Westport
in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Sunday,
March 15, 2015
photos/EverythingWestport.com except as noted
Quick
Article Index . . .
Buoys and girls
at the Brewery.
Letter to the Editor. Maurice May
Letter to the Editor. Pamela Costa
|
Buoys and girls at the
Brewery. Second event
buoyed organizers hopes for a repeat performance of last year’s inaugural
event. EverythingWestport.com Friday,
March 13, 2015 The Westport River
Watershed Alliance held its second fundraiser featuring artistically
decorated and sculpted lobster pot buoys last Saturday, March 7th from 11:00
a.m. to 6:30 p.m.. The event evolved
from a wish to host a fun winter event that might raise some money in the
process, according to event organizer Gay Gillespie.
Left: Westport Cable Coordinator Valerie
Bain and her mother check out the buoys at the brewery. Right: two
visitors check out a buoy by Jim Whiten labeled ““WRWA Chimes.” Following up last
year’s very successful inaugural event, Gillespie, a former Director of the
WRWA, was concerned that all the good ideas would be used up. She needn’t have
worried. “The artists
outdid themselves this year,” Gillespie said. “We raised $9000 dollars, with
the top buoy ‘Celebrate Westport’ by Don Cadoret
fetching $550!” “A friend from New Jersey had
done a similar event,” said Gillespie, “for Habitat for Humanity. They
auctioned off decorated bird houses.” – Gay Gillespie Gillespie located
and bought “at a great price” her buoy blanks from a Friendship Harbor, Maine
company - Maine
Wooden Buoys. The next two were
$500 each; "Sphinx" by Nancy Shand and
"Four Seasons at the Head" by Kristie Furrow. Visitors sampled
beer while sampling spectacular buoy artistry at the tables set up in the fermenting
room of Buzzards Bay Brewing, 98 Old Horseneck
Road.
Above left to right: Gay Gillespie
examines “Independent Web” by Nancy Shand; “The
Game” by Alicia Crespo; and “Gold
Finch in the Meadow” by Katherine Lovell.
Above, from left to right: top buoy "Celebrate Westport" by Don Cadoret
fetched $550; Nate Brown does a Buzzards Bay Brewery buoy; and the event
attracted a lot of curiosity seekers.
Left: taking a closer look at
“Sphinx on a Buoy” by artisan Nancy Shand which
netted the WRWA $500. Right: guests had an opportunity to view
interpretive artistry by some of the region’s best artisans.
Above: brewery meets
buoys. The WRWA was grateful to their artist friends and Buzzards Bay Brewing
for making this fun and fundraiser event possible. Click here to view a listing of all the
buoys. PDF Maury
May has a unique combination of experiences that can make a positive
difference in the way our Town is managed. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, March 15,
2015 March 10,
2015 Dear Voters
of Westport, I, Maurice May, am running for the Westport
Board of Selectmen on April 14th because I believe I have a unique
combination of experiences that can make a positive difference in the way our
Town is managed. My primary concerns
are twofold – protecting the heritage of our Town and while managing our
finances to Protect our heritage – ramp up efforts. Westport is a jewel and we
need to keep it that way. To that end,
I believe we should support traditional economic activities, improve the
health of the Westport River, and preserve the many historic buildings we
have. ·
Local economy - traditional industries. We still
have active fishing, farming, and livestock activities and we need to support
them. As a member of the Economic Development Task Force, I support efforts
to build a craft meat-processing facility off of Route 6. ·
Environment – Westport River & tributaries. As a former Board member of
the Westport River Watershed Alliance, I supported activities to lower
bacteria in the River. Now we need to
increase awareness of nitrogen loading and do something about it. ·
Historic preservation – Town-wide. We have a multitude of historic buildings
that lend a unique character to our Town and I support efforts to preserve
them. Please note that I actually live
in the Historic District of Westport Point. Secure our future – financial changes necessary. On the one hand, Westport
today is in relatively good financial shape, with low debt and a solid bond
rating. On the other, the outlook for
the next 10 years is for increasing structural deficits. Unfortunately, the budget that the current
Board of Selectmen recently proposed to the Finance Committee does nothing to
alter this trend. I believe it is
deficient in two ways: ·
Operating budget - deficit. The current Board continues to use one-time
funds---the balance-sheet surplus often referred to as “free cash”---to plug
operating deficits. I believe this is
wrong - these funds should go to capital improvements, pension & medical
retiree benefits, the Stabilization Fund, and legitimate one-time needs. Also, the Town’s “Snow & Ice” budget
has been grossly under-funded in recent years. ·
Operating efficiencies – seize opportunities. “A penny saved is a penny
earned.” If we achieve operating
efficiencies by consolidating Town departments we create new sources of
funds. Over the years, there have been
numerous recommendations to restructure financial functions, public works
activities, and the transfer station. We need to avoid business as usual and
secure our future with a common-sense approach to our budget. Other issues – I support: ·
Schools in their plans
to upgrade and consolidate their buildings. ·
Water Resource
Management Committee’s efforts to reduce stormwater
run-off. ·
Affordable Housing
Trust’s lengthy endeavor to build Noquochoke
Village. ·
Opening of Beach Avenue
to Westport residents. ·
Veterans’ organizations
in their efforts to advocate for the needs of veterans. Protect our Heritage – Secure our Future Vote for Maurice
May for Board of Selectmen on April 14th! Letter
to the Editor. Pamela Costa announces her run for Westport Selectman. “It’s time to
make some necessary changes without compromising the reason people choose to
live in this town.” EverythingWestport.com Sunday, March 15,
2015 “I am running for
the Board of Selectmen because I can bring a new perspective and new ideas to
our town government. We need to budget
more responsibly and live within our means. We also need to save for our town
employees’ future retirement and unexpected expenses. I believe, with some
restructuring, we can improve our internal processes and maximize town employee productivity,
which in turn would benefit the town financially. It’s time to make some
necessary changes without compromising the reason people choose to live in
this town, our tight knit community, our culture and our history. I want my
children to raise their families here, as I have done. I want my
grandchildren to attend schools here and grow as my children have. I have been a
resident of Westport since I was a teenager. I purchased my first home in
town in 2010, where I live with my husband, Bob and our 5 children. I am currently
the Marketing Production Manager at Embrace Home Loans. A large part of my
daily responsibilities is to review and evaluate current processes and
improve productivity in a fast growing mortgage company. I manage/track
marketing budgets and inventory for 160+ loan officers. I also work at
Tractor Supply on weekends and holidays. “I am running for the Board
of Selectmen because I can bring a new perspective and new ideas
to our town government. We need to budget more responsibly and live
within our means.” Pamela Costa I attended Diman for Auto Mechanics and received most of my
automotive skills while working at Wilfred's Garage on Main Road. I have an Associate’s
Degree in Computer Technology and have continued my education, focusing on
business development and marketing. I have been in the marketing and
financial industry for 14 years and I have held a Real Estate Sales license
for 5 years. I am the Vice
President of the Westport Girls Softball League. I am involved with a number
of sports in town. I volunteer at Lucy’s Hearth and The Healing Co-operative
in Middletown, RI. I am involved in animal rescue and currently have 4
rescues of my own. I also walk for Relay for Life and Walk for Epilepsy every
year.” Email: pcosta@charter.net Find Pam Costa on
facebook. © 2015 Community Events of Westport. All rights
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