October 2024 Newsletter
Moonrise over the Fairgrounds, by Catherine Seidenberg
Welcome to chilly October! Hold onto your wool hats, because there’s so much happening in Westport this month that you will have a hard time choosing which activity to attend! We have new businesses starting up, several that are remaining open all winter, and a huge array of educational, social and fun events on the docket. Halloween is rushing upon us, and our Holiday Festival is in the works for December 7th! And another reminder: don’t forget to VOTE on November 5th. To learn how, where and when to vote, go HERE. Read on and stay tuned.
Community Events Quick List
WESTPORT LIBRARY
Library Crawl: during the whole month of October. Visit one of 45 participating Libraries in Northern New York and VT and ask the librarian to stamp your passport.
THURS OCT 3: First Writer’s Group Meeting, 4-6pm (every other Thursday)
TUES OCT 15: Lecture at the Library, Connor Williams ‘The Crisis of the Union, Then and Now’, 6pm.
WESTPORT FEDERATED CHURCH
THURS OCT 17: Dinner: Ham and Scalloped Potatoes, 4:30 pm. Eat in or Take out. Credit Cards Accepted. More information HERE.
Saturdays, 7pm: Contemporary Church Service
Sundays, 10am: Traditional Church Service
FLOWERS PLUS!
SAT OCT 26: Volunteer garden clean-up day, 10am, Traffic Triangle. Contact flowerpluswestportny@gmail.com
HALLOWEEN!
THURS OCT 31: Trick-or-treating in Westport, 4-7pm! Take a pit stop at the Heritage House for treats, games and restrooms. The Library will also be giving out treats until 6pm. CATS will be leading a Halloween hike on the Lee Park trail, details to be announced.
WESTPORT HERITAGE HOUSE
SAT OCT 19: Make Your Own Greeting Cards! 10am-12pm. Use collage, embossing, and watercolors to design beautiful greeting cards, with the guidance of Michelle McGuire. $5. All materials supplied. Call Lora Langston at 518-962-8227 by Oct 16 to register.
THURS Oct 31: HALLOWEEN, treats, games and available restrooms for trick-or-treaters 4pm-7pm
TOWN MEETINGS
TUES OCT 8: Town Board Meeting, 7pm
TUES OCT 22: Town Board Meeting, 3pm
WEDS OCT 23: Town Planning Board Meeting, 7pm.
Warm up all of your October evenings with movies, music and lectures at our other local venues: the Mill (free movies and popcorn every Saturday in October! concerts, open galleries, cocktails and general awesomeness), the Whallonsburg Grange (Lyceum every Tuesday in October, Concerts and Movies), Fine art exhibits, music jams and more at Whitcomb’s Arts, enjoy the best pizza on the planet with all of your friends every Friday at Dogwood Bakery, or attend a Piano by Nature Concert!
Want more information about activities here and in the surrounding areas? Check out these excellent sources: Westport Town Calendar, Elizabethtown Social Center: Free photography class! Senior Circle! Morning Movement Class! And more. Also: Jay Community News, Adirondack Almanack, Adirondack Arts & Entertainment.
Ben Cosgrove Returns to the Essex Quarry for Piano by Nature Saturday October 19, 2pm!
On Saturday, October 19th at 2PM you can hear pianist Ben Cosgrove’s compelling compositions beautifully intertwine with the gorgeous natural Fall surroundings of the CATS Essex Quarry Nature Preserve. Ben will take us on his special one-of-a-kind musical journey, completely unique to this location and spectacular Fall season, and explore more ways in which music can help to create a sense of belonging by and in nature. In order for this very special piano concert to happen, we have joined forces with area superstars Chris Maron of Champlain Area Trails and Chris Rawson of Rawson Family Pianos in Plattsburgh. CATS has generously given us the green light to present pianist Ben Cosgrove at the Essex Quarry Nature Preserve, once again performing on a grand piano supplied by Chris Rawson of Rawson Family Pianos in Plattsburgh. ~ Rose Chancler, Artistic Director, Piano by Nature
Don’t Miss Cynthia Schira’s Weaving Exhibit at Whitcomb’s!
Photo and text courtesy of Whitcomb’s Arts
Cynthia Schira is a textile artist living and working in Westport. Cynthia has been exhibiting her work internationally for over 50 years. Her work is in the collections of major museums, including the Renwick of the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan and the Textile Museum. For over twenty years, she was a Professor of Design at the University of Kansas. Additionally, she is a life trustee at the Haystack School of Crafts. Over the years she has received three NEA grants, a Tiffany Grant, a Gold Medal from the ACC College of Fellows and an Honorary Doctorate from RISD. Skip the plane ticket or the drive to a major museum and drop in at Whitcomb’s Arts in Whallonsburg for an intimate viewing of ‘Weavings from Cynthia’s Studio’! Gallery hours are Tues, Thurs, Fri 10-3, and Saturday 12-3.
Snowfort Books is Busy and Growing!
Children painting at Snowfort, photo courtesy of Snowfort
The summer at Snowfort saw a number of key renovation projects, including a new roof from Stockwell Contracting and a new deck and balconies from Sawteeth Carpentry. In September, we opened our doors to a group of co-learning first-graders, who enjoy the deck every chance they get for yoga and painting. We will host a one-day camp for Indigenous People’s Day (more info and registration here), the first in a series of "Champ Camps" to provide fun and enriching experiences for kids during school holidays when parents might need time to work. On the bookstore front, we are getting ready to stock the shelves with fantastic new and used books, and we plan to host holiday pop-up shopping events on weekends in December and have our grand opening in time for summer 2025! ~ Amy Robinson
K&D Deli Opening Soon!
