Harbored View
Chris Perry

It’s that time again. In fact, the timing couldn’t be better.

What do you get when you mix the hot, humid weather of late with joggers, bike riders and walkers cramming the roads and bike paths? You get ideal conditions for my Third Annual Lemonade Stand Awards.

Surprisingly, the number of young entrepreneurs out manning homemade lemonade stands has dwindled this year. It seems the various nonprofits camped out on Main Street, coupled with Edward Scissorhands hawk-ing his services on Federal Street and the ghost tour operators, now outnumber the young, enthusiastic business leaders of the future who have traditionally dotted the island with mouth watering refreshments.

Many of the repeat candidates known for prowling such hot spots as ’Sconset Center, ’Sconset bike path, Brant Point and Jetties Beach were vacant over the last four weeks. Much like the waves at the Ozone Surf Classic on Sunday, competing stands never materialized allowing those lucky few a better chance for success.

What about price, location and menu? Unlike the local real estate market, lemon-ade prices were falling. Most of the homemade stands did occupy some of the trendy spots and their respective “menus” seemed to be simplified. Maybe there's a message. Perhaps we are witnessing some foreshadowing with regards to Nantucket's economic future.

Leading off this year's inductees to Nantucket’s Lemonade Stand Hall of Fame is a pair of veterans who, ironically, did not have any lemonade left at the time of judging.

Janet Whyte, age nine, and her brother Dennis, age seven, set up shop on the Madaket bike path near Barrett Farm Road. They win the "Hey Dad – Go Fetch Some More Lemonade Award" since they were left with only water and Gatorade after a whirlwind start to their day.

“Grannie (Cam Dutton) has an antique shop (Nantucket Country) in town. For the last two years, we had a stand out front of her store when she has her half-off sale,” said Janet. “We didn’t get to Nantucket until after the sale this year, so here we are.”

There was a steady stream of over-heated customers anxiously awaiting Dad’s return this hot afternoon. Lemonade was going for 50 cents and Gatorade for $1.50. Bike riders Hope Cordonier from Southwick, Mass. and Jim Hackett from Point Marion, Pa. enjoyed the chance to rest and questioned Janet and Dennis about their “secret recipe.”

The two looked at each other and admitted that it’s Minutemaid. With a chuckle, I then asked about their plans for the profit.

“College,” said Janet. “The Hub,” said Dennis. After a moment or two, Janet reconsidered. “Yeah, the Hub!"

The “Applebee's Curb Side Service Award” goes to Huntington Williams, age 10, and Caroline Williams, age eight, who set up shop on the corner of Orange and Weymouth streets under the watchful eye of their mother. The two were visiting Dickie and Shelia Riggs who live on Orange Street, and their stand attracted cars, bikers and walkers.

When I asked them what was their secret for success, Caroline said, “Bigger glasses of lemonade.”

However, it appeared to me that when Huntington chased the cars down Orange Street and offered to bring the lemonade to their car window, his success rate was near 100 percent.

“We buy the mix and make it ice cold on hot days,” said the 10-year-old University of Michigan fan who also “loves the Detroit Lions.” Huntington added, “Mom makes the lemonade, Caroline pours it out and I bring it to the cars.”

Katie Moore, McKenzie Raider and Patrick Keefe were having their second glass of the day. “One glass on the way into town for some shopping and one on the way out,” said Raider, who was haul-ing a couple of bags from Main Street.

I asked Huntington if he planned on buying any Patriots or Red Sox shirts with his money.

“No way,” he responded. “They win too much.”

“Then, what are you going to do with all the money?”

The two kids looked at each other and agreed: root beer floats at Congdon's.

The “Easy Bake Oven Award” goes to Melissa Fry and her friend Amanda Tate, both 11, from Ohio. They opened a stand near Surfside Beach trying to “take advan-tage of the beach people.” The girls sold pink and regular lemonade for 75 cents a glass. Their main attraction was their homemade cookies at $1, and with an overflowing war chest, it was clear that these two future Betty Crockers had been successful.

Before having a chance to finish off my cup of pink lemonade, Amanda start-ed pushing the chocolate cookies. “These are best with lemonade,” she said, holding up a cookie as if she was working for Mrs. Field's in Quincy market. Amanda was right. They were warm, thin and chewy. I ended up wolfing down two with another one set aside for dessert.

By the time I was done, it was a five-dollar stop. Naturally, I had to find out what the girls had planned on doing with all the money. “Some of the stuff we can't tell you. It's a secret and mom would get mad,” said a suspicious looking Fry.

“Do you plan on spending the money on island?” I asked.

“Oh, yes,” they said.

Looking at the two precocious 11 year olds, I figured Force Five sweets or fudge from Aunt Leah’s. So, I followed up, “Is it candy?”

“No way,” they said emphatically. Eventually, they gave in. “Clothes and lots of them!”

Finally, the best lemonade stand goes to a well-planned trio on Milestone bike path, Robert Greenberg, his sister Jennifer Greenberg and her friend, Brooke Goldwyn, who strategically set up their stand half way between ’Sconset and the Rotary. The “Oliver Wendell Holmes Award” (“Don’t put your trust in money, but put your money in trust.”) goes to this triple play, who sold lemonade as part of a business plan that worked to perfection.

“We decided to put the stand half way thinking everyone would be tired and needed a break,” said 14-year-old Robert, who lives in Danbury, Conn. and sounded as if he had his MBA from Wharton.

He added, “The lemonade at $1 a cup is a bargain way out here. But, we make even more money on the Power Bars, cookies, chips and stuff because people need the energy to make it back. The lemonade only washes it down.”

The bakery items were supplied by Jennifer and Brooke “plus my mom who drives by every 30 minutes or so.” Brooke, who was also in charge of the cell phone, added, “She keeps coming by to make sure we're okay. We make most of this stuff up the night before, and Rob sells it for us.”

Clearly, Rob was the director of this operation. “I ride my bike on this path all the time, and I drive into town with my Dad. I always see people tired and thirsty, so I figured this would be a good spot.”

“How about opening up a stand closer to ’Sconset and closer to your house?" I asked, thinking that made more sense.

“No way,” responded professor Greenberg. “No one is thirsty just starting out and nobody wants to buy food. Get them way down the path and everyone buys.”

With the girls supplying the food and drink and Robert manning the cash regis-ter, I asked Jennifer and Brooke what was their split is in this arrangement.

“I don't know,” said Brooke. “Me either,” offered Jennifer. “But, Rob did say he would take a ride on the shuttle with us.”

Don't be surprised if we see more of Mr. Greenberg down the road. Looking over at Jennifer’s brother who was con-stantly recounting the money, I couldn’t help but think of Andrew Carnegie when he said, “Immense power is acquired by assuring yourself in your secret reveries that you were born to control affairs.”

No doubt, these three were well on their way.

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