Spring tulips in Westport ~ Photo by Catherine Seidenberg

Happy spring everyone! The air turns balmy and freezing again by turns, but generally things are warming up and the sun is gracing our days more often. The ice on Lake Champlain has finally fractured into millions of sparkling, floating sculptures and sheets, which sound like a chorus of small bells with the incoming waves.The Canada geese are beginning their yearly pairing, and every day more of their avian compatriots arrive on our shores and fields.

Just as the sap is rising in the Maple trees, so too are our ambitions and ideas for the celebratory summer ahead! The Alliance has all kinds of initiatives in store for the year, such as a Memorial Day celebration, America’s 250th Anniversary, new ecological initiatives from our new Environmental Action Committee, and the Spirit of Place art exhibit is being reborn as a studio tour.

Want to be involved? Join our board meeting on the first Wednesday of each month (coming up on April 1st!) at 7pm at this link. Donate to the Alliance, and/or volunteer for an activity of your choice! We’d love to hear your ideas!

LOCAL BUSINESSES ~ YOU’RE INVITED TO BECOME A SPONSOR!

July 4th Celebration in Westport ~ Photo by Catherine Seidenberg

The Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance is shifting how we approach sponsorship this year, and we would love to invite local businesses to be part of it.
Instead of seeking support event-by-event, we are creating an incredible group of Annual Community Partners who will help make all of our 2026 programming possible.
In 2025, the Alliance hosted:

• 4 flagship events averaging 200 attendees

• 15 smaller gatherings averaging 30 attendees

• A mailing list of 700+ subscribers with an average 62% open rate

• A Facebook group of 9,500+ members

• 800+ monthly website visitors, with our events page ranking second in traffic

These events are moments where neighbors meet, businesses connect, and our community momentum builds. We are inviting a limited number of Community Champions to serve as presenting sponsors for one flagship event of their choice (first-come, first-served), along with year-round visibility across our events, email, website, and social platforms.

Our goal is to build sustained partnerships with businesses who believe in connecting community, culture, and commerce in Westport and Wadhams.

Why Annual Sponsorship?
Annual sponsorship provides consistent, trusted visibility across multiple platforms and events. It positions your business as a leader in strengthening the local ecosystem and investing in the vitality of Westport and Wadhams.

Flexible Payment Options
To support sustainability for local businesses, annual sponsorships may be pledged and paid throughout the year.
Payment options include:

• One annual payment

• Quarterly installments

• Custom payment schedule upon request

Sponsorship benefits begin upon signed agreement. We are limiting the number of sponsors in each category to ensure meaningful exposure.

For more information or to reserve your sponsorship level go to gowestportny.com/sponsor

Mark Van Duser and Cynthia Schira, artists, at the Spirit of Place Opening Reception, 2025 ~ Photo by Catherine Seidenberg

Discover the creative pulse of Westport and Wadhams at the Spirit of Place 2026 Open Studio Weekend and Summer Virtual Tour. Kicking off in mid-July, this year’s rendition of the Spirit of Place annual art exhibition invites you inside the studios of 14+ artists across Westport and Wadhams—offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at their process, inspiration, and craft.

Can’t make it in person? Explore the summer-long virtual tour to meet the artists, experience their work, and purchase one-of-a-kind pieces from wherever you are.

Support the local artisans who bring so much beauty and character to our community—and take a piece of it home with you.

Learn more at GoWestportNY.com—coming soon! (stay tuned)

2 NEW BENCHES TO HONOR TOWN LEGENDS!

Flowers Plus! is proud to announce that because of generous donations we are able to sponsor two Community Benches this year.

With 12 nominations, the task of deciding the 2026 honorees was not easy. We applaud all who make Westport the supportive town that it is, and wish we could award 12 benches!

So ... the 2026 honorees are Richard "Dick" Sherman and Ray Tefoe, both local legends.

The benches will be installed in August with dedication ceremonies to follow. Thanks to all who wrote such wonderful tributes to the nominees, we are indeed lucky to live in this town.

JOIN THE NEXT COMMUNITY CHAT,APRIL 7 AT THE WADHAMS FREE LIBRARY!

Come on over to the beautiful Wadhams Free Library on Tuesday, April 7th, marvel at the nearby waterfall and enjoy engaging conversation with board members from the Alliance! Find out what we are up to, and share your ideas and concerns! See you there!

