Hello Islanders. Brrr! Time to bust out the long underwear and wool socks! Hope you are staying nice and toasty in this blustery weather. If you or anyone you know is having trouble heating their home, here are some local resources to help: 

State of Maine Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Contact Midcoast Maine Community Action for help applying at (207) 442-7963

Westport Island Helping Hands is offering fuel assistance this winter. Contact Linda Davis at (207) 882-5464 or Michael Cromwell at (207) 380-5885

Westport Island Woodchucks are stockpiling firewood for residents in need. Contact Donna Curry at (207) 350-3355

Electric Sign: By the time you read this, our new electric sign may already be installed! It will be a few days before our electrician gets it up and running, but very soon you will be seeing helpful info and announcements about town happenings. Expect low key colors and strategic dimming to go easy on the eyes.  

Dog Licensing: OK, dog owners, it's crunch time! If you have not yet licensed your dog for 2025, you are technically overdue, but the state gives you until the end of January before the hefty $25 late fee per dog kicks in. You can license online or come on in to the town office. 

Town Meeting Prep: The Town Meeting isn't until June 21, but preparations start now! If you've got any thoughts on our ordinances, ideas for projects, or general input about the direction of the town, let the Selectboard know at selectboard@westportisland.gov or (207) 882-8477, x.4. 

Birthday Party for everyone's favorite Constable, Saturday, Jan. 25, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Town Office, 6 Fowles Point Road: Buddy Greenleaf is turning 92, and his wife Nita is throwing him a surprise (ssshhhh!) birthday party! Anyone who knows and loves Buddy (and to know him is to love him!) is welcome to attend. Nita's fine cooking will be served. 

WCA Community Support Organization Exploratory Committee: The WCA has generously agreed to form an exploratory committee to determine how best to replace the important work of Helping Hands as that organization winds down. This committee will determine the needs of our community and assess what neighboring towns are doing to address their residents' needs. Anyone interested, please contact Meg Skidmore at westportcommunityassociation@gmail.com

WCA Valentine-making Workshop; Friday, Feb. 7, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Town Office, 6 Fowles Point Road: Put your heart into it and make your own Valentine cards! The WCA invites you to a valentine card making workshop with all materials provided. Email Mary Denzer at mdenzer13@gmail.com to reserve your spot! 

Tax Help: Midcoast CA$H, an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, provides free tax preparation by IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers to households earning up to $67,000 annually. Sign up at westportisland.us

Free Technology Classes: The National Digital Equity Center holds in person and zoom classes all over Maine to help us amateurs learn how to properly email, word process, avoid scams, and generally increase our digital skills. Check out their offerings! If you need help obtaining an affordable device and internet access, they can also help with that. 

Alzheimer's Support Group, Friday, Feb. 14, 10a.m. on Zoom: Caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer's are invited to join registered nurse Carol Norris on the second Friday of every month for support and advice. Contact Carol at carolnorris2953@gmail.com or (207) 350-2721 for the Zoom link.   

Grief Support Group, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 10:30 a.m., Town Office: Any community members grieving a loss of any kind are invited to come to the monthly grief support group on the third Wednesday of each month.

Lincoln County Food Pantry Schedule is at westportisland.us, under Help & Support.

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 these emails, feel free to forward this and 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, April Thibodeau, Town Clerk, townclerk@westportisland.gov

Dedee Greenleaf-Hodgdon, Municipal Agent, excise@westportisland.gov

Ashley Murray, Tax Collector/Treasurer,treasurer@westportisland.gov

Selectboard members Donna Curry (Chair), Kim Lynch and Lisa Jonassen, selectboard@westportisland.gov