The True Reality: Not So "Naughty in Nantucket"

Last Thursday in Allston ("just outside of Boston," as they always say here in the Commonwealth) an open casting call took place to attract aspiring actors to audition for roles in what Boston Casting says is a reality/docudrama. The name of the pilot is "Naughty in Nantucket." The non-paid actors selected for the key roles ("Chelsea," "Whitney," "Gerald," "Grant," "Erin," and "Heather") are scheduled to arrive on island on Friday, November 12 to shoot the first show through Sunday, November 14.

Hmmmm. Here we go again with what sounds like another stereotypical view of life within an enclave of the rich and mega-rich with one party after another to go to as the mainland goes about the business of real life's issues and challenges. Think "Jersey Shore" meets "Fantasy Island."

I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the true reality of "not so naughty" life on Nantucket and prepare "Chelsea" and her fellow characters for what Nantucket is really all about in November before they disembark from the ferry or plane and begin their little adventure in our community.

"Chelsea," the beautiful and sexy 40-year-old who married well and divorced better and who is financially set and always looking to play, according to Boston Casting's description of the character, will want to bring her winter clothes and rain gear for her big ACK weekend. You see, it's in the 40's this week with chilly rain and wind. And did I mention the sun sets now at 4:30 p.m. so don't forget to bring a flashlight for those fun late afternoon frolics with your social elites. Oh, and forget packing the tennis racket since the courts are closed for the season, though we do have some great year-round indoor workout facilities including my favorite, the Nantucket Health Club, and the community indoor heated pool at the high school (but you'll have to mix with the locals, including seniors and students.) If "Chelsea" lived here year-round, the reality is that she would most likely be found on a November weekend doing something beneficial for the community, such as serving as a volunteer in the free adult English literacy program offered by the Nantucket Atheneum. Or volunteering at the Teen Center or in the snack bar at a Whalers' football game taking place in the stadium near the biggest topic of conversation on island these days--the new wind turbine.

"Whitney," who is a knockout gorgeous 22-year-old that has to contend with a mother ("Chelsea") who never wants to grow up and who fights over accessories, shoes and lovers, should bring her credit cards since she'll find some great off-season deals on Main Street. However, her shopping options will be limited since there are a fair share of "Out of Business" and "Closed for the Season, See You Next Year" signs in the windows of the retail establishments. Year-round, non-reality show "Chelsea" and her mom/pal/archrival would most likely find her clothing, while at the same time enhancing the sustainability of the island, at the Seconds Shop or, taking it a step further, at Take It or Leave It (affectionately known as the Madaket Mall). She'd also consider the closed-for-the-season Hospital Thrift Shop if she was here earlier in the fall. This past Saturday, our two reality stars would have shopped til they dropped at the annual Harvest Fair, where the island's churches sold everything from hand-knitted scarves and home-baked banana bread to designer purses to benefit the individual congregations and their many outreach programs.

And then there's "Gerald," a 24-year-old, alpha male, ex-football player who lives in Surfside and constantly works out to stay in shape. Well, "Gerald" might want to bring his tool belt and his steel toed boots, which he can purchase at Murray's Toggery when he arrives on island, along with his "Situation"-like outfits and attitude because we have a perfect reality project tailor-made for him. Just down the street from his fictional Surfside pad, Habitat for Humanity Nantucket is starting construction on two homes at 143 Surfside Road to provide home ownership opportunities for year-round Nantucketers who have steady employment, are in need to housing and willing to commit to the "sweat equity" to help volunteers build their home. If "Gerald" was a true Nantucketer, he'd probably be working weekends as a Habitat volunteer, banging nails and painting trim rather than running on the beach against 20-mile-per-hour winds in the rain. And for a diversion from his work at Habitat, he might be on the lookout for the thousands of long-tailed ducks that take flight here on Nantucket in November to the delight of dedicated birdwatchers from the Maria Mitchell Association, the Linda Loring Foundation, the UMASS Boston Field Station and other island nonprofits.

Rounding out the "Naughty" cast are "Grant" (Gerald's songwriter friend "with incredible unknown musical talent"and co-resident of the Surfside house), "Erin" (Surfside housemate and bartender who "loves to get everyone going in a sing along...will dance on the bar and get everyone hopping") and "Heather" (yet another Surfsider, who is a personal shopper with "a great eye for fashion"). Wow, I wonder what type of house our TV Nantucketers will live in? If this was reality, chances are they all would be pooling their money for rent on a small one or two bedroom place shared with countless other hourly workers who are here on H-2 temporary visas and sending their earnings back to their families in Eastern Europe or Central America.

