Westport Eastbayri.Com THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014 VOL
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ShorelinesShorelinesWestport eastbayri.com THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014 VOL. 20, NO. 30 $.75 Firm to study Westport kicks up its heels handicapped access options at Beach Avenue BY BRUCE BURDETT [email protected] It was talk of providing a more accessible beach for people with disabilities that led to the year- long debate over Beach Avenue and last week the Board of Select- men voted to launch a study of how such a beach might be set up. The board voted to pay CLE Engineering $13,900 to conduct a preliminary feasibility study, assessment and design of a way to help those with handicaps get easily from Beach Avenue across the dunes to the beach. Although no firm plan has been developed, there has been talk at past meetings of building one or more short boardwalks to the beach. Not yet addressed is how such a beach might be staffed. The idea of opening a more accessible beach surfaced came PHOTOS BY RICHARD W. DIONNE JR. in response to concerns that the town's other beaches, including Cherry & Webb, involve a long After the rain, walk on a cross-dunes path from fair fun returns the parking lot that is difficult or impossible for some people, ABOVE: Tara Reed and her husband Mark including senior citizens. rip into a 10-inch timber during the Jack Along Beach Avenue, however, and Jill crosscut saw competition on Satur- the beach is much closer to the day at the Westport Fair held every summer road. at the Pine Hill Road fairgrounds. RIGHT: That discussion led to often Olivia Purdy, 4, of Portsmouth, pets an heated debate over the question award winning heifer. The fair — this was of how to reopen Beach Avenue to the 59th annual —got off to a slow start with rain on the first night but thereafter the public. the weather improved allowing the music, After originally voting to pave rides, animal judging, tractor pulls, chain- Beach Avenue as part of a package sawing, pig races and much more to resume. project with East Beach Road and This year's fair was dedicated to Agnes Pot- erosion-damaged Riverview ter and Victor Fagundes. Avenue, Selectmen voted June 24 Agnes Potter passed away in 2013. She was to use gravel rather than asphalt an active member who helped in many ways, at Beach Avenue. from scheduling to decorating the stage, Narragansett Inprovement Co. judging the quilts, making the potato salad had been hired to pave East and helping with the chicken barbecue. Beach Road and Riverview Gram Potter will be remembered for collect- ing Lees receipts for the fair’s participation Avenue, work that will be done in the Lees Community Partnership which over the next few weeks, weather helps fund the fair’s scholarship fund. See permitting. The company will more photos on page 3. also do preparation work for the Beach Avenue gravel job. Page 2 Westport Shorelines July 24, 2014 The new Fisher Road Solar is the state's second largest solar project. Dartmouth leads the way in Massachu- setts solar energy production. Dartmouth, state's solar leader, opens new solar farm Already the state leader in solar During the first year of opera- involvement makes good eco- electric power generation, Dart- tion, the facility is expected to nomic and environmental sense mouth has added another large generate enough energy to offset for our communities,” said John solar farm to its inventory. the annual electricity require- Tuffy, Superintendent of Silver Syncarpha Capital and Pacolet ments of 820 typical U.S. resi- Lake Regional School District. Milliken announced last week the dences. The Town of Carver and “Equally as exciting is the fact that completion of Fisher Road Solar, a Silver Lake School District will our students are able to view first- jointly-owned six-megawatt purchase the energy over the next hand this use of new technology (MW) solar project. The facility is 20 years. as a part of the new economy.” the second largest solar project in It's an arrangement similar to Even before this latest solar Massachusetts. one approved by Westport voters farm was completed, Dartmouth Fisher Road Solar has approxi- at Town Meeting in May. Voters led the state in solar energy pro- mately 20,000 solar panels and is then authorized selectmen to duction with its wide array of solar located on a parcel that also con- enter into a long-term agreement panel farms and individual home tains cranberry bogs and a com- for the purchase of solar energy systems. posting center. Ameresco Inc., a produced in Dartmouth by Bor- Town leaders made a deliberate renewable energy and energy effi- rego Solar Systems. Tony Connors decision to welcome solar some ciency company with headquar- of