Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday, March 19, 2016photos/EverythingWestport.com
except as noted
Richard Spirlet, a candidate that doesn’t bend to
special interests.
Partners
Village Store Writers Series on March 24th.
Easter Tea Party kicks off restoration
fundraiser for Lincoln Park carousel.
Environment Committee Releases Bill To
Require GMO Labeling.
Bill Harkins announces he is
running for the open seat on the Westport Board of Health.
Letter to the
Editor: Westport resident suggests redefining “special interests.”
Letter to the Editor: Residents seek
individuals who are honest, sincere, and compassionate.
Salt marshes on the decline in the Westport River.
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Richard Spirlet, a
candidate that doesn’t bend to special interests. EverythingWestport.com Thursday, March 17, 2016 To the editor: Richard Spirlet votes to support what the majority of Westport
residents want. He doesn’t bend to special interests who think they know what
is best for the rest of us.
Democracy works best when people participate. Check the political
contributions to elected officials and you can see how sometimes those same
officials are pressured to vote in support of that special interest. I spent five years serving as a selectmen with
Richard Spirlet. We haven’t always agreed but I never doubted his motivation
or interest in supporting what he thought was in the best interest of all
town residents. Remember the plan for windmills behind town hall even though the wind
could not support it? How about sidewalks cutting into Main Road at Central
Village reducing the width of the road. Then, there was the two-year struggle
to keep Beach Avenue open to all residents. It is easy to say let’s all get along, but have you ever seen some
special interest not get their way? They get personal, insulting, and
demanding. Elected officials need to be able to stand strong even when they
are personally insulted. Too many just agreed to get along to appease the
special interest even when they know it might not be the will of the
majority. The Special Town Meeting last December showed how near special
interests can come to opposing their will on the silent majority. Your
participation saved the day at that Special Town Meeting. Richard Spirlet needs your help this election though, because some
people still think they know better than Richard or the majority of
residents. Those same people are counting on you being too busy to vote on
April 12. See you at the polls on election day! Antone Vieira Member, Westport Board of Selectmen Partners Village Store Writers
Series on March 24th, 7:00 p.m. EverythingWestport.com Friday, March 18, 2016 Partners
is pleased
to announce that Heidi Pitlor will be their
second guest author for the 2016 season of the Partners Village Store Writers Series. This event will be
a dynamic and interactive discussion with Pitlor
about her latest novel, The Daylight Marriage (now available in
paperback), alongside her own writing process, the work of creating a story,
and publishing. Books will be for sale and available for signing at the
conclusion of the talk.
By
day, their marriage appears strained in all of the usual ways (kids, money,
and jealousy), but one morning, after a particularly brutal argument, a new
light shines on their life- a garish light exposing "every
secret-frustrations, weaknesses, ugliness" (Toronto Star) of
their marriage. It is this morning that Hannah disappears, and the novel
spirals into two separate narratives. One
narrative follows both Lovell and the police, as Lovell pieces together what
has happened to his wife and his marriage and the police uncover clues to
Hannah's disappearance. The other story follows Hannah on that fateful day
she left, when the smallest of decisions takes her to places she never
intended to go. The
result of this dual narrative is a captivating puzzle that reveals two very
real mysteries: the whereabouts of a woman gone missing and the hidden depths
of the human heart. In The Daylight Marriage, Pitlor
tells the very real tale of what happens when our intuitions override our
logic and our lives are brought under the harsh scrutiny of day. Please
join Partners to meet Ms. Pitlor and learn more
about "The Daylight Marriage"- a novel in which the
"suspense lasts right until its shocking climax, but the 'messy,
wonderful, excruciating lives' of its characters linger in the mind long
after the last page." - The Boston Globe To
reserve a seat please call Partners at 508.636.2572
Easter Tea Party kicks off restoration fundraiser for Lincoln
Park carousel. EverythingWestport.com
Battleship Cove will host an
Easter tea party to benefit the restoration of the Fall River Carousel &
Pavilion on
Saturday, March 26, with seatings at 1:00 p.m. and
3:00 p.m. at the carousel. Guests
will enjoy English-style sandwiches, sweets and pots of tea along with
unlimited rides on the carousel. Guests will also decorate their own cups and
saucers as keepsakes. The
Fall River Carousel at Battleship Cove is an antique wooden ride from the
Philadelphia Toboggan Company, one of the oldest existing roller coaster
manufacturing companies in the world. Carousel
54, as it was called, was built around 1919 during the golden age of wooden
carousels. The ride was shipped from Pennsylvania to Dartmouth’s Lincoln Park
in 1920 and resided there until the park closed in 1987. During its heyday,
Lincoln Park attracted many celebrities of the time, including Eleanor
Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Upon
the park closing, and knowing the carousel needed a home, Fall River's
then-mayor Daniel Bogan and the city rallied
together to raise $250,000 to refurbish her and bring her to Battleship Cove
in 1991. Tickets
are $30 for adults, $20 for children 12 and younger. A table for four is
$100. Carousel members save 10 percent. Reservations are required. Call (508)
678-1100 (ext. 101 or 102). Space is limited. Designate which tea time you
prefer when calling. More
information is available at http://www.battleshipcove.org/fall-river-carousel-at-battleship-cove/.
