Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday, May 28, 2016
photos/EverythingWestport.com except as
noted
Neighbors opposed to Head Garage redevelopment
plan.
Instinctive Formation exhibition presented by Dedee
Shatuck Gallery.
River
Day at the Head of Westport on Saturday, June 4th.
Westport’s Antoine “Tony” Oliveira to receive Portuguese
Heritage Award on June 7th.
POW/MIA Table dedicated at Westport Town
Hall.
|
Neighbors opposed to Head Garage redevelopment
plan. Two and one-half hour meeting
results in continuance of both variance requests to Wednesday, June 29th. ZBA Vice Chairman questions the applicability of the Dover
Amendment. EverythingWestport.com Wednesday,
May 25, 2016
Special Correspondent to
EverythingWestport.com WESTPORT
– Strong neighborhood opposition to the Westport River Watershed Alliance’s
plans to transform the former Head Garage into office and educational space helped
to temporarily de-rail a pair of Zoning Board of Appeals public hearings on
the proposal Wednesday night. The
conservation advocacy organization withdrew its request for a finding by the
Appeals Board after a two and a half hour hearing on whether a two-story,
eight by 32 foot addition to the old stone building would be detrimental to
the neighborhood, saying it would refile the amended plans at a later date. A
second scheduled hearing on a special permit application for the proposed
change of use of the building on leased land in an aquifer protection area
never got started, being continued to June 29th so that both matters could be
considered by the Appeals Board at the same time. The
special permit is required because of new construction in an aquifer
protection zone; impervious surfaces and stored, hazardous material are
frowned upon by the Zoning Board of Appeals. At the
heart of the neighborhood debate is whether the WRWA’s
relocation to the 493 Old County Road property – the site of a centuries-old
public landing at the Head of Westport – would substantially increase traffic
in the neighborhood and reduce the limited parking available to residents
using the nearby public landing.
Above: Audience attendance almost exceeded the room’s fire safety occupancy
limit, and with two more attendees the meeting would have had to move to the
basement. The organization
is proposing to add a small two-story addition to the east side of the
building to house an elevator, stairwell, and compost toilet operational
components, construct dormers on the front and rear of the structure, and
build a small deck on the south side. The group is planning to lay out 25
parking spaces on the property to accommodate WRWA
employees and visitors, the staff and customers of the nearby kayak rental business, and others using the town landing both buildings
sit on. WRWA President Thomas Schmitt said he thought the
riverside site would be “an ideal place for the Westport River Watershed
Alliance” to set up its new headquarters. The plans the organization
developed would fix up a blighted building, resolve some longstanding parking
and traffic issues at the site, and not have any negative environmental
impacts on the river, he suggested. Between
five and eight staff members would regularly use the facility on weekdays,
with a few visitors also requiring parking spaces, he indicated. The
remainder of the 25 proposed parking spaces would be free for landing users
and employees and customers of the kayak shop, he explained, and a one-way
traffic pattern would improve vehicle flows through the property. Schmitt
and fellow WRWA Vice President Charles Appleton,
the originator of the group’s plan to relocate to the former garage, said two
paved handicapped parking spaces would be installed, and a pedestrian walkway
set up from the front of the building to the Old County Road bridge to improve
safety for foot traffic. The use of composting toilets, regrading of the
gravel parking areas, and roof runoff directed into recharge drains would
mean the redevelopment would have no negative impact on the nearby river,
they said. Consulting
engineer David Emelita said the site plan,
including reconfigured parking areas, has been approved by the Planning Board
and the fire department. The police department has also indicated the re-use
plans would improve vehicular and pedestrian safety, and the Landing
Commission is supporting the project, applicants indicated. Among
the first indications of neighborhood opposition to the plans came from
Selectman Tony Vieira, an Old County Road property owner. He said he
supported the WRWA’s relocation of its offices to
the site, but didn’t approve of some of the details of the plans, especially
the proposed parking areas. Vieira
said he felt the plans would be “substantially more detrimental” to the neighborhood
and would interfere with public use of the town landing. “It is a public
landing, and it should be available to the public,” he told the Appeals Board, suggesting offsite parking might make the project
more acceptable to the neighborhood.
