Letter to the editor: Lisa Westkaemper for Rockland City Council

Sat, 11/04/2017 - 8:45pm
 As soon as Lisa Westkaemper moved to Rockland she became active in our community, quietly observing its workings and offering her insight and past experience where she could, and I am confident that her desire and willingness towards making a positive difference in our community will continue when she is elected to the office of City Council. 
 
Her most visible contribution to our community so far is her very active involvement in reclaiming Rockland’s landmark Millay House and helping to build a literary and educational organization for our city. The annual Millay Arts and Poetry Festival now also exists, thanks in great part to Lisa and her husband Alva, who were key in organizing the first one this past September. I volunteered at the festival and witnessed first-hand Lisa’s calm organizational and managerial skills. It was a huge undertaking to create and organize the Festival, with a lineup of top-rated, national poets, authors, actors and musicians offering workshops and performance in our downtown business district, to an enthusiastic audience from all over the country. Lisa was in the forefront of envisioning, creating and organizing this annual event for our city.
 
I have seen Lisa make numerous other less noticeable contributions to our community, offering her services where she sees the need. Recently I ran into her at the Transfer Station, where she stood in the hot sun directing traffic for the toxic waste disposal. Lisa and Alva often offer welcoming and inclusive invitations to neighborhood gatherings where they generously open their home for meeting and conversation.
 
I hope you will join me in voting for Dr. Lisa Westkaemper for City Council. She has the qualities to be of great benefit to Rockland.
 
Rosemary Willson lives in Rockland