Remy Tumin
The first time Leonard Bernstein laid his young fingers on the keys of a piano at the age of 10 he felt as though he had been touched by God.
He would sit at the piano, hour after hour, his father berating him to quit playing while his mother encouraged him to continue. Even growing up in a hostile environment with only his aunt’s piano as musical inspiration couldn’t stop him from becoming one of the most watched and listened to musicians in the world.
Perhaps even the greatest American musician, ever.
The smell of hay and cotton candy, the lowing of cows, the dusty August air blowing through barn doors, ruffling your hair. The scratching of a horse against a stall, the whirring of the Ferris wheel.
Thousands of stitches hanging over the barn beams, the pride of dropping off an entry, no matter the age. Echoes of footsteps on the wide floorboards, wet grass tickling bare feet.
Improvements to emergency services, including a new response system at the town beach, challenges facing the town fire department and the ever-present balancing act of managing the town budget were central topics at the Aquinnah summer taxpayers meeting on Wednesday night.
Aquinnah selectmen told a small but inquisitive group of seasonal residents that the town is holding close to a plan to keep spending at a minimum while maintaining top-notch services.
Edgartown selectmen heard complaints this week from a North Water street resident about traffic from the Chappaquiddick Ferry blocking his driveway.
Dudley Cannada told the selectmen on Monday this summer’s line is worse than in years past, and in some cases he has had to wait up to 15 minutes to be able to exit his driveway.
Mr. Cannada owns 44 and 50 North Water street with access to Simpson’s Lane, where the line forms when it extends beyond Daggett street.
Citing public safety issues and protection of a nearby pond and stream, the Aquinnah zoning board of appeals this week unanimously approved a variance that will allow a portion of Old South Road to be paved.
The variance was allowed with a series of conditions.
Dukes County and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) sought an exception from a town bylaw which protects Old South Road, Old Lobsterville Road and Old Church Road as historic places and prohibits paving on them.
It’s all about the flowers and greens when Jessica Harris goes to the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market. The James Beard Award winner has a routine of navigating the stalls at the old Grange Hall every week, and Wednesday morning was no different.
First stop was to flower farmer Krishana Collins. Ms. Collins greeted her like an old friend.