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Route 88 bridge, Westport harbor at twilight.
photo/EverythingWestport.com December 27, 2014 © All rights reserved.
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Local news you may be interested in.
Updated: Sunday, January 11, 2015
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Photos/EverythingWestport.com except as noted.
Visit our newly updated Theater and Arts Section, and plan your winter event schedule!
New galleries and art venues added for 2015.
EverythingWestport.com videos
New video 12/23/2014 Click here to hear Westport’s Finance Committee Chairman, Dr. Charles “Buzzy” Baron
present a “Residential Exemption” property assessment program for consideration by the Board of Assessors and the
Selectmen.
Want to make a comment, submit a
correction, or report a news
story or event of interest. We
would be delighted to hear
from you.
Send an email to:
EverythingWestport@hotmail.com.
If you are from the southcoast area, please
feel free to email us any upcoming event
you would like to submit.
Upcoming holidays and observances:
January 2015 Monthly Observances
Adopt A Rescued Bird Month
Bath Safety Month
Be Kind to Food Servers Month
Birth Defects Month
Book Blitz Month
California Dried Plum Digestive Month
Celebration of Life Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Financial Wellness Month
Get A Balanced Life Month
Get Organized Month
More.
Headline News
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Click here for today’s event listings in and around Westport!
Click here for upcoming theater and arts listings!
01/10/2015 – The ice man cometh, and goeth! It’s impossible to
talk about the abandoned ice houses of North Wattupa Pond without
including wealthy Fall River businessman, Spencer Borden in the
conversation.
And that is exactly what history buff Bill Goncalo did when he spoke to
over 100 guests who showed up on one of the coldest days of the year to
talk about one of the coldest occupations of the time, working an
icehouse on Interlachen Island.
Bulletin Board
Click here to see all events
happening today in and around
Westport.
Ongoing. Westport Library
hosts painting and poetry
exhibition that opened
Monday, January 5th.
Westport artist and poet Peter Lenrow
presents “Nooks: Visions of Shelter,” a
collection of painting and poems which
will be on exhibit at the Free Public
Library in the Manton Community Room
from Monday, January 5th through
Saturday, January 31st during normal
library hours.
The late 19th century textile magnate was a neighbor on the island that
was also home to the Durfee-Cook ice house that was constructed in
1864, but Borden had nothing to do with the ice business. But his
association with inventor Thomas Edison had everything to do with its
demise. More...
01/09/2015 – Wicked cold Westport! EverythingWestport took a
bone-chilling, sub-zero walk-about early Thursday morning to
photograph the marvel of frozen waterscapes that look more like
Antarctic tundra and ice flows than coastal Westport. Images include
those of Forge Pond, Head Landing, East and West Branches of the
Westport River, Westport Harbor, the town docks, the Let, Cockeast
Pond, Richmond Pond, East Beach, Allens Pond, Adamsville landing,
Adamsville Pond, Gooseberry Island and miscellaneous other seascapes.
More to come.
This unattended tender was frozen solid in Westport Harbor waters off
Cherry & Webb Lane.
Daily Observances for
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Cigarettes Are Hazardous To Your Health Day
Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
No Pants Subway Ride Day
Stephen Foster Day
Click here to check out all the daily, weekly and
monthly 2014 holidays and celebrations, both official
and unofficial. Great fun!
Today’s Significant Events in History
Sunday, January 11, 2015
532 - Nika-revolt against Justianus & Theodora in
Hippodrome Constantinople
1599 - Jacob van Necks fleet leaves Bantam Java with
pepper, clove & muskaat
1813 - 1st pineapples planted in Hawaii (or 1/21)
1838 - 1st public demonstration of telegraph message sent
using dots & dashes at Speedwell Ironworks, Morristown,
New Jersey by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail
1879 - Zulu war against British colonial rule in South Africa
begins
1964 - 1st government report warning by US Surgeon
General Luther Terry reports that smoking may be
hazardous
View more Historical Events on this Day in History
A Meet the Artist Night is on
Thursday, January 8th from 5:30 to
7:30 p.m. Peter Lenrow has 37 pieces
on display accompanied by unique
poems for each one. Enjoy refreshments
and visit with the artist. 408 Old County
Road, Westport.
508.635.1100
Click here to view all scheduled Westport town board and
committee meetings this week.
Click here to view all Theater and Arts events this week
in and around Westport.
Westport Historical Society presents an exhibition –
Room to Learn: Westport’s One-Room Schoolhouses.
Exhibition started June 9th and is ongoing: Monday and
Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bell School, 25
Drift Road, Westport.
Today! WLCT to host ‘Meet
Your Farmers Day’ at the
Westport Grange on Sunday,
January 11th.
The Westport Conservation Land Trust
and the Westport Agricultural
Commission are sponsoring this free
event from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Westport
Grange, 931 Main Road, Westport.
Come find out what foods are available
locally this year in and around Westport.
