JO-ANN TILGHMAN

508-627-7669

(tilghmanjb@aol.com)

It certainly seems as though there should be something more important to write about than the weather, but spring passed with more gray, misty days than anyone would care to count and thus far this summer (all five days of it) the weather continues to be a primary topic of conversation. Many folks are beginning to wonder if this will be one of those long gray summers that descend on the Island every once in a while.

Margaret Knight has found the damp spring weather good for working in her garden. She finds there are fewer bugs and that the cooler temperatures and gray skies suit her for working outdoors. Pat Knoll has spent her time sewing and fine-tuning her craft skills while others have passed the time playing cards, games, and doing jigsaw puzzles. Among the folks trying not to let the weather keep them from their Chappy vacation is Peter Tilghman, who is staying at the Tilghman cabin on his annual visit from Cobham, Surrey, England. Laura Jemison has arrived back on Chappy from Minneapolis. She did take a quick trip off-Island to attend her son Case’s graduation from high school in New Jersey. Case will be attending Tufts University this fall. Sharon McCann Daly and her family are settling into their Wasque home. It’s wonderful to see so many familiar faces returning to Chappy for another summer. And while Varian Cassat did not return to Chappy from off-Island, it was wonderful to see her at the potluck dinner at the Chappaquiddick Community Center last week. Varian had a chance to catch up with friends before heading back to the ferry and her adopted home in Vineyard Haven.

In last week’s column I briefly mentioned the reopening of the Chappy Store. Patrie Grace, who with her daughters Nisa and Iris, will be operating the store this summer, tells me that store hours will generally be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with some flexibility up until July 4. The store will be selling cut flowers grown at Marshall Farm, as well as picnic lunches, fresh muffins (banana nut, blueberry, or zucchini), salads, and brownies prepared in their catering kitchen. Sandwich orders will be taken a day ahead of time or you can try your luck and see what the daily sandwich or salad special is. Also, newspapers are available on a daily basis to those who have pre-ordered. If you let Patrie know which days you would like to have the paper (any paper, any day) she will get one for you, providing she has twenty-four hour notice. Beginning tomorrow Morning Glory Farm produce will be available at the store and Patrie also told me that there are homemade ice cream sandwiches in the freezer!

Memory’s Gate, the large wooden sculpture on the front lawn of the Chappaquiddick Community Center, has generated a lot of interest and questions from returning summer residents. As a boy, the artist, Murray (Mac) Dewart, who has been called “one of Boston’s premier sculptors” by Sculpture Magazine, spent the month of August on Chappaquiddick. Since that time Mac has maintained friendships with many of his boyhood friends and made visits back to the island. During his thirty-five year career Mac has exhibited at the DeCordova Museum, the Boston Athenaeum, the Danforth Museum and Sculpture Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Brandeis University. Beijing and Fuzhou in China have commissioned granite and bronze sculptures for their international sculpture parks. Memory’s Gate has previously been exhibited at Harvard University, the Weston Library, and, for the Millenium, on the Boston Common before being donated to the Chappaquiddick Community Center.

Elise Adibi, an artist and adjunct professor of painting at Columbia University and Brooklyn College, will be conducting summer art classes for young and old alike this summer at the CCC. Elise tells me that all classes will be tailored to learning art on Chappy by exploring the local ecology, including plein air drawing. Lily Morris will be a guest instructor offering classes on stamping and print making. This is a joint program with the Old Sculpin Gallery and the community center. Advance registration at the Old Sculpin Gallery (across from the Chappy Ferry in Edgartown) is preferred or if you have questions you can contact Elise directly at eliseadibi@earthlink.net. Art workshops for kids (ages 7 to 12) will be Mondays and Fridays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and drawing and painting from nature for teens and adults will be Tuesdays 9:30 to 11 a.m. The fee is $17 per class with no minimum number of classes required for attendance.

Edwina Rissland will have a photographic exhibition at the community center beginning July 3. The art exhibits have proven to be varied and interesting over the past few years. Stop in to see another example from one of the many talented people who call Chappy home.

A reminder that the path committee will be holding an open meeting at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, Saturday, June 27 at the community center to discuss updates and alternatives related to the bike path project.

The annual July Ladies Tea, hosted by Sue Phinney, Pat Knoll, and Jo-Ann Tilghman will be held at the community center on Friday, July 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. An invitation is extended to all year-round and summer residents, visitors, and house guests. The tea is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends and a chance to make new ones. Please feel free to stop in for tea, a tea sandwich, and small dessert.

The annual meeting of the CIA will be held at the community center on Saturday, July 4 with coffee at 8 a.m. and the meeting scheduled from 9 until 10:30 a.m. This meeting will mark the final meeting for retiring CIA president Terry Forde. Terry has served the CIA and Chappy residents conscientiously for eight years and his dedication and leadership will be missed. Lindsay Allison will bring everyone up to date on Mytoi and Chris Kennedy from the Trustees of Reservations will introduce new Cape Pogue Wasque superintendent David Babson. In addition, Joanne Taylor from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission will speak about the breach and the industrialization of waters surrounding Martha’s Vineyard.

Best wishes go out to Mary Anne and Jim Walsh who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last weekend. Continue to recover wishes go to Susan Gomez who is back on Chappy after a hip fracture and rehab off-Island.

The stillness this morning would seem to indicate that the early northeast storm has finally moved on, but not before bringing down leaves, twigs, branches, limbs, and, I’m sure, a few trees. For the most part there did not seem to be too much damage but I do know of one boat washed ashore on Chappy and saw another beached in Vineyard Haven. The weather forecast seems to indicate that summer may arrive this weekend and I’m confident everyone is ready for sunshine, balmy days, and cool evenings.