Here we are in mid-July. How did that happen? Time flies too quickly in these glorious summer days. The weather had been incredible. There’s so much going on here on our little island that it is hard to fit it all in. Many of us avoid certain things or certain areas, to stay out of traffic. But one thing I am partaking in is the beach, often with my girl, Amelia, in tow. She is her mother’s child, and is happiest at the beach and in the ocean. It reminds me of days spent at “the shallow place” with my own mom many years ago. I treasure each and every moment, and I could burst from the joy I feel getting to spend so much time with my girl. I wish summer was all year long. Who’s with me?
I had the incredible good fortune to run into Clarence Bannister the other night. I told him that I worked with him at the A&P when I was 16, and his whole face just lit up. We must have talked for 20 minutes. He is the same beautiful, sweet soul he was when I was a kid. Absolutely charming. He is 96. He was coming back from off-Island, where he was visiting his “boss” — his wife, who is 98. They have been married 71 years, and he said he has never regretted a single day of it. What a treat to see him after all these years and talk about the old days. He brightened my whole day.
If you get the opportunity to go to the Tisbury Amphitheater, you won’t be disappointed. “The Winter’s Tale” by William Shakespeare will be playing on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until August 11, with bonus Sunday performances on August 4 and August 11, at 5 pm. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for “kids” under 30. Tickets are cash only, please. Shows will be canceled if it is raining.
The annual Edgartown School eighth grade Garden Tour will be held on Wednesday, July 24, (rain date Thursday, July 25). The tickets are $10 each, for 13 gardens this year! The garden tour will end at the Harborside Inn’s beautiful garden, where visitors can enjoy a relaxing view of the harbor with complimentary iced tea and snacks. There will be water for sale at each garden, and at the end of the day they will raffle off a $50 Isola gift certificate.
Happy anniversary wishes go out this week to Ninon and Dave Garvin, who celebrated on July 14. And happy birthday wishes go out to Cecily Stibitz and Megan Bettencourt, who celebrated on July 14, and to Nancy Corwin Dillon, who celebrated on July 15.
I’ve got to give a shout-out to my brother Bob. An avid golfer, he has played golf every month for 100 months. This has required some interesting attire and equipment in order to play in the cold and snowy winter days in Ohio. It’s become quite a thing for him to maintain this perfect record. As a result of all this golf, he managed to get his third hole in one on Sunday. One is impressive. Two is amazing. Three is just plain crazy. Congratulations, Gardner.
Congratulations to Nedine Cunningham, our amazing seventh and eighth grade social studies teacher in Edgartown. In her spare time, Nedine runs marathons and half-marathons. She has now completed races in 38 states, with only 12 more left to go to conquer every state in this country. I’m suitably impressed, Nedine.
On Sunday, July 21, as part of the 9:30 am regular service of the Federated Church, the music will be provided by Vineyard Sound. This is their way of thanking Federated Church for being a host site for their summer concerts. All are welcome. Call 508-627-4421, or email officefederatedchurchmv@gmail.com, for more information.
The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury will present its annual Blueberry Festival at the church at 1051 State Rd., West Tisbury, on Saturday, July 20, from 12 pm until 4 pm, rain or shine. Enjoy blueberries and ice cream, blueberry-peach cobbler “just like your grandmother used to make,” and the famous blueberry-pomegranate smoothies; take home something delicious from the baked goods table, pick up something fabulous from the vintage jewelry table, find a treasure from the attic treasures sale; or relax on the church lawn with lemonade sold by the Sunday School kids. All proceeds of this fundraiser help support the historic church and the Island community.
Island Theatre Workshop’s 2019 production of “Once Upon a Mattress” opens on Friday evening at the PAC. Curtains open at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday, and again on Monday, and on Thursday, July 25, and running through Saturday, July 27. There is a matinee performance on Sunday, July 19, at 3 pm.
If you are the parent or guardian of an Edgartown School student, remember to go into the front office and pick up your report cards for the end of the school year. The school is open on Monday through Thursday from 8 am until 1 pm.They are closed on Fridays.
That’s the news for now. I wish you a wonderful, sun- and fun-filled week ahead. Be kind to one another. Let each other out in traffic. Smile. Be patient. Any of us who travel are tourists at some point in our lives. Patience and kindness can make all the difference. Have a great week.