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Events . . . . . . . . Snow came fashionably late this year, but it when
it did it came in style, covering Westport with a powdery white mantle that
attracted hundreds of ski boarders and sliders of all ages to "potato
hill," and left the rest of us to marvel at winter's icy beauty (above,
Forge Pond.) Sunday, January 22, 2012 © 2012 All
rights reserved. |
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Local news and events you may be
interested in. Updated
Friday, February 03, 2012 Photos/EverythingWestport.com Click here to view video - 2012 Annual Little Compton Scenic Winter
Road Race and Walk. Click here to view video clip 1 of 3 - 2012 16th annual Moby Dick Marathon. Click here to view video clip 2 of 3 - 2012 16th annual Moby Dick Marathon.
Texas
Hold 'em tournament (chips only) and billiards
tournament; prizes to the winners! Football bingo, charades, and IPad games (COA has two IPads),
and more. There
will be a special showing of the critically acclaimed film "The Help,"
the movie that won three awards from the Screen Actors Guild, including best
cast. Will be shown just past 2 p.m. Come
and enjoy the fun. Chili and clam chowder provided by the COA; bring your own
special snack to share. The
WCOA is a non alcoholic facility, but fun will be allowed in spades.
"We have 350 veterans in Westport affiliated with the four local
veterans groups," he added. But there are about 1100
veterans in Westport, and LeBoeuf considers it his mission to reach out to
all of those who, by choice, remain in the background, and make them aware of
the state and federal programs that might be available to assist them, their
widows and/or their families. Quite a load for
one man. But the marine
veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and recently appointed Veteran's Service
Agent, is committed to the task. Under the gaze
of the 44 Commander-in-Chiefs in the Presidents' Room, LeBoeuf explained the
duties of the town's Veterans Service Officer, and the responsibilities of
local and state government to help those who so nobly served their
country. More today.
"As I look at the crowd on
Gobbler's Knob Many shadows do I see So six more weeks of winter it must be!" The Punxsutawney
Groundhog Club website writes 'The celebration of Groundhog
Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the
legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as
the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the
snow swirl in May...'" Click here to get the history of Groundhog Day. 02/01/2012 - The Westport Cultural Council has announced that area artists are
invited to apply for project grants
sponsored by the Helen Ellis Charitable Trust.
He received 79 RFP (Request For Proposal) responses seeking proposals for
a Purchase Power Agreement from commercial solar and wind farm companies
hawking their green energy electricity to municipalities looking to
supplement tight town budgets by transforming energy savings into cold, hard
cash. Competition is a good thing, right? Maybe not. A reinvigorated Energy Committee, staffed for the first time with a full
complement of nine members, is energetically pursuing all forms of green
energy projects that might help avoid costly Proposition 2 1/2 overrides,
certain to tax the patience of Westport taxpayers. But the realities and the risks of low percentage income streams to the
town, while appealing in hard times, highlight the downside of long-term,
high risk contracts while keeping the town from seeking newer, more
technically advanced projects in the future. More today.
Everybody welcome to come over and observe and,
if you wish, to participate in the first below ground archeological
investigation at the Handy House. As the Westport Historical Society prepares
to embark on stabilization of the building, this excavation will provide
significant information about the occupants and evolution of the Handy House
property. What lies beneath the ground at this property is unknown. This is
the community's opportunity to discover history firsthand and to view some of
the artifacts found during the dig!
But how do you negotiate with a
single-source vendor. It is true that Westport residents
can switch to satellite TV, Verizon's DSL not-so-high speed internet service
(if available in their area), or for the truly unfortunate, dial-up internet. Not exactly a suite of advanced
multi-media services. To be fair there were few options
years ago when Westport picked struggling Charter Communications; many
vendors couldn't cope with Westport's large geographical area and small
number of residential households. "We're renegotiating a
contract that just ran out," Selectman Jim Coyne told the Charter reps.
"We're not negotiating or trying to pick a company in competition with
(Charter)," Coyne said. More on the public hearing. In other business, Selectmen unanimously appointed
Anthony Connors of Westport Point to the Energy Committee, Sandpiper Drive's
James Sabre to Westport Affordable Housing Trust,
renewed Al Lees' shellfish aquaculture license, granted a request by Portas da Cidade
of 231 State Road to build a 646 square foot outdoor patio, and awarded
Henry's Diesel Performance Plus, Inc. a Class II Motor Vehicle License. More. 01/24/2012 - The Friends of
the Westport Council on Aging would like to inform people looking for the
Community Cares Coupon Books that the books are available at the WCOA office
at 75 Reed Road in Westport. The cost is $10.00 per book. Included are
discount coupons to area businesses, restaurants and attractions such as
Buttonwood Park Zoo, the Whaling Museum and various hotels. One hundred
percent of the sales goes to the Friends of the Westport Council on Aging for
the benefit of the Westport Senior Center. 01/23/2012 - Genealogy at your Fingertips through the
Westport Library. Interested in searching your family history? Check out two, new Genealogy Databases available
through the Westport Library. These databases search census information
within the United States and abroad as well as family and local history
records, says Library Director Susan Branco. Search from home by visiting the Westport Library
website through www.westport-ma.gov . Once on the library page, click on Heritage Quest Online. Just type
in your library card number. Public computers at the Library have AncestryLibrary.com for searching
family histories as well. Please stop by any time to apply for a Library card.
01/20/2012 - This summer on July 2nd Westport will turn 225 years old, and the
town wants to throw a party. Selectman
Steven Ouellette brought up the subject at the last Selectmen's meeting, and
is looking for volunteers to form a committee, other than town officials
where a conflict of interest could exist, that would seek donations from
local businesses and residents. The committee will be looking to conscript
someone with fundraising experience. Anyone
interested in helping or donating funds may contact the selectmen’s office at
508.636.1003, or contact Ouellette at 508.677.0905 or email wpt02790@yahoo.com. According
to Ouellette the annual fourth of July parade will have anniversary theme,
and he is exploring a formal gala and fireworks. A
committee that will plan the celebration is being put together, with the
first meeting likely to be held in February, Ouellette said. 01/19/2012 - DA Sutter throws his hat in the ring for
the 9th congressional district. Bristol County District Attorney
Sam Sutter announced Wednesday, January 11th that he will form an exploratory
committee to consider a run for the 9th District seat in the U.S. House of
Representatives. An official announcement on
Sutter's candidacy is expected next month. “I’m in,” Sutter said. Sutter will face William Keating in the
democratic primary. Read more. 01/18/2012 - Senator Michael Rodrigues calls to freeze unemployment
insurance rate. Measure would save hundreds per employee for businesses. Yesterday, Senator
Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), along with Senators Barry Finegold
(D-Andover) and Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) asked
Senate President Therese Murray to pass legislation that would freeze the
Unemployment Insurance rate at its current level, a measure that would save
businesses close to $400 million statewide.