Above: Zoning Board of Appeals members from the left: Vice Chairman Gerald Countinho, Heather Salva,
Chairman Christopher J. Graham, Larry Kidney, and Roger Menard. Drift
Road resident Marie Savettiere said she thought Old
County Road was already “overburdened” with traffic, and the WRWA relocation there would only add to traffic issues.
She also believed allowing use of a composting toilet in a flood zone would
set a dangerous precedent for other riverside developments in the future. Abutter
Sam Riley said a boundary dispute with the town related to the redevelopment
project made him put his property up for sale and move out of the
neighborhood. “The public landing is not for private use” and should not be
used for commercial purposes, he argued. His
wife, Christie Furrow, said that moving the boundary line with her property
was meant to increase the land area to allow additional parking, a change
that she deemed an unfair action by town officials. She also noted a 1981
special permit for the use of the Head building was contingent on “no
increase in the size of the building.” William
Bernier of Reed Road felt that the WRWA plans were
not unreasonable, but felt that town officials needed to resolve the
longstanding parking and traffic issues in the neighborhood. Old
County Road resident Joseph Ingoldsby said the
project would set a dangerous precedent for development in flood plain zones.
He felt the plans were “privatizing a public landing” and should not be
approved. Drift
Road resident Helen Souza said the project would have a negative impact on
the neighborhood, contribute to traffic congestion and parking problems, and
hurt property values. Fellow Drift Road resident Jon Alden felt the town
Landing Commission “has been negligent” in its maintenance and control on
lessees of the public landing, and should not be supporting the redevelopment
plan. “The
Watershed would make a great tenant down there, like the kayak shop,” Alden said,
but the proposed additions “would be consuming more of the public landing.”
He noted that the Conservation Commission has not been consulted about the
plans and parking on the landing, and suggested more parking and additions to
the building shouldn’t be allowed.
Above: Consulting engineer David Emelita addresses
the Zoning Board of Appeals on behalf of the Westport River Watershed
Alliance. Selectman
R. Michael Sullivan argued in favor of the project, noting selectmen
originally approved the WRWA plans with an unanimous vote, feeling they would serve to improve the
property. “I’m not seeing this as being in any way detrimental” to the
neighborhood, he added. ZBA vice-chairman, Gerry Coutinho
questioned Sullivan about any official Select Board approval of the WRWA plans, and Sullivan admitted he was in error; the
Selectmen generally endorse the project, but did not vote to approve any of
the plans. When a
lengthy discussion turned to the proposed change of use of the building, Coutinho noted that the WRWA’s
application for a finding “doesn’t say anything about a change of use” and
was therefore not a topic for discussion at the hearing. WRWA attorney Dorothy Tongue cited a December 2015
letter from the building commissioner indicating that the organization did
not have to apply for a change of a pre-existing non-conforming use in a
residential zone. She also suggested that the educational mission of the WRWA (Dover
Amendment) made it exempt from zoning regulations regarding commercial
operations in residential areas, a point that Coutinho
cautioned may not be applicable in this appeal. After
Appeals Board members rejected a request to amend the application to address
the change of use issue, WRWA officials decided to
withdraw the request for a finding without prejudice, and amend the
application for re-filing at a later date. The
organization then requested that the related hearing on the special permit
application for development in the aquifer protection area be continued
without action so that both hearings could be held on the same date. That
hearing was continued to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29th with an unanimous vote. The
delay was supported by Selectman Vieira, who said the continuation would
allow neighbors to study the amended plans, including the proposed addition
of a porch/deck at the rear of the building. He said his board had also not
seen any details of the proposed parking plan for the site. WRWA executive director Deborah Weaver said that a
complete set of plans for the project were available for viewing at the
organization’s Main Road offices, and invited residents and officials to come
view the documents before the next round of hearings.
