Town Column : Chilmark

By Jacqueline Sexton
Published: May 8, 2008

It is with regret that we report the death last Tuesday of Marcy Slater. She was a dedicated Friend of the Library for many years and had a talent for developing innovative ideas for raising money for the library. She will be very much missed by all who knew her. We send our sympathy to her husband Bruce and their family.

Fans of Arlan Wise's astrology column, which ran in the Times for 17 years, will be pleased to learn they can now read it online at arlanwise.com.

Richard Clark will present a program at the Howes House in West Tisbury (the up-Island Senior Center) on Clarence Darrow, "One-Man Show", tomorrow, Friday, May 9, at 1:30 pm. Admission is free. Mr. Clark has film credits in New York theatre and television circles, including "The Kennedys of Massachusetts," "Guiding Light," "As The World Turns," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," and others. He will discuss Mr. Darrow's courtroom exploits in the Scopes monkey trial and the Leopold and Loeb case and his pleas for social justice.

Norman and Diana Freed have returned from a trip to West Lafayette, Ind. They were there not to be part of the presidential campaign trail, but to visit their son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Melissa, and their two grandsons, Orion, 5, and Calvin 3. Andy is a professor at Purdue University.

The library is happy to tell the world that the 2007 rankings report released by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners ranked the Chilmark Free Public Library number one in the state in circulation per capita and number one in patron attendance per capita. Hooray and congratulations to trustees, staff and our erudite library-oriented community!

The church summer flea market needs lots of volunteers to help this summer when the flea will be held on the grounds of the West Tisbury school. If you can help with any of the myriad tasks, please call coordinator Phyllis Conway at 508-645-9216. Sign painters indicating the new premises are urgently needed now.

Principal Diane Gandy reminds the school community that the PTO will need a new chair and co-chair starting in September. Mary Ambulos has stepped down as chair after two years of doing "an outstanding job." New members are also needed for three-year terms on SAC. Anyone interested may so advise Ms. Gandy.

It is now possible to keep au courant on school activities online at chilmarkschool.mv.k12.ma.us. Becky Barca-Tinus is the webmaster.

Dee Geiger, owner of Tea Lane Caterers, will preside over the next chef's evening at the library, "All Wrapped Up," on Wednesday, May 14, from 5:30 to 6:30. She will demonstrate original ways to prepare wonton wraps - barbecue, Mexican and others - and will provide samples and recipes. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, and admission is free.

This Saturday, May 10, from 3 to 5 pm, there is an artist's reception at the library for Marjorie Berlow, who is having show of pastels and tapestries. Everyone is welcome.

A reminder that the next hazardous waste collection is Saturday, May 17, from 9 am to 12 noon.

Carl Stunkel, the new owner of the Chilmark Store, has announced the store will open for the season today, May 8 at 7 am. The deli will close at 3 pm but the grocery section will be open until 4 pm. The store will be closed Mondays until Memorial Day."

The Martha's Vineyard Cancer Support Group is holding its annual Evening Under the Stars next Thursday, May 15 at the Mediterranean in Vineyard Haven to benefit the support group. There will be hors d'oeuvres, beverages and music from 6 to 9 pm.

We were all doing sun dances Monday in tribute to the lifting of the gloomy grey we've enjoyed so much of since about January. All the little green things, and the little yellow things look washed and shiny and hopeful.

Unfortunately, the grass is about to get out of hand, which seems too early even though spring has been slow to arrive.

We'll have to check with Arlan to see when to plant.