More. 01/18/2012 - Today,
Senator Michael J. Rodrigues
(D-Westport) and Representative Lori A. Ehrlich (D-Marblehead), the
respective Vice-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Labor & Workforce
Development, will announce the
creation of a working group on independent contractor and employee
classification at a meeting with invited stakeholders. The working group
will bring together interested stakeholders from all sides of the issue to
find a practical and reasonable solution to this vexing policy problem. More. 01/18/2012 - Westport's annual election is starting to take shape as candidates begin to pull
nomination papers. Incumbent Selectman
Craig Dutra will run for another three year term; Robert Grillo
will run for reelection as Assessor (three years); John Colletti
for reelection to the Board of Health (three years); School Committee member
Antonio Viveiros will run for another three-year
term; Planning Board member James Whiten is running for reelection to another
five-year term; and William Raus will run for the
two-year unexpired term on the Planning Board. Conservation
Commission member R. Michael Sullivan will run for one of the two open slots
this year for the Board of Selectmen. The Cherry and Webb
Lane resident is a director of operations for Marion-based Teledyne
Technologies, and is an avid boater. Sullivan considered running in last
year's April election, but wanted more time to familiarize himself with Westport's political landscape. More announcements to
come as papers are filed.
Westport
Town Clerk, Marlene M. Samson, announced that Nomination Papers for the April
10, 2012 Annual Town Election were available on January 5, 2012, with two
selectmen's seats up for grabs. The Town Clerk cautions that deadlines must
be observed! Read more. Deadline for obtaining nomination papers is
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 4
p.m., and the deadline for filing nomination papers with the Board of
Registrars is Tuesday, February 21,
2012 at 5 p.m. Candidates will no longer have to pick up
their certified nomination papers from the Registrar's office and hand
deliver them to the Town Clerk; that step was negated by a Superior Court
judgment made in April of 2011. However, it will be the responsibility of
the candidate(s) to check the validity of the signatures; failure to do so
could leave them off the ballot. 01/17/2012 - Selectman James Coyne will not run for reelection this
April. "When I first ran
last April, I said I would try it for one year," Coyne said. Coyne ran
successfully for the one year unexpired term left vacant when then Westport
selectman Paul Schmid won election to the Massachusetts State Legislature to
represent Westport. Schmid replaced the vacancy left open when Westport's
then representative Michael Rodrigues won a term in the State Senate.
His common sense
approach in solving problems will be missed. Inset: Led by Selectman James Coyne (left, in picture),
select board Chairman Richard Spirlet read a proclamation on September 25,
2011 raising recognition of "International Ataxia Awareness Day."
Coyne lost his wife, Janet, to Ataxia on September 21, 2008. "I am now facing
a new challenge that will require a full effort in order for the project to
be successful," Coyne said. "It has been an honor to work with the
dedicated employees in the Selectmen's office and throughout the town." Coyne became part of a
select board whose new makeup dramatically changed the political landscape in
Westport's executive branch, resulting in the delay or cancellation of
several controversial projects such as involvement in the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act and the construction of a commercial wind turbine behind the new
fire station in Beech Grove Cemetery. 01/16/2012 - Town officials remind Westport residents that third- and fourth-quarter
fiscal 2012 real estate and personal property tax bills were mailed December
30th. Read
more. 01/16/2012 - Adam Machado’s love for American roots music began when
he was a child, splitting his time between his father’s home in Westport and his
mother’s in Little Compton. His stepfather, Bob Sayer, introduced him to the genre, which encompasses artists
like Mance Lipscomb, Country Joe and the Fish, and
Fred McDowell. Thirty years later, Mr. Machado’s love for
the music and the path he took to work in the industry has gained him a
Grammy nomination. He is nominated for Best Album Notes for the 136-page book
he wrote to accompany “Hear Me Howling! Blues, Ballads & Beyond: The Arhoolie
50th Anniversary Box Set. More. 01/13/2012 - The Westport
Fire Department received a grant to help create a base and plaque for its
World Trade Center Steel display. Funds will assist in the production of a steel
base fashioned in the shape of the Pentagon that would allow for the
permanent display of the beam salvaged from the World Trade Center, and to
purchase some plaques to memorialize the victims and events, including the
late Dianne Snyder, a Westport resident. 01/12/2012 - The Westport Art
Group proudly presents its Winter 2012 Classes which includes Fun Saturday
Workshops for Kids 8 to
13, and Beginning Drawing and
Beginning Painting Classes for Adults. Click
here for all the details. 01/12/2012 - Mass Audubon Allens
Pond Wildlife Sanctuary is offering an exciting vacation week opportunity (2/20 to 2/24)
for children in grades K-5 that encourages and activates a child's sense of
curiosity and love of nature! Each day starts with a discovery map, charting
the course for both the morning and afternoon program topics. We'll start
exploring each topic indoors with some learning games and activities, then
venture outside for more field investigation, winter fun and ecological
exploration! Read
more.
Healey
broke the ice at Monday night's select board meeting on possible overrides
after a preliminary review of budget submissions for the upcoming fiscal
year. "Westport
may need a "structural deficit override," possibly up to $2 million
to provide for the essential services as wanted and indeed deserved by town
residents," Healey told selectmen Monday night. “We will no longer be able to support important
services like those provided by the Council on Aging and the library, and our
infrastructure will continue to deteriorate." Healey feels the school system may worsen under current
funding. Selectmen voted 5-0 to form an exploratory (steering)
committee to examine the projected budget deficits, and consider a
proposition 2 1/2 override, an action sure to meet resistance from taxpayers
in light of a probably $3.2 million override to fund long-term PCB
remediation costs (Westport Middle School) that will face voters at the
ballot box this year. And voter generosity at December's special town meeting
put the town in a hole for another $400,000. More.
"Jack
was a long-term and very respected member of this committee," select
board Chairman Richard Spirlet said. "He will be missed." One other
open position remains. Inset:
Gordon Price (far left) interviews with select board members before his
appointment. Gordon
H. Price, highly recommended by the COA's Director Mary Ellen Gomes, was
appointed by a vote of 5-0 to the board overseeing the Westport Council of
Aging. School
Committee Chairwoman, Michelle Duarte, notified the select board on the
resignation of school committee member Eric Larrivee
effective January 1, 2012. Word is other resignations may be forthcoming. The
Ponds Committee received approval by a unanimous vote to proceed with a free evaluation by the
Massachusetts Division of Wildlife and Fisheries to quantify the status of
projects under consideration by the committee. "Trout Pond is not part
of this project, and no dam construction is proposed," said member
Claude Ledoux." More
on Select Board sound bites.
