Westport
in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Thursday,
February 23, 2012
photos/EverythingWestport.com
Quick
Article Index . . .
Select Board sound
bites.
Town Clerk announces the election
ballot for Westport's annual April 10th election is fixed.
Critical 35-acre Howe Farm on
Westport River protected with Agricultural Preservation Restriction.
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Town
Clerk announces that the election ballot for Westport's annual April 10th
election is fixed. No contested seats and two vacant
positions. Write-ins may fill vacancies. EverythingWestport.com Thursday,
February 23, 2012 The April 10th
election ballot shapes up as follows. The below results are subject to the
certification of the nomination papers' signatures. For Three Years:
For Five Years:
Deadline for obtaining
nomination papers was Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 4 p.m., and the
deadline for filing nomination papers with the Board of Registrars was Tuesday,
February 21, 2012 at 5 p.m. Critical
35-acre Howe Farm on Westport River protected with Agricultural Preservation
Restriction. EverythingWestport.com Thursday,
February 23 photos/EverythingWestport.com
Inset: a picturesque view of the Howe Farm land as seen looking across
Cadman Cove from Cadmans Neck Road. MDAR acquired an
Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) from the family, ensuring the
farm's permanent protection and bringing to more than 1,900 the number of
acres protected by Agricultural Preservation Restrictions in Westport. It
also brings the Slocum's River to Westport River Greenway one step closer to
completion. The scenic Howe
Farm is set amidst a 475-acre block of protected farmland, including the
protected vineyards of the Westport Rivers Winery. The property has beautiful
frontage on the East Branch of the Westport River and features 15 acres of
agricultural soils currently growing Macomber
turnips, several varieties of squash, blueberries and hay. The farm fields
can be appreciated from both Hix Bridge and
Horseneck Roads as well as from the Westport River. "The
Trustees believe that Massachusetts' farms are vital to the health and
sustainability of our communities. This joint effort between The Trustees,
Westport Land Conservation Trust and the Department of Agricultural Resources
to protect the Howe Farm is one example of how public and private community
partnerships can achieve our shared vision of supporting agriculture and
working lands across the Commonwealth," said Andy Kendall, president of
The Trustees of Reservations.
"There was
no doubt we wanted to keep the property in agriculture and protect it from
development," said Ed Howe, farm manager and one of four Howe siblings
that own the property. "It was just a question of whether we could
afford to make it happen. Our partnership with The Trustees, the Land Trust
and the State has now made that dream a reality." Inset: 2012 winter view of the Howe Farm from the corner of Hix Bridge and Horseneck Roads. The 35-acre farm
adds to over 1,900 acres of Westport farmland already protected with APRs in
Westport, an important milestone in efforts to preserve the important
agriculture and agricultural heritage in the town. APRs are acquired and held
by the Department of Agricultural Resources, often with support from The
Trustees, the Land Trust, and the town of Westport. "We are
truly fortunate that farming has remained an important component of community
characteristics, and the social and economic fabric of the town of
Westport", said Scott Soares, commissioner of
the Department of Agricultural Resources. "We thank the Trustees and the
Land Trust for their strong partnership in this important project and commend
the Howe family for their commitment and contribution to perpetual protection
of agriculture in their community". Peggy Stevens,
executive director of the Land Trust, noted, "Protecting farmland
contributes to the overall character of the town, and in this case also
brings the Slocum's River to Westport River Greenway one step closer to
completion." The Greenway is a collaborative project between private and
public organizations to create a continuous six-mile expanse of protected
land extending from river to river, which currently includes the Slocum's
River Reserve, Dartmoor Farm Wildlife Management
Area, and several protected privately owned farms, fields and woodlands. Select Board
sound bites. EverythingWestport.com Thursday,
February 23, 2012 © 2012 Community Events of Westport. All rights
reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
