Our calendars have turned to August, and for many of us we have become used to living with cancellations on the Island social calendar and to wearing our masks as required on the ferry, in Island buildings and when social distancing outside on the pier etc. is not possible. Yet, should you wish to party, there is the Individual Work Party option with no risk of close contact! Check the bulletin board at the library to sign up on Peter Burvill’s list of work projects to be done.

Also, when walking the Island, please be on the lookout (especially in the fields of the West Shore) for dodder, a parasitic plant with bright orange tendrils. Last year’s eradication campaign was quite successful in removal of this invasive plant however a cluster was recently spotted (and removed by Kim) across the road from the Woolson cottage.

Our chance gather as a large group is now through Zoom, a platform pretty much unused by many until March or April of this year. July 30 was the beginning of 2 important All-Island meetings. Both were very successful in and a ‘call out’ is due to President Betsy Morrell and Clerk Molly Bogart for making it work. This was especially challenging during the Annual Meeting for Molly as she needed to assist some with the technology and to count votes both through the Zoom and by raised hands for those whose computers did not show the vote options. Present at the meeting were approximately 70-75 persons representing 131 shares (or 60.65% of the total 216 shares) by the end. Congratulations to Betsy, Molly and the BOD on such a smooth meeting. A side benefit for many of us was a chance to see far away Islander friends and family members ‘live’ since so many have been unable to join us this summer.

A reminder, the NeKrangan II museum is open to individuals and family groups. Approximately two weeks ago Susan Bean added a poster to the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic exhibit. It consists of several pages that she copied from her Great Grandmother Emma Frances Sturgis’ diary written during the period of September 25 to October 8, 1918. Because some of the original handwriting is difficult to decipher, she typed out sections for clarification.

Two excerpts: “September 28, Saturday. Busy all the am … City ordered all theatres, schools and churches closed on acct of this Spanish Influenza. Alf and I finished 28 glasses of grape crab jelly this eve so as to have time for RC tomorrow.” “Sunday, Worked at Red Cross all day on acct of emergency call to make ‘germ’ masks for the use of local Board of Health. And 2,000 for Boston. From 60 to 10 ladies there all day and evening. Maudie went to dinner with Mrs. Kitridge at Lafayette. Churches all closed on acct of influenza.”

Sound familiar? Thank you, Susan! Please feel free to visit the museum and consider jotting down (or sending me an email) of your descriptions of summer 2020 as part of our lived experience during Covid-19. All age groups are welcome!

A revised edition of the “Island Women 2020” photo album is still in publication and will not be ready for purchase for at least several more weeks. Should you wish to order the revised edition, hold off until we send out the link.

Finally, a call out is also due to those hardy U.S. Census takers! The job description online states, “Census takers, or enumerators, are employees of the U.S. Census Bureau who visit the homes of individuals who do not complete and return a census questionnaire. The census taker will interview any available adult member of the household in order to complete the census questionnaire.” That sounds pretty cut and dried, however last week one brave Census taker who was doing due diligence about whether some folks had been missed on the IOS, crossed the river by kayak to see if anyone had been left out!