Nantucket Today Fall 2024

Na ntucket

—Manni

Photo: Charity Grace Mofsen

NANTUCKET BOOK FOUNDATION

PHOTO BY KEVIN STANTON

I was sitting at the bar at The Chicken Box, watching the Red Sox lose, when the conversation turned to bluefish.

The guy doing most of the talking seemed to know what he was talking about. Some people simply fish and other people figure out the best ways to fish. He seemed to be one of the second kind. This was the middle of August and the month-long bluefish tournament was underway. He finished his beer and left to go fishing.

It reminded me of days gone past when whoever caught the first bluefish of the season, or the first striper, would bring it by the newspaper so we could take a photo.

These days I sometimes catch find myself tracking the seasons by the coming and going of tourists and summer residents, of the rise and fall of traffic jams, or when Town Meeting falls on the calendar. Every so often I am reminded that this is the wrong lens through which to see life on our island, to mark the turning of the seasons.

Sometimes this reminder comes from my wife, who understands the life-cycle of flowers. Sometimes this reminder comes from a random conversation at my favorite bar.

Cam Gammill writes in this issue about the joys of fishing Great Point in September. He has caught his fair share of fish, but writes that his love of it is about more than catching fish.

The late, great David Halberstam, who also spent a great deal of time chasing the blues by surfcasting from the beach, once wrote that it was “not really about fishing, but about life, about staying young.”

One thing that this island has just about lost is a series of houses built in the l960s and 1970s by some very important modern designers. Mary Bergman tells us the story of these

houses that sprung up in the time before the entire island fell under the rules of the Historic district Commission.

Maureen Orth was an idealistic 20-year-old who had just graduated from University of California at Berkeley when she joined the Peace Corps in 1964. She was sent to Medellin, Colombia.

Most of us know Orth as a journalist who has worked for magazines like Vanity Fair, or as the widow of the late Tim Russert, moderator of “Meet the Press.” Marianne Stanton shows us another side of her, how the seeds Orth planted while in the Peace Corps grew into a school and an educational foundation that four decades later is still changing lives.

Puppeteer Lizza Obremski sits down with Kevin Stanton in this issue’s “The Questions” to talk about silliness, the path to puppeteering and finding the magic in the everyday.

John Stanton Editor

10 LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION

Why is traffic still awful if bus ridership is up? by Kaie Quigley

12 HISTORY INSIDER: LAST DAYS OF THE SKIPPER

How an island tradition died. by John Stanton

18 MAUREEN ORTH

Echoes of the Peace Corps. by Marianne Stanton

30 MID-CENTURY MODERN

Modern design in an island of colonial design. by Mary Bergman

40 EAT/DRINK: THE BLACK MANHATTAN

A few adjustments to a classic cocktail. by Kevin Stanton

42 FISHING

The sweetness of Great Point fishing in fall. by Cam Gammill

50 BIRDS

New bird neighbors. by Virginia Andrews

CONTRIBUTORS

74 WHO’S WHO IN REAL ESTATE

78 THE QUESTIONS: LIZZA OBREMSKI

COVER PHOTO BY MARIANNE STANTON

Jeff Carlson and his daughter Sadie selling fresh corn from Moors End Farm at the Saturday farmers’ market.

PHOTO BY NICOLE HARNISHFEGER

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Published by The Inquirer and Mirror Inc. 1 Old South Road Nantucket, MA 02554 508 228-0001 nantucketmag.com

Publisher Robert Saurer rsaurer@inkym.com

Editor John Stanton jstanton@inkym.com

Production & Design Peter Halik plhalik@inkym.com

Advertising Director Mary Cowell-Sharpe msharpe@inkym.com

Advertising Sales Peter Greenhalgh pgreenhalgh@inkym.com

Alexandro Sforza asforza@inkym.com

Circulation Karen Orlando korlando@inkym.com

Contributing Writers & Photographers

Virginia Andrews Mary Bergman Cam Gammill

Kevin Stanton Marianne Stanton Kaie Quigley

Contact Us: Nantucket Today, P.O. Box 1198, Nantucket, MA 02554. Phone 508 228-0001. Fax 508 325-5089. Advertising and subscription rates online at www.nantucketmag.com

© Nantucket Media Group. 2024 All rights reserved. Nantucket Today is published six times a year by The Inquirer and Mirror Inc. Subscription information: Annual subscriptions are available in the US for $40. For customer service regarding subscriptions, call 508 228-0001, ext. 10. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any way is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the USA. Send address changes to: P.O. Box 1198, Nantucket, MA 02554.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER POWER

CONTRIBUTORS

Kevin Stanton was born and raised on-island. He writes our Eat/Drink column, as well as profiles on everybody from a well-known fish cutter to a collector of Chinese art. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art.

These are just some of the people who bring their talents to the pages of this magazine, and allow Nantucket Today to reflect genuine island life.

Mary Bergman is a writer and historian, originally from Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod. Currently, she serves as the executive director of the Nantucket Preservation Trust. Mary’s preservation and writing work is dedicated to documenting the unique ways of life of people living by the sea.

Marianne Stanton is a 13th-generation Nantucketer with deep roots on the island and in the newspaper business.

Recently retired as the editor and publisher of The Inquirer and Mirror, she founded this magazine.

Let Me Ask You a Question…

In which we ask just a couple of questions to a town official. This month we ask Mike Burns, the town’s transportation manager, this question: Why does traffic seem worse than ever this summer, even as ridership on the WAVE buses is seeing a big increase?

STORY AND PHOTO BY KAIE QUIGLEY

Gone are the days of sifting through your wallet or jeans pockets for dollar bills to pay for a bus fare on Nantucket. A new fareless system has made the island’s WAVE shuttle buses from the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority free for all through the end of this year. The switch has led to a massive spike in ridership this summer. Nearly 100,000 people rode the WAVE in July alone, almost double the count from last year when fares were in place.

The town has often said putting more people on buses will get cars off the road and lead to less traffic, but drivers still found themselves in standstill lines at many times this season. So, we asked town transportation manager Mike Burns:

Q:Is it discouraging that traffic is still bad in the summer despite the increased WAVE ridership?

“I would say it would be so much worse if people were only taking an Uber or a taxi or driving themselves. It’s summertime, it’s busy. I think there has to be some willingness to absorb the negative parts of that. There are also decisions

each person can make to help address the problem. Be a little more patient going to and from, try to be considerate about consolidating your trips or carpooling. Try to think ahead and try to reduce traffic instead of contributing to traffic. There’s definitely a balance between accommodating and tolerating traffic.”

Q: How else is the town working to alleviate traffic?

“There are efforts underway to fix some of these bottlenecks, the Milestone Rotary being one of the key ones. MassDOT is initiating redesigning that intersection, that’ll start in the coming months. The Nobadeer Farm Road and Milestone Road intersections are also on that same track to get improved, and there are other transportation options we’re trying to provide. You have to come at it from both approaches: fix the bottlenecks but also give people other options that they will utilize. The incentives and disincentives probably also need a little bit of work. We also have some need to address long-term parking on the island.”

Kaie Quigley is a staff writer for The Inquirer and Mirror.

The Last Days of The Skipper

BY JOHN STANTON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVE COCKER AND THE NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Above: Chef Neil Cocker and his crew in the kitchen. Right: Matt Fee was called home from prep school to run the bakery at The Skipper for his father.

This is the story of the final days of an island tradition that dated back to just after the First World War and lasted until 1986. It is a story about summertime memories and how things change.

The Skipper was originally the name of a tea room on Liberty Street, which opened for business in 1920 and was owned and operated by Miss Margaret Prentice and Miss Gladys Wood. They served cream cheese and pickled walnut sandwiches.

The place became so popular, the two owners bought the former print shop of The Inquirer and Mirror, which at one time was just off Monument Square, and moved it there.

Then they moved to a small piece of property on Steamboat Wharf. Prior to being the new location of The Skipper tea room, the building had been home to a merry-go-round called the Flying Horses, which gave way to a steam laundry.

When the ladies moved in, the land under it was partially owned by the steamboat company, which was then part of the New Haven Rail Road.

Nearby, a leaking, 94-foot long, two-masted coastal schooner called the Allen Gurney, which had been built in 1867, had spent the winter tied up at the dock. It had made its last voyage and cargo delivery and reached the point that it was never going to leave

the dock again.

Prentice and Wood bought it for $1,000 and expanded their restaurant to include the tea house and a dining room on the deck of the schooner. They owned the place until 1944.

Flash forward to 1974. Henry Fee – creator of Henry’s sandwich shop on Broad Street, which in a way was the precursor of both Henry’s Jr. on Orange Street and Something Natural on Cliff Road – bought The Skipper.

Dave Cocker started working at the place the year before, when it was owned by Richard Evans and called The Relaxed Lobster. He stayed when the place changed hands. Neil, his brother, was the chef.

He remembers they did close to 400 plates some nights.

“They were constantly cutting fish. Fishing boats would come in at the docks right there and say we got some of this and some of that,” he said. “Then they’d get out their wheelbarrows and haul it right over and we’d cut it up right there on a giant cutting board. The fish was always very fresh.”