Exciting times are happening at K&D Deli and Grocery! Construction has rounded the corner and we are seeing the beginning of the home stretch. After months of replacing what seems like every board and bolt in the building, a deli is emerging. The walls are close to being finished. Plumbing is going in. Flooring is scheduled. The sign is in its final stages of manufacturing. Each week, more equipment is arriving. Keep your fingers crossed for a November opening!
Expanding food and refreshment choices in Westport, we have added K&D's Snack Shack on our deck next to Bessboro Gift Shop. Final construction will be ongoing to mirror the Deli's facade. Our goal is to provide a location in Town Square to sell sandwiches, soups, hot cocoa, etc. during holiday events. ~Keith Hoffnagle
Depot Theatre’s 46th Season Was a Big Hit!
Photo courtesy of the Depot Theatre
On behalf of our staff and board of trustees, I want to thank the community for your support of the Depot Theatre’s successful 46th main stage season!
The Depot is proud of its positive cultural and economic impact on the community. In fact, among the results of the audience survey we distributed at the end of the season, more than 50 percent of respondents indicated that they had a meal at a local restaurant, and more than 20 percent visited retail or other businesses in Westport before or after the performance!
Although we don’t produce theatre in the freight room at the Depot off-season, we will soon be announcing news as we’ll be presenting staged readings this fall, holiday events, and Academy educational workshops this winter.
You’re invited to join our email list to be the first to know! LINK https://oi.vresp.com/?fid=f9f8bb1fb6
You’re ALSO invited to join our team of ambassadors...
DID YOU KNOW?
The Depot Theatre is not just the only professional Equity theatre in the Adirondacks. It is also the official Westport station caretaker for Amtrak via a unique collaboration.
Per an agreement with Amtrak, the Depot theatre is responsible for providing passenger access to the station building during train arrival hours, and providing relevant Amtrak information for passengers. But it is ALSO responsible for actively promoting attractions and areas of interest in the community of Westport and the Adirondacks, including maintaining approved printed tourism promotional collateral and maps.
This collaboration provides the theatre with a valuable source of income that supports the many expenses associated with maintaining the circa 1876 building in which it resides. It also provides us with an opportunity to positively influence the passenger experience in Westport - perhaps encouraging them to plan a return visit, and explore ways to invest in our wonderful community.
The train arrives every day, 365 days a year, between the hours of 1:30-4pm (unless it’s late!). The Depot’s year-round staff serve as Amtrak ambassadors many days of the week, and a growing list of volunteers are scheduled. However, 365 days a year is a lot, so we can still use some help!
As such, the Depot is enlisting volunteers to join our team. You’ll be supporting the theatre and the historic Depot building, while also serving as a representative of the community!
Interested folks should contact House Manager Susan Granfors at hm@depottheatre.org.
Thank you again for your support of live professional theatre!
~Kim Rielly, Executive Director
ADK Harvest Festival Was a Joy, Again!
Photo by Katie Kearney
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who made our 2024 Adirondack Harvest Festival a success! This event would not have been possible without the hard work of over 81 businesses and organizations, 42 volunteers, and 21 staff members.
It is our honor to facilitate this event, but the magic really comes from all of the amazing and talented people that have a commitment to the land they steward, their community, and the quality of the products the grow and make. We simply bring together and support the creative and passionate people who care about our local farms and their community.
Some comments from participants: “Best event all summer!“, “What a welcoming, clean, and upbeat atmosphere”, “Affordable, accessible and approachable”, “So much to do, see, eat, and learn!”. “I learned about so many farms I didn’t know about before”, “We will be back in 2025 with all of our friends!”.
We want to recognize Laurie Davis and Mary Godnick – the Adirondack Harvest program team who planned and coordinated the 2024 event! Also, a big thank you to the rest of the CCE Essex Team for their many days of hard work and support.
Much appreciation to Essex County DPW, Buildings & Grounds and especially fairgrounds manager Glenn Williams for his excellent troubleshooting capabilities. See you next year! ~the CCE Team
Heritage House: Thanks for a Great Summer Season!
Artwork: Amy Gugliemo. Photo: Catherine Seidenberg
The Westport Heritage House welcomed over 500 residents and guests this year AND the Spirit of Place Art Exhibit generated over $11,000 in sales! Our volunteer ambassadors were the key to success, as they greeted all the visitors and supported the art show throughout the summer. We can't thank you enough for your dedication; you're the best! ~ Lora Langston
Westport Holiday Festival Planned for December 7th!
The Westport Holiday Festival is in the planning stages, and we need your input! If you have new and fun ideas for activities (wagon rides?) please contact Medara at Medara.sherman@yahoo.com. The Heritage House will also be hosting a craft vendor fair: if you would like to participate, fill out the application HERE. Spaces are first come-first served upon payment.
Meadowmount Awards 3d Annual Gurrena Fellowship to Violinist Kento Hong
Photo and text courtesy of Meadowmount School of Music
- Meadowmount School of Music, an internationally recognized and beloved summer destination for young string players, has awarded the third annual Gurrena Fellowship, worth $50,000, to Japanese-Taiwanese American violinist Kento Hong. “We are thrilled to award the 2024 Gurrena Fellowship to violinist Kento Hong,” said Artistic Director Janet Sung. “Kento is a highly engaging and impressive performer whose prodigious talent shows that the future of music is very bright. We look forward to supporting Kento as he embarks on this next phase of his musical career.” Read more about this accomplished performer HERE.
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