Author Archives: Susanna J. Sturgis
May License Plate Report
Idaho and Utah are new on the map this month, for a total to date of 34 — out of 51, because as a former D.C. resident I always include the Last Colony non-state in the tally. The map seemed … Continue reading
Memorial Day
Memorial Day on Martha’s Vineyard is the quasi-official beginning of “the season,” which is to say the season of crowds, traffic, and unaffordable housing. As elsewhere in the U.S., schools, banks, government offices, and many businesses are closed. Parades are … Continue reading
Rocky Mountain Low
For Travvy, the malamute I share my apartment with, breakfast and supper are the high points of the day. Supper usually comes around five o’clock, sometimes before and sometimes after our late afternoon walk. If I’m working at my laptop, … Continue reading
Two Downed Trees
The snow hung around long enough this winter that I almost forgot what my neighborhood looked like before the snow started falling. Gradually the snow melted. Gradually spring flowers bloomed and the grass turned green. Now the oaks are leafing … Continue reading
Housing 101
How bad is the housing situation on Martha’s Vineyard? In recent memory (which is to say mine, which goes back 30 years), it’s never been good. No situation is “good” where about 20 percent of the population has to move … Continue reading
Ghost Trees Blooming
Every year I think I’ve missed the shadbush blooming and every year I’m wrong. Driving down State Road I glance repeatedly into the mostly oak woods that haven’t leafed out yet. When the fragile white flowers appear, they seem to … Continue reading
Focus on Journalism
Twice a week the Vineyard Gazette sends out an e-newsletter that includes links to interesting stories in the current paper and a short editorial commentary. A few weeks ago, the newsletter included an open invitation from publisher Jane Seagrave: the Gazette was holding an “informal … Continue reading
April License Plate Report
Once the snow melted, the traffic started moving again. April was a pretty good month. Delaware and South Carolina — as usual the East Coast’s last holdouts — both showed up. The Upper Midwest is filling in nicely. This year’s … Continue reading
Spring Planting
From late January till early March the snow was so deep at Misty Meadows that on our morning walks Trav and I avoided the big meadow that is usually on our route. Since then we’ve been walking around it again, watching … Continue reading
All Hail Kale
I know some people out there still believe there’s some kind of barrier between social media and the F2F world — you know, the physical world where people meet face to face, like at town meeting — but on Martha’s … Continue reading
From the Seasonally Occupied Territories . . . 