September 2009

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Shopping /Dining Guide • Events Calendar • Points of Interest • Ferry/Plane Schedules

Free

Island Map Inside

September 2009 EXTRA

Photo by Malcolm Greenaway

Summers Last Hurrah

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

SOUPS Crimson Lentil Soup Butternut Squash and Pear Soup

SALADS ado, bacon Bistro Salad tomato, goat cheese, avoc esan cheese Caesar Salad peppered croutons, parm shallots, blackberries fried cheese, crispy Garden Beet Salad bib lettuce, goat chetta - Garden heirloom tomatoes, Spring House Heirloom Tomato Brus led with aged balsamic syrup drizz lla zare red onion, basil, fresh moz

APPETIZERS ue, brioche toast Mushrooms and Toast fontina fond season Risotto Del Giorno inspired by the s, Swiss chard Braised Littlenecks chorizo, white bean garlic aioli Pomes Frits truffle shaving, sea salt, , pineapple, cinnamon basil Curry Mussels curry & coconut milk ricotta, spinach, pomodoro Stuffed Garden Eggplant proscuitto, wasabi dipping sauce Asian Sticky Wings sesame coated,

BAR FOOD

le Accompanied by House chips and pick fries to pota et Swe or Add $2.00 for French-fries blue cheese ato, n, confit of tom Rib Eye Sandwich - Caramelized onio ette bagu ted toas on and eggplant spread with bacon, lettuce, tomato, Classic Burger - 8oz. Angus burger mayonnaise and sharp chedar cheese

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PIZZA

The Forager - Roasted assorted mus hrooms, sun dried tomatoes, caramelized onion and mozzarella chee se Sausage caramelized onion, ricotta cheese Pepperoni mozzarella cheese, basil Margarita sliced tomatoes, fresh moz zarella, basil Original marinara, mozzarella cheese Pollo Balsamico Balsamic marinated chicken, roasted peppers, scallions, marinara, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil drizz led with balsamic syrup

ENTREES Cider- Brined Grilled Pork Loin Walnut- bacon butter, apple and butt ernut squash tian Braised Colorado Bison Short Rib Sunchoke puree, pan jus, celery and Cipollini onion salad Chicken Pecan Cranberry wild rice, shitake mushroo m and

green bean sauté

Seared Scallops Chianti wine risotto, roasted Brussel sprouts Mediterranean Grilled Swordfish Pepe ronata Vegetable couscous, eggplant French-fr ies Grilled Rib Eye Steak Mushroom and leak roast, garlic mash ed potatoes, whole grain mustard demi Menu, items, and products subject to change from availability and fresh ness.

n, ey with crisp applewood smoked baco Turkey BLT Panini - Peppered Turk o may y berr cran and lettuce, tomato chicken, romaine lettuce, Chicken Caesar Wrap - Herb grilled Caesar dressing flour tortilla wrap

PASTA

BISTRO MENU DAILY

tomatoes, feta cheese, white wine Asparagus and Penne garlic, cherry peas, mushrooms, nutmeg cream Rigatoni and Sausage veal sausage, tomatoes, spinach, brandy cream Shrimp and Fettuccini mushrooms, tomato sauce and meatballs Sunday Gravy fresh made pasta with l clams in red or white sauce Crispy Capellini and Clams whole loca k sausage and fennel Goats Milk Ricotta Gnocchi with Duc

Victoria’s Parlor daily

Sunday - Thursday 6-9 Friday & Saturday 6-10 Monday Closed.

from 5pm ‘til closing

September 2009

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

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God’s Little Island Spring on Block Island equals rebirth. Though winter here has its appeal, the cold and wind often force those hardy souls who remain behind from the end of November through February to remain inside, cut off from the natural wonders that draw us all to Block Island. But then, with the suddenness of an explosion, spring breaks. In a matter of weeks, our tiny ten-square-mile island becomes flooded with brilliantly colored wild flowers, its acres of farmland and forest turn a verdant green, and the whole place resounds with the sounds of spring peepers, birds and other wildlife. Islanders describe it as akin to emerging from a long hibernation. This dramatic rebirth bolsters our spirits and energizes storekeepers and restaurant owners for the massive influx of people that crowd our shores from Memorial Day through the beginning of September, when the population balloons from 1,000 residents to more than 20,000 vacationers and day-trippers. It is a time of anticipation, excitement and, most of all, hard work. To give you an inside look at all of the furious activity and moments of levity that characterize spring on our shores, we talked with several year-round and seasonal residents. In this issue, bartenders, hotel managers, fishermen, public officials, and shopkeepers share their favorite memories of spring here. You’ll also receive tips on how to maximize your island vacation, learn the history of the island library and the island’s many cemeteries, and get suggestions about good hikes and fishing excursions. Enjoy the last days of summer. Spend time at the beach. Wade into the surf in search of fresh catch. Traverse the many beautiful nature trails. Take in the brilliant sunsets from the decks of your vacation rentals or hotels. But also consider visiting us next spring, and see firsthand why the Native Americans who lived here centuries ago christened this magical place, “Manisses” or “God’s little island.”

Photo by Johanna Ross

Fraser Lang Publisher

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Vol. XXXVII September, 2009 Extra

Ocean Avenue Box 278, Block Island, RI 02807 Phone: (401) 466-2222 Fax: (401) 466-8804 e-mail: editor@blockislandtimes.com webnews: www.blockislandtimes.com The Block Island Summer Times is a product of the Block Island Times, which was founded as a free summertime newspaper in 1970. In 1988 The Times began weekly publication and became the Island’s “paper of record.” For current Block Island news, pick up a copy of the weekly Block Island Times. The Block Island Times is a member of The New England newspaper and Publishers Association, the Rhode Island Publishers Association and the National Newspaper Association.

Publisher ....................................................................... Fraser Lang/Betty Rawls Lang Editor ............................................................................................................Brent Lang Production .......................................................................................... Christopher Izzo Contributors .......Fran Migliaccio, Scott Comings, Marlin Blansfield, Becky Ballard, Sarah Goldstein, Pam Hinthorn, Brent Lang, Casey Nillson, Judy Tierney Photographers ....Becky Ballard, Mike Berger, Scott Comings, Malcolm Greenaway, Gillian Lang, Fran Migliaccio, Bruce Montgomery, Johanna Ross, Celeste Sloman, Judy Tierney Copy Editors .........................................................Kari Curtis, Brent Lang, Jean Taber Advertising ........................................................... Shane Howrigan, Betty Rawls Lang Advertising Design George Donnelly, Sue Filippone, Christopher Izzo, John Barry.

Correction Policy Advertising: This newspaper does not assume any responsibility for an error in an advertisement. Editorial: This newspaper will correct errors in reporting. Opinions expressed in columns in this paper are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of this newspaper. The opinions expressed by the cartoonist are not necessarily those of the publisher. The Block Island Summer Times is published four times a year and is distributed free. Publisher is Manisses, Inc., PO Box 278, Ocean Avenue, Block Island, RI 02807.

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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Island spring can spring surprises by Fran Migliaccio In the fall, at the comforting close of a good business season, it seems strange to think about spring, coming as it does far off in the future, past all the holidays. Yet Block Island residents know from long experience that spring will spring itself upon us before we realize it. Traditionally a harbinger of new life, new growth, new hope and new warmth after cold winter, a Block Island spring can be a time of anxiety, as well.

Beverly Sniffen, at home on Spring Street.

is a time to get his sprawling Victorian hotel ready for all the summer guests. “I look forward to my garden at the Spring House: landscaping, ordering, tilling, working in it,” DiBiase said. “As far as the buildings go, there’s a lot of painting to be done, and we take advantage of the spring weather to do it. With ownership of old buildings, we take the opportunity that time of year to make sure everything is in order, inside and out.” After the brutal winter, Deputy Town Clerk Millie McGinnes, who is also the president of the non-profit Block Island Health Services, looks forward to the nicer weather and the opportunity to garden. “I’m outside every day in winter. In spring, I look forward to taking walks without having the winter wind and the painful weather,” McGinnes said. McGinnes notes that spring is also the time for the Swing Into Spring, a fundraiser for the Medical Center that offers food, beverages, live music and auction items, and takes place at the Spring House in early May. “It’s a great thing for the community, a time to meet and greet friends who may

be returning to the island, and above all a great opportunity to support the Medical Center — an exceptionally fine organization!” McGinnes said. Another much loved spring fundraiser is the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner at McGovern’s Yellow Kittens, sponsored by the Block Island Lions Club to benefit the Meeting Street School in Providence. The fine corned beef and cabbage feast kicks off the spring season for Ed McGovern, owner of the Yellow Kittens and Winfield’s Restaurant. “After our New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events at the Kittens, we close for two months and I go skiing,” McGovern said. “I re-open the Kittens in March for St. Patrick’s Day, so I’m busy setting up, and getting Winfield’s ready for the Memorial Day opening. But for me, spring is a time that’s not yet that busy, not like summer. Personally, in spring, I like to go fishing, freshwater and saltwater. I keep a log, and last year I caught 97 stripers off the beach from mid-April to mid-May!” John Cullen, president of the Block Island Tourism Council and owner of

Deputy Town Clerk Millie McGinnes.

Ed McGovern and best friend Frankie, ready for a biking excursion

National Hotel owner Chris Sereno

John Cullen, President of the Block Island Tourism Council and owner of two Water Street businesses.

Verna Littlefield, office manager of Littlefield and Sons.

Spring continued on page 6

Photos by Fran Migliaccio

Spring House Hotel owner Frank DiBiase, in his garden.

The weather does not always help. True, we have had gorgeous, sunny, bloom-filled springs on Block Island. But there are the others, like last year’s: cold, rainy, gray, an unnecessary prolongation of winter. Daffodils exposed to repeated temperature changes bloomed late and died early. If spring was treating us that way, we all wondered, could we even dare hope for a good summer? Could storefronts be painted in time? Would the weather improve? How would business be? Added to the normal angst of gearing up for the summer throngs, purchasing inventory or equipment, and re-starting a seasonal enterprise, those feelings are disquieting. To hold these fears at bay, many of us swear by a March vacation. Nevertheless, as spring breaks, we steel ourselves for another season, hopeful that this one will be as profitable as previous summers. Businesses start opening, and we welcome visitors in the shoulder season, before the summer rush hits. We asked a handful of Block Island residents how they typically spend spring. Fittingly, we started with the Spring House. For owner Frank DiBiase spring

Elva Derby, Ann Fagan and Kathy Szabo in the Chamber of Commerce office.

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September 2009

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Spring Continued from Page 4 Building Blocks Toy Store and the t-shirt shop under the National Hotel, says that one of the best things about spring is that the island becomes less isolated. “Spring is the time of year when things come to life,� Cullen said. “The big, big thing is that the ferry runs every day — we can leave the island and get back the same day, every day! When that day comes, it marks the end of winter and the end of quiet time. In my businesses, I have deliveries. I’m gearing up for the season, fixing up the shops, doing repairs. It’s exciting, but bittersweet, and it’s the start of a new time. His volunteer work has led him to better appreciate the shoulder season’s virtues.

September 2009 “On the Tourism Council, we work all winter to have things in place to attract visitors in the spring, and we like to emphasize how beautiful it is in May and June,� Cullen said. “We have promotions and ad campaigns in place starting in mid-April. We know that if we can attract people here for the first time, they’ll want to come back.� For members of Block Island’s business community, spring may be beautiful, but there’s plenty of work that needs to be done. “Spring is a time of gearing up, staffing, and getting businesses ready for the summer season,� said Kathy Szabo, Executive Director of the Block Island Chamber of Commerce. “The spring can bring wonderful weather. It’s a time for enjoying the people who are coming back for the season to enjoy the island with us!�

National Hotel owner Chris Sereno, who spends winters in Naples, Florida, where he owns a restaurant called M Waterfront Grille, echoes Szabo. “Spring is the time I’m getting the National ready for the new season, and it’s a time of new economic challenges,� he said. “There are always maintenance issues, after the winter wind and weather. And with spring, there are always weather issues too. It’s like, ‘How bad is this spring going to be?’� Of course, not all Block Island residents are involved in tourism-related enterprises. Verna Littlefield, office manager of Littlefield and Sons propane gas business, has a punishing schedule regardless of the season. “Things get busier — I can’t leave the phone,� Littlefield said. For those times when she is able to leave the desk in her home office,

www.blockislandtimes.com Littlefield says, “I look forward to the planting and the gardening and everything coming out new. Some years we don’t seem to get a spring and last year was cold and wet, but every year I still look forward to planting my garden.� Many Block Island residents are retired and spend winters in warmer climates. For Beverly Sniffen, who with her husband, Jim, winters in The Villages, Florida, spring is an opportunity to return to the island she loves so well. “I look forward to getting home to our Block Island house,� Sniffen said. “We generally arrive here the last of May or first of June, so spring is a time of anticipation of coming home. It’s still cool on the island when we arrive, and we enjoy the gardens, the coolness, and seeing our children. We’re glad to be back home in New England at that time of year!�

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466-2421 Enjoy flaming coffees & sinful desserts in the Upstairs Parlor. A delicious way to end your Block Island evening.

September 2009

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Entertainment Wednesday, September 2

DJ Sean Dugan Thursday, September 3

DJ Libre Labor Day Weekend Friday & Saturday, September 4, 5

Rugburn

MEXICAN

ON THE DECK!

closes for the season on Sunday, September 6th

Sunday, September 6

Anthem (last Reggae night) Road Race Weekend Friday, Saturday, September 11 & 12

Never in Vegas Saturday, September 19

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SUMMER

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DJ Libre Columbus Day Weekend - Saturday, October 10

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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âœŻ / THE STARS âœŻ / OF

OLD HARBOR

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Block Island’s Deer Dilemma By James Maloney For many summer visitors and yearround residents, the sight of a white-tailed deer nibbling on island vegetation adds to the appeal of being on Block Island. After all, one of the biggest draws of the island is the enjoyment of the outdoors and the wildlife that comes with it. But unbeknownst to many summertime tourists, deer. are not native to Block Island. In 1967, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife brought seven deer to Block Island as game for hunting at the request of the New Shoreham Town Council. Now, according to the state Department of Environmental Management, there are approximately 300 deer on the island. And just as the deer population has grown over the years, so has the number of deer-related complaints by island residents. Among them, deer eat vegetable gardens, cause fender-benders, are generally destructive to the island ecosystem and, perhaps most notably, play a major role in the spread of Lyme disease. As year-round residents are well aware, the island deer act as hosts to Lyme disease-carrying ticks. With a robust deer population, Lyme disease is a persistent problem; 30 to 40 cases are treated annually at the Block Island Health Center, along with an unknown number of cases contracted on the island but diagnosed and treated elsewhere. This has led some residents to argue that it’s time for the deer to go. Citizens Concerned about Lyme Disease (CCLD), a Block Island community group formed to eliminate the spread of Lyme disease on the island, is calling for the eradication of the island deer herd. According to group member Mary Sue Record, the CCLD believes eliminating the deer population is the only way this disease can be stopped. “The ultimate goal of the CCLD is to eliminate Lyme disease from the island and we have researched what we think are the available options to make this happen,� Record said. “Our conclusion is that elimination of Lyme disease first requires the elimination of the deer population.� Other possible solutions the group examined, such as fertility control and trapping and relocation of the deer herd, were deemed either too expensive or likely to be ineffective. Although they face opposition, Record and the 20 other members of the CCLD are not alone with their wish to eliminate the deer herd. A petition requesting the eradication of the deer population as a means to eliminate Lyme

Photo by Bruce Montgomery

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disease has been signed by 560 Block Island residents, according to Record. It will be presented to the New Shoreham Town Council. But, this proposal raises the question of whether eradicating the deer population is even possible; and if so, would eradication effectively eliminate Lyme disease from the island? Based on precedent, the answer to both questions seems to be yes. The residents of Great Island, Mass. and Monhegan Island, Maine were able to eliminate their deer herds and subsequently end the spread of Lyme disease on their islands. However, this does not necessarily mean the same would happen here. Block Island is larger, denser, and much more developed than Great Island or Monhegan Island. Furthermore, hunting is not allowed at all on the 43% of Block Island property already under conservation. There is no way to prevent the deer from moving from private property to conserved land. So it would require a much larger and more sustained elimination effort, and public safety would come into play. This has led some residents, even those who don’t believe deer should be on the island, to rule out eradication as a feasible option. “I think having any deer on the island is too many, because they were an introduced species to an ecosystem that wasn’t prepared for them and they are just a nuisance to homeowners,� said First Warden Kim Gaffet. “But I don’t think it’s a practical reality to remove the deer from the island.� Gaffet believes that instead of trying to eliminate the deer herd, hunters should continue to operate under current hunting regulations. This won’t eliminate the deer, but rather keep the herd at a controllable level. “Management of the herd by the hunting that is permitted now is the best option we have,� Gaffet said. But Record and the rest of the CCLD Continued on next page

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September 2009

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Continued from previous page believe eradication is possible, and they say they have found the right solution: night hunting. According to their petition, the CCLD would first seek changes to state hunting laws to allow night hunting, spotlighting and the use of rifles. Then, using specially authorized, qualified hunters, they would implement night hunting in addition to the regular hunting season, resulting in what they estimate to be an annual yield of 150-200 deer. With this effort, the CCLD believes the deer population would diminish and the island could be free of Lyme disease in seven years. As for the concern for resident safety, Record believes night hunting is even safer than the day hunting that is currently permitted. She says it will be done at night when there are few people around, on land for which appropriate permissions to hunt have been obtained. Dates would be publicized well in advance, and hunters would be licensed deer hunters approved by the Chief of Police of New Shoreham. However, the CCLD may have a hard time convincing residents who believe deer are good for the island and should be kept for their original purpose - as game for island hunters. One resident, Ben Martin, believes that maintaining the deer herd is important to the livelihood of residents of Block Island, especially during the winter months. “Islanders depend on the deer as food in the wintertime,� Martin said. “I eat a lot of venison in the winter time given to me by island hunters. Hunting and fishing; it’s a good way to spend the winters out here and hunters do it as a way to feed their family.� Martin also contends that even if deer were eliminated from the Island, this may not prove to be the answer for the Lyme disease problem. “I haven’t seen any conclusive studies to show that Lyme disease will stop being a problem on Block Island if we get rid of the deer,� Martin said. He also discredits the notion that because the deer aren’t indigenous to the island they should be eliminated. “People bring up that the deer aren’t indigenous to the island and they’ve changed the ecosystem here, but that can be said for a lot of animals throughout New England,� he said. “Just because the deer were brought over here for game doesn’t mean we should get rid of them.� For others on the island, the spread of Lyme disease may not be as big a concern as the CCLD makes it out to be. According to Scott Comings, director of the Nature Conservancy on Block Island, Lyme disease may not even be the most prominent problem caused by the deer.