Environment Committee Releases Bill To Require GMO Labeling. The bill institutes a $1,000 per day violation to someone who
knowingly violates the provision of the law. Everythingwewstport.Com Thursday,
March 17, 2016
GMO
food products are those that contain one or more ingredients that have been
altered by genetic technology. In many cases, this type of engineering
is used to change or add a trait that would not exist naturally for a variety
of reasons.
“I am
happy that the Committee was able to advance legislation on an issue that is
of great importance to many consumers throughout the Commonwealth,” said
Chairman Schmid. “The Committee put in a great deal of work to craft a
comprehensive, well-vetted bill.” This
bill establishes a mandatory GMO label within Massachusetts that will go into
effect upon meeting the criteria of a two-pronged trigger: 1) Five other northeastern states,
with one bordering MA, must enact a mandatory labeling law and; 2) The collective population of
these states must be 20 million according to the 2010 census. The
states that qualify under this trigger are Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire,
New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Connecticut, Maine, and Vermont have already
passed such legislation. “I am happy that the Committee
was able to advance legislation on an issue that is of great importance to
many consumers throughout the Commonwealth.” Chairman Paul Schmid, Westport State
Representative The
bill institutes a $1,000 per day violation to someone who knowingly violates
the provision of the law. Additionally, the bill bans the labeling and
advertising of products as being natural, naturally made, all natural, etc.
if they are produced with GMOs. Items that will be exempted from
labeling are alcoholic beverages, food not packaged for retail sale or served
at a restaurant, and farm products sold at a farmer’s market or farm stand. The
legislation cleared the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources
and Agriculture and will now move to the House of Representatives for
consideration. GMO Labeling bill takes first
state.
The
Massachusetts Coalition for GMO Labeling applauded the move by House Chair
Paul Schmid (D-Westport) and Senate Chair Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) to advance
the bill, which enjoys strong bipartisan support across both chambers of the
Massachusetts legislature. Bill Harkins announces he is running for the open seat
on the Westport Board of Health. The current Chairman of the Westport Water Resource Management
Committee cites experience and commitment. EverythingWestport.com Saturday,
March 19, 2016 Mr.
Harkins has been employed at Tabor Academy since 1982. He started their
electrical department as the first electrician on the payroll. He has
personally wired many of the buildings on campus and has been involved in
countless other projects. In the mid-90s he started introducing technology at
Tabor by building the fiber backbone and wiring the dorms for internet
access. Currently Mr. Harkins manages the network and wireless as well as the
databases and users. He has been involved in every facet of these departments
from planning to inception, purchasing the network equipment and servers, to
building the wireless infrastructure. “I
spent the first half of my life growing up and living in Marion. I served our
country in the Army for three years, and then moved to Inset: Mr. Harkins chairing a Westport Water Resource Management Committee meeting. Mr.
