West Tisbury

0

The Mill Pond has looked like the scene of a wildlife party lately. Swans and ducks have been swimming together, preening, bobbing, and making a fascinating display. I got a really good full view of the swan goose the other day when he stood onshore, flapping his wings, showing off for admiring passersby.

A program about the Mill Pond, scheduled for last Saturday, was postponed because of the snowstorm. It will be this Saturday, January 28, 3:30 pm, at the West Tisbury Library. Michael Hopper will discuss dam-removal projects and whether or not restoring the pond to Mill Brook and a marsh should be considered. His organization, Sea Run Trout Coalition, has overseen similar projects. Our selectmen have proposed dredging to maintain the pond. It should be a provocative discussion.

Last week I was writing about snowdrops; this week they’re buried under snow. The snow was beautiful, long-awaited. We had just brought wood in and gotten the house ready for a storm. The wood stove kept us warm as the snow fell outside our windows. I love the perfect silence.

When I saw Roberta Kirn at Cronig’s this weekend, she had been cross-country skiing with her daughter, Marta Azzollini, in the woods at Sepiessa, the first time this year. Roberta told me there is a group of neighbors who regularly cross-country ski there. When there is snow, of course. Marta had had a long holiday and was preparing to return to school at UMass Amherst.

Lots of birthdays in town this week. Henry Bassett will celebrate on January 29. February 1 is the big day for both Betty Haynes and her daughter, Janice. It’s Bob Salop’s birthday, too. February 3 is Roe Belain’s special day. Happy Birthday, everyone.

Cynthia Riggs and Lynn Christoffers will read from and talk about their recently published collaboration, Victoria Trumbull’s Martha’s Vineyard, featuring locations mentioned in Cynthia’s murder mysteries. The program will be at the library this afternoon, January 26, at 4:30 pm.

Clifford the Big Red Dog will be at the library next Thursday morning, February 2, at 10:30 am. Clifford is everybody’s friend, so there should be a big crowd of children to greet him.

Don’t forget to make your preference known for 2012 Poet Laureate next time you are at the library. Nominations close on February 1.

Monday Night Movies at the library will feature films by Ingmar Bergman through January/February. “Persona” will be shown on January 30 at 7 pm.

I’m sorry for the short column this week. This is the time of year when everyone I know is catching up on house projects, watching “Downton Abbey,” and resting up for summer. Please let me know if you have anything going on at your house.

By the time you are reading this, the snow should be melted and only a memory. Temperatures are supposed to return to the 40s and maybe 50s. What a winter this has been.