Town Column : Edgartown
By Gail Craig
Published: October 30, 2008
Driving down Barnes Road today coming home from Vineyard Haven, I was struck by how much the colors had changed. I was thinking that it was a rather sudden change to rich reds and browns. Wasn't it only yesterday everything was a vibrant green? I think the fact of the matter is that I've been plowing ahead with my head down since school began and that I failed to notice all that was going on around me. I was truly amazed that I hadn't noticed it until now.
Don't forget the Minnesingers' auction Saturday night at the P.A. Club, beginning with a silent auction at 5. In last week's column, I mentioned this would help raise funds for their trip to Austria when in fact the new group is working towards a future cultural exchange, as well as performances and festivals throughout the year, on Martha's Vineyard and off. Of course, the highlight of the evening will be the first performance of the year by this year's group, including Edgartown students Amanda Rose, Nick Jerome, Emily Mercier, Jerome Pikor, Taylor Stone, and Zach Rabin.
The annual Edgartown PTO-sponsored Halloween Party is tomorrow evening, Friday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 6 pm at the Edgartown School. As always, the celebration includes food, fun, games, crafts, prizes, a costume contest, and trick or treating up on "Main Street" on the gym stage. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
The Edgartown Monday Night Community Suppers began again for the year this past Monday evening, Oct. 27, and will continue on Monday evenings at 5 pm at the Old Whaling Church. All are welcome.
On Saturday afternoon from 2 until 5, the Martha's Vineyard Sailing Camp will be the site of a retirement celebration for Linda Berg, director of the Children's Theatre, part of Island Theatre Workshop, for more than 10 years. Bring your favorite fall dish and include the recipe for a cookbook commemorating the event for Linda. All are welcome.
"Adopt a Drain" is a great new project that was put together this year at the Edgartown School by Principal John Stevens, teachers Gale Meister and Cathy Smith, and Joe Alosso from the Edgartown Wastewater Treatment Plant. Adopt a Drain begins on Monday, Nov. 3, when Joe and treatment plant staff will host two tours of the plant. The first tour is from 10 to 11 am and the second is from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm. There will be 17 children in each group, as well as any parents who wish to go.
After the tours, over the next three weeks the students will learn about water, water reuse, water sustainability, pollution, and how to prevent it, alternatives to harsh cleaning agents and other great stuff about water sustainability. All of this work culminates on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21, when the kids and parents will spend about two hours with Joe and the rest of the wastewater staff. They'll break into small groups and walk from the school to the storm drains located around the school, as well as downtown, to affix our "Don't Pollute, Drains to Harbor" metal medallions on the curbstone next to the storm sewers. This will be their adopted drain. Marnie Stanton of the Vineyard Conservation Society is planning on filming this for MVTV.
The hope with this project is that the children will learn the importance of clean water, that we're not making any new water, and in fact that the water you drink today has most likely been water that someone already drank once before. As Joe said, in honor of the time of year, maybe even by the Pilgrims and the Native Americans at the first Thanksgiving.
Anyone who is interested in seeing any of this is absolutely welcome and encouraged to attend if you can. They'll run additional tours on that date if there is an interest. Joe will also be giving out water-saving kits to everyone who comes.
That's really all for now. Have a great week. Be sure to get me your news. And have a happy and safe Halloween.