The Skipper offered New England fare: fish, clams

casino, fried clams and what was then called a shore dinner. The schooner had long ago been sunk and rebuilt as a sort of boat-shaped dining room, covered but outdoors. You could sit on the deck and eat, fending off seagulls that would swoop in to steal the dinner rolls out of the bread basket, or in the main building.

“You had the main building and the kitchen was in there and the food was run out down a ramp,” said Matt Fee, Select Board member, owner and operator of Something Natural and Henry Fee’s son. “Then the bar itself was kind of separate from the dining area. You could dine inside but most of the people dined out on the boat overlooking the water.”

The place was also famous for the seagulls. Feeding them off your plate became a staple of island summertime memories.

“It was over the water. The seagulls used to come in and take the food if you weren’t careful. It was that kind of place,” Fee said.

Fee started working at The Skipper when he was 13 or 14

years old, first as a busboy. It was a job that did not last long.

“I was shy and I was pouring water and it was dripping on people and on their seats and I was like get me out of here,” he said. His father had built a bakery into the main building the year before. It included a take-out window.

“So, I went to the bakery and I was doing the donuts. I was like the donut boy,” he said.

Fee said that one day while he was a student at Tabor Academy, he got a phone call from his dad. The baker had just quit. Could he fill in, immediately?

“I didn’t have to take my last exam that year. They tossed me on a plane and I started working the next day. I was learning on the fly,” he said.

Both local families and summer families frequented the restaurant. The place had always been an island tradition, but when you run into people these days who remember it, they are most likely remembering the Henry Fee era.

“I think for people it symbolizes old Nantucket and what it was, what they remember,” he said. “Families would be here

This page: The interior of The Skipper’s dining room, circa 1928. Facing page: The same dining room circa 1975.

for a month in the summer and go a number of times and bring the kids a couple of those times.”

And then there were the singing waiters.

“There was a waiter here one summer named Peter Rogers. He was in a singing group at Harvard called the Krokodiloes. Sundays it was never busy and we had some music in the bar sometimes. So, he asked my dad and he said sure,” Fee said.

Rogers and his friends put up posters all over the island advertising the show.

“The show was at nine and by then there was a line out the door and down and around the building. My dad was like what the hell is this?,” Fee said.

“He was giving them all sandwiches from Henry’s. They did two sets that night and it was packed. We couldn’t get enough people in.”

“My dad said to them, ‘Hey guys, if you want to stay another night you can have a steak dinner instead of sandwiches.’ So, they stayed another night and set it up to come the next year, and they did come back summer after summer until the end.”

The Skipper buildings sat close to what is now the Steamship Authority parking lot. It is important to understand why you cannot have dinner at the place today. Henry Fee owned the buildings and a percentage of the land under them. He leased the rest of the land from the SSA.

“The fate of The Skipper, an island landmark and part of a parcel at the end of Steamboat Wharf is up in the air,” wrote The Inquirer and Mirror. “The SSA, which owns 11,000 square feet of the property that part of the building sits on, is currently evaluating the best way to maximize its returns on the property when the lease with current tenants Henry and Sandy Fee comes up for renewal at the end of the year.”

The story said the Fees had expected to run the restaurant for at least another 10 years. But a memo, written by SSA board of governors member Bernie Grossman, changed all that.

“The memo had these considerations: convert the land into a parking lot; demolish the building and fill the ground for

parking while selling the air rights for another use such as keeping it a restaurant,” Fee said.

This was also about the time the Steamship Authority was planning to build both a new terminal and a second slip for boats to dock, the logic being that if anything happened to the north slip, the island would be without auto and freight service for an indeterminate amount of time.

Whether the SSA had any rights over the buildings on the property was the big question.

“Henry Fee says no. He says he bought The Skipper, buildings inclusive, in 1975 from Erickson and has put tens of thousands of dollars into the appearance and maintenance of the buildings,” the I&M story read.

Grossman noted in one newspaper story that The Skipper’s “very nominal rent” was out of line

based on Nantucket real estate prices in the 1980s. Fee said his rent was around $5,600, while Grossman said the newly appraised value of the land was $120,000.

“Their argument was if you don’t do the lease, we own everything,” Fee said. “And it seems like they were willing to go to the mat for it. My parents were overwhelmed. The I&M was on my dad’s side and The Cape Cod Times was on the side of the SSA. Looking back at it, Bernie Grossman was probably right that the SSA had to put something there, but the way they went about it was disingenuous.”

The debate over the lease and who owned the buildings meant the end of The Skipper.

“The whole thing was a mess,” he said.

In the end the SSA offered the Fees about

$100,000 over the asking price.

“They felt they were forced into it,” he said. “But I think they were happy after it was sold, because it had become so contentious and it took so much out of them.”

The next step was for Augie Ramos to show up with his trucks and a crew to demolish the place. They were able to save the bakery ovens and a walk-in refrigerator, both of which are at Something Natural.

“Augie put it on a flatbed and hauled it to Cliff Road. It lasted something like another 10 or 15 years,” Fee said. “The walk-in was the first walk-in Harold Whelden sold when he started his business. I have that relic. It’s in the back yard.”

They were also able to save two bathroom doors that had been painted by the well-known artist Tony

Sarg. Fee has one at his house and the other was donated to the Nantucket Historical Association.

“Sarg was next door and so when the original ladies had the place he just volunteered to paint the doors,” Fee said. ///

John Stanton is a writer, documentary filmmaker, associate editor of The Inquirer and Mirror and editor of Nantucket Today.

Maureen Orth A journalist finds

a chapter in

her own life still resonates

STORY BY MARIANNE STANTON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAUREEN ORTH

Above: Orth as a young Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia. Facing page: Orth today.

The arrival of men on horseback took her by surprise. They looked very much like a posse in a cowboy movie. They even wore black fedoras. They made it clear that the one horse with no rider was intended for her.

This was in Medellin, Colombia in 1964. Maureen Orth was a very young Peace Corps volunteer. The riders wanted her to go with them up a winding mountain road to a little village called Aguas Frias.

“It was quite dramatic. They had ridden down from Aguas Frias and said to me, ‘We want a school. Will you help us build one?’ ” Orth said.

A businessman had given the town a plot of land on the side of the mountain for a school, but the community needed someone to help organize the project to make their vision a reality.

Orth found herself helping to clear the land, organizing the labor for building and being the liaison back in Medellin between the village and the city and businesses which had donated materials and equipment.

“I was 21, and if you had a young gringa at your side at city hall it was a huge advantage to make this happen,” Orth said.

Building the school became a community project, led by Orth.

“Women would come on Sundays, make arepas and feed the workers. Everyone pitched in,” she said.

The Early Days of the Peace Corps

To know Maureen Orth from her byline – and across a 50-year career it has appeared in The Village Voice, Newsweek and later as a contributing editor for Vanity Fair – is to not know her whole story.

The chapter that sets her story in motion began when she

saddled up and went with the posse that morning.

When she arrived in Medellin in 1964 she was only in her early 20s.

“It was an absolutely life-transforming experience that has stayed with me and has shaped the person I am today,” Orth said.

That beginning chapter, in fact, is still being written. Orth has maintained her ties to Colombia through the Marina Orth Foundation, a nonprofit focused on teaching elementary-school students English and technology. The foundation’s aims are to give those students a competitive advantage in the 21st century.

“Back when I graduated college there weren’t a lot of opportunities for women, so I decided to join the Peace Corps, which was still a fairly new organization,” Orth said.

After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, she headed directly to the Peace Corps training center at the Columbia University School of Social Work.

Over the next 15 years she tried to come back to visit her school, but by then it had become impossible due to the rise of the cocaine trade, led by the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. His home base was high above Medellin, right down the street from the school.

Orth was raised in California and never been east of the Rocky Mountains. Simply living in New York City was an eye-opener.

The school of social work was located in an old mansion on 21st Street and Fifth Avenue. Field training took place in Spanish Harlem. Classroom lectures featured notable speakers like Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security advisor to President Jimmy Carter.

And then there were the intensive lessons in Spanish, six days a week for four to six hours a day.

Orth finished her training and was assigned to Medellin. She quickly found that nothing could truly prepare her for what she would encounter in Colombia. It was a country steeped in poverty and without many of the basic services and infrastructure that first world citizens take for granted.

“When I arrived in Medellin I was given housing in a barrio, where most of the residents were squatters. My mission was to bring water to my section of town. The house I was in had a well and one spigot of cold water, but that was unusual,” Orth said.

And then the men on horseback arrived and changed everything.

“We were supposed to ask the people, the community, what they wanted, not act on what we thought they needed,” Orth said.

In the early 1960s, Medellin was a growing urban center known for two things: textiles and coffee. Orth went to the federation of coffee growers which had a program for building schools and asked for its help. The coffee growers supplied the materials and the city chipped in, too.

Eighteen months later, in December 1965, the mountain town of Aguas Frias had its first elementary school. The school opened with two classrooms and 35 students. Each student had a small blue notebook with lined paper and a pencil. Learning was by rote.

Planting the Seeds of Education

The community was so grateful to its young American organizer that it christened the school Escuela Marina Orth.

“I was blown away. I thought they’d name the school after the town or after some saint, which is what they usually did,” Orth said. “I had no idea they’d name it after me.”

Nearly 60 years later the school not only still stands but has expanded. Today it serves over 200 students of all ages, from first grade through high school. Many of the students have gone on to university to become teachers, engineers and professionals in other areas.

