Town Column : West Tisbury
By Hermine Hull
Published: July 17, 2008
The colors of the roadside daylilies are as hot as the summer weather. Despite the day's heat, the past few nights have been lovely for sleeping, cooling off enough that Mike and I actually needed a cozy blanket.
Debbie Magnuson stopped by after her niece Laura Caruso's dog training class with two containers of blueberries she had just picked. She reports a banner blueberry year, both wild and cultivated varieties. Yesterday she brought me delicious raspberries, the first of the season. I think it's a banner year for them, too. My other culinary "first" was my first box of Sungold tomatoes from Mermaid Farm. I look forward to being able to report my first Sungold tomatoes from my own garden.
Talley has finished her classes, which she really enjoyed. I think she has gained some confidence. I am planning to call Karen Ogden about agility training this fall. I started taking Murphy to Laura's basic obedience classes, too, and can see how each dog has benefited. Obviously, they needed different handling, so I have learned a lot about working with their different personalities. It's also made things easier around the house, but I'll admit we still have a way to go.
Last week, Tom Vogl and Katherine Long were visited and interviewed by Susie Middleton, a reporter from Edible Cape Cod. Her story appeared on Fine Cooking magazine's blog. Now that their chickens are famous, check it out on blogs.taunton.com/fc-farmtofork?entry=24.
The Ag Society has received the building permit for their upcoming barn project, set to begin this September. They have invited an Amish crew to help, so are looking for housing for them while they are here. Please call Bill Haynes if you have a place available.
Congratulations to new parents, Jamie and Jennifer Doyle. Their son, James Quincy Doyle Jr., was born last Thursday, July 10. Welcome to West Tisbury, James Jr.
The West Tisbury Library pitched in to help after the Bunch of Grapes fire by inviting authors scheduled to speak at the bookstore to use our library instead. Phyllis Meras and Betsy Corsiglia will talk about their new book, "Martha's Vineyard Quiet Pleasures," on Wednesday afternoon, July 23 at 4:30 pm.
Leslie Baker would like to remind anyone with old photographs of West Tisbury about her project to copy them for display at the library. Kathy Morris of Martha's Vineyard Framing did a great job framing the beginnings of our collection. We are hoping to have enough for a historical exhibit sometime later in the fall, so will be most appreciative of your taking some time to look for photographs that might be of interest.
I know it's early, but please mark your calendars for August 13 at 1 pm. The West Tisbury Library is planning the second of our visioning/community discussion meetings to be held at the Grange Hall. Cheryl Bryan, our representative from the Southeast Massachusetts Library Service, will offer the three-hour workshop. We are looking for as many locally generated ideas as possible to provide the basis for our long-term strategic plan. Director Beth Kramer took the strategic planning course with Cheryl at the SEMLS office and was so impressed with the process that she proposed to the Trustees and Friends that it be replicated here. We want input from both summer and year-round residents and library users. If you can attend, please sign up at the library. I will mention this again.
Paul Carrick has been here from Boston, spending the weekend with his mother, Carol Carrick. While here, Paul met with Francine Kelly of Featherstone, where they are planning an exhibition of his fantasy paintings this fall.
John and Doris Overtoom have arrived from Madison, N.J., to spend the summer. They are staying with their daughter, Karen, and her family, Louis, Olivia, and Michelle DeGeofroy, on Scotchman's Lane.
I am sad to report the loss of two West Tisbury residents, Pinkie Leavens and Steve Murphy Sr. I don't know what plans the Leavens family have made, but the Murphy children and grandchildren will begin arriving later this week. There will be a memorial service for Steve at the West Tisbury Church this Saturday, July 19, at 2 pm, with a gathering afterwards at the family home on Music Street. Steve will be buried beside his beloved Maureen in the West Tisbury cemetery.