This meet and greet event will feature
the following farmers: 24k Heirloom
Tomatoes, Apponagansett Farm,
Ashley's Produce, Dartmouth Orchards,
Gray's Daily Grind, Paradise Hill Farm,
Peet's Farm, Roots Farm, Round the
Bend Farm, Sampson Farm LP, Silk Tree
Farm, Silverbrook Farm, Skinny Dip
Farm, Stonehaven Farm, and Sweet &
Salty Farm.
New! Country Travelers
announces their 2015
Schedule as of Sunday,
January 11, 2015.
April 21, 2015 – Neil Sedaka at
Mohegan Sun Casino – Reservations and
payment for the show must be made no
later than February 20th. You do not
have to attend show if you just wish to
visit Mohegan. Cost is $20, $89 if
attending show.
Click here for this year’s schedule.
Shy Brothers Farm brothers
to visit with the Westport
Woman’s Club on
Click here to take a virtual tour of the
exhibit.
Visit the Westport Historical Society website.
Like them on Facebook.
Happening Today in and
around Westport!
Today’s events, listed below, you don’t want to
miss! Scroll down to view them all.
Click here to see all events this week.
Click here to see future events after this week.
Sunday, January 11

Sunday, January 11 – WLCT to host ‘Meet Your
Farmers Day’ at the Westport Grange.
The Westport Conservation Land Trust and the Westport
Agricultural Commission are sponsoring this free event
from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Westport Grange, 931 Main Road,
Westport.
Come find out what foods are available locally this year in
and around Westport. This meet and greet event will
feature the following farmers: 24k Heirloom Tomatoes,
Apponagansett Farm, Ashley's Produce, Dartmouth
Orchards, Gray's Daily Grind, Paradise Hill Farm, Peet's
Farm, Roots Farm, Round the Bend Farm, Sampson
Farm LP, Silk Tree Farm, Silverbrook Farm, Skinny Dip
Frozen, shoreline vegetation takes on the unearthly look of an alien
landscape.
01/09/2015 – Oops! Town Clerk Marlene Samson wants potential
candidates for the two-year, unexpired term of Town Treasurer to know
that nomination papers are now available at Town Hall.
The Town Treasurer’s position was inadvertently left off the list of
positions open in this year’s April election.
Deadline to obtain papers is Tuesday, February 19, 2015 at 4 p.m.;
papers must be returned to the Board of Registrars by 4 p.m. on
Tuesday, February. 24, 2015.
Ms. Samson apologizes for any inconvenience.
01/09/2015 – And to add to the confusion about the Town
Treasurer’s position... The April town elections will include a ballot
question that if approved by town voters will change the Town
Treasurer’s position from one that is elected to one Selectmen will
appoint.
OK, candidates for the Town Treasurer’s position will also be on the
ballot. So, how do we handle this one?
No problem, said the Town Clerk’s office – if the ballot question is
defeated by voters, than the candidate (Westport resident only) with the
most votes will assume the remaining two years of the town Treasurer’s
three-year term; if voters pass the ballot question, than the newly
elected Town Treasurer will assume the position until Selectmen appoint
a new one (any qualified person, residence not-withstanding.)
The current interim Town Treasurer, Christine Sylvia cannot run for Town
Treasurer on the ballot, but could be appointed permanent Town
Treasurer if the ballot question passes.
Got all that... there will be a quiz tomorrow.
01/09/2015 – Still popular after all this time. Yesterday, January 8,
1935, was Elvis Presley’s birthday. He would have been 80 years old.
But did you know that the White House is the only place that is visited
more often per year than Presley’s Graceland?
Wednesday, January 21st.
The January meeting of the Westport
Woman’s Club will be held at the
Macomber Community House, 930 Main
Road, Westport starting at 7:00 p.m.
Members and their guests are invited to
attend. One or more of the “Shy
Brothers Farm” brothers will be joining
us. The Shy Santos Brothers are two
sets of fraternal twins who work
together making cheese on their dairy
farm in Westport, and wouldn’t have it
any other way. We’ll hear about their
mission, including the past, present, and
future. Their hand-made cheese
products are dispensed throughout
regional distributors, specialty markets
and groceries, caterers, and the best
restaurants and clubs in the Northeast.
Hostesses for the evening will be Eileen
Beaulieu, Ronnie Beaulieu, and Judy
Oliveira.
Thursday Afternoon Tea at
Partners Village Store &
Kitchen on Thursday,
January 29th.
Enjoy a spot of traditional English Tea
with delicious sweets & savories as
Partners Village Store hosts its annual
Tea Time. Served elegantly in Partners
“Tea Room” café. Invite a friend, parent
or grandchild and share hot tea, special
tea sandwiches, mini desserts, and
great conversation. The cost is $12.95
per person. 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Please call or visit their front desk to
make a reservation.
01/08/2015 – Westport Board of Selectmen meets tonight at
5:50 p.m. in public session at Town Hall to finalize and balance
the town’s FY16 budget.
Great efforts have been made to avoid layoffs, but the town’s fi scal
condition is weak and Selectmen and Town Administrator, Tim King are
at odds with the town’s departments over the best way to fund the
upcoming fiscal year, what with tepid resources and uncertain state aid
due to projected cuts by outgoing Governor Deval Patrick.
