Winter. The quiet season. A chance for many of us to slow the pace just a bit from the hectic hamster wheel of summer work, social events and hopefully, recreation.
But winter on Nantucket can also be a challenge. Many of us also struggle to make ends meet, to put food on the table, pay the next rent check, or at the very least, yearn for warmer days and more sunlight to recharge the batteries.
This issue of Nantucket Today is full of stories that offer not just things to do on the island this winter, but chronicle efforts being made to alleviate some of the stress that comes with trying to carve out a year-round life in a community where the price of a gallon of regular gas constantly hovers around $5 a gallon and the rent on a two-bedroom cottage will set you back close to $4,000 a month, if you’re lucky enough to find one.
The winter issue of Nantucket Today also contains our Philanthropy Guide, an alphabetic listing of just some of the nonprofit organizations and agencies that work full-time to make life just a little bit better for all of us here, by increasing cultural opportunities, like the Artists Association of Nantucket, or advocating for the development of more on-island agriculture and supporting local farmers, like Sustainable Nantucket.
In this season of giving, if you’re in a position to share some good fortune, please consider a donation to any one of these groups or the dozens more that form the backbone of our own social and cultural safety net 30 miles out to sea.
Two of those groups are Nourish Nantucket and Nantucket Food, Fuel and Rental Assistance, overseen by the Nantucket Interfaith Council. They teamed up this fall with the Nantucket Land Bank to purchase the former Taste of Nantucket catering building on Boynton Lane to serve as the new home for the Nantucket Food Pantry and a meat-processing facility that will allow deer harvested on Nantucket to wind up in the hands and freezers of those in need. Inquirer and Mirror staff writer and regular Nantucket Today contributor Kaie Quigley chronicles their efforts on page 10.
When the sun sets around 4 p.m. and the darkness seems never-ending, or the wind is howling outside the windows like a freight train, there’s often nothing better than curling up with a book to take your mind off things for a while. Former island educator turned author Jim Sulzer has switched up his usual style in his latest book “All that Smolders,” penning an homage to mystery writer extraordinaire Agatha Christie that also captures, warts and all, what it feels like to spend time on this island after the summer folk have headed home. Even though the setting isn’t specifically identified as Nantucket, Sulzer has captured the zeitgeist of what it means to be here between October and March. I&M editorial assistant Kendall Graham profiles Sulzer on page 38.
Yearning for some social interaction? A couple of dozen islanders head to the Saltmarsh Senior Center every Thursday for some pretty serious competition. The game? Contract bridge. The level of competition? Cutthroat. Some of the pairs regularly rank among the top players in the country. But it’s all in good fun, and a welcome antidote to screen time. I&M staff writer Sarah Roberts spent an afternoon at the Saltmarsh this fall, finding out what makes the players tick and keep coming back. Read all about it on page 42.
Make the most of the downtime. Summer will be here again before you know it.
Joshua H. Balling Editor
CONTENTS: WINTER 2025
10 IN FIGHT AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY: NANTUCKET COMES OUT SWINGING
The Nantucket Land Bank, Nourish Nantucket and Nantucket Food Pantry have created a tag team they believe could one day put food insecurity down for the count. by Kaie
Quigley
14 BAD NEWS FOR NORTHERN LONG-EARED BATS
It has been 10 years since we realized that highly endangered northern long-eared bats were living on Nantucket. It is time for an update, and sadly the news is not good.
by Ginger Andrews
20 SICILY, FAMILY STYLE: A PHOTO ESSAY
Scott Thomas usually travels alone on his treks around the world, but this spring, he traveled to Sicily with a niece who had never been further from home than the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. by Scott
Thomas
38 ISLAND EDUCATOR TURNED AUTHOR: JIM SULZER
Jim Sulzer’s new novel, “All That Smolders,” delivers a slow-burning whodunit that doubles as both a writing challenge and a love letter: to his mother, Katharine, a lifelong Agatha Christie fan; and to the island where he’s spent more than four decades teaching, scalloping and writing stories that hum with local color. by Kendall Graham
42 IN THE CARDS: SENIORS FIND COMMUNITY, MENTAL STIMULATION THROUGH BRIDGE
While the number of dedicated bridge players may be dwindling elsewhere, the game is alive and well at the Saltmarsh Senior Center on Washington Street. by Sarah Roberts
46 STROLL 2024
A look back at last year’s Holiday Stroll in pictures. photos by Debi Lilly
50 THE QUESTIONS: TOWN CRIER ERIC GODDARD
Most days, Eric Goddard looks pretty much like any other Nantucket resident. But others, a transformation occurs. He dons the garb of Nantucket’s town crier, a ceremonial post that hearkens back to English colonial times. by Joshua
Balling
52 PHILANTHROPY GUIDE
4 EDITOR’S NOTE 9 CONTRIBUTORS
35 WHO’S WHO IN REAL ESTATE
104 LAST LOOK
COVER P COURTESY OF CHRISTY BASSETT BAKER
HOTO
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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 Joshua H. Balling jballing@inkym.com
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Advertising Sales Alexandro Sforza asforza@inkym.com
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Contributing Writers & Photographers
Virginia Andrews
Christy Bassett Baker
Kate Benjamin
Kendall Graham
Kris Kinsley Hancock
Debi Lilly
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
Thesearejustsomeofthepeoplewhobringtheirtalentstothepages ofthismagazine,andallow Nantucket Today to reflect genuine island life.
Virginia Andrews comes by her love of birds through her late mother, ornithologist Edith Andrews. Ginger gives bird walks and does barn owl research for the Maria Mitchell Association, and writes the weekly “Island Bird Sightings” column for The Inquirer and Mirror.
Kendall Graham is a Nantucket native and editorial assistant for The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket’s newspaper since 1821. She received her bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Curry College in 2018 and is pursuing a master’s degree in professional writing from New York University. She is an avid music lover and enjoys exploring the island’s expansive conservation land.
Debi Lilly is an entertaining, floral and event designer and author who writes the I&M’s You’re Invited column. She believes in elegant and easy lifestyle ideas for all, and has worked with Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Lady Gaga and Gwenyth Paltrow to name a few, while somehow managing to balance DL Cottage Nantucket, DL Studio Chicago and a young, community focused family.
Sarah Roberts washed ashore earlier this year by way of Boston and Suffolk University. She gets to follow her passion of sharing the stories of those in her community as a staff writer at The Inquirer and Mirror. A former collegiate distance runner, she now runs to explore the island.
Scott Thomas
has been a year-round resident of Nantucket since 1989. Originally from Pennsylvania, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University before beginning his career in hospitality, which ultimately brought him to the island. His first great adventure was a two-month trip to Europe in 1998 and since then he has stamped more than 50 countries in his passport. Between trips he can be found behind the bar at the Nantucket Anglers’ Club, on the beach or fostering dogs.
In Fight Against Food Insecurity, Nantucket Comes Out Swinging
STORY BY KAIE QUIGLEY
The Nantucket Land Bank, Nourish Nantucket and the Nantucket Food Pantry have created a tag team they believe could one day put food insecurity down for the count.
The trio of island organizations in late October partnered on the purchase of a Boynton Lane property intended to serve as a shared hub for food security agencies, provide a permanent home for the food pantry and include a processing facility to turn venison into meals for local families.
It’s a collaboration that many, including Nourish Nantucket advisory board chair Bruce Percelay have touted as the “ultimate win-win.”
“It was one of those very unusual circumstances where every group came together with a common purpose and found a solution that is the ultimate win-win, and we’re thrilled,” Percelay told Nantucket Today in October.
“Our goal is not to simply address the hunger issue, or manage the hunger issue. Our ultimate goal is to fi x the hunger issue.
We can’t make guarantees, but we think it’s attainable, and we think the acquisition of this building gets us much closer to that objective.”
Nourish Nantucket acts as the umbrella organization for 12 different food-security agencies on-island, including the Nantucket Food Pantry, and coordinates fundraising and outreach on behalf of all of its partners.
Donations, including a $1 million gift received by the organization in September from a donor who asked to remain anonymous, are disseminated to each agency based on need.
Nourish has also been at the forefront of finding a permanent home for the Food Pantry. Its efforts go back about two years but ramped up over the last six months after it was revealed that the pantry’s lease of its current Washington Street location in the
downtown Nantucket Regional Transit Authority bus terminal was to expire this winter, and an earlier backup plan to build a warehouse fell through.
The pantry began a frantic search for a new location, and at one point, manager Ruth Pitts said leaders even considered using shipping containers on an empty lot as a temporary solution because prospects were so grim.
“Finding facilities that could specifically accommodate an organization that actually needed to store, refrigerate and prepare food, it was the needle in the haystack,” Percelay said.
They were primarily looking for existing buildings because it was a cheaper and more immediate solution than building new.
