Our children are perplexed and hurting. How can you explain why any child would take his or her own life? Are we failing them in some way, failing to instill in them a zest for life as an adventure with both ups and downs, triumphs and failures? Do we make the most estranged feel as if they’re a part of something, a part of us? Do they know we can help them if they would just ask?
Answers don’t come easily, but no one can disagree that we must do something, it must be now, and it must be the beginning of a long term plan to better address the needs of our youth, their fears, and their insecurities. Whether you have children or not, their health mirrors the health of our community, and our community is in pain now. We are all affected by the untimely and purposeful death of any one of us.
A group of very dedicated people have come together to do what they can, and to find ways the rest of us can help. That is the subject of the Community Forum on Suicide Prevention this Wednesday, November 14th, 6:00 pm at the High School Auditorium, for adults and teens. Experts will talk about depression and the signs of suicide risk, and take your questions. The all-volunteer community working group on suicide prevention includes representatives of the clergy, parents of school-age and adult children, the Nantucket Public Schools, and local therapists. They have a plan for addressing the problem, and they need your input and support.
Childcare is available in the ECC; the Boys & Girls Club will stay open late to accommodate older children. The High School’s Culinary Arts program will offer a 5 pm dinner for $10 - $15. To reserve a spot, call 228-7285 x1162 by Nov. 13.
Please attend if you can.
I’ve just received this message from our friends over there at the Starlight:
“Ruth, Mango, and Jim would like to thank everyone for a great three years. As of this Tuesday (11/13) the Starlight Theatre & Café will be under new ownership: Mark Watson General manager/Bartender, Susan Widger (Mark’s mom) Public Relations, Deborah Weiner (Mark’s sister) Managing Partner, and Jeff Weiner (Deborah’s husband) Chef. We hope everyone will support them as you did us, and thanks again.
Ruth, Mango, Jim Warwick”
Ruth and Jim breathed new life into the Starlight when they took over three years ago. They spruced up the theater and cafe, added soundproofing to the theater, upgraded the sound system to Dolby Surround, and brought major sporting events to the big big screen for the first time on the island. The café served good food at reasonable prices, hard to find here now, with an occasional pig roast on holidays. They bore the brunt of the frustration of all those who were upset that the Dreamland was closed, when an established summer audience of 1000 people per night had to joust for seats in the less than 100 seat Starlight. With the Dreamland dark, they worked hard to persuade film distributors to supply first run movies, often on the same day they opened nationwide. When many island restaurants closed for the winter, or large chunks of the winter, the Starlight was open. They upgraded the patio and the grape arbor, added heat and weatherproofing, and introduced regular live quality music to the patio, nightly in the summer. Though they owned a home in the Keys, they spent most of their winters here in order to keep the Starlight up to their standards.
This community owes Ruth and Jim Warwick a huge debt of gratitude. Stop by to say hi and bye and thanks. They leave for Florida on Wednesday.
Inca Sun performs free the music and dance of the Andes at the High School Auditorium, Thursday (15th), 6:30 pm. Dinner available from NHS culinary students beginning at 5 p.m.
The Nantucket School of Music presents a free piano recital by students of Marcia Hempel. Unitarian Church, Thursday (15th) at 7:00 pm.
Later in the week, the Nantucket School of Music Chorus, joined at times by the NHS Honors Chorus, presents Music to Lift the Spirits, Barbara Elder conductor, with folk hymns, spirituals, and a Stephen Foster medley. NHS Honors Chorus joins for “There is a Balm in Gilead” and “Turn the World Around.” Coffin School, Saturday (17th) at 7:30 pm, and again Sunday at 2 pm.
Fran Karttunen speaks on “Law and Disorder on Old Nantucket”, which includes bawdy houses, knife fights, marauding gangs of miscreants, and buckets and buckets of rum, all on an island of plain and sober Quakers. Free. Nantucket Atheneum. Wednesday, November 14, 7:00 pm.
Bob Mooney tells stories about “Island Personalities”, and introduce a few local personalities who will reminisce. Bring your lunch. Free. Whaling Museum, Thursday, November 15, 12 noon.
The Theatre Workshop is planning for the future, and wants your input at their planning forum. The discussion will be led by TWN’s new president, Frank Morral. Meet Jordana Fleischut TWN’s Producing Director and members of the TWN Program Planning Committee. Upstairs at the Methodist Church, Thursday (15th), 5:30 pm.
One correction to last week’s Nantucket Sky section. It should have read “Times given follow Eastern Standard Time after 2 a.m. on November 4th.”
Go to the N Magazine/Mahon About Town Arts & Social Calendar for additional listings.
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