01/08/2015 3:30 p.m. – Westport’s 2010 Man of the Year has
died. EverythingWestport has just learned that Westport resident,
Christopher "Chip" Gillespie passed away this morning after a long
illness. Mr. Gillespie was an active and very involved member of this
community and will be missed by many.
For his efforts in preserving the past for the present, Gillespie was the
2010 Standard-Times Man of the Year for Westport.
Our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Gaye and his family. More
information will be released when available.

Sunday, January 11 – Zumba Fitness at St. John the
Baptist Church, 945 Main Road, Westport from 6:30 –
7:30 p.m. on Thursdays.
Also meets on Sundays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Put more wiggle in your week!
$5 per class; proceeds to benefit McAuley Ministries.
No dance experience necessary. Ages 12 and up
welcome (16 and under with an adult.)
Zumba is the dance fitness revolution that fuses Latin
and other world rhythms with easy-to-follow dance moves
to create a calorie-burning, body-energizing workout that
you will love!
Visit their website.

Weekly AA Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. at Little
Compton Community Center, 34 The Commons, Little
Compton. Get Directions with MapQuest.
Weekly meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous every Sunday
night.
For more information please call 401.635.2400. Visit the
LCCC website.
The meeting is free and open to all.
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.
Need Adobe Reader to view PDF documents?
Click Here to download.
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.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) positive mosquito
findings in Westport and
a widening swath
through Southeastern
Massachusetts. Click
here for more
information and learn
how to protect yourself
from EEE.
Photo Courtesy of Phojoe and the Sachs Media Group
01/09/2015 7:00 a.m. – Ping Pong Westport weather! Storm
warning in effect until 4 p.m. this afternoon. What gives with the
extreme temperature swings? After waking up yesterday morning to -1
with -24 degree wind chill, we greet today’s daybreak with 37 degrees!
New England weather. And wind, wind, wind.
It seems the gods of Olympus are having fun with mankind in their tugof-war climate struggle.
Today: SW winds 25 to 35 knots with gusts up to 50 knots. For those
working the ocean, seas 8 to 13 feet. A chance of snow showers; a
chance of showers this morning. High temperature of 37
degrees. Tonight: W winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30
knots... Diminishing to 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots after
midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Low temperature of 18 degrees.
Farm, Stonehaven Farm, and Sweet & Salty Farm.
Partners Village Store and Kitchen, 865
Main Road. Westport.
For more information call 508.636.2572
or visit their website.
Chorus and Choral groups
welcome new singers for
springtime concerts.
Greater New Bedford Choral Society
invites singers to join them for their new
season which will begin January 6th for
the Spring Concert. New members also
welcome January 13th. Rehearsals
Tuesdays 7:30-9:30 p.m. For
information call 508.664.2419 or visit
www.gnbcs.org. First Unitarian
Church, County Street, New Bedford.
Greater Tiverton Community Chorus
is also welcoming all singers to open
rehearsals from 7-9:30 p.m. on January
8th. $60 semester dues; rehearsals on
Thursdays from 7-9:30 p.m. High school
and college students receive a 50%
discount.
Spring concert performances on May
16th and 17th to be held in Fall River.
This season the chorus will be joined by
the South County Community Chorus
performing “Cherubini Requiem.”
For more information please contact
Beth Armstrong at 401.253.7987 or
email: bestar@cox.net. The GTCC is a
non-auditioned choral group. Visit
www.gtcchorus.org. Amicable Church,
3804 Main Road, Tiverton.
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. Click here to get them now!
10 tips for living with coyotes in Westport. Click here to learn
how. PDF
Want to make a comment, submit a
correction, or report a news story or
event of interest. We would be delighted
to hear from you.
Send an email to:
EverythingWestport@hotmail.com.
If you are from the southcoast area,
please feel free to email us any
upcoming event you would like to
submit.
Westport Historical Society presents an exhibition –
Room to Learn: Westport’s One-Room Schoolhouses.
Exhibition started June 9th and is ongoing: Monday and
Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bell School, 25
Drift Road, Westport.
Photo/David W. Oliveira/Standard-Times special
01/08/2015 – If you build it they will come. Unfortunately for
abutting neighbors, some came too late... at night.
For years the Recreation Department wanted to rehabilitate the Gifford
Road Playground and add a skate park; kids and their parents really
pushed the concept.
Finally with a host of volunteers and funding from the Community
Preservation Act (CPA)
their dream came true.
Now it appears to be a
nightmare for some area
residents.
Led by Donald and Linda
Harrup, residents say they
have witnessed
vandalism, illicit activities
and unruly behavior by
older teens, often late at
night. The park’s
nighttime lighting to deter the more disruptive behavior has instead
disrupted the neighbors’ quality of life.
Selectmen stepped in last week and instituted strict new measures with
the board in full agreement. More...
