Opinion
My Vineyard hikes take me to many beautiful sites. I enjoy seeing the diversity of landscapes, many influenced by their agricultural past. A frequent plant I encounter in abandoned farm fields is northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica, now Morella pensylvanica). Quick to reclaim open pastureland, the shrubs have the unique ability to fix their own atmospheric nitrogen through specialized structures called root nodules. The nodules contain the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Frankia. This mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship allows bayberry to grow in soils with low fertility.
When the Allen Farm’s 165-foot meteorological tower went up a couple of years ago in front of our Chilmark property, I wondered what the future would be like if a wind turbine were built. Our Vineyard history, especially the exquisite beauty and peace of our hilltop home, has been precious to us. My husband’s ancestor, John Eddy, first came to the Vineyard in 1660 as a blacksmith. More recently, my husband has enjoyed the company of five generations of his family here.
From the Vineyard Gazette editions of August, 1912:
The Chappaquiddick beach illumination and boat parade was a magnificent spectacle. The harborfront was gay with lanterns moving to and fro and the U.S. revenue cutter Acushnet and state steamer Lexington were anchored off the beach
The League of Women Voters of Martha’s Vineyard wants to insure that citizens are current with their voter registration for the upcoming election season — including any change in name or address, or registering for the first time.
I am a member of the board of directors of Vineyard House, which is the only residential support facility for Islanders in early recovery from substance abuse.
I am also an active volunteer on our resident support committee. As such, I meet every other week with eight other volunteers to help support the house managers who oversee our program.
Although I’m not complaining about the food or service, I was quite amazed and appalled to be charged a 15 per cent gratuity on a take-out order at Jimmy Seas. I couldn’t figure out what “service” I was tipping for. Was it the careful arrangement in the stryrofoam container, the plastic wrapping job or maybe the smiles as they dug deeper into my wallet because they could. Just one more “first” for me, as in first time for everything.