It soon became clear that realistically, the property the three parties purchased for $6.5 million at 17, 19 and 21 Boynton Lane – formerly home to the Taste of Nantucket catering business –was likely “the only building on the island that could actually work,” Percelay said.
through food assistance networks.
Establishing a Nantucket facility on Boynton Lane would allow the island to participate directly in that program and potentially expand into other livestock in the future, Land Bank executive director Rachael Freeman said.
The use allows the Land Bank to justify paying for a portion of the property because it aligns with its agricultural mission, along withe conservation of open space and active and passive recreation.
“ Nourish Nantucket is working really hard to be a great partner to everyone involved in food security. From farmers to growers to our food program partners. This is an example of us doing that work. We’re committed, we’re excited and we’re going to keep working toward our mission.”
–Nourish Nantucket executive director Meg Browers
“The Boynton Lane building is in support of the agricultural component of the Land Bank’s mission,” she said. “There needs to be a space to process meat to warrant raising animals locally for consumption. For now, this custom butcher shop will be dedicated to processing venison and is required for the Land Bank to apply for a deer damage permit under the agricultural component of our act.”
“We had been circling around Boynton Lane for six months, looking at it and trying to figure out how to make it work, and how to raise the money and so forth,” he said.
In came the Land Bank, which determined it could utilize a portion of the building to help tackle the island’s overabundant deer population and address food insecurity at the same time.
It plans to set up a custom butchering space in the building and join the state’s Share the Harvest program, a Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife initiative that processes deer harvested through management programs, blends the venison with pork and distributes it
Nourish Nantucket co-purchased the property with the Land Bank. Ownership of the building will be split roughly 60/40 based on square footage of use.
The property, containing a 6,400-square-foot commercial building constructed in 1996, was most recently assessed at just under $3.3 million.
A portion of the property will be leased to the Food Pantry long-term at no cost, Nourish Nantucket executive director Meg Browers said.
The building will also serve as Nourish Nantucket’s headquarters, with staff members populating an office space on the second floor and programs being run out of the new hub.
“We are extremely excited,” Browers said. “We knew Nantucket
The new home for Nourish Nantucket, located on Boynton Lane. It will house the Nantucket Food Pantry, as well as a meat processing facility.
needed a solution for the pantry and we’ve been working hard on this for almost two years.”
“Nourish Nantucket is working really hard to be a great partner to everyone involved in food security. From farmers to growers to our food program partners. This is an example of us doing that work,” Browers said. “We’re committed, we’re excited and we’re going to keep working toward our mission.”
“I think it should be fantastic. It’s a great space: accessible, right across from The Muse, with a bus stop on the corner, plenty of parking and side-walks,” Pitts said.
“This will be such a great thing for the entire community. It brings together three very viable organizations who have nothing but the best at heart for the island of Nantucket,” she said.
Securing a permanent space lifts a huge weight off the shoulders of both the pantry and its immediate parent organization, Nantucket Food, Fuel and Rental Assistance, which is overseen by the Nantucket Interfaith Council, Pitts said.
She was worried the pantry might have to bounce around the island just to stay open, given the scarcity of affordable, long-term commercial space for nonprofits.
With the need growing – a recent study by the Greater Boston Food Bank indicated one in three year-round Nantucket families experience some type of food insecurity – the prospect was daunting.
“Hopefully the people who have been supporting us and waiting with bated breath for us to find a new home will consider donating to our rebuilding fund,” Pitts said, as NFFRA may have to pay for some renovations to the space.
“This is a transformative step for the island,” said Brooke Mohr, Nourish Nantucket board president and a Select Board member. “We are grateful to the Land Bank for their extraordinary leadership and to the Food Pantry and Interfaith Council for working with us to build a shared vision for food security on Nantucket.”
Kimberly Reed, owner of the property and A Taste of Nantucket was quite amenable during negotiations, Percelay said.
Some close to the deal even said she was hoping the space would be used to serve the community in some fashion by whoever she sold it to.
“Kim has been on Nantucket for a long time, and is in the food business. So there’s something quite poetic about her building being used to provide food for those who do not have enough of it,” Percelay said. “It’s a win at every possible level.”
Kaie Quigley is a staff writer at The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket’s trusted news source since 1821.
From top: Bulk food items, as well as donated food, await distribution.
Volunteers help deliver and sort food donations.
Volunteers help pack food bags.
Bad news for Northern Long-eared Bats
STORY BY VIRGINIA ANDREWS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIELLE O’DELL
It has been 10 years since we realized that highly endangered northern long-eared bats were living on Nantucket. It is time for an update, and sadly the news is not good.
We used to think that the bats we saw here in the fall were strictly migratory. The first inkling of northern long-eared bats on Nantucket was greeted with great excitement.
They were discovered by researcher Zara Dowling, who had been working on nearby Martha’s Vineyard, and Danielle O’Dell, wildlife biologist for the Nantucket Conservation Foundation.
Thanks to a small grant from the Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative, they set out acoustic detectors in a couple of likely spots. Different species of bats use different frequencies of sound for echo-location. By recording the sounds and examining the sonograms, researchers can easily determine what bats are active without disturbing them.
Part of the excitement back in 2015 was due to the alarming news that northern long-eared bats had begun suffering and dying by the millions in New England, a loss of great concern to ecologists.
A fungal disease known as white nose syndrome was first identified in 2006 in New York State. It continued to spread in New England, the Midwest and is now found coast to coast.
The fungus grows on the noses and wings of bats in caves where they hibernate. It is apparently very irritating, perhaps like a snootfull of tick bites.
It stresses the bats, depleting their energy and waking them too soon, when no food is available outside. Leaving their caves, and with wing tissue deteriorating, they slowly starve to death.
Bats are one of the least appreciated parts of our ecosystem, perhaps due to their tiny teeth, bad movie reputations and nocturnal habits. But they play a crucial role in forest health.
Northern long-eared bats eat moths, beetles, flies and smaller insects, including mosquitoes. They are forest bats, adapted to cold temperatures, living as far north as the boreal forest.
They like “cluttered” environments, feeding in a dense understory of viburnum, grape, bayberry, scrub oak and black cherry.
They use a particular frequency of echo-location, shorter and higher-pitched than other bats. Thus they have their own niche, not easily replaced by other bat species.
Bat species also have different hunting styles, some stalking the tree canopy, some using the understory. But it turns out they are also more flexible than we realized.
We always knew that several species were on Nantucket, with red, hoary and silver-haired bats seen in the fall. There was some acknowledgment that migrating bats tracked the coastline south.
Northern long-eared bats eat moths, beetles, flies and smaller insects, including mosquitoes.
Danielle O’Dell and Libby Buck of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation studying the Northern Long-eared Bat on Nantucket.
Birders at Hummock Pond were bemused one day as a large dark bat blundered erratically along the shore in broad daylight. It looked in the window of a black pick-up truck before moving along.
Thanks to continuing acoustic studies, northern long-eared bats were discovered to be living year-round and breeding on Nantucket. They used pine forests in Head of the Plains and at Gardner Farm for maternity roosts, where females gathered to raise their pups.
We now know that red bats breed here, too. More pumpkin-colored than red, they are now included in the tagging program. Although rare here, big brown bats have also been heard a few times.
It was not that wildlife managers ignored white nose syndrome when it was first discovered, or minimized the threat.
On the mainland northerns used caves, roosting in small numbers along with other species. Northerns are more solitary, hibernating in small groups of two or three, joining hundreds of little brown bats.
With northerns disappearing at an alarming rate, efforts went into trying to prevent human disturbance, closing caves or changing the timing of access. Cleaning hibernacula – winter roosting places – with UV light is also done.
But quick spread and high fatality made white nose syndrome a coast-to-coast phenomenon. Northern long-eared bats were labeled “threatened” in 2015 and “endangered” in 2022.
So their presence on Nantucket and Mar-
Top: A banded long-eared bat.
Bottom: A red bat gets banded for research on Nantucket.
Inset: Long-wave ultraviolet (UV) and white-light are used to illuminate lesions associated with white-nose syndrome. This wing from a tri-colored bat is lit from above with a hand-held UV flashlight. (USGS)
Northern long-eared bats were labeled “threatened” in 2015 and “endangered” in 2022.
tha’s Vineyard seemed all the more special.
We wondered how bats could live yearround on the caveless lumps of sandy glacial till that make up Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard’s geology.
But the bats found perfect hibernacula in old houses, under trim boards and floor
This hibernating little brown bat shows the white muzzle that is typical of white-nose syndrome. (Greg Turner, Penn. Game Commission)
joists, in basements and crawl-spaces.
It was hoped that the milder coastal climate would help northern long-eareds survive if they broke dormancy in winter. We used to think – to hope – that although they were already 99 percent extirpated from New England, they might survive as remnant populations in coastal areas.
We hoped they would develop immunity to white nose syndrome. But thus far efforts at protection have neither stopped the spread or reduced the fatality rate.