01/08/2015 – The Tax Collector cometh! Next payment for
Westport Real Estate and Personal Property tax due before
February 2, 2015. Westport Tax Collector, Carol Borden reminds us
that Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills for the 3rd and 4th
quarters of Fiscal 2015 were mailed on December 31, 2014. New
property owners may contact the Collector of Taxes at 508.636.1010 or
by e-mail at collector@westport-ma.gov for a copy if they did not
receive one. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday. The office is also open the 1st Monday of the month until 6:00
p.m.
The third installment is due on or before February 2, 2015. More...
01/07/2015 – Updated 8:30 p.m. Arctic blast to whack Westport
Wednesday night with dangerous conditions through Friday.
Threat of snow and dangerous wind chill in the weekly forecast.
Well Westport, we knew it wouldn’t last. 50 degree temperatures give
way to frigid single digits (low of 0 on Wednesday) as artic air roars out
of northern Canada.
Gale warning in effect through Thursday morning; storm watch in
effect late Thursday night through Friday.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance (30%) of snow showers throughout
the evening with a low temperature near 0. NW wind 15 to 20 knots,
with gusts up to 30 knots.
Click here to take a virtual tour.
Westport Council on Aging
• Announcements •
COA Evergreen Newsletter – January, 2015
Read latest newsletter now.
View the Evergreen’s January schedule - get the
schedule and hourly timetable of COA weekly events.
Westport Council of Aging has a new video! Click here
to see it now.
******************************
February 14, 2013 - The Westport Council on Aging is
expanding the hours of its food pantry operation to
include Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the third
Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Food for Friends Food Pantry is for needy Westport
residents 18 years of age and over. Proof of residency
required.
Each client who signs up for the Food for Friends program
is assisted personally and confidentially, meeting with the
outreach department to assess individual needs.
******************************
Jun 25th 2008 Wednesday - First Time Ever House Tour
at Westport Point. The Friends of the Westport Council
on Aging sponsored this House Tour in the Historic District
at Westport Point.
There were more than just a few rooms with a view for the
over 300 visitors who toured Westport Point homes on the
first ever Point House Tour sponsored by the Friends of the
Council of Aging.
Read the full story with photos
now!
Aerial views courtesy of Geno Silvia
New England Wings - Custom Aerial Photography
www.newenglandwings.com
Above: Frozen Adamsville. Smoke curls from the chimney of this
historic property abutting Adamsville Pond. Frigid weather continues
Wednesday night with 0 degree temperatures and wind chill to -20.
photo/EverythingWestport.com © 1-6-2015
Wind chill values as low as -20. If you’re working on the water expect
seas of 4 to 7 feet in Buzzards Bay/Rhode Island Sound with freezing
spray.
The Weather Service advises residents to stay indoors for most of
Wednesday night. Exposure to such cold for even a couple minutes can
lead to frost bite. Wind chills at that time could drop to as low as 15 to
25 below zero in Westport.
Forecasters are predicting that the cold arctic blast in store for this week
will rival last year’s “polar vortex.”
Thursday: Sunny, with a high of 21. West winds 15 to 20 knots, with
gusts to 30 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet.
Thursday Night: A chance of snow showers, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly
cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 30%. SW winds
15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 30 knots... increasing to 25 to 30 knots
with gusts up to 40 knots after midnight. Seas 4 to 7 feet.
Friday: SW winds 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 50 knots. Seas 7 to
10 feet. A chance of snow/rain showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with
a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night: W winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 35 knots...
diminishing to around 15 knots with gusts up to 25 knots after midnight.
Seas 5 to 8 ft. Low temperature of 18 degrees.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high around 21. W winds around 15 knots
with gusts up to 25 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet.
Sunday: Partly cloudy with a high of 37 degrees. W winds 10 to 15
knots with gusts up to 20 knots.
01/07/2015 –
Buttonwood park
welcomes lynx,
coyote. The New
Bedford’s Buttonwood
Park Zoo got an early
Christmas present with
the arrival of one and a
half year old female
Canada lynx, Sylvie,
and ten month old
orphaned coyote pup,
Cody. Female Canada
lynx, Sylvie, came to
the Buttonwood Park Zoo from the Montreal Biodome per a breeding
recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Canada
Lynx Species Survival Plan. The goal of the SSP is to cooperatively
manage lynx populations within AZA accredited zoos to ensure the
sustainability of a healthy and genetically diverse population. Sylvie will
join the zoo’s male Canada lynx, Calgary, in the adjacent lynx exhibit.
Calgary, 14 years old, was born at the Philadelphia Zoo and has been at
the Buttonwood Park Zoo for five years.
Courtesy photo/Coyote pup, Cody is one of two new animals at
Buttonwood Park Zoo.
Zoo staff spent several months acclimating Cody to his new surroundings
with the goal of him being an animal ambassador for his species.
More...
01/06/2015 – The Westport Historical Society’s Winter
2014/2015 edition of The Harbinger newsletter is now
available on-line.
Read newsletter now. PDF
Visit their FaceBook page to stay up-to-date on all their
current events.
Click here to read all other Westport organizations’
newsletters.
01/06/2015 – Enormous turnout for WLCT’s annual holiday event
as 106 people take a New Year’s Day walk at The Let
conservation area.
