West Tisbury

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As I write this I can’t help thinking about Memorial Day weekend that heralds the Vineyard summer. Next it will be Fourth of July, the Fair, Labor Day, and summer will be over. It’s funny to think of how fast it goes before it’s even begun, but that’s the way it feels. Even as fresh spring greens emerge, my mind’s eye sees ahead to the fading colors of fall.

Meanwhile, graduation season is here, with all its stories and triumphs.

Dr. Steven Atwood, VMD MD MRCVS, graduated with a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Massachusetts School of Public Health in Amherst on May 13.

Howard and Diane Wall were in Amherst, too, at their daughter Hilary’s graduation from UMass-Amherst. Hilary and her sister, Tessa, will be home for the summer.

Ruth Kirchmeier met Rolf Ohlhausen in California to attend the graduation of their son, Eli Ohlhausen, from Gould School of Law at UCLA. Ruth’s sister and brother-in-law, Susie and Joel Goldstein, also attended.

Suzanne and Rich Hammond spent last weekend in Burlington, Vt., where their son, Leigh, graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Their daughter, Genevieve, graduates from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School on June 12, and will begin her pre-med studies at UMass-Amherst this fall.

Take an hour out of your afternoon this Friday, May 27, for a jazz concert by the J.C.Trio. It begins at 4 pm at the West Tisbury Library.

I was at Vineyard Gardens the other day and noticed a sign advertising that Jeremiah Brown will sharpen your pruners overnight. Drop them off at Vineyard Gardens. If you go this Saturday morning at 11, you can attend a lecture on Container Gardening.

Also on Saturday, Davina Porter, 2006 Audie Winner for Best Female Narrator, will speak at the library at 4 pm. Her talk is called The Art of Narration.

Allen, Lynne, and Bea Whiting are celebrating their 30th year showing Allen’s paintings at the Davis House Gallery by doing things a little differently. With no fanfare, they will open the gallery on Saturday, May 28, for the summer season. For June, hours will be Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 6 pm, and by appointment. Beginning June 30, hours expand to Thursday through Sunday. Look for the big event at Featherstone on July 3, when Allen will open a retrospective of his artistic career.

The Granary, the Field Gallery, Glassworks Gallery, and the Treehouse Gallery have all been open for a while (The Granary is open year-round.) Family Planning’s Annual Art Show will be held this weekend at the Ag Hall. Joan Merry’s Gossamer Gallery will open this Saturday. Wendy Weldon’s exhibition at the West Tisbury Library continues through the end of the month

I will be opening my gallery, Hermine Merel Smith Fine Art, on Saturday, May 28, with no fanfare as always. Ruth Kirchmeier’s woodcuts and my oil paintings will be exhibited throughout the summer, Thursdays through Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm, or by appointment. Our party will be July 10 this year, so mark your calendars.

On Sunday, May 29, “The Art of Jewelry” will open at Featherstone with a reception from 4 to 6 pm. Curated by Anne Besse Shepherd, daughter of Featherstone founder Virginia Weston Besse, the exhibition will feature work by West Tisbury jewelers Andrea Hartman, Kathy Tackabury, and Beth McElhiney, among others.

Parks and Rec invites the public to a meeting on June 1, 7 pm, at the Howes House. On the agenda: dog policy at Lambert’s Cove Beach.

A heads-up: Next Friday evening, June 3, the West Tisbury Church will host a concert by the Merrimack Valley Ringers. More next week.

Fiddlehead Farm opens for the season today, May 26. Not a moment too soon. I’ve been watching Bob Skydell working in the garden and dreaming of their almond croissants, wonderful pasta and cheese, rib-eye steaks, and fresh figs.

A new farm stand opens this year at Nip ‘n’ Tuck Farm, manned by Prudence Fisher. Almost everything will be organic, mostly from their own and other Island farms. Mermaid Farm milk, yogurt, and cheese will be available there. Meat, eggs, herbs, vegetables, ice cream, olive oil, and cold drinks can be had between 9 am and 6:30 pm every day. It all sounds wonderful.

When I saw young Dan Larsen the other day he invited me to sample the Po’ Boy sandwich he and his brother, Sam, had spent the winter perfecting. Martha Fleishman and I shared one made with oysters and one with scallops. Both were delicious, although we couldn’t decide which we liked better. Fortunately, we have the whole summer to experiment, as the sandwiches are on the lunch menu at Edgartown Seafood. It’s worth many trips to Edgartown.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday weekend.