“It was the locus of making a tremendous difference in the community,” Orth said.

Over the next 15 years she tried to come back to visit her school, but by then it had become impossible due to the rise of the cocaine trade, led by the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. His home base was high above Medellin, right down the street from the school.

“He was hiding out right down the road from my school. He had a great view of the city of Medellin from there,” Orth said. “He could look down and see who and what was coming up the road.”

From the Peace Corps to Journalism

After completing her tour with the Peace Corps, Orth returned to California where she enrolled in graduate

school at UCLA, majoring in Latin American studies.

She found the academic studies boring compared to what she’d experienced in real life, and quickly switched her major to journalism. She found it wasn’t easy for a woman to break into what was then a male-dominated business.

“My first job in journalism was as a freelancer in San Francisco. A story I did ended up in The New York Times magazine, which introduced me to the editor of The Village Voice, and I became their West Coast correspondent covering the counterculture,” Orth said.

She got her big break covering the 1972 Democratic National Convention fight between Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern.

From there she met a senior editor at Newsweek who had read her work in The Village Voice and was impressed. Newsweek was under a lot of pressure to hire women as writers after a group of women researchers had sued the magazine – and won – claiming discrimination.

It was while reporting from the 1980 Democratic National Convention that nominated incumbent President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale that Orth met her future husband Tim Russert, who was then working for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Russert eventually went on to become moderator of “Meet the Press” and the Washington bureau chief of NBC News. They eventually married, and in 1985 their son Luke was born.

What began in the 1960s as Escuela Marina Orth now serves another generation of schoolchildren through the Marina Orth Foundation

In 1995, two years after Escobar’s death, Orth felt it was safe enough to return to Medellin and Aguas Frias, to visit the school she’d helped build 30 years earlier. She was not prepared for the reception she received from a grateful community.

“When I arrived, they paid me great homage with a serenade, a lunch and a mass, which I did not expect at all,” she said.

She returned again in 2004 to see the progress the school was making. That was when the next chapter of her Colombian connection began.

She met Luis Alberto Moreno, former Colombian ambassador to the United States, who summoned Maureen and wanted to enlist her help in furthering the education of Colombian children.

“He said to me, ‘these kids have no chance to compete in the 21st century unless they learn English and technology. Will you help us make your school the first bilingual school?’ I had no choice, I had no idea how to do it, but am an investigative reporter so I’ll figure it out,” Orth said.

Over the next 20 years The Marina Orth Foundation built programs in numerous schools that gave students fluency in both English and technology, something Orth calls “Techlish.”

Over 9,000 students are educated in 23 schools in four cities and towns in Colombia. They are provided laptop computers and the opportunity to be awarded scholarships that open the door to university educations. Of the 537 students studying robotics, half are girls. They have won numerous competitions, beating out private-school students.

“Colombia is one of the most unequal countries in the world,” Orth said. “We find the diamonds in the rough and send the most gifted kids to weekend English classes and try to teach English in a more comprehensive way.”

“The foundation has made a huge difference in my life. I have done so many dark stories, that this has been a way to go from the dark to the light.” ///

“Colombia is one of the most unequal countries in the world. We find the diamonds in the rough and send the most gifted kids to weekend English classes and try to teach English in a more comprehensive way.”

- Maureen Orth

Marianne Stanton is the former editor and publisher of The Inquirer and Mirror and Nantucket Today. She retired last summer after 42 years at the newspaper.

Orth interviewing Beatle Paul McCartney.

Who’s NANTUCKET

Jon Zack, CEO Roastd General Store 10 Airport Road

Roastd is excited to announce the opening of its new and larger store inside Airport Gas!

When we took over Roastd in September 2021, we recognized that adding food offerings was essential to becoming a sustainable business that serves the local community and our staff year-round. In 2022, we built a tiny kitchen but quickly realized we needed something much bigger to keep up with demand. So, when the opportunity arose to bring our vision of a modern general store to life, we seized it. On July 15, 2024, we quietly opened Roastd at Airport Gas, featuring a much larger store, an expanded coffee bar, and, most importantly, a significantly bigger kitchen.

Why Did You Need a Bigger Kitchen?

A bigger kitchen was crucial because we envisioned Roastd as a modern general store with a strong focus on providing highquality food at reasonable prices. With a full-size kitchen, we can now offer fresh, house-made grab-and-go options for breakfast, lunch, and soon, dinner, all year round. This allows us to maintain the quality of our ingredients while keeping our prices accessible to everyone.

What is a Modern General Store?

General stores used to be the heart of local communities, offering freshly made food, baked goods, beverages, and a variety of other essential items. Our vision of a modern general store is all about convenience and quality. We understand that people are busy and time is valuable, but they still want high-quality food, beverages, and grocery items. Our goal is to make these items easily accessible and of the highest quality.

Are You a Grocery Store?

While we aren’t a place for doing your major grocery shopping, we do provide a variety of produce, dairy, personal items, sundries, and other grocery essentials that are both convenient and reasonably priced. We aim to make grabbing those lastminute items quick and easy, just like a traditional general store. Whether you’re looking for basic necessities or something a little more special, we’ve got you covered with what we like to call “staples and specialty” items.

Our mission is to offer fresh-made food and beverages every day while giving our customers the convenience of picking up those last-minute items they need.

“Roastd, where quality meets convenience”

Who’s NANTUCKET

2 Union St. www.

From the moment Jessica Hicks stepped into her first jewelry workshop, she discovered that her lifelong creative spirit had finally found its medium; a hands-on craft where each piece she designs is born not from sketches, but from the natural beauty around her and the energy that flows directly from her heart to her hands. The jewelry designer began hand-crafting pieces in high school, later turning her passion into a career by moving to Nantucket in 1997 to design for various jewelry shops. After opening her own space in 2007, Jessica now wears the title of business owner, jewelry designer, supermom, and Nantucket’s local gem.

What inspires you when you are approaching a new jewelry design?

I am inspired by shapes and patterns in nature. I love walking along the beach and getting lost in all of the beautiful things I see. From shells, rocks and flowers to driftwood, I am surrounded by beauty here on Nantucket! I try to recreate all of these natural elements in my jewelry designs.

What keeps you motivated when creating new work that also satisfies your customers?

When creating my jewelry, I have to be true to myself and be true to what I know I love making. If I were to design pieces with the thought of only satisfying my customers and not myself, it would become “a job” and not my art. I think that’s why my customers always come back to me for more.

How did you get involved in designing jewelry that appears as a “character” in an Elin Hilderbrand novel?

Elin has been a friend and fan of my jewelry for years; she owns numerous pieces and is so supportive of small business owners like myself, and mentions many of us in her books. The more Elin included me in her stories, the more her fans loved seeing what pieces of mine she was wearing.

I am incredibly grateful to Elin and for her support. Her novel, The Perfect Couple, was a great story and I couldn’t believe she made one of my rings such a big part of the storyline. I now call it the ‘Perfect Couple Ring’ and it is one of my most popular pieces.

What is your favorite material or stone to work with?

I work with both silver and gold but I don’t have a favorite; I wear and use them both. However, my favorite stone is probably diamonds. I mean, who doesn’t love a sparkly piece of jewelry?

Can you describe your favorite time of year on Nantucket?

My favorite time on Nantucket is the fall. The humidity disappears leaving behind a clear, deep blue sky. The air feels crisp and with the summer crowds gone, the island slows down offering a sense of tranquility; everything feels peaceful.

Who’s NANTUCKET

Nantucket Stone & Kitchen Design

Visit us at 54 Old South Road. www.nantucketstoneandkitchendesign.com

Nantucket Stone is the leading supplier of stone and quartz countertops. Unlike other suppliers, we are local, which means we intimately understand the logistics of moving products within our community and from the mainland. Need cabinets for your next project? Nantucket Kitchen Design, the island’s premier provider of custom-designed luxury cabinets, is now part of the Nantucket Stone family. Our goal is to offer a one-stop solution for all your dream kitchen needs. No matter the complexity of your project, we look forward to the opportunity to work with you to bring your vision to life.

What makes Nantucket Stone & Kitchen Design special?

We have a deep understanding of Nantucket’s unique architectural heritage. Our team’s diverse skill sets and unwavering dedication enable us to create spaces that showcase the distinctive style and character of your Nantucket home.

Need inspiration for your next project?

We invite you to visit our showroom at 54 Old South Road, where you can explore the latest trends in stonework, marble and quartz countertops, tile, and cabinetry. It’s the ideal place to meet with your designer or builder and make your material selections in person.

What makes Nantucket Stone & Kitchen Design unique?

It’s rare to find luxury cabinets designed with the insight and expertise of your countertop surface provider. This synergy leads to innovative solutions and flawlessly executed projects, delivering a seamless, stress-free experience from start to finish. Simply put, it’s a game-changer.

What is it like to do business with Nantucket Stone & Kitchen Design?

We are a family-owned and operated business, and we treat our clients, builders, and designers like family. With over 20 years of specialized experience working in some of Nantucket’s finest homes, including ten years on the Island itself, we are proud to partner with over 100 local builders to deliver an unparalleled customer experience, with an attention to detail that satisfies even the most discerning clientele.