On a sunny but blustery New Year’s Day afternoon more than 100 people
joined a guided walk led by Westport
Land Conservation Trust’s Executive
Director, Ryan Mann.
The group was the largest of any other
walk the group has led, despite the near
freezing temperatures that may have
kept some people home.
The WLCT’s annual walk to the Let
Conservation Area, a 62 acre,
permanently protected space with
expansive views of the Westport River
and shoreline, allows the public access
by foot to conservation land usually
accessible only by water.
The group was able to enjoy the walk
thanks to special permission from a
private land owner to cross their property. Parking was graciously
provided by Sylvan Nurseries.
Throughout 2014, WLCT has led many free guided walks throughout
Westport. WLCT will continue to offer many special events in
2015. Look for future announcements on EverythingWestport.com.
Photo/Ryan Mann
01/05/2015 – (ICYMI) Westport High School Senior Lauren
Roderigues, health and safety activist. Lauren was a Youth Wellness
Champion for the SCHHWI Grant from the CDC. In her work for the
South Coast Healthy Housing and Workplace
Initiative she held a bike safety workshop for
the youth at Woods at Wareham, this past
summer.
She noticed that most of the youths didn’t
own a helmet. Fearing the awful risk of head
injury from a fall, she felt that she needed to
do something.
So she managed to obtain a grant from AAA
for $250 — enough to purchase a dozen high
quality helmets, discounted, from Yesteryear
Cycling of New Bedford - six for boys, six for
girls.
“These are adjustable helmets,” she said,
“that will grow with the child right through
their teenage years.” More...
01/05/2015 – In case you missed it (ICYMI) – a former Westport
Highway Surveyor is seeking a new trial in an attempt to overturn his
conviction for “theft of town equipment.”
At Harold “Jack” Sisson’s initial hearing held the first part of December of
last year, Judge Julieann Hernon set a January 12th date for the next
hearing.
Sisson has always denied any wrongdoing regarding the transfer of a
town-owned Cub Cadet mower into private hands.
Sisson, through his new attorney, Francis O’Boy, is arguing that there
was insufficient evidence for his conviction and that Westport police
testimony was not consistent with some of the evidence presented at
that trial.
On July 10, 2014 a jury convicted Sisson of a felony larceny count, and
he was sentenced to two years of probation by Judge Hernon.
Sisson appears to now be fighting to retain his pension. The 61-year-old
Sisson had worked for the town for 22 years and now faces possible
action on his town pension since the conviction was a felony.
The fate of the pension rests in the hands of the Bristol County
Retirement Board which has delayed a decision until after Sisson’s
request for a new trial is decided.
“While Mr. Sisson may not always have abided by the
letter of the bidding rules, he never benefitted
personally from the transactions and had the town’s
Enlarge
Baker’s Beach and Westport Point.
Enlarge
Westport’s Central Village featuring Partners Village Store
and Kitchen, Alden Hill Real Estate, and Town Hall Annex.
Receive email alerts to upcoming events
and news!
Want to make a comment, submit a
correction, or report a news story or
event of interest. We would be delighted
to hear from you.
Send an email to:
EverythingWestport@
hotmail.com.
If you are from the southcoast area,
please feel free to email us any
upcoming event you would like to
submit.
best interests at heart.” - Sisson’s former attorney,
Emile Morad, Jr.
Westport police are not involved in the retrial request hearing; that effort
is being handled by the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.
They did note, however, that while requests for new trials are not
unheard of, “it is difficult for a jury verdict to be overturned.”
The embattled former Highway Surveyor’s troubles led the town of
Westport to move to change that elected position to an appointed one,
an effort that was eventually approved by Westport voters.
01/05/2015 – Mystery Photo solved! Our last mystery photo of
2014 was solved by Geri Fortier who correctly guessed “Lobster pots
at the Point (docks)” on Wednesday, December 31st at 10:39 a.m.
Geri wins a $25 gift certificate to White’s of Westport/Bittersweet Farm,
always good dining at great prices!
The mystery photo was first posted on Tuesday, December 30th at 10:15
a.m.
Be on the lookout for our first mystery photo of the new year and be
ready to take your best shot at solving it!
Click here to check out more about this and other past Mystery Photos
and their winners.
01/04/2015 – Let the contests begin! Westport Town Clerk, Marlene
Samson announces that nomination papers for the April 14, 2015
Annual Town Election will be available on Wednesday, January 7, 2015
for the following offices - for three years: two Selectmen, one Assessor,
one Board of Health, two School Committee, one Fish Commissioner, two
Trustees of Free Public Library, one Landing Commissioner, and one
Commissioner of Trust Funds. For Five Years: one Housing Authority
and one Planning Board.
Update on January, 9, 2015: also, one two-year unexpired term for
Town Treasurer.
Deadline for obtaining nomination papers is Thursday, February 19, 2015
at 4 p.m., and the deadline for filing nomination papers with the Board of
Registrars is Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 5 p.m.
Follow all the upcoming election news here on
EverythingWestport.com.
01/04/2015 – And kicking off the town’s April election season
early, R. Michael Sullivan has
announced his bid for reelection
to the Westport Board of
Selectman.
