Town Column : West Tisbury
By Hermine Hull
Published: March 11, 2010
People are coming and going at this time of year. I was thrilled to see my friend Linda Hearn home after three weeks away in Florida with her husband, Glenn. It sounds like they had a terrific time. Linda said the weather was cool the whole time they were there, but she read lots of books and took lots of photographs, making it a perfect vacation for her. A wily alligator was her most memorable subject. He posed on shore at the Ding Darling Nature Center for several photographers, but when Linda and Glenn looked back at him, they noticed one slit of an eye open and watching everything.
The weekly display of flowers at Cronig's last week featured bouquets of tulips in a rainbow of colors. My choice, a fiery orange, has fully opened now, with yellow streaks along the petals, their stems bending gracefully. The energy of the color and the type of flower itself has brought spring into our living room.
Just in time for Daylight Savings Time, which goes into effect this weekend. Don't forget to "spring ahead" before going to bed Saturday night.
Don't forget to register to vote if you haven't done so yet. If you are eligible to vote and are not registered, the last day to do so before our upcoming town elections is March 26. Town Clerk Tara Whiting is in her office on the first floor of Town Hall every weekday morning between 8:30 and 1:30.
ACO Joan Jenkinson wants to remind everyone who hasn't yet gotten their dog license that it can be obtained from the Town Clerk. Joanie will be available at the up-coming 2010 Rabies Clinic on April 3 if you still haven't done it by then. The clinic will be held right in West Tisbury this year. I'll have a reminder and more information closer to the date.
Wishes for a "Happy Birthday" go to Alma Benson, who turns 90 on March 9. She makes it look so easy, as she remains at her job at Cottle's and active around town. Many happy returns!
If you happened to be watching "Who Do You Think You Are?" last Friday evening, you would have seen Mary Beth Norton, West Tisbury summer resident and renowned historian. Mary Beth informed Sarah Jessica Parker, the celebrity searching for her ancestors, that one of them had been accused of witchcraft in Salem. To SJP's great relief, her great-great-great whatever had not been burned at the stake and was subsequently exonerated. It was fun to see Mary Beth in her professorial role; during the winter she teaches at Cornell University, and has written about the Salem Witch Trials. I was sorry not to have been able to get this information into last week's column, in time for everyone to see the show.
Several West Tisbury actors will be performing in Gilbert and Sullivan's "Trial By Jury" the next two weekends at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. Susie Bowman, Betsy Gately, Joe Gervais, Martha Moore, and Binnie Ravitch are our resident cast members. Marty Moore describes the play as an "amusing one-act musical about a jilted bride." Friday and Saturday evening shows begin at 7:30 pm. Sunday matinees are at 3 pm. Dates are March 12, 13, 14, and March 19, 20, 21.
Along Edgartown Road you can see lavender crocuses and white snowdrops brightening the roadside from Kernick's to God's Pocket. At midday they are at their best, fully opened to the sun. They should be appearing soon in front of Riggs's, on the shadier side of the road where things are later.
An unnamed (as asked) friend called the bare winter trees "nature's lace." I thought it such a pretty description. I love seeing the structure of the trees and the patterns the branches make in the winter, and although I admit to being thrilled at the sight of early bulbs and green growth coming forth, part of me will miss the dark tracery of branches against white snow.
