A Nantucket Washashore Journal

The True Reality: Not So "Naughty in Nantucket"

2010-11-08T05:53:00.000-08:00

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

2010-06-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-25T05:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-01T05:34:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-01T05:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-12-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

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

FREE hit counter and Internet traffic statistics from freestats.com

Snowy Sunday Morning

2009-12-20T05:51:00.001-08:00

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

FREE hit counter and Internet traffic statistics from freestats.com

Snow On Its Way

2009-12-18T18:02:00.000-08:00

Yikes! According to the Inquirer & Mirror, snow is on its way to Nantucket. This photo is from last year's wintery weather near Brant Point lighthouse. From the I & M:

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch for Cape Cod and the Islands this weekend, predicting up to 12 inches of snow and 50 mph winds for the region.

According to an "urgent winter weather message" from the NWS, low pressure will strengthen as it tracks up the eastern seaboard Saturday and should pass southeast of Nantucket Sunday morning.

"This could become a major winter storm for southern New England bringing the potential for blizzard conditions to the south coast, Cape Cod and the Islands, the NWS stated in its release. "Snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour are expected to create whiteout conditions at times."

FREE hit counter and Internet traffic statistics from freestats.com

MAD Museum

2009-12-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

Jin-Sook So STEEL MESH UNTITLED 2007 steel mesh, painted, electroplated silver and gold leaf browngrottaarts.com

One of the highlights of a recent museum-going trip to New York accompanied by friends from the Nantucket art community was a visit to the Museum of Art & Design (MAD) on Columbus Circle. Work by Korean-Swedish artist Jin-Sook So similar to the piece shown above is included in the museum's permanent collection and was on prominent display. This is just one of the many creative works that inspired and amazed me during my first visit to this outstanding museum. Slash: Paper Under the Knife is an awesome exhibition that is a must-see if you're in New York. It runs through April 4, 2010. For more information, go to http://www.madmuseum.org/

An Eventful Autumn

2009-11-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy autumn since closing the gallery on Columbus Day, most importantly as we dealt with a myriad of details leading up to Sunday, October 25, our wedding day. With a nor'easter pummeling the island the prior weekend, we were keeping our fingers crossed that we would have a beautiful Nantucket fall day and not another early winter experience. Fortunately, the weather was unbelievably beautiful, none of our immediate family guests or minister had ferry or plane travel disruptions and we were able to enjoy a spectacular day--from the ceremony in the meeting hall of our 200-year-old historic Unitarian Church to a champagne toast at Brant Point Lighthouse and dinner and dancing at the Brant Point Grill/White Elephant Resort. It started raining and cold temperatures started settling in as we dropped the last guests off at the airport on Tuesday following the weekend wedding. What a wonderful celebration for us to always remember on this special island of Nantucket!

Art Pitliuk Style

2009-09-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

As Columbus Day approaches, so does the final day of the summer season for my sales job at galleryblue on Old South Wharf. Though I've always regularly enjoyed browsing and buying in art galleries in every city I've either lived or visited, this was my first opportunity to actually work day to day in a gallery and to observe how and why people buy art work for their homes or places of work. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, despite the fact that this was a challenging economic climate in which to sell high ticket luxury goods such as paintings. I look forward to continue being involved in the gallery business in one way or another in the future.

One of our most popular artists this summer was pop artist Stephen Pitliuk, whose work "The Nantucket Whine Festival" is shown above. Stephen was born in Miami, where he received his art training. He has been a part of the Nantucket art scene for the past eight years. His "day job" on Nantucket is at the island hospital, where he is an x-ray technician. Several of his paintings grace the corridors of the hospital, bursting with color on the stark white walls near the radiology department and bringing delight to his colleagues, patients and visitors.

With his quick wit and warm personality as well as his entertaining, irreverent paintings and giclee prints, Stephen has created quite a following of admirers and buyers who visited galleryblue this summer. Among his fan club is art historian and scholar Sharon Lorenzo, who is a Nantucket seasonal resident. Sharon said, "Pitliuk has created a style that will endear him to those who venture into the collection of modern art; it challenges the intellect and tickles the funny bone at the same time." Well said!

Stephen's work, reminiscent of graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, attracted buyers from around the globe. Visitors to Nantucket purchased his paintings and prints as upscale reminders of their island stay or as status symbols to show their friends back in Ohio, Florida or elsewhere. Some of the more interesting moments of the summer came when a husband, wife or significant other loved Stephen's work while the other person participating in the buying decision was diametrically opposed. The situation brought a lot of other unresolved issues to the surface and sometimes became a power struggle about things far beyond whether to buy a piece of art or not. Interesting, to say the least!

Thanks, Stephen, for making my summer at the art gallery an entertaining experience in commerce, psychology, group dynamics, couples therapy and much more! To view Stephen's work and to learn more about his substance and style, go to http://www.stephentheartist.com/

Bill and Dale

2009-08-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Bill, contrary to dire predictions made by the talking heads on television, skirted Nantucket without major incidents earlier this week, except for high surf and accompanying beach erosion. I shot the photo above on Sunday morning out on the west end of the island at Madaket when the surge was at near its peak resulting in the cancellation of a weekend surf contest. A sign alerting surfers to the cancellation said it all: "And we were worried that the surf would be too small."

Summer has already begun to wind down as Labor Day approaches but we're still getting lots of daytrippers and seasonal visitors to galleryblue down on Old South Wharf, where I'm working through Columbus Day. Our exhibition right now, through this Thursday, features work by talented artist Dale Bradley, whose wife Cindy has been my valued colleague at the gallery since June. She leaves the island later this week to return to their North Adams, Massachusetts home to resume her work there as a high school English teacher. We will miss her at galleryblue.

The current exhibition marks the third year that Bradley, an artist, master printmaker and inventor, has had an exhibition at galleryblue. As our press release states, "his eclectic work shows a curiosity that pulls him in many directions. His paintings are archaeological stories brought out in mixed media, allowing him to present shades and twists that envelop the viewer. Independent in spirit, Dale has produced works of art in nearly all of the traditional mediums and has researched and developed new printmaking processes, as well as designing and building some of the world’s largest presses for artists."

Below is a detailed look at one of Dale's recent works on display at galleryblue. It's hard to believe he's color-blind but easy to detect his background in archaeology. Kudos to a very talented emerging artist and all around nice guy!

4th of July

2009-07-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

The boat basin outside of galleryblue down on Old South Wharf was full of yachts and other visiting boats this weekend. The weather was picture perfect and we had lots of visitors to the gallery all weekend long. This was the type of setting it COULD be on Figawi weekend in May! Here are some shots of the boats outside the gallery back door in the boat basin, which was virtually empty just a few weeks ago.

On Friday evening, we hosted an opening reception for popular Nantucket artist Joanna Kane, who exhibited new abstract works in an exhibition entitled "Idle Tools." According to Joanna, the exhibition was inspired by tools of all shapes and sizes sitting around uncharacteristically idle in her husband’s mill shop due to the slowdown in construction during the past year. She relocated a number of the tools into her art studio to use as subjects for her series of abstract paintings. The result was 16 new mixed media works, all of which are displayed in the exhibition. Joanna utilizes a mixture of milk paint and acrylics in a complex layering process to come up with her signature look of color and form.

Raised in Connecticut in a family of artists, Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in fine art from the Kansas City Art Institute. She has been a resident of Nantucket for the past 26 years. While her early work focused on the decorative arts and she spent many years as a commissioned furniture artist for clients both nationally and internationally, she now focuses solely on abstract painting and drawing. She is represented exclusively by galleryblue and her work can also be viewed at Cinco Restaurant on island.

Her early decorative arts work includes the game board tables at American Seasons restaurant and tables in the Weezie children's library at the Atheneum. Below are some of Joanna's outstanding abstract works in the new exhibition.

If you're down on Old South Wharf, look for the photo below marking the entry to Joanna's exhibition. It doesn't cost anything to go inside the gallery and appreciate this talented artist's work. Of course, we're happy to sell you any of the works that appeal to you! When you visit, you might have an opportunity to meet Joanna when she's hanging out at the gallery with her little chihuahua puppy Georgie.

Summer's Finally Here!

2009-06-30T17:37:00.001-07:00

It's the final day of June and only today is it finally beginning to feel like summer. For the first time since last year, the cobbled streets of downtown Nantucket seem to be alive with tourists and seasonal residents. Today is the first day I've been out on the water, assisting Craig in checking his lobster traps. The first trap we checked produced a lobster, the fourth of the season, already exceeding last year's bounty for this early in the summer. While we were out near the east jetty (a friend of ours identified it as "Jetty Betty"), we watched workers atop the fog horn and signal tower working on the tower's various mechanisms surrounded by nesting double-crested cormorants.

Here's the Eagle slow ferry passing by us on the other side of the jetty, on its way back to the mainland with passengers and vehicles.

Above, Craig is at work emptying the lobster traps of the hordes of spider crabs that had taken up residence in the traps since he last checked them during the past week and loading the traps with cans of cat food, the bait du jour since no bluefish remains were available from Gliddens's.

