Publisher's Note

Nothing rejuvenates the human spirit in the way a connection with nature does. A walk in the moors, a run with our dog on the beach or a bike ride on now-deserted dirt roads puts us in touch with forces larger than ourselves and in doing so restores our soul and let’s us gain perspective on the world at large.

Those of us who live on Nantucket are lucky to have over half the island’s acreage in permanent conservation, but with the busy factor on the rest of the island, even that doesn’t seem like enough sometimes. The Nantucket Land Council is hard at work sealing an agreement with Madaket landowner Linda Loring, that would put a conservation restriction on 270 acres of prime moorlands at the west end of the island. Loring wants to establish a nature center on the property that has been coveted by developers for years. She would use a large percent of the funds gained from the sale of the easement to build and endow the Linda Loring Nature Foundation. Turn to page 28 of this month’s issue to see Dan Sutherland and Nicole Harnishfeger’s images of the land in question and read Elizabeth Stanek’s story on the efforts of the Nantucket Land Council in this important endeavor.

In “The Other Season,” photographer Dan Driscoll’s pictorial homage to the beauty of the island in winter, we view the moors and Sanford Farm from several winters ago when ice and snow covered the landscape for much of the season, and we are reminded of the solace these open spaces provide. Turn to page 52 for this feature.

Not all of the preservation efforts on island have to do with keeping land free from development. Some of the island’s conservation efforts center on historic structures – witness The Sconset Trust’s current project of saving Sankaty lighthouse from falling into the sea.

Sankaty Light has been not only a guiding beacon to mariners over the years, it has become an important historical landmark as well. It defines the northern edge of the village of Sconset, where it has stood sentinel for over a hundred years. However, the steady erosion of the Sconset Bluff has put the lighthouse directly in harm’s way. The Trust wants to move the lighthouse back from the cliff and is trying to raise $4 million to do just that. Turn to page 42 to read what they’re doing and why.

Long-time islanders are often asked by the uninitiated whatever do we do in the winter. Many of us find winter a perfect time to socialize and catch up with old friends. Food writer Sarah Leah Chase dropped in at a winter dinner party that Aisling Glynn gave for some friends from her native Ireland, serving up some specialties from her homeland. Turn to page 58 for Aisling’s recipes for traditional Irish brown bread and more!

Next year look for the first issue of Nantucket Today in late March as we add another edition to our publication for a total of six issues a year.

MARIANNE R. STANTON

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

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