Community
Refusing to let the fundraiser be a stage for escalating labor tensions, Martha's Vineyard Community Services officials this week denied the request of Possible Dreams poster child Carly Simon to earmark a portion of her gift's proceeds to staff wage increases.
He talks like a truck driver and behaves like a used car salesman. Neither is an act. So how did a guy who owns a moving company and sells cars on the side get to be the auctioneer of choice for just about every Island charity?
The noisy, motley group of runners suddenly waxed silent and awaited the bullhorn. When it blasted, the soles of more than a thousand running shoes began pummelling Middle Road against a canvas of shadows and golden light.
On Saturday morning the 25th annual Chilmark Road Race began just as its predecessors - but with an even richer sense of history, and featuring a wonderful new gadget.
Laughter and money seemed to go hand in hand at last night's Possible Dreams auction in Edgartown. The better the one-liners, the higher the bids.
Fortunately, there were some pretty glib celebrities willing to stoke the fire, and in the end, the 24th annual auction of 53 dreams had pulled in more than $376,000. That figure fell short of last year's take of just over $400,000.
Best ever Possible Dreams moment? That's a tough one.
In 1994, Carly Simon sang a few bars of Anticipation to the crowd. They went wild, and a dream night of songs with Ms. Simon was auctioned for $81,000. Twice.
In 1998, a similar situation arose, and Washington Post owner Katharine Graham agreed to host three separate lunches. Each bidder (Merv Griffin among them) paid $25,000, and Mrs. Graham made a donation of her own as well. In minutes, $100,000 was raised.
Echoes of Sept. 11 followed the solemn marchers in the Memorial Day veterans' parade on Monday. More participants joined, and more flags were hung than in years past. Even the crowds were larger on the Edgartown streets.