“It really all depends on who you talk to,� Comings said. “It may be Lyme disease for some people, but for others it could be the destruction of their garden, or something else. The biggest issue we have with them here at the Nature Conservancy is that they are overgrazing, especially with the rare plant life on the island.� Comings noted that the Nature Conservancy is more concerned with protecting island plants than it is with the controversy surrounding the deer herd. “We don’t have a position on whether or not the deer population should be reduced,� Comings said. “Instead, we just try to fence off areas that have rare plants to preserve them.� The CCLD, however, seems confident with their case. They continue to gather signatures from full-time and parttime residents alike, and are preparing to approach the Town Council next month with their proposal. For now the deer remain, as do both the problems and pleasures they bring to the island.

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

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Protect yourself from lyme disease Lyme disease is spread by deer ticks when they bite the skin, which permits the bacterium to infect the body. The tick has to be attached for at least 36 hours for the disease to be transmitted to the host. The deer tick is much smaller than the common dog tick, so it can easily be undetected until it is too late. Lyme disease can cause abnormalities in the skin, joints, heart, and nervous system. To avoid Lyme disease while on Block Island, follow these tips: COVER UP- If you are planning to enjoy a hike on the island, make sure to wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. If you are wearing shorts, try to wear high socks. SPRAY YOUR CLOTHES- Use Permanone- an inexpensive topical tick repellant applied to your clothes, which will typically last through 10 washings. WATCH YOUR STEP- Avoid areas of high grass- this is where ticks are often found. CHECK YOURSELF- After you return from your activity, check yourself for ticks. Pay special attention to your arms and legs. CHECK OTHERS- For hard to see places, such as the backs of your legs, ask a friend to assist you in searching for ticks.

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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A walk with death: tales of island cemeteries

By Judy Tierney Block Island counts more people in its cemeteries in winter than in its houses, many of which stand vacant from early fall through late spring. Perhaps that is why ghost stories abound here. There are eight known cemeteries on the island filled with marked and unmarked graves, and other areas where the legend of bodies prevails. For those who don’t believe in ghosts, or are unfazed by the possibility, the five cemeteries open to the public can be a refuge during the tourist season; places that provide a quiet respite from crowds and beeping mopeds. The largest, labeled simply the Island Cemetery, is located on a hillside at the corner of Center and West Side Roads, across from the American Legion Hall. The markers slope from the roadside up the hill and beyond. As the headstones ascend, so does the view. The Island Cemetery overlooks the Great Salt Pond, Beane Point and the sea. On a sunny day, far below the gravestones, white sails cut across shimmering blue waters, and a peninsula of verdant green separates the pond from the ocean. It is a view that would make any developer rush to town hall to find the name of the owner and put in a bid. However, though it is for sale in small lots, no McMansions will ever mar its slopes. Former First Warden and Selectman Martha Ball, a descendant of the original European settlers who came to these shores in the 17th century, says that when she was a little girl, her family would bring a push mower to the cemetery after

Sunday church, and cut grass. That’s because prior to the town taking over the grounds keeping there, local families cared for their ancestors’ graves. Ball wrote not long ago in The Block Island Times, that people told her the Island Cemetery is different, because it is not affiliated with any church. “It was simply the cemetery where everyone, regardless of their faith, or lack of same, was buried,” Ball said. In a section where many of the Balls have been laid to rest, the monument of her great, great grandfather Nicholas, a sixth generation islander, dominates. Adorning the top is a marble globe of the world with the continents outlined. According to Martha Ball, an anchor engraved in the headstone denotes his years as a sailor and a trader; a pick and shovel represent his adventures prospecting for gold out west. An open book above them, Ball says, symbolizes his practice of keeping track of everything he did. Nicholas Ball built and owned the famous nineteenth century Ocean View Hotel, which stood at the present site of the Ocean View Foundation’s open air pavilion above the town’s post office. The hotel burned to the ground in 1966, but parts of its stairs and foundation remain. Seafaring has always been an island way. Among the grave sites are other headstones with symbols signifying ocean voyagers, many of them captains. One has the etching of a tall ship in full sail. Beneath it is written, “The Last Voyage.” Soldiers also abound, with one grave still marked as a Spanish American War veteran. Many stones are also etched with the symbols of

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the Masons and the Oddfellows. Ball notes the small stones several feet away from headstones. They are, she says, foot stones. People were buried facing east so that on Judgment Day they would rise to face the dawn. Also of note are the other small stones of infants and children close to those of their parents, reminders of times before antibiotics and vaccines tamed childhood diseases and allowed more children to reach adulthood. Pushing up the hill, the new sections, including one dedicated to Jewish islanders, are carrying on the tradition of compelling stones and sites. A well tended flower garden graces a beloved island friend; two tall trees, grown together as one, shade another Ball; one forgotten stone looks to be joining its owner, as the earth and vegetation grow over it. Down an obscure pathway, the cemetery widens into a meadow behind the newly built West Lane houses. In this area, the island’s slaves and freed black population were buried. There are only three stones visible. Because no one knows exactly where the people are on the plot, no one is allowed to use it anymore, according to Ball. The Indian Burying Hill, at Isaac’s corner, also has few marked graves. Most of the stones there resemble old dog’s teeth, some rounded, others with points barely protruding above the ground.

Among those whose sites are marked, are two Paynes, a surname that pops up frequently in Block Island history. A descendant of the Manissean Indians suggested the Paynes there might have been slaves of that family. Along Corn Neck Road are two smaller cemeteries, the Sands and Sheffield cemeteries. The Sheffield site is off-road, and can be accessed via a right-of-way next to the historic Amazon Littlefield house, commonly known as the “Honey House.” According to Ball, the Sheffields owned a lot of land on the Neck, including the area now known as the Hodge Family Wildlife Preserve and the adjacent Fish & Wildlife land. Although the large obelisk there stands over a member of the Sheffield clan, most of the others buried there do not bear that name. Off West Side Road, near the old West Side Baptist Church, is the John Dodge Cemetery. It is also open to the public. According to Ball, it was deeded to the town by sisters Annie and Susie Rose, who lived on the corner of Dorry’s Cove Road. Perhaps the most haunting cemetery is one steeped in legend. That story, known as the Wreck of the Palatine, is thought to actually refer to the Princess Augusta, a ship that ran aground in 1738 on the Hummocks, a shoal off the northContinued on next page

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Continued from previous page ern tip of Block Island. The ship was filled with starving German immigrants from the Rhineland area of Germany, an area also known as the Palatine. According to stories about the Princess Augusta, much of the water aboard the ship was tainted, and the captain withheld food and clean water from the passengers. A poem written by John Greenleaf

Whittier in which he calls the ship The Palatine tells of the survivors’ further mistreatment by the island population after the wreck. Historians have disputed the tales of islanders’ cruelty, but subsequent mysterious sightings of burning ships off the island’s north coast lent credence to an ongoing sense of guilt. Many speculated about the reason for the specter of a burning ship, which presaged bad weather and was usually seen in winter. (This could

perhaps be more scientifically attributed to the Aurora Borealis, or northern lights.) The existence of the shipwreck here may no longer be disputed, however, as Pam Gasner, Executive Director of Block Island’s Historical Society affirmed that she has recently received documentation confirming it. Perhaps someday the Palatine graves will also be documented. The Historical Society sponsors tours through the Island Cemetery, led by stone

carver Karin Sprague. Although they focus on the historical pieces including a stop at the oldest stone in the cemetery, they also highlight some of the newer additions, many of which have been carved by Sprague. The walks may continue through the fall season. Check the weekly Block Island Times for a schedule. The author acknowledges the help of Martha Ball, Pam Gasner and Karin Sprague in preparing this article.

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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Preserving our historic hotels: a labor of love By Brent Lang Block Island is famed for its miles of sandy beach, picturesque bluffs and acres of preserved land. It is a haven for swimmers, boaters, and nature lovers. Yet it is also notable for reasons that extend beyond its natural resources. Block Island has the largest surviving collection of early resort hotels on the New England seaboard. Not even its posher cousins Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard boast as impressive a constellation of cupolas, verandas, and mansard-roofs. Many of these hotels date back to the

Victorian era. That’s roughly when the island was hit with its first construction boom following the development of a breakwater and harbor from 1870 to 1876 by Nicholas Ball. This transformed Block Island from a fishing community into a resort destination, according to Bryant F. Tolles Jr.’s Summer by the Seaside: The Architecture of New England Coastal Resort Hotels, 1820-1950. Though some of the finest of these seaside hotels like the Oceanview are gone now, victims of fires or neglect, numerous examples of the grand hotels of yesteryear remain

such as The National Hotel, The Atlantic, and The Narragansett Inn. Keeping them up and operating, however, requires Herculean effort. “There are always going to be issues with a building built in 1852,” said Frank DiBiase, owner of The Spring House. “There is nearly constant maintenance.” DiBiase purchased the hotel in 1989. In the ensuing decades, he’s overseen numerous overhauls to both the interior and exterior of his sprawling seaside retreat. Last year alone, DiBiase re-sided the rear of the building and painted all of

the interior rooms. Next on his burgeoning to-do list is a new roof. Because of the building’s position overlooking the sea, its exterior is constantly bombarded by rain and wind, making repainting a must every couple of years. These costs are a real hardship, particularly given the fact that Block Island’s tourist season really only lasts for three months. It’s hard to take in enough money from guests to pay for all of the maintenance. Then there are all the costs these historic hotels have had to absorb to comply with new fire code regulations. DiBiase has already spent $300,000 to install a new sprinkler system. He got off easier than Steve and Rita Draper who own The Manisses, The 1661 Inn, and other guest houses and cottages. They spent over $500,000 installing sprinklers and alarms to get their properties up to code. “In fairness, the fire marshal gave us plenty of warning, and he’s been really good about working with people,” Steve Draper said. “Most of us had 4 or 5 years notice, so we shouldn’t be whining too much.” With so many properties to oversee, the Draper’s are always in the midst of remodeling. The couple keep at least two people on staff the whole year to do maintenance. Every off-season they decide on a few problem areas to renovate. “This year we’re going to focus on the inn and the guest house,” Rita Draper said. “Last year we redid a good part of the kitchen at the Manisess to make it more efficient. It’s amazing; we’re already looking around and thinking about projects for the next year.” Despite the work involved, both the Continued on next page

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Page 13

Continued from previous page

Photos by Gillian Lang and Celeste Sloman

Draper’s and DiBiase insist it’s worth it. “I think it’s a living, breathing experience,” DiBiase said. “It’s a chance to see what things were like back in the 1800s. People have become too used to seeing a Holiday Inn, so this is a fun vacation. vacation.” Of course, some me visitors would prefer a Holiday Inn. Not every guest is as charmed by the lack of modern amenities as DiBiase. Some complain about the small size of the rooms, the absence of elevators, and thee lack of air condition-ing, according to Juliee Fuller, manager of the National Hotel. el. She’s taken to educatating new guests on the he phone when they book ok their stay. Still, Fuller ller says most of the guests ests are repeat customers who return every summer in part because of the building’s period details, stately deck, and otherworldly charm. Though a few guests quibble with a lack of creature comforts and the time and cost associated with maintaining old buildings is exorbitant, hotel owners and managers maintain that the historic structures are an essential part of the Block Island experience. “This is a quaint Cape Cod sort of town,” Steve Draper said. “It’s why people come. The first things they see when they arrive are these big old hotels with cupolas and they’re the last impression people get.”

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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A gallery tour. My favorite picks. by Sarah Goldstein

Jessie Edwards Studio Gillian Stevens “Atlantic Inn” Mixed media collage, 40” x 23” Gillian Stevens’ collages, featured in the Jessie Edwards Studio, are meticulously crafted and fascinating to look at. The works have the accurate detail of an architectural model combined with the playful whimsy of a children’s book illustration. This rendering of the Atlantic Inn is particularly enticing due to the artist’s expressive color choices and use of geometric patterning.

Island Gallery Amy Veldman Wilson “Red Rays” Oil on linen, 30” x 40” On display this season at the Island Gallery is Amy Veldman Wilson’s vibrant and soothing oil painting “Red Rays.” A first glance at the painting reveals a familiar scene: the sunset over an ocean horizon. Orangey-salmon sunlight filters down from the sky, catching first in a layer of clouds, then on the horizon, and finally reflecting off the ocean below. With each repetition the light takes on the distinct texture of the vessel it inhabits: bleeding out as if painted in watercolors at the top, light and fluffy where it strikes the clouds in the middle, glowing and isolated where the sky meets the sea, and subdued in the darkening water, where it pools like ghosts on the surface. What is truly captivating about this piece, however, is the way it melts into abstraction the longer one gazes at it. The striped composition focuses the viewer on the interplay of the two subtly contrasting colors, which blend into and repel one another with ethereal delicacy. The artist writes in her statement that her works “depict universal themes and transcendent moments,” and indeed “Red Rays” is a powerful meditative experience full of sweetness and mournfulness that should not be missed.

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Page 15

“Baffling the Skill of the Brightest Imagination� Luring Tourists to Block Island 100 years ago by Robert M. Downie “If you’ve got it, flaunt it� --- so goes the popular saying. And Block Island has been perfectly happy to do just that ever since hotels began sprouting at Old Harbor in the late-1800s. But to obtain information about the island 120 years ago usually meant you’d have to come here first and get a descriptive brochure from a hotel --- a Catch-22 dilemma for those who had never heard of Block Island’s charms, and would not otherwise think of coming here, or who didn’t even know the place existed at all. To the rescue in the 1890s came the railroad companies, seemingly odd bed-

fellows for an ocean-encircled town that in that era was separated from the nearest mainland harbor by 20 miles of water. But J. P. Morgan and his fellow train tycoons never saw a citizen they didn’t wish to take for a ride, even if someone else got the profits for the last few miles over the sea. That minor problem was soon overcome too, about 1900, when most of the ferry lines in New England were taken over by the railroad companies, many by J. P.’s own famous “New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.� And so it came to pass in the early 1900s that one copywriter for the Montauk Steamboat Company --- which had been

purchased by the Long Island Rail Road in 1899 --- wrote in a gush of zest what he thought must be the ultimate words luring you to one of that company’s newer destinations: Block Island. He also happened to preemptively excuse himself from blame if readers, or perhaps his demanding boss, should find his writing skills had failed to adequately describe this tourist resort: “The natural characteristics, with its unique setting in the ocean, which is visible from all parts of the Island, present one of the most delightful pictures of nature which defy the power of creative Continued on next page

Off for a cruise to Europe? No, these women are on an island ferry in the 1920s, lured to Block Island even on a chilly day.

