Among the wooded knolls and winding paths of Camp Jabberwocky, tiger lilies bloom in profusion. They line the wooden cabins in memory of former camper Katie Johnson, who died two years ago at age 15. “The tiger lily’s orange blossom really symbolizes Katie,” said camper Kristin Pachico, a friend of Katie’s. “She had glowing red hair, bright blue eyes, and a fiery spirit.”
Nearly 20 years ago in his landmark Vineyard book People and Predicaments, Island psychiatrist Milton Mazer recalled the beginnings of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. He wrote:
“The venture to provide human services for the Island was begun in 1960 by a small group of Island physicians and clergymen. Their almost daily experience with the many Islanders overwhelmed by human predicaments had led them to look for remedies, and a psychiatric service seemed a good place to begin.
The southwest view from the Gay Head Cliffs combines smooth beach and green hills, with tiny vernal pools dotting a landscape of leafy trees, wildflowers and dunes.
On the Vineyard Haven waterfront you can see, smell and hear the bustle of activity. The town's boatyards are all party to boat building and launching. Anyone who walks the shores of the town will discover a wide variety of vessels undergoing extensive work. It was a busy winter and there is evidence everywhere.
Maciel Marine, Martha's Vineyard Shipyard and Gannon and Benjamin boatyards are witness to a resurgence in interest in Island built and restored vessels.
In a last minute effort, the Governor of Massachusetts yesterday intervened in a successful effort to convince the state marine fisheries commission to remain conservative in adopting striped bass management for the coming season.
In a three hour meeting, held in Weston, state officials after lengthy discussion adopted a uniform 34-inch minimum size for the catching of striped bass for both recreational and commercial fishermen. This represents a drop in two inches from last year's minimum.
NANTUCKET - The Vineyard football team wasn't even supposed to be here, the gridiron gods tell us. They weren't supposed to be playing for the Island Cup, the Mayflower League conference title and a Super Bowl berth versus Nantucket. Heck, they were supposed to be playing for third place.
But here the Vineyard was, on a warm Saturday in Whaler country, and they ran smack into an oncoming train. Nantucket powered its way to a 23-7 win, providing a dose of reality to the Vineyarders' overachieving 7-3 season.
Depending on whom you talk to, what happened on Nantucket in November of 1992 is like a pleasant dream or a recurring nightmare.
"It was my worst loss ever in 31 years," exclaims Nantucket head football coach Vito Capizzo.
"It was my biggest win," says Vineyard coach Donald Herman.
In a spectacle described as incredible, amazing and historic, hundreds of Islanders turned out to hammer boards, paint window sills and raise the Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society's new barn in a three-day event that was a festival of community spirit.