The Westport Island Board of Selectmen have mailed out surveys in hopes of gathering your thoughts on the proposed coal gasification plant being considered for building in Wiscasset. The sole purpose of the survey is to get a sense of how people are feeling about the project because it has become such a hot topic in the papers and at our meetings.

The surveys were sent to everyone who is on our tax list. You may remove your name if you prefer to remain anonymous in your reply. If you rent on Westport Island and did not receive a survey, you may pick one up at the town office or call one of us for a copy. We are really hoping the majority of you will take a moment to fill them out and return them.

It's time to get that date book out and write down activities as they come up. If you are anything like me, this time of year it's especially dangerous to rely on memory alone! If you are interested in joining the Community Christmas Choir, please place the following information from Georgia Sledge on your calendar. All are welcome and you don't need to try out. Just join them for rehearsals.

They are held at the town office on Sundays, November 11, 18, 25, and December 2 at 5 p.m. The dress rehearsal will be on Sunday, December 9 at 1 p.m. at the church (beside the Old Town Hall) and the service will be the same date at 7 p.m. Please call Georgia Sledge at 882-7645 if you have any questions. This is a great opportunity to feel and share in the Christmas spirit and set aside all those shopping, cooking and wrapping chores that take up so much of your time.

We offer condolences to Pam, George and Dustin Shockley on the passing of Pam's mother, Jeanne Edwards. Jeanne moved to Westport Island from Florida at the beginning of what was to be a long illness. She was a creative and giving person, an artist and avid gardener, photojournalist for several newspapers, an always-willing volunteer wherever she was living including Scotland and Japan, but she would have told you that her most important occupation was "Navy Wife." She will be missed.

In case you missed it elsewhere in this issue, power will be shut down on the entire island very early Sunday morning, November 4 from about 2 to 6 a.m. to hook up a new substation in Wiscasset.

If you have any news or activities you'd like listed in this column, please call me at 882-9032, or e-mail me at pbonyun@gwi.net .