Last Night revelers ignored wet weather

By Janet Hefler - January 5, 2006

Neither rain nor sleet put a damper on New Year's Eve and Day in Vineyard Haven, as Last Night, First Day festivities ushered 2005 out with a bang and 2006 in with a laugh.

The event's organizers, a committee from the Tisbury Volunteer Ambulance Association, deemed it a success, judging from attendance, button purchases, and donations. Button holders were entitled to admission to several events held Saturday and Sunday in Vineyard Haven.

"I know we average probably around 700 buttons annually," said Jeff Pratt, Tisbury's EMT director and one of the event's organizers. "We think we might be up a little this year. We had a nice turnout, despite the weather."

Part of the proceeds from the button sales, plus donations, will go toward funding the event in 2006. Thanks to a good turnout, said Mr. Kristal, "The good thing is we know there will be an event next year."

The Last Night, First Day activities kicked off with a showing of "Peter Pan," the original Disney animated version, at the Katharine Cornell Memorial Theatre at 11:30 am.

"We had a wonderful crowd, about 90 to 100 people, with more than half of them small children," said Richard Paradise, Silver Screen Film Society chairman, who coordinated the event. "The children were very well behaved this year. A few tried to get up on the stage, but generally, it went off very well."

Many moviegoers headed off for lunch afterwards with the Tisbury volunteer firefighters at the event's welcome center in the Baptist Church parish hall on Spring and Williams Streets, creating a temporary shortage of hot dogs.

Firefighters from the ladder company and engine one, 10 from each truck, took turns serving lunch and dinner from 1 to 8 pm, an event they started three years ago. They raised about $840, which will be split between the two trucks and will go toward buying spare uniforms, jackets, flowers for funerals and other miscellaneous expenses not covered by the town.

The firefighters' menu included donations of clam chowder from the Net Result, hot dogs from Stop & Shop Supermarket, and desserts from several individuals.

Russell Maciel, captain of the ladder truck, said that homemade chili from Glen DeBlase, the captain of engine one, "went over real good," as did the hot apple cider contributed by John Schilling, Tisbury's fire chief. However, Mr. Maciel warned, "The chief won't give out his recipe!"

Musical events provided a variety of styles for every taste and age. Performances by Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish and Maynard Silva and Friends "were packed," said Mr. Pratt. "The venue for Maynard's performance at MV Sail was fabulous, very homey and comfortable - a great place to listen to music."

Adding to folk music performances by Mark Lovewell and Tristan Israel at the Unitarian-Universalist Church was a surprise appearance by Willie Mason, a well-known Vineyard resident who has toured nationally and in Europe and Japan, Mr. Pratt said.

"We held an all-age rock concert after the fireworks at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, and had a big turnout," said Mr. Pratt. "It gives teens an alcohol-free place to go." He said he enjoyed the bands, Pink Socks and Sapphire Vagabond, and a third unnamed band that "just jammed," until his hearing gave out.

While the landlubbers listened to music, partygoers aboard the Tisbury Ambulance Fireworks Cruise on the New England Fast Ferry enjoyed a picnic buffet dinner, a Ben and Jerry's ice cream bar and music by the Stingrays.

"The boat cruise was fantastic, with about 75 to 80 people onboard," said Mr. Kristal. "The captain kept us in great shape, with a steady floor for dancing."

As the rain grew heavier and turned to sleet, it became questionable whether the cruise would include the "fireworks" promised in its name. Much to everyone's delight, a spectacular display provided by C. R. Pyro fireworks company from Littleton lit up the sky at 9 pm as scheduled, with the cloud cover seeming to enhance more than diffuse the brilliant colors.

"Those fireworks guys are the hardest working, bravest, rugged crew that I know," Mr. Pratt said. "The reason they were able to shoot them off was that it was dry when they set up."

The crew started at noon and worked all afternoon in 34-degree weather, with rain and wet snow starting around 7 pm. Although a rain date was planned for the next night, shooting off the fireworks was a "game-time decision," Mr. Pratt said. "We had decided that if at all possible, we would shoot the fireworks off on New Year's Eve. That is when most people have made their plans. By New Year's night, they don't really want to go out."

The next day, however, many Islanders turned out to launch 2006 with a laugh, gathering at noon to create "crazy zany hats" at the Tisbury Ambulance facility, followed by a parade at 1 pm. "It was probably the largest crowd we have ever had," said Mr. Kristal.

Before seeing the estimated 100 people lined up for the parade in their colorful hats, Mr. Pratt said, "I could tell we had a huge turnout by the amount of glitter I saw in every corner of this building!"

The parade goers marched up Vineyard Haven's Main Street and down Union Street, stopping in front of the Steamship Authority terminal for an awards ceremony. Jacob Sachs won first place in the children's category, walking away with a five-pound solid bar of Hershey's chocolate and his choice of movie, Boston Museum of Science or New England Aquarium passes. Karen Caldwell won first prize in the adult category, an overnight stay in the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston, including breakfast.

The grand finale of the awards ceremony was the drawing for the winning ticket from the Tisbury Ambulance Association's New Year's raffle. The winner, Melissa Clay of West Tisbury, and her guest will be flown by Cape Air to Boston for an overnight stay at the Hyatt Harborside in Boston and dinner at one of Todd English's restaurants.

Now that Last Night, First Day is over, Mr. Kristal and Mr. Pratt both said planning will begin for next year. The Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce and MVOL.com also worked with the ambulance association to coordinate Last Night, First Day activities.

"What is most important is that this event would not happen without the community's support," said Mr. Pratt. "It comes from private businesses, individuals that give us donations large and small, organizations, musicians willing to play for short money on New Year's Eve, the New England Fast Ferry donating the fuel and crew, and our many sponsors and supporters.

"So while it may be difficult to single out everyone, and I do not want to leave anybody out, with a wide paintbrush I want to say thank you. We will be following up with a thank you to all," Mr. Pratt said.