Town Column : Tisbury

By Kay Mayhew
Published: August 7, 2008

What fun! For two weeks Brian and Noreen Flanders have been enjoying their granddaughter Mackenzie Flanders, who is seven and a half and comes from New Hampshire. She had a grand time with her dad, Matthew Flanders, and her grandparents. She spent mornings at Pond View Horse Farm, where she won two red ribbons - she even won first prize in her class. Afternoons she went swimming with a couple of new friends. She really liked the evenings at the Flying Horses and Game Room. A special treat was fishing with her dad. She also saw her great-grandparents Florence Flanders and Richard and Lorraine Mavro. All had a wonderful time and are looking forward to her next visit.

Welcome home to Dr. Gretchen Jacobs, who is convalescing from recent surgery. We wish you a rapid recovery, Gretchen.

Pastor Roger Spinney is making his famous pulled-pork dinner again this Saturday. You get all you can eat, with coleslaw, sweet potato fries, and cornbread, too. You can even take it home if you wish. Serving starts at 5 and ends at 7 pm at the First Baptist Church parish house on William Street. Tickets will be sold at the door: adults $12 and children $6.

Peter Boak's first-ever full-length organ recital has been postponed from next Sunday. Watch this space for a date to be announced in September.

You are invited to visit five beautiful homes on South Water Street in Edgartown next Wednesday afternoon. The benefit for the Steeple Fund of the Federated Church will run from 2 to 4:30 pm. Tickets are $35 that day from the Federated Church, at the corner of Cooke and South Summer Streets. This includes the visits as well as tea, lemonade, and cookies served on the lawn of the Mayhew Parsonage.

The Louisa Gould Gallery is now featuring photos from the third annual Vineyard Cup, which took place last month. There is a new show exploring objects of "Inspiration" for local artists Sherrill Blalock, Kate Huntington, Ellen Liman, and Leslie S. Smith. Then on August 16 the Gallery celebrates its fifth anniversary. That day the reception from 5 to 8 pm will also introduce new work of Ovid Osborn Ward, John Holladay, and Louisa Gould.

You can call it a yard sale or a tag sale. Either way it will benefit the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. Help our children learn about our government. Find bargains, food, fun, and more on Saturday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm in the Tisbury School parking lot.

My British visitors and I took a few days in New Hampshire to visit my sister. And to shop. My cousin Jean Willder and her wonderful 15-year-old granddaughter, Bethany Pye, have done more than their share towards improving the U.S. economy and that of the Island. They enjoyed their visit on the Island, seeing old friends and making new ones. Bethany liked having a bike from Martha's Bicycle and became a regular at the aqua aerobics class. There are no words to express our thanks to our friends John and Laurel Chapman for all they have done to make this a memorable trip for our cousins.

There is a delightful fatigue at the end of a visit from your grandchildren. My little ones are no exception. Rory just turned three and expects me to run and play, of course. Fiona, at 16 months, is happy to toddle along in her big sister's footsteps. What a wonderful way to spend these lovely summer days. But now the little ones have returned to Virginia, and Donald and I shall miss them very much. It sure is quiet at my house now.

Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out today to young John Edmond Coogan. Bobbie Donovan parties tomorrow. Sunday belongs to Benjamin Koster.

Heard on Main Street: It's not only who you know, but what you know about who you know.