There's no indication from Boston Casting on when or where "Naughty" will possibly run but all of us on Nantucket will be waiting for our invitations to the gala premiere. Until then, we'll look for updates on "Naughty" from the island's real "Grant" (Grant Sanders) on http://www.yackon.com/ and will await our invitations from Boston Casting to serve as non paid "extras" to add to the reality of the series. Now, excuse me, while I go look for some reruns of the Nantucket classic show, "Wings," to watch on Netflix while I await the first "Naughty" episode.

A Neighborhood Legend

Tony Viera (in white sweater in center of photo) back in 1970

Photo by the Charlie Folger, owner of The Camera Shop

For the past four years we've lived year-round on Nantucket, I've passed our neighbor Tony Viera (affectionately known as "One Eyed Tony") in my car, on my bike or on foot virtually every day as he worked on his recycling projects out in front of his house. He and his dog Buddy were always there, rain or shine. But now they're not there ever since Tony tragically died in an accident recently at the island's recycling center after being run over by a truck.

When we first moved here, I was a little unsure about Tony and he, I think, felt the same way about me as a transplanted Californian. One winter day that first year he flagged me down in my car and I cringed, thinking he was going to complain about me driving too fast, etc. When I rolled down the window, he said that he just wanted to let me know that there was a freeze forecast and that he wanted to be sure I didn't slide in my car on ice on the road in front of the house when I returned home from work. He knew I wasn't very experienced in driving in winter weather and was concerned. From then on, he always had a smile, a wave and a laugh whenever I passed.

Last summer after a heavy rainstorm I was walking home from the bus stop by the Odd Fellows lodge and I reached a deep puddle completly covering both the sidewalk and road in front of Tony's house. He offered to give me a ride on the back of his truck somewhat like a fireman hanging on the fender to get me over the puddle. I graciously declined but we both got a good laugh about it for some time to come.

Though I wasn't a big fan of his mini-junkyard in the front yard, I am thankful for his neighborly ways and the way he made us feel welcomed. We will miss his hearty laugh and friendly smile as we drive along Cato Lane. He was certainly one of a kind!

Craig and I attended his memorial service at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Friday, June 11, one week after he died. The church was filled with family, friends and neighbors. The most poignant part of the service was a eulogy delivered by Tony's cardiologist, Dr. Joseph Garasic of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He got to know Tony when he treated him for a cardiac problem at Mass General several years back. As he fought back tears, Dr. Garasic described how he and Tony had become friends over the past few years. His poignant anecdotes brought laughs and tears to everyone who was in the audience. I'm glad we were able to be there to bring closure to such a tragic loss.

Nantucket At Its Best

The Nantucket Community Garden is situated off the beaten path, away from the tourists of Main Street and the hustle and bustle of the boat basin. This time of year it's a perfect place to go at the end of a busy day to enjoy the solitude and scenery. For more information about the garden, here's an article in last year's Nantucket Today Magazine.

http://www.nantuckettodayonline.com/aug09/garden-community.html

Hopefully the First of Many Changes for Figawi

It was refreshing to read this morning in the Cape Cod Times about the first of hopefully many changes that are long overdue for the annual Figawi race from Hyannis to Nantucket.

http://tinyurl.com/25zo6fq

However, much more needs to happen this year and in future years to curb the disrespect shown to our island of Nantucket by the Figawi invasion every Memorial Day. If you are among those who are fed up with Figawi as it currently operates, please attend the Selectmen meeting on Wednesday, May 5 at 6 p.m. and voice your opinion. An item on the agenda will address the open container bylaw. This is your opportunity to be heard. If you need more information, please contact me at linda@sonnpr.com.

During the meeting I will be presenting excerpts from the following e-mail I sent this week to Town officials to voice my opinion:

"I'm one of a number of Nantucketers who are quite fed up with the way that the folks "from America" invade the island for Figawi weekend for what is unresponsible drinking and public drunkenness. It's disgusting the way this out-of-town contingent takes over downtown with little regard for the standards our community has established, all under the guise of a sailing race that raises money for a few charities on island (and a whole lot of off-island charities on the Cape).

Last year was the first year I witnessed Figawi up close during the three and a half years we've lived here and the years before when we were visiting as seasonal residents. On Memorial Day Weekend I worked down at an art gallery on Old South Wharf both Saturday and Sunday. Every other weekend of the summer through Columbus Day we had a steady stream of well-mannered tourists, families, locals and seasonal residents visiting the galleries and shops along the wharf.

Except for Figawi weekend. It was obvious that the word is out among the well-mannered, respectable visitors to the island that Figawi weekend is the time to stay away from Nantucket.