“The Last Fling” tells of life in the
mid-20th century in Westport and highlights stories from Hurricane Carol in
1954. It is a fascinating tale of a life-altering event of courage, terror
and survival. This
book can be purchased at local bookstores and gift shops in Greater Fall
River or directly from the author at www.thelastfling.net.
Even though Moby Dick appears only in three of the
novel's chapters, the great white leviathan takes center stage in a story
beloved by many around the world. "31 staunch devotees stayed for the entire 25
hours," said NBWM President, James Russell. Retiring U.S. Representative Barney Frank was a guest
reader, and told Moby Dick enthusiasts packing the Museum's Theater in the
final hour that he will be back next year to continue the 17-year tradition.
More later with photos and video. Inset: Jonathan Boyd, the critically acclaimed American tenor starring in
the San Diego Opera’s co-production
of Jake Heggie’s “Moby-Dick,” sings under the
pulpit in the Seamen's Bethel accompanied by Reverend Edward Dufresne who is portraying Melville's character, Father Mapple. Boyd sang the hymn from Chapter 9.
And
the records fell like bowling pins. On a Saturday morning with clear skies, dry
ground, and a day heading towards 55 degrees, Roland Lavallee
(pictured left) of North Smithfield,
RI set an unprecedented, record-breaking pace, finishing a full 30 seconds ahead
of almost 400 runners, a record in itself, in the 5th annual running
of the 2012 Little Compton Scenic
Winter Road Race. "We had 240 pre-race registrations, and over
150 new registrations on race day, bringing us to almost 400 runners,"
race organizer Matt Allder said. "The most
pre-race registrations we have ever had in the past was a little less than
150." "It was a great day for a run," said Lavallee, who circled the 4.8-mile course in 23:16, breaking Bronson Venable's record of 25:06 set in
2008. William Sanders of
Wethersfield, KY was second at 23:46, and Alan Bernier of Providence, RI of
Providence, RI finished third at 25:14, almost a full two minutes behind the
winner. Both broke the 2008 record.
Westport select board Chairman Richard
Spirlet announced that Town Administrator John Healey has signed a contract
with the town through the end of 2012. "The term can be
ended with a three-month notice by either Healey or the town," Spirlet
said. "We're very
fortunate to have Jack Healey as our town administrator," Town Clerk
Marlene Samson said. That feeling has been
echoed throughout most of Westport's town boards and committees. According to the Fall
River Herald, Selectmen Vice Chairman Craig Dutra said he looked forward to
Healey helping the town through the fiscal 2013 budget process. “We’ve been
very fortunate to get someone with Jack’s experience,” he said. “He brings an
awful lot to the table.” Healey will work at
least 16 hours a week, but both Healey and the town agreed that the time and
hours may vary.
The
arborists also recommended the pruning of basal sprouts and low lying
suckers, and structural pruning of dead and broken branches, including the
cabling together of two large limbs to strengthen their junction and limit
movement, a method designed to reduce the risk of branch failure, Ostroff
said. The placing of a concrete sidewalk over an ancient adjacent tree's
roots has been done successfully in the past, most recently in Bristol, Rhode
Island, Ostroff said. 01/04/2012 - The Westport River Watershed Alliance is
losing a great, long time employee to retirement. Cindy Scheller who has been the friendly face greeting people
when they walked through the door is retiring after seven years. Ms. Scheller ran the fundraising and membership department at
WRWA. Read more. 01/04/2012 - Westport Town
Clerk, Marlene M. Samson, announces
that Nomination Papers for the April 10, 2012 Annual Town Election will
be available on January 5, 2012, with two selectmen's seats up for grabs. The
Town Clerk cautions that deadlines
must be observed! Read more. 01/04/2012 - Westport Town Clerk, Marlene M. Samson, announces that 2012
Dog Licenses are due April 1, 2012 and are now available at the Town
Clerk's Office. A Valid Rabies Certificate must be presented in order to obtain a
dog license. Read more.
Click here to
watch clip 2 of Back Eddy Polar Bear Plunge 2012. Click here to view
video of Westport Penguin Plunge 2012. Read more now with photos and video Inset: Kurvin
Li, Eric Dugan, Do Kim, Nick Mailloux, and Molly McGreavy take the plunge together off the Back Eddy floating
dock. The UMass students, polar bear wannabes all, are enjoying their winter
break. 01/02/2012 - Will
winter ever show its face? Without
even a "trace" of snow, Westport in December will go down as one of
the least snowy in history, something that’s only happened five times before
in weather service records, according to the National Weather Service in
Taunton. The last time was 1973. However it's certain we'll get walloped
sooner or later. Here are some helpful hints from Westport's
Highway Surveyor when clearing your driveway this winter. Click here for
all the details.
While most of us were sleeping off a late
night of New Year's partying, those more hardy were breaking records at the
Back Eddy Polar Bear Plunge. Hundreds took the traditional jump under
sunny skies with balmy 51 degree temperatures, all for a free,
deliciously-prepared Back Eddy brunch. The gratis meal prompted over 240 plungers
to take the big one into the 45 degree water of the Westport Harbor. "It's refreshing!" exclaimed
Stacy Goes of Westport after her jump. "Holy @#&$, this is crazy!"
yelled another female jumper as she flew through the air. Inset: Rebecca Oddsund watched from a safe distance as her husband, son
and family friends took a leap of faith into the Westport River. "We
came from Acton, Lexington and Winchester just to take the plunge," a
smiling Mrs. Oddsund said. "We had a great day," Back Eddy
general manager Sal Liotta said. "It was a
little nuts. We served over 400 brunch meals. We had wanted to limit the
Plunge to 150 jumpers, but we got overwhelmed." Liotta had
flirted with jumping himself, but only briefly. "No time, it was too
busy," he said. Read more now with photos and video. Thousands throughout New England took the
plunge, but no other human polar or penguin plunge is as dramatic as the Back
Eddy, where for a few moments each jumper has center stage all to themselves. Click here to
watch video clip 1 of 2 Back Eddy Polar Bear Plunge 2012 videos. Click here to
watch clip 2 of 2 Back Eddy Polar Bear Plunge 2012.
