MARGARET KNIGHT
508-627-8894
The sun was a welcome change after last weekend’s three-day rain storm. All that rain made the vernal pools ready for the new frogs, toads, salamanders, fairy shrimp and insects that will be born in them this spring — which officially begins this weekend. The vernal pools form in low areas that are often dry for much of the year. They collect enough rain water by spring to briefly support amphibian species in their water-breathing form. Life is lived there in safety because no fish species can survive, since the pools periodically dry out.
The strong east-northeast winds knocked the power out for a few hours on Saturday night. The water in the Edgartown harbor channel was cloudy with sand from the shores it was eating away. White caps in the ferry channel made for exciting crossings with the boat swaying side to side. The captains would head out confidently into the channel, and then the current would pull the boat downstream at such a rapid rate it seemed as if it would never make it back up to the slip. But finally, the boat would climb upstream, and the captain would angle it just right and pop into the slip where the water was nearly calm.
Out at Wasque the ocean continues to move the shore inland. The winds pushed more water into the former marsh between the The Trustees of Reservations parking lots, and now it’s a veritable pond. The road to the lower lot, where people park to go to the beach, was covered by the water. It looks as if The Trustees will have to move the road this summer, maybe back to where it used to be.
Will Geresy did some research on Google Earth to see the erosion at Wasque. He measured how much land has washed away in front of the deflation parking lot — the lot that’s washing away, nearest to Norton Point. From the 2007 map, he figures 540 feet have been lost. Looking at a map from 1991, when there were several beach roads and acres of sand between the parking lot and the ocean, he measured a loss of over 800 feet to where the shore is now.
The Chappy Community Center subscription notices and summer class registration forms and calendars have gone out, so if you didn’t receive them and would like to, please call the center at 508-627-8222, or e-mail chappycc@verizon.net.
The community center is supported entirely by donations, so your contribution is important.
The Babson family hosted the potluck this past week. The next potluck will be on April 7.
For those who like to sing, Hatsy Potter is organizing some round singing at the community center. A few of us met there last week to try it out and had a pleasant time singing rounds in front of the fire. The next sing is planned for Wednesday, March 24, from 5 to 6 p.m. Anyone who likes to sing is invited — you don’t have to be a great singer! Hatsy has lots of books with interesting short and longer rounds.
Sally Snipes is offering a free workshop in doll making at the Chilmark Tavern tomorrow, March 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The dolls will be sent to Haiti for the children there. For more information, call Sally at 508-627-8381.
Word has reached us of the death of Judy Champ last week. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch of March 15 celebrated her as a fund-raiser and volunteer for a range of arts, education and political causes. She was described as a philanthropist in demand “to head charity benefits as much for her irrepressible and joyous spirit as for her talents as a party giver.” She enjoyed her summers on Chappaquiddick.
Bill Brine, who sent me the above information, recently returned from a trip to Australia. In Hobart, he enjoyed dinner with Jim and Mary Adelstein and their son Joe and family. Bill said the oysters were the best he’d ever eaten, and he found Hobart to be his favorite place in Australia. Ann joined him later on his trip, and they visited Bangkok where they saw John Chirgwin. Bill noted that John still swims 60 laps a day.
If you feel as if the world of technology is passing you by, you can find out some of what you’re missing at the Technology Fair this Saturday, March 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Oak Bluffs library. Community, school, library and business leaders will present examples of new information and communication technologies. You can ask questions, try out the electronics and see some of the latest gadgets, for example downloadable audio books and MP3 players, online language learning (Mango), technology in the classroom, Mac and PC computers, Wii and electronic gadgets. You can also enter a chance to win an MP3 player courtesy of the Library Friends of Oak Bluffs.
Three Chappaquiddickers took the census taking training this past week. Liz Villard, Scott Goldin and I are among the people that may show up at your door in the near future to take the census. The census has been taken since 1790. This year’s count will hopefully help Massachusetts keep the same number of representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Comments
Comment policy »