Though the restaurants were doing great business down in that area, most of the rest of the retailers elected to close early as the crowds on the boats and on land were getting completely out of control. Grossly drunk people aren't the customers that do business with the galleries and stores. By sundown on Saturday night, rather than staying open as we normally would have done on a summer weekend, we closed early, as did many of our fellow retailers, fearing that we'd get hordes of drunks inside the doors doing damage to expensive goods offered for sale. Frankly, I was scared to be there by myself minding the store. It was not a pretty sight.

On Sunday morning I walked up to open the doors at 10 a.m. and was greeted by a pile of vomit at our front doorstep. There were beer cans overflowing in the garbage cans and sitting all around where they were just left by the revelers from the night before.

I'm proud of our community and resent the disrespectful attitude that is displayed by many of the Figawi participants. It's unfortunate that the sins of some taint the entire reputation of the event but that is the way it is. I have friends and colleagues here on island who defend Figawi, saying that we just need to "put up with it" for the sake of badly needed business brought by this group. They argue that Figawi means well and is donating to our nonprofits, including the local police nonprofit. They feel we should just look the other way and subject ourselves, our children and our community to the debauchery.

One wonders if it would be the same if the shoe was on the other foot and the race was reversed, with Hyannis as the party central point for the racers rather than Nantucket. Would the community of Hyannis stand for what we stand for here on Nantucket? How many other types of island visitors--families, etc.--are we not attracting on Memorial Day weekend because of the reputation we have earned because of Figawi and the public drunkenness that is permitted?

I believe, as do others in the growing grassroots movement against Figawi, that the island is not getting a fair shake. We hope that the NPD and the Town are poised to take a more stringent position in enforcing laws against public drunkenness and open containers during Figawi weekend rather than loosening the restrictions.

The Figawi organizers are quick to state that Figawi goers are much better behaved as a group than they used to be. That's hard for me and others to believe. There seems to be a great deal of denial going on amongst the leaders, who are primarily from Hyannis and the Cape rather than from Nantucket, the place that bears the major brunt of this debacle.

As you can tell, I'm pretty passionate about this and will continue to be until some change comes about in regards to Figawi on Nantucket. I will be at the Selectmen's meeting on Wednesday night, along with others who share my concerns, to speak out. I think the time has come for Nantucket to begin pushing back and demanding that the Figawi organizers take a more responsible role in controlling their event.

Just as the time has come for them to drop their outdated, politically incorrect rules for their Sunday morning joke contests (with their publicly posted rules saying "no race, creed, sex or color is safe from attack" outside of their brunch tent), the public drunkenness that Figawi promotes is no longer acceptable. We owe it to our kids and our community to expect more."

Tribute to A Notable Nantucket Woman

Nantucket lost a true legend--Mimi Beman--this week and she will truly be missed.

The artwork below by talented Nantucket artist Susan Boardman and the biography are from a digital exhibition by the Nantucket Historical Association (NHA). The actual exhibition--"Notable Nine Nantucket Women"--was displayed June-September 2006 in the Whitney Gallery of the NHA Research Library at 7 Fair Street.

Mary "Mimi" Havemeyer Beman (b. 1948)

Mimi spends every winter (and early mornings year round) reading the upcoming books, and then offers booklovers her expert opinion and personal recommendations in a vast range of tastes and subject matter. Mimi has been active in the Nantucket community, bringing her knowledge of books and bookselling and her literary preferences to numerous boards and committees.

Her other passion is all things Italian - especially the language and literature, in which she holds an advanced degree, with a concentration in the works of Dante. In addition, she taught the Italian language for eight years at universities in Colorado and Indiana.

The embroidered narrative shows the position of the stars on the night Maria Mitchell discovered her comet (October 1, 1847); a selection of Mimi's favorite books; a map of Nantucket (referring to a collection of island maps inherited from the Mitchell side of the family); and a quotation from Dante's Paradiso, Canto 33, v. 145: "Love that moves the sun and the other stars."

A Winter Postcard from Nantucket

Photo I Took on Main Street on Sunday Night After Snowstorm Ended

My friend Sarah Oktay posted an outstanding video--A Winter Postcard from Nantucket--on her Facebook page and it's so beautifully done, I wanted to share it here. It was shot in 2003 when the harbor froze over, a rare occurrence but one which wreaks havoc when it does happen. The photographer was talented Nantucketer Dan Driscoll, whose still photography work can be seen at http://www.dandriscollphotography.com/

Click below to see Dan's excellent work.

http://vimeo.com/2718008

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Snowy Sunday Morning

Here's a view out the upstairs window with my car covered to the right

Evergreen with snow frosting outside the upstairs window

Icy windows on the neighboring house

Craig's lobster traps out of commission

Adding some color to the grey Nantucket landscape

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