October Forest ~ Photo by Catherine Seidenberg

Happy Autumn, Westport! We’ve had one of the most brilliant Octobers in recent memory, with crisp, kaleidoscopic days and nights that make you reach for the down jacket. For mountain adventurers, checking the weather conditions is now a must before climbing into the higher elevations, with snow expected soon, and below freezing temps going forward!

Westport has an impressive array of cultural activities to enlighten the mind and spirit during this breezeway to the winter, starting with Halloween on Saturday the 31st, to music, readings, art openings, book clubs, musical performances, movies, shops and studios weekend, and so much more to make your winter cozy and inspiring.

SHOUT-OUTS AND REMINDERS:

-HALLOWEEN: We’re now focusing on Halloween night itself, Saturday Oct 31. More information to come! Watch the WWCA Facebook page and website for updates in the coming weeks.

Interested in participating but not sure how to get involved? Have an idea or suggestion to share? Don't hesitate to reach out to Marisa at admin@gowestportny.com! She's always happy to hear new ideas, suggestions, and feedback. We'd love to find ways for everyone to be part of the fun!

-Save the date! SHOPS AND STUDIOS WEEKEND: Friday Nov 6, Sat Nov 7. Shops stay open late on Friday night, and on Saturday from 11-4 enjoy a day of shopping and touring artists studios to meet the artists, and find local, one- of -a- kind creations for the gift-giving season.

-Save the date! WINTERFEST will once again take place on Saturday, December 5th. Come out and celebrate the holiday season as only Westport knows how to!

-GET YOUR FLOWERS PLUS! CALENDAR at the Bessboro Shop, Ledge Hill Studio Downtown, and Snowfort Books.

~ You can ALWAYS submit your business information to our Business Directory! Let your future clients find you HERE!

~And on that note, please submit your events to the town calendar so the rest of the community can find you too!

GET PSYCHED FOR HALLOWEEN IN WESTPORT!

OK, ghosts and ghouls! So there’s been a bit of back-and-forth over exactly which night is THE night for trick-or-treating, so we’ve cancelled ‘Freaky Friday’ and have settled on Saturday the 31st, Halloween night at its best. It all starts with a story and craft time at the Westport Library at 11am, with community trick or treating in the evening. Don’t miss the wild monster house south of town, and wander farther up the hill to see what materializes at the big creepy mansion!

We're hoping to see Halloween come alive throughout Westport! Whether you live right in the village or farther out, everyone is welcome to join in!

If you love halloween-ing and want to share your fun ideas and/or time, contact Marisa at admin@gowestportny.com!

See you out there! Wait..is that you?

DON’T MISS WEDNESDAYS AT THE WADHAMS FREE LIBRARY!

Warm up those cold Wednesday evenings at the Wadhams Library with a fascinating lecture series! All talks start at 7pm.

• Oct 28: Tortuguero/Jim Kinley and Mary-Bell

• Nov 4: Women’s Sports/Emily Rascoe

• Nov 18: Osteopathy, Questions and Answers/Todd Waldorf, D.O

• Dec 2: Rural on Purpose: A Music Teacher’s Perspective/ Jennifer Moore

FIND YOUR INSPIRATION AT THE WESTPORT LIBRARY!

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Mondays, 7pm: Film Festival! Get cozy in a library sofa and take in a flick with friends and neighbors! Suggested $5 donation, $10 for families

Tuesdays 1-3pm: Craft Group meeting

Thursdays 4-6pm: Writer’s Group meeting

SPECIAL EVENTS

Saturday, Oct 31, 11am: Halloween Story Time and Craft.

Tuesday, Nov 10, 6:30-8pm: Author Connor Williams Book Release Party

Saturday, Dec 5, 10am-2pm: Winterfest Storytime and Craft

Image courtesy of the Mill

Weekends in Westport continue to be a highlight at the Mill, where you can find excellent cutting edge music, art exhibits, comedy, and the best gourmet vegetarian fare created with local ingredients by Taylor himself. Oh, and don’t forget the warming and delightful craft cocktails at the Knock, the speakeasy that surrounds you with color, light and a decidedly metropolitan atmosphere. Brooklyn? Paris? Take your pick. It’s Westport, New York!

Come by on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday from 5-9pm and spend some quality time with the art exhibits and installations. Featured now is work by Adam Frelin, Amy Ellingson, Ann Toebbe, Jillian Mayer, Phoebe Washburn, Stephen Hendee and Kirsten Deirup. Download your own art activity pack from the website and learn about the artist’s processes while deriving some inspiration for your own creative fire!

WARM UP TO THE NOVEMBER YOGA SERIES AT THE MILL!

FIND FINE WORDS,ART AND COMPANY AT SNOWFORT BOOKS!

“The Husk Mother” ~ by Wren Van Deusen

REGULAR MONTHLY EVENTS

• 1st Tuesdays, 6:30 pm: Pagefright Society

• 2nd Sundays,6-7:30 pm: Fiction Book Club

• 2nd Thursdays, 6-7:30pm: Silent Book Club

• 3d Wednesdays, 7pm: SpeakEazy Open Mic

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Saturday Oct 24, 5pm: Art opening for immersive art show of Wren Van Deusen entitled “A Dreamwalker’s Companion’.

• Sunday, Nov 8, 2pm: Poetry Reading: Julia C. Alter and Justin Bigos

• Sunday, Nov 22, 2pm: Music and Poetry Reading: Sarah Green and Matthew Klane

SELL YOUR ART OR TEACH CLASSES AT THE FINISHING STONE!

Image and text from the Finishing Stone

Looking for a place to sell your work or host a class of your own? We’d love to connect with you!

The Finishing Stone is growing, and we’re looking for new local artists to showcase their work and talented creatives interested in teaching classes at our storefront.

Interested? email finishingstone@gmail.com, and come check us out at 6511 Main Street, Westport, NY.

Follow our Facebook page for upcoming classes and new work, and remember to shop small and support your local makers this holiday season!

THERE’S LOTS TO SEE AT THE WHALLONSBURG GRANGE AND WHITCOMB’S!

Art by Keelin Murphy, now on exhibit at Whitcomb’s Garage

The Grange has a full season of movies, a wilderness Lyceum series, outstanding musical performances, the Election Night dinner, Holiday Market, and so much more! Whitcomb’s Garage currently has an exhibit of Keelin Murphy’s gorgeous artwork that runs until October 24th, and then beginning on November 5th will be an exhibition of the work of Adirondack artist Bill Evans. What talent we have right in our own neighborhoods. Don’t miss a thing!

TAKE THE SURVEY AND HELP BUILD A CCE SENIOR FITNESS PROGRAM IN WESTPORT

Add your input and help the Cornell Cooperative Extension build their Senior Fitness Program in Westport! Complete the survey here: https://forms.gle/fh98X5RjK8CBgp6t9

DON’T MISS THE ELECTION NIGHT DINNER AND BENEFIT AT THE FEDERATED CHURCH!

MEADOWMOUNT RECEIVES $75,750 NYS DEC SMART GROWTH GRANT FOR THE CAMPUS

Image courtesy of Meadowmount School of Music

Meadowmount School of Music (Society for Strings, Inc.) has been awarded a $75,750 grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS-DEC), to complete critical repairs to Campe Concert Hall and the school's on-campus dormitories. Work on the project is now underway!

We are YOUR Alliance! Follow our Website, Facebook Page and Instagram. Follow all the happenings on the Calendar. 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