Town Column : West Tisbury
By Hermine Hull
Published: February 25, 2010
All of a sudden snowdrops seem to have appeared all over town. Mike and I had breakfast with his cousins, Dan and Sunday Hull, and cleared off leaves from a good-sized patch blooming by their entryway. Afterwards, I looked around our yard, finding snowdrops in stages from blooming to poking through the soil, depending on where they're planted. Beneath Bessire's hedge, bulbs are beginning to show color. All along Music Street, front lawns are bedecked with swaths of white, either snow or the flowers bearing its name. Joanne Scott, newly settled into the former Miss Betty Knox house at 43 Music Street, reports "the house is surrounded with snowdrops just opening."
It's hard to believe it's already March. When I was at the library on Saturday, Colleen Morris was printing out information about programs and events for the new month. March is "Grace Kelly Month" for the Monday Night Movies, free at 7 pm. Our exhibiting artist is Lynn Christoffers, who will show selections from her series of photographs, "Cats on the Vineyard." The Winter Reading Series begins the first Wednesday in March, 5:30 pm, and continues through the month at that day and time featuring writers from Provincetown's Fine Arts Work Center.
Having watched the deteriorating conditions in Haiti following last month's earthquake, one wants to help without knowing quite what to do. Here's something easy. Church World Services has asked for Hygiene Kits to replace their depleted supplies. Completed kits can be delivered to the West Tisbury Church weekdays between 9 and 1 o'clock or at Sunday morning service. Please pack the following in a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure: 1 hand towel measuring approximately 16 x 28 inches, 1 washcloth, 1 wide-tooth comb, 1 nail clipper, 1 bar of soap (bath size, in wrapper,) 1 toothbrush (in original packaging,) 6 standard-size Band-Aids. Toothpaste will be added by CWS. Thanks for your help.
Lindsay Lehman will be participating in this year's Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in honor of her mother, Brenda, who was diagnosed last Thanksgiving and has proceeded with treatments to "kick cancer's butt." Lindsay is looking for sponsors. If you are interested, please look at her site, http://info.avon foundation.org/site/ TR/Walk/Boston or email her at dr_111@yahoo.com. She also asks for "support, prayers, and encouragement."
Mike and I had a nice, unexpected visit with Gay and Art Nelson yesterday afternoon. We had left the church after attending a memorial service for Jim French, walked over to Mike's truck parked at town hall, and realized he had locked his keys in the truck. I was enjoying the view, preparing to walk home, while Mike was swearing and looking through his tool chest for something he could open the door with, when Art and Gay appeared. Art went off to help Mike while Gay and I admired the plantings and the sunshine. The guys soon joined us, having opened the door. Of course, we all indulged in good-natured ribbing of my so competent and careful husband. As clouds invariably have silver linings, it was a treat to have the opportunity to chat with the Nelsons, who would otherwise have come along long after we left.
During our conversation, Gay reminisced about her early days as Children's Librarian at the old Music Street library. She said one day Nancy Whiting asked her, "How would you like to work here?" Jamie Alley, a volunteer at that time, taught her all about the job. I cannot think of a child growing up in West Tisbury who didn't adore Gay and benefit from her nurturing kindness and love of books.
Along those lines, Nelia Decker, our beloved current children's librarian, is working on a project with all the island's children's librarians, a guide called "What's Available for Kids?" If you are offering a program for children or families this summer 2010, please let Nelia know. You can reach her at the library, 508-693-3366.
I always smile at the thought of Bob and Suzi Wasserman sharing the same birthday. Their February 18 birthday this year was celebrated this past weekend, when their daughter, Sarah, came from Boston with her husband, Brian Bassett, and their boys, Henry and Hugh. Hugh was running around the kitchen when I stopped in Sunday morning. I had been invited over to see the game Henry invented as a gift for his grandfather. The board was a map of London's tube stations and the game included hazards and clues, all on cards bearing pictures of Henry himself in each setting. The photographs had been taken over the years (nine) during family visits to the Wasserman's London apartment. Everyone was settling at the dining table to try it out.
I just learned that Karen Ogden lost her Orion on Sunday. He was a magnificent golden retriever, trained search and rescue dog, rally champion, and dear companion. He will be missed by all who knew him, especially Karen and his canine housemates: Hollis, Austin, Nolan, and Max. My condolences to them all.
Jars of honey appeared at Susie and Andy Boass's stand on Middle Road. Ducks are swimming on the Mill Pond. There is a warmth to the color and light of the landscape, a scent of spring.
