This was the final week for my niece and nephew’s first Island visit, but on their last day we had a real scare when our babysitter was stung by a bee, a first for her, and she turned out to be allergic. Do not delay, call 911 if you have trouble breathing after a sting. Luckily everything turned out okay. We’ve had rain, stunning sunsets, Saturday night fireworks visible over the ocean and everywhere I go cars, cars, cars. I guess the real crowds arrive this week and we have nine days before President Obama and his family arrive. Keep enjoying summer.
I finally made it to the Chilmark Flea on a perfect Saturday and the first people I ran into were Kathy Cerick and her husband Charles Fitzgerald (owners for 27 years of Edgartown’s In the Woods store). They are doing the Flea this summer with a mini-version of items they used to carry and are enjoying their daughters, Kate (a Yoga instructor and actress in New York City) on Island for a brief visit, and Liane who was under the white tent next to theirs selling her line of Roy swimwear. The last time we ran into one another was in NYC. So glad they told me to try the Thai spring rolls for sale, a perfect lunch.
Congratulations to Thorpe Karabees, from Chilmark, invited to join the class of 2018 at University of Vermont’s Honor College. He went up to Vermont in June with his mom and younger brother for his orientation and looks forward to majoring in history. In the meantime Thorpe can be found working at Chilmark Chocolates.
The Chilmark Library will be busy with Felix Neck Director Suzan Bellincampi discussing her new book, “Martha’s Vineyard: A Field Guide to Island Nature,” Wednesday, July 30, 5 pm. The book is an updated version of “Moraine to Marsh,” a companion of Vineyard nature enthusiasts since 1988, written by Anne Hale, one of founders of Felix Neck. Next, Boston University Professor Cathy Utzschneider will talk about her book “Mastering Running – Run Your Best at Age 30 and Beyond,” a guide for runners and athletes of all ages on Wednesday, August 6, at 5 pm. For more information, call 508-645-3360.
Coming to Chilmark Community Center (CCC) Author Lecture Series are Andre Dubus III discussing “Dirty Love,” a collection of four novellas about love and betrayal set in a New England coastal town, Sunday, August 3, 7:30 pm. Ron Suskind will speak about “Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism,” detailing how he and his wife, Cornelia, turned their son Owen’s fixation on Disney movies into a remarkable journey to reach him and find a common language to express complex thought and emotions. Tickets available at CCC (M-F, 9-12 only) and ticketsmv.com.
Come and celebrate with sixty-year Chilmark resident Jules Worthington at his 30th anniversary exhibit of paintings at the bank (Santander), Friday, August. 1, 4–6 pm.
This week I picked up Turar Abakirov who needed a ride on Middle Road to his job at Chilmark Tavern. Turar last worked on the Island four summers ago and has since received his B.A. from the American University in Central Asia and is now pursuing an MA in Accounting at New York’s Pace University. He is looking for an accounting internship and is available immediately; if you or anyone you know can help, contact Turar at 646-920-4058 or 2rar@inbox.ru.
Put your dancing shoes on for “Pride, Not Prejudice,” an outdoor Tea Dance open to all ages celebrating 10 years of marriage equality in Massachusetts, Saturday, August 2, 4 – 10 pm. at The Yard. For more information, dancetheyard.org.