Left to right: In 1910, the cover of the NY, NH & H railroad brochure emphasized the large swordfish tourists could expect to see caught with harpoons off Mohegan Bluffs. One of the many photos inside showed children being beguiled by 69-year-old Capt. James Rose, whose great-great-grandchildren now operate his homestead as the Rose Farm Inn.; As railroad companies purchased more and more of the once independent steamboat lines, they widely distributed elaborate brochures to the public, luring new passengers to visit delightful, faraway destinations. The cover of the 1903 booklet by the NY, NH & H featured one of the island’s two windmills.; About 1900, both the Shinnecock and the Montauk, both from NYC, were tied up at the New Harbor dock while the photographer snapped a picture from a third ferry that was departing.

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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Continued from previous page genius to depict, and baffles the skill of the brightest imagination.” A little earlier, in 1896, the New London Steamboat Company published a brochure that any Block Island hotel owner would have also agreed with: “The Island lies out to sea fifteen miles from the Rhode Island shore. It has many charming drives and fine scenery, the South Cliffs and Lighthouse being among the many places of interest. The hotels are exceptional, and the facilities for bathing and fishing are unsurpassed.” In his usual secretive modus operandi, J. P. Morgan soon acquired the New London Steamboat Company, which sold its stock in 1901 to a New York shipyard executive named Stevenson Taylor, who then turned the stock over to Morgan’s ever-more monopolistic NY, NH, & H. The NY, NH & H, now owning extensive railroad and steamboat lines in southern New England, promoted Block Island far and wide, often in booklets touting other mainland resorts, but also in ones devoted solely to Block Island. A pamphlet issued by the NY, NH & H in 1903 gave a blanket recommendation: “There are now upwards of 30 hotels of excellent quality for the use of visitors ...” The NY, NH & H railroad’s finely produced 1910 booklet about Block Island contained two dozen pages with a photograph on each. Adjectives abound, but all in all, the text was quite accurate --- I’d like to visit that island of long ago: “Thus set down in the sea, Block Island is a place of supreme delight for the vacation seeker. Think of the cooling, invigorating breezes you get out there

--- Block Island folks do not know what hot weather is ... Instead of sweltering at night, the Block Island visitor finds that he needs an extra blanket to add to his comfort when he retires. “To sniff this exhilarating ozone after breathing the close, sultry atmosphere of the city, is as refreshing as a shower-bath after a dusty ride. It is a treat to your lungs. Involuntarily you find yourself straightening up, squaring your shoulders, and inhaling long, deep breaths --- you can’t seem to get enough of this good air ... “They walk and drive and bathe and fish and sail. They climb its thousand hills, each one yielding a varied view of sea and sky. And they return, season after season, to enjoy the same round of simple pleasures ... “The sun and sea breeze will give you a ruddy coat of tan that won’t wear off until long after you have returned home. And nothing will give you such a healthy appetite as this kind of a life. Your muscles will swell and harden; you will sleep a dreamless sleep ... “Block Island folks and Block Island summer visitors become enthusiastic over baseball during the summer season. The summer girl is every bit as zealous a fan as the man --- even more so. To be able to play on the ‘nine’ is a quick way of reaching the heart of the summer girl ... “The drives about the Island are a pleasing variation from the seashore life. No matter in what direction you go, there is spread before you a pleasing vista of hills and ponds, white farmhouses, with crimson ramblers clambering all about, fishermen’s cottages --- all framed in interminable rows of stone fences ... and every now and then you get a glimpse of the ever-changing sea.” Take me there.

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Page 17

By Casey Nilsson Whether you’re a day-tripper, a weeklong visitor or a summer time resident, chances are you’ll try to find some time to step out of the downtown and explore the many points of interest around Block Island. After some sightseeing, one or two spots are bound to become favorite island locales to be remembered and revisited throughout your lifetime. The Mohegan Bluffs, with its scenic Atlantic vistas and long, winding stairway to the shore, reigns as one of the most iconic and frequently photographed of island sights. The North Point is also a favorite of visitors. It offers a touch of history in the form of Settler’s Rock and the North Lighthouse and a sprawling stony beach that, when trekked across, boasts some of the most brilliant sunrises and sunsets to be found on the island. Although these sites are exquisite and undoubtedly unforgettable, there are other Island places that visitors may pass by or disregard that, I would argue, convey the genuine essence of Block Island. Near Center Road, by the island’s largest fresh pond, rests a small cemetery, seemingly insignificant with only a minor road sign to announce its presence. What lies within, however, are the remnants of an enigmatic history only the imagination can reconstruct. Christened the Indian Cemetery, the burial grounds consist of the unmarked graves of Native Americans from the island, Native American bondservants, and African American slaves, with a handful of settler headstones. Some speculate that the Native Americans in the Indian Cemetery were buried upright with a pot of oysters or clams to support them on their passage to the afterlife. There are over 150 burial plots in

the Indian Cemetery, and mixed within the soil are the legends and folklore of a different time. While ambling through the grounds, a visitor is likely to imagine how different modern-day Block Island is from the place in which the native Manisseans lived off the land and sea, primarily concerned with providing for their family and ensuring the survival of their village. The eerie burial ground breeze that tousles 21st century visitors’ hair is the same island wind that swept across the face of Native Americans hundreds of years ago. Another island site that may go unnoticed by passersby is an abandoned home perched atop a hill nearing the North Point. Since visitors are wise to obey trespassing laws (best not to ruin a vacation with a visit to the police station!), this secret spot is rarely tramped over and provides a peaceful retreat from the noise and anxiety of town. Lush greenery cascades downward from the porch of the forsaken cottage toward a quiet coastline, with patches of wildflowers tangled recklessly about the landscape. At dusk, a favorite time of day to visit, dragonflies take wing towards the horizon in pairs, the sunset so translucent you can catch sight of them dancing to the melody of the breaking surf. A similarly tranquil spot can be found in town, yet receives little attention and is seldom swarmed with sightseers. Ocean View, a few feet past the Post Office, offers much more than the standard “ocean view.” Treading up the path by way of stepping-stones, you can instantly notice the sounds of town fade under the chirping of island birds and the whirling breeze stirring through the trees and bushes. A white pavilion beck-

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ons you to eat lunch, h, read, write, paint or have warm tête-ààtêtes beneath its roof. f. It’s an ideal place to o enjoy the surround-ing island beauty and d experience a peace-fulness that will nott be found anywheree else in town. These threee island locations may not be the most frequented spots, but impart the unruffled side of Block Island that makes it so spe-cial. There is onee more place on this is list, however, that we unanimously favor as guests of this extraordidinary island: the Jamess Taylor-esque “Gonee to [Block Island] in n my Mind,” the memories we dig up when we can’t physically be here. Personally, I rehash the simple summer days of childhood days spent with my grandparents, basking in warm freshwater ponds and picking blackberries from the Top to bottom. Indian Burial Ground, Ocean View Pavilion, backyard of their bed and house near North Point. and breakfast. We all share this longing for and favorite island retreats become so fresh breezes and warm sunshine in the plentiful that they warm even the bitterest depth of cold New England winters. As of winter nights. years and trips pass by, those memories

On-Island Restaurants

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Breafast

Lunch

Dinner

1661 Inn Aldo’s Bakery Aldo’s Restaurant and Pizzeria Atlantic Inn Ballard’s Inn The Beachead Beckett’s Authentic Gelato Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Bethany’s Airport Diner Chapel Sweets Club Soda Eli’s Restaurant Finn’s Seafood Restaurant Froozies Juice Bar and Café G.R. Sharky’s Harbor Grill Harborview Restaurant Harry’s Café H.J. Willy’s Dog Waggin’ Juice’n Java Hotel Manisses McGovern’s Mexican Deck Mohegan Café and Brewery The Narragansett Inn TThe National Tap and Grille TThe Oar Old Harbor View Take-Out O Papa’s Pizzeria P Payne’s Harbor View Inn P Payne’s New Harbor Dock P Rebecca’s Seafood Restaurant R TThe Spring House Water Street Café W Win eld’s W O -Island Restaurants C Colvittos Pizza and Bakery TThe Cooked Goose Go Pasta G Mariner Grille M Midtown Café M SShelter Harbor Inn

Just Treats

Photographs by Mike Berger

Block Island, off the beaten path

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

www.blockislandtimes.com

By Becky Ballard When asked how he would describe his new restaurant, owner Robin McGuigan beamed and said, “It’s wonderful.” He’s absolutely right. The Midtown Café is wonderful. It’s comfort food with a twist. Looking relaxed in the midst of the busy lunch crowd, McGuigan related the story of how he and his wife, Heather, came to open up a restaurant in the center of Wakefield. He is from Ireland; Heather is from California. McGuigan was managing a restaurant in Dublin when he decided he wanted to move to the U.S. and start “a European-style café where people would be comfortable.” They narrowed their initial choice of location to somewhere between Boston and New York, but when a friend intro-

duced them to Wakefield they knew they had found their home. They opened this past December. McGuigan describes Wakefield as a real village where they have regular customers and already feel a strong connection to the town. The Midtown Café gives off a casual feeling of warmth. Apple-green walls, brick-red chairs and white tablecloths set the tone. The high ceilings and large front windows create a roomy, open sense. McGuigan prefers to mingle with the guests and attend to their needs. The menu and food preparation are all his style and ideas, but his chef, Yulia Kuzmina, is in the kitchen preparing most of the meals. He says Kuzmina’s culinary skills are the key to their success. Initially, the Midtown Café was only open for breakfast and lunch. However, it

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began serving dinner on Friday and Saturday nights in June. The breakfast menu includes many standards, running the gamut from light to more filling fare. Yogurt and granola are listed along with french toast (promising “Two thick slices of Italian bread with a choice of banana and berry with syrup and cream”), eggs benedict and every kind of omelet. The lunch menu reflects McGuigan’s Irish background. Bangers and mash, fish pie and braised lamb shanks are regulars and have become customer favorites. But there’s something for every palate - from cajun chicken over risotto with parmesan to a very popular salad of roasted butternut squash, goat’s cheese, baby beets, and mixed greens sprinkled with an orange vinaigrette dressing. There are sandwiches, too. The choices range from the traditional turkey, burger or chicken club sandwiches to grilled vegetables with pesto and mozzarella on a baguette. It’s all comfort food at its best, and the

c

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Comfort food with an Irish brogue

prices are quite reasonable. Think of stopping by if you’re on the mainland for the day. McGuigan adds that they can put anything together to take out, so Block Island folks can pick up their next meal on their way to the ferry. The Midtown Café is in the center of Wakefield, RI, at 333 Main St. (look for the black-and-white-striped awning); open Tuesdays through Sundays from 7 am to 4 pm. Dinner is served on Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 6 pm. They have a full liquor license and plenty of parking in back. You can reach them at 401-782-1201. For a sample of their menus, look for them on line at www. midtowncaferi.com. or in Block Dining which is distributed on island.

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September 2009

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Page 19

A sheltered retreat By Pam Hinthorn Block Island has so many wonderful restaurants and stores that islanders frequently are loathe to recommend any establishment without a local connection. However, we are mindful that advertising and department store morality marked a dramatic paradigm shift when, in the 1947 movie “Miracle on 34th Street,” Mr. Macy’s policy was to refer customers to Gimbel’s. In that same spirit, we on Block Island occasionally find a venue off our island paradise that is so compelling, we have to ignore our preference for hyper-local businesses. After all, year-round residents, the “near-round” residents (the Block Island equivalent of the Florida “snow birds”), summer residents, and summer visitors might like to spend several days or a night over in “America.” A trip to the mainland can be an excuse to savor a great meal, just a stone’s throw from the ferry. Shelter Harbor Inn is located in an eighteenth century farmhouse set on three beautifully landscaped acres one mile north of Weekapaug Beach. Owned and operated for the past 33 years by Jim Dey, the inn serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, 365 days a year – that means Christmas and Thanksgiving (making it a good option for islanders looking to enjoy holiday meals with large families living on the mainland). There are 24 rooms, seven of which have working fireplaces, in three different buildings: the main house, the carriage house and the barn. The rooms and public rooms are all furnished and decorated with many antiques and interesting pictures. The library features editions of former Block Island Times owner R. Bruce Montgomery’s cartoons and the daily

periodicals from Providence, Boston, New York and Washington. The inn feels quintessentially New England. Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. in a delightful sun porch. There is a full breakfast menu, which is included in the cost of the room for inn guests and reasonably priced for those who stop just to have breakfast or brunch (Sunday brunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). Lunch and dinner are served in one of several dining rooms overlooking lovely gardens or interesting landscaping in the winter months. The dining rooms are elegant but casual. Lunch, served between 11:30 and 4 p.m., has a full menu with entrees (fresh seafood, poultry, lamb, liver and beef) and appetizers (oysters, clams on the halfshell, calamari). There are also salads, pasta, quiche and sandwiches. Dinner is served from 4 to 10 p.m. with a menu heavy on local fish. Once a month the inn hosts a five-course wine dinner. During a recent visit to the inn for lunch, we tried the swordfish brochette with a mustard pineapple glaze and tuna with a mango-pineapple salsa. Both entrees were delicious and the perfect size. We munched on freshly baked bread while we waited for the entrée. The dessert menu is sinful and our selection of a double chocolate fudge cake with mascarpone filling was just that…double good and filling! The Inn boasts a 6-wicket professional croquet court, heated paddle tennis courts, tennis courts, a basketball court, a putting green, a roof-top hot tub (great on cold winter days or hot summer nights for stargazing) and a serious swing-slide-sandbox-monkey bar play area on the lawn for the children. The

private beach at Weekapaug is accessible by shuttle bus. The Shelter Harbor Inn is located off Route 1, in Westerly, near the Westerly airport, at 10 Wagner Road, 02891. Reservations for lunch and dinner are recommended: 401-322-8883. Room rates vary by season and extra

amenities (private decks, sitting room, fireplaces). Block Island residents may ask for a special rate during the week (not on weekends). Of special note, pets are welcome to guests with rooms in the barn. For menus, directions and more information, visit their website at www. shelterharborinn.com.

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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The great winter walks By Scott Comings Dickens Farm, Mohegan Bluffs, and Fresh Swamp and Payne Farm Trail As this series has explored Block Island’s continuum of conservation and preservation effort, we can wrap up by looking at specific sites that are not directly linked, but have the advantage of

being walkable as winter sets in. So after you put your nose out the door to see if the weather is warm enough to put on your hiking boots, you should try any one of the following three sites. The Dickens Farm: the Bird Lady’s legacy On a calm day the Dickens Farm trail is an amazing walk. It is truly a trip into history where much of the property looks the way it did more than 100 hundred years ago. This was the farm of the famous “Bird Lady” of Block Island, Miss Elizabeth Dickens, who taught generations of island students about avian creatures (see sidebar). She is credited with instilling the preservation and natural resources protection ethic in her students that led to the birth of the island-wide conservation movement in the 1970s. This property was conserved in the early 1980s through the successful “Preserve like the Dickens” campaign. After walking through beautiful meadow habitat, the trail terminates at towering bluffs that provide an amazing view of Montauk Point and the Atlantic Ocean. Often in the winter, harbor seals can be seen frolicking in the water below. During the walk be sure to keep an eye skyward for raptors, including the majestic northern harrier hawk as it searches for a meadow vole snack. Block Island’s outdoor Stairmaster: the Mohegan Bluffs Tired of your indoor Stairmaster? Then take a climb on the stairs at the Edward Sands Payne Overlook and enjoy the spectacular views of the Mohegan

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www.blockislandtimes.com Bluffs and the Atlantic Ocean while getting an excellent workout. The overlook is a perfect wintertime hike for people looking for a more aerobic adventure. This property was once part of the Payne Farm and was purchased for conservation from members of the Payne Family in the early 1980s. This property has the only public stairs to the beach on the south side of the island. At the top of the stairs is a spectacular view of the bluffs looking west. This view dramatically demonstrates how susceptible this area is to both wind and water erosion, but also how it has majestically withstood those forces over the centuries. The Mohegan Bluffs are technically

bluffs, not cliffs, because they are made of clay, sand, and soil (know as glacial till), not rock. This area is classified as a terminal moraine because it is near where the glacier stopped and began to recede, leaving the spectacular exposed bluffs to face the open ocean. When walking down the stairs be sure to keep an eye out for the stateendangered barn owl, which nests and sometimes roosts in large holes in the bluff. At the bottom of the stairs be sure to step carefully because it is a bit treacherous between the end of the stairs and the beach. But hikes are meant to be adventurous. Continued on next page

Wicked Cool Facts - Part Four What is the mating ritual of the American woodcock? In the spring, the courtship display of the woodcock can be seen between dusk and dawn. The male, with its wings whistling (the outer wing feathers of the woodcock are modified with a small gap between feathers to produce the whistling sound) flies in widening spirals rising up to 100 feet, circles his highest point and zigzags to earth like a falling leaf. When it reaches the ground it releases a nasal “peent.” This display is repeated many times throughout the night. What is the rarest bird in Miss Dickens’s collection? While there are many rare birds in the collection, the most unique is the northern lapwing, a Eurasian species. The only two known sightings in Rhode Island were on Block Island. What is the size of Dickens Farm, Mohegan Bluffs, and Fresh Swamp/Payne Farm Preserves? The Dickens Farm: 60 acres; the Mohegan Bluffs: 44 acres; and Fresh Swamp/ Payne Farm: 65 acres. What are some of the state and federally endangered species found on thesee properties? e. The only federally endangered species found is the American burying beetle. r, The state-endangered species include clay-banks tiger beetle, northern harrier, and barn owl. The snowy owls are back this year. Which of these preserves is a good place to see this species? All of these preserves are an excellent place to see the spectacular snowy owl. On w. Block Island some of the owl’s favorite habitats are bluffs and open meadow.