"Gallerina" for the Summer

2009-05-30T17:26:00.001-07:00

I hardly fit the image of a tony New York City gallerina but am having a great summer on Nantucket helping out my friend, artist and gallery owner Judith Brust, in sales and marketing at her gallery blue on Old South Wharf on Nantucket. I started working with Judy and gallery director Linda LaCroix on Memorial Day and will be in the contemporary art gallery down on Old South Wharf through Columbus Day in October while balancing my responsibilities as development director for the Nantucket Arts Council and my PR consulting work for clients on the east and west coasts. Below is a look at the inside of the gallery showing some wonderful mixed media works by Judy Brust on the wall. The new Mandarin Hotel in Boston purchased seven of Judy's large scale works last summer for the lobby and other common spaces within the hotel.

Other galleryblue artists are very talented artists Joanna Kane (whose work is shown just behind the gallery desk and which was featured on the cover of the Nantucket Arts Council Arts Festival brochure in 2008), Dale Bradley and Steven Pitliuk. All three are wonderful persons whom I've gotten to know over the past two weeks and really appreciate the work they are doing.

Below is the sign outside our primary gallery. The adjacent annex gallery features visiting artists. Our current exhibition in the annex gallery is of works by well-known Nantucket photographer Daniel Sutherland. The new exhibition features large and small-scale Nantucket landscapes and seascapes from Sutherland’s work over the past 27 years photographing Nantucket’s elusive and unique landscapes. Also included in the exhibition are works from Sutherland’s The Gates, Central Park collection, a photographic interpretation of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s installation The Gates, which brightened the bleak winter landscape in Central Park with over 7,500 saffron-colored panels. The opening last night, despite the rain, was well attended and we look forward to welcoming many other visits to the gallery before the show closes on Thursday, June 18.

Today was a beautiful day on Nantucket. We've had some bitter cold and rainy May days leading up to this weekend but today was definitely Chamber of Commerce weather. Here's a look at the boat basin just outside the gallery back door.

Here's another look out the gallery back door. Last weekend during Memorial Day the boat basin was full with Figawi sailors and more drunks than I care to remember, stumbling all over the walkways into the shops and galleries, making those of us in charge of expensive goods and art work more than a little anxious. This weekend was back to normal with courteous and friendly customers and visitors from points near and far--Peru, California, Pennsylvania, Georgia and elsewhere. What a great place to be for the summer!

A Daffodil Downtown

2009-04-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is Daffodil Weekend on Nantucket, complete with a parade starting downtown and winding its way across the island to 'Sconset, where tailgate picnics lined the village streets. Here are some photos from the parade when it started in downtown Nantucket.

Royalty aboard Bartlett Farm's daffodil-covered vintage Ford truck.

A couple dressed to the nines sitting on the steps of the historic Methodist Church on Centre St.

Friends Andrew and Jill with their new puppy, Charlotte. The theme of Andrew's red VW parade entry was "In the Red." Andrew's outfit included a Bear Stearns shirt and pin, with other members of their tailgate party in 'Sconset wearing shirts representative of Merrill Lynch, Madoff and Lehman Brothers, among others "in the red."

Here's Bartlett Farm's daffodil covered vintage Ford, the top award winner in the parade.

A Feathered Washashore

2009-04-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

It's such a treat to look out the kitchen window on a cold winter or spring morning and see our resident Northern Cardinal (and his less colorful tan female partner) enjoying a breakfast of sunflower seeds and other treats at the feeder. I never tire of spotting the brilliant red feathers amidst the grey landscape as I reach for the coffee pot.

Birdwatching is big here on Nantucket. Though I'm not one of the more avid birders, I have learned a lot from them, particularly when I worked at the Maria Mitchell Association when arriving on the island to live here full-time. Both newspapers have bird columnists--Ken Blackshaw at the Nantucket Independent and the venerable Edith Andrews at the Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror. They've co-authored popular Nantucket birding guides, which are sold at the Maria Mitchell gift shop, and are active leaders of the Sunday morning bird watching group and also the annual Christmas bird count.

Ken's column in today's Independent contains a wealth of information about the cardinal on Nantucket.

According to Ken, the scientific name is Cardinalis cardinalis, named for members of the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church. Most don't migrate at all and are among the most sedentary of bird species, says Ken. They only travel a few hundred yards from where they are hatched (in a woven nest of sticks, vines and other woody material where three eggs are laid and where both parents share incubation and chick-raising). He also points out that Northern Cardinals are not native to the island and it's not unusual for them to raise two families in one season. Cardinals were first found in the Christmas bird count in 1960, with a peaking of 321 sighted during the 2005 Christmas bird count, Ken said. So I suppose my feathered friends could be considered washashores like Craig and myself!

Deer in the Headlights

2009-04-06T05:37:00.000-07:00

If you take a drive anywhere on the island around sunset, chances are you'll encounter at least one deer leaping across the road. Last night on a drive out to 'Sconset, we spotted these five deer in the yard of one of the houses fronting Milestone Road. When we first spotted them, one of the deer was firmly planted in the driveway standing so still we thought it was a statue but thought otherwise once we saw the rest of the crowd. According to those in the know, more deer exist on Nantucket than any other town in Massachusetts. Most all of the drivers who have lived here for a while have hit or had near misses with deer at some time or another. And almost everyone living or vacationing on Nantucket has experienced some type of tick-borne disease, such as Lyme Disease, which can be traced back to tick-transporting deer. I've had Lyme Disease and it's not a fun thing. Here's hoping for a tick-free summer for our household in 2009.

A New Police Station for Nantucket

2009-03-12T19:22:00.000-07:00

This past week I've had the privilege of scripting and helping produce a video to showcase the deplorable working conditions for the Nantucket Police Department in hopes that voters will choose to approve a new police station at Town Meeting on April 6 and the election to follow on April 14. See for yourself why our police officers deserve better than what they are now working in by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS8wwtFYXsc

A Respite from the Grey Lady

2009-02-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

Nantucket is well known as the "Grey Lady" in recognition of its foggy days and its grey landscapes in wintertime. Grey shingled houses and businesses, grey trees and bushes and grey skies are just too much sometimes in February so I find myself seeking some more colorful settings close to home whenever I can. This particular wall of color shown above was a highlight of my trip yesterday to the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (ICA). It was a bright spot in an otherwise chilly, overcast day. The ICA's Shepherd Fairey exhibition, "Supply and Demand," is drawing huge crowds since it was featured this past weekend on "CBS Sunday Morning." It runs until August 16 so if you're in Boston this spring or summer, stop by and take a peek. Fairey's most recognizable work is the controversial portrait of Obama, which is being challenged by an AP photographer in a copyright legal tussle.

A Valentine's Tribute

2009-02-16T05:04:00.001-08:00

Photo: Signal Tribune

Yesterday in Long Beach a memorial service was held for Bud Kilsby, who passed away while we were in California earlier this month as guests at the Kilsby beach house with Nantucket artist friends on their first visit to Southern California. Bud and Mary Ellen Kilsby would have celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary last week, having spent a lifetime together of sharing their love with a wide circle of friends, colleagues and family who will forever be grateful for the influence they've had on their lives. I count myself among those whose lives have been touched by Bud and Mary Ellen's generous spirit and wish the October trip we'd planned for a Nantucket stay would have been possible. And though we weren't able to be there yesteday to celebrate Bud's life at the tribute service, we were there in spirit and know many others across the country and around the world had this special couple in their thoughts and prayers as well.

A Journey in Justice

2009-01-19T14:36:00.000-08:00

In June 2005 during a cross-country drive from California to Nantucket, accompanied by Nikki the dog, I undertook an meaningful adventure which I reflect upon each January on Martin Luther King's birthday.

I grew up in the South during the 50s, 60s and 70s when Dr. King and others were fighting the good fight for civil rights. As the struggle was playing out all around me, the topic was rarely discussed in a balanced way or, for that matter, rarely discussed at all in our household as we grew up. My high school class included the first African-American graduate of our school system. John Green was a brave soul who paved the way under extremely difficult conditions for those who followed.

The march on Selma, the riots in Little Rock, Rosa Parks' bus ride in Montgomery and the church bombing in Birmingham were not milestones that held great meaning for me in those early days but as I grew older and moved away from the South, I developed a passion to explore civil rights landmarks and gain meaning that seemed to escape me earlier in life.

As I began researching my journey, I found a valuable resource, "We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement" on the National Parks Service website. (It can be accessed at http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/civilrights/ ) From the website, I identified the locations that would fit into my itinerary--Central High School and adjacent museum in Little Rock after an already planned visit to the new Clinton Library, the Edmund Pettus Bridge and various churches of significance in Selma, the Selma to Montgomery march route and the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and Southern Poverty Law Center (its landmark water feature pictured above in a photo I took in 2005) across from the Alabama State Capitol building in Montgomery.

At my first stop, Central High School in Little Rock, I purchased several CDs of Martin Luther King speeches and listened to them as I drove from site to site in Arkansas and Alabama. I was inspired by Dr. King's words and eagerly approached my destinations. With the dog in tow and the 90 degree summer temperatures, some of the stops at the landmarks were somewhat difficult but I was determined to soldier on. The experience was truly memorable and I'm thankful I had the opportunity, albeit many years after the civil rights movement actually took place, to make my pilgrimage to these important sites.

Today I marked Martin Luther King Day here on Nantucket by attending a special interfaith service at the Summer Street Church. It was a moving experience, made even more so by my partner Craig singing "Abraham, Martin and John." A video of Craig's solo is below. The sound is good but the video is so-so; try putting a donation in the offering plate while shooting video at the same time!

