Town Column : Tisbury
By Kay Mayhew
Published: August 27, 2009
We were all amazed with the size of the hail in that storm in July. I had heard of several torn screens, but there was more serious damage. Amanda Dauphinee tells me that she has been working with her dad, David Dauphinee, on several local cars damaged by the hail. She says that insurance companies often aren't sure how to write up the claims because hailstorms are unusual here. Apparently, it is rare for a hailstorm to occur near the ocean.
There is a place on-Island that can do these repairs. North East Hail Repair at Kevin's Auto Body repairs the car without painting or sanding in a process that takes only two or three days. For more, call 781-733-5706.
As always, the youth entries in the fair were a delight. Jessica Seidman took blue ribbons for her black hen and, of course, once again for her notorious Rhode Island Red rooster. He also won not only Best in Show, but a special award as well. Cabot Thurber's Molly won a blue and a special award and he garnered other ribbons. Chickens are fun.
Did you know that silkies have tufts of feathers on their feet and on top of their heads? Have you ever patted a black silkie bantam? Reggie Swift cuddled her hen, Lily, and offered that treat one morning at the fair. The eight-year-old hen seemed happy to let young and old pet her gently.
I love to see the children's art at the fair. The art is surprisingly good and the work is enthusiastically shown off to visiting family and friends. A well-deserved blue ribbon adorned the carefully made topography map of Martha's Vineyard by Augustus Rizza, better known to his friends as Jack. Kelsey Ivory's lovely cross-stitch and plaque with shells sported more blue ribbons.
Many entries had no special ribbons, but I favored them most of all. Emily Lucas photographed jellyfish, Charlotte Benjamin a zebra, and Michael Metcalf a scene with a yucca. Portraits caught my eye: Lonni Phillips's drawing done in colored pencil and Isabella Canham's oil of an Indian in feather regalia.
Sometimes it is hard to see all the handwork entries, but there were some beautiful dolls. I especially admired Ruth Schaffner's handsome geometric quilt and Laura Beebe's honeycomb quilt in beautiful jewel tones.
The Blue Hill Brass musicians again came down from Brunswick, Maine, and wandered the area to entertain us with rousing music. Happy crowds gathered for pig races and rodeo riders and to watch the chainsaw competitions on Saturday.
Win Grimm returned just in time for the fair after spending eight weeks at the Elk Creek Ranch in Wyoming. He has been trained as a Rocky Mountain travel guide, leading people up into the mountains for an extended trip on horseback. He has come back to his job at Vineyard Youth Tennis and soon begins his senior year at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.
Older adults are invited to a free movie with popcorn at the library on Tuesday night at 7 pm. I can only tell you that Jack Nicholson won a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of a man forced to deal with an ambiguous future as he enters retirement.
I was given a couple of beautiful roses recently. They had a faint perfume and lovely colors. They also had a little paper label, which says this flower is Fair Trade Certified. That means it was grown on a Fair Trade farm, where the workers, mainly women, are paid a reasonable wage and treated fairly.
These roses and other Fair Trade flowers are sold at Cronig's Market and at Bowl and Board. They are provided by Ellen O'Brien out of her home on Daggett Avenue. Ellen says that a portion of the profit goes toward creating a better life for the farm communities where the roses are grown, in countries such as Ecuador. See FairTradeCertified.org.
Happy anniversary to David and Elizabeth Beim who celebrate on Saturday.
Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out tomorrow to Arthur Dickson. Cynthia Walker parties on Saturday.
Monday is a special day for Jessica Dolliver. Also that day, artist Millie Briggs celebrates her 95th birthday. This indomitable lady has run two restaurants on the Vineyard and written three cookbooks. She even taught watercolor at Monet's garden. Next Wednesday wish a happy one to Edwin Gould-Hart.
Heard on Main Street: August goeth before the fall.