Landscape changes have reduced their feeding areas. With burgeoning development and renovation some of the winter hibernacula have disappeared, too. And migrating bats are highly vulnerable to wind utilities.
But the main culprit in their continuing demise is still white nose syndrome. Thus far they have not developed any immunity.
So it begins to look as if our hopes have not panned out. Our population of northern long-eared bats has declined, and quickly.
O’Dell has been working with bats since
2015, netting, tagging and monitoring mothers and pups. But this past summer the numbers were dreadful.
The loss of Nantucket Conservation Foundation trees to southern pine beetle infestation was serious.
In previous years it was possible to net a dozen or more bats per night at Gardner Farm, the island’s best, most reliable bat location. Last summer’s efforts produced only two individuals, one juvenile and one adult, in the entire season.
But we are not giving up. A new, easily-cleaned hibernaculum is waiting. We continue to monitor, restore habitat; hope. The work goes on.
Virginia “Ginger” Andrews comes by her love of birds through her late mother, ornithologist Edith Andrews. Ginger gives bird walks and does barn owl research for the Maria Mitchell Association, and writes the weekly “Island Bird Sightings” column for The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket’s trusted news source since 1821.
A banded long-eared bat on Nantucket.
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M i l e t o M a r k e t · M o d e r n I n t e r i o r
Family Style Sicily,
SCOTT THOMAS
Over the last century, the Sicilian people have made their mark on America. The small island off the coast of Italy has been featured in film and television. And even by Italian standards the food is legendary.
I’ve been to Italy a few times in more than a quarter century of travel. What’s not to love? Most of my travels are solo, mostly because I decided if I waited for someone else to say “I’m in,” my passport pages might still be empty.
So while it wasn’t a surprise when my niece asked if she could join an Uncle Scott trip, I knew it would be a different adventure. She’s an elementary-school teacher from rural Pennsylvania and she’s never traveled outside a corridor along the East Coast of the United States.
Sicily, we decided after nixing a few other destinations, would be a good fit. It was new for both of us, although not too new for a newbie.
The weather and crowds would hopefully be manageable in her summer vacation schedule. There was architecture, history, beaches, food and wine. Even a volcano. And Delta just launched new direct service from JFK to Catania.
Travel transportation isn’t fun. Maybe it was once. I’m not sure. Without delving into specifics, I’ll just say, roll with the punches and be prepared for whatever. And have travel insurance over and above your health insurance and credit card coverages.
Our early June two-week trip was a clockwise journey starting in Catania and venturing down the east coast to Ortigia Island; inland to the Baroque towns of Noto and Ragusa; then onward to the Valley of the Temples, a collection of Greek temple ruins that rivals Greece itself.
Then it was north to the populous tourist hub of Palermo before wrapping up in the east coast heights of Taormina.
Not surprisingly, I acted as planner and tour guide. But Sicily is an easy destination. The smallish cities and towns are generally walkable.
Despite the fact we visited in early June, Sicily was quite warm but comfortable in the evenings. We found this fountain in central Ortigia, a lovely spot to relax with a spritz.
A PHOTO ESSAY BY
The fountain of Diana in Ortigia.
Ortigia street scene
It’s safe and easy to communicate in English and the Sicilian people are friendly and eager to make your stay comfortable.
Our days were filled with wandering uneven streets and getting lost, marveling at the intricate decoration of churches and scaling the rocky coast to enjoy some sun and sea.
And of course settling in each evening for one spectacular meal after another. And a bit of Etna wine.
I believe everyone should decide to travel in their own style and pace. Or maybe not at all. But I am happy to report that my niece has since done her first solo trip. Only to the beaches of Maryland.
But it’s a start.
Scott Thomas has been a year-round resident of Nantucket since 1989. Originally from Pennsylvania, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University before beginning his career in hospitality, which ultimately brought him to the island. His first great adventure was a two-month trip to Europe in 1998 and since then he has stamped more than 50 countries in his passport. Between trips he can be found behind the bar at the Nantucket Anglers’ Club, on the beach or fostering dogs.
Central Catania with the Cathedral of St. Agatha in the distance. Catania is a bit darker and grittier than other parts of Sicily, in part due to using volcanic rock as building materials.
An extinct crater on the other-worldly summit of Mt. Etna just outside Catania. While Etna has been rumbling a bit recently, she was relatively quiet during our
A hazy view of Mt. Etna from Toarmina.
The summit of Mt. Etna.
visit.
Teste do Moro, or Moor’s Heads.
A traditional symbol of Sicily representing love, betrayal and revenge after a Sicilian woman beheaded her Moorish lover upon learning he had a wife and family back home.
Temple Concordia, Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
A typical street scene in the beautiful Baroque city of Noto.
The Valley of the Temples is like a stopover in ancient Greece. Concordia is a well preserved Doric-style temple that sits on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean.
The remarkable gold mosaics of the Church of Saint Mary “dell’Ammiraglio” in Palermo. There are so many churches that we almost missed this one.
of Saint Mary “dell’Ammiraglio” in Palermo.
Built in 1143 with a Norman square tower, the church was altered with Baroque and Gothic additions over the ensuring centuries.
A bit of a halo around the Duomo of San Giorgio in Modica.
A town also famous for its artisan chocolates.
Church
This tiny bakery in Modica also served homemade granita. A perfect respite after climbing the stairs to the Duomo.
Homemade pasta and fresh anchovies in Palermo.
We were advised that all restaurants in Sicily would be good and that was certainly true. In Palermo, we queued up early for an al fresco seat in a fairly nondescript bistro and enjoyed homemade pasta with fresh anchovies (not brined and tinned).
Homemade strawberry and limone granita in Modica.
Cannolis, handmade by the nuns in the Cloister Bakery, Palermo.
Tasting Etna wines with a Sicilian appetizer board at an enoteca in Ragain. This was the afternoon portion of the day after our ascent of Mt. Etna. The grapes grown in the ash and lava slopes of Etna are known for their mineral character.
The delightful coastal town of Marzamemi and a seaside lunch of tuna tartare and red shrimp crudo. As Sicily is such a mix of cultures, this felt very Greek to me.
The most delicious pizza in Ragusa. Pistachio pesto cream, fresh burrata, tomato, sausage and basil.
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Charming antique moments from Main Street.
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Proper antique fully restored offering four floors of living space.
OF TOWN · 19 VESPER LANE · $2,650,000
Four-bedroom home abutting conservation land.
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EXQUISITE RENOVATION IN TOWN
No detail has been overlooked in the stunning renovation of this historic house, ideally located in the heart of Nantucket Town. With thoughtful design and the highest standards of construction, this property is poised to endure for the next century and beyond. Spanning over 5,000 square feet across three beautifully finished levels, it boasts multiple living areas, six ensuite bedrooms, exquisite custom cabinetry, paneling, and newly built fireplaces throughout. Enjoy easy access to the roof walk, where you can take in panoramic views of Nantucket Harbor and Coatue. Offered fully furnished.
$10,995,000 | Penny Dey
BRANT POINT
Located in the highly sought-after Brant Point neighborhood, 1 Sylvia Lane offers exceptional island living on an oversized lot with room to expand if desired. Just a short distance from Nantucket’s historic downtown, pristine beaches, and popular island attractions, this home combines location, charm, and potential. 1 Sylvia Lane is truly a must-see.
$3,950,000 | Angel Conrad Frazier
DREAM RETREAT IN DIONIS
Nestled amidst serene conservation land, this exclusive property offers breathtaking views of Long Pond and Nantucket Sound. Enjoy private, deeded beach access with your own set of stairs leading to the sand. Experience the tranquility of nature, the beauty of panoramic water views, and unforgettable sunsets from the comfort of your own home. This is coastal living at its finest – your perfect escape awaits! Agent related to seller.
HEART OF TOWN
Centrally located antique home with Five bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Historic details intact, including six fireplaces, raised paneling, original doors and wide pine floors throughout. Patio, off-street parking, and garden area. Large, attached accessory structure and spacious third floor offer expansion opportunities. Excellent location, close to all that Town has to offer. New cedar roof, interior and exterior painting and oil tank. Offered furnished and ready for occupancy.
$3,495,000 | Penny Dey
$6,395,000 | Linda Bellevue
10 SEA STREET
Rare and conforming flat lot located in the Residential Old Historic District with plans by Normand Residential Design for a 5 bedroom, 5+ bath home. Potential harbor views from the second floor. Excellent central location in the heart of Nantucket Town. HDC Approved plans.
$2,950,000 | Penny Dey
MINUTES FROM MAIN STREET FISHERS LANDING
This antique 1800 home offers timeless charm with modern comforts. Set on a beautifully landscaped lot with mature plantings, the property features three coveted parking spaces. Inside, high ceilings and designer touches complement the character of five working fireplaces. Thoughtful upgrades in recent years blend seamlessly with the home’s historic details. Blending historic charm with modern livability, this home offers both elegance and comfort in every detail.