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Page 21

The Bird Lady of Block Island Block Island’s legendary “Bird Lady,” Miss Elizabeth Dickens, was born in 1877 and lived her whole life in the then remote southwestern part of the island. She was an only child with no children of her own, making her the last of a family that had lived on Block Island since 1697. Miss Dickens gained all of her knowledge about birds from study and observation. In 1909 she shot a huge black goose, only to find out, with the help of Harold Madison of the Roger Williams Park Museum in Providence, that it was a rare Australian swan. With Mr. Madison’s help, in 1911 she became one of the first Audubon teachers in the country, going to the various one-room school houses throughout the island. In 1912, the Bird Lady started recording every bird she saw or heard. She continued this practice until her death in 1963, filling 11 volumes. She continued to teach in the school, now consolidated, until early 1961. These priceless data are now in the possession of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Throughout the years of teaching she also had her students and members of the community looking for birds that had recently died that were in good enough condition to be stuffed. This collection, one of the best in Rhode Island, is still prominently displayed at the Block Island School, where it is still used for bird study. In 1925, Miss Dickens organized the first Christmas org bird count on Block Island, enlisting her students to enl help with the census. This hel count co is still done today and an is an excellent record of how bird populations have ho changed with habitat succh cession. At the time of her ce ddeath, Miss Dickens was a well-known ornithologist who had received g many awards and had m nnumerous articles writtten about her. This is an amazing feat for a self-taught ornithologist whose farthest trip ever from Block Island was the Adirondacks.

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

www.blockislandtimes.com farm portion is mostly meadow with the landscape becoming open. From here there are distant views across fields to the east of the ocean and Clay Head. During this walk there is much wildlife to be seen including raptors, songbirds and white-tailed deer. In the early spring at dusk the farm portion of the trail is an excellent place to see the mating ritual of the goofy American woodcock. Ethos and effort When we began this four-part series highlighting Block Island’s walking trails, we cited the nature preservation and protection ethos instilled decades ago by individuals such as Elizabeth Dickens, Capt. Rob Lewis and his family, and David and Elise Lapham. Their example inspired the effort and commitment of islanders through the years that led to the conservation of over 2,500 acres from the signature North Light to

Continued from previous page Once on the beach, be sure to look up to the left to see the iconic Southeast Lighthouse perched 200 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. If not exhausted from the climb down, turn right for an easier beach walk (more sandy conditions) or left for a more difficult one. In the winter this a great place see all sorts of sea life including whales, porpoises and shorebirds. It is also always very interesting to see what has washed up on the beach — both natural and man-made varieties. The heart of the island: Fresh Swamp and Payne Farm Trail On a windy day in the winter this

the sprawling Southwest corner. And the commitment is ongoing. We hope the “binocular tour” we provided of the many trails and natural attractions afforded the public more insight into the importance of these conservation parcels that link across Block Island — so that we can better appreciate the wonders island residents have preserved down through time. It has been the ethos of the community, and the efforts of local individuals and organizations, that have made the island’s preservation efforts a true wonder, and part of what it means to live, work and play in this very special place. ****On weekdays please remember that it is hunting season and to wear orange or other bright colors when walking on the trails. There is no hunting on these preserves but there may be hunting on properties nearby.

is an excellent trail to walk because it is in the middle of the island, which provides some buffer. This property was also part of the Payne Farm, and was conserved in the early 1990s when the property was purchased from the Phelan family (Harriet Payne Phelan and her husband Bill, and son Blake and his wife Michelle). A section of this area is also home to the town well fields, which provide water for much of the downtown area. This is really two trails in one. The Fresh Swamp portion is covered in shrubs that offer the walker a feeling of being enclosed, with inland views across the preserve at different junctures. The

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September 2009

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Anthem serves up cool Reggae rythms By Casey Nilsson Anthem, a band based in Bridgeport, Conn., has become a McGovern’s Yellow Kittens “Reggae Night” favorite. The group has developed a loyal following on Block Island and has played 5 times this past summer. They’ll be returning for their final island show at Kittens on Sunday, September 6th hitting the stage at 10p.m. Anthem has mixed it up with the best of them. The group has played with several well-known Reggae artists including The Wailers, Sister Carol, Big Mountain, Burning Spear and Yellowman, and was also featured on the “Conan O’Brien Show” with Sister Carol. Their music is reminiscent of hit Reggae bands such as Steel Pulse, Caribbean Pulse and Third World. Anthem generally makes use of hiphop, R&B, and rock influences and integrates them into a traditional Reggae backdrop. Each performance this season has been spirited and entertaining. The band stokes their instruments, and helps energize the room by working the crowd with clever banter. Although they primarily play cover songs while performing at Yellow Kittens, Anthem also has many original works

that can be found on their three albums, Serious, Good to be There, and Are You Ready. Courtney “Coozie” Mellers, the band’s rhythm and bass guitarist, writes the majority of Anthem’s tunes. Jermaine Mellers, bassist, and Carey Mellers, guitarist, bassist, and pianist, also assist in the songwriting process. The remaining members of the band include Leslie Ming, drummer and percussionist, and Rob Ellington, the band’s lead singer. Ellington and “Coozie” Mellers are both native-born Jamaicans; Ming, Carey Mellers and Jermaine Mellers are from Connecticut. Anthem serves up unusual reggae twist on popular songs from across the musical spectrum ranging from artists like The Temptations to CeCe Winans to Usher. They’re so well played and inventive that even the clumsiest dancers will find a cool reggae rhythm bubbling within themselves. Feeling the energy pulsate off of the band from beneath the stage is an enjoyable experience, but standing back behind the crowd and watching the cohesiveness of Anthem is just as rewarding. Sad to say, nut few visiting artists take such care to provide a rousing show.

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Sunday Sept. 6 at 10pm

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Page 23

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Page 24

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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ONE MORE CAST

by Marlin Blansfield It can’t be much later than seven in the morning when we power out of Old Harbor. The morning is misty and quiet, the horizon ahead of us an uncluttered line where the light, cloudless blue of the sky meets the darker blue of the water. Captain Bill Gould stands at the wheel, sipping occasionally from the tin coffee pot he keeps at his elbow. A tall, spry man of seventy, Bill pilots his boat, the G. Willie Makit, with an understated economy born of nearly thirty years of experience. With a word and a gesture he directs mate Jonah Thurrell to start rigging the rods as soon as we leave the harbor.

Jonah, a soft-spoken Vermonter with a passion for fishing and surfing, displays the same ease around the boat that his captain exhibits. The G. Willie Makit is a twenty-eight foot fishing vessel, and without a doubt the best known charter boat on Block Island. Organized and well-maintained, the G. Willie Makit’s simple white exterior and wood-paneled interior bespeak long years of use and loving upkeep. It is a familiar sight around the Ballards dock, where Bill births. Many of Bill’s customers return every year, and much of his local fame is achieved through word of mouth. The couple that has scheduled this charter fidgets eagerly and makes small

Zack Murphy and brother, Nick display their catch. talk with Captain Gould. Dan and Cathy O’Connell hail from South Carolina, but they are no strangers to the island; Dan has been coming to Block Island for twenty-four years, Cathy for six, and they have fished with Bill each and every time. “Nothing compares to it,” the O’Connells say of the island. “It has this special kind of beauty.” As we travel further and further out

onto the water, the island steadily vanishes into a pall of early morning fog. We are the only boat for miles around, and the only noise aside from our engine is the raucous calling of seabirds. Bill knows this to be a good omen. “The ocean looks alive this morning. Birds everywhere.” We are heading out maybe six miles south of the island, not in search of the usual charter boat’s prey, striped bass, but instead looking for bluefish, the O’Connell’s favorite catch. When we finally come to rest, I ask if the place we have stopped has a name. “Yeah,” Bill chuckles, “but I don’t want you putting that in the paper.” Fair enough, every fisherman has his secrets. Jonah drops the hooks into the water, and we trawl idly through the placid sea, virtually alone on the water save for the small flock of gulls that follows us, hoping for leftovers. Bill and the O’Connells chat to pass the time, catching up with each other and reminiscing about past summers. But after perhaps twenty min-

Zack, six years old, and Nick, nine years old, are assisted by their father, Andy Murphy.

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Continued from previous page utes we are eyeing the untouched rods with impatience, and Bill decides it’s time to move on. We relocate to a spot a mile away and try our luck again, but again we pull the hooks up after fifteen minutes with nary a bite. The water is still a little cold for bluefish, Captain Gould explains, so we’ll move a little closer to the island. We pull up the lines and turn the boat around. As we pull closer to the island it begins to cool off dramatically, and white-gray sheets of cloud obscure the sun. I take this time to ask Bill what makes fishing on Block Island so unique, and he thinks for a moment, one hand on the wheel, eyes scanning the water. What it comes down to, he says, is the simple truth that not everyone is a seasoned fisherman. Block Island becomes an incred-

ible experience for people who may never have fished before in their lives, and could perhaps provide a catalyst for a lifelong passion. We are now situated just off the Island’s Southwest shoreline, and we drop our lines for the third time. The minutes tick by, and we are about to give up hope entirely when the rod on the left jerks sharply and Jonah shouts those magic words: “Fish on!� He hands the jumping, bending rod to Cathy, cautioning, “Don’t reel when he’s taking line.� The fish breaks the surface for the first time, and there is a palpable surge of excitement on the boat as we see the dark, bullet-shaped head against the whitewater. Laughing, Cathy fights the fish all the way to the boat, finally hauling a respectably- sized striped bass into the boat. From that point on the dry spell is broken, and it seems that every five min-

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

utes another rod is struck and another fish is being fought into the boat. Dan and Cathy are all smiles, laughing and joking with Bill and Jonah, flushed with their success. The next fish is a bluefish, as is the one after that, and the O’Connells are thrilled at the prospect of eating bluefish for the rest of the week. After this run of luck we total up the day’s catch, finding ourselves with three bluefish and four striped bass, one of which, weighing in at thirty pounds, Bill declares “a showstopper.� As morning fades imperceptibly into a cloudy afternoon, we taxi back into old harbor, satisfied with our admirable haul of fish, each of us more than a little regretful to be leaving the water quite so soon. I step off the boat onto Ballard’s dock, shake hands with Bill, Jonah, and the O’Connells, and reflect on the last few hours as I am walking back through

Page 25

town. It is a shame, I think to myself, that there are so few experiences on the island that compare to the simple joys of a charter fishing trip. Such voyages provide a glimpse of that quintessential Block Island spirit, that heady feeling of having, for just a short while, a genuine connection to an entirely unique place. (Note: The accompanying photographs are from a separate trip with the Murphy family and mate, Bernice Johnson)

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Page 26

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

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“Island” Cutting Boards & “Fish” Boards

Isle of Mist Jewelry presents

The “Paradise Pin” Sculptured 14 kt Gold or Sterling Silver

Handcrafted wooden cutting boards by Will Gasner.

Individually designed in the shape of Block Island and various fish motifs: flounder, black fish, striped bass and other creative forms Block Island beachstone necklaces and handmade ceramics Customized Birthstone Jewelry CJSUIEBZT t XFEEJOHT t BOOJWFSTBSJFT t OFX CBCJFT www.LunaAndStella.com

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SHARON LEHMAN Paintings in Oil and Watercolor

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Julie Garosshen Photography

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September 2009

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Page 27

Block Island Summer Times Directory WATER STREET ARCHIPELAGO, located below the National Hotel, brings imports from Southeast Asia to Block Island. Archipelago’s line of specially-designed clothing includes board shorts, sarongs and bikinis. The manufacturing of these items is overseen in Bali by the Archipelago owner. 466-8920. B-EYES SUNGLASS SHOP. Block Island’s sunglass shop. Whether your needs are for fashion or function, find all types of sunglasses and accessories here. Prices for every budget for men, women and children. 466-8676. B.I.T.’s, below the National Hotel, is an excellent resource for B.I. souvenirs, including T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts and collectibles. The uniquely-designed clothes here can be found nowhere else on the island. B.I. stickers, cups, glasses and detailed maps are also available. 466-5977. BLOCK ISLAND SPORT SHOP offers a full line of running and walking shoes, clothes, watches, sunglasses, surf equipment and accessories in order to enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle on Block Island. 466-5001. BONNIE and CLYDE is the place to look for what you want to wear for summer. This boutique in the heart of downtown has an exciting collection of dresses, tops, jeans, bathing suits, shoes and accessories. You’ll find something ‘super cute’ for every budget. Open daily. 466-8895. BUILDING BLOCKS is a shop dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure for kids of all ages. Located in the heart of downtown you’ll find games, educational and activity toys, stuffed animals, beach supplies and more. Across from ferry landing. Water Street. 466-TOYS (8697). DISTANT SHORES stocks an amazing array of collectibles and gift items. Jewelry, glasswork and home items are among the offerings at this long-established Water Street shop. Many of the offerings at Distant Shores would be hard to find anywhere else. 466-2812. EMERALD ISLE TRADER brings the best of the Fair Isle across the sea — Ireland - to our own Block Island shores. Jewelry, china, home furnishings, and gifts, all with a special flair. Down the brick alley between Building Blocks and Harborside. 466-5069. ESSENTIALS, located in the National Hotel lobby, has the island’s largest selection of cigars and cigarettes. Open late, Essentials also sells pharmaceuticals, sunscreen, Dramamine and personal care items, snacks and beverages, plus ponchos, umbrellas and a large assortment

of convenience food for the microwave. Magazines too. 466-3168. FOOTPRINTS is an intriguing shop poised above Star Department Store and overlooking Water Street. Here you’ll find a large selection of bathing suits and an imaginative collection of affordable clothing, jewelry and T-shirts. Also featuring flax clothing for women. 466-2202. THE GLASS ONION is a whimsical little shop tucked among roses and flowering shrubs. You can browse through 19th-century lithographs and engravings, classic yachting and gardening books, field guides and children’s books, sailing charts and topo maps, clothing and jewelry. 466-5161. ISLAND BOUND bookstore is the beststocked outlet you’ll find on Block Island for reading material of all sorts: best sellers, classics, mysteries, children’s, local titles, history and more. The bookstore is located in the post office building and features a front patio overlooking Old Harbor. 466-8878. ISLAND DOG offers a variety of pet themed gifts for humans as well as gift items for your pet. Some of the lines that are stocked include Planet Dog, Up Country, Taxi’s Dog Bakery, Outward Hound, Sydney Love as well as Stephen Huneck and Mike Made This tees. Categories include jewelry, bags, ceramic tiles, clocks and just plain fun items!!! JENNIFER’S JEWELRY is owned by a gemologist and carries Italian 14k and 18k gold, platinum, white gold and sterling silver, coral and turquoise. She has ankle bracelets, toe rings, 14k-gold belly button rings and custom-made B.I. rings, bracelets, lighthouse pins and pendants. Her Italian Dynasex link bracelets now feature a special B.I. map link. Jennifer Milner has designed a new bead — the ‘Block Island block,’ engraved with Block Island. A portion of the proceeds from every sale is donated to the Block Island Medical Center. 466-7944. KORU ECO SPA. An eco-friendly spa, Block Island style! Manicures/pedicures, massage and much, much more. www. koruecospa.com. 401-466-2308. THE MAD HATTER, the island’s only hat store, boasts an impressive selection of men’s, women’s and children’s hats. Designer hats include Eric Javits, Helen Kaminski, and Annabel Ingall. Men’s hats include Tilley, Watership Trading, and Dorfman Pacific. Outrageous novelty hats will prepare you for disco night. 466-5264. MAHONEY’S CLOTHIER on Water Street has in stock all of the Block Island apparel you might want, and most of it is one-of-a-kind. Silk Block Island ties are among the specialty items. www.atlanticcowboys.com. 466-8616.