Who’s NANTUCKET

We have a passion for two things. Nantucket and Cannabis. We are not a chain, this is our only dispensary. Ack Natural was built from the ground up to cultivate, process and produce the best cannabis products in the country cultivated and sold on Nantucket. The three on-site grow rooms located 30 feet below the ground, are state of the art and fully automated. Our production facility has some of the best equipment in existence to create the best product possible for the consumer. We offer the largest selection on Nantucket from flower, pre-rolls, infused pre-rolls, thc seltzers, vape pens, edibles, and concentrates. We are the only place on Nantucket for ½ and ounce options.

What makes the cannabis products at Ack Natural special?

We create small batch craft cannabis. Our cultivation and extraction team has been perfecting their craft far longer than it has been legally available. We also have the latest specialized equipment just for creating the best flower, concentrates and consumables in the industry.

Is there anything new at Ack Natural?

Yes, many things. For one, effect specific edibles. We infuse some of our edibles with specific compounds from the plant that have shown to have certain effects. We have edibles for Sleep, infused with CBN, CBD and CBG. Ones to be Awake, with THCv and Chill Out with 5:1 CBD:THC and CBG, which makes you happy. Our new line coming out soon will have CBC and CBDv, which have shown promise in pain reduction and antiinflammatory properties.

What is unique about Ack Natural?

We have some fun things at Ack Natural, we have a glass rental program. If you forgot your piece at home, or if you want to try something new, for $10, you can rent it daily. We also, have infused pre-rolls, called Lobster Rolls. They are 60/40 flower keif, they come in a special hemp cone with a glass cooling tip, and they pack a punch. They are the cheapest Lobster Rolls on Nantucket! We also sell a 5-gram Cannagar for the adventurous type and a cross joint straight out of Pineapple Express among many other products.

What is it like to do business on Nantucket?

We love it. We share our surf report on Instagram daily with 7 other businesses, we have a section in our store just for Nantucket made products. We support many charities including Nantucket Housing, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Food Pantry, NISHA, Nantucket Pride, and many more. We work with many of Nantucket’s businesses offering deals and discounts, we live here, we patronize them and they return the favor.

Mid Century Modern

BY MARY BERGMAN | PHOTOS COURTESY OF NHA AND THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION

“Some people come to Nantucket with the idea of building a house of contemporary design; others arrive here with long hair and unconventional clothes – and many of the islanders have a hard time deciding which is the greater sin.”

- Stanley Carr, “Off-island notions ruffle Nantucket’s springtime calm,” The New York Times, May 1970.

Geodesic Dome, built 1960, demolished 2002

One of the most unique structures to appear on Nantucket was a Buckminster Fuller-inspired geodesic dome. Fuller applied for a patent on geodesic domes in the 1950s. But it wasn’t until the 1964 World’s Fair that their popularity as homes grew, as they were energy-efficient and could be integrated into the natural environment.

The oldest surviving Buckminster Fuller-built geodesic dome can be found on the mainland in Woods Hole. The Nantucket dome house was configured slightly differently than a traditional dome, as the bottom had walls, traditional doors and windows. The dome home was built in 1960 for Dr. Richard Morgan of South Lincoln.

Island builder James Lamb assembled the structure on a lot on Cliff Road, adjoining Tupancy Links. A later owner told Historic Nantucket in 2001 that she was “attracted to the house’s spare and open living arrangements and to the ocean views, beach and enveloping land.”

The Pink House, built 1950s, demolished 2000

A little bit of Palm Springs could once be found in Polpis. The Pink House, a onestory modern ranch home, used to look out onto Polpis Harbor. Built for Elizabeth “Siki” Wagley Lucas Evans, architect Philip Johnson was involved in the original design of the house.

Johnson was regarded as one of the major American architectural minds of the 20th century.

The Pink House featured a beautiful garden with an arched gate and walls, all painted pale pink. The Pink House was demolished in 2000.

There was a moment when houses built by modern architects shared the island landscape with stately sea captain’s houses and rose-covered summer cottages that have enchanted visitors and residents alike for hundreds of years.

What happens when an island out of time somehow reflects a certain time? How do certain homes, often designed by well-known architects, come to symbolize the culture clash on the island between those who wanted to welcome modernity and those who shunned it? While we take great pride in houses built in the 19th century, why do the houses built in the 1960s and 1970s not get the same respect?

There are not many of them left, but they were a symbol that just as the history of Nantucket is not all whaling captains, the island’s historic architecture is not all gray shingles and saltbox houses.

The years between 1955 and 1970 were a time of creative experimentation for artists, architects and builders who sought to build modern houses that took cues from Nantucket’s storied history and sense of place, while looking to the future of architecture and design.

This short window of time, after the establishment

of the local historic districts in 1955 and before the subsequent expansion to regulate building across Nantucket, Tuckernuck and even Muskeget, saw several modern and experimental buildings constructed, mostly in outlying areas defined by open expanses and ocean views.

At the same time, an influx of counterculture youth started making the island their home. Many in the community bristled at the introduction of modernity: both in cultural mores, and in buildings.

This cultural clash on the Little Gray Lady even made it into the other Gray Lady when The New York Times reported in May 1970, “Some people come to Nantucket with the idea of building a house of contemporary design; others arrive here with long hair and unconventional clothes – and many of the islanders have a hard time deciding which is the greater sin.”

An influx of “the hippie element” in the 1960s saw attempts to legislate the island’s youth culture by

Jacobs House, built 1968, demolished 2018

Architect Frederick A. “Tad” Stahl was well-known for designing many landmarks in the city of Boston, more than 25 public libraries in Massachusetts and leading the restoration of Quincy Market and the Old South Meeting House.

He designed just one house on Nantucket, for summer resident and Yale School of Architecture student and artist Marjorie Jacobs, on her Madaket property in 1968.

The house was featured in a 1970 issue of House Beautiful magazine: “Tall Roofs Angling for the Sun,” the magazine reported, “Commanding a wild stretch of beach like an ancient citadel, this vacation home slashes the Nantucket sky with its audacious roofline.”

The Jacobs house met the wrecking ball in March of 2018, 50 years after its construction.

1969. These proposed bylaws were referred to as “hippie controlling measures” and welcomed by many summer and yearround residents alike.

“Last summer, our beach was covered with hippies who parked their bicycles on my lawn: in one case, dressed and undressed in my garage for the beach and occasionally slept there,” a Mrs. Stanley Brown wrote to the Nantucket Board of Selectmen. “I am delighted you are protecting our interests.”

Long-hairs treading barefoot over the island’s time-worn cobblestones with dogs and babies in tow did not jibe with the island’s attempts to brand itself as an exclusive enclave.

At a November 1970 Special Town Meeting, the town enacted bylaws that prohibited hitchhiking and sleeping in the open on the beach. Even today, there are laws against campgrounds on Nantucket, unless you are a Boy Scout or Girl Scout.

Modern architecture on Nantucket was seen by some in much the same way as the influx of hippies, as an attack on the historic structures that drew throngs of tourists to the island in the first place.

As one letter-writer wrote to The Inquirer and Mirror, dismayed, “Triangular and other geometric monstrosities rise up like sentinels against the sky, defiance of tradition written in

bold, but invisible letters on every roof.”

This writer went on to encourage all residents to support the extension of the historic district, to ensure the island remained “one of the last remaining outposts of aesthetic awareness, tradition and sanity in a world gone mad.”

The passage of time usually puts things into perspective. Most of the hippies grew older, bought property and became respected members of the Nantucket community. The modern houses have proven harder to preserve.

Why did so many of these houses disappear? Nantucket’s economy is reliant on heritage tourism and the resulting second-home market. The island is billed to visitors as a place where time stops, or at the very least, slows. But the Nantucket National Historic Landmark period of significance – that is, the time period the U.S. Park Service wants Nantucket to protect – extends until 1975.

This update to the landmark status happened in 2012, but many of these mid-century structures were allowed to be demolished before that date.

Trying to save modern architecture is one of the most contentious frontiers in the field of historic preservation. It is all the more challenging on Nantucket, where so many who vacation on

the island see her sandy shores as a respite from modern life. Maybe they don’t want to be reminded of the real world.

Architectural critic Paul Goldberger said in a 2017 presentation on the island, “After all, in the 1960s and 1970s, as the preservation movement was building, modern architecture did not always seem like a particularly sympathetic option. Indeed, sympathy for older architecture, and belief in the power of architectural context was something many modernists disdained.”

“Modernism took the arrogant view that new times demanded architecture utterly new, utterly different and utterly indifferent to anything around it. No wonder people ran as fast as they could into what they thought was the safe embrace of old, 19th-century shingled architecture.”

Everything is cyclical. Prior generations of historic preservationists, on and off Nantucket, saw Victorian architecture as ugly and garish. Many Victorian homes on Nantucket were stripped of their gingerbread trim to better blend in with the Colonial Revival architecture that was popular at the time. Still other Victorian houses were demolished. The Victorian homes that survived are rare and prized.

Future generations will undoubtedly wonder why Nantucket’s modern homes were allowed to be demolished. Many of these designs would never be approved under today’s Historic District regulations. Maybe that’s why they are so captivating. On an island where many new homes are cookie-cutter designs, these modern homes represent a moment of creativity that can never be replicated.

