Thanksgiving

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • November 28, 2016

Is a time of and for thanks.  I have quite a few people to thank and I fear I won’t capture all of them here.  I am giving my thanks to the women and men who do a lot of things for MMA and for me on a daily basis, particularly where it concerns my work on the MMA facilities.  These are the people who have been working on our buildings and grounds, keeping things looking nice and improving upon things that are broken, rundown, and not looking so nice frankly.  And many of them have been doing it for many years already.


Some of our projects this year have been grant funded and we are greatly appreciative to those people, foundations, and granting agencies for their confidence in and support of our work.


This year’s projects – and repairs – have included things like new gutters on some of our buildings – including Hinchman House – painting of Hinchman and the Astronomer’s Cottage, work on turning our former Science Library into a Research Center, roofing Hinchman, installing a new (not leaking) shower and bathroom floor in the Hinchman dorm, and installing new drainage and a sewer line.  These are just a few of the “biggies” but there are also things like washing windows, cleaning dryer vents (we have five of those!), and fixing the lighting which are just as important and may get overlooked sometimes.


So here goes the
Thanks part which also includes the crews of these contractors, craftsmen, and artisans – all of my heroes! –  as well.  The MMA and I are eternally grateful!


JNLF


Wayne and Andrea Morris, Wayne Morris Mason


Matt Anderson, Anderson Carpentry


Pen Austin


Jim Badera, Badera Engineering


Jon Vollans, Vollans Electric


Bob Butler, Marden Plumbing


Mickey Rowland, Milton Rowland Architects


Greg Maskell, Maskell Landscaping


Kevin Wiggin, Kevin Wiggin HVAC, Inc.


Mike Freedman, Cabinetmaker


Jim Tyler, James Tyler Painting


Marine Home Center


Burton Went, WMW Tile, Inc. 


Sharon Cross


Pioneer Cleaning


Toscana


James Lydon and Sons and Daughters Roofing


Visco Pumping


Island Carpet


John Wathne, Structures-North


Matt Ireland


Jonathan Miles Window Cleaning


Taylor Butler


Chris Miller


Eric Finger


John Daly Plumbing


Island Cleaning Services


Greenwood Alarm



Valero Locksmith Service

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July 7, 2026
NANTUCKET, MA— The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is excited to announce the return of its Fourth Annual MMA Pop-Up Shopping Event, taking place July 13–15, 2026, at 33 Washington Street . The three-day event will bring together more than fifteen thoughtfully curated, female-founded brands for an elevated shopping experience, with 15% of vendor sales benefiting the Maria Mitchell Association's new Discovery Center & Aquarium Project. The annual pop-up has quickly become a summer tradition, offering island residents and visitors the opportunity to discover unique fashion, home décor, accessories, art, jewelry, gourmet foods, and lifestyle brands while supporting one of Nantucket's most beloved nonprofit organizations. This year’s vendors include Center & Spring, CJW, Classic & Curious Podcast with Anne Kokoskie, Dress More with Less, Haute Energy, Hibiscus Linens, Leigh Brown, Line in the Sand, Love All Tennis, Lulu Powers, Marfa Stance, MDVII, Michela Bruni Reichlin, Neelah Cashmere, The Preppy Stitch, Those Carls Girls, and Wendy Loves This. The event kicks off with an opening party on Monday, July 13, featuring the second annual Summer Games: Mahjong & Backgammon Tournament, presented by the Nantucket Mahjong Club . Guests will enjoy a late afternoon of friendly competition, shopping, Château Sainte Marguerite rosé, a Triple 8 cocktail by Tinker’s Bar , Caviar Nantucket , Shells Angels Raw Bar, Nantucket Nosh, and entertainment by DJ Garrett Justice . One hundred percent of tournament proceeds from the tournament will benefit the MMA Discovery Center & Aquarium Project. The shopping event will continue on Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15 with fifteen percent of all vendor sales to benefit the Maria Mitchell Association's Discovery Center & Aquarium Project. Three-Day Event Details at 33 Washington Street: MMA Opening Party with Summer Games: Mahjong & Backgammon Tournament Monday, July 13 4:00–7:00 p.m. MMA Pop-Up Shopping Event Tuesday, July 14 & Wednesday, July 15 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. For vendor information, and additional details, visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/2026-summer-pop-up About the Maria Mitchell Association: The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger July 6, 2026
July 15. {1863} My dear Sally . . . I think Mitchell is all right in his algebra. He can’t stand an examination in Trig but I don’t believe he will have a rigorous one. Father has seen the Prof. and will give him a letter to them.  If you can’t be honest with your sibling, who can you be honest with? Apparently, Sally Mitchell Barney’s son, William Mitchell Barney – known as Mitchell as his cousin William Mitchell Barney was known as Willie (how is that for honoring your father?!) – was visiting his aunt Maria and his grandfather, William Mitchell, at their home in Lynn, MA. Sally still lived on Nantucket and I suspect Mitchell was not only visiting but getting some much needed help with his mathematics by his aunt Maria. As always, she is brutally honest – he won’t pass a test in trigonometry (but, neither would I!). JNLF
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“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.” -Edith Andrews
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