Town Column : West Tisbury
By Hermine Hull
Published: June 23, 2011
I can't believe how early everything is this year. Daylight-saving time will begin this Sunday (spring ahead) and the Palm Sunday Open House Tour of the Island's garden centers will be next Sunday, followed by Easter on March 23. I had noticed activity at Vineyard Gardens and Heather Gardens, but hadn't really thought about it until receiving a notice from Vineyard Gardens about their open house festivities on March 16 from 11 am to 3 pm. The day's light seems longer. Friday afternoon when I spoke to my friend Linda Hearn, she was starting seeds in her greenhouse.
Last Sunday's New York Times had a page of drawings by Sports Illustrated artist Robert Weaver, covering spring training in Florida in Feb. 1962. According to the accompanying copy, "Weaver relied on observational drawing, not photography, to record his impressions... Weaver's drawings capture the timeless qualities of spring training: confident men in easy postures, unfurling themselves to throw, to bat, or simply to wait around."
Mike and I watched our first few innings of spring training baseball yesterday afternoon, the Red Sox playing the Minnesota Twins at City of Palms Park. Then we went outside to work. Earlier, Mike and our neighbor, Bob Fischer, had gone off together with their trucks and their chain saws, coming back mid-afternoon with substantial additions to both of our woodpiles for next winter.
The library has been the place to be in town. It always is, of course, but last week we drew a record crowd for a concert by Susan and Stephen McGhee, who played duets for violin and cello. It was a wonderful addition to our series of musical events. Everyone was engrossed, from children on their mothers' laps to grown-ups tapping their feet. As I was leaving, I ran into Jack MacKay, who was on the Vineyard for a few days. It was great to see him, even for a short visit.
On Saturday, which turned out to be National Pig Day discovered by Colleen Morris, children were two and three deep at the crafts table making pigs out of pink balloons. I noticed that one of Judy Jahries's grandsons made not only a pig, but a green frog and a yellow duck as well. West Tisbury children are truly a creative bunch. AnnaBelle Brothers spent quite a while working on her creation; Violet Cabot, Eric Reubens, Nina Quigley, and Anne Culbert did, too. Ginny Jones arrived with her grandsons, Everett and Kent Healy, just as I was leaving.
Dan Waters is the library's Artist of the Month for March. His linoleum-block prints are on display and he will be talking about his work on Wednesday afternoon, March 12, at 5 pm. At 5:30, the FAWC Fiction Fellow, Cheri Johnson, and FAWC Poetry Fellow, John Murillo, will be the featured speakers.
Anyone who has extra paper bags, please bring them to the library when you come. We are totally out.
I am happy to spread the good news that Pat Jenkinson, Sr. is home from the hospital and recovering nicely. When I saw Joanie the other day, she told me he was busy working on his lobster pots and can't wait to be out on the water. Hooray!
Cynthia Riggs gave me a book of poetry written by her daughter, Mary Wilder Stoertz. It is called "Unmapped Terrain." I had never read any of Mary's poetry before and found many interesting combinations of words and images presented. "The fawn hills hold a soft expectancy," is the opening line of "Epiphany." I am sad to remember that Mary died suddenly about this time last year and am glad to hear her voice in this book of poems.
Don't forget Peggy Freydberg's 100th birthday party this afternoon at the Chilmark library at 5 pm.
Gina Hayes, who used to live on the Island and run classes as "Just Dog Training" plans to hold a testing and training workshop for anyone interested in having their dog become a therapy dog. It will be a two-day class scheduled for April 5 and 6 at the Chilmark Community Center. Please call Gina to pre-register: 508-760-3377.
Martha's Vineyard Public Schools are sponsoring a workshop for parents, "MCAS: What is it and Why is it Important?" to be held Monday, March 10, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at the Oak Bluffs School. Please pre-register by calling Robyn Gurney at 693-4489 or by email: gurney@mvyps.org.
We have a new resident to welcome to town. Natalie Elizabeth Larsen was born on Feb. 25. She is the daughter of Dan and Shannon Larsen. Welcome to the world, Natalie.
Last week I attended what used to be our Annual Groundhog Day bread swap at Paula Conover's house in Edgartown. We have been getting together for 26 years, although for the past few, the date has been late February rather than the traditional Feb. 2. Many of us have known each other the whole time and it has also become an event for new friends made over the years. I was happy to meet some new West Tisbury residents and have an opportunity to learn about them.
One was Sarah Moore, who has recently moved to town. Sarah works in Early Childhood Education. She has become active as a volunteer at The FARM Institute, where she is working in curriculum development.
Lauri McAuliffe and her husband, Richard, live on Charles Neck Way, having moved to the Vineyard from Newport, R.I. They returned to Newport for a surprise 50th birthday party for Richard. He was expecting a quiet weekend away with his wife. Instead, he walked into O'Brien's Pub to find a group of family and friends who had gathered to celebrate his big day. Lauri said he was definitely surprised and it was a wonderful party.
Last Tuesday afternoon I was at Groomingdale's to pick up Murphy. As I entered, I had to look twice at a beautiful golden retriever still being brushed on the table. "This is Hannah. Murphy is ready on the porch." Murphy was ready, and a beautiful sight himself. I paid up, put his leash on, and opened the door as a gentleman was approaching. He looked at Murphy and at the same time as I said, "Is your dog Hannah?" he said, "This looks just like my dog, Hannah." Naturally, we had to stop and talk about our dogs. It turned out his name is Blair Emin and he lives in West Tisbury, too. The dogs really do strongly resemble one another. I just hope Hannah stayed clean and fluffy looking longer than Murphy did.
