The outside temperature was 38 degrees at our house Monday morning. Mike started a little fire in the woodstove to take the chill off while we had our breakfast. Cozy. Our cat, Grace, is curled up in her quilt as sunshine pours in, warming up the house.
West Tisbury has been saddened by the loss of two well-known people-about-town. Dede Hagen died Thursday night, from a cancer that never seemed to dim her spirit or her smile. On Friday evening, Todd Follansbee died suddenly and unexpectedly after spending a lovely day in his garden. Both were with people who loved them, as now friends and families gather to mourn and support one another. My condolences to the Hagen and Mayhew/Follansbee families.
Dr. Enid Haller has opened her Martha’s Vineyard Lyme Center at 38A Panhandle Road, across from the Ag Hall. The walk-in facility will offer free information and consultations regarding Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Appointments can be arranged by calling 508-693-1846. Hours are: Monday through Thursday, noon to 6 pm. Take a look at their website: mvlymecenter.org.
Paul Karasik has one of his cartoons in this week’s New Yorker magazine. Take a look.
Lee O’Gorman called with an interesting request. She is part of a ballroom dancing group that meets every Sunday evening, 7 to 9 pm, at the P-A Club in Oak Bluffs. She wants to spread the news and invite anyone interesting in dancing to join the group. Especially, “more gentlemen are needed.” So if you like to rhumba, salsa, waltz, or whatever, consider yourself invited.
Pam Thors wants to remind anyone planning to apply for a CPA grant that the deadline is Friday, September 21. Please drop off your proposal to Pam at Town Hall.
West Tisbury Library Foundation members Dan Waters and Hunter Moorman have big news about a $35,000 Challenge Grant from “a generous family of enthusiastic library supporters.” All donations made to the Foundation will be matched, up to $35,000. The Foundation is trying to raise additional money for three “green” enhancements to the library project: a semipervious surface for the parking lot that will protect the water supply and surrounding wetlands; hardwood floors inside the building, considered to be healthier and longer lasting than carpet; and landscaping with native plantings that will require minimal care and water. Hunter says, “The library is deeply committed to the safety, health benefits, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and natural beauty these features afford.” If you can, take the challenge, and see your contribution doubled. For more information, contact Hunter by phone at 202-309-4896. Donations may be mailed to POB 1238, West Tisbury or made through wtlibraryfoundation.org.
Librarian Nelia Decker asked me to clarify that the book drop and sheds at the school are only for donated materials for the Friends’ Book Sale. All library materials have to be returned to the library.
About that, Director Beth Kramer and her staff are interested to know what would be most important to you to have in the temporary library. As you know, space will be limited, so you need to make your priorities known.
Lastly, the plant sale and give-away that was announced last week has been changed to purely give-away. All plants will be free when you arrive to dig them up on October 13, or rain date, October 14.
I’ve been driving down Memory Lane lately, Old County Road in reality. When I was a kid, resurfacing the roads always coincided with the start of the school year, and that tar/asphalt/oil smell makes me feel six years old, skipping along East Ridge to Veterans Park Elementary School in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Tar balls clung to our clothes and oily footprints were tracked everywhere. It’s such an evocative smell, toxins notwithstanding, and the roadways are looking beautiful. So far, Old County, Scotchman’s, and Tiah’s Cove are done or in progress.
Competing with road oil is the smell of autumn clematis in its full glory. The tendrils climb and weave to blanket trees and fences with clouds of tiny white flowers. In truth, the sweet fragrance of the clematis easily overpowers everything else in its vicinity. For which I am grateful.
