West Tisbury

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I was feeling quite nostalgic after reading Soo Whiting’s Bird News last week. When Mike and I first moved into our house, it was commonplace to hear whippoorwills in our woods all summer long. It’s been many years now and I envied the folks in Edgartown who reported having them on their property.

Most of the hayfields have been cut and baled and stored away, fortunately before the heavy rains fell on Friday. That smell of hay, hot from the sun, blew across the fields, across the roads, across town. Peas are swelling pods now, sweet and delicious. Asparagus is mostly over. It’s definitely salad time, time for everything green. Lettuce, chard, beet greens, arugula, spinach. Mown hayfields are green, too, close to the ground like a carpet, what will become a second cutting someday.

Jodi Baron Blair celebrated her birthday on Sunday, June 9. Her husband always reminds me. He was late this year, so to Jodi belated happy birthday good wishes and “love from Hadden.”

Other birthdays are: Minor Knight on June 11, Jennifer Haynes and Debby Athearn on June 12, Bill Haynes on Flag Day, June 14, and Leslie Baker on June 17. Good wishes for you all.

Everyone who knew Carol Carrick was shocked and saddened by her passing last Wednesday. It was sudden, unexpected, way too soon. She should be dancing, her blond hair swinging, laughing at the silly jokes she loved and sent her friends in emails that made us laugh and forward them along to others. She and Jack Burton had just returned from their winter in Florida. Condolences to Jack, their families, and so many friends and admirers. Carol’s books and her spirit live on.

Tents sprung up around town, and houses, gardens, and spare bedrooms were cleaned and readied for visitors and graduation parties. The MVRHS Class of 2013 finished their high school careers with accolades and awards. The MV Public Charter School graduation came the weekend before. As always, I am amazed at the accomplishments of these young graduates and nostalgic over the passing of time. Mike and I are old enough to have watched some of their parents graduate so many years ago, to have known them as children, adults, someday parents themselves. It always feels like such a privilege. My most heartfelt admiration and wishes for happiness and success in all of your lives.

Much along those lines, Milo Brush turned 4 or 5 (I can’t read my notes) last Friday at Flat Point Farm. Milo’s mom, Emily, grew up there, as did his grandfather, Arnie Fischer Jr. Arnie’s parents, Arnie Sr. and Priscilla, started farming that beautiful land before many of us had ever heard of Martha’s Vineyard. Now Emily and her husband, Doug Brush, are farming and raising their family there, too. Dick and Sheila Brush came for the occasion, staying with Ann Fielder at The House on New Lane. The children’s party had to be cancelled because of hurricane reports, but Milo was duly feted and enjoyed his day.

Paulette and Bob Evans visited from Lewes, Delaware, for a weekend with their daughter, Susie Middleton, and Roy Riley of Green Island Farm. Although they stayed at the Captain Flanders House, they were more than willing to help out on the farm. Susie said they particularly enjoyed the farmstand and many wonderful meals at home.

Standing in line at Cronig’s, I met Beverly Buchert. She and her husband, Tom, came from Rhode Island for the graduation of their granddaughter Lucy Benedetto, daughter of Wendy and Dan, who had a big party on Saturday with lots of friends and family attending.

Kimberly Carlomagno graduated from Haverford College, earning a B.S. with honors in Biology, concentration in neural and behavioral science, and a minor in psychology. Her senior thesis was “New Species of Methylotrophic Bacteria,” isolated from a white pine tree in the Haverford College Arboretum. Kimberly’s parents are Ernest and Mary Carlomagno.

The Farmers Market has begun, Saturday mornings from 9 to noon, at the Grange Hall.

The West Tisbury Church Strawberry Festival is coming next weekend, June 22. More next week.

Lambert’s Cove beach stickers go on sale this Saturday, June 15. The shed at the West Tisbury School tennis courts will be open every day between 9 and noon, with extra hours, 4–7 pm, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The beach opens with lifeguards next Saturday, June 22. For more information, call Peggy Stone at the Parks & Rec office, 508-696-0147.

There is an opening for one new member on West Tisbury’s Personnel Board. If interested, contact Maria McFarland at Town Hall, 508-696-6404, or personnel@westtisbury_ma.gov.

The Merrimack Valley Ringers will perform at the West Tisbury Church this Friday evening, June 14, at 7:30 pm. Their earlier concerts have been hugely popular, so get there early for a seat.

When you drive or walk around town, make sure to look at the beautiful fringe tree in full bloom at the down-Island corner of the Polly Hill Arboretum. Also the kousa dogwood allee that is magical to walk through. There is a weigelia bush on Music Street covered in pink blossoms, so large it obscures the cottage behind it. All this rain has been a gift for our gardens.

I have asked Beth Kramer to be my guest columnist next week. Please make sure to get your news to her at the library, 508-693-3366. Don’t forget the column is due Monday morning by noon, so get your news in early. Thanks.