Harkins says he is concerned about the past and ongoing attempts to implement
town water and sewer Westport. “There are many alternatives that need to be
researched before we get to water and sewer as those municipal projects would
significantly increase our tax rate and change the character of our town,” he
said. “I am
also concerned about the capping of the landfills here and in Dartmouth with
contaminated soil which may be leaching into the aquifer. This needs to be
monitored closely,” Mr. Harkins said. “The
DEP has recently eased the laws regarding PERC tests which will allow more people
to pass perc thus increasing the amount of nitrogen in the rivers while at
the same time (they) are requiring the towns to reduce the amount of
nitrogen. This is a problem which needs to be addressed soon,” Mr. Harkins
added “Three
years ago I requested and was appointed to the Westport Water Resource
Management Committee (WWRMC). This is the only committee or board which
represents the entire town having members from every voting precinct. It is this committee’s responsibility to
advise the Board of Selectmen on all matters related to the towns various
waterways; this includes nutrient loading from septic systems, storm water,
fertilizer, and animal waste. In my second year on the WWRMC I was appointed
the Vice Chair and am presently serving as the Chair. We have been involved
in re-introducing the septic betterment program which helps homeowners with
failed septic systems to either repair or replace them with a low interest
loan. We have been involved in numerous storm water projects designed to help
treat storm water before it is released to the river, e.g. Sam Trip Brook,
Borden Street, and Hillside Avenue to name a few. The WWRMC was instrumental
in saving the taxpayers nearly $750,000.00 by working with Fall River and the
State to improve the quality of drinking water to the north end of town,” Mr.
Harkins said. Bill Harkins will
bring this experience to the Board of Health (BOH.) “What we do dovetails
with part of what the BOH does,” he said. “My experience is strictly in
Westport, dealing with Westport’s unique problems. My campaign is funded
entirely from my pocket; I have accepted no money from anyone and owe nobody
any favors,” Mr. Harkins said. “The BOH has the power to enact any law
necessary to safeguard public health and safety without going to Town
meeting. It is imperative that whoever serves on this board not be agenda
driven or beholden to any special interests. This is why I am running for
this position. I have no agenda, owe no one anything, and will bring common
sense solutions to our town’s problems.” - Bill Harkins Some of the duties of the BOH are: Witness perc tests,
review and approve septic designs, review title 5 reports for completeness,
inspect bottom and final installation of septic systems, approve new and
replacement well locations, review well water analysis reports for building permit, building permit application review, review
and comment on subdivision plans, seasonal beach testing, and approve
location of residential swimming pools. The
BOH performs food service inspections twice per year, reviews floor plans for
food establishments, inspects mobile food units and tattoo parlors,
investigates landlord/tenant housing complaints and is responsible for
tanning booth inspections, The board also supervises operation of the transfer
station and its staff, including the senior agent responsible for maintaining
landfill and meeting landfill closure requirements. Additionally,
the BOH responds to animal calls, conducts annual animal census, quarantines
domestic animals suspected of rabies or other diseases, quarantines farm
animals due to illness, checks shipping numbers for out of state imports, and
pick up road kill. “They
also respond to environmental issues such as oil spills, illegal dumping, hazardous
waste, and other issues,” Mr. Harkins said. Yes, Experience DOES Count! Letter to the Editor: Westport
resident suggests redefining “special interests.” EverythingWestport.com Sunday, March 20, 2016 My mother liked quoting scripture to her kids. A particular
favorite was “Blessed are the peacemakers” from the Sermon on the
Mount. She would have conceded to the skeptics in town that this is a
sentiment easier to quote than to follow. But she would have pointed
out that it was still easier (and more common) to allow such skepticism to
serve as an excuse to fall into divisiveness. In my experience of Westport, the peacemakers in town are very busy
volunteering their time to an incredible array of organizations that believe
themselves to be working for some activity that contributes to the common
good. There are the Friends of the Westport Library, the Friends of the
Council on Aging, the Westport Historical Society, the Westport Education
Foundation, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Westport Business to Business, the Westport River
Gardeners, and so on, and so on. On the basis of what criteria does
anyone decide which is a “special interest” and
which is not? Perhaps calling someone else’s interest “special” is just a way of
saying “I am opposed to it. It gets in the way of me achieving my
interests.” Honestly putting it that way seems to me much more
conducive to our getting along than does claiming some special virtue for
one’s self and condemning others for their selfishness. It sets the
stage for discussion, empathy, negotiation, and cooperation. My support for Shana Shufelt’s election to
the Board of Selectmen is based upon my own personal observation of her skill
in getting people to engage in just such efforts to work out their
differences and pull together to achieve joint goals. She profoundly
improved the work of the Finance Committee by bringing her personal qualities
and professional organizational skills to its operation. I have no
doubt but that she will do the same as a member of the Board of Selectmen. Please join me in voting for Shana on April 12th. Charles “Buzzy” Baron 9 Lawrence Avenue Westport Point Letter to the Editor: Residents
seek individuals who are honest, sincere, and compassionate. The diversity of a five member board is essential to making
certain that all voters and residents of Westport are represented on all the
important issues that come before them. EverythingWestport.com Sunday,
March 20, 2016 Westport
Selectman, Richard Spirlet is exemplary in diplomacy, equality, checks and
balances, and integrity across the board. Richard is genuinely
interested in the citizens of Westport and he engages voters. He is a
listener, a great mediator and friend to all. Richard
funds his own campaign, which in a small town is so important to keep
conflicts of interest at bay. There are those who think that elected
officials who do personal favors, is a reason to vote for that official. That
kind of voting doesn’t serve anyone well in the long term, and certainly
doesn’t serve the best interest of the town and the future of Westport. You
should not want an individual in office who is obligated to return favors and
does not vote for what is best for the town. The
diversity of a five member board is essential to making certain that ALL
voters and residents of Westport are represented on all the important issues
that come before them. There are important changes on the horizon for
varying complexities and challenges within our town. The only way to
address all the viewpoints of a topic is to have diversity in perspectives
during discussions to assure our elected officials are informed before they
vote on the future of Westport.