Today's celebration is a fitting prelude to tomorrow's much awaited inauguration of the first African-American U.S. president, Barack Obama, marking our nation's most significant journey in justice since Dr. King. I'm thankful I'm able to experience this monumental event in my lifetime after living through my childhood in the South. I hope my fellow classmate and high school graduate John Green, wherever he is, is celebrating the inauguration and realizes the importance of the role he played in bringing us to this day.

A Snowy Auld Lang Syne

2008-12-31T09:02:00.000-08:00

On this snowy New Year's Eve day on Nantucket, I want to take this opportunity to wish happiness and good health to friends and family near and far. About nine years ago during a concert performed by the Nantucket community chorus, I heard the traditional version of "Auld Lang Syne" sung for the first time. Here it is for you to enjoy as you watch the Nantucket snowflakes fall in the cold outdoors. Happy New Year!

Christmas in Bethlehem

2008-12-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

What better place to spend Christmas Eve than Bethlehem! After a week of visiting with family and friends in the south, we've headed east on our road trip for our eventual return to Nantucket. On Christmas Eve we found ourselves staying overnight in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and took some time earlier on Christmas Day to explore the city and find out more about its history and customs. One of the most interesting aspects of Christmas in Bethlehem is the importance of the "putz," which is basically a miniature of the nativity scene. The tradition dates back to Bethlehem's first settlers--the Moravians--who brought their putz figures with them in the 18th century. The Moravians settled in Pennsylvania after an unsuccessful attempt to establish a Moravian settlement in Georgia (1735-1740). Moravian settlers purchased 500 acres to establish the settlement of Bethlehem in 1741. The historic Hotel Bethlehem and adjacent Main Street shops were bustling with tourists and activity. Travelling along the snow-shoveled streets of Bethlehem provided us a truly memorable Christmas adventure we'll not soon forget.

One of the benefits of being on the road on Christmas Day was listening to some awesome holiday stories on NPR. If you haven't heard these stories, take a minute to hear them at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17488106

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

California Celebration

2008-12-02T11:10:00.001-08:00

It's great being in California to celebrate our family's newest and only lawyer! At the same time, it's a bittersweet trip after receiving the news yesterday that Lynn Livingston of the Orange County landmark advertising/PR firm Cochrane Chase, Livingston & Co. (CCL) passed away over the weekend. CCL was where I got my first big career break and I've always been indebted to Lynn and to Cochrane Chase for the opportunity of being a part of the agency. We were 100+ strong back when I was there and a major marketing powerhouse. My son Ben was just starting elementary school in Irvine, I was in the midst of a divorce and just finishing up my master's classes and starting up on thesis work. So many stories and so many friends who may be near and far but are still treasured in memory.

Island Chill

2008-11-22T18:01:00.000-08:00

Earlier today the ferry pulled up to Nantucket docks loaded with 500 purple-attired football fans and 40 cars from Martha's Vineyard for the Island Cup annual grudge match of Nantucket vs. Martha's Vineyard. Even though it was in the mid-20s and worse with the wind chill, we did our community spirit thing and went out to cheer on the Nantucket Whalers, who eventually lost 43-22 to the Martha's Vineyarders. We lasted only 10 minutes out in the cold, the Southern California wimps that we are! On a more positive note, my son Ben called last night as soon as he got the results from the California bar exam he took in July. He passed and will be sworn in early in December. I'm heading west to witness this special event and also to thaw out! Update: I forgot to add a link to an interview Craig and I did with Martha's Vineyard Magazine when we attended our first Island Cup game just after arriving on Nantucket in November 2006. http://www.mvmagazine.com/2007/not-summer/nantucket.php

Women's Chorus

2008-10-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Our Women's Chorus performed yesterday in our fall concert to a packed house at the Unitarian Church. Led by organist and music director Marcia Hempel, the chorus has performed two concerts a year since it was founded by Marcia in 2006. Our group is comprised of women from all walks of life here on Nantucket--from the Stop & Shop deli, teachers, therapists, weavers, nannies and teachers to nonprofit development and marketing/PR types like myself. This was my second concert and I look forward to starting practice again in February. Our next concert will be in June 2009. Here's a snippet from our performance.

October Organ Crawling

2008-10-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favorite season on Nantucket with crisp days and a slower pace than the bustling months of summer. As in most of New England, tradition is an important part of life here and brings with it some activities that are new and different for me as a new year-round resident. The annual organ crawl is one such activity. It has been held each Columbus Day weekend since it got its start in 1993 by beloved Nantucket organist Susan Jarrell and it's thrived ever since. Basically it's a procession of residents and island visitors (some who come to Nantucket every year just for this event) from church to church (historic Methodist, Congregational, Catholic, Unitarian and Episcopal facilities) where the resident church organist plays a brief program to showcase each particular instrument.

This was my first organ crawl and I participated as a volunteer to accept donations at the Unitarian Church. At the conclusion of the organ performance there by long-time organist Marcia Hempel (who succeeded Susan Jarrell in the role), I joined the procession to the concluding concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church just around the corner on Fair Street.

St. Paul's is one of the most beautiful churches on the island and is a must-see for those who love Tiffany windows. According to the Nantucket Historical Association, the church was commissioned by Miss Caroline L.W. French of Boston in memory of her father. The cornerstone was laid on September 5, 1901 and the church was consecrated on June 11, 1902. (The inscription "Jonathan French, born October 1, 1803" and "Died in Boston, May 12, 1901" can be found at the base of the main window pictured above.)

According to St. Paul's website, the Great West window of St. Paul’s Church, circa 1904, measures 10 feet wide by 13 feet high and was made by Tiffany Studios of New York. "The West Window is fabricated from a rich and varied palette of opalescent drapery, and mottled and flashed antique glass held in a lead came/copper-foil matrix.There are seven layers of glass in the window. The window has been completely restored. This process included: complete dismantling; cleaning; edge-gluing; partial re-leading; adding a series of structural fins and design of new protective glazing system."

The organ crawl provided me a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with one of my favorites among Nantucket's many outstanding works of art. And the organ recital was exceptional as well!

Unusual Fall Bounty

2008-09-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

It's fall on Nantucket and the island gardens and farms are at their peak. New England has a later growing season than we are accustomed to from our life on the West Coast. Now, rather than July and August, we have more tomatoes and other vegetables than we can handle. Our favorite place for fresh fruits and vegetables, other than our community garden plot, is Bartlett's Farm, Nantucket's oldest and largest family-owned farm. The Bartlett family has been farming the same land since arriving on Nantucket in the early 1800's. They're best known for their delicious tomatoes and sweet corn, but they have other interesting vegetables and fruits, such as the purple cauliflower that we spotted on a recent trip to Bartlett's during the fall Arts Festival when they featured a "Farm Art" exhibition with plein air works from local artists. Another interesting and unusual market find took place during a recent four-day trip to New York City with my friend Sunny, who was visiting us from California. At Columbus Circle's Whole Foods Market, we were surprised to see four pound ostrich eggs on display alongside the traditional chicken eggs for sale. Apparently one ostrich egg is equivalent to 24 regular sized chicken eggs.

Nantucket: A Study in Contrasts A Year Later

2008-08-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

Last year I posted my first blog entry, entitled "Nantucket: A Study in Contrasts" on August 19 after receiving inspiration from the first Nantucket demo derby I've ever attended. The contrast of the wealthy seasonal visitors in their designer apparel strolling Main Street with the locals sitting on the old couches in their pickup trucks watching the annual demo derby out at Tom Nevers Field was a great beginning for a blog about life here on Nantucket.

Almost a year later, I find myself writing once again about contrasts but in a much different way. This week the island of Nantucket experienced its fifth teen suicide within an 18 month period of time, just two weeks before a new school year is scheduled to begin. This time it was a recent graduate of the local high school who took his own life. His body was found in the state forest. At the end of the month he was to have begun classes at Pratt Institute of Art in Manhattan with a $3,000 scholarship awarded at the June graduation ceremonies.

The interdenominational memorial service was held on Wednesday. Though I hadn't attended any of the services for the other suicide victims--the 15-year old Nantucket High School male who died in February 2007; the 20-year old male, who had grown up on Nantucket and who died in Maine in September 2007; the 17-year old Nantucket High School female, who committed suicide in October 2007; or the 16-year old Nantucket High School male, who died at home in January 2008--I did attend this youth's service since it was being held at our church and Craig was singing in the choir.

Before going to the church for the afternoon service, I took the opportunity to run some errands while I was downtown. Main Street was once again packed with daytrippers and seasonal residents, as it is every August, the prime month of the summer, when the merchants generate their biggest profits for the year to sustain them through the slow times of the off season. I would suspect that 95% of the tourists on Main Street had no idea that the community was getting ready to gather a block away on Orange Street at the Unitarian Church to mourn yet another teen's senseless death.

As time drew near for the service to begin, I made my way through the crowds on Main Street up the hill toward the church. As I edged closer, I observed the clusters of utterly sad teenagers who were gathering to say goodbye to their friend, who had lived on the island his entire life. Instead of sending him off to a promising future in the world of art and architecture in New York, here they were bidding him a final farewell. The sadness in the air was overwhelming and was even more pronounced as I entered the church, where every seat was being filled. A ring of standing students and parents circled the pews.

