BRAD FLIGOR

Margaret Knight escaped the confines of Chappy this week. She was last seen boarding a plane bound for San Francisco. Chappy marshals have been dispatched and we understand that she will be returned to the Island within a week. In the interim, I am filling in for her as the Chappy Tattler.

As usual, an eventful week on Chappy was experienced by all, but even more so by me. On Friday, I saw a seagull fly overhead while jogging to the ferry. On Saturday, I saw a seagull again fly overhead, this time while I was driving to the ferry. I am not certain if it was the same seagull that I saw on Friday, and I’d hate to make such a bold statement to that effect without absolute certainty. So while I am fairly confident that the same seagull passed me twice, I will not swear to it.

Speaking of birds, our local crows ran into a spot of trouble last week. Thankfully Kim and I were íon location to bail them out. Their watering hole at the foot of our driveway had frozen over to the extent that they were unable to break the ice with their beaks. We noticed them skating around on the surface as we drove by one morning, and though it appeared like they were having great fun, Kim alertly opined that perhaps they were having difficulty accessing their water. So we diverted the truck slightly and ran over the ice a few times, breaking the ice up sufficiently to provide the crows entry to water below. No thanks were necessary, but I do believe that later that day the crow who sits atop our flag pole winked at me. Back atcha crow buddy.

On a more serious note, it has been reported that our ílocal MSPCA (located behind the Vineyard Veterinary Clinic) will be closing its doors this May. Apparently the MSPCA is fiscally unable to continue operating all its shelters. However, Ron Whitney, the director of our local MSPCA is mounting an effort to create a community based animal shelter (with possible support of the MSPCA). Anyone interested in this effort may e-mail Ron at whitney@mspca.org. Hope is a powerful emotion, and particularly needed in these times.

Speaking of birds again, we’ve been sharing our little golf course on Chappy with a family of geese for most of this winter. Actually, I’d guess that the family is more of a congregation of sorts, with neighbors, acquaintances and the odd weird uncle or two. At times their numbers exceed 40 at any one given location. They don’t seem to be terrifically fond of my company as they fly off in ía wide honking arc whenever I stop by. I understand that their presence can be unwanted on some golf courses, but they don’t appear to be causing any harm here. I do occasionally check out their stomping grounds (they tend to hang out on the greens), checking for damage. The best that I can tell, however, is that their primary activity is digesting and eliminating foliage. Their calling cards are innumerable, but eventually the droppings settle themselves into compact compartments of mulched grass (akin to packing popcorn — I’ve considered raking up a bunch of their droppings to include in my next fragile post, íbut figure the recipient of the package might object. It’s so difficult to be resourcefully green these days.)

Speaking of resources, someone has parked their house in the dirt lot at the Chappy ferry. At the risk of appearing judgmental, I feel I need to bring to the owner’s attention that our fossil fuel resources are tenuous at best presently, and now may not be the time to be driving a house. I can’t imagine that a house-on-wheels gets great gas mileage, and suggest that a Subaru might be better suited for trips to and from the ferry.

I spoke with my very, very good and dear old friend Kevin Keady yesterday on the telephone. I interrupted his enjoyment of tape 14 of Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls, so our conversation was brief. I did learn that he is beginning a six-week gig at The Newes of America Friday nights. Kevin and friends will be headlining these acoustic music sessions from 9 to 11 p.m., and I heartily suggest getting out of the house and checking it out. It’s probably a good idea that Kevin is getting out as well.

Kim and I had dinner with Paul Wales and his lovely friend Jane Saturday evening at their house. Also present were Sharlee Creech, Jack Livingston, their daughter Abbie, Cory Dean, and Anne Heywood. A fine time was had by all as we relived our years together in the heavy metal band Chappalachia. Cory also regaled us with stories of her early ícareer as a bottle counter, and her good friend Riley who taught her how to drive a forklift. Good times. Anne related to me that she had recently returned from Sarasota where she had been visiting her former Chappy neighbor Jane Wasey. Anne told me a lot of other things too, but íI admit that I may have stopped listening intently after the first hour.

I understand that the groundhog came out of its hole and bit Mayor Bloomberg in New York city, so I’m guessing that we have some more cool weather to come this month.

I ítalked to íferry captain Brad Fligor today as I traveled the rapids between Edgartown and Chappy. I asked him if there was anything he could think of that might be of interest to Gazette readers as it pertained to the Chappy Ferry. He said no. So I told him that I’d make something up. Like this: Brad would like to be called either Starsky or Hutch henceforth, and Captain Charlie will be referred to as Captain Fantastic. Also, all ferry-issued jump suits will now be WiFi capable.

There will be a semi-formal tea at the Edgartown Library this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. All children and their parents are welcome to attend. For more events and information visit edgartownlibrary.org.

The potluck dinner will be hosted by Sunny and Alan Wilson on Wednesday Feb. 18 íat 6 p.m. at the community center.

Happy Valentine’s Day wishes to all, and hurry back Margaret.