YACK on: Of Scallops and Govertainment
Grant Sanders
I've been getting a lot of my news around Nantucket second hand lately. Because I've been away a lot. On business.

I'm not complaining. Because I'm busy. And when I'm busy, I can pay the bills and the mortgage and keep my kids in "sk8" clothing and braces. But because I've been busy, I have been spending an inordinate amount of time away from the island and, frankly, I miss it.

While others have been wading out into Monomoy and near Jackson Point and other secret locations for their scallop catch, I've been spending time in client conference rooms and funky office spaces writing ads for insurance companies and defense contractors. I've been reading about the good scallop catch this year (on YACKon.com, of course) and it has come as a relief that, at least for this season, the scallop fishery has rebounded. Knock wood.

I was so excited that after I got back from a recent business trip, I headed to the Marine Department to get my scalloping license and… Uh oh. Closed. Open Monday-Friday only. No scallops for me. Maybe next weekend. If I can get home in time to make it to the Marine Department before the close of business. (Marine Department, if you're reading this, please leave my license and button on the seat under one of the overturned dinghies near the town pier and I'll slip the money under the door when I get there. Scout's Honor.)

I've been so busy, I have not had time to get a new pair of waders or blow up the inner tube around my scallop basket or clean the last couple of strands of eel grass off my scallop rake from last season. It may actually come to pass that my first Nantucket bay scallop dinner will be one bought from a store or a restaurant and not one caught and opened (feebly and slowly) by me.

Sad.

I've only been pushing for a few seasons, But I always try to make it out there. Last year, I got 32 scallops. That's it. 32. I also got a nasty gash on my leg from pushing through wind-blown fall surf in leaky waders that rubbed against my leg. Two years before that I was getting 32 in one push. This year, I understand, it will be somewhere in between. Although, at this point, this is all hearsay. I have no firsthand knowledge.

Another thing I've missed a great deal by not being around as much are the weekly meetings of the Board of Selectmen. When I'm on the island, I always attend them. They are so much fun.

I understand (again from reading YACKon.com) that there was some kind of flap about the Land Council director sending an email asking town employees to ask the Board of Selectmen for the opportunity to testify, in affidavit form, against a decision by a town commission. Apparently (again this is all hearsay - I have no firsthand knowledge of it, unfortunately) things got a little hissy in the last BOS meeting with Brian Chadwick and Patty Roggeveen questioning Michael Kopko and Whitey Willauer's role in this email. (Allen Reinhard played the role of Switzerland) This is the kind of stuff I love! And I'm missing it! I hate that!

At least this is the info I can glean from the internet. In a windowless conference room. Somewhere in Connecticut. Which is in America.

Scallops and Govertainment™. My two favorite things and I'm missing them! Well, at least I'll have enough money to pay my Yates bill this winter and maybe even take a trip to Disney or something. But still. I miss Nantucket. Say hello to it for me, will you?

YACK on. I

Grant Sanders is the host of YACK, the Nantucket online community at yackon.com. He is currently in a Holiday Inn adding to his growing collection of mini soaps and shampoo bottles. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of The Nantucket Independent. Or his wife.