The contrast between the revelry of Main Street and the solemness of the church setting indoors was striking. It was simply beyond description. What this community has gone through with what experts are calling a "contagion" of suicides is unlike anything I've ever experienced.

As the new school year begins, the Nantucket year-round community is cautiously optimistic that a corner has been turned on this problem. Preventative programs are being put into place and other measures are being implemented that will hopefully put an end to this unfortunate outbreak before the bleakness of winter sets in. For now, however, the community is still reeling.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

2008-07-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

Today was the first of three days of testing for my son Ben in his quest to successfully pass his first try at the California Bar exam after graduating from law school earlier this summer. Today was also, as you may know from the news, the day an earthquake struck Southern California with the epicenter in Chino Hills, not too far from the Anaheim Convention Center where Ben was taking the bar exam! The kind woman who answered my call at the Anaheim Convention Center information line advised me that the building was evacuated immediately after the quake but then everyone returned to resume testing. All's well, she told me, just as she had advised the dozen concerned parents and significant others who had phoned before me. At least Ben will always have this to remember when he gets the results of his first try at the bar in late November. Here's hoping his confidence isn't shaken by this turn of events!

Mopheads vs. Lacecaps

2008-07-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Nantucket is known for its hydrangeas (hydrangea macrophylla), which are in all of their glory this time of the summer, and they've been the subject of many a watercolor painting and tourist photo. According to the local Surfing Hydrangea Nursery, Nantucket's cool maritime climate provides excellent growing conditions for most of the various varieties. The question becomes, which of the main varieties are best--mopheads or lacecaps?

The mopheads are the traditional pompom-like blooms in blue, pink and white. They can be found all over town and are especially spectacular looking in the downtown historic district and out in Sconset, where we visited this weekend with out-of-town guests from Connecticut and California. The white mopheads are especially lush this summer, with blooms the size of a basketball on a bush in one front yard I pass by frequently on Pleasant Street. My 1913 Craftsman house back in Long Beach has a mature blue mophead hydrangea in our front flowerbed. I miss passing it every day when going out to get the morning paper but have enjoyed getting to appreciate a new variety of hydrangea blooming for the first time this year in our Nantucket front yard (photographed above).

This new-to-me variety is the lacecap or sometimes called the Japanese hydrangea. I like its delicate, lacy appearance and have almost come to like it better than the traditional mopheads. Perhaps the best garden would combine both varieties in a multitude of colors. I'm on the lookout for a garden showcasing the most outstanding hydrangeas on Nantucket this summer so if any islanders have suggestions for my explorations, please feel free to share them with me.

Firsts on the Fourth

2008-07-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July was a day of two firsts for me. This was the first year I've celebrated Independence Day by serving as one of the readers of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights in the annual community celebration held at our 200-year-old historic Nantucket Unitarian Church. We had a full house of over 400 attendees of all ages and it was truly a moving experience, complete with patriotic music and the opportunity for young and old to sign a mock copy of the Declaration of Independence situated at the front of the church.

Later in the day I travelled with good friends for the first time out over a long stretch of sand out to Great Point, the most northermost point of Nantucket island that is a narrow split of sand bounded by Nantucket Sound on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. It's a breathtaking view with swans in the ponds and a peaceful ambience. We had to be especially careful on our drive out to avoid hitting any of the threatened, though not endangered, piping plover chicks recently hatched.

Our friends have a wonderfully rustic cabin, only one of three structures at the extreme end of the Point, which include another cabin and the Great Point Light, where I took the photo above. The cabin has been in the family since the 1940's and we enjoyed lots of entertaining stories about all the happenings through the years involving friends and family visitors.

The lighthouse was first built in 1784. It was orginally wooden and was destroyed by fire in 1816. According to Wikipedia, the following year a stone tower was built and stood until it was toppled in a storm in 1984. It was then rebuilt again in 1986 with the stone tower built to replicate the former one. It still is in operation today.

This weekend marked the official beginning of the tourist invasion of the island. Sunday was unfortunately not a Chamber of Commerce kind of day for the local businesses and tourists with a sewer spill erupting on Orange Street and running down Main Street, which was filled with crowds. It happened earlier in the year as well near the same spot so it looks as though there is some serious work to be done by the Department of Public Works!

Shakespeare in the Garden

2008-06-29T17:28:00.001-07:00

This past week was a busy one for me as I played a major role in organizing Shakespeare in the Garden, a fundraiser for the Nantucket Arts Council. As director of development for the Arts Council, I worked closely with our board member Beverly Hall to organize the event at her beautiful home and gardens and make everything come together as seamlessly as possible. Having worked on special events for more years than I can remember, I'm accustomed to Murphy's Law taking over, regardless of how meticulously you've planned all the details. I'm pleased to say that this one came off extremely well and raised the funds we had hoped for in order for us to put together the week-long Shakespeare Festival in mid-July and allow all performances to be free-to-the-public. In the current economy, which seems to be dampening the spirits of nonprofit donors everywhere including Nantucket, that is a pretty good accomplishment, I think.

Last year's Shakespeare in the Garden experienced a major downpour midway through the event and managed to put a damper on the fundraising. This year the weather was threatening and we had some sprinkles early in the evening. But fortunately we were able to make it through the night without any major rainfall. In California where I've organized the majority of the special events of my career, we never worried much about rain unless an event was planned for the wintertime because it rarely rained during the late spring or summer. Here on Nantucket, the weather changes quickly and is a major factor in everything you do. It's taken a while for me to grow accustomed to that fact. Tent rentals are a major business here on the island, as a result.

One of the highlights of Shakespeare in the Garden was the reprisal of a performance of Twelfth Night by a number of local Nantucketers who first acted in the play together in 1977. One of the distinguished members of the audience was actor Jerry Stiller, who is a regular Nantucket visitor in the summer. Up-and-coming Nantucket photographer Zofia documented the evening for host Beverly Hall (http://beverlyhallphotography.net/), one of Nantucket's most talented photographers. The photo above of the Twelfth Night performance is by Zofia and more images can be viewed on her blog at http://www.zofiaphotoblog.com/

Rounding Resilient Brant Point

2008-06-15T06:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day for my first venture out this summer in our trust little Whaler, the Salty Sue. We inherited the boat's name from the previous owner from whom we purchased it last year. We heard it was bad luck to change a vessel's name so we kept it intact. Last summer as we were first offloading the boat at our now regular spot by Children's Beach, a stranger nearby asked me if my name was Sue and then they broke out in a big grin. I didn't make the connection right away but then figured it out and guess if I had spewed forth a string of &*>@$* expletives, he would have been satisfied that I was indeed the boat's salty talking namesake.

It was good to see the landmark Brant Point lighthouse up close again yesterday from the vantage point of the smaller boat rather than the ferry. Traditionally, visitors who are leaving Nantucket on the ferry throw a penny off the boat as they round Brant Point lighthouse and make a wish for a safe return home. And if they're travelling in the winter months when the seas are raging and the winds are blowing the ferry from side to side, believe me, you're glad you tossed that penny off the side before heading to Hyannis!

I have always loved doing watercolors of the lighthouse scene over the years and have appreciated the lighthouse in an artistic sense but never truly appreciated its history until now. I now have a true respect for Brant Point now that I've done some research into its provenance.

According to New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide, NINE different lighthouse structures have stood at Brant Point the years, not including a bonfire on a hogshead (barrel) that was said to be in use as early as 1700! It is America's second oldest light station, after Boston Light (1716).

The plan for the first Brant Point Lighthouse was conceived at a town meeting in January 1746, when the merchants and mariners of Sherburne, as the town was then called, voted to erect a lighthouse there to mark the point around which all vessels passed as they entered the island's inner harbor.

Three men were assigned the duty of building the structure with a budget of 200 English pounds. The keeping of the light in the first lighthouse was left to the ship owners. No detailed description survives of the wooden 1746 lighthouse, which burned down in 1757 -- probably the result of an oil fire.

The second light, also made of wood, was destroyed in a storm in March 1774. The storm, probably a tornado, also destroyed many buildings on the island. A third Brant Point Light was paid for by a tax on shipping coming into the area. All vessels of 15 tons or more were charged six shillings at the time of their first coming or going each year.

In 1783 the lighthouse burned down again. A new light was erected, no more than a lantern hoisted up between two spars. This structure burned down in 1786. The fifth lighthouse lasted only two years before it was destroyed by a storm.

The next lighthouse, built by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1788, was ceded to the federal government in 1795, the same year the town changed its name from Sherburne to Nantucket. The light was extinguished during the War of 1812.

By the 1820s, over 200 Nantucket whaling ships were in service and a new, more efficient lighthouse was called for. A new Brant Point Light was built in 1825 at a cost of $1,600. The tower was situated on top of the keeper's house. The lighting apparatus consisted of eight lamps and reflectors.

In 1856, the station was rebuilt at a cost of $15,000, this time a 47-foot brick tower was built along with a new brick keeper's house. The tower received a fourth-order Fresnel lens showing a fixed red light. This lighthouse still stands, west of the present Brant Point Light, minus its lantern room. It is part of U.S. Coast Guard Station Brant Point.

The present Brant Point Light was built 596 feet east of the previous one in 1901 and fitted with a fifth order Fresnel lens. Its white light was changed to red in 1933 to avoid confusion with house lights. The lighthouse originally had a 1,000 pound fog bell. An oil house was added in 1904.

