Island Notes is a weekly compilation of observations of nature, peppered with historical fact and musings on everything from annoyances with utilities that shall not be named to the mystery of church coffee pots. Penned by life long year-round resident Martha Ball, Island Notes garnered the Block Island Times a New England Newspaper and Press Association first place award in the category of serious columnist. Of her work, the NENPA judges wrote, “Difficult to judge moody writing against local hard news, but the writing is so textured and engrossing here that she gets the nod.”