I can see the sky. After a couple of days of rain and wind, my woods have opened up to the long vista I love, of interwoven twigs atop and knitting together the strong verticals of tree trunks. It looks like an abstract painting.
Elections are over. Out of 2,772 registered West Tisbury voters, 1,833 voted, 66.1 percent. The parking lot at the Public Safety Building and all of the carrels and seats were filled most of the day. No surprises in the outcomes. Sen. Markey and Gov. Healey were both re-elected.
What was a surprise to me, a very pleasant one, was that Republicans and Democrats seemed to agree on the important issues in this federal election: corruption, affordability, ending the Iran War. Seeing the electorate in concert gave me hope that we really are more together than pundits on separate news sources want us to believe.
The other hopeful result was the election of so many young candidates. I love their energy and enthusiasm, their positivity, and their commitment to make policies that will improve our lives. It would be great to see both sides work together. I think we are all tired of the vitriol.
Time will tell.
Martha’s Vineyard Democrats will hold their monthly meeting on Zoom this Saturday, Nov. 14, at 9:30 am. Guests will be State Sen. Julian Cyr and Carla Cooper of Indivisible MV. For information: demsmv@gmail.com.
A Vineyard Strings concert will be held this Sunday, Nov. 15, 2 pm, at Howes House.
Also this Sunday, friends and admirers of Washington Ledesma are invited to celebrate his 85th birthday at the Film Center from 1 to 3 pm, where it will coincide with the opening of his show of oil paintings in the center’s lobby art space. Cake and cookies will be served.
The Climate Book Club will meet Sunday afternoon at 4 pm at the West Tisbury library to discuss Part 2 of “The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything.” Books are available at the library.
An update on Paul Rashba’s Center of Lifetime Study project: There will be a kickoff meeting next Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2 pm, at the Anchors, a.k.a. Edgartown Council on Aging. A discussion of background, potential structure, and issues relating to the community is planned.
I have missed Megan Alley’s longtime column in the Times, and have been remiss not to mention her passing in October. Megan was one of the stalwarts of Times columnists when I began. Her devotion and knowledge of everyone and everything in Oak Bluffs was more than worthy of my admiration. My belated condolences to her family, friends, readers, and admirers.
I was sad to learn that Liz Allen died on Nov. 1, and send condolences to all who will miss her. Besides her years as the doyenne at Leslie’s pharmacy, she and I shared wonderful conversations about books and word puzzles, important occupations for both of us. The arrival at the library of a new book by a favorite author was an occasion for detailed discussions of previous offerings, and anticipation of an upcoming dissection of the latest. Her funeral Mass is scheduled for this Saturday, 11 am, at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven.
News about Colin, Alex and Kate Salop’s missing cat: There have been sightings by neighbors along Tiah’s Cove Road, but he still isn’t home. It’s been a couple of weeks now. He is a 12-year-old orange tabby. His picture is with my Nov. 5 column on The Times website. If you see him, please call Alex at 617-877-4594.