Above: WRWA President Thomas Schmitt (far left) and
fellow WRWA Vice President Charles Appleton, the originator
of the group’s plan to relocate to the former garage, make a formal
PowerPoint presentation to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Partially hidden on
the far right is Zoning and Building Commissioner, Ralph Sousa. ‘Instinctive Formation’ presented by Dedee Shattuck
Gallery. Works
by Michael Kukla and Rebecca Hutchinson EverythingWestport.com Sunday,
May 29, 2016 Photos
| EverythingWestport.com
Each
artist's works are explorations in form, surface, and material. Both
Hutchinson and Kukla create large-scale
installations in addition to free standing or wall-hung sculptural objects. The
artists use materials such as handmade paper, marble, clay, locally harvested
wood, insulation board, slate, and aluminum tape. The unconventional use of
these materials creates an altogether new object in the completed form. In
Rebecca Hutchinson's case, for example, the repetitive stacking and layering
of softly colored, textured, handmade paper forms reveal protruding shoots of
delicately formed ceramic stems. The works seem to be growing and blooming as
living, organic structures. Meanwhile,
Michael Kukla's smooth marble or slate slabs are
clean along the edges, containing within each block a concentration of
molecular, layered and carved out spaces. The openings in the stone could be
seen as weatherworn pockets, or perhaps a crystallized view of the
inner-workings of the body. Click
here for a
further sneak peek of the exhibition!
Dedee Shattuck Gallery is located at 1 Partners Lane
off 865 Main Road, Westport. Gallery
hours are Wed-Sat 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. * * * Please
refrain from parking in Partners Village Store parking lot when attending
gallery events, as Partners will remain open until 6:00 p.m. during the
summer months. * * * River Day at the Head of Westport on Saturday, June 4th!
All River Day events are free
with free Shuttle Service from the Middle School t0
the Head landing. EverythingWestport.com Sunday,
May 29, 2016 This
year’s popular River Day will take place on the historic Head of Westport, at
the intersection of Drift Road and Old County Road. This event is free and
open to the public and runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This
is the traditional Westport River Watershed Alliance (WRWA)
family friendly event. All River
Day events are free with free Shuttle Service to boot! Park at the
old Middle School lot on Old County Road and take the Whaling City shuttle to
the Head. It’s quick and easy! River Day Festival Schedule of Events 10:00 a.m. – Historic Tour of the
Head of Westport. Join Westport Historical Society President Tony Connors for
a walking tour of the Head of Westport. Starts at the Bell School House on
Drift Road. 10:30 a.m. – Live Raptor Show with
Marla Isaac. Children and adults alike are captivated by Marla and her
beautiful birds. See live Osprey, owls, hawks and vultures and hear Marla’s
wonderful stories and descriptions of some remarkable birds. 12 Noon –
River Day Poster Award Winners.
The
band's members include some of Rhode Island's best known musicians: Phil
Edmonds (Irish whistle and button accordion); Cathy Clasper-Torch (fiddle,
keyboard, er-hu, vocals); Mike Fischman
(guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, vocals); Peter Breen (bass, vocals); and
Matt Niebels (percussion/drums). 12:30 p.m. – May Pole Dance – Kids
can take part in this Rite of Spring 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Native
American Re-enactment by Donna Mitchell. Learn about the life and times
of Charlotte White, a famous Westport healer from the 1800’s.
At Bell School House. 2 shows. 1:45 p.m. – The Spindle Rock River
Rats on Stage. The Spindle Rock River Rats will begin playing just after 1:30
p.m. They take their They’ve
played for local organizations including the Common Fence Point’s Fiddlers
and Fishermen concerts, The Second Half - Lifelong Learning Institute of
UMass Dartmouth, Westport’s Spindle Rock Club, and the Bayview and Sakonnet
Bay Manor Senior Residential Communities. Woody, Polly and Steve are also
members of the acclaimed New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus and will
occasionally play a few warm-up tunes at their concerts. The
Rats play an eclectic blend of bluegrass, old-time, folk, popular, Western
and fiddle tunes. They play instruments found in old-time string bands and
modern bluegrass bands, but their repertoire is not limited to those genres.
