Westport Island Column: Preparing windows for the offseason

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 8:15am

Darn! Socks go on and wood stoves get fired up. Summer screeches to a halt, along with the Red Sox season (though it was kinda fun the last month or so).

Another sign of the season: our own “Westport window unit building group” is about to begin its fall work in making and repairing window insulating units for town residents.  

Maybe you’ve seen these “units.” They are plastic stretched over lightweight wooden frames. If you’re on a tight budget — who isn’t? — or renting, this is really an easy and inexpensive way to keep those heating bills down, reduce drafts and generally make your home a little more comfy. The insulating inserts help with all types of windows, both new and old. The “Window” volunteers, with the support of the Conservation Commission, charge only for material costs or may be able to donate the entire unit. If you have existing units in need of repair, or wish to have new ones built, please contact Newt Blakesley at 207-882-4753, or Bill Hopkins at 207-882-6047 soon. That way, they’ll be sure to have enough supplies when the work starts up. They use the fire station usually on Saturday mornings, so please stop in to see how the inserts are actually put together. 

Have you attended the Westport Death Café in the last year or so? Heard from Val Lovelace about two upcoming workshops on “Assisted Dying: Understanding the Debate.” The first one will be this Saturday, Oct. 10, at Merrymeeting Adult Ed in Topsham, and the second one will be Oct. 24 at Bath Adult Community Ed. These are comprehensive 8-hour workshops, running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., exploring the many facets of this controversial topic. There’s a registration fee, so for more info on the Merrymeeting workshop, please call 207-729-7323, and at Bath Adult Ed, call 207-443-8255.

You’ve probably noticed the steady work on the exterior of the Baptist Church. Caught up with Church secretary Anne Cole-Fairfield and found out they’ve been planning this for a few years. Long story short: Libby Fairfield, who learned a lot of building skills over the past 3 years while in training with a local contractor, stepped in to get the work done.

Like lots of projects, this is one of those where you never know what you’re facing until you get things opened up. Libby has replaced 19 feet of sill, along with sheathing, wall joists and quite a bit of trim. The damage was the result of 100-plus years of moisture going behind window and door trim. Modern caulking in the seams should prevent that from happening again. The first coat of primer has gone on the front and Libby is now prepping the other three sides for painting.

The church has continued with services as usual, Sunday Worship at 9 a.m. followed by a brief fellowship, then Bible study at 10:20 a.m. The pastor is the Rev. Stephen Wallace, along with Don Folkers. In case you want to sign Libby up for construction, she’s headed off in a different direction, working on her RN degree at SMCC.

This is a big work weekend up at the WW&F Museum in Alna. Always looking to make folks happy with a train ride, the museum will be running diesel trains on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trains will head out on a 5-mile round trip (about 35 minutes) which should be fun and beautiful this time of year. Volunteers come from all over this weekend to tackle interesting projects, possibly track construction, car barn work, or locomotive restoration. Check out their website for more info, or take the short drive north to walk around the grounds, visit the shop and take a ride!

Wincing at all that rain and flooding in South Carolina, sad to see neighborhoods and families in such trouble. On high ground for now at mewbarnes2@yahoo.com.