Elections, Town Meeting, Committee appointments ... June is a busy month in municipal government! Hope you all are seeing more of your gardens than I am! Read on for some ways to help you put off the weeding.

June 11, 2024 State Primary, RSU 12 Budget Referendum, and Municipal Election Results: Kim Lynch won the Select Board race with 175 votes to 22 blanks and 14 write-ins. Barbara Cray won the race for Representative to the RSU #12 Board of Directors with 49 write-in votes to 150 blanks and 12 other write-in votes. The RSU #12 Budget received 169 yes votes, 39 no votes, and 3 blanks. The full results, including State Primary results, can be viewed here.  A big thank you to our election workers, candidates, and all residents who came out to vote! 

Town Meeting Sat., June 22 at 10 a.m. at Old Town Hall, 1217 Main Road: There will be lots on the warrantthis year, including several new proposed ordinances and ordinance amendments. All Westport Island voters may participate, and the registrar will be available to register new voters. Note the new time of 10 a.m. 

Town Committee Vacancies: Looking for a way to get more involved and serve your community? There are several town committee vacancies, and committees with open membership. See the list below, and submit an application if you are interested! Board of Appeals: Alternate #2; Harbor Committee: Alternate #1 and Alternate #2; Planning Board: Alternate #1 and Alternate #2; Road Committee: Member; Plus many more with unlimited membership! Check out our website committees page for more information. 

Shellfish harvesting licenses go on sale July 1: Nothing like dinner straight from the ocean! This year we have new three-day licenses for those who just want to do a little harvesting or are visiting, and under 12 and over 65 recreational licenses are free! Licenses are issued on a first come, first served basis at the Town Office and require a picture ID. Here's what we've got: 2 Commercial Resident $150; 2 Commercial Non-Resident $300; 31 Recreational Resident $15; Recreational Nonresident $30( 8 Recreational 3-Day Resident $10; 8 Recreational 3-Day Non-Resident $20.

Dee Dow Celebration of Life, Sunday, June 23 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Old Town Hall. 1217 Main Road. The family of Dee Dow invites the community to join them in celebrating the life of this remarkable person who touched so many with her beautiful photography of our beloved island. Guests are encouraged to wear bright colors to honor her creativity.  

WCA Meet & Greet, Saturday, June 29, 4 to 6 p.m., Squire Tarbox Barn, 1181 Main Road: Come on down to the barn to see old friends and make some new ones! There will be a silent auction and raffle with the timely theme of "garden gift items." New residents, summer folks, year-rounders – snacks are on the house for all!

WVFD & WCA Community Fair, Saturday, July 20, from 2 to 7 p.m. Old Town Hall, 1217 Main Road. Come meet your neighbors, enjoy some grilled food and refreshments, and see the creative talent of Westport Island craftspeople and artists on display! If you are a craftsperson or artist, please reach out to westportcommunityassociation@gmail.com to secure your spot.

Alzheimer's Support Group: Caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer's are invited to join registered nurse Carol Norris on the second Friday of every month from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom for support and advice. Email Carol at norisca@myfairpoint.net, or call at 207-350-2721 for the Zoom link. 

Share the road! As summer heats up let's all slow down a little and keep an eye out for walkers and bikers, especially on Main Road.

Bridge work this summer/fall: MaineDOT will be re-paving the Westport bridge over the summer and fall. Once again, our patience and neighborliness will be tested as we wait for the light to turn green (even if no one is coming the other way :) 

CMP tree work: CMP would like you to know that they will be conducting tree trimming and removal if necessary along their lines this summer. They may or may not be able to notify property owners ahead of time. If you have a tree near the lines that you are fond of, you may want to give CMP a call!   

Please see the Town of Westport Island webpage for more information and follow us on Facebook. If you know any Westport Islanders who are not receiving the updates via email, feel free to let them know they can be added to the list by emailing townclerk@westportisland.gov

You can find us at the Town Office at 6 Fowles Point Road during our office hours of Tuesdays 10-6, Wednesdays 10-2,  and Thursdays 10-2. Call us at 882-8477 or email us anytime!

All the best, from April Thibodeau, Town Clerk, townclerk@westportisland.gov, Dedee Greenleaf-Hodgdon, Municipal Agent, excise@westportisland.gov, Ashley Murray, Tax Collector/Treasurer, treasurer@westportisland.gov and Selectboard members Donna Curry (chair), Jeff Tarbox and Lisa Jonassen, selectboard@westportisland.gov