So after a Bill Monroe bluegrass classic such as “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” you
might hear them play Buddy Holly’s “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.” Next to the
Carter Family’s “Gold Watch and Chain” might be the western swing classic
“San Antonio Rose.” Happening All Day: Food and Beverages on sale at food tent. Pizza,
wraps, chips, water, Spindrift Soda- everything $1.00. Kids’ Activities: Face Painting, Fish T-Shirt
printing, Wee Boat building, Stilts building River Center Tour – Take
a look at the historic Head Garage building, see the building plans for
renovations by the Watershed Alliance to create the new River Center Exhibits, Demonstrations,
Farmers: Includes: The
Art Drive, Bristol Community College, Dharma Voyage, EcoRI
News, Friends of the Westport Council On Aging, Images Plus, J & R Sales
and Service, Lloyd Center, Mass Audubon South Coast Sanctuaries, Meadowbrook
Studio, Nancy Burkholder, School Building Committee, SEMAP,
Silk Tree Farm, Skinny Dip Farm, Solstice Initiative, South Coast Bikeway
Alliance, The Trustees of Reservations, Viridian, Westport Art Group,
Westport Cultural Council, Westport Education Foundation, Westport
Fishermen’s Association, Westport Historical Society, Westport Land
Conservation Trust, and WRWA. This
event is made possible by the generosity of the Westport Cultural Council and
many other local sponsors. This
year marks the Watershed Alliance 40th anniversary. For
more information visit the WRWA website page at www.westportwatershed.org,
or call Community Engagement Manager Steve Connors at 508.636.3016.
Westport’s
Antoine “Tony” Oliveira to receive Portuguese Heritage Award on June 7th. EverythingWestport.com Thursday, June 2, 2016 State
Sen. Marc R. Pacheco state Rep. Antonio F. D. Cabral, D-New Bedford,
co-chairmen of the Portuguese American Legislative Caucus, announced that the
32nd annual Heritage The
statewide event, to be held in the House of Representatives Chamber,
recognizes Portuguese-American residents who have helped better
Massachusetts, as well as advocates who have helped Portuguese-Americans in
the commonwealth and across the United States. For
the 32nd annual celebration, the Portuguese American Legislative Caucus guest
of honor will be Teresa Ribeiro, Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs and Cooperation. Submitted Photo The
celebration also includes the presentation of Heritage Day of Portugal Awards
to individuals who have excelled or served as role models in their Portuguese
communities. The ceremony will be followed by light refreshments in the great
hall. For
his “significant contributions to the agriculture and fishing” in the local
area including Westport, Antoine “Tony” Oliveira will be presented with the
Portuguese Heritage Award on Tuesday, June 7th. “It is
fair to say that Westport would not be the agricultural and fishing community
it is today, with productive farmland stretching to the river and ocean,
without the presence of those hardy sailors and farmers from the Azores,” State
Rep. Schmid said. State
Representative Paul A. Schmid is Chair of Joint Committee on the Environment,
Natural Resources and Agriculture. “Mr.
Oliveira has been an active member of the Westport community for decades and
has brought his expertise to many different facers of residential life on the
SouthCoast. -
State Representative Paul A. Schmid The
statewide event, to be held in the House of Representatives Chamber,
recognizes Portuguese-American residents who have helped better
Massachusetts, as well as advocates who have helped Portuguese-Americans in
the commonwealth and across the United States. “I am proud to continue this longstanding tradition of celebrating our
historic ties to our motherland of Portugal and renew our commitment to
bettering our Portuguese-American community for families now and in the
future,” State Sen. Marc R. Pacheco said. “I look forward to another
celebration of our culture and our influence in Massachusetts and in the
United States.”