$4,295,000 | Linda Bellevue
Fishers Landing is a charming neighborhood, offering a blend of natural beauty and recreational amenities. Residents can enjoy a scenic path through conservation moors, leading to a serene beach along Nantucket Sound with gentle surf. The community features a common area with a tennis and pickleball court, as well as a space for storing small boats. Surrounded by extensive conservation land, Fishers Landing is an ideal retreat for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. This 4-bedroom, 3.5 bath home is located on 1/4 acre, and is offered furnished. The abutting .23-acre lot at 36 Ridge Lane can be purchased with the house for an additional $1,495,000.
$3,895,000 | Linda Bellevue
TOM NEVERS EAST BITTERSWEET LANE CREATE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY
Over 4300 sf of spacious interior, 5 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, 2 car garage, plus a 2 bedroom cottage and significant outdoor space that invites imagination for landscaping and a pool.
$3,995,000 | Heidi Drew
Penny Dey, Principal Broker, GRI, ABRM
Linda Bellevue, GRI, CBR
Heidi Drew, ABR, RSPS, SRS
This Tom Never’s East private 3-bedroom 2.5 bath home is on a beautiful 1.3 acre lot. The high elevation offers a peek of the ocean. Lush landscaping and beautifully maintained gardens overlook a wonderful entertaining area with in-ground pool and multiple patio and deck spaces.
$2,975,000 | Linda Bellevue
Angel Conrad Frazier
Angel Conrad Frazier
Mary D. Malavase, GRI, ABR, SRS, RSPS
Mary D. Malavase, GRI, ABR, SRS, RSPS
Jane B. Miller, ABR, RSPS
Jane B. Miller, ABR, RSPS
Meg Ruley, ABR, RSPS
Pastoral privacy on this vacant lot of over 20,000 square feet located a short hop from downtown. The lot has Town water and sewer and can have a primary and secondary dwelling. Rare offering.
STORY BY KENDALL GRAHAM | PHOTOS BY KRIS KINSLEY HANCOCK
The fog rolls in before dawn, the way it always does on Nantucket, softening the edges of everything it touches.
Out on the harbor, boats vanish into gray, and the first ferry horn cuts through the stillness like a breath inhaled after cresting the water’s surface.
For island author James Sulzer, that in-between space, where what’s seen and what’s imagined begin to blur, is where stories take root.
His forthcoming novel, “All That Smolders,” due out in early December, delivers a slow-burning whodunit that doubles as both a writing challenge and a love letter: to his mother, Katharine, a lifelong Agatha Christie fan; and to the island where he’s spent more than four decades teaching, scalloping and writing stories that hum with local color.
“All That Smolders” is set on a windswept island in New England, where a young journalist, Peter Christie, attempts a fresh start at life while being drawn into the investigation of a beloved community figure’s murder, exposing long-buried secrets and tangled loyalties.
Sulzer didn’t set out to become a mystery novelist.
He had previously written middle-grade books and sharp literary fiction. But when the pandemic brought long hours of quiet reflection, he gave himself a task: write and publish an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, complete with a tangle of suspects and a trail of cleverly-planted clues.
“Usually in Christie’s novels, there’s a fairly large group of people that could be suspects,” Sulzer said. “You want to build in clues that seem to suggest all of them could be or are.”
That puzzle-box construction drew him in. He loved Christie’s knack for misdirection, for those fleeting moments that only reveal their significance pages later. “Oftentimes in her books, there’ll be one little moment that you didn’t think was important at the time, and later you realize, ‘Oh, that’s what revealed it’,” Sulzer said.
Writing “All That Smolders” took nearly two years, including about a year and a half of research into Christie’s work, and structuring an outline before the real writing began.
What started as an homage became a study in control: learning to let the story move while holding the structure steady.
“I wanted to try a form that would force me to do more pre-planning and be more disciplined,” Sulzer said.
The irony, he added with a smile, was that his grand outline didn’t last long.
“It didn’t work out in the way of that planning,” he admitted. “But I found discipline in writing the story as it wanted to be written.”
What emerged was a novel about small-town suspicion, moral
gray areas and the ways grief reshapes a life, all filtered through a lens that feels both timeless and undeniably local.
A life anchored in island work
After moving to Nantucket in late 1981, Sulzer split his days between creative pursuits and practical ones.
“I needed to make income and I knew my writing wasn’t going to generate a lot of income, especially at first,” he said.
So he spent three years, from 1983 to 1986, as a commercial scalloper.
“For those years, I worked with Byron Coffin, a really wellknown boat captain and a great guy,” Sulzer said. “I was very lucky to get out on a boat with him and learn about the scalloping business that way.”
That experience left a mark, so much so that scalloping surfaces frequently in “All That Smolders,” grounding the mystery in the island’s working rhythms.
Despite the varied professions, Sulzer has spent the majority of his time on-island as an educator: first teaching elementary-school writing for eight years, followed by fourth grade for 13 years at Nantucket Elementary School, then English to grades five through eight for eight years at the Nantucket New School before retiring in June 2015.
Sulzer reflects on his teaching career with nothing but fondness and gratitude. For him, it was an enriching experience getting to know families and students not just in school, but around town, too. To this day, he sometimes runs into the parents of kids he taught 20 or 25 years ago, and still feels a genuine connection to them, often receiving updates on these now-grown former students.
“With many families, I had the pleasure of teaching more than one of their children, so we got to know each other well and built up a nice level of trust,” he said.
“Every year I felt I was learning on the job, all the way to my final year. Teaching is a humbling profession but one that feels real and of value. I was very fortunate to teach here on the island.”
Inserting local culture
There is a strong sense of local culture on the island in “All That Smolders” that rings true to Nantucket, although the location is never explicitly named. Islanders will recognize the geography in the wind-bitten docks, the quiet harbors and the unhurried gossip of its residents.
There are activities like slow-pitch softball leagues and scalloping trips, a Halloween parade in the center of town and even rising tensions over the summer vacation-rental industry.
Sulzer sets the story at the start of the fall season, feeling this time gave the most accurate portrayal of local life in a small town much like Nantucket. It’s set in 1980 as a call-back to Sulzer’s arrival around that time.
“There was a popular bumper sticker when we moved here at the end of 1981 that said, ‘It used to be nice on Nantucket’,” Sulzer recalled, laughing.
That bumper sticker makes its way into the novel, a nostalgic nod to long-time residents who remember a quainter time on the island.
“There’s a lot of things I really like about small-town life,” Sulzer said. “One is that people know you from 360 degrees, and they know you in different roles. Of course, the downside for a lot of people can be if everyone knows everyone’s business.”
He mentions a sort of cross-pollination of island roles, wherein, say, a student might be in the high school musical but also play soccer or football; or that you may know someone through frequenting their business while also participating in a book club or other community activity with them.
“It’s just a nice little microcosm of how (small-town life) works. I think that’s a really good way to know and to interact with people,” Sulzer said.
“I tried not to take too much from real life in terms of the specifics, but rather in terms of the generalities of people.”
He chose to avoid naming Nantucket as the island location in an effort to avoid being “too geographically precise.”
“I obviously used a lot of details from Nantucket, but didn’t want to be beholden to the exact literal translation of it,” Sulzer said.
Sulzer’s first novel was titled “Nantucket Daybreak,” published in 1988, and he described a feeling of “claustrophobia” and hesitance to be pigeonholed into being “a Nantucket author.”
He aims to illustrate in the novel that, regardless of specific location, the lessons of people living together in any small-town environment will still be somewhat universal.
It’s a delicate balance, conjuring a place so familiar without pinning it to the map. The result is a Nantucket of the imagination: still bound by tides and rumor, but wide enough to hold mystery.
That dynamic, both intimate and claustrophobic, infuses “All That Smolders.” Gossip spreads like wildfire and every whisper becomes a clue.
The community’s interconnectedness both propels and complicates the central murder investigation, turning each conversation into an act of discovery.
A personal homage
Sulzer undertook the writing of “All That Smolders” as both an homage and a personal challenge.
His mother Katharine was a big fan of Agatha Christie. She passed down to her son not just a taste for mystery but an appreciation and reverence for the craft behind it. The book is dedicated to her.
Though the characters are fictional and not inspired by any real people, the family dynamics in the opening prologue are somewhat autobiographical.
“The details after that (event) are different, but I knew the effect, and I knew how a character with a past like that has to live their way to a resolution of that,” Sulzer said.
“Peter Christie’s arc is different from my arc, but I felt it very deeply as I wrote it. I thought it would be more interesting to have him undergo this arc and have his healing in part be learning to deal with the challenges he faced in the course of trying to solve this murder.”
There are purposeful similarities between Peter Christie and the fictional relation to his great-great aunt Agatha, according to Sulzer.
“All That Smolders” is set in slightly more modern times than the storied author’s typical early-20th century settings, but the propensity toward the good versus evil debate is shared in Sulzer’s novel.