Mary Bergman is executive director of the Nantucket Preservation Trust. She writes regularly for Nantucket Today.

Left: Trubeck and Wislocki Houses, built 1971-72, still standing. Located in Pocomo, they are some of Nantucket’s best-known examples of surviving modern architecture. Built by noted architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown in 1971-72 for a Yale professor and his family, their shingles have weathered to a respectable gray. It helps that noted architectural historian Vincent Scully wrote reverently of the structures, saying, “Venturi creates a totally different and equally valid image of America, of the empty horizon, the lonely island and the Viking sea.”

Bottom: Looking to own a modern home on Nantucket? Nantucket’s only round house, a unique addition to the Pocomo waterfront, was built before HDC guidelines were established. Today it is on the market.

Eternal Art and Love: Susan Crehan-Hostetler’s Journey to Honor David

Hostetler’s Legacy

By Nicole Vawter

“Artwork never dies,” Susan Crehan-Hostetler proudly declares as she shares her late-husband David Hostetler’s history with me. Susan has been on a journey for the past decade to preserve the renowned artist’s legacy in the Nantucket community and beyond. The artwork itself seems to do that through the generations of customers that cherish David’s work.

David first opened the Hostetler Gallery in 1983 on Old South Wharf and brought Susan on to help sell his artwork. The two later married, becoming the ultimate art-couple. The gallery moved to its current location at 42 Centre Street in 2012, which Susan says, “has really opened our world to having other artists on the walls beside Hostetler.” The gallery sells work from photographers, painters, sculptors and more. Susan notes that many of the pieces on display in the gallery are from female artists.

Susan’s passion for David’s work radiates through her voice as she explains how her clients have become a part of her family just as David’s artwork has become a part of theirs. “David had a sixtynine-year career,” Susan said. “We truly have a wonderful history of clients who have become our friends over the years.”

She recounts a recent experience at the Gallery, where she instantly recognized a family who had first purchased David’s work back in the 1980s. “Clients like them really make an impact on me. They have remained in my heart throughout all of these years.”

David’s artwork is both beautiful and timeless. Susan hopes it will be cherished by future generations of past buyers, as well as new ones. “It’s timeless. It belongs anywhere, anytime,” she said. One of the ways Susan is keeping David’s spirit alive throughout the community is by loaning several of his sculptures to areas around the island.

A local hidden gem during the holidays is the Hostetler sculpture at the entrance of the road to Susan’s home, which the neighbors dress up in Christmas attire.

You can view David’s artwork at the Hostetler Gallery, 42 Centre Street on Nantucket, or by calling Susan to make an appointment, 740-591-8180.

I’ll Take Manhattan

STORY AND PHOTO BY KEVIN STANTON

In the world of cocktails three reign supreme: the martini, the old fashioned and the Manhattan. These classic cocktails are not particularly complicated to make but seem to get botched more times than not.

Each of these have typically three ingredients or less and knowing the right proportions is key to making a well-balanced drink. But we are not here to talk about three classics, just one: the Manhattan.

The Manhattan has deep roots in the world of classic cocktails. It first made its appearance in the late 1800s, although there is much debate about when and how it was first created. It is a cocktail that transcends seasons. A drink that conjures images of men in Stetson hats and wing-tipped shoes crowded around a table after work cloaked in a cloud of cigarette smoke.

For those who like to make cocktails at home a few staple ingredients are all you need to craft this classic and impress your guests.

The ingredients of this drink are simple: whiskey, sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters. Like I said before, proportions are key, and with a few tweaks this drink can be modified to satisfy you on a warm summer’s night or a cold and blustery December evening. The things to take into consideration are spirit and vermouth, or more specifically what you use in place of vermouth.

While typically made with whiskey, you can substitute the base spirit to spice things up. Most know the Scotch whiskey version, The Rob Roy. When made with aged dark rum the drink is known as a Cuban Manhattan.

A version that has Nantucket roots, in name only, is the Marconi Wireless, made with apple brandy. Guglielmo Marconi, the Nobel Prize-winning Italian engineer, famously had a wireless station in Sconset where in 1909 it was used in the first rescue at sea made possible by wireless communications.

I prefer to use rye whiskey because its spice stands up to the sweet vermouth flavor profile better than bourbon. Now for the type of vermouth, or in some cases no vermouth. You may have heard of the Perfect Manhattan which calls for a split of sweet and dry vermouth, but have you heard of a Black Manhattan?

I ask this because it’s a drink I do not get a call for often, if ever, from guests at the bar. I only started making them recently for a sous chef where I work for his shift drink.

The Black Manhattan substitutes Italian amaro in place of sweet vermouth. For those of you not familiar with Italian amaro it is a digestif, typically made with a gentian root as well as a blend of herbs, which vary depending on what region of Italy you are in.

In northern Italy, close to the Alps, they use alpine herbs. The amaro, Braulio, is a perfect expression of this. A favorite amaro of my wife Danielle is Cynar, which has a base of artichokes. Say it with me, Chee-NAR.

Cynar is more bittersweet than medicinal, as some can be. Both of these amari will give drastically different flavor profiles. But, if you enjoy bartending at home, the process of exploration should pique your interest.

For those who are looking to dip their toe into the world of Black Manhattans but aren’t quite ready to give up the vermouth altogether I suggest you try the Punt E Mes. Punt E Mes, which roughly translates to “point and a half,” is a blend of sweet vermouth and amaro.

It is created by the Italian company Carpano, which also makes the famous Carpano Antica sweet vermouth. While the garnish for a Manhattan is typically a cherry, a lemon twist adds a welcome brightness to this cocktail. And, as for the addition of aromatic bitters, I would opt to skip them in this drink.. ///

Kevin Stanton grew up on Nantucket and is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He writes regularly for Nantucket Today.

Classic Manhattan

2-1/2 ounces rye whiskey

3/4 ounce sweet vermouth

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Serve up or on the rocks with a cherry.

Black Manhattan

2-1/2 ounces rye whiskey

3/4 ounce amaro of choice

Serve up with a lemon twist.

A Rod, A Reel, and the Sweetness of Great Point in Autumn

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAM GAMMILL

A false albacore caught from the beach

“Why is it so sweet a part of my life, and why is it less ego driven than so many other things I do? In the 30 years that I’ve lived on Nantucket and fished there for striped bass and bluefish, I’ve tended to understate the size of my fish.”

- David Halberstam,

“How to Find Your True Purpose” in bestlifeonline.com

I’m driving on soft sand looking to the east with rolling waves and the sun rising on the horizon. When I look to the west, I see the greenest of dune grass blowing in a light breeze.

Eventually, as I drive further, guided by the tracks so much that I don’t even steer my vehicle, I can see the ocean to the east and west with Great Point Light as my guide.

When I close my eyes and think about the quintessential Nantucket fishing experience, that very clear image comes to my mind. Great Point is the epitome of Nantucket fishing and September is the best time of year on this stretch of famous beach.

While I had always spent time fishing at Great Point, it wasn’t until I was in my early 20s that I realized how good we have it.

I was standing in the old Bill Fisher Tackle on New Lane with Bill Pew, when a crew of guys in hooded sweatshirts and coffee mugs parked their pickup trucks with New Jersey plates in his driveway.

Bill said to me, “Oh, it’s that time of year again.” These guys walked in like they owned the place and gammed it up for the next 20 minutes. It was then that I realized that these guys made the pilgrimage through New England and out to our little island simply to spend a week at

Great Point and enjoy the magic that the fishery provides. At that moment I realized that we shouldn’t take what we have for granted. The next day, I headed up to the point on a quintessential September day. There was a light north breeze, with crystal clear blue skies and an ounce of a chill that required a flannel shirt.

I had with me a brand new fly rod that I desperately wanted to christen. I parked in the upper parking lot and walked south so that I could be by myself. It was midafternoon, so only a few other anglers were on the beach. After stretching my line, I noticed an explosion of fish a few hundred yards down the beach. I ran as fast as I could with the fly line in my hand and as luck would have it, these fish were still doing their thing when I got there. I put my line over the fish and on the third strip, it went tight. It was a feeling I’ll never forget. That fish took off and did its thing. Eventually, I landed a false albacore and, in that moment, I got it. Great Point is special, and I should consider myself lucky to have such easy access to it.

In September, an angler has a reasonable shot at catch-

Once you see signs of fish, simply stop and plug that area for a while. I love top-water fishing since they are so aggressive, but retrieve a Hopkins subsurface and you’ll have consistent action.

ing all four major species that we primarily fish for from the beach. The only beach that offers that opportunity is Great Point.

Driving the beach to the north, you’ll reliably see bluefish slicks on the outside. Most of the season we have blues cruising up and down the east side in the cooler, deeper water.

Once you see signs of fish, simply stop and plug that area for a while. I love top-water fishing since they are so aggressive, but retrieve a Hopkins subsurface and you’ll have consistent action.

Striped bass may be the most elusive fish to catch at Great Point depending on the water temperatures in September. You’ll do better late than early, but my advice to anglers is to work the east side of the point at night or in low-light situations.

Fish a jig or swimming plug slowly and deliberately and you’ll be rewarded. The other great secret is to fish the harbor on the way out to the point as the temperatures drop. These fish love cruising the shallows looking for crabs and eels.