The sale of $1 raffle tickets raised $770
towards the purchase of nighttime lighting at Latessa Square to deter future vandalism of the
memorial for Andre Latessa, a Westport resident killed in Vietnam. Inset: Faye Roies,
pictured here with Timothy Field, can barely hold onto this enormous
10-pounder caught by the off-shore boat, Kim & Jake. "We
received a special lobster two weeks ago," Timothy Field of Revolution
Lobster said, "and we wanted to donate it to a special cause. It was
caught by Al Deane." Field estimates the
age of the hefty Crustacean at about 50 years. The idea for the
raffle came from Timothy's mother, Debbie Field. She coordinated the raffle
with Lino Rego, Post
Commander of American Legion James Morris Post 145, the organizer of the effort
to protect Latessa Square. A $20 gift
certificate was also won by Donald Rioux, and a $10
gift certificate was won by John Cabral, both of Westport; the certificates
were donated by Revolution Lobster. The Westport Citizens Betterment Committee
recently awarded Veterans Service Agent, Jerry LeBoeuf, a $500 grant in
memory of Ronald Desrosiers, which will also be
used to assist the lighting project.
#10 in our list of the
top 10 is - World
Trade Center steel comes to Westport. The flag-draped, 435 pound steel
I-beam was silently clutched by members of the Westport Fire Department. Like
pall bearers carrying the casket of a fallen comrade, firefighters took the
steel remnant down from the bed of the green pickup truck, which had
transported it all the way from an airport hangar in New York City, and
brought into the fire station's front foyer to its final resting place. #9 - It took 67 years but WWII Silver Star
recipient Leo St. Onge finally got his bridge. Leo never had a bridge, not even a plank or fallen
tree, to help him and the 120 pounds of equipment on his back over a
turbulent stream in Italy where in neck-deep water he pulled a drowning
comrade to safety. And this one didn't come easy either for Westport's
most highly decorated WWII veteran. More
with photos and video. #8 - In 2011 Westport lost two of its best-known
advocates for historical preservation. The
names of Anne "Pete" Baker and William "Bill" Wyatt will
long be remembered by Westport historians.
More.
#7 - After 25 years and
a lost opportunity in 1991, Westport
Rivers Vineyard and Winery finally produced a red Pinot Noir, but not without a near miss from Hurricane Earl.
Hurricane Bob, one of New England's costliest hurricanes, took out their
first ever prospect in 1991. More. #6 - The Boston Post Cane, given to the oldest living resident in Westport to
use as long as they live, was awarded twice by selectmen in 2011 for the
first time in recent memory. The long standing tradition started in
1909. More. #5 - Massachusetts revamps congressional
districts. U.S Representative Barney Frank, the
longtime Newton democrat, will depart the southcoast
and Westport as a new congressional district has been created that will
include Cape Cod, Buzzard Bay coastal communities including Westport, and a
large part of Plymouth County. Frank, a longtime advocate for Westport, will
retire at the end of his term. The loss of Frank's representation and
friendship will ripple through Westport for years to come. More.
But this drama has not fully played out yet More from the top 10 to be posted tomorrow.
Selectmen also appointed Mark Roy to the
position of cemetery laborer at the request of Cemetery Department head, Westall Norman. They also took no action on the liquor
license renewal request for Overtime Sports Pub, effectively leaving the
American Legion Highway business with no license to serve liquor. Selectmen
cited numerous abutter complaints. And selectmen unanimously voted to increase
mileage reimbursement for town employees to the federal standard of .51 cents
per mile, up from .36 cents the town had been paying.
The select board voted unanimously to
authorize removing the murals after receiving a letter signed by 13 Annex
employees. Community Preservation Committee
Co-chairman Warren Messier made the request of the selectmen a few months
ago, citing Annex employees who said the murals "made the hallway too
dark," and "wanted the walls to be returned to their original
color." In fact, the hall's dimness comes from poor
lighting, and it may just be time for the murals to go. 12/30/2011 - The
January issue of Evergreen, the
Council on Aging's newsletter, is now available
on-line. Click here to read
it now. 12/28/2011
- Westport's Capital Improvement Planning Committee (CIPC) re-assembled last week
to begin the arduous but necessary task of preparing another six-year capital
needs list for the town. The list will include projected municipal capital
expenses of $25,000 or more for all departments, said Chairman Jack Baughan. School building plans, Highway Department
vehicles, and a fire engine or two are among the big-ticket items the CIPC
will be looking at in the coming months. More.
A preliminary review of the town's finances
reveal that because all money articles passed at STM, the free cash balance
is now less than $10,000, not enough to even pay for one extra light-snow
removal this winter. And town officials are afraid there is no money left for
unexpected emergencies. Free cash had been sitting at $613,497
before STM. But most would think the spending was money
well spent. Highway Surveyor, Jack Sisson, got three
new trucks with plows after fighting unsuccessfully for years to update his
aging fleet of vehicles. "It feels like Groundhog Day (a déjà
vu movie starring Bill Murray), I've been before this meeting so many times
asking for this equipment," quipped a the happy Highway Surveyor. Sisson's department also received an
unexpected $50,000 reimbursement for Tropical Storm Irene expenses. Merry
Christmas Jack! There should be no more ghosts of Christmas
past haunting the highway department reminiscent of last February's scene of
a broken down snow plow on Horseneck Road. More with photos and video clips.
On Saturday, December 24th at 01:40 pm,
Joanne Brewda was the second entry to correctly
identify our latest mystery photo as: "It's the lobster trap Christmas
tree at Lees;" at 02:25 pm, Terry Simmons was the sixth entry to
correctly identify it as: "Lobster trap xmas
tree at Lee's Market Main Rd;" and at 06:36 pm Nancy Braga was the tenth
entry to correctly identify it as: " Mystery photo is xmas tree in Lees Market parking lot." Although many of you missed this one, be on
the lookout for the next mystery photo to be posted just after the New Year. EverythingWestport
would like to thank the sponsors of our Mystery Photo Contest. We appreciate
their generous support! Thank you all for participating and Happy Holidays to
all!
