Maybe you’ve heard this very exciting news: Treats in Wiscasset, run by our neighbor Stacy Linehan, and home to great coffee, amazing baked goods and more, has been nominated for the Martha Stewart American Made Award! Woohoo!

Treats is a special kind of place, supporting many other Maine business by buying locally-made and grown products to sell and to use in the kitchen and making a difference in the community in ordinary and not-so-ordinary ways.

Here, Stacy, Ryan and her crew have helped with fun events, like wine-tastings for the Community Association’s Meet and Greets and contributions to the Island Pantry. Throughout the area, Treats is known for its generous support for many area nonprofits.

Voting for the American Made Audience Choice Award began this past Monday and will run until Oct. 13. Ten winners will be announced Oct. 17 — nine chosen by the judges and one by the public.

Let’s show Ms. Martha and the rest of America what a unique, successful business has grown up here!

Go to www.marthastewart.com, look for American Made, and find Treats. Here’s the full website address. You can vote often — 6 times every 24 hours! Please sign in using Facebook or you can register on the site.

There’s more good news: Gene Fairfield was honored by BIW Friday evening, celebrating his 40 years of work as a materials clerk along with 60 other BIW employees who’ve logged this much service. Gene and Anne and co-workers were treated to a wonderful dinner at Holiday Inn by the Bay. I assumed Gene was a hard worker, and so young!

It’s that time of the month: the Cottage Pantry will be open next Monday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., and Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m.

A new Westport Island Cemetery book is hot off the press. This is the third edition in recent times (all the others were bestsellers!) It’s quite a thorough review and updating, with a first-time alphabetical listing of all people buried in our cemeteries, including veterans. There are maps so you won’t get quite so lost looking for the cemeteries, and a totally new feature — “Find-A-Grave” references where available.

“Find-A-Grave” is a search-able online resource with listings of cemeteries and graves from around the world. Cemetery records may include photos, Google maps, and other info, so it’s another good resource for family genealogists. You can pick up the new Cemetery book at the Town Office for $15.

Are you about to head south or southwest or in another direction for a few weeks or a few months? I bet you’d like to go knowing your home was safe and sound. Paul Bonyun is offering home checks, providing regular security visits to your property while you’re away. Paul brings years of experience with law enforcement and emergency management, so give him a call at 207-882-9032 or email him at westportfire3@gmail.com.

The Westport Community Association hopes there’ll be a great turnout for the Pot Luck Supper and Annual Meeting on Saturday, Sept. 27. Burt Prater from the Island will be there with his little pal from Georgia, "Roadkill." There is some concern because he is a very sassy possum and could misbehave — we’ll just have to wait and see.

I don’t think Wendy Thompson wants us to think winter’s coming soon, but she is about to put on her Santa hat! That’s right, planning has started for our annual Island Christmas program. The program will include old favorites and some fun and beautiful new music. There are openings for instrumental or vocal solos, duos, or trios, and rehearsals will begin in mid-to-late October.

Wendy invites all who are interested to be in touch with her by Oct. 15, either give her a call at 207-882-9932 or email to westporteducationalconsulting@gmail.com. The Christmas program is Sunday, Dec. 7.

Sunday afternoon in Squam Creek, a distinguished great blue joined a few preening cormorants on the oyster floats to enjoy the sun.