March Newsletter
Westport Chamber of Commerce March Newsletter
Hi !
How are you doing after all that snow we received? Hopefully, you and your family stayed nice and warm and toasty. You might have even made a snowman or two.
Well, thankfully, it's already March. Therefore, spring is right around the corner in the Adirondacks.
So, shake off those winter blues and check out some of the amazing activities that are coming to the region this month.
However, you might be unsure of what is going on during this incredible time of year.
Well, if this is the case then give this newsletter a read.
Also, be sure to visit our community calendar 📅 and access our general website for the most up-to-date news possible.
It's the best place to get detailed information on:
What's happening in the greater Westport area
Event dates
Event times
Event locations
Event fees
And more!
Plus, if you want to submit an event to our community calendar, 📅email us at gowestportny@gmail.com and we will add it for you as soon as possible.
You can also join our incredible What's Happening in Westport NY Facebook group to connect with other residents and get updates about the region's best events.
Share these resources with everyone in your life so that you can spread your love 💖 for Westport.
Join the Westport Library for a Reading of the Play Radiant Vermin (PG-13)
Stop by the Westport Library (at 6 Harris Lane) on March 4th at 2:30 pm for a reading of Radiant Vermin.
This action-packed, black comedy is rated PG-13 and is about a young couple who is offered an amazing house by a mysterious stranger.
It asks us to question how far every one of us would go to get our dream home and is a brilliant satire of the housing market.
This event is also free and open to the public, with light refreshments being provided.
Join the Westport Library for a Showing of the Documentary Film "Summoned: Francis Perkins and the General Welfare
On Sunday, March 5th at 2:00 pm, the Westport Library will be showing the documentary film, "Summoned: Francis Perkins and the General Welfare".
This incredible, hour-long historical documentary includes narration with dignitaries, historians, and journalists who knew Frances Perkins best.
Additionally, Tomlin Perkins Coggeshall, Christopher Rice, and other Westport residents will present a brief introduction to the film
with historical information about the life of the first woman appointed to a presidential cabinet including her relevance to New York and personal recollections of a grandmother.
The staff and trustees of the Westport Library Association are honored to host a six-panel exhibit on the life and legacy of Frances Perkins in recognition of Women’s History.
Special thank you to the Frances Perkins Center for the educational exhibit which will be on display for the month of March 2023. We encourage everyone to visit and learn more about the New Deal and this remarkable woman whose important legacy of social justice and economic security continues to benefit us today.
And while the event is free of charge, a suggested donation of $20.00 is recommended since all proceeds go towards the benefit of the Westport Library Association.
Attend Casino Night: A Fireworks Fundraiser
Join the Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance (formerly the Chamber of Commerce) for a fun night of casino games as we raise money for the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration. Play to win prizes donated by local businesses, show off your moves on the dance floor, or simply say hi to friends. It's going to be a great night!
Casino games include: Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, and Texas Hold 'Em. Tables will be open from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Games provided by Alpine Entertainment. (Please note, you will not be playing for money, but will have the opportunity to exchange your chips for the chance to win fun prizes.)
Ticket Includes: hors d'oeuvres, one drink ticket, and $150 worth of game chips.
Ages 18 and up. ID Required
Cocktail attire encouraged.
Cash bar and purchase of extra game chips available.
DJ Jim from Overtime Events will be providing music.
Attend a Handmade Greeting Card Workshop
Join Curdie Gardiner, owner of a micro-farm in Keeseville, on Sunday, March 12th at 1:00 pm.
He will be at the Babbie Museum hosting an incredible Handmade Greeting Card workshop.
For this class, Curdie will be providing vintage and newer seed catalogs for students to use to create their own original, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind greeting cards.
The cost is $15 for 3 greeting cards per student, which includes card stock, envelopes, cut-outs, and glue. Snacks will also be provided during this 2-hour workshop.
To register, email leeledesma@babbiemuseum.org or call 518.643.8052.
Teens Can Go Rock Climbing at The Crux
On March 10th, the Elizabethtown Social Center be bringing a crew of our Teen Rec Members to do some indoor rock climbing at The Crux, located in nearby Willsboro!
Any teen interested in joining should bring a signed permission slip and $5 to us by March 7th.
Spots are limited, so don't wait! And if you need a permission slip, please send us a direct message and we'll email you a copy.
The Social Center will also be open for Teen Rec hours from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm and will be hosting our Pool Tournament of Champions later that night!
Ribbon Cutting Services for New Businesses Will Now Be Offered
The Economic Development Committee will now offer ribbon-cutting ceremony services for new businesses opening in Westport.
We ask that they let us know at least 2 weeks in advance to give us time to arrange for press coverage.
Just email gowestportny@gmail.com with the date you'll be opening the business, provide contact info, and submit a small blurb about your business.
The Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance (aka Westport Chamber of Commerce) is Hiring a Media Marketing Specialist
The WWCA/Westport CoC is hiring a Media Marketing Specialist to serve as the primary content creator and administrator of the digital media activities of the villages of Westport and Wadhams, New York.
This is a part-time position, to work as an independent contractor, at an hourly rate of $30.
In the past two years, this position has required 20-30 hours per month.
Experience and residence in the Adirondacks, preferably in or near Westport, is highly desirable.
The candidate would need to spend at least two days a month in Westport, meeting in person with businesses and attending meetings. Otherwise, remote work is acceptable.
This position is open immediately and anyone interested in applying should send a letter of interest and résumé to:
Elizabeth Maffey
Secretary
Westport Chamber of Commerce PO Box 394
Westport, NY 12993
You can also email your letter of interest and resume to chamber@westportny.com.
Attend Games and Puzzles Winter Wednesdays at Heritage House
Get to know the members of your community by enjoying a game and puzzles event at Heritage House.
Starting on January 18th and ending on March 29th, an assortment of games and puzzles will be made available to residents and visitors every Wednesday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Check Out All the Exciting Events Happening This March at the Whallonsburg Grange
This March the Whallonsburg Grange is hosting a wealth of exciting events that include:
The Winter Play Gym - The winter Play Gym returns for six weeks, starting January 28! The program is for kids from newborn to age 6 and is from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm.
See the Film The Fablemans - On Saturday, March 4th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, the Grange is hosting a showing of this amazing movie. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for anyone 18 and under.
Attend The Progress Illusion - The Progress Illusion is part of the winter 2023 Lyceum Series and will take place on March 7th at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $5.00 each and allow you to join Jon Erickson as he discusses our prevailing but flawed economic system and the emerging reform effort to create a new economy that is grounded in the realities of life on a finite planet.
Storytelling Open Mic at Whitcomb's - This reoccurring event on the second Wednesday of every month will be held inside the community room in Whitcomb's. So, stop by on Wednesday, March 8th, between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm, to share your story 🎤 with local community members in the Community Room.
Watch Marsh Lights Perform Live - On Saturday, March 11th Vermont Vocalist of the Year, Colby Crehan. will be performing live from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Tickets are $15.00 at the door.
Attend the Lecture Farming in a Changing Landscape: A Dialogue About Local Food Systems - This lecture will take place on Tuesday, March 14th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. This is the third lecture in the Grange Winter Lyceum series. It is a discussion about the new reality for small farms and the impact on local food. Tickets are $5.00 per person.
See the Film Jack London's Martin Eden - On Saturday, March 18th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, the Grange is hosting a showing of this thrilling film. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for anyone 18 and under.
Attend the Lecture Building a Sustainable Future: Preserving What Exists - On Tuesday, March 21st from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm attend the fourth lecture in the Grange Winter Lyceum series. Find out how adaptive reuse of existing buildings can help solve the housing crisis and promote community revitalization. How do we accelerate this trend? Tickets are $5.00 each.
Attend the Lecture Uncovering African-American History in the Adirondacks - On Sunday, March 26th from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm the final lecture in the Winter Lyceum series will be hosted by Curt Stager who brings his latest research project to the Grange — discovering the hidden history of Black Adirondackers. Tickets are $5.00 each.
Add Your Business to Our Up Coming Job Board!
The Westport Economic Development Committee is working hard to showcase and support amazing, local business owners like you!
So, if you would like to be featured in our up and coming job board - to be hosted on www.gowestportny.com soon - please send an email to me at gowestportny@gmail.com with the following information:
Your Name and the Name of Your Business
The Services You Provide
The Area You Serve
Your Business Address, Email, and Phone Number
Your Website (if applicable)
The Area Your Serve
Your Business Hours
The best way to get in contact with you.
Once we compile all this information, we will create a fantastic, community job board where you can quickly and easily search for pet sitters, babysitters, carpenters, contractors, and so much more!
However, if there are other services that you are having difficulty finding contractors for, please let us know so that we can include those types of listings on our job board.
Help Support Local Businesses for free in just 2 Minutes!
One of the great ways to quickly and easily support local Westport businesses is to leave them a glowing review on websites like Google and Yelp.
Not only is it totally free to do so, it takes a mere 2 minutes of your time.
In leaving a review, you can also enhance the business's presence on the internet and expand its reach to potential new customers.
So please consider taking 2 minutes of your time to support local business owners in this way. I promise, they greatly appreciate it.
And if you're not sure which business you'd like to support, here is a list of just some of the area's many amazing local businesses.
You are Invited to Meetings of the Westport Chamber of Commerce (aka Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance)
The March Chamber meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 1st at 7:00 pm via Zoom. Please email chamber@westportny.com for the Zoom link or for more information.
All meetings are the first Wednesday of the month,
unless notified otherwise.