The 2011 Town Report is out. It’s available at the library and town hall. The cover has a photograph of the dedication ceremony last Veterans’ Day when the Veterans’ Monument was moved over to Town Hall. John Mayhew, Nelson Bryant, and Clifton Athearn, all World War II vets, attended. Sad that Johnny died over the winter. He was so proud of his service. I was glad he was there.
His daughter Deborah emailed to give everyone notice to save the day, July 28, when the Mayhew family will host a public memorial celebration of John’s life. It is planned for late afternoon at the Ag Hall.
The Town Report was dedicated to Bob and Jeanne Woods and Jane Newhall, all of whom died this past year. The tribute concluded with the following paragraph: “Their devotion to this town deserves our respect and we are pleased to dedicate this town report to their memory.”
Mike and I were sad to learn that Jean Bryant died last Wednesday. Our condolences to her family and many friends. There will be a memorial service at the Federated Church in Edgartown on April 26 at 11 am.
Easter and Passover came on a lovely spring weekend, a little chilly, but filled with flowers and festivities. All the egg hunts were well-attended by children, parents, and doting grandparents, all with cell phones and cameras. I wished I had worn a down jacket to the hunt at the firehouse, but kids in shorts and dressy dresses seemed perfectly comfortable as they ran through the field scooping up brightly-colored eggs.
When I stopped into Donaroma’s on Saturday, Mariko Kawaguchi told me she had left David home tending the tzimmis (a sweet root vegetable and dried fruit concoction, which every family has their own special secret way of making) for a combination Passover and Easter dinner with David’s mother, Danielle Kish. David’s sister, Carole, and her husband, Richard Walton, joined them from off Island.
Mike and I hosted our first seder. Nicole Cabot made the tzimmis, bright orange with carrots and butternut squash, and a bunch of parsley from their garden for karpas, the symbolic spring salad on our seder plate. Nicole and Ben’s daughters, Violet and Reed, were the youngest at our table, reciters of the Four Questions. Jayne Johnson helped me make the meal and brought the special Haggadahs we had always used at her house, written by Rabbi Harry Nelson, who had married my parents. Dan and Nancy Cabot, Leslie Baker, and Karen English rounded out the table. I had never made a seder before, and it brought back memories of my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and especially of my parents.
Congratulations to Paul Bessire, Deputy Director of Boston’s ICA, who received the award of Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters from Consul General of France in Boston and Mme. Christophe Guilhou at the Residence of France, Cambridge. The award recognizes eminent artists, writers, and individuals who have contributed to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world.
Paul and Anne were here for Easter with their children, Emma and Nicholas, at Louise Bessire’s. Louise’s friend Edie Smith joined them for the weekend.
ACO Joan Jenkinson wants to remind everyone that the Rabies Clinic is this Saturday, April 14, at two locations. Dr. Breese will be at the Public Safety Building/Fire Station 2 in North Tisbury from 10 to 11 am. Dr. Tuminaro will be at the Animal Shelter in Edgartown between 10 and 11 am; Dr. Atwood and either Dr. Williams or Dr. Dunnigan will take over between 11 and 12 noon. Please bring your current rabies certificate. Dogs on leashes; cats and ferrets in carriers, please.
“Fruit Trees; Growing and Pruning” is the subject for Vineyard Gardens weekly lecture. The program is free and begins at 11 am on Saturday.
Adam Lipsky is performing selections from his latest CD at the M.V. Hebrew Center on Center Street in Vineyard Haven this Sunday afternoon, April 15, at 4 pm.
Don’t forget that schools, library, and town offices will be closed Monday, April 16, for Patriot’s Day. Happily, it gives us a reprieve on our income taxes. They’re not due till the 17th.
I am preparing for the May 6 Alzheimer’s Walk in Oak Bluffs. Meaning I’ll be asking for money when I see you, or please send checks made out to ASCCI (Alzheimer’s Services of Cape Cod & Islands) to PO Box 8, West Tisbury, 02575.
A cluster of birthdays this week: Beth Kaeka on April 9, Caroline Mayhew on the 10th, Gina Solon on the 14th, and Joanne Scott on the 15th. Happy Birthday wishes to you all.
Baseball season has begun. The diamond across the street has been filled with players, adults and kids, even a couple of dogs following their people around the bases. I love hearing the sounds of the game, although I think it might have been irresistible to Nanuk. We got a phone call from a woman who found her out on the Edgartown Road. We thanked the caller, grateful for cell phones and the safe return of our dog, but Mike went right inside to put her electric collar back on.