POND ALGAE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

When we arrived in Aquinnah in mid-July, I noticed a substantial growth of green algae in the Herring Creek area of Menemsha Pond. The articles describing the algae problems in Edgartown Great Pond paint a picture much like what I observed, including the diminution of the algae later on in August.

I suspect the problems described in your articles may be Island-wide and not just confined to the Edgartown Great Pond. It’s time for all of us to start thinking about solutions.

Some people when stressed turn to yoga to find the peace of mind that will be the hand maiden that gets them through the bedeviling snarls that bind them. Others choose a more earthbound route and find solace in Wild Turkey or other grains and spirits. I choose a road less traveled and seek for answers in the Oxford American Dictionary (paperbound edition).

Lobster Tales

From the Vineyard Gazette editions of September, 1983:

John T. Hughes joined a distinguished team of ocean scientists from around the world for a trip to the once-closed nation of China. His passport was his career here on the Island, as a leading biologist studying Homarus americanus — the American lobster. His expertise is unequalled and often sought out by those interested in the raising of lobsters. Mr. Hughes built and has managed the state lobster hatchery in Oak Bluffs since its inception in 1949.

V igilantly we awaited news on what would happen when the full force of Hurricane Gustav hit New Orleans, almost three years to the day that Hurricane Katrina struck with brute force. This time there was better preparation. Most residents evacuated the city. Many were assisted with transportation that the local government provided in advance. New Orleans was forced to watch and see if the tenuous levees would be strong enough to hold back water.

Begin with a teapot. That’s the simple underlying premise for a group exhibition at Featherstone Center for the Arts opening Saturday, Sept. 6, entitled Teapots and More.

“The main thing needs to be a teapot,” ceramacist Washington Ledesma said, explaining that each artist who offers a teapot for the exhibit may bring up to four more pieces for display. If many artists bring many pieces, Mr. Ledesma hopes the show can spill out under a tent on the Featherstone grounds.

Author Marc Songini will return to the Island to speak about his book, The Lost Fleet: A Yankee Whaler’s Struggle Against the Confederate Navy and Arctic Disaster, at the Chilmark Public Library on Wednesday, Sept. 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all.

One day, after a performance of his play The Patriot Act a couple of weeks ago, Ronald B. Campbell Jr. was approached by an audience member, an older man, in tears.

The estrangement between the central character in the play and his son echoed the audience member’s own estrangement from his son.

“I’m going to call him,” the man said.

Irish musicians are melting the membrane that once separated the flute, fiddle and pipes from the driving baselines and hip-swiveling rhythms of modern music — and three free-wheeling members of the band Lunasa will show how it’s done at a concert Saturday, Sept. 6, at 8 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre in Vineyard Haven.

Two of the most popular recreational fish will soon be off limits to commercial fishermen. The commercial bluefish season ends tomorrow. The commercial striped bass season ends on Tuesday.

This is the first time Massachusetts fisheries managers are closing the commercial season on bluefish. Using landing data, the state estimates the 516,619-pound quota for bluefish in the state will be taken by tomorrow. Fish markets may carry the fish beyond the date, but it won’t be for long.

The most stressed-out fish of the sea, the false albacore, made an appearance a week ago. They scared the bonito away and now it seems as though both are absentee.

False albacore and bonito are among the fastest swimming fish of these waters from late August to October. They are a finicky warmer weather fish. It is hard to write a sentence about one without mentioning the other in the same paragraph.

But the prevailing northeast winds of the last few days have cut down on a lot of the boat fishing.