West Tisbury’s new Fire/Rescue truck 721 arrived Wednesday afternoon at Station 2 to an awaiting group of firemen and rescue personnel. Chief Estrella had called for everyone to assemble for training and to help put equipment on it. Of course, everyone was eager to be there to check it out. “It’s big,” my husband said when he got home later that evening. There will be lots of adjustments and drills, so everyone can become familiar with the new vehicle. I think Nate Rezendes is the most excited boy in town. He and his Grandpa Tony walk over to Station 1 for radio check on Sunday mornings, and Grandma Doreen told me they can’t wait to see the new truck.
Arts & Ideas Summer issue just came out, with lots of familiar names and faces included. Doug Kent is on the cover with one of his new abstract paintings. Dan VanLandingham’s recent paintings are more abstract, too. There are articles about Mike Ovios’s sculptures, and Stan Murphy’s retrospective at Featherstone. Julia and Lucy MItchell are featured inside. So is Ruth Kirchmeier, who is also the subject of an op-ed cartoon by Paul Karasik in this week’s Vineyard Gazette, of Ruth in her studio making a woodcut. Laura Roosevelt, Nathaniel Horwitz, Phoebe Mitchell, Perry Garfinkel, Geoff Currier, Pat Waring, and yours truly are some West Tisbury writers with articles included. The magazine is free, distributed at galleries around the Island, and both Cronig’s.
Jennifer Christy and Jeff Hoerle open their show of new paintings at the Field Gallery next Sunday, July 10, 5 to 7 pm.
Shirley Mayhew has written a new book, this one for children. It’s called “Islander — The Circus Comes to Martha’s Vineyard.” The title is self-explanatory and the story, with illustrations by Linda Carnegie, is magical. Brava, Shirley.
Congratulations to Patti Linn on the 30th anniversary of her salon in West Tisbury. Besides giving a great haircut that holds its shape and grows out beautifully, she also makes the most delicious chocolate confections. Huge, sweet strawberries dipped in chocolate were one of the treats she served at her open house on July 1. It was a wonderful party, with lots of Patti’s friends there to wish her well. Best for Patti was the surprise arrival of her son, Simon Goldberg, from California.
For everyone with bags and boxes of books waiting for the book sale crew to begin accepting them at the West Tisbury School, the time has come. You can drop them off at the school gym Monday through Friday, 9 am to noon. The dates of this year’s Friends of the West Tisbury Library Book Sale are Friday, July 29, through Monday, August 1.
The West Tisbury Library Foundation Tuesdays@Twilight next Tuesday, July 12, features Nina Violet and Friends performing at the Grange Hall. The concert begins at 7:30. Doors open at 7. Dinner outside is available between 6 and 8 pm. Get your tickets at the library. $15 for adults and children over 12.
The library, as always, has a full schedule of events. First, I have to tell you that I saw Rez Williams’ paintings as he and his wife, Lucy Mitchell, were hanging his show this morning. They are amazing. Rez’s description, “paintings of dead trees,” doesn’t begin to describe the stylized patterns and shapes, combinations of colors, and the visual impact of the size of these paintings. The inspiration was a trip to Monhegan Island that Rez took last year. The paintings have all the wildness, rocky shorelines and wind-scoured energy you would expect of landscapes of Maine’s coast. They are on view in the library’s Program Room through July.
All library events are free. Here are this week’s:
Fallon Aiello is the instructor at a special Story Time Yoga for preschoolers (ages 4 and under) Thursday, July 7, at 10:30 am. She specializes in prenatal, mom and baby, and children’s yoga. Please preregister at the library.
Jonathan Scott, author of “Pioneer Houses of Martha’s Vineyard,” will talk about his book and discuss Island architectural history on July 7 at 7 pm.
Mac pro Paul Levy will be at the library this summer on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10 to noon to help with your Mac problems and questions.
Bodhi Path presents “Why We Meditate” with Karma Trinlay Rinpoche on Friday, July 8, 7 to 8 pm.
The Saturday Craft is exciting. Learn how to build a rocket on July 9, 10 to noon. Matt Hayden will teach you and your kids about size, shape, materials, design, and aerodynamics. Make your rocket fly the farthest.
Mathea Morais is teaching a weeklong Writing and Reading Workshop for Tweens/Teens, Monday, July 11, through Friday, July 15. Ages 9 to 14 are welcome. Please preregister. You may sign up for one day or all five.
Family movie nights resume beginning this Monday, July 11, 6:30 to 8:30. This week’s family movie is “The Good Dinosaur.” The young adult movie is “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Herb Foster will speak about “Changes in Sexual Dating Mores for Seniors” on Tuesday, July 12, 5 to 6 pm. Attitudes have changed since WWII and the present. Find out what’s new.
Mindfulness meditation practice takes place every Tuesday, 6:30 to 7:30.
The Polly Hill Arboretum will host a free program at the Ag Hall on Thursday, July 7, at 7:30 pm. Dr. David Foster will give some historical insights into the Island landscape — the shape of its coastline; the pattern of its forests, fields, and moorlands; the distribution of its roads, houses, and villages; and its past. “Henry Whiting and the Map of 1850” should be a fascinating evening.
The ground has been so dry, and I have worried about the fire-danger rating at the State Forest; it’s been high for weeks. But now I’m sitting by our living room window luxuriating in the moisture on my face, coming in from the window beside me. A good rain Friday night, and now rain during the night Monday and still coming down this Tuesday morning. All my plants look revived, and the leaves look greenly refreshed. I have always known that the simplest things make me happy. This gentle soaking rain is all I could wish for.