MARGARET KNIGHT

508-627-8894

(margaret02539@yahoo.com)

Except for the green transformer boxes, it feels as if you could be driving in the wilderness along the stretch of the road next to Caleb’s Pond. The poles had just been removed next to the pond when the Hawkeye crew, who was taking them down, was called to Springfield to deal with the aftermath of the tornado last week. Each pole was replaced by a bright orange cone marking the hole where the pole was, which was helpful for navigating, because it was so disorienting without the poles and lines at first — but very beautiful.

The crew was back at work on Tuesday and had taken down most of the rest of the poles when the boom truck, that was parked in one lane between Caleb’s Pond and the Beach Club, lost its hydraulics. Hopefully it will be gone by the time you read this. Meanwhile there are big signs that suggest a police officer will be controlling traffic in the one lane passing the truck, but as Peter Wells says, “You’d have to go all the way to Nantucket to find a police officer” heading away from town. Evidently those were the only signs they had — an off-Island company, at least off-Chappy. We don’t do police-directed traffic.

The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is funding a pilot study looking into reducing the tick population on Chappy, under the auspices of Matt Poole of the Edgartown Board of Health. Sam Telford, infectious tick disease authority, is in charge of the project. Dick Johnson may call you up to see about coming to your yard to see how many ticks he can collect, and to fill out a form regarding pertinent features of your yard that would affect the number of ticks there, such as the height of grass, a wood pile, compost, stonewall, ornamental pond, vegetable garden, or swing set. Some of these features would attract or provide homes for mice – and maybe they like to play on swing sets. Dick came to my yard and found four ticks by brushing a white cloth against the bushes at the edge of the yard. That was the most ticks he’d found in any yard so far — and we don’t even have a play set! Dick reports to Sam Telford, who could then suggest ways you could mitigate tick-related features in your yard. A follow up will be done in the future to check on the results of any changes to the yard.

Stephen Jones is organizing a party/information session at the Wasque Farm barn today at 5:30 p.m. at 45 Pocha Road, almost at the end of the pavement. The Blow the Barn Down Party will feature live music and informal discussion and information on hurricane safety, and neighbors helping neighbors. Stephen is the Special Projects Director of Physicians for Civil Defense. He’s hoping to make people aware of a few simple things they can do if a hurricane is approaching, including getting to high ground, because sea level can rise 10 or more feet, and planning to stay on the Island because the ferries and Cape Cod bridges can’t handle a sudden evacuation. He has information cards that can be posted for renters.

The last Chappy Community Center potluck of the season will be held on Wednesday, June 15 starting at 6 p.m. It will be hosted by Jo-Ann and Tom Tilghman. Bring a main course or dessert dish to share — all are welcome. Thanks to all those who hosted potlucks this winter.

The fence is up at the CCC tennis court, and the cushion layers are being painted onto the asphalt. The basketball backboard is up, too. It looks as if the courts should be ready by the end of June when programs start at the center, the week of June 27. Check out the CCC Web site (chappycommunitycenter.org) or the bulletin boards for more information about programs and signing up for tennis court time.

These days the view out the window near my desk is often of two goats munching on bushes or crashing horns together, and a third baby goat hopping sideways in the air, or squeezing between the trunks of some bushes, or butting her head into her mother’s udder to get the milk flowing. Sometimes all three goats are peacefully sleeping in the shade. No matter what I’m doing in the day, I think I’d rather be viewing goats.

Ivy is three weeks old on Saturday, and about the cutest animal alive. She loves to play — to hop around and jump up on anything. Evolution has proved that play is the best way to explore the world, and Ivy is an expert. She hops up on her mother’s back when she’s lying down, and practices butting her side. Magee is completely patient and affectionate with her. She’s the most attentive mother, and for the first couple of weeks she was constantly calling to her, trying to direct Ivy’s activities.

All this activity in the goat pen has attracted the chickens, and now one has started laying eggs in the hay manger. After she lays an egg, she goes on and on noisily talking about it, and the little bantam rooster crows and crows nearby.

We finally located Buffy, who had gone AWOL three weeks ago, as my son says. She had turned broody and, we knew, was laying on a nest of eggs somewhere. She was hidden — in plain sight — in a pile of leaves under the back porch, and she had 14 eggs, none of which will ever hatch because they’re not fertile.

Brad Woodger will return as columnist next Friday, so please contact him with any news. I’d like to thank Peter Wells for being such a great source of knowledge and amusing anecdotes for the column, and for being a general all-around supporter and contributor to the Chappy community. See you in the fall.