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Sunday, February 13, 2011photos/EverythingWestport.com
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Local artist brings 3D to town library.
Senator
Rodrigues Files SouthCoast Jobs Creation Plan
Westport
Cultural Council wants you!
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Local
artist brings 3D to town library. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, February 13, 2011
Pictured with Poole is Marianne Naedele (center) and Terry Somerson
(left), co-chairwoman of the Westport Cultural Council. It's amazing what
you can do with a little handmade paper, paint, plaster molds, and a lot of
inspiration. "The set of three
panels highlights Westport's daily life," Poole, as she prefers to be
called, said. Poole doesn't normally
work with bright colors, but the panels' vibrant presentation made for a more
dramatic statement in the recently renovated Westport Public Library. Poole received a
grant from the Helen
Ellis Charitable Trust last spring and worked on the panels over the summer.
"I finished work last November, but the opening was scheduled for February
of this year," Poole said. "The
Westport Cultural Council invites area artists to apply for project grants
sponsored by the Helen Ellis Charitable Trust," said Marianne Naedele, co-coordinator of the charitable trust. "Application
forms are available now online at www.westportculturalcouncil.org,
at the Westport Free Public Library or the Westport Town Clerk’s Office."
The deadline for the completion and submission of all applications is
Saturday, March 12. Click here to learn more about
how area artists can apply for project grants sponsored by the Helen Ellis
Charitable Trust. Artwork makes library more than just a book
depository. "I really
like the multi-paneled arrangement of Poole's work," Ms. Naedele said. "And I'm excited about the additional
opportunities cultural grants can bring to advance Westport's artistic
community. The contemporary panels
hang directly over the library's public computers, giving computer users much
to contemplate while accessing the internet. Poole's interpretation depicts
the East Branch of the Westport River flowing through an assortment of
Westport icons, accenting the town's strong ties to fishing, farming, and a
rural way of life so unique to this seaside, working community.
What separates
Poole's relief in her mixed media artwork from others is the technique she
uses to make and mold her handmade papers. "I
first create a clay mold from which I create a plaster mold," Poole
said. "The paper is then pressed into the plaster mold to form the
finished relief." Relief
artwork has been with us a long time, tracing back to before the time of the
Egyptian Pharaohs. Instead of stone carvings and dyes, Poole uses molded
paper and paint. "All of my
paper is hand made using traditional eastern and western techniques. I use a
combination of plant fibers and local ingredients to create the unique colors
and variations," the artist said. Poole,
a graduate with a fine arts degree fromthe University of Massachusetts
Dartmouth (Sculpture/3D Studies) frequently participates in the area's Southcoast
Open Studio Tour with her cousin, Nina Barker and aunt, Susan Barker. Visit
Poole's website: http://web.me.com/lydiapoolebarker/Site/Home.html
Above, left: visitors and friends came to visit
with Poole and learn more about her techniques and artwork. Right:
Marianne Naedele
(left), co-coordinator of the Helen Ellis Charitable Trust, examines the plant
fibers and local ingredients that create the unique colors and variations
used by Poole (right) in her creations. EverythingWestport.com Monday,
February 07, 2011
"No money Jack,"
Selectman Steven Ouellette asked. "No money," Sisson replied. The humorous exchange belied the
serious issue that empty town coffers present the board when asked to fund
emergency situations. The dipping into free cash accounts at Town Meeting to
fund normal town expenses have left those cupboards dangerously bare. Punxsutawney Phil predicted an
early spring is imminent, but mother nature didn't get the email and keeps
pounding Westport with more snow, and Sisson's crews and contractors continue
working overtime to keep up. After receiving approval of over $200,000
on January 25th to cover deficit spending, Sisson once more came back to the
board Monday night requesting an additional $130,000. “You can’t stop
plowing,” Sisson said, before telling selectmen he needed $130,000. The last
approval was for the next two storms and "we had two storms" Sisson
said. Fire Chief Brian
Legendre said that there may be snow removal reimbursement from FEMA if the
last two storms were declared emergencies by the governor. Up to $70,000 might
be available, Legendre said, "but don't expect any money soon." "We are still
waiting for reimbursement from Westport's severe flooding last March,"
Legendre said. "We wouldn't see any money from FEMA this year." Selectmen voted
unanimously to authorize an additional $130,000 in spending on snow removal.