The one-term select board member
is the first to announce his bid for
one of the two seats up for grabs,
saying that “injecting civility into
the board’s frequently contentious
meetings” has been a priority. He
has also focused on process and
policy improvements that impact the way in which the board does
business. One such change that he sponsored in 2012 requires that all
boards and committees allow members a minimum of one week to
review and consider contracts prior to taking action or making
recommendations.
The race for the selectmen’s seats appears to be shaping up to include
five to six candidates preparing to announce, and rumor has it that twoterm Selectman Craig Dutra will not seek reelection. More...
against the practice. More...
01/03/2015 - Westport Town
Administrator, Tim King says
budget cuts could spare layoffs.
But hits to the capital improvement
budget, free cash account and the
town’s retirement account would be
needed to avoid the elimination of up
to 16 positions.
A transfer of capital from the town’s
cash reserves into the operating
budget to fund operating expenses
would be against a Select Board’s
stated policy not to do so, and
Massachusetts DOR recommendations
01/02/2015 - Photo of the week - “A leap of faith!” This
adventuresome couple braves the 30
degree air temperatures and jumps into
the 40 degree icy waters of the Westport
River in the Back Eddy’s 16th annual
Polar Bear Plunge. All jumpers earned a
fabulous free brunch at the popular
seaside restaurant known for its gourmet
offerings. Click here to see more Photos
of the Week.
More past headline news continues below.
12/30/2014 – Maize maze mystifies
Portsmouth police. It’s a New Year’s Eve tale of
opportune theft and cunning getaway.
A quick-thinking, blue-hooded hoodlum stole an
iPhone 6 from a Ray’s Towing truck parked outside
a Subway restaurant and then evaded capture after
he ran through a nearby corn maze at Escobar’s
Farm in Portsmouth.
Police said they got a report at around 2:14 p.m.
that an iPhone had just been stolen out of a tow
truck.
The male suspect, described as wearing a blue
hooded sweatshirt, made his escape when he ran
west, crossed Middle Road, and entered the corn
maze.
Police said they caught a quick glimpse of the
suspect at the far end of the field, but lost sight of
him as they tried to maneuver the corn maze to
find him.
Can you imagine the cops running into an eightacre field of cornstalks towering seven feet high.
It’s downright corn-fusing.
The suspect could not be found.
And nobody thought to call the stolen iPhone and listen for the ring; tsk, tsk!
Never mind triangulating the cellphone to pinpoint its location.
12/30/2014 - Selectmen vote to place non-binding property assessment question on April ballot. Westport
Selectmen have been weighing whether they should hire an outside, professional property assessment agency to
determine fair market value for all Westport properties.
Monday night a motion to do just that barely passsed with a 3-2 vote; Selectmen Steve Ouellette and Craig Dutra voted
against the ballot question.
12/30/2014 - Westport’s Steve Johnson opens the Red Dory Restaurant in Tiverton. The Red Dory is a
casual fine-dining restaurant located in the Stone Bridge village of Tiverton, Rhode Island, overlooking the Sakonnet
River.
Chef/owner Steve
Johnson offers his personal versions of Mediterranean-style
seafood dishes and
sources most of his ingredients from the area’s farmers and
fishermen.
Steve Johnson has
been a fixture in the Boston restaurant scene for over 25 years,
most recently
operating the Rendezvous in Central Square, Cambridge.
Old-time location,
new restaurant.
The Red Dory is
located in the old Stonebridge Restaurant building that dates
back to the 1930’s.
The restaurant will be open New Year’s Eve from 4:30 to 10:00 p.m., and New Year’s Day from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m.
”We’re offering people a chance to enjoy food and people,” Steve told the Sakonnet Times. “We’re not a temple to
gastronomy. It’s not a religious experience.”
Look for a raw bar, seafood appetizers, spiced-up green salads, pasta dishes, and fish
and shellfish entrees.
Lunch is not available yet, but look for it in the future.
1848 Main Road, Tiverton, RI (across from Grinnell’s Beach.) For more information or
reservations please call or click 401.816.5001 or email:
reservations@reddoryrestaurant.com.
12/29/2014 – Breaking news! Westport Police arrested a Dartmouth man after he slashed a man with a
knife and assaulted an officer.
Employees of Joe's Café in Westport called police when 26-year-old Jesse Morrow brandished a knife at the
establishment after being asked to leave.
Westport Police were called to Joe’s Café to deal with a man who had arrived at closing time and whose behavior was
‘obnoxious’ and ‘belligerent.’
There they were told that the man had twice been asked to leave whereupon he pulled a knife then stabbed and
deflated a vehicle’s tire.
Westport detective Antonio Cestodio said that several cafe employees approached the
man in an attempt to get him to leave.
An “altercation ensued” during which employees said that the man slashed another
man, causing a 6 to 8 inch laceration across his face and neck.
After being placed in custody, police said that man tried to kick an officer and that,
during booking, he resisted to such an extent that officers “had to apply a drive stun to
his leg.”
