RICK HERRICK

508-693-8065

(herricklr@verizon.net)

East Chop said goodbye to Ted Burnham on Saturday, Sept. 20, at a lovely party hosted by his wife Wendy, her longtime friend Kathy Grugan from West Grove, Pa., and several neighbors. Ted died of lymphomic cancer on August 22nd following a four-year struggle with this horrible disease.

Ted was one of those rare people who distinguished himself by his goodness. In talking with people at the party, the words used to describe him were caring, kind, a gentleman through and through. We will never forget his beautiful garden, his love of quahaugging, and his enthusiastic support of the East Chop Beach Club. He was a member of our community for 82 years, from a fourth generation family. We will miss him sorely.

Betsy Dripps begins her fall program at the Polly Hill Arboretum this week. Betsy is the youth education coordinator. She goes into most elementary school classrooms on the Vineyard to prepare students for their hands-on science experience at the arboretum.

Betsy trains the students to behave and think as scientists. They explore the wonders of nature through careful observation, documentation and the sharing of ideas through journals and drawings. In the fall, kindergarten and first graders study seasonal change with a special focus on leaves, second graders learn about how seeds travel, and third graders classify trees and plants. Betsy is assisted in her work by 16 volunteer guides.

The Polly Hill Arboretum is in West Tisbury on State Road. Developed by noted horticulturist Polly Hill, this Vineyard treasure is devoted to the cultivation and study of trees and plants. Betsy brings to her work wide-ranging scientific knowledge, infectious enthusiasm and a love of children that make her program one of the most popular field trips for Island elementary students.

Sept. 29 will be an exciting day for Penny and Don Hinkle. Their beautiful new home on East Chop Drive is finally ready for them to occupy. The house provides exciting views of the beach club, Oak Bluffs harbor and Nantucket Sound from the many windows throughout the house. Penny insisted the builder provide them with special nooks for reading, and an office area upstairs with views that will make it difficult to work.

All of this is fitting for two retired editors from Time-Life Books. Penny left in the early 1990s to work as the executive director of a land trust in New Jersey. Don continued to write. The Penny Crusade is a fictional account of how four 10-year-old boys teamed up with the Allied army in World War 11 to help defeat Hitler. It is published as an electronic book. Don has more children’s books in various stages of completion. We are thrilled to have the Hinkles as full-time residents.

Finally, I spoke with Keith McArt on opening day of the fishing derby. He fished all that night at several up-Island spots that he was reluctant to reveal. He ran into a dozen or more eager derby anglers during his all-night vigil.

Sadly, his results on his first night out were mediocre at best: a four-pound blue and a striped bass not big enough to keep. The night was not a bust, however. He enjoyed the peace and quiet of fishing at night, and the eerie beauty of darkened beaches. He has since returned to best that blue. We wish him well.