Soon after it was built, the new Brant Point Light was threatened by the sea, so 500 tons of riprap were placed around the beach. The white light at Brant Point was changed to red in 1933 to avoid confusion with nearby house lights. The light was automated in 1965.

In 1983, the entire Brant Point Station complex was renovated by the Coast Guard and in the fall of 2000, a complete overhaul of the lighthouse was undertaken. Brant Point Light's occulting red light is 26 feet above sea level, making it one of the lowest of New England's lights. It is seen by thousands of people each year as they enter and leave Nantucket on ferries from the mainland.

The dictionary should include Brant Point Lighthouse as one of its definitions for the word "resilient!" What a great landmark for the island and New England!

Birthday on the Beach

2008-05-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

Today was my birthday and we celebrated at the end of the day with a trip to the beach at Surfside to watch the sunset. I'd never been in a truck being driven onto the sand so it was a new experience. We let air out of the tires until it reached 15 PSI (pounds per square inch) and then left the roadway heading onto the beach. It was a beautiful day, albeit windy, but a great way to spend a birthday. Nikki the dog romped on the sand but steered clear of the water. We were amazed at the number of planes flying overhead. Boy, was it a busy day in the air. Otherwise, we had the beach pretty much to ourselves with only another person nearby beachcombing along the surf. This is Nantucket at its finest and I'm happy that Craig suggested this as a way to celebrate this special day. I'm indeed a lucky lady!

Start of Summer

2008-05-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the official start of summer on Nantucket. And based on the number of people strolling along Main Street and driving around town, summer is indeed here when Nantucket's year-round population of 10,000+ swells to 50,000-60,000. It's interesting to watch the transition from sleepy small town to full-fledged summer vacation destination with all the good and bad things that accompany it. I look forward to seeing friends who will be arriving within the next few weeks and catching up on what's transpired in their lives over the winter and spring since they left the island in the fall.

Memorial Day is also when the Figawi race to and from Hyannis and Nantucket takes place, filling Nantucket Sound with hundreds of sailboats. According to the official Figawi website, http://www.figawi.com/, the tradition started in 1972 when four sailors started out from Baxters Boathouse in Hyannis to race their sailboats to Nantucket. That race would be the first of the Figawi Race Weekends, and the beginning of what has become a Cape Cod tradition.

What was then organized as a "fun race to Nantucket" soon became an annual trip across Nantucket Sound. Senator Edward Kennedy is an avid sailor and had been a regular Figawi participant and race winner until this year. There were rumors that he'd be heading over to Nantucket on his sailboat but it appears that he's only going to be sailing close to home off shore in Hyannisport near the family compound due to health concerns. UPDATE on Monday, May 26: According to the local Inquirer & Mirror, Senator Kennedy took the ferry across Nantucket Sound from Hyannis and sailed in the final leg of the Figawi today. The Associated Press said that he has won the Figawi contest twice and that in this race, Kennedy's time was 1 hour, 54 minutes, good for second place in his five-boat division. A total of 38 vessels competed in six divisions over the 19.7-mile course, AP added.

For the first time since the end of summer last year, the Nantucket harbor was packed with boats, this time, however, of a smaller size. We only spotted one sizeable yacht this weekend but know that they'll be arriving soon. Here's some video we shot with our new camera on Saturday after the Figawi racers had arrived for the day. For a more complete look at Figawi action, go to http://nantucketwaterfrontnews.blogspot.com/. Marty has some good shots on his blog.

Celebrating a Milestone

2008-05-18T07:52:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had the honor of attending the graduation of my son, Ben, from Whittier Law School in Orange County. It was a beautiful sunny day in the 90's, a little toasty for the professors and graduates in their heavy robes during the outdoor ceremony. But no one seemed to mind. What a special day for everyone! Congratulations, Ben, and best of luck on passing the bar in July. I'm proud of you!

P.S. And about that lady in the audience who said she'd now have free legal services for life now that her son graduated, it wasn't me. Or was it?!

Near on Nantucket

2008-05-06T17:34:00.001-07:00

This weekend Craig and I had the privilege of hosting legendary singer-songwriter-activist Holly Near (center) and the singer-activist duo of emma's revolution--Sandy Opatow (right) and Pat Humphries (left) at our home when they were on Nantucket to perform a benefit concert at our church. A crowd of 150 gathered at the historic South Church sanctuary to enjoy a stellar performance by these outstanding vocalists and to hear their powerful message of peace and justice in word and song. The benefit concert raised money for the restoration and preservation of the historic Unitarian Church building, which will celebrate its 200th birthday next year. The weekend was a big success except for dismal cold and damp weather that is so typical of Nantucket just when you think winter is over and spring is here to stay. Since our church sanctuary isn't heated, the dip in the temperature definitely made for a chilly evening. When I asked Holly, who has performed all over the world, if she had ever been in a colder venue she replied that a performance in Alaska came to mind. Sample songs from the repertoires of Holly Near at http://www.hollynear.com/ and emma's revolution at http://www.emmasrevolution.com/. And if they're performing in your area, by all means, don't miss them! Thanks, Holly, Sandy and Pat, for braving our cold spring weather and our teeny, tiny prop airplanes to bring your powerful message to Nantucket. You will not be forgotten and we look forward to your return in the future. In the word's of emma's revolution, " peace, salaam, shalom."

May Day

2008-05-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

Wow! One day we were walking in the garden behind the church with nothing in bloom and then yesterday all of these glorious tulips had appeared in full bloom. What a great surprise! On a recent Poetry Sunday service, one of the speakers read the poem which follows, written by church member Nancy T. Adam.

Springsong: a poem in three parts

I.April: ruffles and flourish
A fanfare of forsythia
bursts over and around the split-rail
fence
and further on, brash daffodils,
their trumpets flaring, abound.
Forget-me-nots pipe a blues refrain
and hyacinths, siren-like blare,
casting their spell on the unwary, singing
rings around my posies, then wilt.
Only their fragrance lasts.

II. Blessings of May
Many are the blessings of May:
grass, newly minted, green and soft,
fledglings aloft learning the ways
of wings and breezes, leaves
daily filling the spaces of trees'
winter-barren frames.
Downy, song-filled days
longer by more than light, warmer by more than words,
days, given like prayers,
natural as breath: blessings of May.

III. Where is June?
The smell of summer teases
in the brief warm stillness near noon;
These May gifts keep us guessing,where is June, where is June?
Scotch broom sways in gentle breezes, buds
almost yellow, promising the suns,
the moon;
and the golden willow weeps in
concert,
where is June, where is June?

Now daisies swell and burst,
each pristine petal a new note, new
tune;
morning springs open, smells dew-
clean,
brings the news,
here is June, here is June!

Forsythia in All Its Glory

2008-04-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

Forsythia, osprey and daffodils are all signs of spring on Nantucket. The brillant yellow of the forsythia bush is hard to capture in a photograph but this shot of a bush down the street from us gives you an idea of how beautiful it is. You'll have to visit Nantucket in the springtime to see for yourself! The forsythia serve as a color-coordinated background for the daffodils that preceded them by just a week or so as they poked through the earth into bloom.

The third sign of Nantucket spring--the osprey--made their way to the island in mid-March. This year the first nesting pair was spotted arranging sticks on an osprey pole on March 18 by Nantucketer Rob Early. Osprey nests are situated high up on poles all around the island.

Each year the person calling in the first sighting to the Maria Mitchell Association is recognized with a certificate, with the sighting written up in the local newspapers. Rob has been the first to sight osprey for the past two years.

According to the Maria Mitchell Association, the osprey winter in Northern South America and then return to Nantucket until late September. Their departure signifies the close of summer and the advent of fall. They're beautiful to watch as they soar above the earth with their four-foot wingspan.

When I worked at Maria Mitchell last year I enjoyed hearing ornithologist emeritus Edith Andrews, in her 90s, talk about osprey and their nests, which they build using all kinds of found objects they spot as they fly around. The island's birders, according to Edith, have even found Barbie dolls incorporated into the nests. The dolls must have attracted the osprey from the air with their bright colored hair and clothing.

Osprey are often seen flying through the air carrying very large fish, returning to the nest to feed their young. Our friends out at the UMass Field Station, Sarah and Len, have reported sightings of osprey soaring through the air with shiny gold koi in their beaks, having raided some wealthy summer resident's koi pond in the neighborhood. Now that's good taste.

Spring at Last!

2008-03-29T09:43:00.001-07:00

Spring made its official arrival on March 20 but only this week have I have begun to feel like it's really here. The purple crocuses are popping up in the yard behind our historic church building and the forsythia bushes are ready to burst into bloom with their bright yellow flowers. And our own bulbs we planted in the late fall are beginning to peek through the ground as well. All this spring color is more evident here on Nantucket because the blooms appear against a dull gray background. Gray shingled houses, gray prickly brush and even gray skies! However, today, though it's still in the 40s, the sun is bright and doing its job to coax the shy flowers from their warming earth.

Today was the first day our church gardening group gathered out on the church lawn to fertilize the planting beds with bone meal and to lay some rich compost generated from our compost pile. It was a real treat to get out and get my hands dirty in the earth. It's something I miss in the winter months living here in New England.