Bonito are generally the most difficult beach fish to catch and really can only be caught from Great Point. To catch them from other beaches is relatively rare. These fish come in to the shallow water in low-light situations and using a small metal is your best bet with these fish.

These days, false albacore seem to be the biggest draw for our beach anglers in September. These “little tunny” run the shoreline and many times are more accessible from the beach than from the boat.

I like to use a nine- or 10-foot rod with a heavier metal to cover more water. These fish are on the inside and outside. But make sure your gear is in great order because they will take you for a ride.

Great Point is unique in that it is a long, narrow stretch of beach that accesses the Atlantic. The shallower and warmer Chord of the Bay is the starting point for the rip that is the confluence of both waterways. As a result, it is a dynamic ecosystem that attracts all sorts of life. Many days, it’s worth just sitting back and watching the show.

Speaking of the ecosystem, I would be remiss not to mention the seal activity. Over the last 10 years, Great Point has become synonymous with seals.

They are flourishing with the ecosystem and have a significant food source there. The seals can be quite aggressive and will attack the fish on the end of your line.

Generally, if I see seals, I don’t fish in the area. If they do sneak up on you, tighten your drag and get your fish to the beach or open your bail and let it swim free. Don’t think you’ll be the lucky angler who will get it by the seals.

The quality of the fishing at Great Point in September is not what creates the magic for me. It’s the overall experience. It’s the bright skies. It’s the clean air.

And it’s being part of something wild and real. It’s also the spot where I caught my first fish ever. A friend and I were talking this morning and he was telling me about his adult children who were fishing with him yesterday.

“Nice to see the boys that I dragged out to Great Point at 5 a.m. when they were 7 years old still fishing and enjoying the pearls of the island,” he said.

He couldn’t be more right. ///

Cam Gammill is co-owner of Bill Fisher Tackle and writes the weekly “Fish Finder” column for The Inquirer and Mirror.

NiSHA gives animals a second chance and has never turned away an animal in need.

Nantucket’s local animal resource center provides shelter and medical care to pets who have been lost, relinquished, or abandoned until they can either be reunited with their families or find a permanent home. NiSHA also helps overburdened shelters in New England and beyond by taking in healthy and friendly animals who are looking for loving families but may not have a chance otherwise. The number of pets euthanized in shelters each year is once again on the rise. NiSHA is doing its part to help reverse this alarming trend by taking cats, dogs—even rabbits and guinea pigs—from high-volume shelters and bringing them to Nantucket, where loving families are ready to welcome them home. Until each pet has a home, NiSHA will be here to help.

Since 2012, NiSHA has sheltered thousands of animals. Additionally, it has prevented hundreds of pets from being relinquished by offering financial grants, behavioral training, spay/neuter vouchers, a pet food pantry, and other practical assistance to keep animals in the loving homes they already have.

NiSHA encourages people who can’t commit to a pet permanently, to consider becoming a foster parent. Placing shelter animals temporarily in homes rather than housing them in kennels helps with loneliness, depression, and training regression. It’s also a great way for potential adopters to determine whether they are ready for the responsibility of a pet.

If you are interested in adopting or fostering a shelter pet, please reach out to NiSHA for more information. There are millions of homeless animals across the country just waiting for a chance.

Hatch

Tilly

Luke

Momo

Pepper Jack

Inky Santa is Nantucket’s answer to helping families who are struggling during the holidays to provide Christmas gifts for their kids. Through donations from island businesses and seasonal and year-round residents, Inky Santa is able to make Christmas a little merrier for island families.

First begun in 1985 by firefighter Tom Holden and his wife Betsy as a Toys for Tots program, it was joined the following year by The Inquirer and Mirror, when editor and publisher Marianne Stanton saw that using the reach of the newspaper could expand the message of need and increase donations. That partnership has endured ever since to the benefit of island children.

Over the last 39 years, Inky Santa has worked to ensure that no island kids go without on Christmas morning. Please help us continue that tradition and donate this year.

YOU can Help Fulfill a Child’s Wish List this Holiday Season!

What do turkey vultures and Carolina wrens have in common?

STORY BY VIRGINIA ANDREWS | PHOTOS BY TOM GRISWOLD AND TRISH PASTUSZAK

Carolina Wren

One, black with silver underwings and a red, naked head, soaring, tipping in the air on its almost five-and-a-half-foot wingspan, dines on carrion.

The other, a tiny, pert flash of cinnamon and cream, about five and a half inches long, dines on insects.

Turkey Vulture

But both species are among the birds that were once rare in New England but have gradually extended their range north. Range includes sightings but also can mean a bird has become native, has hatched in a place or is breeding and nesting there.

Turkey vultures, breeding in the South, had made few appearances in Massachusetts in 1878. They first emerged in the western part of the state. In 1954 a nest with downy young was discovered in Tyringham, marking their arrival as a breeding species.

By the 1970s they had occupied few places east of the Connecticut River Valley. There was one Nantucket sighting in May 1930, but they remained rare here until the 1980s. Secretive about nesting, Nantucket’s first youngster was not found until the early 2000s in Quidnet.

It was in the 1980s that Carolina wrens also began their conquest of Nantucket. They were first mentioned in Massachusetts in 1877, but were not found breeding until a nest was discovered on Naushon Island in 1901.

They suffered in hard winters, huddling in the swampy lowlands of southeastern Massachusetts through the 1970s. But by 2011 they were mapped in all 11 Atlas blocks on Nantucket. Carolina wrens benefited from people feeding them, but that alone does not completely offset the effects of hard winters.

Turkey vultures have never gotten quite the same treatment enjoyed by cuter birds.

Take the story of the northern cardinals. Despite their name, they were once also southern breeders. The first ones were brought north as cage birds, pets, in the 19th century. Some escaped, but did not breed in the wild in Massachusetts until 1958. They are now common across the Northeast, nesting even in our downtown hedges.

We humans have always looked to the natural world to tell us what is going on out there: the arrival of birds in the spring, the flowering of plants. In an agrarian society native plants and animals were helpful guides, telling us when to plant crops, when to hunt and pursue other seasonal activities. In these modern times,

of course, most of us never have to think about these things in that way.

Before the advent of refrigeration, for example, people cut ice on fresh-water ponds in the winter, storing the blocks in sawdust in small buildings for summer use.

The musical “Oklahoma!” contains a line, “Poor Judd is dead . . . but it’s summer and we’re running out of ice,” a problem that was still recognizable to mid-20th century audiences, but is obscure today.

Do birds sense climate change? They are descended from dinosaurs that could fly, maybe the ultimate survivors. When disaster comes, they can get out of the way. But some are more inclined to wander than others. So we also look at plants, and at records from the past.

Do birds sense climate change? They are descended from dinosaurs that could fly, maybe the ultimate survivors. When disaster comes, they can get out of the way. But some are more inclined to wander than others. So we also look at plants, and at records from the past.

Researchers using Henry David Thoreau’s detailed nature records at Walden Pond compared his years of data to pres-

ent-day observations and found that spring, in the same location, with the same birds and plants, is now occurring three weeks earlier.

As for sea-level rise, scientists measure the depth of saltmarsh vegetation. Spartina alterniflora grows to the level of high tide, reaching for the surface season after season. So we can chart the arrival and depth of saltwater over what was once dry land, or a fresh-water pond.

Some birds have moved because of our other actions. Double-crested cormorants, now so common that we don’t think twice about them – except when cleaning up a boat after one of their visits – were also rare through the 1940s. But that was more due to intentional persecution than temperature. They nested successfully in Maine. They first nested on our island in 2006. Baltimore orioles nested elsewhere in Massachusetts from colonial days, but Nantucket lacked suitable trees. This probably also explains the lack of blue jays in the 1940s. Only one

Summer Tanager

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

pair was found in the Hidden Forest.

Orchard orioles, on the other hand, began to make their erratic progress north around 1975. As habitats changed, our former grassland birds such as grasshopper sparrows, upland sandpipers and eastern meadowlarks have vanished or become scarce. But we can attribute their loss more to development than temperature.

We have also initiated other unintended consequences. The giant Canada goose, a Midwestern subspecies, was nearly hunted to extinction in its native plains by the early 20th century. Attempts to re-introduce it succeeded so well that many of these large grass-feeders moved to urban areas where they have no need to migrate at all. Hunter-free parks, lawns and golf courses provide all they need.

One enterprising flock settled in recently to eat at a landscaper’s pile at the dump, finding a banquet-sized fast-food mound of fresh grass clippings.

Other than the usual, seasonal migration, are northern birds also nesting further south? The prevailing direction seems to be south to north. Short-eared owls, once common yearround here, are now only occasionally seen in winter.

There are patterns: we are finding more and more southern “accidentals,” or seeing them more frequently. Once vagrant, great egrets and snowy egrets are now established breeders. No longer so rare, little blue heron, tri-colored heron, yel-

low-crowned night-heron and clapper rail breed here occasionally.

More recent sightings of pioneers from the South include black-bellied whistling duck, wood stork, greater flamingo, white-tailed and red-tailed tropicbirds, brown booby, anhinga, magnificent frigatebird, black-necked stilt, American avocet, gull-billed tern, chuck-will’s-widow, summer tanager and painted bunting. Who will stay? Who will leave? We don’t know – yet.

