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http://www.westportartgroup.com

 

Read January 2024 Newsletter – BrushStrokes.

 

Current Events - https://www.westportartgroup.com/events-exhibitions

 

Letter from the President

 

Westport Art Group YouTube video - 2017 in review!

Learn more about the doings at WAG. Check it out now!

 

 

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Happening now!

 

 

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04/29/2018  Click here to watch video of Westport Art Group Spring Art Show.

 

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Westport Art Group has geared up for a new year of activities and is offering new memberships at this time. The group is open to all South Coast residents with an interest in art. Beginners to skilled artists are equally welcome.

 

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Click here for their events calendar.

 

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Please see www.WestportArtGroup.com for location and all the details, or email info@westportartgroup.com for details.

 

Click here to get an update on their upcoming 2024 events!

 

Click here for a schedule of 2024 classes and workshops!

 

Click here to download their new brochure! PDF

 

The Westport Art Group is a non-profit organization that supports education in the arts with classes, art exhibits and scholarships to high school seniors. The mission of the Westport Art Group is to stimulate and promote the appreciation and encouragement of the arts and crafts. Call 508.636.2114 or visit www.westportartgroup.com  for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

The Back Eddy

Restaurant

1 Bridge Road

Westport, MA 02790

(508) 636-6500

thebackeddy@aol.com

 

Open until News Years Day!

 

"A classy clam shack with a spacious outdoor patio. An ideal New England summer restaurant that takes full advantage of local farms and fishermen. Comfortable and casual atmosphere for locals and vacationers." - The Phantom Gourmet

 

They are open for our extended seasonal hours starting on Memorial Day, which means they close at 10 p.m. every day and are open 7 days a week!

Outdoor Bar also opening on Memorial Day Weekend!

Summer Music Sundays start in June:

Live Music every Sunday Night from 4-7 p.m. on the outside dock! (rain or shine) Stay tuned for details!

Outdoor Grill & Raw Bar

Weekends starting in June (weather permitting)

​Columbus Day Weekend 2018

Annual Striped Bass Fishing Tournament 

 

Upcoming Dinner Shows and special events:

Call for additional schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

White's of Westport
66 State Road, Westport. For more information, call (508) 675-7185 or visit
www.lafrancehospitality.com.

 

Dinner Shows, Music Tributes & Comedy Shows:

They bring the Big City Comics to you live at White's.  Be sure to join them before the show in the Galley Grille for a great dinner.  If your organization is looking for a new opportunity to raise money, please contact Charlie Fellows, at (508) 676-7888 x422.  $15 per person (no food)

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Live bands in the Galley Grille every Friday and Saturday night:

 

Galley Grille Live Music

Every Saturday Paul Nogueira on piano playing Country, Blues and other favorites

 

Click here for a schedule of all upcoming events for White’s, Bittersweet and ten Cousins.

 

Bittersweet Farm Restaurant & Tavern
438 Main Road, Westport.  For more information, call (508) 636-0085 or visit www.lafrancehospitality.com.

 

Tavern hosts live bands Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. 

 

Every Thursday enjoy acoustic guitar with Kenny Richards 

 

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Call 508.675.7185 or check out their website for information:

www.LafranceHospitality.com

 

 

 

The week ahead on EverythingWestport.com

 

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Click here for all local Theater, Music and Arts events scheduled this week!

 

Click here to view all future scheduled events after this week.

 

Click on the letter below to view scheduled events for that day.

 

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W

Wed

T

Thu

F

Fri

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Sat

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Wednesday, March 7, 2024

 

 

Click here to view future scheduled events. (Will return in the near future – for the time being visit our Facebook Page)  

 

Town Meetings This Week

As of Monday, March 11, 2024  5:40 p.m.

 

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Board of Selectmen 2023-2024

From the left: Manuel Soares, Vice Chairman Steven Ouellette, Chairman Richard Brewer, Shana Shufelt, Clerk Manuel Soares, and Ann Boxler

 

Richard Brewer

Chair (term expiration: 04-2024)

 

Steve Ouellette

Vice Chair

(term expiration 04-2026)

 

Manuel Soares

Clerk (term expiration 04-2026)

 

Ann Boxler

(term expiration:04-2024)

 

Shana Shufelt

(term expiration 4-2025)

 

Call the Town Clerk at (508) 636-1000 during normal working hours to verify any meeting schedule changes.