"We don't know where the money is coming," Ouellette said twice. Highway Surveyor Sisson faces a difficult
reelection this April as four challengers have taken out papers to face off
with him. And his ongoing efforts to get a vendor paid for the repair of a
much needed dump truck has been thwarted by the Town Administrator and Board
of Selectmen. Adding to his woes is one of the more severe winters Westport
has experience in years. It appears Sisson will have to do what he
can with what he has, and work on borrowed time and money. Westport's snow budget is busted. Highway Surveyor Jack
Sisson put it succinctly to the Board of Selectmen at their weekly meeting on
January 24, Monday night. “We’re going to need some more money,” he said.
Senator Rodrigues Files SouthCoast Jobs Creation Plan EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, February 8, 2011 New
Legislation to Encourage a Better Business Climate and Promote Job Growth
“We all recognize small businesses as the
backbone of our economy, yet we need to do more,” said Sen. Rodrigues. “This legislation
is based on a simple premise, that it is not government that creates jobs,
it’s the private sector that creates jobs. What government does is create the
climate for businesses to grow and succeed.
Overall, this bill will help create a better climate for businesses to
expand, and provide decent jobs to the people of the SouthCoast.” Robert Mellion,
President and CEO of the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce, applauded
Senator Rodrigues for recognizing the need to improve the state’s business climate. “Small businesses have endured a beating
during the past several years. Senator Rodrigues’ bill provides all sectors
of business and industry with tools and incentives needed to turn the
corner,” said Mellion. “This legislation remedies
long time problems with the State’s independent contractor classification
laws and the Workforce Training Fund. If passed into law this bill is a
win for small businesses and a win for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
because in the long run it will generate needed revenues and job creation.” John Regan, Executive Vice President for
Government Affairs of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM),
commended the bill. “On behalf of our members and their employees, AIM thanks
Senator Rodrigues for authoring this bill,” Regan said. “Improving the
state’s business climate is our highest priority and this bill moves in the
right direction by proposing health care cost containment provisions,
unemployment insurance reforms, workforce training and tort reforms as well
as targeted tax credits for job creation and other small business tax
reforms.” In December, the state’s unemployment rate
was 8.2 percent, and unemployment remains in the double-digits in some areas,
including upwards of 14 percent of Fall River area residents. This bill will support economic development
in Fall River and other Gateway Cities to promote job creation, proposing new initiatives like
a $2,500 refundable tax credit for Gateway Cities-based employers who hire
Massachusetts residents as new full-time employees. This credit would be available to qualifying employers
for each new full-time job they create in a Gateway City. In addition, the
bill will provide small businesses with a tax credit for creating new
in-state jobs and rehiring laid-off employees. The
legislation also includes an initiative to provide small businesses with an
employment tax credit to encourage the hiring of veterans. A 5% excise tax
credit, valued up to $600, is allowed for a single calendar year for each
veteran hired by a small business. The bill also proposes corrections to the
Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law, which after being re-written in
2004 had unintended negative consequences on the Commonwealth's independent
contractors. Some of those changes were stifling for entrepreneurs who wanted
to form new businesses. This proposed provision will remove those roadblocks
for independent contractors who are currently finding it difficult to earn
their living through self-employment and will create a business climate that
allows employers to create new jobs. This bill will ensure
protection of the Workforce Training Fund by
restructuring the Training Fund to a dedicated Trust Fund. This change will ensure the long-term
viability of the Fund and ensure businesses the resources they need to
increase the skill set of the region's workforce through re-training. Finally, the Commonwealth has one of the
highest Unemployed Insurance rates in the nation, despite a rate freeze in