Daffodils play an important role on Nantucket in the spring. Each year in late April, Nantucket comes alive with spring. Yellow daffodils bloom along roadsides and in gardens all over the island. According to the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce, from early April to mid-May, over three million daffodils of every color, shape and size bloom on Nantucket. This blossoming, and the advent of spring itself, is the focal point of the Chamber's Annual Daffodil Festival. Originated by the late Jean MacAusland, a summer resident of Nantucket and former publisher of Gourmet magazine, the weekend has grown into a full-scale celebration of winter’s thaw, joyous for both islanders and visitors alike. Daffodils adorn the island’s roadsides, gardens and shop windows with blossoms of yellow, orange, white and even pale pink.

The Daffodil Festival’s grand event, held on Saturday is the Annual Antique Car Parade, featuring over 100 daffodil-bedecked antique cars. After winding through town and across the island to the charming village of Siasconset, participants join residents and visitors for the Annual Daffodil Tailgate Picnic. Other highlights include the Nantucket Garden Club’s Annual Daffodil Show, Children’s Daffodil Parade and The Daffy Hat Pageant.

Last year was the first time I went to the Daffodil Flower Show and was amazed at the different varieties of daffodils. Who knew? My grandmother always had daffodils in her garden when we grew up in Louisiana but they were the standard variety and nothing exotic.

The flower show is co-sponsored by the Nantucket Garden Club and the American Daffodil Society. The Garden Club continues the daffodil bulb planting project along roadways and bike paths, plus involves the local school children growing bulbs for the flower show. I found out this week in an interview for a newsletter I am writing that each October the middle school science classes bag and label over a thousand bulbs to hand out to students from kindergarten through high school to plant at home. The Garden Club donates the bulbs in hopes that the students will consider entering their daffodils in the junior division of the Daffodil Flower Show the following spring. What a great learning experience! It reminds me of experiences I had when I was a Girl Scout earning my flower badge, something I really enjoyed.

This year Daffodil Weekend takes place from April 25 to 27 on Nantucket. It's beginning to be a busy spring around here with Town Meeting starting April 7 followed by Town Elections on April 15. My Arts Council work is gearing with plans for our "Shakespeare in the Garden" fundraiser in late June, our Shakespeare Festival in mid-July and our fall Arts Festival starting Labor Day weekend. The busy time of the year is beginning to take shape. Good bye, winter!

Rising Star in the West

2008-02-29T12:55:00.001-08:00

Yesterday an important and long-awaited announcement was made by the Long Beach Museum of Art. It's official! My friend and colleague Ron Nelson is the new Executive Director at the Museum. Ron assumed the post of interim Executive Director in November of 2006, two months after I left the Museum's senior staff to move to Nantucket. He also served as Director of Development and was president of the Board of Directors. To say that he is the best person for the job is an understatement. He has been undaunted by the many challenges that he has faced during his time in the interim position and has, in a short period of time, refocused the institution on the local community surrounding the Museum and has brought much needed financial stability. Congratulations, my friend, on many years of success and achievement! You'll do a great job and the Museum is very fortunate to have you at the helm. P.S. Local Long Beach photog Russ Roca shot this awesome photo of Ron. To find out more about his innovative work, go to http://www.russroca.com/. For more about the Long Beach Museum of Art, go to www.lbma.org.

Valentine's Day

2008-02-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite Valentine's Day photo, taken of our dog Nikki about eight years ago. Valentine's Day was a great holiday this year on Nantucket with lots of chocolate, red roses, and an original poem, a first! On the lighter side, I spotted the column below when I was reading the Long Beach Press-Telegram, our Southern California "home town" paper. It's by one of the best columnists in the area, Tim Grobaty. Enjoy!

"FRIDAY PLAYLIST: Good morning. It's Feb. 15. The day after Valentine's Day. That means Valentine's Day was yesterday. That means you forgot Valentine's Day. That means you're dead meat with your future ex. Don't worry. How many times have we pulled your sorry fat out of the fire? Have we ever let you down? Here's all you have to do: Plug today's Playlist into your Playlist player, slap the earphones on the person most likely to be mad at you for forgetting Valentine's Day, and head for the hills for an hour or so. When you come back, all will be forgiven. You owe us a bottle of Beefeater's, our usual fee.

1. "I'm Sorry," Brenda Lee

2. "I'm Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee)," Marshall Crenshaw

3. "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)," REM

4. "All Apologies," Nirvana

5. "Sorry," Madonna

6. "(What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry," Nat King Cole.

7. "Valentine's Day," Steve Earle

8. "The Heart of the Matter," Don Henley

9. "Darling, Please Forgive Me," Screamin' Jay Hawkins

10. "(Forgive Me) My Little Flower Princess," John Lennon."

-Tim Grobaty, Press Telegram (Friday, February 15, 2008)

Winter Whiteout

2008-01-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

Snowflakes started falling mid-morning on Sunday and didn't stop until around midnight, blanketing the island with eight inches of snow. This is by far the most snow we've experienced since we moved to Nantucket. Here is a winter scene from an historic cottage out in Sconset. The bright white of the snow provides a new look to an otherwise grey winter landscape.

The ferries and planes connecting Nantucket with the mainland stopped running until late Monday afternoon, stranding travellers on the island. We enjoyed an extra day with our weekend houseguest Emily, who was on her first visit to Nantucket. Undaunted by the delay, she created a clever limerick in honor of the occasion. Thanks, Emily, for sharing with us and we hope you will return to Nantucket in warmer times ahead!

I once took a trip to Nantucket

And never thought I would get stuck. It

then started to snow

and I shouted "Oh no!"

When Cape Air called to say that they'd chuck it.

The Reverend Brooks was so kind

Her warm boots got me out of a bind

Without them my feets

Would be redder than beets

Lucky me that her deeds match her mind!

I thank goodness for Linda and Craig

Who, given my trip's extra leg

Took me in as a guest

For some food and some rest

And did not, even once, make me beg!

Snowy Sunday

2008-01-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

A blanket of snow with light flurries greeted us this morning, just enough to make walking on the cobblestone streets a little tricky when we went downtown to church and to create this beautiful frosting on a Main Street windowbox. With many of the shops and restaurants closed on Main Street during January and February, year-round Nantucketers really appreciate those retailers who brave the off season weather, keeping their doors open. This has been an especially difficult winter on the island with three high school students committing suicide over the past 11 months. The third such incident took place on January 8 and since that time a team of mental health experts has been dispatched to the island to help teachers, parents, students and the community-at-large deal with the issue. When the weather is especially bleak and the sun has chosen not to shine for days on end, I'm especially appreciative of the many Main Street windowbox displays that decorate and delight from January through December. They're a positive diversion in light of the difficult times of late.

Art Here and There

2008-01-03T12:30:00.001-08:00

We've been in Southern California for the holidays, reconnecting with family and friends and enjoying the warm, sunny weather. It will certainly be an eye-opener when we return to Nantucket later today where there's snow on the ground but we look forward to a great year of opportunities and adventures as 2008 unfolds.

Yesterday it was 75 degrees here and I took the opportunity to not only spend a little time at the beach but also see the Wayne Thiebaud restrospective at the Laguna Museum of Art in Laguna Beach. I've always liked his pop images of cows and cakes but especially enjoyed this particular exhibition, which included charcoal and pastel drawings from his early days as an art student.

Fortunately there were some other great exhibitions at area museums during our visit and, as usual, I had a list of "must see" shows to keep me busy over the past two weeks. About Face: Portraiture Now, co-curated by Ron Nelson, my friend and colleague at the Long Beach Museum of Art, was outstanding and was a highlight of our visit, along with a long lunch at Claire's at the museum. Other shows we enjoyed were the mind-stretching Murakami exhibition at the MOCA Geffen Contemporary in Los Angeles, Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, and Julius Shulman's Los Angeles photographic retrospective at the Los Angeles Central Library's Getty Gallery. We also spent a day at the Getty itself in Brentwood, appreciating some favorite works like Van Gogh's Irises and wandering around the lush and varied gardens. The Restaurant at the Getty is a great place to enjoy outstanding food, service and views if you're visiting LA. It's never disappointed us.

The Atheneum in Winter

2007-12-15T05:41:00.000-08:00

On the outside, the Nantucket Atheneum is one of the island's most stately structures with its striking Greek Revival style architecture. It's especially beautiful this time of year as the centerpiece of a winter wonderland, with a blanket of snow covering its surrounding gardens.

Inside, the Atheneum is even more important to those of us who live here year-round. Even in the wintertime it provides a full schedule of lectures, film, music, arts and crafts, children's activities and other programs. Books are available not only in English but in Spanish as well to meet the needs of the island's growing population of service workers for whom English is a second language.

Last month I was recruited by our good friends Les and Joan Ottinger to become a volunteer tutor in the Atheneum's Literacy Program, which offers free tutoring and books to islanders who want to become fluent in conversational English. The program was begun by Les, a retired Harvard Medical School dean, two years ago and it now boasts over 50 tutors and even more students.

My student is a wonderful 24-year-old Guatemalean native who, with her husband, has two young children. We spend an hour a week together talking about shopping, children, the weather and life in general. This week we went out shopping at my favorite Nantucket spots--the Seconds Shop and the Consigment Shop--to practice English and look for a double stroller. We picked up a few books for the four-year-old for my student to read to her when we returned to their home. It's a rewarding experience for me and I look forward to many more visits with hot chocolate, conversation and reading in the new year.

