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12.1.09

From the Editor

Last week I went scalloping for the first time. Though the main goal was to bring home some tasty shellfish, the outing was about so much more.

A friend and I started by kayaking across Sengekontacket Pond to get to an area with scallops. Of course, we didn’t know quite where we would find them, so our first stop turned out to be a bit of a dry run. With waders on, we began walking along. Being able to see the bottom so clearly through the peep sight felt a little like snorkeling – without getting wet. I couldn’t help but be distracted by the different crabs and tiny fish and plant life. Good thing, since there were hardly any scallops there. Our second stop was more fruitful.

The wind seemed to come and go through the three-hour adventure. When it was windier, the clear visibility through the peep sight was like magic; when the wind died, the peacefulness belied the bustle below – there was so much activity, and not just the scallops trying to swim away from my net. In some ways, the whole scalloping experience is like the off-season here: It may seem as if there’s nothing going on, but below the surface it’s another story.

This magazine delves into the activities that get us through winter. If it’s freezing out, you may find a frozen pond nearby, so bundle up, grab your skates, and head on over (page 26). For an indoor activity (read: warmer), one of the best is the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, celebrating its tenth year in March; Julia Rappaport went behind the scenes to bring us a comprehensive feature (page 32). If I’ve inspired you to go scalloping, Geoff Currier’s look at how it works will give newbies the info they need to get started (page 18). Enjoy!