Close to 1000 feet of
the eastern section of the defenseless shore road was washed out by Tropical
Storm Irene. Inset: Town residents pick their
way along the eastern section of East Beach Road the morning after Tropical
Storm Irene destroyed it. Selectmen have been
studying long term solutions to making the road less susceptible to damage
during storms. Westport is also in
line to receive reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
for other expenses incurred during the storm, including for highway and
public safety department repair work and personnel, according to Legendre. The town's December
6th Special Town Meeting allocated over $61,000 towards reimbursing town
departments for the storm, expecting FEMA and MEMA funds to cover the
amounts. The damaged section of
East Beach Road was moved 100 feet to the north and relocated on town-owned
land. One option is to repave the gravel-based section; other options are
being looked at by the town, including the placement of lateral breakwaters
or an offshore barrier reef to better protect the embattled beach road from
future wind-driven tempests. 12/22/2011
- Today
is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. which marks the
beginning of winter and the longest night of the year in the Northern
Hemisphere. It came this morning at
12:30 a.m. EST. The winter solstice
was among the largest festive events of the year in earlier pagan
civilizations. The Roman Empire's solstice festival of Saturnalia was one of
the most significant events in its calendar. Today, Christianity's
Christmas, the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the African-American celebration
of Kwanzaa, the Greek festival of Kronos, and other
celebrations also occur at this time of year. After today the days
will get slightly longer, but unfortunately also colder. Happy Holidays! 12/21/2011
- Westport
committee grants $2000 in the memory of Ronald Desrosiers.
Funds will protect Latessa Square and help create a base and plaque for
the fire station's World Trade Center Steel display, among other worthwhile
projects. The Westport Citizens Betterment Committee
received only four applications for grants this year, and voted to award each
applicant a $500 grant in the memory of the late Westport selectman Ronald Desrosiers. Westport Veterans Memorial Upkeep Fund was
granted its request for funds to install a flagpole light at Latessa Square
and upkeep other memorials in town. Latessa Square has been plagued with
vandalism in recent years. More.
Click
here to view video of
Sylvan Nursery's Neil Van Sloun's presentation to
the Energy Committee. 12/21/2011
- Winds
of change shift to solar. Westport's Energy Committee confronts the wind
versus solar green energy debate. Over the last year the Energy Committee has
slowly balanced its green energy focus between wind and solar. At their
meeting Monday, December 19th the committee voted 5-1 to forward on to the
Board of Selectmen a proposal by Boston-based EMI Power Systems to purchase
at a fixed price per kilowatt hour up to one megawatt of energy from EMI's
solar farm in Dartmouth. EMI recently signed a contract with the
town of Dartmouth for up to six megawatts of solar production after the town
turned its back on wind turbines. Read
more about Dartmouth's contract. Dartmouth
pulls plug on wind turbines.
"Inadequate setbacks, public
opposition, and potential noise, flicker and visual concerns all make the
town forest land "not suitable for a utility scale wind turbine,"
said Energy Committee Chairman Antone Vieira, Jr.,
who is the Board of Selectmen's delegate to the committee.
EMI's Jack Arruda
fleshed out the different contact arrangements the town could sign on to with
EMI, and presented risk and reward scenarios for both. After hearing from Scott Durfee of the New Bedford city solar project, and
Westport's Sylvan Nursery's Neil Van Sloun, the
Energy Committee voted to forward their recommendation to the select board.
Semper FiPA is brewed with all
American malt and hops (like all their beers) and they're donating
$0.50/bottle to raise funds for a USMC memorial at Camp LeJeune,
NC. The memorial is for the fallen Marines during master brewer Bill
Russell's son Josh's deployment in Afghanistan. Inset: an example of another memorial is pictured here. Now for sale in their store at 98 Horseneck
Road for $2.99/bottle or $29.99/case (you save almost $6!). Remember that they're planning a brewery
vacation month during January. If you love their brews, be sure to stock up
before the end of the year. Especially for the ol'
NFL playoffs! GO PATS!
12/19/2011
- The 18th annual Little Compton's Ben Wilke Memorial Tree
Spree, held the first Sunday of every December, always kicks off the
town's 2011 Christmas celebrations. But for Little Compton's Caroline Wordell, it's an opportunity to memorialize her brother,
Ben Wilke, who was lost to cancer 19 years ago. The December 4th lottery ticket-style
benefit was well attended as this commemorative fundraiser is an anticipated
community event. All proceeds go to the Citizens Scholarship Foundation for
deserving local students, Wordell said. "This year, 64 themed, decorated
Christmas trees and 108 other items were donated," Wordell
said.
Thanks, John, for sharing this prescient
experience with EverythingWestport.com's
readers. Inset: Left: Pasadena's fork (submitted). Right: Westport's fork. Click
here to read about Pasadena's "fork in the
road." Click
here to read about the re-installation of
Westport's "fork in the road." 12/18/2011
- Massachusetts veterans
now have an easier way to identify themselves as eligible for services and
benefits thanks to a new feature on driver’s licenses. In an effort
spearheaded by Westport's State Senator Michael Rodrigues, effective next
month, veterans can bring their DD214 forms, which identify them as having
served in the military, to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to have a special
note on their licenses, state officials announced Friday at the Fall River
RMV. According to Lt. Gov.
Timothy Murray, there are 400,000 veterans in Massachusetts, including 37,000
who have served since 9/11. More.
Baker died
Monday, December 12, 2011. She was wife of the late Robert H. Baker and
former wife of Duncan H. Doolittle. Arrangements will
be private. Inset: Pete Baker (center)
working in the Handy House September 26, 2011. Baker most
recently participated in the ongoing effort to restore and preserve the
Cadman-White-Handy house, one of Westport's most significant architectural
and archeological treasures that spans more than two centuries of life in
Westport. Read
more.
COA Director
Mary Ellen Gomes and her hard working elves served up a delicious Ham Dinner,
all for just three bucks a head, to the over 60 guests who dropped in for a
good meal with good friends. Inset: from the left: Beverley and
Jack Baughan, Kathy Cardin, Louise Parsons, and
Nora Jerome, all from Westport. Click
here for more photos.
Hand-cut
Victorian Heirloom Silhouettes
by Andrea Peitsch, a visit from Golden Touch Farm's
adorable alpacas, and book signings by noted local authors Dawn Tripp and Red
Cummings highlighted a fun-filled day spent browsing through the eclectic mix
of gifts, confections and books that only Partners seems to offer. More
with photos.
Call Robin Potter at 508 12/10/2011
- Hands
off our camp sites! Horseneck
Beach State Reservation located in Westport, is a heavily used recreation
facility with one of the most popular beaches and So why does the state's protector of all
things recreational want to remove 32 prime, oceanside camping sites that are
the jewel in the crown of DCR's most popular campground. Why indeed asks Westport's State Senator
Michael Rodrigues. "I think there might be a surprise
there," Rodrigues told Westport's Business to Business networking group
when discussing DCR's new Resource Management Plan for Horseneck Beach
Reservation. "There is one issue in the plan I'm
very much opposed to. They (DCR) want to upgrade the campground, and Coastal
Zone Management, an environmental group, is saying they have to eliminate the
road that cuts along the beach, right through the heart of the 32 camp sites,
because it is in a dune system." The camp sites were built in the 1950s.
