Happy Derby, people! That’s right, the 66th Annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Tournament is in full swing and will continue until October 15, and the stories are already rolling in. The Murray men, Graham and Zack, pulled in a father-son pair of blues on Saturday, with the help of Captain Ed Jerome, landing both on the daily leaderboard. The kiddies took to the O.B. ferry wharf on Sunday for their special day. Brooke Avakian has yet to get her sea legs, and her first day out left her a bit green. The weigh-in station is the place to be for the next three weeks, so grab an ice cream cone and go see some fish — that is, if you’re not out there seeking the Big One yourself. As of this writing, nearly 5,000 pounds of fish have been weighed in. Visit mvderby.com for up-to-date standings.
I got a tour of Lee and Cheryl Welch’s new boat last week, finally getting to see the result of all the weekends away and elbow grease that I heard so much about last winter and spring. The new Live Wire is quite the beautiful vessel, and I have no doubt many a good time will grace her deck and cabin.
What a whirlwind last weekend was for the Morgan clan. With uncles and aunts in from all points beyond, everyone came to honor my grandfather, Ted Morgan, on his 90th birthday. I missed the main event, but was able to make it back from Boston for a Sunday brunch at the Harbor View with the immediate family before everyone headed back to homes near and far. Everyone is buzzing about the unexpected contribution of $90,000 to the Boys and Girls Club made by a friend from New Orleans in honor of Gramp’s 90 years. May the funds contribute to molding children into pillars of the community in much the same vein as my grandfather.
Hospice of MV will host their annual Handmade from the Heart fundraiser during Christmas in Edgartown weekend and would like to invite local artisans and bakers to contribute. Any handmade items are welcome and will be sold December 10 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Dr. Daniel Fisher house. Contact Terre Young at the Hospice office for more information, 508-693-0189.
Edgartown Residents Ellie Bates, Jeanne Hewett, Dorris Housman, and Ed Housman are members of the Howes House Writers Group who will read from their newly published journal Thursday, Sept. 22, at 5 pm at the West Tisbury Library. The Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council has supported the publication, which highlights writing from residents of each Island town in a variety of genres: memoir, fiction, nonfiction, biography, and poetry.
The Living Local Harvest Festival kicks off Friday, Sept. 30, with a weekend packed full of events, including storytelling, interactive demos, music, potluck food, children’s activities, and more, all in celebration and practice of local food and energy production, marine life, natural resource and land conservation, and the benefits of buying local. Learn to fillet a fish while your child carves a pumpkin and presses cider, all while celebrating the local harvest. For a full schedule of events, visit livinglocalmv.org.
If you have any old computers, printers, electrical appliances (small and large), stereos, 8 tracks, or ACs taking up space in your basement or garage, mark your calendar for the Electronic Disposal Day, Saturday, October 1, from 9 am to 2 pm at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services on the Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road across from the high school. Round up all your old toaster ovens, hair dryers, refrigerators, tape recorders, etc., and bring them by — all to benefit Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.
Felix Neck has an exciting program coming up, in conjunction with ACE MV. Wild Edibles will teach you to identify and prepare the cornucopia of wild foods available right in your backyards and Island neighborhoods. Classes will meet Thursday afternoons in October and November with Suzan Bellincampi. For more information, and to register, visit acemv.org.
Birthday wishes go out to Cammie Naylor, who celebrated September 21. Upcoming, we have Michael Donaroma, September 23; James Condlin, September 25; and Walter Morrison, September 26. Cake and ice cream all around.