REMEMBER AND HONOR: JOIN THE MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE IN BALLARD PARK

This year’s Memorial Day Service will take place on Memorial Day, Monday May 25 at the Memorial Garden in Ballard Park at 9am. Felix and Taylor Haskins will provide music, and there will be sweets and refreshments available, as well as golf cart transportation for those who need it. More details coming soon! Come help us honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

BRAND NEW THIS YEAR: ECO-WEEK!

Stay tuned for this new ecological initiative from our Environmental Action Committee! Eco-Week will begin around May 9, the day of the Grand Hike. The Committee will have a table at the Grand Hike Registration, so come on out and find out what we are up to and how you can be involved! Ideas that are being developed include town-wide composting, earth day cleanup week, and much more. Stay tuned! and if you are eager to help out, or just find out more, contact Committee Chair Chris Maron at chrismaron7@gmail.com.

YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE LOOKING FOR YOU! GET LISTED IN THE DIRECTORY

Want some free advertising? We’ve had over 30 responses and are wanting many more! There are over 160 businesses listed and counting. We want you to be included in the Westport Services Directory on our website. Get discoverable and submit your business information here!

JULY 4TH WEEKEND IS COMING TOGETHER!

The big weekend is approaching fast, and Austin, our event planner, is hard at work creating the most action-packed and delightful celebration for everyone! Some sneak peaks: the Mountain Echo band will play 2 shows in the band shell! (possibly more music as well). Fireworks on the actual night of July 4! A bouncy house! the parade! a Vendor sale! Business specials! Another cardboard boat race! Stay tuned for details and more Revolutionary fun!

Get your business ready for America’s 250th this year and make use of ROOST’s complete tool kit! Invite your friends and family for this major American milestone, and be sure to book any additional lodging you may need in advance. This is truly a moment to celebrate and reflect upon! If you have ideas and want to help make things happen, please contact our intrepid event coordinator Austin Martin at info@gowestportny.com., or drop in for a chat with him at the front desk of Chazy/Westport Communications, 2 Champlain Ave, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.

This year, fireworks will be lighting up the sky ON the day of July 4th. Please donate to the fireworks HERE, (and scroll down to Community Events.)

WESTPORT CHAIR TRAIL REOPENING SOON!

With the warm temps comes a parade of oversized artist-adorned Westport chairs all around the town! Keep your eyes open for their reappearance from their winter sleep, and enjoy the artwork, and maybe a rest on your walk through the byways of town.

LAST CHANCE!ARTISTS:DESIGN A MURAL FOR WADHAMS!

Illustration for inspiration only

Create a 10' x 10' original mural for the historic Masons’ building in Wadhams!

We’re inviting regional graphic artists to design a mural that celebrates the spirit, history, and character of Wadhams. The selected design will be installed on the exterior wall of the historic Masons’ building and become a visual landmark that celebrates the character of our hamlet.

Submission Requirements

• High-resolution digital file made for large-scale print production

• Submit to: info@gowestportny.com

• Deadline: March 31

• Original artwork only — no stock imagery, copyrighted material, or AI-generated content

All submitted designs will be showcased publicly, and the community will have an opportunity to provide feedback before the final selection.

Student and non-professional artists are strongly encouraged to participate. Every submission will be celebrated. The winning designer will receive a $400 stipend.

The Creative Challenge

Wadhams is known for its iconic “!” — and here’s the twist: Can you incorporate the exclamation point into your design and create a family-friendly “I Spy” element, with exclamation marks cleverly hidden throughout the mural?

We’re looking for work that feels rooted, joyful, and distinctly local.

Inspiration & Local Themes to Consider

Artists are welcome to interpret these elements creatively:

• The historic mills and hydroelectric power

• The church belfry

• The library

• The old general store (now Dogwood Bakery!)

• The Rubber Duck Derby

• Lilacs in bloom

• Atlantic salmon at Boquet Falls

• A roadside farm stand with strawberries

• Wadhams’ beloved playground — if you can “swing” it

Subtle visual nods to recognizable local tradespeople and residents are welcome and encouraged.

We’re excited to see how artists capture Wadhams’ character — and how many exclamation points we can find!

Wishing everyone a sunny, hopeful and warm April!

~the WWCA team

We are YOUR Alliance! Follow our Website, Facebook Page and Instagram. Follow all the happenings on the Calendar, and In and Around Westport Facebook Group. Have a friend or neighbor who would like to know what’s going on in town? Don’t forget to subscribe and forward this email!

-Newsletter Editor: Catherine Seidenberg