Click
here later to learn how you can provide input
to DCR's plan to remove these campsites. Their comment period ends January 4,
2012.
The Massachusetts
Council of Human Service Providers, Inc. is a statewide association of health
and human service agencies. Founded in 1975, the Providers' Council is the
state's largest human service trade association and is widely recognized as
the official voice of the private provider industry. Senator Rodrigues was
also recognized as the MAVA Legislator
of the Year last August. The presentation of that award allows the
vocational technical community to formally recognize all that Senator
Rodrigues has done in support of the Commonwealth's career and technical
education delivery system. 12/07/2011
- Vintage
ducks and decoys demonstrate their sculptor's skill at WFA shorebird exhibit.
It seems Westport's Howie Gifford is an expert on
all things that float on water. The prolific boat builder and carver of
decorative decoys was on hand over the weekend at the Westport Fishermen's
Decoy and Shore Bird exhibit. The stunning show at
the Horseneck Point Life Saving Station and Visitor Center on East Beach Road
featured a variety of collectables, rare decoys and shore birds that have all
been donated for exhibit for one day by local artisans, carvers,
collectors and enthusiasts. Gifford's center kiosk
of his choice carvings (pictured left) included his favorite, a brown ibis
carved from chestnut and finished to accent the natural grain. "I've been
collecting since 1971," Gifford said. "I also fashion about five or
six birds per year, all by hand." And noted expert Bill Lapointe from Decoys Unlimited was there to evaluate any
decoy or shore bird carvings visitors were curious about. Lapointe
brought his own impressive collection with some of his decoys dating back to
the early 1800's. "We had a terrific
turnout," WFA's Jennifer Gelinas said.
"We were overwhelmed with visitors." Click
here for a virtual tour of the exhibit.
And in the spirit of giving, Westport town
boards and departments watched, sugar plums dancing in their heads, as 437
town voters unanimously passed seven town warrant articles at Special Town
Meeting, and cheered the results. Inset: Westport officials watch the voting on Town
Warrant articles. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were transferred from Free Cash to
cover requests to pay unpaid bills, cover additional expenses over budgeted
amounts including $50,000 not even listed in the Town Warrant, approved the
purchase of three trucks and snow plows for Jack Sisson's Highway Department
and threw in a computerized sign making system to boot. "It feels like Groundhog Day (a movie
starring Bill Murray), I've been before this meeting so many times asking for
this equipment," quipped a happy Highway Surveyor, Jack Sisson. And with very little appeal from Dr. Carlos
Colley, the School Super got almost unanimous approval to borrow $3.2 million
dollars to pay for PCB remediation costs for the Westport Middle School. The
short term borrowing with have to be dealt with later in a future debt
exclusion or Preposition 2 1/2 override. But that's for another day, for tonight
Town Meeting was in a spending mood. Click here to get complete results of the Special Town
Meeting with photos and video. Yes, Virginia, generosity existed in Town
Meeting's heart as voters carried with unbridled applause an article that set
up a Town Beaches Enterprise Fund, notwithstanding the Finance Committee's
recommendation not to support it. And voters authorized with barely a blink
of an eye the transfer of $250,000 from free cash to the town's Stabilization
Fund as they headed out the door and bid everyone a good night. Article 5 was passed over by the Town
Moderator for procedural issues. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but
a thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years you will never
see Town Meeting as generous as they were tonight. "I thought we were going to settle in
for a long two nights of Town Meeting," Interim Town Administrator Jack
Healey said. "I'm glad to be going home before nine." Click here to get an analysis and review the complete Town
Warrant.
The exterior of the home suffered moderate
damage, while the interior sustained only minor smoke and water damage. The
heat was so intense it shattered the sliding glass doors windows. If it were
not for the quick response the outcome would have been much worse. Responding
to the scene were three engines, a ladder, medical rescue and Car 1. The on
duty crew of four were aided by about 7 off duty firefighters. The exact
cause has not been officially released. Submitted
photo. 12/04/2011
- Where were you over
the weekend? The first weekend in December is by far
the Super Saturday of the holiday shopping season that involves local
artisans, crafters, and social groups. There is a cornucopia of fairs,
bazaars, craft shows, and art exhibitions and sales that are sure to overwhelm
even the most ardent and well-organized of Christmas bargain hunters. Click
here to get a sampling of the shows and fairs that happened on
Saturday, including photos.
Inset: Dedee
Shattuck takes a break from setting up her current exhibition. She's wearing
a scarf designed by the same artist of the painting in the background, in
case you didn't notice. The Saltonstall Architect-designed building offers variegated
hues of light and soft shadows that radiate comfort and warmth to visitors,
but never overpower the subtlety in exhibiting artists works. The contrasting
styles of the geometric and free-flowing abstract work of painters John Havens Thornton and Pat Coomey Thornton in the Gallery's final 2011 exhibition are equally as
comfortable in the house that Dedee built. Opening
reception tonight from 5 to 7
p.m.. Exhibition runs
from November 30th - December 31st, 2011. Click
here for a virtual tour.
Click here for more previous events and news you may have
missed. Find out about all local area
upcoming events. Click here for our weekly calendar! See all theater and art events now!
Find out about all local area
upcoming events. Click here for our weekly calendar! |
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up for our email newsletter!
Events today you
don’t want to miss!
