Westport Column

Mon, 05/29/2017 - 7:00am

Hello friends and neighbors!

June 3 is National Trails Day. The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) invites trails enthusiasts of all ages to help beautify the new Carl and Barbara Segerstrom Preserve at Squam Creek starting at 10 a.m. next Saturday. Please sign up to join a trail crew by contacting Becky Kolack at 442-8400 or email bkolak@kennebecestuary.org. Bring work gloves and wear closed toed shoes and clothing that can get muddy in the event of light rain. From Upper West Shore Road, drive about .5 mile across the causeway to the gated entrance on the left. Please join the crew if you can!

June is a busy month for Westport Island voters. June 13 is voting day for the positions of third selectman and two school board members. There is also the opportunity to validate the RSU 12 school budget and vote on a statewide general fund bond to “Stimulate Investment in Innovation by Maine Businesses to Produce Competitive Products and Services.” Absentee voting is taking place now through June 8 with the town clerk during office hours. You can take the ballot home with you or for any registered voter by filling out an application or call Gaye at 882-8477 x3 to have one sent to you. All ballots must be in by June 13 at 8 p.m. Also, the annual town meeting will be held at the Old Town Hall on Saturday, June 24, beginning at 9 a.m. The warrant articles, annual report and town’s website are currently being reviewed and written.

Fortunately, Westport’s meetings are not all about business. The Westport Community Association (WCA) will hold its Annual Meet-n-Greet Wine (and Beer!) Tasting on Saturday, June 17, from 3-5 p.m. at the Old Town Hall. The traditional mixer will feature an assortment of cheeses, fruit and sweets to accompany the wine tasting. For the first time, beer will be added to the offerings by Sasanoa Brewing Company, a new local brewery of Belgian organic farmhouse beer being produced by Westport’s own Kyle DePietro at Tarbox Farm. Non-perishable food items for the Helping Hands Food Pantry are always welcome at WCA events. There will be a very brief WCA annual meeting to vote in new officers and board members. Please consider joining this fun social island group! Put June 17 on your calendars now!

Recently I had the opportunity to see my 12-year-old neighbor Mara Abbott enthusiastically demonstrate what she had learned about ballet, jazz, and hip hop at the Dancemaineia Recital held in Bath’s Chocolate Church May 20-21. The beautifully costumed dancers told incredible stories through choreography set to music. Nearly a hundred dancers from preschool to adult were able to strut their stuff in front of a packed house. It was sheer delight for everyone both on and off stage.

Melanie Pagurko, Dancemaineia’s founder, has been teaching dance in Midcoast Maine for thirty years. She and her talented daughters Anna, Calista and Shae-Lynn teach in a studio located above Medomak Veterinary Services in Waldoboro or at Spectrum Generations in Damariscotta. . For more information, visit www.dancemaineia.com

Your newshound pat-dick@midcoast.com will be on hiatus for several weeks. Take advantage of the good weather and island activities while you can!