I hope that everyone had a great Father’s Day! I was McCaull’s sous chef for a fabulous Father’s Day dinner for Douglas — steak, fresh asparagus, sugar snap peas, mashed potatoes, grilled garlic bread and Chilmark Chocolates for dessert. McCaull and I stopped by Rusty’s Ghost Farm farmstand at Nip ‘n’ Tuck to buy our delicious veggies and admire what a great job Rusty and Sarah have done. Sarah’s folks were visiting and she had her mom weeding in the front garden and her dad harvesting in the back. Now that’s a productive visit! We even had a chance to meet Freddy Fisher’s new calf.
This is my favorite time of year. Folks with wet heads are walking around smiling about their swim at Ice House and Lamberts Cove, Magnolia virginiana is blooming, and our summer visitors starting to return. Nancy Evoy, Nancy Strauss, and Ellen Weiss are back. Julia Fleischner and her lovely daughters, Margaret and Caroline, have been by the library to say hello and check out our “annex.” The Rabins, Arnold and Sydell, have been sighted.
Speaking of visitors, Danzy Senna and her family will be here visiting Jennifer Tseng and her family, and Amy Hoff’s mom, Patricia Falvo, will also be visiting this week.
Next time you are walking around town you might see Xing Senna riding her red Huffy Mega Force bike! It is a hand-me-down from Clare Boland all the way from Illinois.
Zen Hughes attended a party for Meagan McDonough who is just back from her travels Down Under. Megan will next be heading for Warren Wilson College and Zen is moving closer to home, continuing her studies at Boston University.
Nelia just got back from a fabulous visit with Charlotte Costa way down in North Carolina. Charlotte gave her a tour of her potting studio, her gardens and her artfully decorated house. Charlotte is doing her amazingly creative things and says a big hello to all her Vineyard friends.
Kids keep reminding me that the last day of school is June 24th and the Charter School lets out on the 21st — but who’s counting?
Proud mom Laura Coit wants everyone to know that her son, Connor Boland, just graduated Summa Cum Laude from UMASS/Amherst (wow! Congrats Connor!).
In other graduation news, Leah Smith shared her news that granddaughter Nova has graduated from Grace Preschool. Watch out, world!
Birthday wishes to Jean Wexler and Hallie Mentzel.
The Wednesday Farmer’s Market began this week and the Summer Vineyard Artisans Festival began Sunday the 9th. Summer really is here.
Joyce from the Up-Island Council on Aging wants to invite everyone to the Howes House Annual Art Show. View the works of the members of the Friday painting group on June 21st from 12 noon to 4 pm and June 22 from 9 am to 2 pm.
The Annual Strawberry Festival (25th anniversary!) will be held this Saturday, June 22, at the Congregational Church from 12 noon to 4 pm. Kick off your summer with strawberry shortcake, whipped cream, ice cream, or a delicious smoothie.
Lee Revere just phoned in about this year’s Friends of the West Tisbury Library Book Sale, which will be the last weekend in July (Friday the 26th through Monday the 30th). Lee says the sheds are full to capacity and asks that you bring your donations directly to the West Tisbury School Auditorium beginning Monday July 1, Monday through Friday, 8 am till 12 noon.
Be sure to come into the W.T. Library when school gets out and sign up for summer reading…”Dig into reading@your library” is the theme. The tee-shirts are really great this year!
Remember that the Library will stay open on Sundays this summer. Come on in and say hi and get your CLAMS card.
The Library’s last Mother Goose on the Loose story time at M.V. Community Services will be on July 30. The Thursday morning library story times will continue to alternate between the Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven Libraries. Call the West Tisbury Library at 693-3366 for more information.
Nelia and I went to Worcester last week for a Massachusetts Library System Conference entitled “Making Change: Transformation and Creativity in Libraries.” It was a fascinating day addressing the changing roles of public libraries. One of the presenters was West Tisbury’s own Nancy Cole, who led a talk on “Community Curators: Using the Community to Create Exhibit.” When you see a bunch of Vineyard librarians on the boat you know that something great is in the air!
The Library building project is at its halfway point. Most of the underground work is done and the builders are busily framing. I had a chance to speak with the Selectmen last week about the progress and I look forward to inviting them to our “topping out” ceremony later this month.
Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, June 25, in the Special State Election. Polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm at the Public Safety Building.
Thanks to Hermine for inviting me to guest-write this week’s column. Hope you had a great time!