Thursday,
February 2 through Sunday, February 5 - Check out the new hybrids, sports coupes, crossovers and trucks of all
sizes at the Northeast Auto Show,
Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street, Providence. This year's show
will feature nine new manufacturers! Noon to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday; 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 10m a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. $9 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, $5
for students with IDs, $4 for ages 7 to 12, and free for kids 6 and under
when accompanied by an adult. Friday,
February 3
- A Pediatric Well-Child Clinic is
coming to the Little Compton Wellness
Center, 115 East Main Road, Little Compton. Dr. Judith Shaw is the
attending physician. Patients
of Dr. Shaw, who are residents of Little Compton, Tiverton, Westport,
Portsmouth and Middletown are welcome. Call the Southcoast
VNA office at (401) 973-3384from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to
schedule an appointment. Friday,
February 3
- Ballroom Dancing at the Point! Westport Point
United Methodist Church will host Ballroom Dancing lessons at 7:30 p.m.. There
will be a 1- hour lesson followed by social time to practice what has been
learned. Then you can impress your friends at your holiday party. The cost is
$10 per adult and $5 for kids. You don’t need a partner! Come join the fun at
1912 Main Road, Westport Point. Please call the church office with any
questions at 508.636.2036. Friday, February
3 -
The Tiverton Public Library offers a weekly computer drop-in session that
offers assistance with beginner computer skills and Windows; the internet,
on-line resources and social networking; Microsoft Office programs;
downloading ebooks and audiobooks
from the library; on-line job searching; and any other topics you may have a
question about. All ages and skill levels welcome. 2 - 3
p.m. on Fridays. No cost. Essex
Public Library, reference room, 238 Highland Avenue, Tiverton. For more
information please call (401) 625-6796. Friday, February
3 -
Ocean State Bridge Club meets each
Monday and Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Sakonnet
Bay Manor, 1215 Main Road, Tiverton. Call or click if you need a partner:
(401) 862-2131 or Director@OceanStateBridgeClub.com Cost is $6. A free lunch is served once a
month by Sakonnet Bay Manor. www.oceanstatebridgeclub.com. Friday, February
3 -
Karaoke featuring country music - VFW Post 5329, 134 Shove St., Tiverton, hosts karaoke every Friday from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.
Featuring, Del Rios, playing a variety of American and Portuguese music. Donation
$6. Call (401) 624-2697 for more information. Friday, February
3 -
The weekly Bingo at the Tiverton Senior Center, 207 Canonicus Street, Tiverton is Halloween-themed this week.
1:00 p.m.. This
event is free and open to the public. For
more information please call For more information please call 401.625.6790, or visit their website. Friday, February
3 -
Karaoke Night featuring Rick and Joan - Bayview Holy Ghost Citizens Club, 66 Bottom St, Tiverton, hosts karaoke every Friday from 8:00 to 12:00
p.m.. Friday, February
3 -
Bluegrass
jam at the VFW on Fridays at the Dartmouth VFW, Cross Road (behind Wal-Mart) from 7
to 10:30 p.m. The open jam, with bluegrass rules, is for adults only and is
held every Friday. Find out more about the above and other local area events coming
up this week. Click here for our all
of this week's event listings! * *
* * *
* * *
* * * * Tips for healthy and safe living. 09/29/2011 -
Do you heat your home with fuel oil? Then you'll want to review new safety standards for
protecting against costly oil leaks that could be very expensive to remediate. Click here PDF
to see how to protect your oil tank's fuel line as required by law. The Massachusetts Homeowner Oil Heating
System Upgrade and Insurance Law requires you to upgrade your home heating
system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to your
furnace. By making a relatively small expenditure now, you can prevent a much
greater expense in the future. 08/28/2011 -
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) positive mosquito findings in New Bedford, Freetown
and a widening swath through Southeastern Massachusetts. Click here for more information and learn how to
protect yourself from EEE. 03/01/2011 -
A defective or non-functioning smoke alarm almost cost a young Westport woman her life in a recent
July 4th Drift Road fire. The house burnt to the ground but the woman was
saved by an alert Fire Chief. Protect yourself, your family and pets with
proper smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Is your property safe? Click here to get all the details and state requirements for all age
homes. Do it now. PDF Large file, Please be patient. 16 tips you need to
defend yourself against deer ticks and Lyme Disease for 2010. Click here to get them now! 10 tips for living with coyotes in Westport.
Click here to learn how.
PDF
Westport articles from the local newspapers. 01/16/2012 - Adam Machado’s love for American roots
music began when he was a child, splitting his time between his father’s
home in Westport and his mother’s in Little Compton. His
stepfather, Bob Sayer, introduced him to the genre,
which encompasses artists like Mance Lipscomb,
Country Joe and the Fish, and Fred McDowell. Thirty
years later, Mr. Machado’s love for the music and the path he took to work in
the industry has gained him a Grammy nomination. He is nominated for Best
Album Notes for the 136-page book he wrote to accompany “Hear Me Howling! Blues, Ballads & Beyond: The Arhoolie 50th Anniversary Box Set.
More. 12/28/2011
- Westport's Capital Improvement Planning Committee
(CIPC) re-assembled last week to begin the arduous but necessary task of preparing
another six-year capital needs list for the town. The list will include
projected municipal capital expenses of $25,000 or more for all departments,
said Chairman Jack Baughan. More. 12/18/2011
- Massachusetts veterans now have an
easier way to identify themselves as eligible for services and
benefits thanks to a new feature on driver’s licenses. In
an effort spearheaded by Westport's State Senator Michael Rodrigues,
effective next month, veterans can bring their DD214 forms, which identify
them as having served in the military, to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to
have a special note on their licenses, state officials announced Friday at
the Fall River RMV. According
to Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, there are 400,000 veterans in Massachusetts,
including 37,000 who have served since 9/11.
More. 12/05/2011
- State takes control over East Beach Road. About three months after
tropical storm Irene ravaged the east end of Westport's East Beach Road, the
town was notified that the state will pay for most of the repair costs. "We received
favorable reports in terms of reimbursements for the damages caused by the
tropical storm," Selectman Antone Vieira said.
"It's taken a little bit of time, but has been worthwhile." "East Beach Road
is a state Road now, " select board chairman Richard Spirlet said,
"and the state is accepting responsibility for it." More. 10/17/2011
- Prima CARE medical group expanding with office in Westport. Prima
CARE, a multispecialty medical group, is expanding once again with a new medical
office in Westport. The building, under
construction, will be located behind Westport Family Medicine at 829 Main
Road. It will be a 6,500-square-foot, single-story building.
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Previous Events and News you may have missed. 11/30/2011
- Westport's
Energy Committee nixed the proposed Beech Grove Cemetery location for a
commercial wind turbine last evening on a vote of 5-0, with three members absent.
The motion included language that would "immediately
apply the findings of the current study to the Transfer Station and other
locations in town for both wind and solar projects," leaving the
field wide open to other private and town-owned sites. The decision was based on recommendations
by Atlantic Design, the town's green energy consultant, and statements made
by MassCEC that Beech Grove may not suitable for a
1.5 MW commercial wind turbine. The decision, welcomed by abutters, did not
sit well with some town residents. Complete story later.
