Tisbury: What a grand weekend at the Fair

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What a wonderful Fair! We always enjoy the Blue Hills music. Kids of all ages tried their skill at the recyclaphone too.

The quilts showed more blue ribbons than ever. Each one was well deserved, with many familiar names such as Laura Beebe and Wendy Nierenberg. Wendy’s grandson will treasure those cars and trucks. Several quilts were strikingly beautiful. I loved Pamela Flan’s sea life in blues, as well as the patterns in yellows and blues by Mary Ruth Flores, and Mary King’s lovely garden quilt. Our granddaughters delighted in the farm animals quilt by Mary Louise Koch.

The art by youngsters is always good. We noted the sea horse by Amelia Wiener, Hannah Hoff’s deep blue ocean scene, and a pretty frame painted with fish by Isabelle Custer. Sophie Bonneau created a girl with colorful curls.

The kids do a grand job giving personalities to their vegetable displays. I have to ask Katie Goldsmith: was that an apple octopus on the blueberry sea? Or perhaps an apple spider? Potato animals were great, one chasing a ball and another by Matty Wolverton. Our girls’ favorite garden had dinosaurs roaming amongst rocks and green trees.

Our girls took a picture of the tiny red tomatoes entered by Harrison Davis and were also amazed by the tall sunflowers. A trip through the animal barns was made more exciting because they were invited to enter the stall with three Kiko goats. Our Fiona crouched down and the lovely small goat in velvety black approached her several times for patting. Rebecca Brown displayed several blue ribbons for these as well as her Arapawa goats. As Island Grazing she rents goats and sheep. Did you know these goats originated in New Zealand? And they do a grand job of poison ivy control.

For my part I was taken by Isabel Shattuck’s huge blue dahlia and Judy Bryant’s living wreath. Daphne DeVries had succulent plants displayed in a plain wooden frame. The different shapes and sizes and colors of the small plants drew the close attention of fairgoers. And the Bantam poultry are always a favorite stop. I do love the black and white hens but had to admire the gorgeous Bantam roosters entered by Nicola and Lucia. Thanks to all of you who put in these delightful entries.

The granddaughters and I finished the weekend with the live performance of Peter Pan. It was a magical presentation. Old and young were cheering, crowing, and thoroughly enjoying the afternoon.

While fall is the best time on the Island, some say everything quiets down. Not quite. And besides, now you can find a parking space. Tonight at 7:30 the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center offers the movie Boyhood, an ode to growing up and parenting. Then at 9:15 you can see Woody Allen’s latest film Magic in the Moonlight, a romantic comedy set in the Côte d’Azur region of France.

Next Tuesday at Flatbread the pizza sales (eat in or take out) also benefit the West Tisbury church from 5 to 9 pm. A silent auction will offer unusual and distinctive items. Enjoy your pizza and feel good about it — all ages welcome.

The Annual Evening of Music on the Lagoon will be at Jim and Pam Butterick’s house at 359 Barnes Road at 6 pm. Enjoy wine and appetizers at sunset on the Lagoon on the last Sunday of summer, and listen to the fabulous pianist Adele Dreyer play Rhapsody in Blue, also joined by musician extraordinaire Peter Boak for duets.  Donations of any amount will go to the Federated Church Organ/Music Fund and/or Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. For more: email antispung@aol.com.

Lia Kahler is an internationally known opera singer with Vineyard roots. She also donates her time and talent for Catalyst Concert fundraisers for nonprofits. On Sunday, September 14, she will be on our island to help the Chilmark Community Church. When Hurricane Sandy blew through Chilmark in 2012, she toppled the cross and damaged the steeple of the church. A Spirit Song concert of songs, spirituals, and music in the sanctuary at 3 pm will follow a silent auction opening at 2 pm. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors or students.

Don’t forget you need to start reading to join in the seminar beginning September 17 on Tolstoy’s epic War and Peace. Swarthmore College professor Philip Weinstein will present a workshop in six sessions on Wednesday evenings at 7 at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. You need to sign up at the Vineyard Haven Library and begin reading. The classes run through December 3.

Register now for the 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Vineyard Haven Library on September 14. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome. The fee is $15, with free tee-shirts to the first 100 registrants. The race goes from the Library to the West Chop lighthouse and back.

Register to Cycle Martha’s Vineyard by midnight on Labor Day (September 1) and receive a 10 percent discount off of the $100 registration fee. Prior participants receive an extra 10 percent off by registering early. On September 2 registration is $100 for new riders and $90 for repeat riders. The 100K route circuits the Island traveling along the Atlantic Ocean, Nantucket Sound, rolling farmland, and state forest. The 50K route offers breathtaking views of Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

Happy anniversary wishes go to David and Elizabeth Beim on Sunday.

Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out today to Barbara Bruck. Tomorrow wish the best to Cynthia Walker. Jessica Dolliver parties on Sunday. Happy birthday on Tuesday to Edwin Gould-Hart. Wednesday belongs to Maggie Masek.

Heard on Main Street: Some are wise and some are otherwise.