“In a way that’s a reflection of her,” Sulzer said of Christie’s penchant for exploring and exposing moral tensions in her books.
“There’s a different level and type of understanding of people. But the feeling that people have these potentials for good and evil, interacting in ways that are surprising, things coming out that you wouldn’t expect, that’s a reflection of her (in this novel).”
“It didn’t work out in the way of that planning. But I found discipline in writing the story as it wanted to be written.”
Craft, patience and flow
For Sulzer, every book begins in friction.
“The hardest part was getting started and trying to make the story take shape,” he said. “I felt like when I first started writing, the prose felt leaden or wooden – it didn’t feel alive.”
The remedy, as always, was patience: writing, deleting and starting again until something sparked.
“Sometimes you get too self-conscious at the beginning,” he said. “I think it happens at the start of every book for me. Some of the books I’ve had to totally rewrite from a different point of view, and then suddenly, you’ll realize, ‘Oh, I can feel it now’.”
Once the rhythm arrived, the story surged forward.
“The easiest part was once it really got going, especially the second half of the novel,” Sulzer said. “I felt like I trained my brain to be working in the direction I wanted it to. It just felt like different strands of the story came together to resolve at the right time, sort
of on their own.”
What began as a passion project is also a deeply personal homage, infused with Sulzer’s memories of family, time and place. This December, as islanders hunker down for winter and turn again to the comforts of a good book, “All That Smolders” arrives as a balm. It’s both entertainment and reflection, a reminder that the line between truth and story is as thin as the fog rolling over the harbor, and that even on a small island, there are always mysteries left to solve.
Kendall Graham is a Nantucket native and editorial assistant for The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket’s trusted news source since 1821.
“ It’s just a game, but it’s a hard game. It’s a game you’ll never master.”
– Steve Godwin
In the Cards
Seniors find community, mental stimulation through bridge
STORY BY SARAH ROBERTS | PHOTOS BY KRIS KINSLEY HANCOCK
Before the Internet, what did we do with ourselves?
Board games and card games have long been a popular way to fill free time, but with phones, television and other modern technology dominating our world these days, the excitement of getting dealt the perfect hand in your favorite card game has fallen off.
While the number of dedicated bridge players may be dwindling elsewhere, the game is alive and well – no matter the season – at the Saltmarsh Senior Center on Washington Street.
“There are relatively few parents who are teaching their kids how to play bridge these days,” Saltmarsh bridge player Steve Godwin said. “I think that back then in general, there weren’t as many other things to do.”
Every Thursday at 1:30 p.m., the Saltmarsh Center hosts a sanctioned American Contract Bridge League tournament directed by John Copenhaver.
Godwin has been playing bridge since his wife taught him when they were sophomores in high school.
“We were pretty much going steady, to use a term that would have been in operation probably in 1959,” Godwin said with a laugh. “Peggi’s parents had taught her how to play bridge and while we were sophomores, she taught me how to play bridge.”
Godwin started playing at the Saltmarsh in 2015. He usually plays with summer resident George Wilson who has taught him a lot about the game, he said. In the winter months he usually partners up with Jay Riggs and sometimes Peggi.
“Bridge is not an easy game to learn, so you have to be somewhat dedicated,” Godwin said. “It’s just a game, but it’s a hard game. It’s a game you’ll never master.”
What’s the fun in playing a game you might never perfect?
According to bridge player Charlene Thurston, it’s the mental stimulation.
“It’s fun and also keeps your mind really having to think a lot,” she said. “When you stop working, you need something to keep it thinking all the time.”
Thurston has been playing at the Saltmarsh for a few years now but still describes herself as a basic bridge player.
“You know, it’s sort of a forever intermediate kind of thing. Forever in the middle of the road, occasionally in one of the top three, occasionally in the bottom three, it’s fun, it’s really fun,” Thurston said of her play.
Thurston usually plays with her friend Betty MacDonald.
“I always say that the person who made up the rules for bridge needed to fi nd a life, because they created this whole bidding process of a code language. I thought, why don’t you just say what you mean, if everybody’s supposed to know the rules anyway,” Thurston joked.
It’s not entirely clear where and how bridge came to be. Modern-day bridge is said to be derived from a card game called Whist that was first played in Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey. A similar version of the game was also played in the French Riviera in the 1870s.
The form of bridge played at the Saltmarsh Thursday tournament is duplicate bridge. It means every table plays the same hand, which is provided by an Internet platform, The Common Game. It also means thousands across the country play the same hand.
A table of bridge is made up of a north and south pair and an east and west pair. In a tournament, the east and west pair rotates tables while the north and south pair stays put.
“They send out a file every week that deals the cards. We have a machine that deals the cards because the computer tells it where the cards go,” Copenhaver said. “This Thursday afternoon there were 1,500 teams playing across the country, all playing the same hands.”
The Common Game allows bridge players to see how their decision-making stacks up against bridge players from across the country, not just at the Saltmarsh tournament.
“You can never complain about how bad your cards are, because the people you are competing against have exactly the same cards,” Saltmarsh bridge player Bruce Miller said.
Since there is no element of luck-of-the-draw in duplicate bridge, it adds a layer of competition and skill to the game.
“It’s a challenge, it’s a mental challenge,” said Wayne Davies, who plays at the Saltmarsh and also leads a weekly online bridge game from the Westmoor Club. “I love trying to be a very good player. You’ve got to visualize what everybody else is holding.”
The Saltmarsh tournament is also qualified to earn master points in the American Contract Bridge League if pairs rank high enough because Copenhaver is a certified tournament director.
The ACBL uses master points to measure a player’s achievements and skill in bridge.
Miller and Copenhaver are usually partners in the north and south direction and often earn master points.
“In a typical week in the summer, somebody from our group was
in the top 10,” Miller said. “More often than not it’s us, but there are two or three others which is really fun, too, because it builds a stronger sense of competition.”
Davies got certified as a tournament director about 10 years ago when the former director of the Westmoor Club’s game fell ill.
When Copenhaver is unavailable to lead the bridge game at Saltmarsh, Davies is able to cover for him so pairs can still have the opportunity to earn master points.
Davies said he felt like he wouldn’t have even considered himself a bridge player prior to getting certified as a director a decade ago.
“I wouldn’t call myself a bridge player, really, until I started here,” Davies said. “And then, once I started here, then I started studying. I’ve always played cards. As a little kid we used to always play cards. If you’ve done that then I think bridge is a natural thing to go to. I mean, it really is an extraordinarily good game, but it’s not just luck.”
Just as the seasons dictate the ebb and flow of island life, they
dictate play at the Saltmarsh. But one thing players can count on year-round is a great dose of socialization at the weekly tournament.
“One of the biggest problems that seniors have is isolation, and this is a good way to socialize. They socialize, they come, they schedule their week around it,” Copenhaver said.
This past summer the group saw exponential growth in the number of tables it was able to fill at the center.
“What’s really amazing this year is the growth in our game, we usually had 10 and a half tables. Until this year, having a 10-table game was a big game for us,” Copenhaver said. “We’ve had as many as 14 tables and for the last almost three months we have had at least 12 tables.”
“There’s been sort of a resurgence of bridge on the island which is generally perceived to be a dying game,” Miller said. “Mostly older people and not younger people, who are playing more online games.”
With more players in the summer it naturally makes for a more
dynamic and competitive game. During the winter, the number of tables might drop to five, but in stark contrast to the atmosphere of the summer games it creates a more relaxed, intimate spirit.
“The people are more familiar to you. It’s sort of a more cozy group, because you know them more and it’s a little bit more homey. It’s just fun and nice,” Thurston said.
The Saltmarsh hosts a more casual bridge game Monday and Thursday afternoons, which usually attracts beginner players, Copenhaver said.
Sarah Roberts is a staff writer at The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket’s trusted news source since 1821, and a frequent contributor to Nantucket Today.
STROLL 2024
BY DEBI LILLY
PHOTOS
BY JOSHUA H. BALLING | PHOTO BY KRIS KINSLEY HANCOCK
The Questions: Town Crier Eric Goddard
Most days, Eric Goddard looks pretty much like any other Nantucket resident. He runs a small credit-card payments business, hangs his real-estate shingle at The Maury People and spends as much time as he can with his wife and three grown children. But some days, a transformation occurs. He dons the garb of Nantucket’s town crier, a ceremonial post that hearkens back to English colonial times.
Q. When did you become Nantucket’s Town Crier? How did it come about?
A. The bell was passed to me during Christmas Stroll 2010. Curtis Barnes, our previous town crier, and I had been discussing the transition for a bit more than a year leading up to the hand-over. Ever since then I’ve been letting people know that I am the new and less grumpy town crier.
Q. Give us a brief history of New England’s town crier tradition.
A. New England town criers brought the tradition from England, serving as the primary mode of mass communication in early colonial towns where most people couldn’t read. Appointed by town officials, they were responsible for making official announcements and spreading news, often earning a salary. While the role declined with the rise of newspapers, the tradition continued in some places, with modern-day criers often fulfilling a ceremonial or promotional function, especially in tourist communities.