Click here to read about new state posting requirements for town meetings effective as of July 1, 2010.

 

Board of Registrars

Pam Costa - Member - Term Expires 4/2026

Isabel Kochman - Member - Term Expires 4/2025

Kathryn Cayton - Member - Term Expires 4/2024

 

 

Monday, March 11, 2024

Board of Trustees - Library

12:00pm

 

Recreation Commission - Town Hall Annex

6:00pm

 

Select Board - Town Hall

6:00pm

 

Town Clerk Kristin Stinson

 

Town Hall - 816 Main Road

 

Town Hall Annex - 856 Main Road

 

 

Westport Town Announcements

As of Monday, March 11, 2024

2023/2024 Transfer Station vehicle stickers required by Friday July 1, 2023.

The Westport Board of Health began issuing new Transfer Station stickers on Monday, July 3, 2023 for the next fiscal year. Everyone using the Transfer Station is required to purchase a new sticker every year. Present stickers expire on Friday June 30, 2023.

 

Fee Increases Effective May 01, 2023

Regular Sticker - $50

Senior Sticker - $40

Day Pass Fee - $15

 

The cost of the sticker is $ 50 for seniors age 65 and over, the cost is $20. Additional stickers may be purchased on the same day only for the same household for $10 per vehicle. Residents must present their vehicle registration.

Stickers may be purchased at The Board of Health, Town Hall Annex, 856 Main Road. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Stickers may also be purchased at the Transfer Station by check only.

CLICK HERE for rules and regulations regarding the use of the Transfer Station

 

Dog licenses due by April 1, 2023.

1/04/2023 – Westport Town Clerk announces that Dog Licenses that are due each year by April 1st are now available in her office at Town Hall. A valid rabies certificate must be presented in order to obtain a license.

Male and Female Dogs - $15.00

Spayed and Neutered Dogs - $10.00

As of July 1st there will be a $15.00 Late Fee Imposed for dogs not yet licensed this year.

The Clerk’s office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on the first Monday of the moth from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

By mail: include check payable to: "Town of Westport," and include Rabies Certificate, spay or neutered certificate, and self-addressed, stamped return envelope and mail to: Town of Westport, 818 Main Road, Westport, MA 02790. Certificate will be returned.

Also:

$50.00 - 4 dog kennel

$75.00 - 10 dog kennel

$100.00 - more than 10 dog kennel

 

Knubble Beach - Purple Marker
Cherry & Webb Beach - Red Marker
East Beach - Blue Marker

2024 Beach Passes available for Westport beaches.

Click here for application PDF.

 

Westport Beach Committee and Town Clerk’s office take action to address town beach pass hullabaloo.

Increased cost ($65) for Horseneck Beach passes drives Westport residents to Cherry & Webb Beach, compounding lack of parking space on busy weekends.

 

You must be a town resident or property owner to obtain a town beach pass for Cherry & Webb Beach, East Beach, and Knubble Beach.

All year-round residents must provide a current and valid vehicle registration.

Above: entrance to Cherry & Webb Beach.

Photo | EverythingWestport.com

And the Town Clerk’s office is being provoked by angry folks who don’t qualify for town beach passes.

Newly issued regulations seek to promote civility and better control of the issuance of highly-sought-after beach passes to Westport town beaches. 

Click here to review new rules.

The new regulations seek to clarify who is eligible, thereby avoiding angry confrontations with town employees who issue the passes.

Proof of eligibility is the burden of the applicant.

Starting immediately, individuals seeking a beach pass must file an application with check or money order only (no cash please) and either mail (self-addressed, stamped return envelope must be included) or drop off the application at the Town Clerk’s office.

 

"All submitted documents will be returned to the applicant in their self-addressed, stamped return envelope." - Town Clerk Marlene Samson.

 

Applications can be obtained from the Town Clerk’s office, Council on Aging, Westport Public Library or obtained on-line by clicking here.

