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Quote of the Week
“Every time you have that soil or rock or whatever it is that is
deposited into the seas, that forces the sea levels to rise, because
now you have less space in those oceans, because the bottom is moving
up.”
—U.S. Congressional Representative Mo Brooks, elaborating on his
proposition that erosion is a major contributor to sea level rise,
rather than the other way around.
Read more head-scratchers from the recent congressional Science, Space, and Technology Committee meeting at Science Magazine (including the corollary to Mr. Brooks' falling rocks theory, that sediment flow from rivers is also driving sea level rise).
Conservation Calendar
Growing Fruit in the Home Garden
Saturday, May 26, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Katama.
A free workshop at the FARM Institute sharing methods for growing fruits
such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and elderberries at
home. For more info, call (508) 627-7007 or email.
Annual Cross-Island Hike
Saturday, June 2, 8:15 am, Oak Bluffs.
Each
year since 1993, the Land Bank has observed National Trails Day by
conducting a day-long hike across the island to expose people to the
network of trails that connect the many conservation lands and public
properties. This year's hike will be 17.2 miles in length, from Menemsha Beach on Vineyard Sound to the Blackwater Pond Reservation of Lambert's Cove Rd. The map of the route and the itinerary for this year's hike , along with other information is at the Land Bank website.
Climate Change Walk & Talk
Saturday, June 2, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Edgartown.
A guided hike across the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary focusing on
climate change impacts and weather events. Ongoing projects to address
the changes that are occurring will be discussed: the “living
shoreline”, and a salt marsh elevation study. $9 ($6 for Mass Audubon
members), for more info see website or call (508) 627-4850.
3rd Biennial MV Coastal Conference
Wednesday, June 6, 9:30 am — 5:00 pm, Edgartown.
Experts and officials, local and from around the state, gather on Island
for a one-day conference to share up-to-date information on a variety
of topics critical to local conservation, including climate change,
renewable energy, and pond water quality.
Local adaptation to sea level rise and related funding opportunities is an important emphasis, but also on the agenda
are diverse topics such as removal of unexploded ordinance and nitrogen
reduction technology. The keynote presentation will be by WHOI's Jeff
Donnelly, "Perfect Storm: The Collision of Hurricanes, Climate Change
and Coastal Population Growth." At the Harbor View Hotel, the event is
free but please register online here.
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Local News
Now Showing: Nature as Inspiration
The Nature as Inspiration environmental film festival returns this
Memorial Day weekend. This marks the fourth year of a collaborative
effort by VCS and the MV Film Society to share with the Island
community
inspirational and thought-provoking films on humanity's relationship with the natural world.
For four days, we will combine environmental film screenings,
discussions, and art created by Island high school students for the VCS
art contest, The Art of Conservation. Each film will be followed by a
Q&A and discussion with experts, community members, and special
guests.
Please join VCS for a special opening reception Thursday night at 6:30. For the full schedule, tickets, and more, please visit the the Martha's Vineyard Film Society.
The festival also features the opening show for the 2018 Art of Conservation – see stories below!
The Art of Conservation
2018 Winners Announced!

"Morning Dew" by MVRHS freshman Felix Colon, one of twelve artworks to
receive an award in this year's Art of Conservation contest (click for
full size).
First launched by VCS in 2014, the Art of Conservation contest
encourages local high school students to reflect on the value of nature
and what it means to them, and then to express themselves through the
medium of their choice. We see this as an vital opportunity to deepen
the sense of place among our young adults and connect them to local –
and global – environmental issues.
Suitable to this year’s broad theme, “Habitat,” the contest’s 64 entries
represented a diversity of media, including photographs, painting,
drawing, crafts, sculpture, and (for the first time) architectural
models. Taking first prize honors were Jonathan Chivers and Olivia
Schroeder for their photography, and Owen Metell for architecture. In
addition, special distinctions were awarded to Felix Colon, Simone
Davis, Jeneleigh Griffin, Jenna Josephs, Julianne Josephs, Hemilly
Nascimento, Aidan Nunes, and Davin Tackabury, along with an extra “VCS
Staff Pick” awarded to Frank Cray.
Special thanks are due to our contest judges, celebrated local painter
Harry Seymour, architect and botanist Margaret Curtin, and photographer
and Field Gallery curator Jhenn Watts; the teachers from across the
MVRHS Art Department who provided support for the competition; local
painter Susie White, who worked with painting students as they explored
this year’s theme; and the Martha's Vineyard Cultural Council for financial support.
The Art of Conservation
Opening Show and Awards Presentation
This weekend, join us in honoring our Island’s talented young artists at
the opening showing of the 2018 Art of Conservation. As part of the
Nature as Inspiration film festival at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center
(see story at top), the young artists will be presented their awards in
a brief ceremony following an opening reception at 3:30 on Saturday the
26th. The reception and awards show are free and open to the public (please see MVFS for film tickets or an all-access festival pass). Immediately following the awards presentation, the Film Center will be screening The Serengeti Rules.
Don’t miss it! All twelve of this year’s winning works will remain in the Feldman Family Artspace at the Film Center from May 26th – June 11th. |