PHOTO DOG. Conveniently located under the National Hotel, this elegant boutique/ gallery has it all, film accessories, fine art, jewelry and gifts as well as exclusively carrying the artwork of Whitney Knapp. Seafaring inspirations are everywhere, like the photographs by Lesley A. Ulrich. As a professional photographer, Lesley is available for weddings and family portraits by appointment. www.biphotodog.com. 466-5858. RAGS is a boutique stocked with resort wear and accessories, and all kinds of gear for your summertime days and nights. The shop faces the statue of Rebecca, opposite the Empire Theatre. THE SANDPIPER now shares the front, street-level location at 224 Water St. with the Seaside Market. Featuring Cutloose, Willow and Fresh Produce Sportswear in sizes up to 3X, and for the men we have B.I. T-shirts and hats. Jewelry cases are filled with colorful sea glass, silver and the exclusive B.I. photo bracelet. The multicompartment “Baggallini” is all the rage, as well as the new ‘Switch Flops,’ sandals with interchangeable patterned straps. Affordable, fun gifts and a great line of greeting cards bring a smile to your face. It’s right across from the ferry. 466-2722. THE STAR DEPARTMENT STORE is Block Island’s general store. It carries a large selection of imprinted and embroidered T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, shorts, dresses and polar fleeces. It offers the largest selection of Crocs and sandals. It also has saltwater taffy, souvenirs and toys and beach accessories. 466-5541. TOURIST TRAP. Unique B.I. T’s and sweats at great prices in a funky setting. Beach toys. Accessories. Jewelry. Vintage furniture. In the Seaside Marketplace. STRINGS AND THINGS provides a unique shopping experience. It is the sister store to Full Moon Tide and among its offerings you will find sterling, native America, semi-precious stone, hemp, shell and beach glass, tiger mountain and Block Island jewelry, handmade soap, beanpod soy candles, chimes and more. You will also find a nice assortment of great cards and Block Island memorabilia. Reasonable prices abound. Come in and browse. 466-5666. WAVE. For quality clothing, sportswear and accessories visit the Wave, located in the center of Water Street. Exclusive carriers of Roxy, Quicksilver, Tommy Bahama, Be As You Are, Three Dots, Big Hed Tees, Reef Sandals, Maui Jim, Oakley, Ray Bans and Revo. Resort clothing at mainland prices. www.waveblockisland.com. 466-8822.

HIGH STREET

ries non-prescription medicines, including poison ivy remedies and motion sickness pills. Videos are available for rent, and the store carries greeting cards, beach supplies and various sundries, plus Western Union, fax and ATM services. 466-5825. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY offers weekly nature walks for adults and children: an early morning bird walk, a tour of the island’s interior, and walks along Great Salt Pond. Stop by the Visitor Center for information, books, clothing and posters. 466-2129.

CHAPEL STREET BLOCKS OF FUDGE is your only source for island-made fudge. Nineteen heavenly flavors to choose from like turtle fudge, penuche and cookies & cream. This family-friendly shop stocks the largest variety of candy and chocolate on Block Island. Fill a bag or souvenir candy bin to take home! Wedding favors too. Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Chapel Street. 466-5196. EAST OF THE RIVER NILE TRADING COMPANY offers an exclusive selection of handcrafted goods including furniture, stained glass lamps, exquisite glassware, handmade garments, jewelry, rocks, minerals and fossils, music and a chosen collection of books encompassing native cultures to vegetarian cooking. An anthology that reflects the many rich cultures from around the world. FULL MOON TIDE has moved to a larger fabulous location! Come and see all of the new additions. Lovely reproduction table linens, crisp cotton sleepware, and just plain undies! As always, they have beaded bags, scarves, hankies, aprons, casual dresses and eclectic giftware, all with a nostalgic feel. Reasonable prices as always. 466-2422. www.fullmoontide.com GOLDDIGGERS offers brilliant engagement rings, rare gems, precious metals and enticing estate treasures that will delight you, as well as the unmistakably original Block Island and nautical jewelry. Take home some B.I. sand in a glass bottle charm. The beautiful all-diamond Block Island pendants are amazing. Check out the weekly treasure finds. Expert repairs, GIA appraisal services and free ear piercing are sure to make Golddiggers your favorite jeweler, on or off the island. Chapel Street and Weldon’s Way. Open 7 days. 466-2611. ISLAND BREEZE is a unique shop offering a varied selection of gifts, toys, souvenirs and clothing with a Block Island flair. In addition, it carries XXLG and plus sizes. 466-8880.

BI HEALTH and GENERAL STORE car-

Directory continued on page 29

JESSIE

“Summer of 1913” Historic Photographs Tours and research available by appointment

EDWARDS STUDIO A wide array of beautiful Paintings, Drawings, Fine Art Reproductions, Ceramics, Sculpture, Photographs, and so much more. Art for every budget. Visit us above the Post Office, overlooking Old Harbor.

466-5314

Open 7 days a week. www.JessieEdwardsGallery.com

For Info Call 401-466-2481 or by email at blockhistory@me.com

Josie Merck ~ Paintings Bill Padien ~ Paintings August 29 - September 12, 2009

Group Exhibit

September 6 - weekends

Page 28

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

www.blockislandtimes.com

Let Us Now Praise Cheap Wine The Bird is the Word

By George M. Taber The world’s most popular grape variety is Chardonnay, even though there are some people who proudly proclaim that they are members of the ABC Club… Anything But Chardonnay. Its popularity is not surprising because it is such an easy wine to drink and enjoy. At its best, it is a subtle elixir that provides great pleasure through a combination of flavors ranging from peaches to butter. At its worst, though, winemakers use too much oak, which can overpower the other tastes. Chardonnay is also made in a wide range of countries. Its birthplace is Burgundy in France, where it is believed to have been a mutation of the red grape Pinot Noir. As recently as the 1950s, it was widely called Pinot Chardonnay. Today it is grown just about any place people put grape vines into the ground. The Chinese are even making Chardonnay. I’m always looking for good inexpensive wines for these tough economic times, so I recently held a comparison of inexpensive Chardonnays in hopes of finding a wine that would be good for regular drinking or parties, although not one that you would break out to celebrate that special birthday or anniversary. First I went on a search for five wines that would cost less than $15 a bottle. That turned out to be easier than I expected, and I selected five Chardonnays from

A Block Island Tasting of Five Inexpensive Chardonnays With Interesting Results four locations: Mondavi Woodbridge (California), Yellow Tail (Australia), Ardèche (France), Xplorador (Chile), and Charles Shaw, the famous or infamous Two Buck Chuck, (California). Then I invited two couples from Block Island, who I knew liked wine and would be good judges. They were Susan and Dave Coffin and Pat and Tom Doyle. But in order to keep everyone, including myself, honest it would be a blind tasting, so no one could see the labels of the bottles. We used the University of California Davis scoring system that rates wines on a 20-point scale from outstanding, no defects (17-20) to spoiled (1-5). The Davis method also asks people to judge wines by eye, nose, mouth and harmony. It was a lovely summer evening, and everyone quickly got into the fun. Before we started, I told them nothing more than the price range of the wines and that they came from four different countries. Unfortunately someone had to pour the wines into glasses with stickers on them from 1 to 5, and my wife Jean volunteered to do that duty, which meant she could not take part. Some people will make great personal sacrifices in the name of research. The rest of us were away from the glasses while she did that. A blind wine tasting is harder than one might think. We all had in front of us small amounts of wine in five separate

The Bird is the word for Barbecues on Block Island. Come in and see our wide selection of wines for any occasion. Or, let us order exactly what you want.

glasses and a little bit of bread to nibble on to cleanse our palates between sips. It requires concentration to focus on just what’s in the glass. A few things quickly jumped out such as that some wines were a little darker, a pale straw color for example, while others were almost colorless. I asked the judges not to try to guess the nationality of the wines but merely to determine which wines they liked. The tasting took about 45 minutes, and there was some talking during the event, but I don’t think anyone was influencing the others. No one was making any pronouncements that this wine or that one was best or worst. In fact it seemed like people felt there was a great similarity among them, a conclusion that was obvious later when the scores were tabulated. The most important tool for wine judges is their sense of smell. Humans get most of their enjoyment from the odor of something rather than from the actual taste of it. That was why I first smelled the five wines one after another and made a preliminary selection of my favorites based solely on smell. Others, though, systematically went through the wines one after another, first smelling, then sipping, and finally scoring. At a professional wine competition the judges always spit wines out after sampling them because people don’t need to swallow the wine to appreciate its taste. Moreover they may try 100 or more wines in a day, and anyone would be totally drunk before they were half way through the event. We were only comparing five wines, so I didn’t insist that people spit. When everyone was finished, I asked the judges to give the number of their favorite wine. Then my wife announced the names that went with the numbers. The five picked four different wines as their favorites, which showed the parity among them. The only wine that was no one’s favorite was the Woodbridge. TwoBuck Chuck, on the other hand, got two top picks. Another thing that stood out is that no one rated any wine poorly. The lowest score given was 12 points, which on the Davis method is at the top end of “acceptable.” Two judges gave the highest score of 20 to their favorites. One of those was for Two Buck Chuck and one was for

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Column author George Taber uncorks a bottle of wine. Xplorador. When the scores were tabulated, the overall winner was Yellow Tail. It was rated first by only one judge, but all judges ranked it high, never less than third place. With 83 points out of a possible 100, Yellow Tail was only two points ahead of the second highest, Xplorador. After that the scores went down sharply. Charles Shaw was third with 77. Mondavi was fourth with 74. And Ardèche was last with 63. To complete the event and before dinner, I offered one last blind tasting. I told the judges it was a different wine, but I wouldn’t say whether it cost more or less than the five we had sampled. It was another Chardonnay. I told them I just wanted to know whether they thought this was better or worse than the others. They didn’t need to score it. The quick reaction of all the judges was that this was better than any of the other wines. I then revealed that this was a Grgich Hills Chardonnay from California, which happens to be my favorite Chardonnay. It costs about $50 in Rhode Island. The judges all said this was in a totally different class than what they had enjoyed previously. There was clearly a difference between a $10 Chardonnay and a $50 one. If scored, the judges would probably have given it five 20s. George M. Taber is the author of the new book In Search of Bacchus—Wanderings in the wonderful world of wine tourism. He has written two previous books on wine.

September 2009

www.blockislandtimes.com

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

Page 29

Block Island Summer Times Directory Directory Continued from Page 27 ISLAND MIST SHOP. Handmade bath and body products. Poison ivy relief, natural bug spray, organic sun screen, yogi teas, all natural children’s products. www.islandmistnaturalproducts.com. 401-466-5563.

WELDON’S WAY CHAPEL SWEETS offers candies by the pound. Pick your favorites from the wide selection and walk out with a bagful of treats. Drinks and cute items for the kids. And, of course, fudge. 378-0062. ISLAND OUTFITTERS is a great resource for the water enthusiast. The store stocks swimming, snorkeling and spear fishing

gear; wetsuits, footwear, apparel, beach and sports accessories for the whole family. Stop by the new location on Weldon’s Way and receive 20 percent off U.S. Divers and Aquasphere products. 466-5502.

DODGE STREET BEACHCOMBER is the island’s outlet for Fresh Produce sportswear. This is the spot to replenish your summertime closet with women’s casual dress and sportswear. 466-2777. DIAMONDBLUE SURF SHOP. Kiteboarding, surfing, standup paddleboarding. Lessons, rentals, beach accessories, apparel. www.diamondbluekiteboarding.net. 401-466-3145. MARTIN DAVID JEWELERS. Block

Island’s ‘Fine’ jewelry store. Dealer of Chamilia. Open daily, 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. 401-466-2744. RED BIRD PACKAGE STORE was established at the end of Prohibition. This island fixture offers wine, beer, spirits, snacks, soda, ice, cigars and tobacco products. The subtleties of this unique wooden building make the Red Bird a mandatory stop-in for anyone who has never been. 466-2441.

OCEAN AVENUE BETH’S BOOKS. Pick up a beach read or something more weighty. Beth will even find a book you are looking for. Book exchange and lending library. Monday through Saturday 10am to 3pm. Sunday, 1pm to 4pm. At the Blockshop Café on

the second floor of the Albion Building on Ocean Avenue. (401) 466-0504. BLOCKSHOP CAFE. Enjoy coffee and pastry surrounded by interesting antiques and wonderful views. You’ll curb your appetite and find the perfect piece of furniture or accessory for your home. Second floor of the Albion Building. Open daily, 9am to 5pm. INTERNET ACCESS. ISLAND HARDWARE is Block Island’s only hardware store where you’ll find garden supplies, seeds, mulch, fertilizers, birdseed, bird feeders, tools, plumbing supplies, Benjamin Moore paints, glass cut-tosize, automotive, and more. 466-5831.

Directory continued on page 33

CHAPEL STREET STROLL

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Estate Jewelry Block Island Originals Spectacular Inventory Expert Jewelry Repair Free Ear Piercing* 90 CHAPEL STREET PHONE: 401.466.2611

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Selected as one of the 10 things not to miss on Block Island by the New England Tourism Council

459 Chapel St. ~ 401-466-2422 www.fullmoontide.com

GIA Graduate Gemologist AGS Registered Jeweler *with earring purchase

EAST OF THE RIVER NILE

An eclectic mix of gifts, jewelry, sea fossils, clothing and home furnishings from around the world. 401-480-9728 TRADING COMPANY

459 Chapel Street, Block Island

Page 30

BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

September 2009

www.blockislandtimes.com

Block Island Landmarks THE STATUE OF REBECCA

outside of the fenced area. ABRAMS’ ANIMAL FARM has a diverse collection of exotic and domestic animals maintained by Justin Abrams and family, owner of the 1661 Inn and Hotel Manisses. The small farm between Spring and High streets is home to camels, llamas, emus, sheep, donkeys, goats, swans and ducks. Visitors are free to view and pet the animals, which are accessible from Spring Street. Here you’ll also see the Hotel Manisses’ extensive garden. Open to the public from dawn to dusk.

THE NORTH LIGHT is the fourth lighthouse built on Sandy Point. The first, finished in 1829, was washed away in a few years. A second light began operation in 1837, but was not visible to ships due to the shifting sands. The government built a third light near the end of the Point in 1857 and that also succumbed to the sea. At last, in 1867, the present sturdy building of Connecticut granite, hauled to the site by oxen, was completed. The North Light now leads a second life as an Interpretive Center with exhibits on loan from the B.I. Historical Society. The lighthouse building will be closed for the summer while it undergoes renovations. The lighthouse is located in the Sachem Pond Wildlife refuge and is less than a half mile walk from Settlers Rock. Please don’t swim at Sandy Point as there are dangerous currents. SETTLERS ROCK AND SACHEM POND are at the northern end of the island. The stone memorial was erected in 1911 in commemoration of the landing 250 years earlier of the first European settlers on Block Island. In April 1661, the families and animals of 16 men who had purchased the island for 400 pounds sterling arrived by barque from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Because the island had no natural harbor, they were forced to leave their ship and wade ashore. The cows swam ashore into the cove, known thereafter as Cow Cove. Bird watching, fishing and sunset gazing are favorite past times at this location. CLAY HEAD NATURE TRAIL is reached via a dirt road leading off Corn Neck Road across from a yellow Victorian house just two miles north of the town beach pavilion. A paradise for walkers, Clay Head Trail leads to the northeastern shore of the island and meanders along the scenic bluffs of Clay Head for more than a mile until it reaches Settlers Rock and Sandy Point. Branching off the trail are other trails, which have given the area the nickname “the Maze.” One trail leads directly to the beach north of Jerry’s Point where one can still see remnants of the glacial formation called “Pots & Kettles.” MANSION BEACH is located at the northern section of Crescent Beach on the east side of the island. It takes its name from the Searles Mansion that stood there from 1888 to 1963. The mansion, unused in 1963, was destroyed that year by fire. Only the stone foundation and entrance pillars still remain. On good beach days there is very limited parking space available. Beautiful views and bigger surf are found here compared to the southern end of Crescent Beach. No lifeguards available in this area. THE B. I. HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP, at Bridgegate Square in the white, mansard roof building with rocking chairs on the porch, was established in 1942. The museum building originally known as the Woonsocket House, was purchased in 1945, and houses an extensive collection of significant items on display. Exhibit rooms include fine furniture, textiles, quilts, boat models, tools, fishing gear, oral history tapes and other exciting memorabilia. This year the museum’s lead exhibit it “Summer 1913: Historic Photographs.” Also on display are images by Rhode Island Photographer Carmel Vittoulo. For group tours, genealogy research or to donate anything with Block Island related history, please contact Administrator Pam Gasner at 466-2481 or e-mail blockhistory@me.com. Volunteers are welcome to participate in the many projects and events this season. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $5, $3 seniors and students. Children and members, free. BEACON HILL, with its stone tower, is visible from almost any part of the island. From a height of 210 feet above sea level, it commands unsurpassed panoramic views. The Indians held tribal councils there, and watches were kept on Beacon Hill during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The tower was designed as a memorial to the island’s seamen. It is now a private home, so you’ll have to enjoy the site from a distance.

