JO-ANN TILGHMAN

508-627-7669

(tilghmanjb@aol.com)

While in past years I have enjoyed waking to the singing of the various birds (cardinals, goldfinch, nuthatch, and blue jay) that visit our yard, this year it seems all I hear is the cawing of up to two dozen crows. They not only visit first thing in the morning (shortly after 5 a.m.) but several times throughout the day. I can honestly say that their sound is not music to my ears. 

Capt. Bob Gilkes on the Chappy ferry has also experienced an increase in crow activity. It appears that at least one crow has become comfortable foraging in the back of pick-up trucks. Could this be the same crow that has been seen jumping into the trash can to retrieve French fires and even goes into the “off ferry” wheelhouse to help himself to dog biscuits? 

Bob also commented on the lunar high tides that have the ferry captains wondering where the viewers of the Fourth of July fireworks will sit this summer. When high tide rolls in there is little or no beach at the point, and as July 4 coincides with the new moon, the tide will be high with prime fireworks viewing spots at a premium.

With the taste of summer weather we have had recently, and it was certainly hot last week, it is easy to see why summer activities and events are starting up.

Community center activities underway include Joanne Scott teaching Tai Chi from 8 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday mornings. The classes are $10 and are for all levels. July 1 at 8:30 a.m. will see the start of yoga classes at the community center. Yin and vinyasa yoga will be taught by experienced Island teacher Amanda Cohen. Fees for the yoga class are $12 per class or 4 for $40. Margaret Knight and Molly Sullivan will be staffing the center this summer with office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. If you are looking for information on additional community center events, stop in and see them.

Pat and David Knoll are here from Cincinnati, Ohio, until July 31 for their annual summer vacation. While they vary the months they are here, this year’s vacation coincided with the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School graduation of David’s great nephew Bud Osborne and the birthday of David’s sister, Marcia Forde. Among the other family attending the festivities were Bud’s grandparents, Chappy residents Marcia and Terry Forde, Bud’s grandfather Dale Osborne Jr., his uncle, Dale Osborne 3rd and cousin Connor, of Alameda, Calif., uncle Bryan and aunt Susan Osborne of Harrisburg, Pa., and Bud’s sister Amanda Osborne, her son Aaron, Amanda’s friend, Red Russell, and his children, Brittany and Daniel Russell. Amanda and Red have extended their stay through this week staying at Varian Cassat’s guest house.

Colin Day, the son of Felicia Cheney of Chappaquiddick and Charles Day of Edgartown, was among the top 10 students in this year’s graduating high school class. Colin will be attending the University of Chicago this fall. Congratulations to both of Chappy’s graduates.   

Mike Merritt,  his wife, Susan Brooks, and their daughter, Grace, are here from Boulder, Colo., vacationing in the boathouse of Laura and Tim Bryan. Mike is the son of Bob and Anne Merritt who made Chappy their summer home for more than 30 years. Joining Mike and his family for this annual fishing vacation are M ike’s cousin, Jim Merritt and his wife Nancy of Pennington, N.Y., their daughter Jenn Swope, her husband Ian, and their children Fiona and Malcolm.  Both Mike and Jim are avid fly-fishermen who have noted that the fishing at Wasque is not what it has been in past years. They speculate that this may be due to the abundance of seals living on Skiff’s Island.

Having arrived for the her summer vacation and looking forward to a break from her first-grade teaching position in Middletown, Conn., is Margaret Rodney Mullen. Margaret is hoping for lots of good beach days  she can share with friends, family, and a few good books. She also hopes that the Chappy crows will not visit her home too early in the morning.

It is with sadness that I report the passing of Hal Tilghman. Hal was a past president of the Chappaquiddick Island Association and Sherriff’s Meadow Foundation. He and his beloved wife Olive loved Chappaquiddick and it was with failing health and reluctance they left Chappy three years ago. A memorial service will be held later this summer. On a personal note I can also add that Hal was a thoughtful, kind, and caring gentleman and a wonderful father in law.