Q. Is Nantucket’s town crier purely ceremonial? What do you consider your most important responsibilities to be?
A. Modern-day town criers are purely ceremonial, which for me lends itself to allowing it to be even more fun. Although all duties that I undertake usually take on some measure of importance, for me, the most significant duty of my position every year is picking the big guy, Santa Claus, up from the Coast Guard cutter at Straight Wharf.
Q. What is the best part of your job as town crier? The worst?
A. Although there have been quite a few close seconds, like ringing in the start of the U.S.S. Nantucket commissioning ceremony up in Boston Harbor right next to the U.S.S. Constitution or having the privilege of private interactions with President Biden, I’d say the most rewarding part of my annual duties is seeing the faces of all the children when I ring Santa Claus up Main Street. There are no worsts.
Q. Is there a town crier school? Did you receive any training? How does one become an effective town crier?
A. There is no town crier school, just on-thejob training. The tradition of transitioning to a new town crier is for the current crier to appoint the next one. Please note that I will be taking suggestions beginning in the year 2053. Many of us islanders likely know Nathan and Tibby Allen. Years ago, Tibby described the town crier position as, “it’s so corny it’s cute.” That’s the best descriptor I’ve ever heard.
Q. What do you do when you don’t don the garb of the town crier?
A. I do what most every year-round Nantucketer does: many things. I’ve been fortunate to have a career for the last 25-plus years in the payments business, I have my real estate license with Maury People, I am involved in a small air transport service startup, Gull Air, but far and away, mostly love-up my wife and children as much as
humanly possible. If any of my children are reading this, please note that I am ready for grandchildren.
Q. How long have you been on the island? Tell us a bit about your family.
A. I came to Nantucket in 1988 to work for the summer, and as is so common on-island, never really left, except for a few off-season forays in Hawaii and Europe for seasonal work. My uncle referred to me at that time as a “floater.” Once I met my wife Pammy, we worked for a couple of winter seasons together in Portugal and Switzerland, coming back here for the summers. When our first son Keaton was born on-island in the spring of 1995, we began to stay year-round. Pammy and I married in 1995, which conveniently makes it way easier to remember that our anniversary is the same number of years as my son is old. All three of our children –Keaton, Zachary and Tierney – were born and raised on Nantucket and were educated within the Nantucket public schools.
“ Years ago, Tibby (Allen) described the town crier position as, “it’s so corny it’s cute.”
Q. Town criers have a network, and a gathering was held in Provincetown last year. How was that experience?
A. There are approximately 150 globally registered town criers and many of the U.S. criers, including me, are members of the American Guild of Town Criers. The guild often hosts what is billed as a “town crier competition.” Last year’s competition was conveniently held in Provincetown, with approximately 20 criers attending from the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The event was a whole bunch of fun, and to be candid, I bombed in the competition. However, I am entirely proud that I represented Nantucket well and received the most thundering laughter during my “I am the man from Nantucket” cry, modified, of course. P-Town is a very fine town, and they certainly rolled out the red carpet for us criers. Perhaps someday Nantucket will host the event.
Q. What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not leading Daffodil and Christmas Stroll parades?
A. Now that our children are grown, we tend to do a bit more traveling, but seldom during the summer months. We love to go to the beach, entertain, use the wood smoker and outdoor pizza oven, taste good wine, scallop in the fall and simply marvel at this beautiful island we share and are so fortunate to call home.
Q. What books are currently on your bedside table? What do you read, watch or stream for guilty pleasure?
A. Currently I am reading an older John Grisham book called “The Chamber.” I always have something going and really enjoy works that are based on actual events such as “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson, “Seabiscuit” by Laura Hillenbrand, “In the Heart of the Sea,” by our island’s own Nathaniel Philbrick, and I recently quite enjoyed, “The Splendid and the Vile,” also by Erik Larson. We also watch a fair number of sporting events and occasionally stream a show, currently “The Office.” We may be the only people on the planet that did not watch “The Office” when it aired.
Q. If you could invite anyone, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would it be and why?
A. This is the hardest question you’ve asked. I thought of illustrious historical figures, as many of us likely would, such as Lincoln, Washington, Adams, Churchill, even Jethro Coffin. I’ve considered my great-grandmother Lucretia “Crecie” Keaton, but I think I would be most interested in spinning it forward to my great-grandchildren. I can hardly imagine how this island and our world will be in another couple of generations and how proud I would be to meet them.
Joshua Balling is executive editor of the Nantucket Media Group, whose publications include The Inquirer and Mirror, Nantucket Today and This Week on Nantucket.
Philanthropy on Nantucket
There are dozens of nonprofit and charity organizations on Nantucket dedicated to doing good work, from fostering art and culture to protecting soul-soothing open space. They enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike, and the island would be a much different place without them. Fulfillment of their mission, however, is not possible without the financial support of us all. Learn more about some of these groups on the following pages.
Artists Association of Nantucket 54/55
A Safe Place .
Community Foundation for Nantucket
Dreamland Theater .
72/73
66/67
Fairwinds, Nantucket’s Counseling Center 88/89
Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation
Harvey Foundation
Inky Santa’s Toy Drive
82/83 The Inquirer and Mirror 102/103
Book Foundation
Nantucket Boys & Girls Club
96/97
58/59 Nantucket Conservation Foundation
Cottage Hospital
78/79
56/57 Nantucket Fuel, Food and Rental Assistance 100/101
Golf Club Foundation
92/93 Nantucket Historical Association
Nantucket Land & Water Council
90/91
76/77
Nantucket Pride 94/95
NCTV - Nantucket Community Television
NISHA - Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals
Nantucket Performing Arts Center
86/87
60/61
Nourish Nantucket 64/65
Our House
98/99 The Rossini Club .
Nantucket
74/75
Margaret Koehm, MD, Nancy Lucchini, NP, Katie Miller, NP, Molly Harding, NP, Diane Pearl, MD, Annette Adams, NP, David Lieberman, MD, Derek Andelloux, MD, Claire Conklin, NP, Sarah Russell, MD
Nantucket’s Primary Care Team
When you live on an island, you look out for each
other.
No one feels the weight of this responsibility more than Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s primary care team. They are the orchestra leaders of your health and well-being. They’ll take care of all your routine needs such as annual physicals, vaccines and the care of common or chronic health issues. They will also guide you to a specialist if needed, on- or off-island.
Joining the team this year are Dr. Sarah Russell and Dr. David Lieberman, who are both accepting new patients. If you need a primary care provider, we’re here for you. Call 508-825-1000.
80 years of impact since 1945 Serving Nantucket Kids
DAYS A
Over 80% of the Club’s budget comes from local philanthropy
The Nantucket Boys & Girls Club is a private, non-profit organization serving island children ages 2 through 18. Open year-round, the Club provides a safe, supportive place where kids and teens can learn, grow, and thrive. Through programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, leadership, and community, NBGC offers a wide range of educational, recreational, cultural, and athletic opportunities that inspire great futures every day. and until 7pm on weekdays
A Thriving Nantucket Depends on ALL of Us.
A Thriving Nantucket Depends on ALL of Us.
Please help the Community Foundation make a difference by donating to The Nantucket Fund, our permanent grantmaking fund that suports critical programs and initiatives essential to our Islanders’ wellbeing, convening community leaders, and guiding informed philanthropy.
Please help the Community Foundation make a difference by donating to The Nantucket Fund, our permanent grantmaking fund that suports critical programs and initiatives essential to our Islanders’ wellbeing, convening community leaders, and guiding informed philanthropy.
This year, The Nantucket Fund has provided a record $1 million in grants to local nonprofits. But Island needs are outpacing resources. Currently, we are only able to meet half of the requests from community organizations on the front lines helping neighbors who are:
This year, The Nantucket Fund has provided a record $1 million in grants to local nonprofits. But Island needs are outpacing resources. Currently, we are only able to meet half of the requests from community organizations on the front lines helping neighbors who are:
• Coping with personal struggles
• Coping with personal struggles
• In need of food or safe housing
• In need of food or safe housing
• Searching for affordable childcare
• Searching for affordable childcare
• Hoping to age in place with dignity
• Hoping to age in place with dignity
Your gift means more neighbors in need can be supported. Together, we can keep Nantucket thriving today and for generations to come.
Your gift means more neighbors in need can be supported. Together, we can keep Nantucket thriving today and for generations to come.
Please give generously to CFNAN.org or scan here
Please give generously to CFNAN.org or scan here
The Nantucket Fund Community Partners from top left; A Safe Place, Island Kitchen’s emergency food fund partnership; Nantucket Book Foundation; Our House; Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands, Our Island Home; The Warming Place, Sherburne Commons; Nantucket Boys and Girls Club, Rising Tide Pre-School, St. Mary’s Parrish, B-ACK Yard BBQ warm meals partnership with The Warming Place, Palliative & Supportive Care of Nantucket, Fairwinds Counseling Center, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Housing Nantucket.
