Edgartown: Class Night

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My baby graduated high school today. Or at least that’s what it feels like. In reality, it was my 17-year-old son, graduating right on schedule. But it just doesn’t seem possible. As a teacher, you often notice how quickly time passes because you see students you “just had a couple of years ago” graduate and go to college. But that didn’t prepare me for this moment. One of life’s bittersweet moments. Congratulations to the graduates.

We also experienced Class Night last week, when the graduating students receive their awards and college scholarships, and I have to say, it’s more than a little bit amazing. To sit in the Tabernacle for a little over three hours while person after person gives out scholarships is humbling and magical. The generosity of this community is overwhelming. We are truly lucky. Thank you to everyone who makes it possible.

Arts and Society presents the 40th annual Bloomsday celebration of music, drama, and humor based on the text of James Joyce on Saturday, June 16, at 8 pm at the Katherine Cornell Theater in Vineyard Haven. Tickets are $25 at the door or in advance at

Bunch of Grapes (cash or check only). Performers will include Niki Patton, Gerry Yukevich, Molly Conole, Jim Thomas, Philip Dietterich, and Pam Schnatterly. For more information, call 508-696-0539

Rebecca Haag from Island Grown Initiative will be the guest speaker on Sunday, June 17, at 11:30 am, following the morning service at the Federated Church Meetinghouse. The public is welcome to attend to become more informed about efforts to supply food for the needy, elderly, and disabled. This is the fifth in a series of Federated Church Community Partners programs. For more information call 508-627-4421, email admin@federatedchurchmv.org, or check out the church website at federatedchurchmv.org.

Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Jen Passafiume, who celebrated on June 12, Kara Thibodeau on June 14, Gayle Poggi on June 16, and Halley Smith on June 17.

School is out for summer on June 22. Our eighth grade graduation is at the Old Whaling Church at 5 on June 15. It’s always a such a nice ceremony, with a celebration at the Daniel Fisher House for the graduates immediately after the ceremony, and then they usually head over to the Chappy Beach Club for a celebration of their own. Congratulations to all the eighth grade families.

Short column this week. Everyone is just so busy with the end of the school year and the start of summer. Enjoy the week ahead. The weather is a little wonky, warm one day and chilly the next. But it’s still wonderful to get outside. I spent a couple of hours at the beach last Saturday, and even took my first swim. That water is still cold, no doubt about it. But I’ve made a vow to take advantage of the beach every day this summer. If I could only figure out how to bottle it for February and March. Enjoy the last few weeks of relative quiet on our little Island.