ISAAC’S CORNER, at the intersection of Center Road, Lakeside Drive and Cooneymus Road, is named for Isaac Church, the island’s last surviving native Indian, who died in 1886. Nearby (to the east of the four corners) is an Indian burial ground where the headstones (small fieldstones) are set closely together. Indian custom dictated burial of the dead in an upright position, with a pot of clams or oysters beside them to speed them on their way to the next life. The Town’s Heinz Recreation Playing field, where summer camp and sporting events are held is located just north of the corner, take the first right. Parking available on the grass. There are also Greenway trails accessible across the street that meander around Fresh Pond. SMILIN’ THROUGH, is a gambrel-roofed cottage situated on Cooneymus Road, where composer and poet Arthur Penn and his wife Nell resided in the 1920s. Penn’s musical works include a song about the B.I. home, “Smilin’ Through.” The original cottage was built in the 1700s by Trustrum and Dorcus Dodge and was remodeled in 1950. The house sits on the edge of a sloping hill, which leads down to the waters of Fresh Pond. RODMAN’S HOLLOW, named after the island’s first doctor, is a wild and beautiful cleft in the rolling southwestern terrain left from the glacier, the haunt of hawks, white-tailed deer and several rare species of wildflowers. In the 1960s developers bought it and proposed a dozen houses on the slopes. This so dismayed island residents that they formed the Block Island Conservancy, with the late Captain Rob Lewis as their leader, and raised enough money to buy it back so that it could be forever wild. Walking trails lead to Black Rock Beach. MOHEGAN BLUFFS, to the west of the Southeast Lighthouse, has a magnificent view of the southern coast and its high cliffs, with Montauk often visible 20 miles away. At Payne Overlook, you’ll find a wooden stairway that was built by the R.I. Department of Environmental Management. It is a difficult climb for the elderly and the unfit, and the footing at the bottom is extremely difficult. Be careful. This beach can be very crowded and swimming is sometimes dangerous. SOUTHEAST LIGHTHOUSE sits 200 feet above the sea on Mohegan Bluffs. When its powerful light was turned on in 1875, the beams reached 21 miles out to sea — farther than any other light in New England. When the National Historic Landmark was first constructed, a large field separated the house and tower from the cliff’s edge. By the late 1980s, the bluffs had eroded to within 60 feet of the building. Funding was attained through federal, state and local channels to move it to safe grounds. The move took place in August of l993 and a large stone now marks where the tower once stood. The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Guided tower tours are available on weekends. Starting June 22, open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., provided staffing is available. Museum exhibits and gifts available at the base of the tower including lighthouse T-shirts, which all contribute to the ongoing restoration of the tower and interior of the keeper’s quarters. Group tours available by appointment. Info: 466-5009 Volunteers welcome. Please park mopeds, bikes and cars

OCEAN VIEW PAVILION is a place for rest and reflection with wonderful views. The Ocean View Foundation is a nonprofit that secured this Old Harbor plot for the enjoyment of the public. The site features a finely-crafted pavilion and remarkable views. The largest hotel on the island, the Ocean View, once stood on this site until fire destroyed it in the summer of 1966. The pavilion is dedicated to the concept of expanding the public’s awareness of environmental issues. Visitors must walk in from Water Street across from the ferry parking lot just to the left of the post office building. The site is open from dawn to dusk. OLD HARBOR is the year-round docking point for boats coming in from Point Judith, and accommodates seasonal Newport and New London ferries as well as the highspeed ferries. Old Harbor, once known as Government Harbor as funds to construct it were solicited from the U.S. government, was completed in 1872. Prior to the breakwater it was known as “Pole Harbor” as islanders pulled ashore and secured their classic double-ender fishing boats to the poles in the sand. There is limited anchoring space within the breakwaters for pleasure craft and a maximum anchorage of seven days. It is nestled within the bustling downtown, where the majority of the island’s hotels, restaurants and retail shops are located. THE STATUE OF REBECCA formally stands in stark white at the intersection of Water, High and Spring streets. Named after the biblical Rebekah-at-the-well, the statue originally featured water troughs for horses and dogs and once had running water for human consumption. Installed in 1896 by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the statue is dedicated to abstinence from spirits. The muchloved statue was recast and reinstalled to celebrate her 100th anniversary. The conservationists who did the work concluded that the woman is not Rebekah but rather Hebe, cupbearer to the gods. NEW HARBOR is the first stop for those coming in on the Montauk ferry and is the docking and anchoring spot for most private boaters. New Harbor was, in fact, the site of the island’s first protected harbor, but the expense of keeping a breachway open between the Great Salt Pond and Block Island Sound caused it to be abandoned in 1705. A new breach was cut and a breakwater was constructed to establish a permanent access point in 1897. Docks, marinas and anchoring sites await boaters in the southwest corner of New Harbor, as well as shops, restaurants and hotel accommodations. Pumpout services are provided by the town harbormaster, as discharge in the pristine waters of the Great Salt Pond is prohibited. THE GREENWAY is a web of trails that connect stretches of natural habitat and wonderful island scenery. The Enchanted Forest, Turnip Farm, the site of the Old Mill, Dodge Cemetery and Rodman’s Hollow are only some of the historical and natural features that can be explored on this walker’s escape from the hustle and bustle of town. No vehicles, including bikes, are allowed on the trails. The trail network was created in an effort to protect broad tracts of continuous habitat, essential to some species, and to provide a low-impact opportunity for those who admire the island’s open space. Please be sure to stay on the pathways, as some of the corridors run through the private lands of owners who were kind enough to offer easements for the trails. The Block Island Nature Conservancy, at 466-2129, offers a detailed map of the Greenway as well as a new Nature Guide.

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www.blockislandtimes.com Map by Jessie Edwards of Jessie Edwards Gallery • www.jessieedwardsgallery.com

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ROUND AND ROUND AT REBECCA’S STATUE

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“gifts for pets and their humans”

Block Island collars, leashes & treats ▲ Toys & treats for cats and dogs Fun pet themed items and gifts for humans Water St., Block Island

www.blockislandog.com

401-466-5666

A UNIQUE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE Matchpoint washable linen, clay dyed hemp & cotton clothing Semi-precious stone, shell, glass, Tiger Mountain & Block Island jewelry

Resort Wear and Accessories

Handmade soap, beanpod soy candles, chimes, cards & giftware Gifts ❖ Jewels ❖ Clothes ❖ And More!

REASONABLE PRICES COME IN AND BROWSE

466-5666 WATER STREET

The Sandpiper Sterling Silver • Sea Glass • Block Island Jewelry “Fresh Produce” Clothing • BI Photos Historic BI Magnets • “Baggallinis” Great selection of greeting cards... and much more!

Water Street

466-2722

STRINGS AND THINGS

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

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Block Island Summer Times Directory Directory Continued from Page 29 PROFILES BUSINESS CENTER. Copying, printing, faxing, internet access, document production and binding. Conference room. UPS shipping and more. Second floor of the Albion Building. 466-5000. WASHINGTON TRUST COMPANY is Block Island’s hometown bank, providing mortgages, business loans, and business and investment services. The office is located on Ocean Avenue, where an ATM is available 24 hours a day. Based in Westerly, RI, Washington Trust services all of Southern Rhode Island. 401-466-7710.

CORN NECK ROAD BARE NECESSITIES. Offers the lowest prices on the trendiest fashions on the island. Visit us at our new location at the Block Island Fitness Center.

INTERNET SHOPPING BH DESIGNS may be new to Block Island, but its creators are not; they have spent the last 21 years cultivating a deep appreciation and love for the Island. It is out of that affection that BH Designs has

sprung. The creators are excited to share their initial designs and they have many more planned for future release. To find out more about the company, please visit them at www.imablockhead.com. MARYE KELLEY DECOUPAGE. Baby and wedding gifts. Custom decoupage. Picture frames, plates, wastepaper baskets and much more. www.marye-kelley. com and at the Farmers Market.

Specialty SERVICES AND SALES BASSETT BOAT COMPANY sells boats, engines, equipment and supplies, propellers and used boat parts as well as offering boat cleaning, repair and maintenance, boat storage and transporting, engine repair and propeller service. Warwick, R.I. 886-7899. BLOCK ISLAND BEERS. Served at fine establishments on Block Island. Block Island Blonde lager. The best beer on the island! BLOCK ISLAND BOAT BASIN sells everything for a boat, plus books, marine hardware, groceries, ice, T-shirts and gift items. The shelves are well-stocked and

there’s almost never a line at the checkout counter. 466-2631. BLOCK ISLAND CONSERVANCY, INC. is the oldest of the island’s conservation groups, founded in 1972 by island residents. It is a nonprofit, membership organization promoting the preservation and conservation of the island’s natural resources, protecting the rural character and natural heritage of the island and, as custodian, preserving it for future generations. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 84, Block Island, R.I. 02807. 466-3111. CRITTER HUT. Family owned and operated for thirty years. They carry the supplies your animal needs. Also carry exotic birds, reptiles, small animals, and a variety fish. 91 Pt. Judith Rd. Narragansett, RI. 789-9444. DR. JAMES HARTIGAN, D. C. Chiropractor. Serving the Block Island Community at the Block Island Medical Center. Call 508-620-1940 for appointments. OLDPORT MARINE LAUNCH SERVICE. The perfect Block Island afternoon? Lunch on the Oar’s deck followed by a launch trip on the Great Salt Pond! Ride with us as we service the anchored yachts. Located at the Block Island Boat Basin. 847-9109.

Marine OOldport LDPORT M ARINE SServices ERVICES Block Island Boat Basin

STAYCATION SPECIAL! Launch Service Harbor Tours Daily

Channel 68

Tag-A-Long New Harbor Tours by appointment Adults $5 Children Channel 68 - $3 Block Island Boat Basin

SHELDON’S FURNITURE has a wonderful selection of furniture featuring futons, bedding, and patio furniture. Located in Wakefield. Serving Block Island since 1852. 783-5503.

PUBLISHING GHOSTS OF BLOCK ISLAND. Block Island’s haunted places come alive! Firsthand accounts of ghosts told by island residents, with snippets of island history and stories about the storytellers. By yearround resident Fran Migliaccio, illustrated in evocative black and white by photographers Marea Mott, Dave Dolan and artist Gillian Stevens. Enjoyed by all ages. See display ad for sellers. www.blockislandghosts.com. SEAPRINT COMMUNICATIONS. Your one source for all things printed. From magazine ads to menu design, Seaprint Communications delivers. With a staff of talented writers, photographers, designers and print professionals, we’re rich in talent yet affordable in cost. Let us quote your next print job. We handle advertising, brochures, annual reports, signs, promotions, public relations, and media. 837-2630. Ilang@blockislandtimes.com.

Directory continued on page 35

QUIET ALTERNATIVES

COMING?

OR GOING? We’ve Perfected The Art of Romance

Out here on Block Island, it’s often difficult to determine whether you’re coming or going. But either way we’d just like to say, “Welcome aboard!”

INTERSTATE NAVIGATION 401-783-4613

Block Island’s most romantic B&B… Boston Best Guide

Departs daily from Point Judith. Call for schedules, rates, and car reservations. www.blockislandferry.com

For reservations call (800) 992-7290 (401) 466-5891

blockislandinns.com

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

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WHEN YOU’RE ON THE BLOCK DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCY IMPORTANT: THE DIALING OF 911 IS FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY! An emergency is when immediate police, fire or rescue assistance is necessary. 911 should not be dialed for non-emergency calls that do not involve or require immediate assistance. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS Do exactly what the 911 operator tells you to do. Give the operator all necessary information, including the fire number on the house. Remember, your assistance could make the difference between serious injury, life or death. IF IN DOUBT, USE 911 911 is for emergency use only! However, if you feel that there is an emergency occurring but don’t know for certain, presume it is an emergency and use 911.

TOWN ORDINANCES PROHIBIT: • Drinking alcoholic beverages in streets, on docks, etc. • Camping, except by special permission. • Sleeping overnight in vehicles or on beaches. • Operating motorcycles between midnight and 6 a.m. • Beach fires and/or driving on the beach without a permit. • Dumping refuse on roads or in harbors. • Shellfishing without a license. • Charcoal fires on boats tied up at docks. • Disturbing the peace. • Unleashed dogs. • Littering.

IMPORTANT ISLAND PHONE NUMBERS BI Medical Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466-2974 Police (nonemergency) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466-3220 Fire Department / Rescue Squad. . . . . . 466-3220 Coast Guard (Block Island) . . . . . . . . . . 466-2086 Coast Guard (Galilee) 24 hours . . . . . . . 789-0444 RI Poison Control . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 222-1222 BI Airport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466-5511 Harbormaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466-3204 Town Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466-3200 Recreation Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466-3223 Interstate Navigation (Block Island) . . . . 466-2261 Block Island Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466-2212 Block Island Hi-Speed Ferry . . . . . . . . . 466-2261 Transfer Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466-3234

VEHICULAR BEACH RESTRICTIONS Vehicles are permitted to drive on Crescent Beach only from 6 p.m. until 9 a.m. No motor vehicle shall be allowed on the beach without a valid, updated permit from the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). Permits are available at the police department for $50 between 2 and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. All motor vehicles of any description are prohibited on dunes except on trails marked expressly for vehicular use. Vehicles are also not allowed on any lands designated “Open Space” and maintained by the town for the benefit of the general public. DUNE PROTECTION The dunes offer a home to countless species of plants and animals that, like the beach itself, need our protection if they are to survive. To help save the life of our dunes and beaches, we urge you to: • Use designated access paths and parking lots only. • Keep off dunes and beach vegetation. • Keep all vehicles off the beach, as they destroy vegetation and cause beach erosion. • Do not sleep on the beach overnight. BEACH FIRES Beach fires are prohibited without a permit. Permits are available at the police department, and are valid for one day, expiring at midnight. Fires must be at least 25 feet from dunes. Please clean up and dispose of all trash properly and extinguish fires completely before leaving beach .

POND PROTECTION Gas motors banned All forms of gasoline or diesel fuel-powered motors on boats are not allowed on BI’s freshwater ponds. Pollutants and contaminants banned No discharging of any sewage, petroleum products, detergents, pesticides, or any other form of pollutants or contaminants is permitted. Penalty for violation Any person violating this ordinance shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $100, or confinement for not more than 10 days, or both such fine and confinement. Any person convicted of a second violation shall be subject to a fine of not more than $200, or forfeiture of motor and equipment, or both. WILDLIFE REFUGES Protected wildlife areas Wildlife refuge areas on Block Island include Sachem Pond, Payne’s Farm, the Southeast Lighthouse, Rodman’s Hollow, Lewis-Dickens Farm, Beane Point and Cormorant Cove. No one may hunt, shoot, trap, or annoy wildlife, or destroy or disturb the eggs, nest or nesting area of any wildlife within designated areas. Penalty for violation Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100, or be imprisoned not more than 10 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, together with costs of prosecution. SHELLFISH ORDINANCES A license is required for shellfishing. Beds are currently closed to the harvesting of scallops and oysters. The harvesting of clams is restricted. For more info, call the Harbors Department at 466-3204 or stop by the Harbormaster’s shack in New Harbor (adjacent to the Boat Basin), where shellfishing licenses are sold. ANIMAL ORDINANCES Dogs must be licensed and wear tags on a collar. Unless in a vehicle or on property of its owner, dogs must be leashed with a cord not exceeding 6 feet in length. For problems contact the Police Department at 466-3220. Horses: the New Shoreham Town Council requests that all persons refrain from riding horses in the downtown area. ADVICE FOR VISITORS FROM THE BLOCK ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER LYME DISEASE: Don’t get ticked off. Lyme disease is a serious health threat on Block Island. Visitors should make a daily “tick check.” Look for attached ticks, no bigger than a pinhead, red areas and itchiness. Symptoms include rashes, headaches, joint stiffness, chills, fever, and nausea. Not all ticks carry the disease; not all people bitten catch it. Infection is uncommon if the tick is removed within 24 hours. Consult your physician if you suspect you may have become infected. Treatment after early diagnosis is generally effective, but becomes more difficult if symptoms are left untreated. Long pants and sleeves are suggested for forays into

