The wind blew, and with no rain, everything is drier than one would expect after our snowy winter. Some days have been overcast, some perfect warm sunshine. But we really need rain.
If you drive down Edgartown Road, take a look at Harriet Bernstein’s yard (there’s a red hat on a post at the end of the driveway.) Her three spectacular Kwanzan cherry trees are in full bloom, completely spanning the front of her property. They make quite a sight from the road.
Many of you will remember Joan and Bill Lamont and their kids, who spent many summers here in their home on Charles Neck Way; Colorado East was what they called it. Sadly, they sold their house in the ’90s, and have only been back a few times. The latest was last Wednesday and Thursday. They had “the most perfect ferry ride,” according to Joan, and perfect days for riding their bikes around the Island. They were on the East Coast for their eldest grandson, Lamont Gross’s, graduation from Boston College, and took the extra days to visit the Island. We had dinner together here Wednesday night. It felt just like our many dinners when we were all just down the road from one another. Even to Mike getting called on his pager to a brush fire.
There have been so many fire calls lately for brush fires. The department is on high alert, as conditions are so terribly dry. Thankfully, all have been small and containable. Please, everyone, be extra careful. Our Island is like a tinderbox right now, and an out-of-control brush fire would be disastrous. Every town has had small fires called in.
Another note of caution: a reminder to leave your car windows all wide open and park in the shade if you have a dog in the car. Don’t leave him or her for any length of time, as cars can heat up terribly fast.
A note on the passing of Edie Baker’s beloved golden, Lily. (NOT from an overheated car; she had a charmed life with Edie.) Lily was adopted at age 3, and lived to almost 16. It was one of those serendipitous conversations where Mike and I were at our Sunday airport breakfast talking to Jane Hawkes and Alison McKinley about the dogs we had all recently rescued from various shelters. Edie was looking for a dog, and I mentioned a golden we had heard about. Lee Dubin made the arrangements, and Lily arrived in Edie’s life. I’m so glad it was a long and happy friendship.
On Saturday May 23 at 3 pm, the library will hold another Lego Club extravaganza.
Please join Tim Boland on Saturday, May 30, at 2:30 pm at the library for the final talk in his series. Tim will discuss the landscaping of the new library, and take participants on a tour of the grounds.
The library will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Please remember that the library is now closed on Sundays till mid-October, but will continue to host special events on Sundays.
There will be two free concerts this month at the West Tisbury library. On Friday, May 29, at 7 pm, the Martha’s Vineyard Peace Council will be offering “Music Presented in the Cause of Peace,” featuring music by Bach, Liszt, Schubert, and others performed by pianist Lisa Weiss, accompanied by soprano Stephanie Barnes and mezzo-soprano Martha Hudson, with Jesse Keller, dancer. On Sunday, May 31, at 4 pm, Sara Rosenthal and Julie Prazich will sponsor the first annual “Remembering the Rosenthals” concert, featuring Diane Katzenberg Braun and Music Street playing works by Beethoven, Ravel, Bartok, and others.
Both concerts are free and open to the public. Please call the library at 508-683-3366 to reserve a seat. Seating is limited.
Volume Two of a projected three-volume biography by local resident and author Paul Magid has arrived at our library. The Gray Fox: George Crook and the Indian Wars opens in 1866, when General Crook began his series of campaigns against the Paiutes, Apaches, Sioux, and Cheyennes. The first volume was George Crook: From Redwoods to Appomattox, if you want to start at the beginning.
Dane Boggs, author of Reiki Awakening, will be guest speaker at the Howes House this Friday evening, May 22, 7 to 9 pm. Sponsored by the Lyme Center of Martha’s Vineyard, he will discuss his personal victory over Lyme with the help of Rife and Reiki therapies. Rife machines will be available for demonstrations. His lecture, “A Path to Wellness: Fighting Lyme Disease,” is open to the public.
The Chilmark Women’s Symposium XXXV is this Saturday, May 23, from 9 to noon at the Chilmark Community Center. The topic is “Just When You Thought …” There are talks and small group conversations, and the best things to eat with coffee or tea. It’s free, but donations are much appreciated.
The Teen Library Club will meet at 4 pm on Wednesday, May 27, for a movie at the library. Popcorn will be served.
If you are interested in architecture and Island history, the Federated Church Meetinghouse has announced that it will be open to the public from 11 am to 1 pm daily from May 25 through Oct. 12. It’s a beautiful building on the corner of South Summer Street and Cooke Street in Edgartown. It was designed by Frederick Baylies Jr., also the designer and builder of the Baptist Church on School Street, now a private home, and the iconic Old Whaling Church on Main Street. Built in 1828, it was the fifth Meetinghouse of the First Congregational Church of Martha’s Vineyard. In 1925, the Baptist Church merged with the Congregational Church, forming what is now the Federated Church. This will be an opportunity to see and enjoy this building if you are not already familiar with it. For more information, visit the website federatedchurchmv.org, or call 508 627-4221.
A short column this week. My cousin Hannah Beecher and I are going off-Island to attend Bob Henry’s funeral service in Bethesda, Md., on Sunday afternoon. I wanted to get the column in before we leave on Saturday. Apologies to anyone who sent me news over the weekend.