Town Column : Chilmark
By Jacqueline Sexton
Published: June 19, 2008
The church flea market has always been a sure sign that, ready or not, summer is here. Opening day this year is Wednesday, June 25, 9 am-2 pm. For the benefit of recent arrivals, please note that the flea will be held this summer at the parking lot of the West Tisbury School on County Road. It's still the same old-fashioned country market, and all proceeds still benefit the church. So come and browse as usual for the things you won't find elsewhere and enjoy the occasional bargain.
A couple of fundraisers are planned. Judy Mayhew emails us that Hospice is having a "flea/yard sale" at Waban Park on Saturday, June 28, from 8:30 am to 2 pm. Anyone interested in renting space can get applications by going to hospiceofmv.org or by calling the Hospice trailer at 508-693-0189. Any questions, please call Judy at 508-645-3328. The cost is $40 for commercial vendors; $25 for families.
Jean Tatelbaum has announced a benefit for Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center tomorrow, June 20, from 6 to 8 pm at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury. There will be lots to do and see - a silent auction and a live one with Trip Barnes, both with fantastic items, like laptops and paintings, food, wine and more. No entrance fee.
Remember the church's children's fair? It was the highlight of the summer for many youngsters, especially those who love pony rides. The fair is being re-born and will take place Saturday, June 28, from 10 am to 2 pm on the church grounds with lots of opportunities for children to pit their wits at games, and, yes, there will be pony rides. And food. For details, please call Ann Deitrich at 508-645-9506. Everyone is welcome.
Betty Frank-Bailey has emailed some dates for the Chilmark Community Center's summer program: Registration is June 30, 9 am-12 noon. Opening day is July 1 for children aged 6 to 14. There's an open house for play-schoolers, ages 4 and 5, on July 1; programs begins the next day, on July 2. JoAnn Arone's aerobics class will start Monday, June 30; Megan Greman's yoga starts July 1. Program books will be available at the library starting June 27. They will be mailed to residents on June 30.
T. Rex aside, the critter that exerts the biggest hold on the popular imagination continues to be, of all things, the lowly skunk. (My parents in fact held a nightly ritual whereby they turned off house lights so we could all watch their skunk waddle into view on a spotlit part of their garden. But then, that skunk was white with a black stripe.) For all you ever wanted to know about skunks, both black and white, come listen to Luanne Johnson talk about her experiences over the last four years with skunks on Martha's Vineyard, their habitats, diets, and home ranges. She'll also tell you how she uses radio-telemetry to study them, and will throw in some tips on how to reduce any problems you may have with them. The event is at the library next Wednesday, June 25, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library, the event is free. Everyone is welcome.
The Menemsha Fisheries Development Fund is presenting another in its series of fisheries studies next Thursday, June 26, at 5 pm at the library. Dr. Andrew Rosenberg of the University of New Hampshire will discuss recent global and regional patterns in the status of marine fisheries and how they relate to the future of the industry. Dr. Rosenberg has been a leader in the field and, among other things, has implemented protection plans for marine mammals such as harbor porpoises and right whales, as well as the Atlantic salmon. He has served as U.S. Delegate to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Committee on Fisheries. The program is co-sponsored by the Friends and admission is free.
When I sneaked outside this morning to have the first of my eight daily cigarettes, I was greeted by a raucous bird high in a spruce tree who was clearly chanting, "See you, see you, see you!" When I turned my back so he couldn't see me, the refrain changed to something that sounded like a drill cutting through glass. Nature protecting its turf?
