By Lynne Irons>

For years, I viewed alyssum as old lady plants. Now that I have become one, I know why. First of all, they are completely reliable. Mine are blooming happily along regardless of several freezing nights here in Vineyard Haven.

I generally start several flats of them and just lay the contents of the entire flat along borders and in problem areas under taller plants. I rip off sections and fill in all the empty spots in pots and window boxes.

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

Nov. 22 55 35 .00

Nov. 23 62 33 .09

Nov. 24 40 23 .00

Nov. 25 34 24 .00

Nov. 26 49 30 .83

Nov. 27 60 46 1.80

Nov. 28 60 35 .00

Nov. 29 50 30 .00

Tomorrow at the Grace Church Holly Day Fair, the youth group at Grace Church — Youth M-Powered — will have a table where you can donate money to Heifer International.

At an emotionally charged public hearing Wednesday night, over 100 teachers, students, parents and citizens turned out in force to protest proposed budget cuts to the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School drama and music programs.

“What I learned shaped me as person,” said a teary-eyed Lydia Fisher, a Minnesinger currently in her senior year, of her time in the performing arts programs. “I wasn’t excelling in academics — and to wake up with a song in my head . . . it’s incredible.”

Driving down Edgartown’s School street with lamp-maker Billy Hoff is like a scene from Men In Black — except that, instead of aliens, you see that lanterns handmade by Lamplighter Corner Inc., are right under your nose, and absolutely everywhere. “That’s a bullseye pane,” he says, steering his pickup past a blue-front glass piece on a three-foot high solid brass lamp. “There’s another couple . . . I made that one. Oh, there’s one.” It turns out that almost every house in the district has been quietly adorned with his company’s 19th century gas lamp reproductions.

HOLLY NADLER

508-693-3880

(sunporch@vineyard.net)

Enrolls at Dartmouth

Matthew Earle Scott of Aquinnah has enrolled as a member of the class of 2011 at Dartmouth College. Scott is the son of Francis E. Scott and Linda J. Scott.

MARGARET KNIGHT

508-627-8894

(margaret02539@yahoo.com)

According to the big oak in my front yard, the leaves are about a week later in falling than most years. All the leaves have put on a good show of color this year despite the dry summer which made it seem as if the leaves might turn only brown. With the recent rains, the level of Brine’s Pond is up slightly so that the white rock finally at least has its toes in the water. We’ll need a lot more rain before the pond and the swamps fill.

KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kcase1@verizon.net)

By the time you read this article, the turkey has been picked clean and ready for soup stock. The pies are half-eaten and you have had two or three of your favorite turkey, stuffing and cranberry sandwiches. I hope whatever you did and who was with you that it was a happy time for all.

Bill Damora of Point Pleasant, N.J., recently dropped 25 clay birds for a perfect round of skeet with his 20 gauge over and under shotgun at the Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club.

A round of skeet consists of 25 clays or birds. Skeet shooters seek to acquire their first 25 straight targets in what’s called a perfect round.

Mr. Damora’s name will be engraved on the club trophy and will receive a 25-straight pin. His previous straight came over a year ago with his larger 12-gauge shotgun.