The Nantucket Fund Community Partners from top left; A Safe Place, Island Kitchen’s emergency food fund partnership; Nantucket Book Foundation; Our House; Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands, Our Island Home; The Warming Place, Sherburne Commons; Nantucket Boys and Girls Club, Rising Tide Pre-School, St. Mary’s Parrish, B-ACK Yard BBQ warm meals partnership with The Warming Place, Palliative & Supportive Care of Nantucket, Fairwinds Counseling Center, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Housing Nantucket.
For a list of the 2025 Nantucket Fund Grant Recipients visit cfnan.org Photographer: Kit Noble
For a list of the 2025 Nantucket Fund Grant Recipients visit cfnan.org Photographer:
Kit Noble
Nourish Nantucket
Fighting Food Insecurity on the Island
The fact that hunger exists for 1 out of 3 year-round residents on Nantucket is hard to comprehend. The high cost of housing on Nantucket often impacts the ability to buy food and other necessities.
Nourish Nantucket was created to coordinate the various food agencies on the island into a single source for fundraising and collaboration.
Having 34% of island residents food insecure is a problem we can solve together with your support.
To learn more and donate:
• Scan the QR code
• Visit us at www.nourishnantucket.org
• Call 508-901-9201
NN Farm Truck with Pip Nantucket Food Pantry
Food Pantry
Meal Program
Meals on Wheels
NN Prepared Meals
Pip Farm Truck
The Warming Place
Nantucket Family Resource Center
NN Grocery Debit Cards
Health Imperatives/Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)
In Celebration of Sustainable Nantucket’s 25th Anniversay, we continue to champion core mission values; supporting local agriculture, food producers, and makers. Thanks to your generous donations, our programs are thriving.
We’ve expanded our Farm to School Garden education to include summer groups from The Nantucket Boys and Girls Club, Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket Community School, and the public schools. Our sponsorship of the high school Sustainable Agriculture classes added new curriculum and resources. “Dads’ Days in the Garden” were a hit, as students enjoyed farm-fresh snacks, greenhouse growing, and harvesting their summer crops. Your support also enabled us to hire an assistant farm-to-school manager and a summer intern to inspire future growers. The Nantucket Nutrition Project is in its sixth year, and going strong!
Our Mentor Farm Program has been buzzing with workshops on beekeeping, tree pruning, native plants, seed starting, and companion planting. With recent updates—native plant borders, a clover lawn, and picnic tables—the farmstand and the farm itself have become true community hubs.
Farmers’ beautiful flowers and fresh produce offered 24/7 on an honor basis in the farmstand make shopping local a breeze. New farmers Leah Mojer (In Situ native plant nursery) and Amanda Amaral have joined our ranks, guided by seasoned growers. We love to grow new growers!
It was a joy to lead Governor Maura Healey and our legislators, Sen. Julian Cyr and Rep. Thomas Moakley on a tour of the farm in August to share how our grant funded purchases of local produce for the school lunch program and GrowBox deliveries and freerange chicken coops have contributed toward reducing food insecurity.
Community outreach efforts expanded access to SNAP and WIC recipients at our Farmers & Artisans Market. With support from Sustainable Cape and Nourish Nantucket, we now provide an additional $20 of HIP benefits to SNAP participants and contribute produce to the “freebie fridge” at the Family Resource Center. Our Market now serves as a primary driver for over 80 small businesses!
We’re also participating in a regional community food assessment, led by the Marion Institute, to better understand and improve Nantucket’s food system—an island-first.
It’s been a year full of impact, and your support made it all possible. As we look ahead, please help us continue to grow and serve our island community.
Follow us on social media and join our e-newsletter to learn more about these difficult topics and how you can be part of the change.
acksafeplace or A Safe Place Nantucket
Prevention is the heart of our mission
Prevention education is central to our mission. Our public and private school classroom programs are developed using age-appropriate information and skill building. The material is also reinforced through creative projects during our ongoing collaborations with the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club and via a featured speaker at Nantucket High School. Collectively, these initiatives aim to help youth build and foster healthy personal relationships while encouraging them to become mature peer and community advocates for relationships based on equality, non-violence, and respect.
Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship:
Intensity
Possessiveness
Deflecting Responsibility
Manipulation
Isolation
Signs
Sabotage
Belittling
Education
Inspires
Change
Housing Search Assistance @
Comfortable
Taking
Programs
Domestic Violence
Rape Crisis
Trauma Therapy
Child Witness to Violence
Supervised Visitation
Services
24-Hour Hotline
Online Chat
Supportive Counseling
Trauma Therapy
Medical Accompaniment
Police & Legal Advocacy
Family Court Legal Services
Assistance
Support Groups for Adolescent & Adult Survivors
Child Witness to Violence
Counseling
Therapeutic Sports & Social
Skills Groups for Youth
Provision of Basic Needs
Items & Financial Assistance
Immigration Support
Transportation Assistance
NANTUCKET LAND & WATER COUNCIL
MONITORING
We Pay Attention
Aquifer levels • Pond and Harbor water quality • Eelgrass health • Stormwater runoff
REVIEWING
Permit applications and project proposals • Proposed changes to regulations and bylaws • Town Meeting warrant articles
EDUCATING
We Raise Awareness
Grow Native for Nantucket workshops, presentations, and publications • Downtown Oyster Upweller • NLWC Internship Program • Annual State of the Harbor Forum • Tree and kayak tours • Winter Wellness Walks • Classroom visits and field trips
RECOMMENDING
Proactive environmental policies and regulations for inclusion in municipal by-laws and plans, such as Wetlands Regulations, Harbors Plan, and Eelgrass Management Plan • Expanded application of stormwater and fertilizer regulations • Water quality management for island ponds and wetlands
We Take Action
ENGAGING
Experts in water quality, engineering, land use, and planning to aid in project review and assessment
ADVOCATING
AGAINST irresponsible increase of density and development • FOR sustainable land use and policy changes that will enhance the health of our environment • AGAINST bylaw changes that would negatively impact our land and water resources
LITIGATING
AGAINST environmentally harmful projects such as Surfside Crossing and the ‘Sconset Bluff Geotube expansion
PROTECTING
Open space and biodiversity through Conservation Restrictions
RESTORING
Eelgrass habitat through reseeding and transplanting
Defending Clean Water for a Healthy Island
Our actions on the land directly affect the health of our water — and our community.
Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, along with other contaminants such as those found in stormwater runoff, don’t just disappear—they travel through the soil and into our ponds, harbors, and drinking water sources. This pollution fuels harmful algal blooms, degrades water quality, and disrupts fragile ecosystems. Through ongoing proactive research, advocacy, and education, the NLWC strives to prevent this pollution and safeguard Nantucket’s waters.
The Milestone Center will responsibly support the ecological stewardship, scientific research, and environmental education efforts of NCF and create a compelling opportunity for additional success as we, together with the Nantucket community, address current and future environmental challenges facing the island.
The Nantucket Conservation Foundation safeguards over 9,000 acres of Nantucket’s natural resources, endangered habitats, and 100 miles of trails for you to enjoy.
The Milestone Center
Ecological Research & Stewardship
Enhanced greenhouse infrastructure for native plant propagation
Herbarium for botanical research and collection
Ecological research laboratory with water testing equipment
Environmental Education & Outreach
Native plant demonstration garden and landscaping
Constructed wetlands for innovative wastewater treatment
Nature-based stormwater management areas
Stable & Secure Housing for NCF Personnel
Three modest-sized two-family Nantucket-style homes er home footprint) to support six existing
(~1,200 sq feet per employees and their families
Location of future Milestone Center: NCF Workspace & Labs and NCF Staff Housing
& Labs
Inky Santa is Nantucket’s answer to helping families who are struggling during the holidays to provide Christmas gifts for their kids. Th rough 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 40 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!
Fairwinds
41 Nantucket Scholars since 2006
67 Professional Scholarship recipients since 2018
65 institutions of higher education attended Grants to 97 Island organizations
892 grant requests – 777 grants funded Largest grant of $1M
Nantucket Scholar Program
Awards two Nantucket High School graduating seniors a four-year, tuition and fees scholarship to the university or college of their choice. Nantucket Scholars receive degrees at prestigious institution and pursue careers across a wide range of industries, including engineering, technology, finance, and healthcare.
Photo Courtesy of Barbara Zachary
The mission of the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation (NGCF) is to promote the positive development and enrichment of Nantucket children. Through the generous support of the members of Nantucket Golf Club and their guests, NGCF has raised over $58 million in the last 24 years for the benefit of island youth.
To learn more about our programs and support our efforts, reach out at businessoffice@nantucketgolfclub.com.