By the way, if you're not sure what an Atheneum is, Atheneums (named for Athena the goddess of wisdom) were established in the 18th and 19th centuries as private literary societies and centers of learning.

From its founding in 1834, the Nantucket Atheneum has always been much more than a library. The Atheneum serves also as Nantucket’s literary and cultural focus of ideas and information resources. It also attracts the top thinkers and speakers of their day ranging from Henry David Thoreau to David McCullough, David Halberstam and Nathaniel Philbrick.

For more information, you can make a virtual visit to the Nantucket Atheneum at http://www.nantucketatheneum.org/. If you're here to visit Nantucket, be sure to stop in and enjoy the warmth and welcome of this island landmark serving all of the islanders year-round.

Christmas Stroll 2007

2007-12-02T06:28:00.001-08:00

Christmas Stroll has been a tradition on Nantucket for 34 years, a relatively short time by New England standards. According to the local Inquirer and Mirror, the Stroll was started by local merchants and the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce in response to the opening of the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis. The opening of this traditional department store-anchored shopping center, owned and operated by one of my former employers, Simon Property Group, was a big deal back in 1974 since it was just a short ferry ride away from Nantucket and provided islanders a much broader selection of merchandise and prices for the first time. So the first Christmas Stroll was designed to entice Nantucketers to shop local. Today the Stroll draws crowds of off-islanders who either own second homes on island or who come over as tourists for the weekend--many of whom are dressed from head to toe in their furs--for shopping at Nantucket's tony shops and dining in the trendy restaurants. Other are daytrippers who come early in the morning in time for Santa and Mrs. Santa's arrival by Coast Guard boat but who get all their shopping and strolling completed in time for the final depature of the ferry or plane at the end of the day. Craig was a member of this year's Christmas Stroll caroling group (center of back row of carolers with top hat in photo) and braved the chilly winds to entertain the island's visitors strolling up and down cobblestoned Main Street and adjacent areas. Temperatures dipping down into the mid-20's, along with a few occasions of snowflake surprises from the sky, created a true holiday scene. Christmas trees decorated earlier in the week by local nonprofits, school groups and merchants provide a small town picture postcard. Now we'll see if the snow comes as forecasted for tonight to create a true winter wonderland before Christmas! Brrrr....

Celebrating One Year on Nantucket

2007-11-11T17:27:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that a year has passed since Craig, Nikki the dog (pictured here) and I arrived at Logan Airport and headed to Nantucket to live here year-round. The contrast of leaving 70 degree temperatures in Southern California on November 4, 2006 and arriving at Logan Airport in Boston to temperatures in the low 30's was a stark one. Scraping ice off the windshield of the rental car that first day we arrived was quite a wake up call as was the shiny red snow shovel that was situated right outside my office door when I went to work the day after we arrived. In my interviews for the PR/development position I held at the Maria Mitchell Association, everyone stressed the team approach but I sincerely hoped that snow shoveling was not a part of that collaborative effort. Also I remember when we were instructed to deal with "the storms" (i.e. storm windows) at the office when we were preparing to go away for Thanksgiving break, I had no idea what to do. Now, a year later, I still haven't shoveled snow and don't feel too proficient with "storms" but I do have a wardrobe of clothes (thank you, L.L. Bean and the Nantucket consignment shops) that keep me toasty warm in the winter. I have learned the fine art of maneuvering the ferries and short hop airlines that get Nantucketers to and from the mainland. I've learned to scallop and help pull lobster traps from Nantucket Bay (the four lobsters we caught this summer were the best I've ever eaten). I've experienced the beauty of thousands of long-tailed (old squaw) ducks flying overhead on a November day from one side of the island to the other out at the west end of Madaket. I've driven to the Nantucket Health Club for a workout on a cold January day and had a string of half a dozen deer cross the road in front of me without a care in the world on their part. I've learned to find my way around Cape Cod and more importantly Boston and its wonderful Museum of Fine Arts, the Fogg Museum at Harvard and other cultural landmarks (still many more to experience). Wicked weather and nor'easters no longer cause me to panic but the bone-chilling cold still makes me creak. I've been fortunate to have had a rewarding job at the Maria Mitchell Association for a year before moving on to a new position as Nantucket Arts Council Director of Development, allowing me more flexibility for travel and the opportunity to return to the arts that are my passion. Craig and I have made lifelong friends and have learned to appreciate the four seasons not experienced in Southern California. Still, we miss the West Coast in many ways and wish it was closer so we could easily travel from one coast to the other. We're looking forward to a two week stay back in Orange County, Long Beach and Los Angeles from mid-December to the first part of January to thaw out from the New England cold, visit my son Ben, friends and family, and enjoy our favorite restaurants and museums. Nikki the dog will not be making the trip this time; she's already got a reservation at the four-star MSPCA in Nantucket where I'm fully expecting her to emerge with painted toenails and an attitude to match when we retrieve her upon our return to Nantucket to start another new year. Time passes quickly!

Beauty Before the Beast

2007-11-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

This brilliant red bush is down the street from us and it's been a beautiful sight to see every day this fall as we drive by on our way downtown. I'm not sure what type of plant it is but I do know that it probably won't have a leaf left on it after the beast of a storm we've been experiencing over the past 24 hours with winds over 75 miles per hour. The remnants of hurricane Noel are battering New England and especially Nantucket, with our island location 26 miles out at sea (the same as Catalina back in Southern California). The planes and ferries aren't running and there are few cars on the roads. Yesterday the boat owners were scampering to get out of the water. I'm sure the commercial scallopers hate losing a day out in their boats, especially given the opening price of $18 a pound retail for the delicious Nantucket bay scallops we're all enjoying these days. It will be interesting tomorrow to see how much wind and water damage has resulted from this storm, which is officially known as a nor'easter here in New England. Wicked weather, indeed, as we mark our first anniversary as year-round Nantucket residents this weekend!

Blue Ridge Parkway

2007-11-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

During the last two week of October we went on a driving trip from Massachusetts to Louisiana, stopping along the way to visit with family and friends. On the return trip we drove for several hours on the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopped at the Humpback Rocks Visitor's Center. The Center featured a farm museum and historic structures from the 1850's. This interesting fence, surrounded by the beautiful fall trees, provided a great photo opportunity.

Scallop Season

2007-10-26T13:31:00.000-07:00

If it's October on Nantucket, it's scalloping season! The bay scallop season began on October 1 and lasts until March 31. Unlike recent years, the 2007 season has been a bountiful one so far for non-commercial, family scallop license holders like Craig and myself. (My Southern California friends and colleagues will find it pretty unbelievable that I actually have a scalloping license!) According to the regulations, scallops may be harvested Wednesdays through Sundays and each scallop must have a growth line to ensure that it has reached one year of age. Any scallops without the growth line must be returned to the water. There's a limit of one bushel of scallops per licensed individuals per week. (Now you know why Craig wanted me to get the license!) The weather is getting chillier but Craig is still hanging in there and can't wait to get into the water with his waders and his rake. I, on the other hand, am much more excited about the opportunity of having them for dinner. They are truly a delight! A big event of the season was the 5th Annual Scalloper's Ball, sponsored by the Nantucket Shellfish Association, which we enjoyed a great deal. You can see the photo of Craig and myself at the event at Gene Mahon's Mahon About Town website.

Cranberry Harvest

2007-10-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

Cranberries have been harvested on Nantucket for over 150 years. Over the weekend a harvest festival took place at Milestone Cranberry Bog.The bog, along with the nearby Windswept Cranberry Bog, are located in the largest expanse of undeveloped conservation land on Nantucket and managed by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. This is an area known as the Middle Moors and it's "must see" open space off the beaten path for anyone visiting the island. FYI, the cranberry was originally known as the crane-berry because of its flower's resemblance to the stooped head of a crane, according to the Foundation. Its fiery red hue is a great constrast to the blue water in the bog and the green land surrounding it.

Sankaty Lighthouse

2007-10-05T05:02:00.001-07:00

Lighthouses are an important part of the New England landscape and our Nantucket friend Anne Sutherland, who leads Sketching Tours and exhibits her work at South Wharf Gallery, considers the local Sankaty lighthouse (circa 1850) a prime subject for her large-scale paintings. This week "Anne's lighthouse" was the focus of attention as the historic structure was slowly inched toward a new site 405 feet away from its current home on a crumbling cliff above the Atlantic Ocean. The New York Times chronicled the unusual happening and a wonderful gallery of photos by talented Nantucket photographer Jim Powers documented the move for the local Inquirer and Mirror. For everything you ever wanted to know about New England lighthouses, there's a great blog about the subject. My good friend Carol Beekman in Southern California loves lighthouses more than anyone I know, even more than Anne, and I wish she was here on Nantucket to watch the Sankaty move this week!

Plein Air on Main Street

2007-09-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year when Nantucketers celebrate the arts as a community, with the Nantucket Arts Council sponsoring the 15th Annual Nantucket Arts Festival featuring 10 days of arts-related events. What a pleasant surprise it was this morning to see one of our new artist friends Paul Arsenault out on Main Street painting Congdon's Pharmacy on its closing day after 147 years on Nantucket. Paul and his wife, Eileen, entertained a group of us at their summer studio down at 10 Old North Wharf several weeks ago, giving us an opportunity to get to view his recent paintings and enjoy their wonderful hospitality. A fellow Louisiana native, Eileen makes one of the best gumbos I have ever eaten! We look forward to seeing them again next summer when they return to Nantucket from their winter location in Naples, Florida.

