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Quote of the Week
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”
—Mahatma Gandhi
The Art of Conservation
 by Emma Searle
Emma was one of six winners of Special Distinctions in the 2017 edition of our high school art contest. View the rest of the entries, then check out the Winners' Gallery, complete with written descriptions by the artists themselves!
Conservation Calendar
D.I.Y. Pickle Party
Thursday, Nov. 9, 6:00-7:30 pm, Oak Bluffs.
Learn how to preserve your harvest of veggies by making your own
fermented pickles at this FREE workshop. Hosted by chef Maeve McAuliffe
at the Oak Bluffs Library; for more info call (508) 693-9433.
Arboretum Guided Walk
Saturday, Nov. 11, 10:00 am, West Tisbury.
Join Polly Hill Arboretum staff for a
guided tour of fall foliage, as well as the beauty found in plants’
form, habit, fruit, and bark. Admission to the arboretum is $5 (free for
members). Meet for the tour at the Visitor Center and dress for the
weather. More info at website.
Felix Neck Fall Festival
Friday, Nov. 24, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, Edgartown.
Now in its 37th year, the after-Thanksgiving Fall Festival at Felix Neck
Wildlife Sanctuary has become an annual tradition. Join friends for
hayrides, face painting, wreath making, crafts for kids, and live music
by The Flying Elbows. $9 ($6 for members); for more info see website. Volunteers are always needed for the festival, if interested please email or call (508) 627-4850.
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Local News
Winter Walks Return with Up-Island Trek to Black Point Farm
Photo by Brendan O'Neill, click for full size
The 2017-18 Winter Walks series kicks off Sunday, November 19 with
a morning walk through the landscape surrounding Quenames Cove and Black
Point Pond. The walk will begin at 10 am at Quenames farm, and be led
by naturalist and birder Soo Whiting, whose family has continuously
occupied the farm for more than 200 years.
The walk will visit Quenames Cove, Little Black Point and Black Point
Pond. Be sure to wear solid shoes and dress appropriately, and don't
forget binoculars if you wish to view our feathered friends. From
Alley’s Store, drive up-Island about 1 mile. Turn left at VCS signs at
Blue Barque Road and follow the signs and flags. Parking will be at the
farm.
Take Back the Tap, Martha's Vineyard!
This year, VCS installed water bottle
refill stations in every Island school, the Ice Arena, and the Boys
& Girls Club. They're a hit with the kids, and have already saved
thousands of water bottles from the local waste stream. (Photo by Signe
Benjamin, click for full size)
Did you know that the average American uses 167 single-use water
bottles per year? By any measure of population you choose, for Martha’s
Vineyard that works out to millions of disposable plastic bottles every
year. Of course, many of these get recycled . . . but many don't.
Some depart Oak Bluffs and Tisbury for landfills off-Island, while
others find their way to the Covanta incinerator in Rochester, Mass. We
also know quite a few end up as litter on beaches, trails, and
roadsides, eventually degrading to microscopic bits of plastic in our
streams, ponds, and ocean. It's time to do something about all of that
waste!
Water to the People
Following on this year's initiative to install water bottle refill
stations at the schools and other places vital to our kids, VCS is now
encouraging the six Towns to step up to the plate. We are asking each
Town to place at least one unit in a high-traffic public space. And of
course, VCS members and friends, we ask for your help in the efforts to “Take Back the Tap” this year!
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