wooded areas, brush and meadows. BLOCK ISLAND’S RULES OF THE ROAD PEDESTRIANS. Pay special attention to traffic while in the downtown area. According to Rhode Island law, pedestrians must walk against traffic (on the left side) on roads without sidewalks. BICYCLISTS. Please take care when cycling the unique roads of Block Island. Ride with the traffic, obey traffic signs and adhere to all rules of the road. Hand signals are very helpful to other traffic and can prevent accidents. Keep on the right side of the road and ride single-file whenever possible. For nighttime riding, a light is required for the front of the bicycle and a reflector should be attached to the rear. Bicycles are not permitted on Greenway trails. Helmets are required for bicyclists age 16 and under, and strongly encouraged for adults. AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS. Please exercise extreme caution when traversing Block Island roads. The speed limit is 25 mph island-wide. Pass bicyclists and mopeds only when you are certain it's safe. ROLLERBLADES, SCOOTERS, SKATEBOARDS. Due to heavy congestion and safety concerns, rollerblading, skateboarding and scootering are not permitted in the downtown area or on Ocean Avenue. Skating and scootering is allowed north of Town Beach, south of the Spring House and on the west side of the island. Please travel with the traffic and adhere to all rules of the road. Scooters with helper motors (electric or gas) are not allowed on roads by RI state law. ACCIDENTS. Do not hesitate to seek help from the Rescue Squad if you have or witness an accident. First aid and ambulance service is rendered at no cost to you. A portion of the Rescue Squad budget is met by town funds, but the Rescue Squad relies heavily on donations to cover the full costs of training, equipment, supplies and maintenance. Any contribution made to support this work will be welcomed and acknowledged. Donations are tax-deductible. Mail donations to: Block Island Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 214, Block Island, RI 02807. OTHER USEFUL ISLAND INFORMATION RECYCLING. All trash must be separated for recycling. Deposit your sidewalk trash in the recycling containers marked for bottles, cans or trash only. These special containers are not for household or boat trash. Those renting houses should use the Transfer Station, located on West Beach Road. Recyclables (newspaper, glass, cardboard, plastics, aluminum and tin cans) are free. Glass, cans, plastics and aluminum should be clean. Other trash is deposited at a charge of 10 cents per pound, paid in cash, by local check or credit card at the Transfer Station (466-3234). RABIES NOTICE. State law and town ordinances require that all pets (cats, dogs or ferrets) brought to the island be vaccinated against rabies. In addition to vaccinating pets, people should stay away from all wild and stray animals. Rabies is always fatal unless treated before symptoms develop. Rhode Island rabies hotline: 1-800-482-7878, ext. 3. PLEASE CONSERVE WATER. While the island’s municipal water company has been producing a lot of good water this summer, water conservation is still encouraged, and the water is very expensive. On properties with septic systems, be sure not to overload the system with showers and dishwashing and clotheswashing all at once. And please don’t shock such systems with paper products, fats, oils and greases. BICYCLES AND MOPEDS. Bicycles are the preferred rental vehicles. You can explore dirt roads with them. If you do rent a moped, please note — • Mopeds are not allowed on dirt roads. • By law, a helmet and eye protection must be worn. • Do not leave the training area until you feel that you know how to operate the moped. Be sure you are familiar with the controls. • Once you are on the road, proceed slowly enough to examine oncoming road conditions. Do not drive on the shoulder of the road. Driver inexperience, heavy traffic flow, sandy shoulders, sharp curves, and uneven pavement are common causes of accidents on Block Island. • Mopeds may be operated from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. only. • Passengers must ride behind the operator.

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Block Island Summer Times Directory STRIPER CHRONICLES. If you have ever fished for stripers, or if you simply appreciate the beauty of the Block Island coastline, you will love the stories and adventures of the ‘Striper Chronicles.’ The cast of characters includes some of the most admired fishing legends of their time. A summer must read. THE BLOCK ISLAND HISTORY of Photography. More than 700 old photos described by island historian Robert M. Downie. Historic 1800’s hotels, shipwrecks, steamboats, rumrummers. www. bihistory.com or bihistory@hotmail.com.

TRANSPORTATION BLOCK ISLAND EXPRESS operates a high-speed ferry from New London to Block Island five times daily in summer. The adult rate is $20 one way or $35 sameday round trip. Bikes but no cars. Travel time: just over one hour, docking at Old Harbor. 860-444-4624 or 401-466-2212. BLOCK ISLAND HIGH-SPEED FERRY. Block Island is closer than ever. Point Judith to Old Harbor in 30 minutes. Enjoy shopping, restaurants and beaches in the center of town. For your comfort the cabin is air-conditioned. Take advantage of one of the six crossings a day. For reservations call 866-783-7996. EAGLE TAXI. Helping you with your transportation needs. Eagle taxi provides service to and from the Block Island ferries to Quonset, Vineyard Ferry, Newport, Amtrak, Westerly, Logan and T.F. Green airports. Call to schedule your travel plans. 783-2970 or 800-339-2970. INTERSTATE NAVIGATION is Block Island’s year-round ferry service. The ferries arrive in Old Harbor. The passage is approximately 55 minutes. Passenger reservations are not necessary. Auto reservations must be made well in advance. www.blockislandferry.com. 401-783-4613 or toll free 866-783-7996. McALOON’S TAXI operates year-round, providing transportation for weddings, taxi service and informative island tours in a 12 passenger van. 741-1410. MIG’S RIG TAXI. See more of Block Island with Mig’s Rig, owned and operated by year-round island residents. Prompt, reliable point-to-point taxi service; transportation for weddings and special events. Individualized tours of the island provide local lore, photo ops, and insider views on island life. Air-conditioned elevenpassenger van. www.blockislandtaxi.com. 480-0493. MONICA’S TAXI is operated by yearround resident Monica Hull Shea and offers clean, comfortable transportation, island tours and more. 742-0000. MOPED MAN offers beach cruisers, mountain bikes and tandems, mopeds, all among the latest models. The shop is across Water Street from the Block Island ferry. When it’s time to see a man about a moped, see the Moped Man. 466-5444. NEW ENGLAND AIRLINES is Block Island’s own scheduled air link with the mainland. NEA keeps a fully-staffed office in the Westerly Airport and on the island. Flights leave the Block on the hour, and depart Westerly on the half-hour. Cab service to Amtrak is available in Westerly. Charter flights available. 1-800-243-2460.

RECREATION BLOCK ISLAND FITNESS CENTER is the number one fitness center on the island featuring state-of-the-art aerobic, cardio

and strength-training machines. Yearly, monthly, and day passes are available. Located on Corn Neck Road. 466-8700. BLOCK ISLAND MARITIME INSTITUTE is located behind Smuggler’s Cove Restaurant in New Harbor. Sailboats are for rent; lessons offered. Activities of a nautical nature abound, aquariums, educational programs, and more. 466-7938. BLOCK ISLAND PARASAIL and WATER SPORTS offers fun-filled entertainment for the entire family. Soar above the island, taking in the most breathtaking views imaginable. Ride a 175-hp jet boat or a tow-along banana boat. In-person reservations at Old Harbor Dock, next to Ballard’s. 864-2474. OLDPORT MARINE serves the Block Island Boat Basin and all of New Harbor with personable, highly experienced launch service. Call on channel 68 for boat-todock or dock-to-boat service in short order. Tours offered. All vessels are spacious and Coast Guard inspected. POND & BEYOND KAYAK TOURS and rentals available all fall, everyday. All ages and abilities. Call 401-578-2773. TWIN MAPLES has all the fishing gear and bait you’ll need for inshore fishing. Lures and live bait and knowledgeable advice are some of the offerings at this Beach Avenue shop, which is the traditional fishing headquarters for all Block Island fishermen. 466-5547.

BARS AND CLUBS CAPTAIN NICK’S is the home of Block Island’s legendary Disco Night, every Monday, spring, summer and into the fall. Live bands during the week and on weekends range from soul, R&B, hard rock, modern rock and tribute bands. With bars upstairs, downstairs and outside, Nick’s is a hopping place. Fat Heads Sushi is served Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. until its gone. Check the Block Island Times calendar and ads for upcoming music. Ocean Avenue. 466-5670. McGOVERN’S YELLOW KITTENS is B.I.’s famous nighttime party joint. Generations of tourists, summer residents and year-round Block Islanders have come together here. The large dance floor, outside deck and polished wood bar make for a classic nightclub setting. Check the Block Island Times calendar and ads for entertainment listings. Corn Neck Road. 466-5855.

ART BLOCK ISLAND’S CREATIVE COMMUNITY. Don’t leave the island without previewing the works of the following artists, photographers and craftspeople: Susan Littlefield, Oscar Berlin, Will Gasner, Peter Gibbons, Jerry Powers, Sharon Lehman, Julie Garosshen, Ben Wohlberg, and Leah Robinson. Check their ads to learn where their works can be viewed. ISLAND GALLERY features a range of artists with longstanding ties to Block Island. Paintings, sculpture and jewelry from artists whose names are well-known to residents and visitors alike. Watch for special shows or call for up-to-date information. 466-9975. JESSIE EDWARDS GALLERY specializes in contemporary American paintings, works on paper, wood turnings, and fine ceramics. Located on he second floor of the Block Island post office building overlooking Old Harbor, the gallery features Continued on next page

Hurricane Planning for Residents and Visitors Everyone should be aware that the National Weather Service is warning the East Coast that a major hurricane will strike within the next few years. We are asking everyone who owns property on Block Island of will be visiting during hurricane season to create an individual plan for the eventuality of a hurricane warning being issued for Block Island. Please read the following carefully and make your plans in advance. A. If you are a visitor in our hotels or B&Bs, please heed the directives to leave the island if they are issued. All ferries will cease operations and move to a safer harbor well before the hurricane arrives, so you must react immediately when you are advised to leave. All hotels and B&Bs will be alerted and we ask that you cooperate with all directives. B. If you are renting a house on the Island, the same directives apply. Our capacity for shelter facilities is limited. Please leave the Island if that request is made. Ferries will try to get as many people and vehicles off the island as possible, but they will cease running well before the hurricane arrives. C. If you are an Island resident, observe the following home preparedness; - Check working conditions of all emergency equipment, flashlights and battery-powered radios. - Have enough non-perishable food and water supplies on hand for 3-5 days. - Know where the Town Shelter is, and whether you have a safe route to it, if it becomes necessary. - Bring in all loose items from porches or around property. - Make sure your vehicles have gas. - If you have a propane grill, secure it and keep the propane supply full, but secured outdoors. - Cover large windows with shutters or plywood. - Have a first aid kit prepared. - Fill bathtub and large containers with water for sanitary purposes. - Turn your refrigerator to its coldest settings and keep door closed. - Medicine renewals - have enough of your medication on hand for 1-2 weeks. - If you are concerned about your location in a storm, consider going to a friend’s house in a safer location. North of Beach Avenue and Corn Neck Road will flood, and access to town or the Town Shelter will, most likely, be cut off for some time.Coast Guard Road will most likely experience a storm surge and people should evacuate from Champlin’s Farm outward. If you have any questions, please call Police Dispatch, but once the storm hits, please do not call except for an emergency. Stay inside until the storm has passed. Do not venture out when the eye is overhead and do not go walking on any breakwater during the storm. Heavy rain may undermine bluff areas, so please do not walk along any bluffs during or following the storm. Use common sense; make sure family members know where you are.

EMERGENCY PREPARATION FOR PETS Complete these preparations in advance of visiting Block Island: • Have vaccinations up to date and a good supply of any medications used. • Have tranquilizers if pet becomes upset or agitated in unusual situations. • Have identification on the animal: tags, tattoo or chip. • Purchase a pet carrier that is large enough for the animal to lie down, turn around and stand up comfortably. Do not house different species in one carrier. • Take good pictures of the animal (front, left ond right sides) that shows distinguishing marks. • Put pictures, licenses, medical records and ownership papers together in a waterproof bag. Just before leaving home, assemble a pet disaster kit which contains: • above mentioned medications, photos and records • a leash and properly fitted collar or harness for each pet • non-spill dishes and a two week supply of food and water in unbreakable containers • manual can opener if canned food is used • grooming supplies and a medical kit for injuries • the pets’ blankets and comfort items • items to handle waste including: paper towels, plastic bags, disinfectant, cleanser, litter box, and litter or newspaper to shred Information provided by Block Island Volunteers for Animals

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Entertainment Calendar Live Entertainment, Movies, Galleries, and Special Events

Block Island Summer Times Directory Continued from previous page

Live Music

The Ocean View Foundation •

Weekly programs run through September 7.

Ballard’s (466-2231) September 1, 2, 3, 4 - Shawn Allen September 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27- Andy Scott September 5, 6- Something Else September 5, 6- Westmoreland Street Jammers September 7- The Hype (visit www.ballardsinn.com for playing times)

Captain Nick’s (466-5670) September 4,5- Derik and the Funbags September 6- The Booze Beggars Fridays through October 9- The Booze Beggars Saturdays through October 10- Live Entertainment (Bands begin at 10pm.)

Club Soda (466-5397) Monday- Acoustic Evening 7pm-10pm Tuesday- Karaoke 9pm-1am Wednesday- Open Mic 10pm-1am Thursday- Live Music “Other than Here” 10pm-1am

Mahogany Shoals Wed.–Sun. – Walter McDonough (Irish) 10pm.

McGovern’s Yellow Kittens (466-5855) September 1, 26 – DJ Sean Dugan September 2 – DJ Libre September 4, 5 – Rugburn September 6 – Anthem (last Reggae Night) September 11, 12 – Never in Vegas September 19 – 2400 Baud October 3 – DJ Libre October 10 – DJ Sean Dugan October 31 – Halloween Party

The National Hotel (466-2901) September 4, 5, 6 – Krys Jackson

Spring House Hotel (466-5844) September 3 –Last Martini Night – 6 pm.

Theaters Empire Theatre (466-2555) See ad in weekly Block Island Times.

Ocean West Theatre (466-2971) See ad in weekly Block Island Times.

Galleries Jesse Edwards Studio (466-5314) See showings in weekly Block Island Times. Call for Fall Hours

Aurora Gallery (466-2003) See showings in weekly Block Island Times.

Island Gallery (466-2003) Open daily 11am-5pm, Sunday 11am-2pm.

Spring Street Gallery (466-5374) Gallery open daily through September 15: Mon., Tues., Fri., Sat.,- 10am-6pm, Weds.- 9am-6pm, Sunday11am-6pm. September 15 through October 12: Mon., 10am-1pm, Fri., 12pm-6pm, Sat., 10am- 6pm, Sun. 11am- 5pm. Gallery showings: Through September 8- Norma Reder

Mondays – Naturalist on Site. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. This is a great opportunity to be oriented to Block Island. A Naturalist will be available to answer natural history, conservation and ecological questions about the island. OVF Pavilion. Tuesdays – Bird Banding and Naturalist on site. 8 a.m. A bird banding demonstration for all ages, everything you ever wanted to know about birds and more. (This program is cancelled in the drizzle/rain) OVF Pavilion. Wednesdays – Art and Nature. 10 a.m. This program is for everyone (young & old) who wants to see details of the natural world. Paper, drawing utensils, basic art materials, and often, live creatures will be supplied. OVF Pavilion. Thursdays– Stepping Stones. 10 a.m. Help build a stepping stone path to the pavilion. Each week a new concrete stepping-stone will be created. OVF Pavilion. Fridays – Bird Walk at Andy’s Way. Meet at Andy’s Way parking area on Corn Neck Road for this bird, and critter, walk. This walk is suited for all skill levels, so bring your binoculars and be prepared to get your feet wet. (Check oceanviewfoundation.org for times). *September 12– Night Sky Viewing at the Hodge Preserve. 8:00 p.m. *September 3- Sense of Wonder Twilight/Night Walk. 7:00 p.m. *October 18- Community Pot Luck. 12pm. *November 28- Night Sky Viewing at the Hodge Preserve. 4:00 p.m. *December 26- Community Bird Census. Visit www.oceanviewfoundation.org for further events.

exhibits, artist receptions, and demonstrations, in addition to ongoing exhibits of established gallery artists. 466-5314. MALCOLM GREENAWAY, PHOTOGRAPHER. Stop by nationally recognized photographer Malcolm Greenaway’s gallery on Water Street. View his display of striking photographs depicting Block Island landscapes, its many natural sights, and local scenes. 466-5331. SPRING STREET GALLERY is located across the street from the Hotel Manisses on Spring Street. It is a cooperative gallery for island artists and craftspeople. Come and see the paintings, prints, photographs, jewelry, books and quilts that are on display. Exhibitions change weekly with opening receptions on Sunday afternoons from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 466-5374.

Inns 1661 INN and HOTEL MANISSES let you step into yesteryear. Rooms are furnished with antiques and early American paintings. Many offer a combination of ocean view, private deck, whirlpool tub and fireplace. A buffet breakfast, served on the inn’s covered deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, is included. Spring Street. 466-2421 or 1-800-626-4773.