Richard Lafrance
of Lafrance Hospitality, the current property
owner, confirmed that it will to be a restaurant, "but we haven't
determined what type yet." Click
here to read more about Fred and Ann's. 11/29/2011
- Allens Pond
Wildlife Sanctuary has two job
postings; one for a part-time Administrative Assistant and one for a
Live-In Caretaker at their Stone Barn Farm Property in South Dartmouth. Click
here for all the details. 11/29/2011
- The Bristol
County Commission on the Status of Women is now accepting applications to
seat new Commissioners. Westport women need apply. More. 11/29/2011
- The New Bedford Whaling Museum is calling
all “Moby Dick” fans. The museum is currently seeking readers for the 16th annual “Moby-Dick”
reading marathon early next year. Click here to read more about this event and others that need a helping hand
on our Community Bulletin Board.
The increasingly unpopular location for the
Central Village turbine produced an electric exchange between select board
members, some questioning the Energy Committee's commitment to wind power. Not so said Selectman Antone
Viera, who also chairs the Energy Committee.
"We are examining both wind and solar for the locations suggested by the
previous committee and this one." Selectmen heard a planning board
presentation from SRPEDD's Sandy Conaty on
Westport's recently released Housing Production Plan that revealed some
startling 2010 census figures. Click here to
view presentation. PDF Robert Rebello
and William Gifford are appointed to the Long Term Planning Building
Evaluation Committee; Simonne Conlon appointed to
Central Village Public Improvements Committee. And Selectmen unanimously approved the
Community Preservation Act Grant Agreement for Laurie Marinone
and Norman Anderson regarding the Oscar Palmer Farm. More on these bites and others later today.
Inset: U.S. Representative Barney Frank
speaks last year to the Westport ROMEOs. The 71-year-old
polemical Frank, a 16-term member of Congress, is among the most liberal
representatives, announced at a Bay State press conference Monday afternoon
that he will not seek re-election. The Boston Globe cited
a source close to Frank as saying a big reason for his decision is the
redrawing of his district, which will add more conservative voters and drop
the heavily Democratic city of New Bedford. Frank would have to
make his pitch to over 300,000 new constituents. Frank was a friend to
Westport, finding Federal money for many in-town projects such as dredging
Westport Harbor and helping the local fishing industry. Until recently, Frank
was assisting Westport in obtaining a Wild and Scenic River designation for
the Westport River watershed sought by local environmental and conservation
groups. What will life be like
after Frank? The grass may be greener. Almost immediately after Frank's
announcement, rumors about potential candidates, including those who had an
interest in the new ninth district, may seek instead to fill Frank's seat in
the U.S. Congress. Local officials mentioned as possible candidates were
Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter, Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan
and state Senator Marc Pacheco. Two, incumbent-free, southcoat congressional districts is a newsmonger's
bonanza for political pundits who follow such things. Stay tuned.
"For over a decade Westport
firefighters have delivered food baskets to town residents in need for the
Thanksgiving holiday," said firefighter Dan Baldwin, coordinator for
both Lees and the firefighters. "The bags provide all the fixings for a
Thanksgiving meal from a fresh turkey to dessert." Read
more with pictures.
"We're
looking for alternatives," committee member Elaine Ostroff said. "We
experienced serious mumbling (about the tree)," she said. "If we
didn't have sidewalks we wouldn't have this problem." "We need to
clarify our direction." __________________ Committee member
Elaine Ostroff. Linden Tree in the news! Click
here to see ABC6 news report. "We
need to clarify our direction," Ostroff added. "The committee has
always wanted to save the tree, but cost and safety were always a
factor." Committee
co-chair Ann Squire offered a workaround that just might work. Read
more about Squire's solution. Linden trees, sometimes called basswood or lime trees, are very
common in North America and are an excellent choice for the urban landscape,
providing ample shade. Selectmen
voted recently to accept the recommendation of the committee to bring down
the now well-known Linden Tree, and issued the kill order. The tree is
located on Main Road across from the Apothecary, to make way for a proposed
Central Village sidewalk. "This
area is the densest part of Westport with pedestrian traffic," Ostroff
said. But
it's possibly a Liberty Tree says local noted historian Norma Judson, who
believes the tree is over 200 years old. The Committee had considered workarounds but
has cited that dangerous conditions for elderly and handicapped walkers and
potential damage to the tree's root system prompted their decision. “There’s no excuse for this I can see,” Judson
told the Herald News. “You just don’t chop down a living thing. Westport is a
country town. If you want that, go to the city.” The
committee proposed bringing in an arborist for a full evaluation of the
tree's health. "We should just let nature take its
course," Committee member Ann Squire said. More. 11/22/2011
- An
ill wind is blowing for the Central Village turbine. Facing the Over
65 people attended the meeting and witnessed a string of residents, including
Father Hindsley, voice their opposition against the
controversial project. Former
Energy Committee chairman, David Dion (inset above), passionately advocated
for the green energy project, citing a reduced carbon footprint and a
lessening on the dependence on carbon-based fuels. Comparing
the impact of the turbine to that of a bright yellow school bus which slows
traffic and inconveniences drivers rushing to work, Dion said the visual
nuisance to abutters is outweighed by reducing dependency on foreign oil. The
state's Sr. Project Manager Renewable Energy for the Massachusetts Clean
Energy Center, Martha Broad, finally weighed in on the project last night.
The
Berkeley, California-based group was in town and needed one more gig to pay
the airfare back home. Amazing and compelling, their music was
sometimes haunting, sometimes mournful, more often uplifting, always
harmonizing and most certainly bluegrass, folk and Cajun. This new genre of entertainment is most
welcome in a town where the streets are rolled up by eight. Click
here to view the video and photos.
Be sure to visit EverythingWestport every day to
get the latest scoop on the upcoming holiday shows and bazaars - where they
are and what they're selling. Inset: Ruth Bourne of Tupelo Studio models her
handmade, wool and silk pull-over neck warmer (cowl).
Inset: COA volunteer Jeanne Borges serves up
traditional Thanksgiving fare to over 60 thankful guests. It's remarkable what COA Director Mary
Ellen Gomes can do with a handful of staff and committed volunteers, a few
dollars and lots of contributions. Much help is given by the Friends of the
Council of Aging who held their annual bake sale the same day. More with photos. 11/17/2011
- The Westport
Board of Registrars announces that a registration
session will be held for residents not yet registered to vote so that
they may qualify to vote in the Special Town Meeting to be held
Tuesday, December 6th. The registration session is Monday,
November 28th from 4 to 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 816 Main Road. Please use the
front entrance. Residents may also register daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Town Hall during normal business hours, or by mail-in. Click here to review the Special Town Meeting
warrant. Click here for more previous events and news you may have
missed.
Local area organizations’ newsletters now on-line!
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