The committee has been active in working with Bill Cooney and the Town Hall Committee to safeguard and properly store the island's artifacts. New acquisitions are coming in and the committee is looking into methods of displaying and collecting articles of our island heritage.

Mary Ellen Barnes is chairman of the committee and welcomes islanders' input. If you'd like to share any artifacts or stories, please give her a call at 882-6055.

Mary Ellen is a good friend of mine, easy to talk with, fun to chat with and a great listener. She has taken an avid interest in the old Westport baseball team. We have some of their items displayed at the store. We were lucky enough to have a couple of the "boys" in for lunch this week. Doug Delano and Murlyn Greenleaf were kind enough to answer most of Mary Ellen's questions.

Georgia Sledge is once again hard at work pulling together the Christmas program to be held on December 11 at 7 p.m. Rehearsals will be held Saturdays, Nov.19, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 with a dress rehearsal on Sunday, December 11 at 1 p.m. The program will be held at 7 p.m. on December 11. For further information, please call Georgia at 882-7645. She promises to make cookies or bars for all who attend! Georgia has made a special plea for a few more male voices. Please consider joining this group.

Thank you to the many voters who turned out to place their vote on Tuesday. There was approximately a 47 percent turnout. That's pretty good for this type of election with no local articles or seats up for appointment. Many people chose to purchase their quilt raffle tickets at the town hall on that day. If you didn't have the opportunity yet, there is still time. The tickets will remain on sale at the Island Variety store until Dec. 7. Also, the fire department will attempt to sell them at other locations between now and the drawing date.

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family of Teresa Richardson. "Tree" passed away on Saturday, November 12. Teresa, mother of George, Dee, and Diane, was especially known for her home-baked pies. She baked for Le Garage for many years, right up into her 80s anyway. She lived next door to George and Marcia for most of her life, having moved here from Ireland. Tree was living with her daughter, Diane, in Alabama when she passed away.

Thank you to those who donated at our store to Hurricane Katrina victims. We were able to send a check for $132.84 to the American Red Cross from Westport. The Red Cross has sent us a thank you note which is currently posted on the front door.

Susan Partelow called to inform me they had a message at the office from a hurricane victim from Florida. She reported that the message wasn't very clear as to the name of the person, but she wanted it known how thankful she was for help from our town. Apparently a linesman from CMP helping restore power had a sign stating he was from Westport and she wanted to thank him. The only person I can think of is Andy Tripp. I talked to his wife, Lisa, and she says he has been in Florida for a month helping restore power there. She and her family are expecting him home this week. Robert Stanley has also been volunteering in Florida.

It's difficult to believe it has been nearly a year since the big tsunami that hit Thailand and surrounding countries. Some of you will remember our exchange student, Khwan, from Thailand. She has recently sent me photos of herself helping orphaned children and families left homeless and devastated by that disaster. She wants people to know she misses Maine, Westport and her family and friends she made here.

The Human Resource Committee is preparing a list of persons who would like to receive prepared dinners for Thanksgiving. If you would like to be on this list, please contact Sarah Rhinelander at 882-4022.