I had a truly Edgartown winter Friday night last week, sitting at the Newes with a pint, surrounded by friends, listening to Michael Benjamin play a set of favorite tunes.
It’s those cozy nights, deep in the dark days of winter — those nights the July daytrippers could hardly imagine — that sustain us when the mercury drops so low it risks falling out the bottom of the thermometer. We might not have the beach right now, but we have cozy fires and the warmth of friends. (I can hear a chorus of, “Sure, Linley! Whatever you need to tell yourself!”)
I received email from Sue and Bill Glazier, fresh back from a road trip to Florida. They responded to an ad in the MVTimes to drive a snowbird’s car to Miami while the owner flew down. They had a leisurely drive south, then got to visit with their son, who captains an excursion boat in Miami during the winter, which he brings back to Boston for whale watching during the summer.
A highlight of their trip was visiting the JFK underground bunker on Peanut Island, near where the Kennedy compound used to be at West Palm Beach. The bunker was built during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis and could hold 30 people for 30 days, should there have been a nuclear attack. The bunker is now a museum, open to the public. There is a similar bunker, built at the same time, on Nantucket, which JFK would have used had he been at the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port during a nuclear crisis. This bunker is not yet open to the public. Sue and Bill then flew home, a much quicker way to travel, they said. Sounds like quite the adventure all around.
February 2 is National Job Shadow Day, and the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Leadership Initiative, in partnership with the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, encourages your participation. MVYLI youth will be matched with Vineyard businesses so they can have first-hand experience with jobs in their field. These young people aspire to become actors, mural artists, art educators, business executives, doctors, health-care workers, engineers, educators, farmers, film directors, environmental scientists, psychologists, and youth counselors. Chamber members who’ve expressed an interest include Island Alpaca, Mass Audubon of Felix Neck, Martha’s Vineyard Museum, MVY Radio, Building Shelter, Craig’s Bicycles, Maggie’s Salon, and Rentschler & Company.
Others who are matched with MVYLI youth include Galen Films, SBS, and MVYLI Board members Mark Martin of EcoMV, Sidney Morris (The Farm Institute), and Rubin Cronig (Rubin Douglas watches). The program will take place during after-school hours, from 2:30 to 5 pm, culminating with a reception honoring students and their mentors, hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. To sign up and get more information, please email mvyouthleaders@gmail.com. What a great way to encourage learning while fostering tomorrow’s Vineyard work force.
Looking for something wild to do this weekend? David Ryan’s will host a Wild Game Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 29, to benefit the MV Youth Hockey Scholarship Fund. Dinner at 7 pm includes wine pairings provided by Town Provisions. For ticket information, stop by David Ryan’s or Town Provisions, or call 508-627-2050.
Felix Neck invites you to enjoy an easy walk with Naturalist Susie Bowman while the leaves are down and new vistas are opened up, Thursday, February 3, from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Warm up after your walk with hot beverages in the Discovery Room.
Shelly O’Neil wishes a Happy Big 50 to her wonderful husband and best friend Bobby O’Neil, who celebrated the big day January 21. A toss of confetti to you, sir.
Additional birthday wishes go out to Nancy Whipple, who celebrates Friday, January 28, and to Nonnie Garvin, February 2. Hope you have a lovely time.