Here we are at Fourth of July weekend, and it’s all really just beginning. I had to remind myself that this weekend, when our weekly Sunday date with Norton Point was thwarted by rain for the second time in as many weeks. But here we go into the real season — the kids are out of school, the streets are filled with tour buses and ice cream cones, and I can get into the water up to my ankle without recoiling in horror.
So let’s talk red, white, and blue; parades and fireworks; backyard grilled delicacies and apple pie. (We’ll leave out baseball this year, because WOW, Sox. Ahem.) Happy birthday, USA! I celebrate you, I salute you, and I’m proud to call you home. So let’s all grab a hot dog (tofu pup, if you prefer) and a flag and get ready to party.
Here are the details on the festivities. The Edgartown parade starts at exactly 5 pm on July 4th. The parade begins at the intersection of West Tisbury Road and Pinehurst Road. Next it takes a right onto Main Street and then a left onto Pease’s Point Way (next to the monument). It follows Pease’s Point Way and then takes a right onto Morse Street, a left onto Fuller Street, and a right onto Thayer Street. At the end of Thayer it takes a right onto North Water Street. Next it takes a right up Main Street and pauses in front of the reviewing stand (in front of the Whaling Church). It continues up Main Street, and then takes a left onto the West Tisbury Road and finishes at the Edgartown School. If you would like to participate in the parade, you can find all the info you need on the Town’s website, edgartown-ma.us. The fireworks start at dusk on the harbor.
Sara Piazza will host her fifth annual 4th of July Trad (Irish Traditional Music) Session on the porch of her 117 Upper Main Street home. Musicians will begin exchanging riffs and melodies Friday, July 3, at 5 pm and continue on and off through Sunday at 8 pm. It is definitely worth a walk by to hear these talented musicians throw down.
The Haucks are off to new adventures, which sounds like a lot of fun for them, but a loss to the rest of us. Betsy announces that she and Mel have sold their Edgartown home and left the Island after living in Edgartown for 30-plus years. Their travels will first take them to Maine for the summer, then to Costa Rica for an indeterminate amount of time. Mel worked at Walter Smith Plumbing, and Betsy was a teacher at Edgartown and then worked at MVRHS for the past five years. Best of luck to the two of you. Have fun!
Newlyweds Erica Rodney and Jon Cohan of Stow and Chappaquiddick recently wrapped up their Chappy honeymoon, following their June 13th wedding. Hope you guys had a great time, and that it is only the beginning of a lifetime of wedded bliss. Best wishes.
Get your tickets, if you haven’t already: Featherstone will host its annual Gala at Farm Neck July 9, from 6 to 8 pm. On tap is a wonderful evening filled with a festive buffet, delicious desserts, a silent auction, and music. In addition to its educational programs, Featherstone offers its Musical Monday series, where you can pack a picnic and bring a chair to enjoy music out on the Featherstone Summer Stage; the Tuesday Flea and Fine Arts Market, which boasts vendors selling jewelry, clothing, artwork, and collectibles; Jazz Thursday, with weekly musical guests; and so much more. So get up there and support Featherstone Center for the Arts, the only year-round arts center on Martha’s Vineyard. Visit featherstoneart.org for more info on all the center’s offerings.
Birthday wishes go out this week to Megan Anderson, who celebrates July 2; to Kate Walpole, July 3; to Maggie Morrison, July 4; to Tina Humber-Floyd and Danielle Willet, July 5; to Greer Thornton and Shelley Hollibaugh, July 6; and to Adam Natusch and Greg Ellrodt, July 7.
