for the ARTS record
HOMEGROWN MUSIC AT THE BOX THIS WEEKEND
The island's famous (they may prefer infamous) band "Miss Fairchild" is making a two-night swing to Nantucket for performances at The Chicken Box on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22 with an "experience" they call "Miss Fairchild's Homemade Superstar Weekend." The celebration is being held to encourage all local music groups to join in and revel in what they have accomplished.

Miss Fairchild is composed of the Richard brothers, Todd and Travis, respectively claiming stage monikers as "Rocket" and "Daddy Wrall," Schuyler Whelden, aka "the Great Dunlap," part-time islander Samuel "Nice" Posner and Maine resident and pal, Pat "Trick" Johnson.

The group plays everything from modern pop to soul to whatever they come up with, has been nominated for awards and sought after to perform at venues including clubs, colleges and concert halls across the northeast as well as recently at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Mount Snow ski resort. They travel via "Bessie," an old Strong Wings van, and released a CD last fall called "Ooh La La Sha Sha."

ROBERT K. JAMES/The Independent CLASH OF STYLES AND WILLS Chuck Gifford. left, and Chris Witte star in Theatre Workshop of Nantucket's production of Rounding Third, a play about two coaches, one a veteran of the game (Gifford), the other a new recruit (Witte). Their ages, their relationship to baseball as a sport and a passion, and their philosophies about the game differ greatly. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. through March 29. For tickets ($15) go to www.theatreworkshop.com. Laura Gallagher Byrne is the director.

"It's going to be a great weekend," Todd Richard said of the upcoming Box event. "It's all about homemade superstars."

Miss Fairchild was loosely formed as "Jive Sucka'" when the guys were in school on Nantucket. They have played together for more than 10 years, but in early 2004 named the group Miss Fairchild at the suggestion of an island hairdresser who thought they should call the band after an inspirational muse. Travis Richard said many of the band's first songs were about the mystery muse Miss Fairchild, not knowing at the time that she was a real person and a salon client.

Mark Avery

The weekend event will be kicked off by The Undergraduates, a local band with members Ted and his brother, Josh Lothian, Beau Barber, Bob Grangrade and Jeff Carlson.

LIGHTS, ACTION ... AND SOON, A WINNER The Nantucket Community School is presenting another in its popular series of winter talent shows on Saturday, March 29 called "Nantucket's Got Talent," a community talent show. Auditions, open to all ages, were held on Saturday, March 15 with participants encouraged to perform music, short sketches, magic shows, poetry readings and dance, for example. The auditions were limited to three minutes and actual performances may not exceed four minutes.

The talent show curtain goes up at 2 p.m. on March 29 in the high school auditorium. Sounds like a fun way to see what your neighbors can do and welcome the spring season.

SOME LIKE IT HOT Disco Inferno, the Nantucket AIDS Network's annual spring fundraiser, will burn up the dance floor at The Rose and Crown this year on Saturday, March 29 from 8 p.m. to midnight. The event benefits the John G. Topham, Jr. Sprit Fund which was established to honor the late past NAN board member, client and friend by recognizing an island youth who demonstrates exceptional peer leadership in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and also provides a financial grant to a community member who is participating in national or international HIV/AIDS work.

At the March 29 event, last year's grant award recipient, Caitlin Axelrod-McLeod, will receive her honor. She was a former NAN peer leader and earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Wheelock College. Prior to her degree she was involved with many training sessions involving HIV/AIDS case management and advocacy programs.

Tickets for the event are $25 and will be available at the door or in advance by calling 228-3955. The night's steamy schedule includes dancing to the disco music of DJ Bri Guy and wicked, sweet indulgences at the Rose and Crown dessert bar. At 10 p.m. a raffle will begin with prizes donated by local businesses such as a trip for two to Las Vegas for a four day, three night stay at Caesar's Palace Resort.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or $10 for three, and are selling in advance at NAN's office at Key Post Corner, 35 Old South Road, as well as being available at Stop & Shop on March 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. and at the door on the night of the event.

NHA HOSTS WOMEN OF NANTUCKET The Nantucket Historical Association will hold a Women of Nantucket Festival on Saturday, March 29, from 1 to 4 P.M. in the Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street. Free for NHA members, or with museum admission.

It is common knowledge that for generations women from across the globe helped to make our country what it is today; they helped to improve our communities, played a vital role in achieving justice, and worked tirelessly for equal rights for all citizens. Join us to find out how island women shared in this role as we celebrate the contribution of women, past and present, to Nantucket's culture.

Learn about the many "Marys," listen to the stories of other notable Nantucketers - such as Eliza Ann Chase McCleave, Susan Veeder, and Keziah Folger Coffin - and meet contemporary women of Nantucket. Events throughout the afternoon will include the music of Susan Berman, art, history and island culture.

A Women's History Tour - Nantucket's Extraordinary Women - will also be offered, focusing on their lives through the NHA's collection of portraits, photographs, letters, journals, clothing, and souvenirs that enhance our understanding of their unique contributions throughout history.

As William Oliver Stevens wrote in Nantucket: The Far-Away Island: "Indeed, it is probable that no other community in America of the size of Nantucket has ever given the country so many extraordinary women." Heralding as far back as Nantucket's whaling heyday, island women continue to hold important positions in all walks of life: in business, law, politics, education, community service, medicine, and the arts. We invite you to join us and discover the profound differences Nantucket women made not only on Nantucket, but throughout the world.

NHA HIRES MARK AVERY The Nantucket Historical Association has hired Mark Avery as Manager, Historic Properties.

Avery will assume his position on March 17. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, he majored in mechanical engineering and industrial design. In addition, he studied building technology and civil engineering at Greenfield Community College.

For 20 years Avery has been involved in Nantucket's town government and in historic preservation, as well as owning his own design firm. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Nantucket Preservation Trust, an elected member of the Nantucket Historic District Commission, and was a founding member of the HDC's Historic Structures Advisory Council.

"I am extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Avery," said NHA executive director Bill Tramposch. "We had a large field of qualified applicants for this position, and feel that with Mark we have selected the strongest person and are impressed with his knowledge and experience of heritage and preservation protocol on Nantucket."

Avery was attracted to the Manager, Historic Properties position "because of a growing interest to return to his first interests in preservation, and because he enjoys working with other dedicated people to protect

Nantucket's extraordinary heritage." I