Professional Scholarship Program
NGCF Grant Program
Provides renewable scholarships to graduating seniors who are pursuing a vocational or professional program. Students awarded this scholarship pursue degrees in nursing, education, welding, automotive technology, and more.
Supports local nonprofit organizations’ programming across various areas, including the arts, health, sports, and education. In 2024, the Foundation disbursed over $1.4 million in grants awards to island nonprofits, with an additional $610,000 offered in matching grants.
Photo Courtesy of Barbara Zachary
Photo Courtesy of Gideon Holdgate
Photo Courtesy of Nantucket Boys & Girls Club
Visiting Author Program
R EAD A BOUT
“ I say to kids that there were moments that I found growing up that were excruciating—there were also joyous moments, but there were very hard ones, and we get through those. Because I write for young people, that feels like the urgent message to me now—that they can persevere and hang on.”
Book Mobile
“I wish everyone had the chance to hear the excited chatter as children choose their own books, share with their peers if they found one they knew a friend would like, and pour over books they can’t wait to read. The book mobile goes where the children are, making books more attainable and creating excitement for young readers.”
Children’s Book Day
“ Children’s Book Day epitomized why our little family loves the work of the Nantucket Book Foundation. Sitting on blankets on Children’s Beach listening to children’s book authors and making arts and crafts with folks like Wendy Rouillard connects our girls with the grass-roots, soulful Nantucket experience that is becoming exceedingly rare.”
– NBF Writer Advisory Board member, Rob Cocuzzo
– 2025 NBF Visiting Author, Meg Medina
Photo: Charity Grace Mofsen
– Elementary school teacher and Book Mobile founder, Gillean Myers
Photo: Kit Noble
Photo: Jenny Johnson
O UR P HILANTHROPY
Nantucket Book Festival
“An enriching, inspired, and carefully curated experience organized by some of the most passionate and thoughtful folks this side of the Mississippi! One gets the sense that, from this magical and historic little island, the Nantucket Book Fest team and its community are truly rooting for the world ”
– 2025 Nantucket
Poetry Festival
“ I started the Poetry Festival because I wanted to attend a poetry festival on Nantucket. It is a passion project that pulls itself up by its bootstraps every time, thanks to the support of organizations like the Nantucket Book Foundation. That one weekend in August is the most meaningful time of the year for me and many poetry lovers on Nantucket.”
Young Writers Award
“ The focus on uplifting young local writers makes the Nantucket Book Festival truly one of a kind. Meeting the amazing young writers at the Festival made the weekend unforgettable. I came away inspired by the Foundation’s focus on fostering the literary community on the island ”
- NBF Co-Founder, Mary Haft | Photo: Bill Hoenk
Tharon Dunn Award
“ The Tharon Dunn Scholarship Award has been such a meaningful way for NBF to honor the legacy of Tharon Dunn. She was an incredible advocate for writers, readers and English language learners and gave her entire heart to uplifting the literary arts on Nantucket. Winners of this award are remarkable Nantucket High School students for whom English is not their first language; we want to recognize their hard work in school, their commitment to community and their bright futures ”
- NBF Executive Director, Kaley Kokomoor | Photo: Bill Hoenk
Book Festival author, Ocean Vuong | Photo: Josh Gray
- NBF Young Writer Award Winner, Nantucket High School Graduate, and Harvard Student, Anna Popnikolova | Photo courtesy: Anna Popnikolova
The island doesn’t run on charm.
The island doesn’t run on charm.
The island doesn’t run on charm.
It’s fueled by people.
It’s fueled by people.
It’s fueled by people.
Nantucket thrives on people—neighbors, workers, fam ilies—each carrying the weight of high costs, quiet seasons, and unexpected hardships. Behind the postcard views is a community that cannot run on charm alone . It takes food on the table, steady housing, and the security of keeping the lig hts on. That’s where we come in.
Nantucket thrives on people—neighbors, workers, fam ilies—each carrying the weight of high costs, quiet seasons, and unexpected hardships. Behind the postcard views is a community that cannot run on charm alone . It takes food on the table, steady housing, and the security of keeping the lig hts on. That’s where we come in.
Nantucket thrives on people—neighbors, workers, fam ilies—each carrying the weight of high costs, quiet seasons, and unexpected hardships. Behind the postcard views is a community that cannot run on charm alone . It takes food on the table, steady housing, and the security of keeping the lig hts on. That’s where we come in.
At Nantucket Food Fuel Rental Assistance, we provid e more than relief—we offer stability, dignity, and a lifeline when life on the island becomes unsustainable. From fresh groceries and rental help to utility support and medical travel assistance, every act of care helps islanders stay rooted here.
At Nantucket Food Fuel Rental Assistance, we provid e more than relief—we offer stability, dignity, and a lifeline when life on the island becomes unsustainable. From fresh groceries and rental help to utility support and medical travel assistance, every act of care helps islanders stay rooted here.
At Nantucket Food Fuel Rental Assistance, we provid e more than relief—we offer stability, dignity, and a lifeline when life on the island becomes unsustainable. From fresh groceries and rental help to utility support and medical travel assistance, every act of care helps islanders stay rooted here.
This is not charity. It’s community. It’s the islan d looking after its own, ensuring that no neighbor is left behind in the face of impo ssible choices. Together, we make Nantucket livable—for everyone who calls it home.
This is not charity. It’s community. It’s the islan d looking after its own, ensuring that no neighbor is left behind in the face of impo ssible choices. Together, we make Nantucket livable—for everyone who calls it home.
This is not charity. It’s community. It’s the islan d looking after its own, ensuring that no neighbor is left behind in the face of impo ssible choices. Together, we make Nantucket livable—for everyone who calls it home.
Nantucket’s greatest asset is its people, but too many live one setback away from crisis.
Nantucket’s greatest asset is its people,
Nantucket’s greatest asset is its people, but too many live one setback away from crisis.
but too many live one setback away from crisis.
1,889 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS
1,889 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS
1,889 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS
Your support provided yearround food, rental & utility assistance
Your support provided yearround food, rental & utility assistance
Your support provided yearround food, rental & utility assistance
31,310
31,310
119 RENTAL UNITS
119 RENTAL UNITS
119 RENTAL UNITS
From winter slowdowns to summer transitions, rent support disbursed $488,000 to keep families in their homes
From winter slowdowns to summer transitions, rent support disbursed $488,000 to keep families in their homes
From winter slowdowns to summer transitions, rent support disbursed $488,000 to keep families in their homes
260,000
31,310 260,000
GROCERY BAGS
GROCERY BAGS
GROCERY BAGS
260,000
Every bag kept a family nourished, one meal at a time MEALS
39 TRIPS OFF-ISLAND
39 TRIPS OFF-ISLAND
39 TRIPS OFF-ISLAND
33 HOUSEHOLDS
33 HOUSEHOLDS
33 HOUSEHOLDS
Every bag kept a family nourished, one meal at a time MEALS Families face impossible choices between basic needs
Every bag kept a family nourished, one meal at a time MEALS Families face impossible choices between basic needs
Distance shouldn’t keep care out of reach
Distance shouldn’t keep care out of reach
Distance shouldn’t keep care out of reach
Families face impossible choices between basic needs
Food Assistance Program: Through our Food Pantry, we provide access to nutritious food, including fresh produce, dairy, meats, and pantry staples, to island residents in need.
Food Assistance Program: Through our Food Pantry, we provide access to nutritious food, including fresh produce, dairy, meats, and pantry staples, to island residents in need.
Food Assistance Program: Through our Food Pantry, we provide access to nutritious food, including fresh produce, dairy, meats, and pantry staples, to island residents in need.
Rental Assistance Program: We help islanders avoid eviction and stay in safe, stable housing by covering short-term rent payments.
Rental Assistance Program: We help islanders avoid eviction and stay in safe, stable housing by covering short-term rent payments.
Rental Assistance Program: We help islanders avoid eviction and stay in safe, stable housing by covering short-term rent payments.
Utility Assistance Program: Our utility assistance program helps households avoid service shut-offs by covering essential utility bills like heat, water, and electricity.
Utility Assistance Program: Our utility assistance program helps households avoid service shut-offs by covering essential utility bills like heat, water, and electricity.
Utility Assistance Program: Our utility assistance program helps households avoid service shut-offs by covering essential utility bills like heat, water, and electricity.
Medical Travel Assistance Program: We assist island residents defray the cost of traveling to off-island medical appointments. This vital service connects patients with critical healthcare.
Medical Travel Assistance Program: We assist island residents defray the cost of traveling to off-island medical appointments. This vital service connects patients with critical healthcare.
Medical Travel Assistance Program: We assist island residents defray the cost of traveling to off-island medical appointments. This vital service connects patients with critical healthcare.
food, rental, utility or medical
apply go to:
The Inquirer and Mirror
is proud to support our community with media sponsorships and contributions to many island institutions and events.
Over the last year we have provided more than $125,000 in media sponsorships to:
