BETTYE FOSTER BAKER

508-696-9983

(bdrbaker@comcast.net)

The children’s last fingerprints and smudges have been reluctantly removed from the glass doors, the sandcastle toys and umbrellas have been stored away and school beckons an end to summer’s delicious freedom and ushers in the reality and joy of yet another school year.

The summer evaporated as it does every year, and though children rarely think their time wasted, we adults have a different take on perhaps what we should have done differently. The family moments will be remembered best as each year brings its traditions of play and song, and now the celebratory endings are at hand. For some it will be a lobster dinner around the well-used picnic table, or the final sunset to be appreciated at Menemsha before departing, or the moon rising at the town beach, emerging upward as a reminder that our lives were well-lived this summer and that soon we will be caught up in an environment where seasons are no longer as stable as they have been in the past and weather changes are inevitable and unpredictable. That social, cultural and political milieu which came to be familiar and unchanging is as volatile as the weather, an unkind reminder of the dissonance that is at once complicated and always disturbing, where the spotlight focuses less on reason and more on sensationalism. Yet, there is nothing that says we are entitled to what was reassuring and comfortable. What we are entitled to is the right to change it.

As I think over the richness of summer, the many opportunities to engage in the calendar’s myriad offerings, new people met, I say as I do each year about this time: I have traveled the world, but there are few places as satisfying as Martha’s Vineyard. And with the end of the high season, September ushers in a period of enviable weather, uncrowded streets and the blessings of fall’s quiet and enviable time to reflect; for some it is the best of seasons.

Author Leon L. Haley has written a compelling biography, The Quiet One: General Roscoe Robinson Jr., the first African American to achieve the rank of four-star general in the United States Army. The biography, published by Fortis, 2010, covers the life and military career of Gen. Robinson from his humble beginnings in St. Louis, where he was born and raised, until his death in 1993 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., after waging a courageous 18-month battle against leukemia. The book covers, in considerable detail, Robinson’s service from 1982-1985 as the U.S. Representative to the North American Treaty Organization’s Military Committee and his role in getting European acceptance of the deployment of cruise missiles. During the course of his 35-year military career he served on four continents and under eight Commanders-in-Chief: Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan. Despite his extraordinary achievements, once retired, unlike his white counterparts he was unable to obtain an offer of employment after his stellar military career ended. The author cites racial barriers as the key factor in his being overlooked. A book signing was held at the home of Judith and Ron Davenport, where some interesting and thoughtful questions were raised and explored. This is a book well worth reading. The Quiet One is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com., or can be purchased directly from Fortis.

Harry Seymour’s show at L’Elegance, Sunday, Sept. 5, 7 to 9 p.m., exhibits works of egg tempera, scratch art etchings and several giclee prints of his most iconic works. Seymour draws his inspiration not only from the Island’s beauty but also from its richly diverse community. In the gallery’s words, “It is precisely the Island’s mixture of place with varied people that creates the beautiful hues that energize and give vibrancy to his artistic vision and purpose. A vision expressed through egg tempera paintings that typify the beautiful tonal and illuminating quality of this medium but his method and style of painting show a unique softness.” He characterizes his scratchboard etchings as providing light and dark contrasts which dominate like no other medium. His works reflect a variety of Island scenes, and among his favorite subjects are reflections on President Obama and the Obama family.

Recently Ron and Ardelia Stewart hosted a Celebration of Friendship party in their beautiful Tisbury garden. Many Oak Bluffs friends were there to enjoy a delicious smorgasbord and engaging conversation. Among the many guests were Jo-Anne Bates, Earl and Yvette Bradford, Sandra Grymes, Milton and Nancy Washington, Alvin and Thelma Johnson, Basil and Marci Jones, Thomas McGill and Charisse Lillie, Iona Pressley, Carolyn Brown, Leon Haley, Duerwood Hughes and Terry Kriedman, Rose and Bill Edmondson, Gus and Maria Rimpel, Beverly Coleman, Donald and Sharon Parks, Tony and Henri Moore.

On the afternoon of August 26, Ladies on the Vineyard was convened at the home of Ursula Parrish Daniels. Upon arrival, all 25 guests were asked to write their favorite Vineyardtale. After dining, Nola Whiteman of New York tookcharge. Guests read all the stories and were asked to guess who had written whichstory. What stories they were! Highlights included stories of childhood ventures, weddings and versions of events from long ago and far away. Judith Young Doss spoke about an encounter of the third order in Edgartown and Ursula told about the “game nights” that were attended by her mother, Frances Parrish, at the home of the late Iris Martin and Cecil Picou on Pequot over 40 years ago. Ellena Stone Huckabee really had a greatstory. She dined in the same venue with President Obama and the First Lady at Sweet Life in OakBluffs. Guests from all over the country included Karen Selsey, Cheryl Wills, Merle Brinson Cumberbatch, and MyrnaMorris. All together in one place, at one t ime, August on theVineyard! 

On Sunday, Sept. 5, the Union Chapel 10 a.m. service welcomes the Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Streets as guest preacher. The title of his sermon is Adjusting Dreams. Dr. Streets was formerly the chaplain of Yale University divinity school and is currently adjunct professor of pastoral theology at Yale. He is currently a professor in pastoral counseling at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University in New York city. His research, publication, and teaching interests are in pastoral theology, institutional leadership and development, law and religion, and social welfare. Union Chapel is located at the southern end of Circuit avenue at the intersection of Kennebec and Narragansett avenues. Garrett Brown leads the choir and will open the service at 9:40 a.m. with organ preludes. All are welcome to this nondenominational historic chapel. Informal summer attire is acceptable.

As we try to get that last day at the beach before Labor Day ends summer, let’s hope Hurricane Earl is not the spoiler. All the best!