And The Winner is...

2007-09-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Pumpkins of all colors and sizes were everywhere at this weekend's Nantucket Island Fair. The blue ribbon prize for the largest pumpkin this year went to grower Paul Michetti for his 422 pound entry. Though this particular pumpkin came out on top, it had much less girth than the 2006 winner, which tipped the scales at 722 pounds and was grown by another local, Ray Owen. Camel and pony rides for the kids were other popular attractions for the mostly local crowd. Yes, this is Nantucket not Iowa, believe it or not!

One of My Favorite Nantucketers

2007-09-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

Over the past ten months we've been living on Nantucket, I've been on the staff of the Maria Mitchell Association, a nonprofit founded on the island in 1902. One of my favorite people I've encountered is Edith Andrews, who served on the staff in various capacities for 60 years before being named ornithologist emeritus in 2006. In her 90's, Edith still drives, leads seasonal bird walks and authors a weekly column on birds for the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror. One of the first special events I helped organize last year as a part of my job responsibilities was a celebration of the Association's extensive ornithology collection being named in honor of Edith. The collection, which is housed in trays that I liken to "CSI for birds," includes over 1,500 specimens dating back as far as the late 19th century. Edith shares great anecdotes about life on Nantucket and its flora and fauna. One day in the office this winter we were talking about the abundance of grey seals on Muskeget, one of the small islands off of Nantucket. Edith shared her memories of the time when they had a bounty on seals (which ceased in the late 1940's), with persons receiving $5 per nose, resulting in a decline of seals in the Massachusetts waters. When times were tough, Edith said, the same noses showed up numerous times to earn the $5 as local Nantucketers shared among themselves.

Regal Rose Hips

2007-08-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

Last week a tourist stopped and asked, "Do you know what those little tomatoes are on bushes here on Nantucket?" Fortunately I had the answer to her question. She was asking about rose hips, which are on full display now as the summer begins to wind down. Rose hips are high in Vitamin C like tomatoes but not members of the tomato family. They're used by islanders to make herbal tea, jams and jellies. I took this photo of rose hips yesterday of the Easy Street Boat Basin on my way to a view a wonderful photography exhibition by Daniel Sutherland at Easy Street Gallery and hear the photographer/artist give an interesting talk, "The Role of Digital in Fine Arts Photography."

Legendary Lightship

2007-08-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

Before coming to Nantucket the first time ten years ago, I had never heard of a lightship. Now I am fascinated by the story of the role they played in Nantucket nautical history. In their day, lightships were used in waters that are too deep for a lighthouse. According to Wikipedia, instead of marking coastlines, they usually marked marine traffic routes. Lightships, for visibility purposes, normally had bright red hulls which displayed the name of the station that the ship marked in white upper case letters; relief light vessels displayed the word RELIEF instead.The first lightship in the U.S. was established in 1820. The official use of lightships ended 1985, when the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned its last such ship, the Nantucket I. This particular lightship, which I photographed this afternoon in Nantucket Harbor, has been converted to a private yacht used for charters. We had the opportunity of hearing the owners (who bought it on ebay!) speak at the Coffin School several years ago about the challenge of acquiring and restoring the lightship. The story is an interesting one that you might enjoy. Their website is http://www.nantucketlightship.com/.

Community Garden Neighbors

2007-08-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite respites from the hordes of tourists this summer has been the Nantucket community garden. Located out on Hummock Pond Road, we've enjoyed a bounty of vegetables grown on one of the plots amidst those being tended by neighbors and friends. The cows in the pasture adjoining the community garden are always interested in stopping by to say hello...and to perhaps enjoy a taste of our latest harvest.

Timely Topics

2007-08-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Whether you're a new washashore like me or a long-time resident of Nantucket, there are two topics that seem to be dominating discussions here on the island these days, from the aisles of the local Stop and Shop grocery store (familiarly known as Stop and Rob for its high prices) to Congdon's Drug Store fountain counter stools. They are the 'Sconset (short for Siasconset) Beach Replenishment project, which was the focus of a Wall Street Journal article entitled "Wealth Erosion," published earlier in the summer, and Cape Wind's proposed offshore wind farm in Nantucket Sound, which was the topic of a segment of the Daily Show earlier this month. Check both of these out to see what the buzz is all about.

Rainbow Fleet's Sunday Sailing

2007-08-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Nantucket Yacht Club's annual Rainbow Fleet parade sailed in Nantucket Harbor to the delight of hundreds of observers lining the sandy beaches around Brant Point Lighthouse. The Rainbow Fleet boat is a 12'4" Beetle Cat catboat first built in 1920 in New Bedford, Massachusetts by members of the Beetle Family. In 1925 the Nantucket Yacht Club chose the Beetle Cat design and with the colored sails, it became known as the Rainbow Fleet, which was then made famous in 1930 by a photograph taken by Marshall Gardiner as the boats rounded Brant Point Lighthouse. This will make a great watercolor when I can find time to pull out my brushes, paints and paper! To see the original Marshall Gardiner image, go to the Nantucket Historical Society.

If you're interested in reading an entertaining book about Nantucket and sailing, my favorite is Second Wind written by local author Nathaniel Philbrick earlier in his career. Today he's best known for his much acclaimed recent works, In the Heart of the Sea and Mayflower (which was named one of the ten best books of the year by the New York Times Book Review and for which the author was named a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in History).

Nantucket: A Study in Contrasts

2007-08-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

Though I have been on Nantucket island as a seasonal visitor for the past ten years, it was only this year that I experienced the much-talked-about annual Nantucket demo derby which takes place each August. Now as a year-round resident (since November 2006), the time seemed right to be a part of this annual island tradition.

The setting was the oceanside Tom Nevers Field, the site of a former naval base, where the annual Island Fair is held each September, the highlight of which is the pumpkin contest. Those in the know on this "pile of sand" say that the winner of the pumpkin competition has serious bragging rights. The growers of the award-winners have closely guarded gardening plots shielded from the eyes of fellow pumpkin growers. Details of seeds, soil composition, fertilizer, watering protocol, etc. are kept under tight wrap. But, more about that aspect of Nantucket island life next month when the competition takes place.

The competition this August weekend--the 29th Annual Demolition Derby--was much more testosterone laden than the pumpkin contest I've witnessed in past years. Amidst multi-million dollar Tom Nevers homes, a field of 59 drivers enthusiastically gave it their all in the derby and thoroughly entertained the crowd of mostly local residents.

According to yackon.com, the islander's most trusted source of local news, originally the derby was started as a way to deal with all the junk cars in people's yards and still on the street, given the prohibitive cost of getting cars off island. "This was a creative way to address this problem and poke a little fun at ourselves... the profits went to shipping these and other old piles of cars off island," poster YACK Wonk wrote. As stated in yackon.com, "Ultimately the goal was to de-redneck ourselves and get all this rust piles out of back yards."

I had a great vantage point to experience my first Nantucket Demo Derby atop a bunker that is said to have been designated for President John F. Kennedy to retreat in case of nuclear attack during his presidency if he was vacationing at his nearby Hyannisport compound, according to local lore. I found myself drawn, much to my surprise, into cheering for more smashing and demolition as the afternoon wore on. The afternoon's proceedings were announced play-by-play by Historic District Commissioner Linda Williams, who has been a driver in the derby in past years but whose son, Colin Williams, was the family's representative in the 2007 event.

The cars begin the competition in an area circled by 60 or more concrete blocks connected by wire. Opposite our position atop the bunker were dozens of trucks loaded with local tailgaters on the other side of the ring, some bringing their own couches to witness the proceedings in comfort.

When there is only one car still able to move about in a heat, a horn sounds to signal that there is a winner of that particular competition. The cars that are able to drive away on their own do so, with the others hauled off the field by Cat front end loaders to be miraculously brought to life again by mechanics and other experienced crew members to compete in yet another round. Once their competing day is over, however, they are smashed up, the tires are pulled and they are crushed and loaded on to to the mainland for scrap.

A note of irony is that automobile racing industry notable Roger Penske, a Nantucket regular and owner of a 150-foot yacht named the Detroit Eagle moored in Nantucket harbor, according to the local Nantucket Waterfront News, was probably not a part of the local crowd at the demo derby and rather more comfortable elsewhere on the Nantucket social scene. However, one wonders if he would have benefitted by being on the demo scene back in 2005, with Historic District Commissioner Williams' involvement, when according to a New York Times article, he "tussled for months with the Historic District Commission until he finally won permission to build a faux lighthouse that joins the two wings of his multimillion-dollar home."

I must say that, though I am not a demo derby aficionado by any means, it was an exhilarating experience and quite a welcomed change from the uber-rich scene on Main Street and in the yacht-filled harbor area, where just last week I was people-watching. The Main Street mother-and-daughter duo I saw (the mother clad in tennis whites with the latest Louis Vuitton handbag busily communicating with her top-of-the-line Blackberry and cell phone while the designer fashion-clad, reed thin daughter with her new inch-thick fall issue of Vogue magazine stood nearby) were certainly not a part of the demo derby crowd!

Nantucket is certainly a study in contrasts for all the right and wrong reasons. It's a great place to be and I look forward to sharing more of my insights as the year progresses.