Town Column : West Tisbury
By Hermine Hull
Published: February 19, 2009
Walking up to the library Sunday afternoon I was surprised to see ice still on the Mill Pond, Parsonage, and the marsh in between. It felt so mild all last week. It has been pleasant enough to be out in a sweater rather than coat, muffler, and mittens. It's funny how 40 degrees at this time of year feels like warm spring air, and in October it feels like time for a turtleneck and heavy socks.
Walking to town always affords me an opportunity to really observe the sights along the way. There are the tips of snowdrops and crocuses appearing beneath the Bessires' hedge. The new plantings at God's Pocket and along the stonewall in front of Kernicks' are beginning to look settled in. Brandy Brow looks trimmed and tidy; soon it will be ablaze with daffodils, sooner than it seems possible.
Saturday's Winter Family Fun Day at the library was such a success. There was nowhere to park when I arrived shortly before 11 am, in time for Bella and the Arakataka Band's puppet show. The floor and stairs of the children's room were covered with eager children, sitting, dancing, waiting. Everyone loved Bella and her partner in their costumes, the funny songs, and the antics of the puppets. We all left buoyed by their performance, enjoying the bananas given out at the end of the show. The show was, after all, called "Bananas in the Air."
Going upstairs to the craft table was the next stop. Colleen Morris and Nelia Decker helped everyone make Valentine crowns. There were feathers, crepe paper for streamers or bows, colorful animals and sequins to glue on, and markers to draw with. Each crown was as unique as its maker. The children around the table at that time were: Tehya Backus-Clement, Violet Southwick, Connecticut Langhammer, Katie, Andrea, and Juliet Morse, Laina Benoit, Morgan Caruso and her cousin Jake Ferioli, Phoenix Lambie, and Hudson and Summer Riordan. Just as I was leaving, Isla Jane Solon arrived, carried in her mother Gina's arms.
The rest of the day's events were just as well attended and well received. Chocolate hearts for the scavenger hunt and Tim Boland's informative talk about witch hazels, beginning to bloom soon and sweetly, and heart-shaped cookies all added to the day. Nina Violet's concert provided the grand finale. Thank you to the library staff for organizing this wonderful day and to all who participated in it.
Sunday and Dan Hull have been here, enjoying the beautiful weekend and Sunday's school vacation. They walked on Jungle Beach, cut up a dead tree for firewood, and stayed up reading by the fire late into the night. They also spent lots of time visiting with all of their Vineyard family.
Linda and Glenn Hearn had a busy weekend with a house full of company. Paul, Laura, and Morgan Caruso arrived with members of the extended Caruso family, who come every year to run in a race from the Vineyard Haven ferry landing. Linda and I had never heard anything about this race, a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon, but it appears to be quite well known. Paul's sister, Katie, was number 302, so that gives you an idea of the number of participating runners. Over the weekend, Linda happened to be speaking with her cousin, Meg Hanley, in Randolph. Meg had a neighbor who was here for the race. There never seems to be any mention of it in the local papers. The two children, Morgan Caruso and Jake Ferioli, kept each other and Linda busy while the grown-ups ran around down-Island. Linda reports that the house seems awfully quiet as of Monday morning.
She and I did have a chance to get out for a walk along Town Cove while Morgan was having a nap. It always amazes me how the water can look so tropical in the winter. Town Cove was the most brilliant turquoise blue beneath a clear cobalt sky. I told Leslie Baker about it later. That scene will be our first outdoor painting of the season on the next sunny, warm day.
Don't forget to get your signed nomination papers in by February 24 if you are planning to run for a town office or board.