early 2010. This bill’s proposed reform brings Massachusetts UI
practices into line with a majority of other states, which would create a
more positive business climate by making the state more comparable to
competitor states and greatly lowering business costs. “AIM believes that such steps toward
improving the state’s business climate will lay the foundation for better
private sector job opportunities for Massachusetts residents seeking to
return to work. We look forward to working with Senator Rodrigues and all the
members of the Senate and the House as well as the Patrick Administration on
improving the economy of Massachusetts and increasing job opportunities for
our fellow citizens,” Regan said. “Businesses have found it frustrating
dealing with a business climate not sympathetic to their needs. Too many
times, businesses are subject to Massachusetts-only costs. With much of this frustration is an
affirmation of an immediate call for action,” Rodrigues said. “I look forward
to working with my colleagues in the Senate and the House as we meet our
economic challenges head on, help businesses grow and bring much needed jobs
to the SouthCoast and our Commonwealth.” EverythingWestport.com Monday,
February 07, 2011
And you may be
glad he did. In a discussion
at Monday night's Selectmen's meeting, Westport selectman and
recently-elected state representative Paul Schmid (pictured left reading from the
Fall River Herald's article on the safety cameras) proposed a warrant
article for the upcoming spring town meeting that would allow the town to investigate
the placing of red light safety cameras at several of Westport's most
dangerous intersections, all involving state roads. Although
well-intentioned, it's a move that is sure to create controversy. “This would just begin
the discussion,” Schmid said. “It would allow us to meet with safety experts
and suppliers. The cameras and installation should be at no cost to the
town." "The cameras,
which take photographs 24 hours a day, would be mounted at several dangerous
intersections in town," Police Chief Keith Pelletier said outside of the
Selectmen's meeting. Schmid said the
warrant article would not ask for money. “This would just begin the
discussion,” he said. Companies selling and
maintaining traffic safety cameras normally make their money by capturing a
percentage of the traffic tickets' revenue stream. And therein lies the
rub. Profit-motivated ticket issuance is suspect in the opinion of opponents
to red light safety cameras. They also claim the method promotes cronyism. Some states, where the
suppliers directly issue tickets for red light violations, are experiencing
voter rebellion in the use of traffic cameras; civil liberty and privacy
issues are the most common complaint. The camera suppliers are fighting back,
trying to prevent voter initiatives from reaching the ballot. Pelletier said his
officers can write tickets on the cameras' video evidence. "The camera
supplier doesn't write the tickets," he said. "Signs will be
posted at intersections, alerting drivers to the use of safety cameras. Their
presence may deter irresponsible driving and help lower the number of
accidents," he said. “We would only use
them on state roads,” Pelletier said. Currently,
Massachusetts has no statute allowing safety cameras on state roads. "We
would have to file a home rule
petition," Schmid said, "to allow us to use the cameras." "We are
definitely at the early stages of discussion," Schmid said. He suggested
to the Selectmen that a few company experts be brought in before the board to
educate and present the benefits of the red light safety cameras. The
Selectmen agreed to the suggestion.
Westport Cultural Council wants
you! EverythingWestport.com Friday, February 11, 2011 The
Westport Cultural Council invites area artists to apply for project grants
sponsored by the Helen Ellis Charitable Trust. Application forms will be
available beginning Saturday, Feb. 12, online at www.westportculturalcouncil.org,
at the Westport Free Public Library or the Westport Town Clerk’s Office.
Deadline for the completion and submission of all applications is Saturday,
March 12. ·
Celebrate and preserve Westport’s
diverse cultures and/or its history. ·
Promote and support longstanding
agricultural and fishing traditions in Westport. ·
Enhance school activities that reach
beyond the traditional scope. ·
Increase exposure of local artisans,
musicians and artists to members of the Westport community. ·
Engage a significant number of
Westport participants of all ages. ·
Promote good design in public places. ·
Encourage more environmental
responsibility.
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