Town Column : Edgartown
It's just one month until Island schools start up again. By the time August rolls around, I begin to miss my off-season life on the Vineyard, including the friends I rarely get to see, and this year is no different. At the same time, I am happy about the many days remaining to spend quality time with my kids. I just returned from a Cub Scout family camp weekend at Camp Greenough in Yarmouthport. Aside from bug bites and a bit of stiffness from sleeping on the ground, it was a highlight of our summer.
I spoke with Jim Turner, president of the Edgartown Croquet Club. I asked Jim how he got involved with the sport, and he told me he played backyard croquet in Montana 30 years ago, and was also inspired by watching professional croquet in England. Jim wants everyone to know that the croquet facility, located next to the Boys and Girls Club, is open to the public, with equipment available at the staff house during summer months. Adults and teenagers are also welcome to play with club members on Saturday mornings from 9 am until 12 noon. Last week, a croquet tournament took place in honor of the club's founder, Judge Woody Tarlow, a long-time former summer resident, who now lives in Palm Springs, Calif. Jim also said that while croquet is traditionally a warm weather sport, some "hardly souls" from town play year-round.
Fortunately, the weather has been favorable for the beach recently. Inevitably the rain will come again, and summer visitors often ask what to do in the rain with the kids. The Edgartown movie theater is always a good choice. But there are others too. The FARM Institute, World of Reptiles and Birds Park, and Felix Neck's Wildlife Sanctuary are all great choices. Taking a tour of the Edgartown Lighthouse is another nice alternative. If the rain is coming down hard, you can still take advantage of the Martha's Vineyard Museum, and don't forget their wonderful gift shop on your way out. And of course, you can visit the Edgartown Library, which is a favorite among children.
This week at the Edgartown Library, Curious George is a special guest during story hour, which takes place on Thursday at 10:30 am. On Saturday at 5:30 pm, kids in grades six and up can see a slide show by Dr. Virginia Edcomb, biologist from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, about life forms on Earth and potentially in outer space.
MVTV's Ann Bassett is featuring an audiovisual story about the life and work of photographer Alan Brigish on Channel 13 daily through the end of August (check schedules for exact times). I have seen some of his photos myself, and they are stunning. You can also view Alan's work on his Web site, brigish.com.
The West Tisbury Congregational Church is very excited to have the Rev. Raphael Warnock preaching on August 16. He is Senior Pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, home church for the Rev. Martin Luther King for many years. Paddy Moore asked me to announce that friends and visitors from all over the Island are welcome to attend this service.
The fifth annual Sand Sculpture Contest, sponsored by the Edgartown Board of Trade, took place last Wednesday. Lucinda "Sandyfeet" Wierenga of South Padre Island, Tex., provided a sand sculpture demonstration on Tuesday at the mini-park in town. She was first place winner on the Travel Channel's "Sandblasters." Copies of her book "Sandcastles Made Simple" are available at Edgartown Books.
Congratulations to the adults and children who participated in the Sand Sculpture Contest: you all did a wonderful job, exhibiting a lot of creativity and talent.
Make every day special.