Simply put you “must have a residence in Westport year-round and claim your residency here, or you must be a property owner listed on the current real estate tax bill or spouse thereof.”

Commercial properties don’t qualify.

Fees remain the same; $35 per vehicle, seniors 65 and older pay just $15. 

Horseneck Beach is a state beach – daily and season passes are issued only by the

State at the beach parking lot.

 

Boat excise tax bills are due April 15, motor vehicles by April 8th for 2024.

01/01/2024 - The town will mail out motor vehicle excise tax bills and they are due on or before May 14. Taxpayers are asked to contact the collector’s office if they did not receive a bill. Those in need of abatement may contact the assessor's office directly. The assessor's office is closed on Thursdays. Any motor vehicle excise bill not paid in full by May 14 will be subject to a $10 demand fee and 12 percent per annum interest.

Boat excise tax bills are due today. Outstanding bills will be subject to a $10 demand fee, interest of 12 percent per annum and a $20 or a 20 percent penalty, whichever is greater.

Real estate and personal property tax bills are due May 1. Any bill not paid in full will be subject to a 14 percent per annum interest charge. There is no grace period. Demand bills will be sent out soon after the due date, adding the $10 demand fee along with interest. Those making a late payment may call for interest figures.

Bills may be paid online at http://www.westport-ma.com/ for a 35-cent-per-transaction fee. To pay online, go to the website and under the headings, select Departments and scroll down and select Tax Collector. Instructions to sign up and pay online may be found there. No credit card payments are accepted.

If mailing in a bill, enclose the remittance portion of the bill or the whole bill if a receipt is needed. A self-addressed stamped envelope is required if requesting a receipt. If paying in person, taxpayers should bring the entire bill if a receipt is needed. A mail slot in the office door is available for anyone wishing to drop off a payment.

 

Westport residents need Yard Sale Permits.

Westport Residents who are planning to hold a yard sale must obtain a Yard Sale Permit from the Building Department, Town Hall Annex, 856 Main Road. Permits are $5.00 per day. Under the Town Bylaws and Regulations, a Yard Sale Permit may be issued to any one person for only three days in any one month or four days in any one year in conformity with the Zoning Regulations and for any one premises zoned residential. The Police Department or Zoning Enforcement Officer will be checking to see if a Yard Sale Permit is on premises, and the permit must be presented if requested. Any person who violates any provision of the Bylaw shall be liable to a fine of $50.00 for each violation. Each day shall constitute a separate offense.

For further information, please contact the Building Department at (508) 636-1035 or (508) 636-1036.

Note: Posted Yard Sale Signs Must Be Removed At The End Of The Sale.

 

Westport Property and GIS Maps are On-Line

Citizens, town employees and other interested persons may now research properties on Westport by using the on-line property viewer and the interactive mapping capability of the town’s new geographic information system (GIS) website. The site allows to search for and display the assessors’ map of a parcel of land and to add additional information such as soil types, wetlands, zoning and aerial photos to that map. Users may also view an interactive map of the entire town, adding their desired information, then zooming to an area of interest.

The site includes a wide range of environmental and regulatory information. The information is not to be used for legal determination or to settle property disputes. It will be useful to anyone interested in their own property, to anyone interested in developing a property, and to those interested in the physical and cultural characteristics of Westport.

The site is accessed via a link on the town’s website: http://www.westport-ma.com/ where a tip sheet is also available. A video tutorial will be available in the near future via the town website. The project, which will be improved an updated yearly, is a joint effort of the Planning Board and the Board of Assessors, with funding from the data processing department.

 

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Westport appoints new Police Chief!

 

A group of people wearing masks

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Our Photo of the Week

Monday, November 13, 2023 – Westport Select Board gives Detective Sargent Christopher Dunn (pictured right) the nod to become Westport’s new Police Chief.

 

On a 3-2 vote Westport’s Select Board elevated Detective Sargent Christopher Dunn (below, left) to replace retiring Police Chief Keith A. Pelletier.

