Town Column : Edgartown
By Caroline Beetz Fenske
Published: May 7, 2009
Baseball season is off to a fine start for the Raptors farm league team. The weather for Tuesday's opening practice was ideal, and the kids were full of excitement as Coach Greg Rollins passed out team hats and shirts, reviewed the rules of the game, and led a practice of hitting and fielding. Assistant coach Jerry Murray focused on helping the kids with their batting stance and swing. The Pogue Triplets, Kyle Rollins, James Murray, Jackie Pizzano, Joseph Serpa, and my son, Lukas, are all on the team from Edgartown.
I just found out that Adam Darack, Information Technology Manager at the Edgartown Town Hall, and I share something special in common. We both participated in University of Pittsburgh's Semester at Sea in the spring of 1992 (Adam was a college student, and I was an economics professor). We met for coffee at Espresso Love the other day to talk about the amazing voyage that took us around the world, with stops in 10 countries, including Brazil, Kenya, India, China, and Japan.
Since the voyage, Adam completed a degree in marine science and has traveled extensively, including to the spectacular Galapagos Islands where he met his wife, Ruth. Adam now lives in Vineyard Haven with his wife and their two young children, and he cherishes the family's regular trips to his wife's homeland. Adam has a tremendous enthusiasm for life and learning, and it is a pleasure to know him.
The other day I caught up with Rob Goldfarb riding his bike with his dog, Baloo, trailing behind. (Small world - it turns out he is good friends with Adam Darack.) Rob cleverly designed a trailer for his 110-pound dog with the combined effort of a bike mechanic, a welder, and a sail maker. Rob uses the opportunity to demonstrate sustainable living practices to children at The FARM Institute, and to display farm advertising from the side of Baloo's trailer.
Edgartown librarian Donna Blackburn is holding art classes for kids in kindergarten through grade three on the next four Fridays at 3:30 pm in the children's room. On Saturday between 1 and 4 pm, kids can drop in at the library and make a corsage for their mom for Mother's Day.
Despite the cool and drizzly morning, the May Breakfast at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church broke attendance records. Cindy Flanders and her children, Cana and Michael, were enjoying a nice breakfast together before school started. Cindy's mother, Pat, was one of many wonderful volunteers working at the event to raise money for Island charities.
Registered nurse and Edgartown resident Dianne Smith is in Maseno, Kenya on a relief mission sponsored by the Episcopal Church. Dianne is working with an HIV/AIDS center, a mobile medical unit, and a feeding program for orphans. To learn more about Dianne's remarkable work and view her photograph collection, go to heart-to-god.blogspot.com.
Gail Craig will be participating in a Breast Cancer 3-day Walk out of Boston (July 24 to 26) in honor of her mother, Buzzy Gardner, who died of breast cancer five years ago in July. Funds raised by Gail and others taking part in the daunting 60-mile walk will be used to support breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund. So far Gail has raised almost $1,500, and she says she hopes to reach $5,000 "in memory of five years without Buzzy." To support Gail's efforts, go to www.the3day.org, click on donate, and key in Gail Gardner Craig.
Happy Birthday wishes to my husband Reiner, who will celebrate on May 12.
Make every day special.
