Nature & Science
Ponds in Peril, a forum to follow last summer’s successful event sponsored by the Vineyard Conservation Society, will be held on Wednesday, July 21 starting at 7 p.m. at the Sailing Camp in Oak Bluffs. The featured speaker will be Michael D. Giggey, a principal at Wright-Pierce Engineering. Mike will address water quality and wastewater management and infrastructure issues associated with growth and development on the Vineyard, presenting case studies of Sengekontacket Pond, Lagoon Pond and Lake Tashmoo.
The crescent moon appears high in the southwestern sky after sunset tonight. It is in the zodiacal constellation Virgo. The moon moves into the first quarter phase on Saturday and appears close to one of the brightest stars in the night, the bright star Spica, also in Virgo. Virgo is a large constellation that extends along the zodiac. The moon will spend two days in Virgo.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
July 9 80 69 .00
July 10 86 70 Trace
July 11 87 70 .02
July 12 84 69 .00
July 13 87 71 .00
July 14 86 72 .34
July 15 85 70 .07
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 74º F.
Vineyard restaurants and fish markets are now serving and selling fresh, locally caught striped bass. The commercial season officially opened on Tuesday in Massachusetts.
Commercial anglers have a season that will probably run well into August before the quota is taken. They are limited to fish that are a minimum of 34 inches, and there is a daily limit of five fish on Sundays, and 30 fish on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Massachusetts quota for commercial fishing of striped bass is 1,128,577 pounds.
The Education Department at Mass Audubon’s Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary has selected Jacob Gurney as recipient of the James K. Whittemore Young Naturalist Award. This annual award recognizes campers for their outstanding participation and contribution to environmental excellence during Mass Audubon’s summer 2009 camp season.
Friday, July 9: A hot and clear day. A dog day in July. Lawns in Edgartown are burnt amber: the grass crunches underfoot. A light breeze in the afternoon. Breeze lightens in the afternoon. Long lines for ice cream cones in a North Water street, Edgartown shop.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.