Miscellany of Events

ATLANTIC INN on High Street is a lovely 1879 Victorian inn with a wraparound veranda that offers the warm, caring service characteristic of the finest New England inns. Twenty-one guestrooms are filled with antiques (many original to the inn) and all with private baths. The inn’s six landscaped acres offer stunning views of Old Harbor and the island’s coastline. On the grounds are cutting gardens, two tennis courts, and croquet and horseshoe courts. 466-5883.

B-I-N-G-O Bingo Night will be on Tuesday, September 1, at the Fire Barn. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Bingo starts at 7 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Block Island Volunteer Fire Department.

BARRINGTON INN is a bed and breakfast with a long history of serving island visitors with warmth and hospitality. Ideally located between Old and New Harbors, the inn has spectacular water views. Beach and Ocean avenues. 466-5510.

Clam Bake The Lions Club will have their annual clambake and cookout on Saturday, September 5, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Narragansett Inn. $37 for full clambake (lobster, clams, chowder, corn), $15 for the cookout (burgers, hotdogs, chowder, corn). Rain date is Sunday, September 6. Donate Blood The Rhode Island Blood Center will hold a Blood Drive on Friday, September 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Harbor Baptist Church. Stop by to donate. Farmers Market On Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Negus Park on Ocean Ave., and on Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Manisses parking lot on Spring St. Handmade island baked goods, crafts, artwork and Island grown produce.

BLUE DORY INN is located in the Old Harbor Historic District, and all of its rooms have either an ocean or harbor view. Expanded continental breakfast is served daily. Suites available. 466-5891. HYGEIA HOUSE is a 10-room inn sitting on a hill overlooking New Harbor. This newly renovated inn offers private baths and water views from every room, and it’s an easy walk to the beach. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 466-9616. THE INN AT BLOCK ISLAND is located just two blocks from the village. This former sea captain’s home houses nine guestrooms with private baths. 466-5524. THE NARRAGANSETT INN is a whitewashed beauty overlooking the Great Salt Pond. Its spacious lawn borders New Harbor, and its Sunset Bar is a favorite to many. The restaurant offers a daily breakfast buffet daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Dinner is available from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Weddings and special events catered on premises. 466-2626. NATIONAL HOTEL is a landmark for anyone arriving on Block Island. Replete with a wraparound porch and a mansard roof, the National offers modern amenities, yet manages to retain its Victorian charm. High-speed Internet connection and a workstation available in the lobby. 466-2901. Continued on next page

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

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Block Island Summer Times Directory Continued from previous page PAYNE’S HARBOR VIEW INN. Block Island’s newest hotel overlooking New Harbor, just a few hundred yards from beautiful Crescent Beach. Offering suites with Jacuzzis, large rooms with whirlpool tubs, private decks, cable TV and antique furnishings. Spacious parlors, breathtaking views and a rolling waterside lawn make this inn a perfect place for any special event. 466-5758. THE SEA BREEZE INN has garnered much acclaim for its superb location, with broad ocean and coastline views and beautifully decorated rooms. The inn is set amidst seaside perennial gardens, with a two-acre meadow and pond, and is conveniently located. Spring Street. 466-2275. THE SEACREST INN is an ideal downtown location. Its spotless rooms with private baths are out of the main traffic pattern but only steps away from the Old Harbor ferry dock, the best beaches and restaurants. The inn also rents bikes with helmets and locks provided. High Street. 466-2882.

Food ALDO’S BAKERY is a great place to bring the family for a full breakfast. Try the omelets, French toast, pancakes or the daily special served in the bakery and on the patio. Aldo’s also offers a full line of pastries, pies, bread and cakes made to order for all occasions. Aldo’s is also known for its homemade ice cream, yogurts — 32 flavors — and, new this year, gelato. Take-out available. Weldon’s Way. 466-2198. ALDO’S RESTAURANT. Are you looking for a casual lunch or dinner? Do you enjoy Italian food? Then Aldo’s Restaurant is the place for you. You can eat in the dining room, on the patio, or in the spacious bar. Entrees include veal saltimbocca, chicken marsala, zuppa di pesce, pizza, seafood, and other Italian specialties. Aldo’s offers great wines, spirits, and draught beer. Good service, reasonable prices. Take-out available. Weldon’s Way. 466-5871.

SPRING HOUSE HOTEL has a view of the ocean that is incomparable. The rooms are welcoming, and the restaurant in the Grand Salon is first-rate. It’s a brief walk up Spring Street to this quintessential Victorian structure, with its long porch built for rocking and contemplating the sea. Spring Street. 466-5844.

ATLANTIC INN serves carefully orchestrated and romantic four-course prix fixe dinners in a candlelit dining room. Food here is meticulously prepared each day from scratch with many locally-harvested vegetables, herbs, seafoods and meats. Start your evening with cocktails, tapas and picturesque sunsets on the inn’s wraparound veranda and lawn. An award-winning wine list. The Clinton family dined here in 1997. High Street. 466-5883.

SULLIVAN HOUSE is an island landmark, a 1904 Victorian with a giant wraparound porch, sitting atop a hill overlooking Great Salt Pond to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Each room has a private bath, four-poster or canopy bed, and lovely views. Jacuzzi available in the suite. Corn Neck Road. 466-5020.

THE BEACHEAD is located just up Corn Neck Road from downtown and is a favorite spot for lunch and dinner. Recent renovation has brought the restaurant up to a new level, with full dinner entrees available, as well as daily specials and low-carb offerings. The views from the bar and deck are unsurpassed. 466-2249.

BECKETT’S GELATO offers gelato and sorbetto as an alternative to ice cream. Flavors range from chocolate to fresh fruit. Gourmet coffee and freshly baked breakfast goodies are available each morning. Located under the National. BEN AND JERRY’S. You will find your favorite flavors here, smoothies, milk shakes, frozen drinks and sundaes. All while you are enjoying patio seating overlooking beautiful views of Old Harbor. Located in Fountain Square behind Rags Clothing Store. Open seven days a week. 466-5540. ELI’S RESTAURANT on Chapel Street in the heart of Old Harbor offers casual, bistro-style dining, a creative and eclectic menu featuring great combinations of local seafood, meat, poultry and vegetarian options and a great wine list. No reservations accepted, so arrive early. Chapel Street 466-5230. FINN’S FISH MARKET is Block Island’s only comprehensive seafood market. In business for 30 years, Finn’s is in Old Harbor, across the parking lot from the ferry landing, and stocks a selection of shellfish, smoked fish and other seafood, including Finn’s award-winning chowder. Choose live lobsters right from our tanks. 466-2102.

FINN’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT offers its full lunch and dinner menu from opening to closing daily, with full service on Ernie’s deck upstairs, overlooking Old Harbor. Finn’s has the largest selection of lobster and seafood on the island fresh from the fish market next door. You’ll also find steak and salads, sandwiches and a children’s menu. Take out on the deck. L, D. Liquor license. 466-2473. FROOZIES Juice Bar and Café serves real fruit smoothies, organic coffee, and frozen drinks, as well as breakfast and lunch. Burritos and breakfast sandwiches served till 11:30 a.m. Wraps, grilled sandwiches, falafels and handmade veggie burgers served 11:45 a.m. till closing. Located on the back porch of the National Hotel. 466-2230. HARRY’S CAFÉ is an ‘oasis for the passionate appetite.’ Owner and chef, Trip Pearce, has long-time Block Island roots for this restaurant located in the post office building. He loves to cook and it shows. An eclectic menu features fresh ingredients and ethnic influences. B.Y.O.B. Water Street. 466-5400.

Continued on next page

available all fall / everyday all ages and abilities pond & beyond

KAYAK

TOURS & RENTALS

call 401.578.2773 corrie_estelle@hotmail.com

Block Island s air service for 37 years. Enjoy unlimited free parking when you fly to Block Island with New England Airlines from Westerly Airport.

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Block Island Summer Times Directory H.J. WILLY’S, located at scenic Settler’s Rock, is Block Island’s newest eating establishment offering hot dogs, bratwurst, sodas, chips and snacks. Prices are reasonable, the food is great, and the view is fantastic. Open 11 a.m. — 5 p.m. 644-5931.

THE ICE CREAM PLACE is the ideal retreat after the beach, after a movie, or after dinner. Enjoy its homemade hot fudge, ice cream, waffle cones, real whipped cream, fresh squeezed juices, frozen yogurt, and homemade cookies, pastries, and brownies. Make this an island tradition for you and your family. Weldon’s Way. 466-2145.

HOTEL MANISSES has two dining options: the Gatsby Room, a bistro offering lighter fare, and the formal dining room for fine dining. The varied menus feature fresh seafood, beef and poultry, as well as garden-fresh vegetables. Reservations recommended. Gourmet desserts are an island favorite. Spring Street. 466-2421.

THE MOHEGAN CAFÉ AND BREWERY is a few steps away from the ferry and is a popular spot for island residents and visitors alike. The Mohegan serves a variety of house-made beer on tap and offers fresh seafood, steaks, burgers, pasta, southwester, and vegetarian specialties. Water Street. 466-5911.

Continued from previous page

THE NATIONAL TAP AND GRILLE is the island’s oldest steakhouse. It features numerous prime cuts of beef, along with pasta and seafood. The hotel’s famous 160foot porch overlooks scenic Old Harbor and is a favorite place for a drink, especially when live entertainment is scheduled. Food served inside and on outside deck. Water Street. 466-2901. THE OAR is an island favorite famous for the hundreds of painted oars that hang from the ceiling, and renowned as a watering hole for boaters and ferry-goers too. Lunch and dinner are served. A raw bar completes the offerings. Located at the head of the Boat Basin dock, it offers the best sunset views on the island. 466-8820. PAPA’S PIZZARIA is the one source on Block Island for food deliveries to your door. Pizzas and a number of hot and cold sandwiches are offered. There is indoor and outdoor seating at the corner side location. Corn Neck Road. 466-9939. G.R. SHARKY’S has nightly specials as well as an extensive menu including seafood, burgers, chicken, steak and pork. From the Santa Fe Rangoon appetizer to the Shrimp Fettucine Alfredo, you’ll find something to please every appetite on this extensive menu. Dine inside or on the patio and bring the family. Prime Rib special every Sunday night. Corn Neck Road. 466-9900. THE SPRING HOUSE offers fine dining in a high-ceiling ballroom that romantically recalls the glory days of New England’s seaside hotels. The menu includes bakedstuffed lobster, Black Angus steak and nightly specials. Lunch served on the deck. Spring Street. 466-5844. WATER STREET CAFÉ is a great place to sit and relax while you enjoy awardwinning clam chowder. Or if you are in

Block Island Express New London - Old Harbor September 2009 DEPARTS BLOCK ISLAND

the mood, try the lobster salad rolls, grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled tuna salad, seafood platters or daily special. Located in the heart of Old Harbor at Fountain Square. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 466-5540. WINFIELD’S offers fine dining in a casual, intimate setting. Wood floors and open exposed-beam construction set the scene for a memorable evening. Experienced service and attention to detail are among the attributes of this popular eatery. Corn Neck Road, next to Yellow Kittens. 466-5856. YELLOW KITTENS’ MEXICAN ON THE DECK. Enjoy Mexican food outside, overlooking the beach. Frozen margaritas and cold beer round out the offerings. Great as an après-beach destination or predinner. Lunch only. Free delivery seven days a week (cash only). 466-5855.

ENTERTAINMENT 5 FLAVOR DISCOUNT. “The Ultimate Live Show Experience” and voted Cover Band of the year. Playing at Paddy’s, Misquamicut Beach in Westerly on Sunday, September 6, at 10 p.m. for a pre- Labor Day bash. For bookings call 615-9841 or visit www.5flavordiscount.com.

BLOCK ISLAND FERRY August 31 - September 7 Departing Pt. Judith Mon-Fri 8:30a, 11a, 1:30p, 3:30p, 5:15p, 7p Sat-Sun 9a, 11a, 1p, 3p, 5p, 6p Departing Block Island Mon-Fri 8:15a, 11a, 1:30p, 3:30p, 5:15p, 7p Sat-Sun 8:15a, 11a, 1p, 3p, 5p, 7p

September 8 -October 8 Departing Pt. Judith Mon-Thur 9a, 11a, 3p, 5p Fri 8:30a, 11a, 1:30p, 3:30p, 5:15p, 7p Sat 9a, 11a, 1p, 5p Sun 9a, 11a, 1p, 3p, 5p, 7p Departing Block Island Mon-Thur 8:15a, 11:45a, 3p, 5p Fri 8:15a, 11a, 1:30p, 3:30p, 5:15p, 7p Sat 8:15a, 11a, 3p, 5p Sun 8:15a, 11a, 1p, 3p, 5p, 7p

Departs daily from Pt. Judith and Old Harbor www.blockislandferry.com

Fri. ......................................... 1:05p, 4:35p, 7:50p Sat. ........................................ 9:45a, 4:35p, 7:50p Sun. & Sept. 7 ..............9:45a, 1:05p, 4:35p, 7:50p

MEET THE VOICES OF WRNI

DEPARTS NEW LONDON Fri. ....................................... 11:30a, 2:50p, 6:10p Sat. .......................................8:10a, 11:30a, 6:10p Sun. & Sept. 7 ............8:10a, 11:30a, 2:50p, 6:10p (860) 444-GO B.I. (401) 466-2212 www.goblockisland.com Arrives and departs Old Harbor

Ian Donnis

Flo Jonic

Scott MacKay

Political Reporter

Reporter

Political Reporter

Block Island Hi-Speed Ferry Pt. Judith - Old Harbor

August 31 - October 12

Megan Hall

Elisabeth Harrison

Healthcare Reporter

Education Reporter

Celebrating our first year of independence as Rhode Island’s National Public Radio Station

Days Mon-Fri Sat-Sun

Departing Pt. Judith 8:15a, 10:30a, 12:30p, 5:30p 8:15a, 10:30a, 12:30p, 3:30p; 5:30p

Days Mon-Fri Sat-Sun

Departing BI 9:30a, 11:30a, 4:30p, 6:30p 9:30a, 11:30a, 1:30p, 4:30p, 6:30p

401-783-4613 W R NI : O NE UNIO N S TAT IO N : PR OV IDEN CE R I 0 2 9 0 3 : 4 0 1 3 51 2 8 0 0

(Arrives and departs Old Harbor)

www.blockislandferry.com

Westerly to Block Island Half past EVERY HOUR Every Day! Saturday-Wednesday 7:30AM-6:30AM Thursday 7:30AM-7:30PM Friday 7:30AM-9:30pm Block Island to Westerly EVERY HOUR on the hour Every Day!

Saturday-Wednesday 8:00AM-7:00PM Thursday 7:00AM-7:00PM Friday 8:00AM-9:00PM

September 2009

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BLOCK ISLAND SUMMER TIMES

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McAloon’s Taxi Prompt Service Island Tours Bike Rack

401-741-1410 Original Block Island Designs by Jennifer On All Block Island Bracele e l ts Sa Available in Sterling Silver and Two-Tone 14Kt Yellow Gold

Water Street - Under Harborside 401.466.7944 www.jennifersjewelrybi.com 10 am - 6 pm

Since 1991 Block Island’s “FINE� Jewelry Store

C O n all F Fal or I l Pr nfo og ram s

VISIT

www.blockislandtimes.com for the latest travel and entertainment schedules.

Sailing Lessons

Sailboat Renta

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to 6 fortable for up Ensigns - Com 3 mfortable for Bullseyes - Co only rs ilo ienced sa Lasers - Exper kids Optis - For the

Private Lessons Group Lessons Evening & Sunset Cruis e Afternoon Group Opti Program

Summer Fun at the Block Island Maritime Institute Rent a boat and head out to the races every Thursday evening!

Daily Summer Programs

Now Taking Orders for Thule Car Racks

t 4VOEBZ .BSJOF 4DJFODF 1SPHSBN t .POEBZ &DPMPHJDBM $SVJTF PG UIF (SFBU 4BMU 1POE t 5VFTEBZ BOE 5IVSTEBZ (SPVQ 4BJMJOH -FTTPOT t 8FEOFTEBZ $SFBUVSFT PG UIF 4BMU .BSTI t 'SJEBZ &YQMPSJOH 0VS 0DFBOT t 4BUVSEBZ "SPVOE #MPDL *TMBOE CZ #PBU )JTUPSJDBM 5PVS

www.blockislandmaritimeinstitute.org Visit BIMI (9:00-5:00 Daily) Smugglers Cove Ocean Avenue 401-466-7938

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Surfing Block Island? On island or off, if you’re looking for news and information about Block Island, there is no better spot to surf to than the Block Island Times online. At www.blockislandtimes.com, you can catch all the local news and upcoming events, find out the weather, see the menus of all your favorite restaurants, download special editions of the newspaper and even find out if the ferries are currently running. It’s all the news about the island that you love. Surf’s up!!!

Online and in print.

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