Coffin’s Corner

On Friday, October 31, 2008, members of the Nantucket Community gathered on Main Street for the Annual Halloween Parade. Families gather at the bottom of Main Street around 5:00 where the parade begins and afterwards, children go trick or treating at the local businesses located on Main Street, Centre Street, Federal Street, India Street, and South Water Street. Bernie and Carol Coffin, Brokers/Owners of Coffin Real Estate, were two of the judges this year for the awards given out for various categories of costumes. Some of the agents at  got involved in the festivities. Jack Bulger, his wife Suzi, and daughter Sienna were a royal family, Barbara Keane Clarkes’ youngest son, C.J., was a bumble bee, Michele Cranston’s daughter, Megan, dressed as a nerd, and Christina Boling, her husband Todd, and dog Maggie were fishermen and a lobster.

There are many opportunities on Nantucket for a visitor to learn something new.  There is the Nantucket Whaling Museum for those who want to learn about the island’s sea faring and candle manufacturing history.  The Maria Mitchell Association for those who are more science and nature oriented. For those visitors who want to indulge their artistic side, there are classes you can take to learn to make the arts and crafts that are an important part of the island’s history. Through the Nantucket Historical Association, you can sign up for the early American Arts and Crafts classes at the historic 1800 House. These classes are dedicated to celebrating and reviving Nantucket’s tradition in arts and crafts. Some of this year’s class offerings include Painted Sisal Rugs, where using traditional floor stencils, students will make a 3’x5’ area rug in a pattern and color of their choice and Sailors Valentines, where participants will be given an octagon shaped cherry box, a wide variety of shells, and the tools and instructions needed to make their own Sailor Valentines. All materials are included in the cost and classes usually span over a few days.

To register for a class, please call 508-228-1894, ext. 128 or for more information, visit the Nantucket Historical Association website.

The 8th annual Nantucket Miles of Memories Walk for Alzheimer’s will be on Sunday, October 5, 2008 to benefit the Alzheimer’s Services of Cape Cod and the Islands. Registration for the 2.2 mile walk is at 11:00 with the walk beginning at 12:00 from the Cranberry Bog parking lot off of Polpis Road. Participates may register online at www.alzcapecod.org/walk and can either walk as an individual or form a team.

Since 1984, The Alzheimer’s Services of Cape Cod and The Islands (ASCCI) has been a private, local nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their family and professional caregivers. The ASCCI invests its resources in building the capacity of caregivers through support and consultation; information and referrals; education and skill buildings; and respite grants. ASCCI also works with leading nursing homes and assisted living facilities to build the capacity of their staff for a higher quality of life of the residents and less stress on the professional caregivers*.

We at Coffin and ‘Sconset Real Estate look forward to participating in this year’s walk and hope it is as successful as last year’s.

*Taken from Alzheimer's Services of Cape Cod and The Islands website/pamphlet 

The 3rd annual Nantucket Restaurant Week will commence on September 29, 2008. The week begins with the Opening Gala, a fundraiser to benefit the Nantucket Culinary Arts Foundation. The Gala, featuring many of the islands chefs cooking table side, is Sunday, September 28th, from 6 pm –8 pm at the Nantucket Whaling Museum. Throughout the week, many of the island’s most popular restaurants will be offering 3 course dinner menus priced at either $25 or $45, depending on the restaurant. Some of the participating restaurants for 2008 include: 21 Federal,  A.K. Diamonds, American Seasons, Boarding House, Brant Point Grille, The Chanticleer, Queequegs, and The Atlantic Café.  

There is still time to book your vacation rental for this enjoyable and delectable week on Nantucket. For more information on events and participating restaurants, please visit http://www.nantucketrestaurantweek.com.

Although summer on Nantucket is coming to an end, try not to be too sad. Even though most people seek vacation rentals during the prime months of June, July, and August, more vacationers seem to be catching on to the notion that the fall months on Nantucket, particularly, September, October, and November, are just as coveted as those sweet summer months.

With September beginning and the summer coming to a close, Nantucket is gearing up for yet another eventful season. The first event of a busy fall on the island is the Nantucket Arts Council’s 16th Annual Fall Arts Festival, which runs from Friday, August 29th until Sunday, September 7th.  Highlights of this year’s festival are not limited to just paintings and sketches, but all mediums, including performing arts.  Things to do during this year’s festival: check out the Field and Farm Exhibit at the Hayloft at Bartlett’s Farm, take in a performance of “Moon Over Buffalo” by the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket, listen to Superhoney at the Chicken Box, stroll through the Nantucket Farmers’ and Artisans Market at the Nantucket New School, view a screening of Cary Hazelgrove’s “An Island Life” at The Starlight Café, and wander into the various galleries that are scattered around downtown.

You can download and print the complete schedule of this year’s events from the Nantucket Arts Council’s website at http://www.nantucketartscouncil.org.