Citizens seek to elect their officials to guide the future of their
town with people who are experienced, knowledgeable and informed. We seek individuals who are honest,
sincere, and compassionate. We seek
individuals who have strong moral character, self-reliance, are fair-minded
and reasonable. Richard
Spirlet brings his vast experience to every personal and formal meeting. For
the past six years, Westport has witnessed his honest and fair and balanced
approach to resolving problems. We all have had front row seats watching how
passionate he is to do what is best for our town. We know this man. He has knocked on our doors and solicited
voter’s perspectives on issues affecting our town. He cares about Westport and the people who
live here. This is the man who works to do what is right for the people of
Westport. This is the man who will
continue to do the right thing, if we allow him to be able to so. It is
essential that we all step forward and participate in the future of our town,
by voting for Richard “Dick” Spirlet on April 12th. Vote for fairness and representation for
all. Get involved and Vote Spirlet. Kristie
Furrow and Samuel Riley Residents
and Voters of Westport Salt marshes on the
decline in the Westport River. EverythingWestport.com Sunday,
March 20, 2016 The
Westport Fishermen’s Association is partnering with the Buzzards Bay
Coalition (BBC), the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and the Buzzards
Bay National Estuary Program to examine the rapid decline of salt marshes in
the Westport River. Dr.
Linda Deegan will oversee the project. She is a senior scientist in the MBL
Ecosystems Center, leading a long-term study of salt marsh loss in the Plum
Island estuary.
Inset: Salt marshes, like this
herring run at Westport Harbor, are a critical interface between the land and
the sea, and are home to fish, birds and shellfish.” Dr. Linda Deegan MBL
Ecosystems Center. Photo
| EverythingWestport.com Click
on image to enlarge "Salt
marshes are a critical interface between the land and sea," Deegan said
in a news release for a study by MBL indication that too many nutrients can
cause salt marsh loss. "They provide habitat for fish, birds and
shellfish; protect coastal cities from storms; and they take nutrients out of
the water coming from upland areas, which protects coastal bays from
over-pollution." Losses of healthy salt marsh have accelerated in recent
decades, with some losses caused by sea-level rise and development. The
environmental partner organizations will hire a college student to collect
data in the field, including groundwater and nutrient sampling, as well as
measure the structure and strength of marsh and creek banks, particularly in
the West Branch of the river. The
WFA needs to raise up to $5,000 to fund the college
student intern to conduct the field work and data collection this summer. The
MBL, BBC and WFA are all providing additional support, including laboratory
analysis, staff and site access. The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
will assist with the historical imagery analysis. The study will help
quantify the problem and point toward some of the contributors to what the
fishermen's association calls an "alarming collapse" of salt marshes,
which in turn degrades the habitat for fish and shellfish in the river. The
project is seeking donations by checks made out to WFA, PO Box 83, Westport
Point, MA, 02781, marked for "salt marsh study." Donations are also
accepted at westportriver.org/donate via PayPal.
All donations will support the intern stipend for the study. More
information is available by emailing wfa@westportriver.org. © 2016 Community Events of Westport. All
rights reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