Contributed Photo - State Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, at
podium, watches as the Taunton High School Select Choir sings the United
States and Portuguese national anthems during the 30th annual Heritage Day of
Portugal at the Statehouse in Boston. POW/MIA Table dedicated at
Westport Town Hall. “Always keep them in our
prayers… May we always be ready to assist them, and comfort them with their needs.” EverythingWestport.com Sunday,
May 29, 2016
Special Correspondent to
EverythingWestport.com WESTPORT
– At a brief but touching ceremony held on May 26 at Westport Town Hall,
Westport’s veterans, residents and public officials gathered for the dedication
of a POW/MIA table honoring the comrades in arms who were held in captivity
during their military service, or never returned from war. On the
table set up on a second floor landing sat an empty plate, a single red rose,
and an American flag. An empty chair draped with a black POW/MIA flag stood
beside the table, below a sign detailing the symbolism behind every component
of the stark memorial to those who served their country under arms. Every
year, on National POW/MIA Recognition Day – the third Friday in September –
Westport’s veterans plan to return to the memorial to pay tribute to their
missing comrades, and all those who were held captive by the nation’s enemies
in wartime. The
dedication ceremonies began with a heartfelt prayer offered by American
Legion Post 145 chaplain Emil Fuller, a Navy veteran, who offered thanks for
“the valorous devotion of our suffering comrades who became POWs and MIAs
while serving their country to keep men free… let us not forget them.” Click here to view video and learn more about the table top display. Fuller
asked the assembled veterans and other spectators to “always keep them in our
prayers… May we always be ready to assist them, and comfort them with their needs.” The
table display was a joint effort undertaken by the James Morris American
Legion Post 145 of Westport and the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of
America, said Legion Post Commander Lino Rego, as
“a way to let those who lay eyes upon it that the cost of freedom is paid by
vets.”
Above: Tony Souza, 90, of Westport, proudly wearing a cap proclaiming him a
veteran of the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division in the second World War,
stands next to the POW/MIA Memorial Table. The
display will remind all passersby that “while we are enjoying our daily
pleasures, there are others who have endured, and may still be enduring, the
agonies of pain, deprivation and imprisonment” they suffered in service to
their country, the Air Force veteran suggested. The
memorial “honors Westport veterans who were either prisoners of war or
missing in action in World War One, World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, or
Operation Desert Storm,” Rego said, singling out
dedication observer Tony Souza, 90, of Westport, proudly wearing a cap
proclaiming him a veteran of the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division in the
second World War. Souza
“fought in the war in Europe, and was held captive for 87 days before he was
liberated” from a German prisoner of war camp, Rego
noted. Seventy
years later, the veteran recalled the bitter battles the division endured as
they helped push German forces out of France, into Belgium, and then into
Luxembourg, where he was captured. The 4th Infantry continued
fighting all the way to Germany, he said, where other units under the command
of General George Patton liberated him and other prisoners from German
custody. Souza
stood beside the sign on the wall explaining each part of the memorial as Rego ran through the list of symbols. “The
table is a place of dignity and honor for those who are missing from our
ranks; they are unable to be with their loved ones and families… and it bears
witness to their continued absence. The white tablecloth is a symbol of
purity, of the vets’ willingness to respond to their country’s call to arms. “A
single red rose symbolizes the blood they shed for us… the slice of lemon
reminds us of their bitter fate; the grains of salt stand for the countless
tears of families who waited for loved ones who never returned… the chair is
empty – they’re not here,” Rego explained. Finally,
the folded American flag on display there “reminds us that many of them will
never return, and have made the supreme sacrifice to ensure our freedom,” he
concluded. The
new Westport memorial joins hundreds of other POW/MIA Chairs set up in town
halls all across America, paying tribute to those who risked all to help
purchase the freedoms we enjoy every day. Let us never forget them. © 2016 Community Events of
Westport. All rights reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
