I love August. July always feels so rushed. It finally gets nice out, and we feel like we need to fight to fit it all in — be outside all the time, eat every grilled hot dog and hamburger in sight, jump in every body of water, lament every rain delay — but when August rolls around, we can heave a collective sigh, knowing that there is still so much summer ahead. So maybe that’s something to think about when you are stuck in Triangle traffic: we still have a lot of summer left to go.
We all know by now how I feel about fresh garden vegetables. (If you’re new to this column, check the archives. I love me a fresh cuke or tomato.) So, as my property is currently a building site, and the only thing growing is a house, I have to thank Jill Walpole for taking pity on my veggie-less state with the gift of two home grown cucumbers. Earlier in the summer, while raiding her snap peas, I quipped that it’s not the deer you have to look out for in your garden this summer, it’s the Dolbys.
Welcome to the Stanuses, who are visiting for the weekend. Maureen and the Geris — Both big and little — arrive today from Pennsylvania, joining daughter Kathleen who has been hanging out with her cousins all week. Hope you guys have a good time.
Hey kids: There are some fun events coming up at the Edgartown Public Library. Bring your parents to see Milkweed Puppets presentation of The Sun’s Sister, a colorful folktale from Lapland, Saturday, August 6, at 11 am on the library lawn (at the Anchors Senior Center if it’s rainy). Also, Thursday, August 11, Madeline is coming to visit. Bring your parents to story hour at 10:30 am or 3 pm and introduce them to Madeline, your favorite little lady from Ludwig Bemelman’s classic children’s books.
If I have learned one thing from writing this column, it is this: August is Pancake Season here on M.V. Time to take a break from the grill and hit the griddle—the flapjacks have arrived.
First, on Sunday, August 7, from 7 am to 1 pm, the Rotary Club will hold their 20th (!) annual Pancake Breakfast at The Anchors, across from Memorial Wharf, offering all-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon, sausage, juice, and coffee. Proceeds are disbursed among many Island charities and organizations, such as the Food Pantry, Boys and Girls Club, and Windemere.
The pancake fest continues, as the Missions Committee of the Federated Church invites you to their seventh annual Blueberry Pancake Brunch Sunday, August 14, from 8:30 to 10:30 am in the Parish House at 45 South Summer Street. Offerings will include blueberry pancakes, syrup, sausage, lemonade, coffee, and blueberries sold by the pint. The event will benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group.
The Community Solar Greenhouse welcomes David Crohan, with Jenny Friedman, to the Old Whaling Church Sunday, August 7 at 4:30 pm. The money raised will benefit the Top Hat Fund (a new roof for the greenhouse).
Flatbread is for the birds! Join Felix Neck naturalists, Tuesday, August 9 from 4 pm till close, for feel-good food and fun at Flatbread Pizza at Nectar’s M.V. A portion of every pizza sale goes directly to Felix Neck to support nature and wildlife protection on Martha’s Vineyard. For more details, contact Mass Audubon’s Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-627-4850.
The fifth annual Federated Church House Tour will be held on Tuesday, August 9. This year, four beautiful and historic homes are included in the tour, all within two blocks of the Meetinghouse, and Edgartown historian Mary Jane Carpenter will speak about the houses and the 1828 Federated Meetinghouse before the tour starts. A boxed luncheon to be served on the lawn of the Mayhew Parsonage will be offered. The luncheon starts at 12 noon, lecture at 1:30 pm in the Meetinghouse and tour from 2 to 4:30 pm. For reservations for luncheon, please email requests to voses@verizon.net.
Phew, I’m running out of breath, but if you see the following folks, wish them a happy birthday. Belated wished go out to Steve Galligan who celebrated July 28. Wishes also go out to Zach Ward, Melanie Rankow Prescott, and my momma, Pam Dolby, on August 5; to Colette Fischer and Ezra Agnew, August 6; to Elizabeth Paulson Ward, August 7; and Amelia Ball, August 10.
