West Tisbury

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September has always been my favorite month, the most beautiful, and the beginning of time spread in front of me. It doesn’t look like we will have much of a fall this year. Salt spray from Hurricane Irene has browned our landscape, already suffering a rainless summer. Of course, it will all recover and there will be beautiful autumns in other years, but not this one.

I promised an update on the Paces’ new grandchild. Here it is: Andrew Pace Barclay was born on August 24. He is the son of Rebecca and Chris Barclay of Seattle, Wash. His Vineyard grandparents, Dan and Elaine, enjoyed their first visit to Seattle. Besides meeting Andrew, they did some sightseeing with granddaughter Cora that included the Space Needle, Mount Rainier, and Olympic National Park.

The Tisbury Travel Club is offering a trip on October 13 to Beauport, the Sleeper McCann House in Gloucester. My friend Marilyn Swift took me there years ago and I still have wonderful memories of the day. The house was the life-long passion of Mr. Henry Sleeper, who assembled it room-by-room from houses being torn down. Every room has a theme, like the Napoleon Bedroom, and showcases Mr. Sleeper’s many collections. There is a two-story round library, windows sparkling with shelves of colored glass, and best of all, a dining room along the sea with windows open to the view. The trip costs $60. It will be cancelled if not filled by mid-September, so please consider it. Beauport really is a magical place, and I hope you will consider going. Call 508-696-4205 for information.

Condolences to John Cotterill for the loss of his sister.

State senator Dan Wolf will be the guest speaker at this Saturday’s M.V. Democrats meeting at 9 am at the Howes House.

If you want to know more about Wampanoag history, come to the Chilmark Library on Wednesday, September 14, to hear Tom Dresser read from his latest book.

The MVRHS Class of 1966 is planning their 45th reunion for the weekend of October 15 and 16. Call Herb Ward at 508-693-7683 to find out about it.

Washington Ledesma is Artist-of-the-Month at the West Tisbury Library. Come and see his work. He will speak about it at a reception later this month.

Sheila Fane has a show at The Old Sculpin Gallery. She is exhibiting her monotypes, handmade paper landscapes and sculptures through September 9.

Monday Night Movies at the West Tisbury Library are all thrillers this month. This Monday, see “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” starring Richard Burton. Movies begin at 7 pm. Free popcorn is provided.

This afternoon, Thursday, Sept. 8, the library has a special program, “Caring for Loved Ones After Death.” It begins with a documentary, “A Family Undertaking,” at 5 pm. Following the film, Nancy Accola, Jan Buhrman, and Martha Flanders will speak and answer questions.

There will be a memorial service for Jane Newhall at the West Tisbury Church she loved and where she was a life-long member. The service begins at 2 pm this Saturday, September 10. Afterwards, there will be a reception in the Church Hall.

Later that day, 9/10/11, Mike and I will attend the wedding of Ben Stafford and Katie Goodwin. We have known Ben since he was a baby. His parents, Joanne Scott and Bob Stafford, have been friends since forever. We are so happy for Ben and Katie, and wish them health, happiness, good humor, and tenacity in their life together.

The sky is heavy today with the promise of much-needed rain. I look forward to cooler temperatures, to sweaters, blankets, flannel, stacks of books to read and wood panels to paint on, to quiet time ahead.