Tisbury Town Column

By Kay Mayhew - March 13, 2008
508-693-2725
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Best wishes go out to Barbara Donald who has spent a couple of weeks in the hospital. She says she is stronger every day and hopes to be home by the time you read this. You can send your good wishes to her at P.O. Box 1047 in Vineyard Haven.

Several fire trucks and emergency vehicles responded to the fire on West Spring Street late Thursday afternoon. The traffic around Five Corners looked like July, with long lines of cars pulled over to leave a clear path. The large smoky fire destroyed the house, but no one was hurt, including our intrepid firefighters.

The good news is that we did not have to shovel after Saturday's storm. The bad news is that many basements suffered flooding, including Tilton's shop, which had just reopened. Main Street looked as if it was under water most of the day.

Wiet Bacheller invites you to consider joining The Martha's Vineyard Garden Club. The Club meets monthly at the historic Old Mill in West Tisbury during the summer and fall. Winter meetings are at the Wakeman Center. Members get involved in special Island projects and enjoy interesting lectures. C.L. Fornari, author of Cape Cod Gardens, will speak in April on Vineyard Gardens. Call Wiet at 508-693-0927 if you would like to learn more about the Garden Club.

The Visiting Nurse Service and the town Boards of Health are sponsoring a Health Fair at the Hospital on Saturday from 9 am to 12 noon. The focus is on health maintenance and healing through nutrition, the power of exercise at any age, stress awareness, and taking charge of your health. The most enticing category is entitled memory, mood, and mold. It's free.

Celebrate your Irish heritage with traditional corned beef and cabbage on Saturday night from 5 to 6:30 pm. The dinner costs $10, for all you can eat, including rolls and dessert. Take out is available. Get your ticket at the door at the First Baptist Church Parish House on William Street.

On Sunday at 2 pm the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library present Wendy Taucher, who will talk about dance and the history of The Yard. Wendy is the artistic director of the performing arts colony in Chilmark called The Yard. An experienced choreographer, Wendy has worked with more than 50 operas and musicals around the country. She is also the author of an elementary music textbook. Light refreshments will follow the program.

When was the last time you read a light bulb? That is where you find the directions for disposal of the compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). The energy-saving light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury. Our state law will prohibit disposal in household trash after May 1. CFL bulbs are supposed to go to a special recycling center.

Mercury is poisonous to living things, especially children. There is no danger from these light bulbs until you break one. So, don't use them in lamps that are likely to tip over. When a CFL bulb breaks, you should open doors and windows and leave for 15 minutes to avoid the fumes. The people at Environmental Protection say, "don't use a vacuum or broom" to clean it up. Use disposable gloves and press sticky tape over the area to pick up small particles that remain in a carpet. The room may need further ventilation. You may want to cut out and replace a section of the carpet if children or pets or pregnant women will use that room. Of course, the light bulbs don't say all this in their small print. More information is online at mass.gov.

Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out today to Barbara Howell and Kevin Voyer. Wish the best on Saturday to Jib Ellis and Jay Segel. Austin Chandler, Edie McClintock, and Doug Dorchester party on St. Patrick's Day. Tuesday belongs to Matthew Barton and his cousin Ben Bartolini from Eastham. Happy birthday on Wednesday to Lois Kavanagh, Susan Mone, Susan Weyl, and Sondra Gonsalves.

Heard on Main Street: "Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it."

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