We need to evaluate nature’s clues closely, when dissecting the causes of change. But changes are becoming more and more noticeable.

The winter of 2023-24 was exceptionally mild. It did snow – once – accumulating perhaps a quarter of an inch before melting. And for a few hours there was a thin skim of ice –nothing for the ice-box – on some of the ponds. But for the first time in living memory, at least one belted kingfisher – a bird depending on open water – remained all winter. ///

Virginia “Ginger” Andrews writes the “Island Bird Sightings” column for The Inquirer and Mirror and is a frequent contributor to Nantucket Today.

Black-necked Stilt

Painted Bunting

Nantucket Island is a picturesque paradise filled with adventure, boasting 35 miles of scenic trails perfect for cycling. Visitors find joy in exploring these beautiful paths, partnering with Cook’s Cycles Nantucket to rent the ideal bike for their journey. Whether they choose the leisurely eight-speed cruiser for a relaxed ride, the invigorating electric bikes for an extra boost or opt for a stylish moped, Cook’s has something to suit every preference.

In between cycling adventures, many travelers enjoy a delightful stop at Cook’s Café, a cherished partner that serves healthy food on the go. Established in the late ‘90s, this charming café offers a menu filled with hearty wraps, flavorful vegan bowls and refreshing smoothies, providing the perfect nourishment to recharge before hitting the trails again.

To ensure that visitors keep coming back year after year, Affordable Rentals, conveniently located in Downtown Nantucket, makes exploring the island a breeze. Just steps from the Steamship Ferry Dock and the Hy-Line Ferry Terminal, they offer a wide range of vehicles that take guests to stunning destinations like Great Point, Sconset and Surfside. For those flying into the Nantucket Memorial Airport, Affordable Rentals provides a hassle-free booking option that helps avoid hidden airport fees, ensuring seamless travel throughout the island. With friendly staff ready to assist, every guest enjoys their stay to the fullest, creating countless memorable adventures in this charming island destination.

The Nantucket design studio Olson Twombly consists of the husband and husband team of Joe Olson and Clay Twombly. Specializing in luxury residential interiors, Joe and Clay and their team take into account architecture, color, furnishings, textiles, lighting and art, offering full service custom design that creates personal narratives expressive of their client’s lives and experiences.

With combined backgrounds that include experience at New York-based interiors and architecture firms, as well as in fashion and jewelry design, Joe and Clay bring a unique perspective to interiors. Their approach is founded on the belief that a home should be a reflection of the client’s personality and lifestyle. Creating interiors that combine warmth and sophistication, Olson Twombly ensures that every project embraces a client’s spirit. And in collaborating with fine craftsmen, uncovering exceptional pieces and creating memorable details, the ultimate objective, as Clay states, “is always making our client’s lives more beautiful, their homes more comfortable, and their senses more plentiful.”

From the relaxed, seaside homes on the island, to refined and urbane projects in New York, Miami and Boston, or understated elegance out West, Olson Twombly has been sought after for their ability to combine innovative interior architecture and timeless decorative design. Whether it’s a new home, a full renovation, or reconfiguring spaces such as a new kitchen or bathrooms, the studio can provide design and direction for all elements of the interior.

Clay Twombly

Joe Olson

Cliff | 14 Lincoln Circle 6 Bedrooms | 7 Full, 3 Half Bathrooms | $23,750,000 Gary Winn, Broker

Cisco | 2 Marion Avenue 6

Gary Winn, Broker & Bernadette Meyer, Broker

Brant Point | 47 Hulbert Avenue

Winn, Broker

Gary Winn, Broker & Morgan Winn, Sales Associate

Tom Nevers | 34 Bosworth Road

Gary Winn, Broker & Morgan Winn, Sales Associate

Cisco | 1 Smooth

Way

Gary Winn, Broker

26 Milk Street | Wonderful opportunity awaits! This gorgeous double lot features a 4-bedroom/3.5-bathroom antique main house dating back to 1770 as well as a Gambrel-style cottage built in 1900. The manicured gardens and lush green yard are where you will want to spend long Summer days into the evening. There is ample ground cover remaining and off-street parking for 2 vehicles. The double lot measures approximately 10,757 sq. ft. Existing ground cover is 2,143 sq. ft. with allowable ground cover of 4,302 sq. ft.+/- or 40%. | $5,850,000

19 Sherburne Turnpike | LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! One of the last remaining vacant lots near Lincoln Circle. This 22,859+/- sq. ft. lot measures approximately 85’ X 260’. Utilities located on Sherburne Turnpike. HDC-approved plans by WorkshopAPD (Andrew Kotchen) for a 6,091 sq. ft. main house, garage w/studio above totaling 1000 sq. ft., pool and shed. Survey and Building sketch in Documents. Site plan available upon request. 12.5% ground cover in R20 zoning. | $6,995,000.00

SALES & RENTALS OFFICES IN SCONSET & TOWN

SURFSIDE · 1 WHEROWHERO LANE · $2,450,000

Secluded and private setting with ample ground cover remaining.

TOWN · 157 MAIN STREET · $3,495,000

Cheerful and bright four-bedroom home with a spacious deck.

TOWN · 20 YORK STREET · $2,795,000

Charming five-bedroom home with an outside oasis.

SCONSET · 14 & 16 COFFIN STREET · $10,500,000

Main house, guest house, garage, and pool spanning two lots.

TOWN · 7 PLEASANT STREET · $14,490,000

property with a main house, guest house, garage, and spa.

SCONSET · 1 OCEAN AVENUE · $29,500,000

Iconic Sconset estate steeped in history with four dwellings.

Expansive

SCONSET · 72 BAXTER ROAD · $4,395,000

A hidden jewel box with whimsical gardens, a pool, and guest house.

TOM NEVERS · 124 TOM NEVERS ROAD · $6,150,000

Oceanfront main house and guest cottage with a two-bay garage.

SCONSET · 2 TOWADDY LANE · $2,750,000

Charming three-bedroom home with a versatile loft on a quiet street.

MADEQUECHAM · 10 WAQUOIT ROAD · $7,650,000

Timeless south shore home with private stairs to the beach.

Your Trusted Local Real Estate Experts

IN-TOWN ESTATE ON AN ACRE OF LAND

Built during the heyday of Nantucket’s prosperous whaling era, this iconic home is situated on over an acre of land in the heart of Town. The three story brick home has remarkable historic features including a panoramic mural and hand painted French wallpaper, as well as the conveniences of a tastefully modernized kitchen and baths. An 1850 carriage house and stable and a 1921 home are also part of the property. The stunning heirloom rose garden and a brick wall surround it all to create a secret estate on Pleasant Street.

$28,000,000 | Linda Bellevue & Mary D. Malavase

HISTORY IN THE HEART OF TOWN

Located in downtown Nantucket, this historic gem - circa 1812, features 10 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and three floors with over 4,500 sf with all the expected charm of yesteryear. Among the many original details are raised panel wainscotting, four panel doors with vintage hardware, wide pine and fir flooring, multiple fireplaces, raised panel interior window shutters and multiple cast iron claw foot bathtubs. HDC approved plans are in hand for a roof walk which would lend expansive views of Nantucket Harbor and the Sound. This treasure of a property welcomed many guests and visitors to the island as The Easton House Inn. 17 North Water Street offers an opportunity to enjoy living in the heart of Nantucket Town.

$4,850,000 | Penny Dey

HIDDEN GEM WITH VIEWS SHIP SHAPE

Delight in spectacular sunsets, summer breezes and star filled night skies surrounded by 2.7 expansive acres. Spread out and relax in the multiple living areas, 5 bedrooms, and a 2+ bedroom cottage. Tuck your car & bikes away in the two-car garage. Only three miles to town, easy access to north & south shore beaches, bike path and acres of abutting Land Bank trails make this property enjoyable any time of year.

$4,395,000 | Heidi Drew

Located on a quiet street just west town, this property offers three full floors of living space with multiple living areas, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. Detached garage, nice yard and the property is offered fully furnished.

$3,200,000 | Penny Dey

The bright and open five bedroom and five+ bathroom home sits on an oversized 1.2 acre lot. There is an attached two car garage and potential for expansion. The landscape features a swimming pool and spa, a gas fire pit, a spacious outdoor deck and screened in porch. Steps to the walking path to Surfside Beach, this property is nestled in the heart of Surfside and must see!

$7,250,000 | Meg Ruley

3 Clara Drive is nestled in the heart of the highly desirable area of Miacomet. It is central to Miacomet Golf Club, Ladies Beach, Cisco Brewery, Bartletts Farm, 167 Raw, 45 Surfside, bicycle paths, and a WAVE bus stop - IYKYK! The three bedroom two bathroom home sits on an 18,730sf oversized lot in CTEC zoning, use as is or explore expansion possibilities.

$2,325,000 | Meg Ruley

Dey, Principal Broker, GRI, ABRM

Linda Bellevue, GRI, CBR

Heidi Drew, ABR, RSPS, SRS Peter DuPont

This simple beach house is located on over an acre of land just minutes to private stairs leading to Dionis Beach.  Look out over the 300 acres of abutting conservation land to views of Long Pond and Nantucket Sound while you plan your Nantucket dream home. Listing agent is related to the seller.

