The Vineyard Gazette – Martha’s Vineyard News

0


From Inkwell Beach in Oak Bluffs, where polar bears took their traditional early morning dip, to State Road in Aquinnah where a colorful small town parade passed the Gay Head Light on Independence Day on Martha’s Vineyard has brought sweater time and muted celebrations this year.

Polar bears have carried on their long-standing tradition at Inkwell Beach in Oak Bluffs. – Ray ewing

“There’s nothing stopping us now, we’re on the move,” sang the group of some 26 polar bears as they posed for a group photo after a cool morning swim in Nantucket Sound early Sunday, a 4th of July tradition stretching back over half a century.

It was the Bears’ first gathering in 2021.

“It was great to be back in the water today. So life is good, ”said Trace Gaskin, 62, who was in the water with her mother, Dr. Frances Gaskin, 85. The Gaskin family’s involvement in polar bears dates back to the 1960s.

Also in a long tradition, candles were lit and words spoken in memory of four polar bears who have died since the last gathering: Deidre Diodati, Liz Duff, Cynthia Smith and Lorriane Thomas.

The national holiday dawned on a gray and cold Sunday, closing a weekend of rain and drizzle with temperatures in the low 60s – far more typical of May than July.

Traffic rumbled along the main arteries of the island and crowds of people wandered the streets of the towns on the lower part of the island. For many families gathered for the holidays, picnics on the beach have been replaced by indoor lunches and dinners, puzzles, movies, and board games.

The usual children’s parade in Aquinnah has been adapted this year. – Tim johnson

The annual parade and fireworks in Edgartown that traditionally draw thousands to the port city have been canceled this year due to the pandemic.

But Sunday morning in Aquinnah, the usual children’s parade was adapted for the occasion. The parade began at 10 a.m. with a cannon shot. To be on the safe side for unvaccinated children, there was no buried treasure at Philbin Beach this year.

But there was a lot of candy thrown from colorful hand-decorated floats that lined up with fire trucks and other vehicles to parade around the circle.

“I like to throw candy at people! Said Charlotte Bologna, who was sitting in the back of a truck driven by her parents Susie and Nick Bologna, with her friends Penny Athearn and Tilly Taylor.

“I especially like to eat candy,” Penny confessed.

Play ball! Sunday, the summer softball league kicks off at Flanders Field in Chilmark. – Mark Alan Lovewell

Longtime parade organizer Tom Murphy helped get the cars online from the start with friendly greetings from all.

“It’s a few minutes of a lot of fun and everyone comes together and it’s awesome,” he said.

Perhaps rightly so, the award for best float went to a vintage red truck decorated with a pro-vax banner driven by Doug Plummer and Cathleen Sheehan.

Across the island, visitors and residents alike marked the holidays in a calm manner, with many simply expressing gratitude for the chance to reunite again after a year of pandemic keeping them away.

“We couldn’t come last year. It’s my favorite thing, it’s my happy place, ”said Richard Springwater of San Francisco, sitting on the porch of the Chilmark store Sunday morning. He said his family is back on the island for the holidays this year.

“It’s a great family trip, a kind of family reunion. So we’ll go to the beach, we’ll go to Larsen’s – which is another happy place, ”Mr. Springwater said.

“It doesn’t really sound like July 4th,” said Natalie Hutras, who was enjoying morning coffee on the store’s porch with two colleagues from Morning Glory Farm.

“I was a little disappointed that I didn’t have a parade this year or fireworks,” she said. “I mean, it makes sense to say sure, but I feel like there’s really nothing going on. . . And it’s a bit dark outside, which confuses things as well. “

In Chilmark, the Summer Softball League kicked off its 84th season at Flanders Field on Sunday with a game dedicated to former center court, avid softball evangelist and West Tisbury Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Tony Horwitz , died suddenly in May 2019.

The parade float recalls the ongoing pandemic. – Tim johnson

Geraldine Brooks, wife of Mr. Horwitz, threw the first pitch, and the players dedicated a bench to Mr. Horwitz, sporting his 2011 “Howie Hustle” award and the famous words “Gloves In”.

On Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs, Jon and Kelsey Meyers and their children were visiting the vineyard for the first time from Kentucky.

“[We’re celebrating] being together, being able to come out and get over the pandemic, move on and enjoy time with family, ”said Meyers.

Nearby, in the campground with its colorful gingerbread cottages, Tunji Williams sat on a bench with her 13-month-old daughter, listening to church service nearby.

“I have mixed emotions being here,” he said. “My wife and I had a conversation this morning just being in conflict over Independence Day in America. There are so many things that we enjoy being here, but at the same time you are almost feel guilty enjoying it. ”He paused and added that he was not only celebrating the Fourth, but also“ celebrating every day, celebrating life ”.

More pictures, polar bears.

More photos, Aquinnah parade.

Photos, July 4 on the vineyard.

Aliyah Walker, Kate Dario and Noah Asimow contributed reporting.


Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.