received $484,672. “It’s imperative that we take care of our roadways to keep drivers and passengers safe throughout the Commonwealth,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said. “This bill will give our cities and towns the funding needed to properly maintain their roads and bridges for the safety of our residents.” “This bill will give municipalities the resources needed to take care of their roads and bridges which will help to ensure the safety of residents throughout Massachusetts,” said Representative Brian Dempsey, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Representative
Schmid responded by saying “In light of these tough financial times, it is
good to report on some positive news for the town of Westport. This money
will go a long way in repairing many of our roads and bridges. I think that
this shows how committed we are in the legislature to finding every dollar
that we can get.” Senator Rodrigues is very enthusiastic
about the increase in funds for the town. “During these difficult economic times
this money will help municipalities tremendously”, he said. “These funds
allow our cities and towns to focus on existing transportation infrastructure
improvements, spurring immediate economic benefits and ensuring the long term
viability of our state’s infrastructure.” Helping his own
cause, Highway Surveyor Sisson indicated his department recently discovered
that the town had not accounted for new roads in town since 1996. A state
financial management review sent to the town of late detailed that Westport
was missing out on some additional Chapter 90 monies, because 37 roads
totaling approximately 30 miles had been added since that time. Representative
Schmid quickly put this information to use in securing the additional
funding. Sisson, who overcame
complaints from challengers about inadequate paperwork, was re-elected in a
landslide in the recent annual town election, defeating three capable
challengers with a stunning 55% of the vote. He was also criticized for using
"chip seal" roadway resurfacing. "We just didn't have the
money to use asphalt in the resurfacing of all our roads," Sisson said.
"This extra money will be a real help." The bill authorizes
$200 million for the maintenance and upkeep of municipal roads and bridges
across the Commonwealth. The $200 million in road and bridge maintenance
funds represent a 29% increase over the funding dispersed for the same
purpose last year. WAG Spring Show 2011 - "Those Were the Days." EverythingWestport.com Saturday,
April 16, 2011
Click here to take
a virtual tour of "Those Were the Days." 44 high-resolution photographs. But once inside, visitors experienced
a return to a warmer, more gentler time so aptly portrayed in a series of
temperate oils, pastels, watercolors and award winning photographs that
brightened the spirits and nurtured chilly souls. Left: Westport Art Group's Mickie Rice (left) and Tiverton artist Carolyn Winter
view show winner - Kathy Gray's "Wagon." The Westport Art Group presented “Those
Were the Days,” a show that gave visitors a bit of history, some
nostalgia, a dash of humor and a creative take in paintings, drawings,
photography and small 3-dimensional pieces that interpreted this year's
theme. “I looked for a creative
interpretation of the theme with a good technique in the media," said
the show's Judge Frank McCoy. "The first impression should involve the
viewer with a story or impression related to the theme." About the judge. Frank McCoy is a retired Professor of
Fine Arts, UMass, Dartmouth. Noted for his airy landscapes and depictions of
nature, McCoy has won numerous awards at local and national art exhibitions,
including the Silvermine Guild of Artists Annual
New England Exhibition, the Fall River Art Association Annual Exhibition, the
Swain School of Design New England Exhibition, the Audubon Artists Annual
Exhibition, and the Chautauqua National Exhibition of America Art.
Left: first place winner "Wagon," a photograph by Kathy Gray.
"Wonderful light, shadow and texture, a setting a mood of another era
passing." - Frank McCoy. Right: second place winner "Team
Work," an oil by Martha Mullen Taradash.
"Two good horses ready to work on the farm. Excellent execution in the
media." - Frank McCoy.
Left: third place winner "Ghost of Summer," an oil by Carolyn
Lock. "Evokes a gentler life style, sitting on a swing enjoying a summer
breeze. Excellent composition and the use of media." - Frank McCoy. Right:
honorable mention "Cup of Coffee," a watercolor by Paul Vien. "A still life collection of items from the
past, well executed in the media." - Frank McCoy.
Left: honorable mention "Young Mary Cassatt," a watercolor by
Sara Desjardins. "A loose, expressive style that brings life to the
composition. Use of a limited pallet brings out the personality of the
portrait." - Frank McCoy. Right: honorable mention "Hound
Dog Diner," a watercolor by Jacklyn William.
"Interesting use of media and composition as the image fades off into
the distance." - Frank McCoy. 1st place prize of $100; 2nd place prize of $75; and 3rd place prize of $50.
A special award (gift certificate to New Bedford Antiques at the Cove) will be given to the "Most Appealing Antique," which will be chosen and presented by Donna Gagne, manager of New Bedford Antiques at the Cove. Donna and her daughter Emile will make the presentation at the Sunday reception. The Spring Show was open to all artists in New England. 35 area artists entered 54 pieces. The work, original only, must have been completed within the last three years and may not have been done in a class or under a teacher's supervision. Awards ceremony and reception will be
on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. Addendum: The Special Award was made by representatives of the New Bedford Antiques at the Cove, Donna Gagne, Manager, and her daughter Emile. Emile selected Mary Benton's photo painting "The Old Ferry to Martha's Vineyard" and awarded a gift certificate to the Cove. A-tisket a-tasket;
A green and yellow basket. EverythingWestport.com Saturday, April 16, 2011 A-tisket a-tasket -
Author unknown.
This past Saturday, Lees Market turned their produce section into a
floral basket-making affair with talented John McCormick revealing the tricks
of his trade in demonstrating to enrolled participants just how creative they
could be using off the shelf items. But these baskets, these harbingers of spring, filled with spring
bulbs, flowers, ivy, pansies and potting soil didn't get lost on the way
home. Westport's Camille Raposa (pictured above
right) had a ball creating a living basket filled with spring bulbs, flowers,
ivy and pansies. She, as did the others, followed McCormick's tips to a T, and whipped up a spring basket that
would be the envy of any floral designer. McCormick darted from one basket to
another, barking like a drill sergeant: "put in a another scoop of
potting soil," or "stuff in those pansies; you can't use too many
of them." This event was a great way to welcome
in the season a bit earlier than will mother nature. These baskets will
be great for holiday tables or a wonderful Mother's Day gift. The young bulbs will grow for weeks
and become even more beautiful as they mature. This is one gift that
will keep on giving as participants can plant the bulbs in their garden when
they have finished blooming, and they can enjoy them next spring. Participants were welcome to bring
additional elements like small birds, nests or bulbs dug from their own
gardens. The class was limited to 10. They brought
their own pruners, scissors, gloves and creativity. The class was for
adults and no experience was necessary. The cost was $60 per person and
included free lunch from the Blue Lobster Café. If something exciting is happening in
Westport, it's usually happening at Lees.
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2011 Community Events of Westport
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