$6,995,000 | Linda Bellevue

Peace and quiet on this rare 10-acre piece of land located in the middle of the island. High lot with a one acre building site and amazing sunset and water views. Enjoy simple living at it’s best in this special place unchanged by time.

$1,295,000 | Penny Dey

Alison K. Forsgren, e-Pro, NAR Green, SRES

Angel Conrad Frazier

Mary D. Malavase, GRI, ABR, SRS, RSPS

Jane B. Miller, ABR, RSPS

Meg Ruley, ABR, RSPS

Lisa Sherburne, ABR, RSPS

Melinda Vallett

Geri Walker, RSPS, SFR

VACANT LAND

Newly created 10,000 plus square foot lot in a desirable location close to mid island shopping, Town and shuttle bus stop. Don’t miss the opportunity to create your year-round or summer vacation home.

$1,275,000 | Mary D. Malavase

5 ROSE BUD LANE

Centrally located, this Residential Commercial lot allows 50% ground coverage with town water and town sewer available. Great for a small business, shop, duplex or single family home.

$850,000 | Peter DuPont

Mary O’Donnell, Office Manager

Erikka Perkins, Rental Manager

Yesenia Valer, Office Assistant

Penny

William Raveis Nantucket O ce

Bill with Amy & Henry Sanford

L to R: David Slick, Robin Slick, Wendy Beaulieu, Jenny Gi ord & Robert Young

Melanie Gowen & Wendy Beaulieu

Proud Sponsor of

Our full set of digital products, including the island’s only news APP, our

WHO’S WHO IN REAL ESTATE

HEIDI DREW

BROKER/PRINCIPAL, ABR, RSPS, SRS

Heidi@NantucketRealEstate.com

M: 508-325-2121

O: 508-228-7707 x 212

LINDA BELLEVUE

BROKER, GRI, CBR

Linda@NantucketRealEstate.com

M: 508-325-2700

O: 508-228-7707 x 235

MARY D. MALAVASE

BROKER, GRI, ABR, RSPS, SRS, SFR

Mary@NantucketRealEstate.com

M: 508-221-2093

O: 508-228-7707 x 219

M: 917-806-8213

O: 508-365-2833

michael.passaro@elliman.com www.michaelpassaro.com @michael.passaro

WHO’S WHO IN REAL ESTATE

Susan Chambers

Broker

susan@maurypeople.com

508.228.1881 ext. 100 cell: 508.560.0671 @susanchambersnantucket www.susanchambersnantucket.com

37 Main Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 maurypeople.com

Mark Norris

Sales Associate

mark@maurypeople.com

508.228.1881 ext 185 Cell: 508.566.2013

37 Main Street, Nantucket MA 02554 maurypeople.com

Sheila Carroll

Agent | Sales and Rentals

Sheila@maurypeople.com

508.228.1881 ext. 129 cell: 508.560.0488

37 Main Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 maurypeople.com

THE QUESTIONS

STORY AND PHOTO BY KEVIN STANTON

Lizza Obremski

enjoys the silly things in life.

“My mother made me really silly and weird, and I think she is very proud of that,” she said with a laugh. When we met up at the Atheneum park, children sitting around perked up and you could hear whispers.

“She is about to start a puppet show,” one said.

“Obadiah, he is my favorite,” another chimed in.

For the last couple years Obremski has made a career out of her puppet show, NanPuppets. At first it was a side project while she taught at the Nantucket Lighthouse School. But now it’s her full-time gig, performing about seven to 10 shows a week all over the island including Cisco Brewers, the Atheneum, the replica tall ship Lynx and various museums and nonprofit organizations.

She hopes her own experiences in this endeavor help inspire other creatives to take the leap of faith and lean into what they love. We talked about her creative process and her children’s variety TV show “The Lizza Show.”

THE QUESTIONS

Q: When did you start doing NanPuppets?

A: “I first started making the puppets in 2014 and my first show was the end of 2015. So, this is my 10th season.”

Q: Why puppets?

A: “I played with puppets when I was little, as most people do. When I was in college, I took a puppetry class at the University of New Hampshire. I wanted to be a puppeteer, but they told me I would have to move to New York City and work for ‘Sesame Street’ and I said, ‘I can’t do New York City, I’m from Nantucket.’ So I decided to become a teacher instead and I went to school at Wheelock College in Boston and got my degree in theater and education and was on the teaching path for a while. I would use puppets in my classroom. I took other classes in college to learn more about puppets, but it was just an accent to my teaching career. I taught at the Lighthouse School and abroad in Beirut, Lebanon at an international school and then in Costa Rica at an international school and then I moved back to Nantucket and needed a break from kids. I was sitting at the beach one day and thought, ‘Wait, I could just make a bunch of puppets and see if it works.’ I had to teach for the first six or seven years of it, but now I am all puppets all the time. The kid joy factor that you see when any kid is interacting with a puppet is unbelievable.”

Q: What was the first NanPuppet you made?

A: “The first one I made in a class was a puppet of my dad. He was like a big giant Muppet. That was the one that made me realize I’m actually good at making these. And then I didn’t make them for a long time and then with Joe Zito I made a bird.

The first puppet I made with NanPuppets was Clarence the Clam and it was because I just wanted a puppet that fit snuggly around my hand and was easy to manipulate. You hear Jim Henson talk about things like that. Kermit was the simplest puppet because it feels good and easy to move him around.”

Q: Did you get your inspiration from TV shows as a kid?

A: “When I was younger I watched ‘Fraggle Rock’ and ‘Eureka’s Castle’ and ‘Sesame Street,’ obviously. And ‘Mister Rogers.’ Actually, the Muppets kind of scared me when I was little, which I think was good because 2-year-olds are into the puppets but they are a little scared of them. So, I can understand their perspective on it.

That’s why Bonnie the Bunny is really shy and cute and timid. Every kid has a different puppet they connect with. There is the cranky puppet and the loud puppet and the silly puppet and the scary puppet. And there is always a different kid for each one. You can tell a lot from a kid based on which puppet they like.”

Q: How do you decide the personalities of the puppets and the voices for each and how much workshopping goes into it? Do you use inspiration from your friends and family?

A: “One time I heard someone say if you make characters, like puppets or cartoons or anything like that, you can see reflections of your own personality in each one. I heard that and instantly could place my personality traits into all of my puppets. I definitely have tones of voice that are inspired.

Obadiah the old salt is a lot like Rev. Ted Anderson. Once the puppet is made, I literally sit down with it and talk to it for a really long time and try different voices. That sounds kind of crazy, but they get more embodied as time goes on.”

Q: What do you get out of performing?

A: “Joy. You know, it’s weird because when I was little, I was shy. But I always loved a stage. Like dance performances and I was in plays. I know a lot of kids like that, who are shy but once you put them on a stage they want to be seen. Whenever I am performing, I’m looking at the kids and sometimes I get glimpses of adults but I am always engaging with the kids. The best thing about a puppet performance is that the kids are so excited and so happy and laughing so hard and so incredibly into it.

I’m sure we are feeding off each other’s energy, too. The more excited they get the sillier I get and the weirder the puppets are. It’s just a backand-forth kind of thing.”

Q: Do you have a formula for storytelling?

A: “Most of it is improv. Most puppet shows that other people do are like, ‘It’s ‘Cinderella’,’ and they have the characters and they play out the story. When I started messing around with puppets in the classroom it was always little shticks. It would be like, ‘If you eat your lunch and you all stay seated and we have a good time Mr. Monkey will come out at the end of lunch and you’ll get to hang out with him.’ When I first started the show I made a list of everything I knew kids loved. Like startling things, popping in and out of places, or really

soft and then really loud. I have a seal and a shark and the shark goes to bite the seal and the seal gets afraid and runs away. Just stuff that you know are standard kid things that you don’t even need to speak the language to understand that they are having a good time. So my show is me being like, ‘Hello, I want you to meet my friends,’ and they all come out and do their little shticks. And they rotate their shtick depending on who the audience is and how I’m playing off of it.”

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your TV show?

A: “It is called ‘The Lizza Show’ and it’s on YouTube and NCTV. ‘The Lizza Show’ finds the magic in every day. Every episode you come with me and the puppets and we participate in one simple activity that kids often love and parents need to be reminded they love. The first episode we go on a walk and the second episode we go mail a letter and the third we go to the library. I intersperse stopmotion animation with the puppets and storytime and sing-along. It’s a variety show with the puppets and myself.

I’m trying to make it so when kids are watching the show they are interacting with it and not just spaced out on a screen, because everyone is plugged in these days and it’s important for kids to feel like they are connecting with a human and feel that a human actually cares about what’s going on with them as well.”

Q: The ideas in your show are inspired by Nantucket and where you are from, but they are universal ideas. Do you hope to get this show out beyond this community?

A: “I have been trying to get a TV show going for over eight years. I have had so many leads and then COVID hit or then there was a strike in Hollywood. I have belief in perfect timing right now that the perfect producer and agent are going to show up and it’s going to happen. I have to just keep making the show and keep making content to make sure that person sees it. I would love to do shows off-island if I can make it work scheduling-wise and financialwise.” ///

Kevin Stanton grew up on Nantucket and is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He writes regularly for Nantucket Today.

LAST LOOK

PHOTO BY JENNIFER POWER