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Sunday, May 13, 2012
Quick Article Index . . .
Westport's blunder proves a
bonanza.
Bakers' books get a second life.
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Westport's
blunder proves a bonanza. EverythingWestport.com Saturday, May 12, 2012 Westport's
blunder proves a surprise bonanza for the Westport River Watershed Alliance. Because the town
failed to submit a stormwater management plan to
the state two years in a row, they were fined $6000, which was just fine with
the WRWA. They got 60
hi-tech rain barrels in exchange for the town not paying the state penalty,
and were asked to give them to the first 60 residents who wanted one. The 60 cisterns
were quickly given away Saturday morning at the Westport Free Public Library. But interest in
the give-away was high, and 120 residents signed up for the program, much
more than expected. The WRWA plans to buy more for distribution.
Above: WRWA Advocacy
Director Betsey White instructs Westport resident Barry Cusick in the
operation of the Systern
rainwater runoff management system, pointing out the mosquito prevention screen
on the barrel's lid. The former Town Administrator failed to submit
a stormwater management plan to the state two years
in a row, and the town was going to have to pay $6,000 in fines. But in an
agreement with the state, Westport was allowed to give back $6000 to
community members in place of paying a fine.
Westport did
have to pay $1,500 in fines, but town officials were able to work with the
Westport River Watershed Alliance to use the remainder of the money to
purchase 60 55-gallon rain barrels for residential stormwater
collection. However, the
program of distributing the rain barrels was so successful that the WRWA will
buy up to 60 more and sell them to residents for half price, probably around
$30 each, according to White. The rain water collection cisterns
are made by Norseman Environmental Products Bakers' books
get a second life. EverythingWestport.com Saturday, May 12, 2012
An estate book sale this past weekend
of the extensive and unique library of the late Robert and Anne “Pete” Baker of Westport took place in the old cinder block building behind Partners
Village Store in Westport. The books were collected over the
decades by Bob Baker, an accomplished marine
architect and founder of Baker Boat Works, and Pete Baker, a noted architectural
historian. Anne “Pete” Watson (Lewis) Baker, died Monday, December 12,
2011. It was reminiscent of the annual Friends
book sale that attracts book sellers and enthusiasts from all over the area;
people rushing the store at opening and quickly picking as many books as possible
before they're gobbled up by someone else. The Bakers were self-educated and
their library reflected their wide-ranging interests. Their important papers,
not part of the sale, are currently housed in the Westport Library's
historical room. 860 books, all priced by Toby Hall
after endless hours of on-line research, were categorized and sorted for easy
viewing by prospective buyers, and ranged in price from $1 to $40 and more. "We sold more than $4000," Millham reported, "with all proceeds benefiting the
Westport Historical Commission of which Pete Baker was a founding member.
"We sold about two-thirds of the books." All leftover tomes were donated to
the Westport Friends Meeting House for their annual book sale this summer. Outside the building, marine
artifacts collected over the years by Bob Baker were being sold by Howie Gifford to benefit the Westport Fishermen's
Association.
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