Nantucket celebrates July 4th- in a BIG WAY!  The reading of the Declaration of Independence, the Activities on Main Street, Nantucket and the activities out in 'Sconset.  There was the dunk tank, face painting, sand art, blueberry pie eating contest, watermelon eating contest, bike parades, sack races, and parades. At noon on Main Street- the Wauwinet fire engine and the Nantucket fire engine have their water fight. It was a beautiful day for all. The pictures will show you lots of the fun and you will recognize some folks- such as Ursula McMorrow with granddaughter, Lucy,  Donna Schultz's grandson and granddaughter having their faces painted and Johnny Sussek with his bike.  Perhaps you will see  yourself out in 'Sconset or in town.   We are all fortunate to enjoy our holiday celebrations on Nantucket Island.

Please submit any of your fourth of July pictures to carolc@coffinrealestate.com if  you would like them on our blog- Coffin's Corner.

John Merson, of Coffin & 'Sconset Real Estate, had his book War Lessons released last month.  The book tells the story of what he learned as a foot soldier in the Vietnam War and from more than a decade of travel back to Vietnam. We at Coffin & 'Sconset Real Estate offer John our sincerest congratulations on his perseverance and deliverance of this book. All royalties from War Lessons go to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to clear unexploded ordnance in Vietnam.  

On Friday June 13th at 7 pm, John will give a short reading from his book at the Great Hall of The Nantucket Atheneum.  There will be copies of the book available for purchase.

If you cannot make it on June 13th, you can join John on Saturday, June 14th at 6 pm at his home at 46 Fair Street, Nantucket, MA for an additional reading and discussion sponsored by Congregation Shirat HaYam.  Books will be available to purchase.

War Lessons is available at Nantucket Bookworks and Mitchell's Bookstore. 

If you would like John to speak at an event, please contact John Merson at johnmerson@aol.com

Nonie Slavitz participated in The Birdathon  on Nantucket.  Nonie is a broker with Coffin & 'Sconset Real Estate. The Birdathon is a fund raiser for Maria Mitchell Association.  The money raised is used to purchase storage cases for the scientific bird mounts of the Edith Andrews collection.  The collection is housed at the Hinchman House on the corner of Milk and Vestal Streets.  Teams of birders get pledges for each species the team collects and then search out as many bird species as they can find on Nantucket for a twenty-four period.   This year the species count totaled 132 among which was a Pacific Loon in breeding plumage.  A first for not only Nantucket but also Massachusetts.  Although exhausting, it was really fun.  Nonie looks forward to next year's birdathon.  Perhaps  more people will participate in the Nantucket Birdathon and you can keep in touch with Nonie at 508-228-1138 voice mail 11 to find out more. 

The photo below was taken in Edith  Andrews yard.   The gray catbird is very common and the not so common scarlet tanager.  Both are enjoying oranges, a great bird attractor.  

 What a weekend!! The weather was glorious and the island was full of visitors and homeowners returning to enjoy our beautiful island.  People were biking, golfing, walking, sailing and boating.  Nantucket was bursting with color- lilac trees in full bloom, azaleas, cherry trees, dog woods.  Jack Bulger, real estate broker at Coffin & 'Sconset Real Estate, took some pictures of the Memorial Day parade for everyone to share and enjoy. The parade went from Steamship Wharf to Prospect Hill Cemetery. Bernie & Carol  Coffin, owners of Coffin & 'Sconset Real Estate, enjoyed some golf out at Sankaty Golf Course- see the pictures also.  The Sankaty Lighthouse is picturesque and has settled into the new location in 'Sconset.  Speaking of 'Sconset-  the Nantucket Historical Association just opened it's newest exhibit at the Whaling Museum: "Sconset 02564 A celebration of the Patchwork Village."  A model of the Nantucket Railroad will be permanently on display and the exhibit will be there all summer.  A must to go see.

1. 29 Morey Lane: A house on .22 of an acre; Brix Development LLC to Lime Stone LLC; $4,875,000.

2. 7 Old North Wharf: A house on .08 of an acre; Marilyn O’Rourke to Leah Simblaris-Lampe; $2,750,000.

3. 27 Morey Lane: A vacant lot on .46 of an acre; Brix Development LLC to Lime Stone LLC; $2,100,000.

4. 10 Thistle Lane: A house on .26 of an acre; Rugged Scott, LLC to Joseph and Ruth Plandowski; $1,330,000.

5. 9 Ramos Court: A house on .5 of an acre; Ramos Court LLC to Robert and Sheryl Ramos; $1.

6. 59 Meadow View Drive: A house on .46 of an acre; Regina Kohlhepp to Regina and Tobin Kohlhepp; $1.

7. 51A Milk Street: A house on .12 of an acre; Dianna Lynn Paulson to Dianna Lynn Paulson, who is acting as custodian for Lindsey Belle Bennette and Skyler Brooke Bennette; $1.

The Nantucket Islands Land Bank gained $220,500 in transfer tax fees for the week ending May 10. For 2008, the Land Bank gained an estimated total of $3,875,351.01.