Westport In_Brief Sunday February 13, 2016

Westport in Brief! EverythingWestport.com Friday, March 11, 2016 photos/EverythingWestport.com except as noted

Environment Committee spearheads comprehensive Agricultural Bill. Westport Fire Department CARES Outreach Program for seniors and at risk residents. Forever Paws Animal Shelter announces their annual Spring Fling. Habitat for Cats offers bowling and board games fundraiser that will benefit homeless cats. Westport candidate for Board of Selectmen wants to bring change, give back to the community. Environment Committee spearheads comprehensive Agricultural Bill. EverythingWestport.com Friday, March 11, 2016

State Representative Paul A. Schmid (D-Westport) and State Senator Anne M. Gobi (D-Spencer), Co- Chairs of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture filed a comprehensive, omnibus agricultural package today. The measure aims to provide opportunities and protections to current and prospective farmers throughout Massachusetts, increase access and availability of locally grown food products, and invest in educational and agricultural programs to further grow the industry. “Westport is a leading agricultural community in the region,” said Schmid. “This bill will provide valuable benefits to farmers to continue the economic development and growth that the agriculture and farming industry has had here and all over the Commonwealth, and also incentivize consumers to participate in the process.”

“Maintaining a robust agricultural economy is the right thing to do, for our farmers, communities and the Commonwealth,” said Gobi. “We are fortunate to have so many people willing to spend their time and finances to make sure the rest of us enjoy a wide array of agricultural products. This bill is a step in recognizing their efforts and to support them moving forward.”

The legislation, An Act to promote agriculture in the Commonwealth, reflects recommendations from the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan, finalized in December 2015, including the option to create agricultural commissions in municipalities and utilizing state-owned land for non-commercial community gardens and farmers markets. To incentivize farmers and drive local food production, the bill aims to ease regulatory restrictions that may currently inhibit agricultural modernization. The bill includes several reforms to licensing for foresting and timber harvesting, Uniform State Plumbing Code and State Building Code updates, and allowable actions under the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program.

An aspect that particularly resonates to Schmid is the included incentives to encourage veterans to get involved in agriculture. The bill creates a separate fund and program through the Department of Agricultural Resources to integrate veterans into the field of agriculture and support veterans currently working in agriculture.

“Men and women who have served in the military are self-starters and often enjoy being outside,” commented Schmid. “Agriculture may be a perfect fit for veterans to utilize their various skills, expertise, and talents.”

New initiatives suggested under the pending legislation seek to craft programs and industries not yet regulated by state government, including the allowance of off-premise raw milk distribution and contractual shared animal ownership agreements that will work to spur dairy business in the Commonwealth. Additionally, a retained revenue account for the Department of Agricultural Resources, in conjunction with the Agricultural Resolve and Security Fund, will contribute to the funding of various educational and innovative initiatives to promote food growth and security.

The bill cleared the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and will now move to the Senate for consideration. If passed, this legislation will benefit current and future populations of the Commonwealth by stimulating economic growth through agriculture and providing added local, sustainable food selections to consumers.

Westport Fire Department CARES Outreach Program. EverythingWestport.com Saturday, March 12, 2016

The Westport Fire Department announces its Community Outreach program designed to assist the at risk population in the community.

The Westport CARES program offers services to the elderly and at risk members of the community by working in collaboration with the Westport Council on Aging and providing access to a variety of services the Council on Aging has to offer.

The program provides an opportunity for a friendly well-being check with its focus on a needs assessment, medication identification, education on fall prevention, fire prevention, cooking safety and installation of Smoke and CO detectors.

For more information on their program or to schedule an in-home assessment, please contact Deputy Manley or Ann Marie Peckham of the Westport Fire Department at 508.636.1110 or email [email protected]. Forever Paws Animal Shelter announces their annual Spring Fling. EverythingWestport.com Saturday, March 12, 2016

Forever Paws Animal Shelter, Fall River announces their annual Spring Fling on Sunday, April 3, 2016, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., at the Fall River Country Club, 4232 N. Main Street, Fall River.

The event will feature Card Readings (Angel and Tarot), Reflexology, Chair Massage, Astrology, Reiki and much more. Vendors featured at the event will include Red Velvet Florist, KG Krafts, Jorge's.

Jewelry and Aura Photography. There will be games and a Bake Sale. Free refreshments of coffee, tea etc. will be available. General Admission is $2.00. For further information please call 508.678.0804.

All proceeds will benefit the shelter animals at Forever Paws. Visit their website.

Habitat for Cats offers bowling and board games fundraiser that will benefit homeless cats. EverythingWestport.com Saturday, March 12, 2016

Join Habitat for Cats for a fun-filled, family afternoon of bowling and board games.

The event is set for Sunday, March 20th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., at Holiday Lanes, 236 State Road, Westport. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children younger than 10.

Bowl a few games while your children play Jenga, Bop It, Clue, Sorry!, Trouble and other family-friendly games, including Pie Face, which was a popular seller over the holidays. The event also will feature a raffle and refreshments.

All proceeds benefit homeless cats in the community. Habitat for Cats, based in New Bedford, is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to preventing the overpopulation of cats in southeastern Massachusetts. To adopt, donate, or volunteer, visit habitatforcats.org.

More information is available by calling 508.636.3294.

Tickets are still available by clicking here.

To adopt, donate or volunteer please visit www.habitatforcats.org.

Westport candidate for Board of Selectmen wants to bring change, give back to the community. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, March 13, 2016

Westport - When Shana Shufelt announced her candidacy for Selectman two months ago, she thought that Westport was home to some of the best people around, and now that “I have met so many more of you I am certain of it. I want to be sure you know who I am so you can make an informed decision with your vote on April 12th.”

“My husband Gary and I found Westport when we were looking for a place to raise our family. Our childhoods involved a lot of moving around so it was important for us to give our children a hometown. Those kids are teenagers now and I want to give back to the community that has been so important to our family.

I have been a member of the Finance Committee for five years. I have a detailed understanding of the budget and the overall financial health of the Town. Every department comes to us and talks about the work they do so I have seen how many people - employees, elected officials, volunteers on town committees and other groups – make this community work. I want to be your next Selectman to bring these people together to focus on a common goal, making Westport an even better place to live.

Professionally, I work in software development as a systems analyst and project manager. I want to bring the processes and methodologies I use at work to our Town government. Process-based decision- making brings the right people together to understand a problem, set clear objectives and evaluate a range of possible solutions. Businesses use this process to achieve results; our Select Board should too.

I want to change the way our Selectmen work with each other. I work in project teams and highly performing teams figure out how to work together in a way that creates energy and enthusiasm. They get a lot done, and others want to be a part of it. Our Board of Selectmen can work like that; I want to get us there.

I want our Selectmen to lead through communication. Voters must have access to easy to understand, unbiased information about an issue long before they are asked to make a decision at Town Meeting. I want to make sure you get that information in a timely manner.

I want to be your next Selectman because Westport is an amazing place to live and I hope to work with you to make it even better. Every vote will count on April 12, please Vote Shana.

Shana M. Shufelt