Police arrested Jesse Morrow of 417A Chase Road, Dartmouth, and charged him with of
assault with intent to kill, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon,
malicious destruction of property over $250 and resisting arrest. Morrow is held on $5,000 bail and is scheduled for
arraignment on Monday in Fall River District Court.
The man who was slashed was treated at the scene by Westport Fire Department personnel.
12/29/2014 – Fall River polar bear plunge postponed! A freezing Fall River tradition, enjoyed by many, is being
cancelled for this year. The annual polar plunge, which acts as a fundraiser for the city’s Forever Paws Animal Shelter, is
being suspended, according to the Herald News.
The event usually draws crowds to Sandy Beach to watch thrill seekers dive into the cold water, but the paper reports
that organizers are taking a year off. They say there's just too much going on with the recall election in Fall River.
Mayor Flanagan kicked out of office; DA Sam Sutter picked to replace him.
Mayor Will Flanagan was voted out of office and will be replaced next week by Bristol County District Attorney Sam
Sutter.
12/29/2014 – Take heart Fall River polar bears and penguins. There are three other local, New Year’s day cold
water dashes and dives available to satisfy your hankering for chills and icy thrills!
Back Eddy Polar Bear Plunge – Restaurant owner Sal Liotta has announced the 16th plunge into the Westport River
in return for free brunch. 11:00 a.m. start time. “Absolutely, we’re doing it,” Liotta said. More...
Westport Penguin Plunge at Children's Beach, Westport at 12 noon.
Since 1975 the Westport Penguin Plunge has sponsored a New Year’s Day swimming event in Westport Harbor. The
noon-time “run and splash” will be at the Westport Yacht Club. More...
Tiverton Penguin Plunge to raise more money for Public Library. Hey all you resident penguins, you can dash into the
cold waters of Grinnell’s Beach at noon on New Year’s Day for the annual Penguin Plunge, if you dare. More...
Weather forecast for New Year’s Day is bright sunshine and low 30’s.
12/29/2014 – Selectmen meet tonight at Town Hall for the final time this year.
Click here to review agenda; click here to review Town Administrator’s report.
Four issues sure to invoke conversation are: 1. Approval of ballot article – outside Revaluation Assessment of properties
in Town;
2. Approval of bill to Buzzards Bay Coalition – delay of Beach Avenue plans; 3. Consideration of pay increases for nonunion employees; and 4. Board of Selectmen stipends.
Meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. sharp.
12/28/2014 - Weaver to head Westport River Watershed Alliance. The Westport River Watershed Alliance
(WRWA) is pleased to announce that Westport resident Deborah Weaver will become its
Executive Director effective January 1, 2015.
Deborah founded and oversaw operations for two Boston-area non-profit organizations
which she led for over fifteen years. Most recently, she founded and served as executive
director for Girls LEAP (Lifetime Empowerment & Awareness Program), which teaches
safety, self-defense and empowerment to over 10,000 disadvantaged Boston girls. More...
12/27/2014 – The Westport Historical Society’s monthly e-News is now available
on-line. Click here to read their December issue now.
12/26/2014 – The Council on Aging’s January 2015 newsletter, Evergreen, is now
available on-line. Click here to view it now. PDF
12/26/2014 – The Westport Fishermen’s Association Fall 2014 Newsletter is now
on-line. Click here to view it now. PDF
12/24/2014 – WAG adds a Wing! “Art is taking flight,” Westport Art Group’s Building Committee member Heidi
Hallemeier said, tongue in cheek.
The talented watercolorist produced a painting of the proposed addition that has been on display since early summer in
the building that last changed in 1983 with the addition of a 740 square foot studio to a cottage that was first donated
to the group in 1972.
“A 30-year history of
planning and imagining
what could be took a first
step this month with the
ground breaking ceremony,”
said Mary Benefiel, the
Westport Art Group’s current
president.
The wing, a substantial
addition to the south side
of the current building, was
chosen for with the north
light in mind as “artists
understand the benefits
of painting with north light,”
Benefiel said.
Weather permitting, Yates
Construction from
Rochester should start work
this month and be
finished sometime in the
spring of 2015.
The 780 square foot addition
will have a high ceiling
with clerestory and corner
windows, choices the
group couldn’t make before
with the two donated
buildings. Clerestory windows
are high above eye level;
the purpose is to bring
outside light into the
inner space.
This month the group’s
Building Committee of
Heide Hallemeier, Bruce
Hubbard, Mary Benefiel,
Peter Lenrow, and Chairman
Paul Vien took the first
by participating in a ground-breaking ceremony.
12/23/2014 – Is “Residential Exemption” a viable solution to the beginning of the end of Westport’s deficit
spending?
Just a week after Westport’s Board of Assessors and Selectmen set the town’s FY’15 property tax rate at
$7.94/thousand dollars of evaluation (up 24 cents from last year,) and rejected a split tax rate between residential and
commercial property, they listened to a proposal at Monday night’s Select Board
meeting that, essentially, could create a faux split tax.