 

Dunn named Westport police chief - EastBayRI.com

 

Selectmen Ann Boxler, Manny Soares and Select Board Chair Richard Brewer voted for Dunn; Select Board Vice Chair Steve Ouellette and former Select Board Chair Shana Shufelt voted for Sargent Robert Rebello.

 

The decision was worked out by the Board in previous meetings and announced this evening as the Board’s only agenda item.

 

Dunn will replace retiring chief Keith Pelletier, who is expected to work through the first week of 2024. Once the select board officially accepts Pelletier’s resignation, Dunn will be cleared for his first day on the job on Monday, Jan. 7.

 

Read more about the backgrounds of these two candidates for Police Chief

 

View the weekly photo album now   309 photos  |  Dial-up speed  |  Broadband/DSL speed  |

     

Photo Essays of Westport

Hundreds of high-quality digital images illustrating the rural culture and beauty of Westport; its rivers, shores and picturesque landscapes.

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Local Theater and the Arts

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Westport Businesses in the News

Recent news stories about what is happening in our community.

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Historical Westport Footnotes

 

Read about more Historical Westport Footnotes.

 

“Stove Boats, Shipwrecks and Cannibalism – the perils of 19th century whaling.”

Thursday, October 20, 2016

By Robert Barboza 

Special Correspondent to EverythingWestport.com

Photos | EverythingWestport.com

 

“Stove Boats, Shipwrecks and Cannibalism” was the formal title of an October 20th lecture by Westport Historical Society president Tony Connors on the perils that faced local sailors who shipped out for long, hard voyages on Westport whalers during the 19th century.

 

The catchy title referred to only a few of the many dangers faced by the captains and crews of the whaleships that called Westport Point their home port, and made their hometown known all over the world.

 

Connors started out his talk with a historic overview of the whaling industry, an important part of the local economy between the years 1803 and 1879. Westport Point was ranked eighth among the most successful whaling ports of that era, sending dozens of its ships around the globe in search of whales; nearby New Bedford was the top-grossing home port of the worldwide whaling industry, and quite a few Westport captains skippered those whaleships.

 

Westporters had been involved in small scale whaling close to shore since colonial times, but got seriously involved in the growing whaling industry as the 1800s got underway. “The last (whaling) ship went out of Westport in 1879,” Connors noted.

 More...

 

A glimpse into 20th century rum-running in Westport. Wednesday, May 07, 2014

 

Westport’s Cukie Macomber shares a memory on the town’s rum-running days.

“In October 1919, our federal government passed the Volstead Act that began an era called “Prohibition.” This law, which lasted 14 years, prohibited the manufacture, sale and possession of liquor. It also helped a new Westport business to flourish: rum-running.

Rumrunners included local fishermen, boat owners and other local lawbreakers who transported whiskey and rum from large ships anchored in Rum Row, an area outside territorial waters located 3 miles from shore at first, but then increased to 11 miles. Small powerboats loaded up the cargo and proceeded to rush to shore without meeting up with a Coast Guard ship. Most of the locals’ small boats were faster than the Coast Guard vessels so many, many of the rumrunners avoided arrest.

 

I knew a pair of rumrunners, one of whom became very famous.

 

Charlie Travers was a young, intelligent man who saw rum running as an opportunity to get rich. And he did. Charlie had a boat called “Black Duck” built at Casey Boatyard. It was 50-feet long and powered by two airplane engines.  Aircraft engines were made for high RPMs—perfect for a rum-running vessel.

 

Black Duck was capable of doing 30 knots that was unheard of for a smallish boat.

 

“One night, ‘the Duck’ entered Narragansett Bay when it came upon a Coast Guard cutter moored to a bell buoy. The ship’s searchlight illuminated Travers’ boat and her crew. After some crazy maneuvering by Charlie’s helmsman, the Coast Guard opened fire with a machine gun.”Cukie Macomber

 

The gunner had orders to shoot into the stern of the Duck but instead got carried away and swept the pilothouse killing a trio of crewmembers. When word got out, angry crowds protested outside government buildings all over the United States. Their cry was that the country’s military killed unarmed civilians.

  

Read more of this fascinating article written by Westport historian Cukie Macomber, and other interesting Westport historical tidbits.

  

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