Your Town: Block Island
By: Alexandra Cowley
In this weeks Your Town, Your Life we take you to beautiful Block Island. Just 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island, it’s one of New England’s best summer destinations. I took the ferry to BI, it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.
Block Island known of course for its beautiful beaches, quaint hotels, and bed and breakfast’s. We can’t forget the lively downtown scene with live music, shopping, and dining. It’s all quite fabulous for the tourists.
The island has tried something new for tourists in recent years. A sort of scavenger hunt for travelers to get them off the beaten path and onto discovering some of the hidden gems of Block Island. Blown glass balls are placed all throughout the island. Along trails, on the beaches, and at restaurants. Last year, 500 were hidden. If you find one, you get to keep it.
Executive Director of the Block Island Chamber of Commerce, Kathy Szabo, says it’s been a huge hit.
“It started out on the nature conservancy trails to get people to enjoy family time and walking and now they can be hidden anywhere. They could be hidden in a tree outside my office, they could be hidden in a stone wall anywhere,” she explained.
All the balls are marked with a number and the year they were made. If the beaches and trails aren’t what you’re looking for than Pond and Beyond kayak rentals may be just what you need. It’s been open for 8 years, operated by a BI native. It offers rentals, tours, and sunset rides. A perfect way to relax and cruise the island.
A lot of these activities Block Island is known for shut down in the Winter months. The tourists pack up and ship out, leaving the island all to the locals.
As beautiful as it is, making a living isn’t always easy on the island. Which is where the name Mary D comes into play.
There isn’t a Block Island resident who doesn’t know Mary D and the same can be said in reverse.
Mary Donnelly explains, “My answer to people is I’m Mary donnelly, that’s what I am, and who I am.”
Donnelly is known to year round Block Islanders as a saint, a mother, grandmother, and caretaker. Why, you ask. Because the 86–year–old looks after the island’s 1,000 or so residents. Caring for them as a nurse for the past 5 decades, even helping them financially.
But don’t try praising Mary D. She doesn’t like the attention.
“Nursing is not a job, it’s something that’s in you to take care of people that you want to help people so it’s my job. So, I think I’m the luckiest person there is,” said Donnelly.
At one time, Mary was the only nurse on Block Island. There weren’t even any doctors. It’s how she got to know the people so well. And it’s how she learned of something else the locals needed. Help getting by in the Winter, when the tourists head home.
So, Donnelly established the Mary D fund in 1979.
She explained, “We’re seasonal workers here so a lot of them they make minimum wage. But then in the Winter you know they’re trying to buy oil and pay their electric bills so they give me their bills.”
Through the fund, Mary writes checks for residents’ electricity, medical costs, groceries, even college tuitions. Last year, the fund shelled out 60,000 dollars of support.
“It’s just, it’s a way of life for me,” Mary said.
Businesses donate to the fund, but the biggest support is the annual Mary D Ball held at the Sullivan House. It generates over 40,000 dollars.
Mary says she’ll continue to care for the people of her Block Island until she can’t anymore. Her daughter, Marguerite, plans to take over whenever that may be.
Mary D is so loved on the island a park is being named after her.
(C) WLNE-TV 2014
