Troubles continue for Our Island Home, Nantucket's long-term care and nursing facility. A place for Nantucket residents in failing health has been operated by the town since the late 18th century. The current building on lower Orange Street near the rotary opened in 1981 and has had its own poor condition for years. OIH got a one out of five rating recently by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Inquirer and Mirror reported last week. OIH is one of only two municipally-owned nursing homes remaining in Massachusetts. The Town of Nantucket has proposed building a new facility, located elsewhere. Many island families and advocates for the elderly would like OIH to stay in its scenic location for its panoramic view, enjoyed by the residents, of nearby salt marshes.
As the debate continues, the nonprofit Friends of Our Island Home, made up of children, grandchildren, spouses, community members and friends of OIH residents, formed in 2013 (as part of Community Foundation for Nantucket) "to enrich the daily lives of Our Island Home residents."
Sharks ahoy
After unconfirmed early weekend reports of sharks in Nantucket waters, a sighting was confirmed Sunday near Cisco Beach. Harbormaster Sheila Lucy announced the sighting via the Town of Nantucket's ACK Harbormaster Twitter account, with Nantucket Police Departmentretweeting the warning. South Shore beaches closed just before 2 pm but reopened with yellow flags flying by 4 pm. Off and on during recent days, a purple flag has flown on Nantucket beaches to warn of jellyfish.
Whether or not sharks or jelly fish are near, or it's all clear for swimming and surfing, be cautioned that Nantucket beaches at Miacomet and 'Sconset are unguarded for the rest of the season, as summer lifeguards depart. It's back to school time for the young men and women who watched over Nantucket swimmers this summer.
Nantucket loves a winner With football season approaching, Boston Herald this weekend named longtime Nantucket High School coach Vito Capizzo as #6 among most winning high school football coaches in Massachusetts history. Capizzo, who died in May of 2018, fell just seven shy of 300 wins in his 45 years as the Whalers coach. The island's high school stadium was renamed Vito Capizzo Stadium in his honor.
Heroes Deserve a Nantucket Holiday
Since 2013 a passionate group of Nantucketers has helped give respites on the island to U.S. military men and women rebuilding their lives from the stress and trauma of combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks to Nantucket Holidays for Heroes, retreats to the island have given soldiers and their families experiences including parades and fireworks, fishing and sailing excursions, clambakes, bike rides, and gatherings with island families to make new friends.
Partnering with island businesses, H4H says its mission is to "bring our heroes and their families to an environment of relaxation and goodwill," to help them heal and reclaim their civilian lives. The group's annual American Dream Gala is this Friday under a tent at Bartlett's Farm and features dinner, an auction, and live music.
Safety First!
Nantucket's Public Safety Dayhappens today at Nantucket Elementary School, where it’s sure to educate and entertain kids and adults of all ages. Crewmen and women from Nantucket police and fire departments will gather to greet the public, along with state police, Nantucket Harbormaster, U.S. Coast Guard, Boston MedFlight, lifeguards, and others who are caretakers of Nantucket’s public safety and emergency first responders. See and touch police cars, fire trucks, a coast guard boat, and a gosh darned real helicopter.
Admission is free for the 10 am – 2 pm event in the school parking lot on Surfside Road (you won’t miss it). DayBreak Nantucket publisher and co-sponsor WACK 97.7 AM will be there live with Chris Reiser. Other sponsors include Nantucket Rotary, Mahon About Town, The Inquirer and Mirror, NCTV-18, Stop & Shop, A Safe Place, UPS Store, Madekat Admiralty, and Nantucket Public Schools.
Parking scofflaws beware
Besides sharks, another creature of sorts showed up on Nantucket the first weekend in August. Nantucket Police Department made its first deployment of the aptly named Barnacle, a man-made crustacean that prevents the use of cars belonging to major parking ticket scofflaws who owe hundreds to thousands of dollars in unpaid tickets.
Remove it yourself? Fuggedaboutit! Barnacle grabs on with industrial grade suction cups exerting 1,000 pounds of force. Once your fine is paid, by credit card or phone, you'll get a code to remove it. A total of $300K in unpaid tickets is at stake, says NPD.
Fire closes favorite 'Sconset eatery
Out at Summer House inn and restaurant, overlooking 'Sconset bluff on Ocean Avenue, its atmospheric dining room and covered porch are shuttered for awhile. The favorite spot of Nantucket visitors and residents for romantic dinners, with Jamie Howarth's lively piano playing in the background, was damaged Sunday by smoke and water from what appeared to be a third-floor fire, according to The Inquirer and Mirror. Howarth reported via Facebook the fire was contained to upper floors, with water damage below, and the restaurant unaffected. As cleanup continues, the Summer House Bistro near the beach remains open.
You're gonna need a bigger boat!
With multiple shark sightings over the weekend on Cape Cod, at least one swam close to Nantucket and was seen near Cisco Beach. Nantucket Harbormaster Sheila Lucy reported a confirmed sighting via Twitter a little after 9:30 Saturday morning then ordered adjoining South Shore beaches closed for two hours.
The shark warning for Nantucket was called off around noon, but a purple warning flag soon reappeared for a school of jellyfish near the beach. In both cases, the beach remained beautiful for reading and sunning.
The (old) walls come tumbling down
The (old) walls come tumbling down Before summer's end, all that will remain of the old Nantucket Cottage Hospital will be memories of babies born and illnesses survived or not. The island's medical safety net, 24-7 for 365 days of the year, already welcomes patients to its sparkling and modern new building. By early fall, physical remnants of the old 1961 NCH building will be replaced with landscaping and parking spaces. The hospital has provided a pictorial mapto see your doctor in sickness or in health in the meantime.
Giving back
Giving back In mid-July, Community Foundation for Nantucketawarded $174,000 to 20 local nonprofits “whose missions and programs most closely align with the community’s greatest needs.” Nantucket Fundrecipients include school programs, housing and food assistance efforts, and mental health group. Founded in 2005 by local residents, CFNAN is a tax-exempt, nonprofit, autonomous nonsectarian philanthropic institution supported through donation and donor-advised funds.
Baked goods at the ready
Baked goods at the ready Mid-island bakeries are stocking up for the opening Thursday, August 7 of The Green Lady Dispensary, Nantucket’s first cannabis retailer. Kidding aside, in November of 2017 two-thirds of Nantucket voters joined Massachusetts in approving recreational marijuana sales. The business is the first of two planned on the island. With federal waters surrounding Nantucket, and federal laws prohibiting marijuana sales, Nantucket retailers must grow and test their products locally. The Green Lady promises a selection of “top-quality CO2 concentrates, edibles, tinctures, and topicals.”