the town's Energy Committee yard ago, concluding that solar ters in Framingham, constructed said that the town last year paid farms would be less intrusive than the facility in less than six months $411,000 for electricity for its wind turbines and would benefit and will oversee its operations. buildings. The deal with Borrego the town's finances. “Our mission is to own and will save the town $110,000 next "We just got out in front, I think, operate high-quality solar pro- year and over $2.5 million over 20 of a lot of communities and made jects that produce clean and years, he said. a push in that direction," Town affordable energy for Massachu- “We at Silver Lake School Dis- Administrator David G. Cressman setts residents over the long-term trict, and the towns of Halifax, told the Boston Globe last year. for a sustainable future,” said Cliff Kingston and Plympton that we One solar farm at Dartmouth's Chapman, managing partner of serve, are excited to be a part of town landfill powers the town's Syncarpha Capital. this project and happy that our municipal buildings. Get Any Rug Cleaned, Get a Second Rug CLEANED FREE! Some restrictions may apply. Expires 7/31/14 Brantal’s Restaurant, Pub, Function Rooms 91 Crandall Rd, Tiverton • 401-624-1990 • www.brantal.com Fish Tacos $7.50 • Portuguese Chicken Casserole $9.99 Fish & Chips $9.99 • Dinner for Two $19.99 IN THE DINING ROOM: Sat., July 19 - Karaoke with Steve C Fight Night August 16th Kick Boxing, Muay Thai & Boxing Call for tickets Restaurant opens at 4:00 Fight Doors open at 5:00 Fights at 6:00 Dining Room Open Wednesday - Saturday at 4:30pm Catering & Functions 7 Days a Week Westport Shorelines July 24, 2014 Page 3 Old-time summer fun at the Westport Fair ABOVE: Cathy Nunes and her daughter, Evanae Grace, 4, pet an award winning cow on Saturday at the Westport Fair. RIGHT: Ian Nussman is thrown during a ride on the mechanical bull. PHOTOS BY RICHARD W. DIONNE JR. LEFT: Ron Laprise sprays the grilled chicken with the special barbecue sauce. ABOVE: Kyle Desrosiers, 9, of Westport rides the competition tractor back to the truck with Bruce Mello of Westport after the after- noon tractor pull. How to reach us Index WESTPORT SHORELINES For news contact: For advertising information contact: Marsha J. LaPointe, Around Town . .9 (USPS #021-729) Advertising Representative Bruce Burdett, Editor 401-424-9119 At the Library . .10 1 Bradford St, Bristol 401-424-9120 [email protected] Obituaries . .12 253-6000 • 253-6055 (fax) [email protected] For subscription or newsstand information contact Opinion . .6 Mailing address: P.O. Box 90, Bristol, RI 02809 Circulation Department Published continuously since 1995. 1-800-382-8477 A weekly publication of East Bay Newspapers, [email protected] 1 Bradford St., Bristol, R.I. 02809 POSTMASTER send address changes to: Matthew Hayes, Publisher Westport Shorlines, 1 Bradford St., Bristol, R.I. 02809 401-424-9140 News deadline ..... 5 pm Monday [email protected] Advertising deadline ..... 5 pm Monday Page 4 Westport Shorelines July 24, 2014 Sale on Perennials Buy 3 or more-get 30% off RESTRICTIONS APPLY Save on decorative containers, herbs and select annuals! PECKHAM’S PROVIDES: Seeds • Veggies Herbs • Annuals Perennials • Shrubs Fertilizers • Tools Decorative Containers inspiration... Corner of Peckham Road & Rt. 77 Little Compton, RI Open Tue-Sun 9-5, closed Mondays Jack Cordeiro, in red button-up shirt second from the right, and WLCT Stewardship Manager Jesse Ferreira 401-635-4775 (left) stand with fellow Scout helpers by the new kiosk. peckhamsgreenhouse.com Eagle Scout tackles Dunham's Brook projects A boardwalk now spans some crew. wet places, a trail has been "The job grew to involve a lot moved and a kiosk tells visitors more than clearing trails," Mr. what they'll see along the way, Cordeiro said. thanks in part to a Westport There would be a boardwalk Caretakers Wanted Eagle Scout and friends. across 150 feet of sensitive wet Year-round Little The couple will be: Eagle Scout Jack Cordeiro led terrain on the main trail (WLCT Compton, RI family • Maintaining family the recent effort to build a new Stewardship Manager Jesse Fer- properties kiosk at Dunham's Brook Con- reira led that project), a kiosk, a Interviewing caretaking • Sharing a 40 hour average couples to manage demands work week servation Area. set of stairs (Steve McGuiness of personal schedules & day- • Work closely with family He enjoys the outdoors and and Taylor Arsenault), stone to-day responsibility of their members to manage guest trail work, Mr. Cordeiro said, so wall repairs and more. oceanfront farm estate. stays & occasional large when the time came for an Eagle The Scouts took the lead with events. • Experienced in Scout project, he contacted the the kiosk.