Finance Committee Chairman Charles “Buzzy” Baron presented a plan that is being
used in one form or another by 13 Massachusetts towns, with Somerset being the
closest to Westport, that proponents claim redistributes the main bulk of the town’s
revenue generation (property taxes) among high- and low-end residential property
owners, and increases property taxes on commercial properties, non-owner
occupied residential properties (includes apartments, multi-family properties,
assisted living facilities, day care centers, rental properties, and second homes,) and
vacant residential land as it would be excluded from the “residential exemption” plan
and would be billed a substantially higher rate per thousand than what the owners
are currently paying, maybe as much as one to two dollars.
Opponents claim the Residential Exemption redistributes income among the town’s taxpayers.
If you’re confused about all this you’re not alone.
What is “Residential Exemption” and what is the effect on the average home owner?
Let’s try to break it down for you. More...
“The ‘tax exemption’ addresses the vast financial difference between those
having second vacation homes, non-owner occupied properties, and
commercial properties here, and those of us in town working or retired, trying
to make ends meet, and trying to remain living on the Island.” – Martha’s Vineyard
Tisbury resident.
Click here to hear Westport’s Finance Committee Chairman, Dr. Charles “Buzzy” Baron present a “Residential
Exemption” property assessment program for consideration by the Board of Assessors and the Selectmen.
12/24/2014 – Unmasking the good times at The Shattuck. If there is something ultra-novel happening in town,
you can usually find it at Dedee Shattuck’s art gallery in Westport.
Over 100 guests showed up there Saturday night to celebrate the winter solstice (just as good a reason as any to make
holiday merriment) at The Shattuck’s first Winter Solstice Masquerade Ball.
And what better way to brighten up the darkest day of the year than with an evening of dancing against a backdrop of
artwork, sparkling lights, and wintertime décor.
Photo/Richard Gormley Photography
The masked ball, a New Orleans Mardi Gras atmosphere combined with the upscale elegance of a Manhattan art gallery,
created an event the like not seen been in this agricultural town.
Click here for more photos on Flicker.
Masks off to Dedee Shattuck and spouse Bill for hosting a delightful seasonal affair that we all hope will become an
annual event. More....
12/21/2014 – Assailant uses stun gun in hijack attempt of cigarette delivery truck.
The driver, a 37-year-old military veteran from Attleboro, fought back and managed to get the attacker out of the truck.
Westport Police were called to the parking lot of Supreme Gas Thursday, December 18th, for what was first thought to
be a fight between two men.
But when they arrived at the 174 State Road station they quickly discovered that
the fight had actually been an attempted armed robbery and truck jacking gone
wrong.
The alleged assailant had fled just before cruisers pulled up. More...
12/21/2014 – Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest (and therefore
darkest) day of the year. And it hasn’t come a moment too soon as winter begins
today, and is now one day closer to ending!
Oddly, the winter solstice marks the shortest daylight period, but it’s not the day
of the latest sunrise or earliest sunset.
Winter Solstice is also known in Europe as Yule. Witches & warlocks celebrate this date as the birth of the Sun God since
from this point forward the days
get longer.
Many cultures around the world
have throughout millennia
celebrated the winter solstice as
the beginning of the solar
year, a celebration of light and
the return of the sun. The
Local area organizations’ newsletters now on-line!
The Westport Land Trust’s
event schedule for Winter Events
2014/2015 is now available.
The Friends of the Westport Library
(FOWL) quarterly newsletter for
October/December 2014 is now
available.
Monthly newsletter is now available
on-line.
Brushstrokes
September/October 2014 issue
now out.
Click here too see upcoming
events now.
PDF
Read Newsletter now.
PDF
The Trustees of Reservations
572 Essex Street
Beverly, MA 01915
978.921.1944
www.thetrustees.org
www.westportlandtrust.org
The Westport River Watershed
Alliance’s monthly electronic
newsletter RIVER NEWS is now
available.
Click here for their most recent
E-Newsletter.
Click here to read their
fall/winter 2014/2015 events
schedule.
The Westport Historical Society
Winter 2014/2015 The Harbinger
newsletter now available on-line.
Read newsletter now.
Click on the above header to read
the December 2014 Allens Pond
Sanctuary’s “The Perch.”
The January, 2015 issue is now
PDF
Visit their FaceBook page to stay
up-to-date on current events.
PDF
http://library.westport-ma.com/
Visit FOWL’s website.
The Westport Council on
Aging’s monthly newsletter
EVERGREEN is now available.
Click here to read their December
2014 E-Newsletter.
The July, 2014 issue is now online.
Read newsletter now.
Click here for event calendar.
Read Newsletter now.
on-line. PDF
Read newsletter now.
View the Evergreen’s January
schedule.
Click here to read their 2014 Year in
Review!
Click here to view Allens Pond
Sanctuary's upcoming Program
schedule.
1280 Horseneck Rd.
Westport, MA 02790
(508) 636-2437
allenspond@massaudubon.org
The Westport Fishermen’s Association Fall 2014 Newsletter is now on-line. Click here to view it now. PDF
Visit their website.
Be sure to visit these informative and fascinating pages of
EverythingWestport.com!
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images illustrating the rural
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around Westport
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Theater and Arts events this
week!
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