Town Column : Tisbury
By Kay Mayhew
Published: June 5, 2008
Third graders and up are fascinated with Questing. They often get their families involved in these projects. Lynne Whiting and Nancy Cole of the Martha's Vineyard Museum and QMV (Quest Martha's Vineyard) along with Suzan Bellincampi hosted a Tisbury Village Quest Workshop last week. Hope and Brock Callen shared the Sail Martha's Vineyard space as the base. Fourteen educators, librarians, and community members helped create a treasure hunt linking a few of the special historic spots in town. Sharing their stories were Jim Norton, Betty Honey, Ruth Stiller, and Bob Tilton. The finished Quest will be launched with a celebration at the Vineyard Haven Library, probably in early fall. For more on Questing, visit questmv.org.
On Saturday afternoon, Barbara Barstow hosted a party for friends, relatives, and neighbors at her home. Nana Owusu of Ghana, West Africa, assisted the hostess. Barbara's cousin Beverly Hancock came from Gorham, Maine, and her friend Rena Heath from Hallowell, Maine. Peter and Lee Scott of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Tisbury were there as well as Donald and Mary Ellen Hill of Oak Bluffs. Barbara is in the process of compiling her memoirs, covering over 50 years of life in Tisbury.
Last evening was Selectman Denys Wortman's open office hours from 5 to 7 pm at the Senior Center. He plans to be available on the first Wednesday of the month to chat and share ideas or concerns in an informal atmosphere.
James Thomas, founder of the U.S. Slave Song Project, has compiled data on the History and Interpretation of Spirituals. He and a choir that he directs strive to keep alive the songs and stories that were not only a comfort and source of enjoyment to enslaved people, but also a clandestine means of communication. Some spirituals contained information about escape routes on the Underground Railroad. Hear his talk on Tuesday at 6:30 pm as part of the Vineyard Haven Library lecture series.
Saturday night the Martha's Vineyard Film Society offers a documentary called "The Cats of Mirikitani." Jimmy Mirikitani is an 85-year-old Japanese-American artist who was born in California and raised in Hiroshima. By 2001, he was living on the streets of New York with the twin towers of the World Trade Center anchoring the horizon behind him. What begins as a simple portrait of one homeless man becomes a rare document of daily life in New York in the months leading up to 9/11. The film begins at 8 pm at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. Tickets are $8.
Handcrafters are invited to join the Fiber Folks for their last meeting of the season. They will gather on Sunday from 1 to 4 pm at Island Alpaca Farm, on Head of the Pond Road in Oak Bluffs. Barbara Ronchetti will provide refreshments at this lovely setting, complete with adorable baby alpaca. The Fiber Folks meet monthly and show up at the Ag Fair in August as well.
Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. is offering a program on Identity Theft on June 12. They want to help you avoid the problem. Call 508-627-7777 for more information.
Anniversary congratulations go out Saturday to Cheryl Stark and Margie Meltzer.
Belated birthday greetings to Olyvia Houston who celebrated on May 23. That day, when the school children marched to the sea for the annual Memorial Day observance, her grandparents Pat and Larry Sylvia proudly noted that she played the clarinet. She also plays the alto clarinet in the Junior High Jazz Band.
Celebrating birthdays this week were Myra Stark, Kelsey Bresnahan, Al Koster, Fred LaPiana, and Josh Kochin. Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out today to Margie Meltzer, Sarah Owens, and Harris Drake. Hildy B. Mitchell parties tomorrow.
Sunday belongs to Laurel Mayhew. Wish the best on Tuesday to Cody Chandler and Ruth Stiller. Wednesday is a special day for Florence Koster.
Heard on Main Street: Save the planet Earth, the only one with chocolate.
