Town Column : Tisbury
By Kay Mayhew
Published: July 16, 2009
Wonderful news from Jeanne and Doug Dowling: they proudly introduce two new grandchildren. Rose Louise Bragg was born in Boston on February 20 to Kate (Dowling) and David Bragg of Jamaica Plain. Rosie weighed six and a half pounds. Her grandparents are Anita and Charles Bragg of Savannah, Georgia, and Jeanne and Doug Dowling.
Aislinn Reese Dowling, daughter of Allisyn and Douglas Dowling Jr. of Belmont was born on May 20 in Boston. She also weighed six and a half pounds. Aislinn was welcomed home by big brothers Aidan, Owen, and Brady. Her grandparents are Elaine and John Brady of Sanford, Maine, and Jeanne and Doug Dowling.
You might still have time to sign up for the mini-clambake at the Tisbury Senior Center on Saturday, put on by Larsen's. Chowder and lobster tail and other goodies will be served at 12 noon for $15. Call 508-693-5661 if you don't have your ticket yet.
The Vineyard Nursing Association is celebrating 25 years next Wednesday with this year's annual clambake at the Field Gallery. Enjoy Vineyard Sound and know that all proceeds benefit Vineyard home health care. Tickets are $125 at ticketsmv.com or 508-696-0785.
A very privileged crowd enjoyed David McCullough reading the first chapter of his new book about Americans in Paris, which is due out in 2010. He was introduced as a Vineyard author and a national treasure. He took off his jacket and donned a borrowed cap to keep off the bright sun and enthralled all present as he read. He writes of young Americans who experienced their first exposure to a foreign country and to the French language as well as to ancient buildings, art museums, and opera. We can't wait to see what happened to these travelers to Paris who went to study art, music, and medicine in the 1830s.
McCullough calls free libraries the "greatest of our American institutions." The reading was sponsored by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library. He said that there are more public libraries than there are McDonalds and we need to keep it that way. Then he said we should support these libraries now. Just as funds are being cut, more people than ever are using libraries. You can support your library at the mini book sale this Saturday from 1 to 3 pm. There are books, audio books, and videos for all ages.
Barney Zeitz has completed the new sculpture commissioned for the Berkshire South Community Center in Great Barrington. The Lola sculpture is forged and welded stainless steel, over eight feet tall. He invites you to view it at his studio at 67 Deer Hill Road between 4 and 6 pm today and Friday, also next Tuesday.
Trip Barnes watched as Brooke Olsen used a pencil to sketch a design on an antler piece in the Louisa Gould Gallery. Samples of her scrimshaw work were on display. She told how she cuts into the bone to etch a design and rubs paint on, wiping off the excess. A woman asked if that's what the sailors did. Brooke suggested they probably used India ink. The woman wondered if they used the same process, wiping off the excess. Brooke looked to Trip, who said that probably that process would not work well with India ink and would be too costly. He explained his interest is because his father collected scrimshaw.
