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Chilmark Town Column
Welcome to Emily Thomas Boyd, this year's New Year's baby. She is the daughter of Mary (Murphy) and Jonathan Boyd, born at 5 am on Jan. 1, weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces. Chris and Barbara Murphy of Chilmark and Joan and David Boyd of Connecticut and Chilmark are the happy grandparents.
The times, they are a-changing, yes, but some traditions go imperturbably on for generations. Like the Chilmark volunteer firefighters association's annual Christmas party. Here is a delayed report from party organizer Katie Carroll.
The party, complete with a Christmas tree, Santa and presents galore, was a joyful occasion, as it always has been, with each child receiving a gift from Santa. Warren Doty, as he often is, was central to the proceedings, as were all the moms who gathered to wrap all the gifts. The beautiful tree, given by Matt Tobin, was admired by all, as was Scott McDowell's mulled cider. Janet Weidner was in charge of mailing all the invitations, as she has done in other years. Many thanks to all the firefighters for keeping this tradition going.
And an e-mail from Jim Athearn of Edgartown confirms that the custom of neighbors and friends helping each other build their houses is alive and well in Chilmark. Here is his report: "Dan and Meg Athearn and their little daughter Clara have temporarily moved out of their house at Bethaven Farm, off North Road, to live in Edgartown while they finish their addition. The one-bedroom house was sufficient for their bachelor uncle, John, but with a growing family they are adding space. Mark Mazer helped them design and build the shell, and Dan and friends will finish it off. Dan has been taking time off from the family farm in Edgartown to feed the 25 cows and work on the addition."
Katie and Marshall Carroll led a delegation on a pre-Christmas trip to Disney World that included 21 members of Katie's extended family from half a dozen states across the country. It was a splendid family reunion. Katie and Marshall's son Brooks, 4, is now tall enough to explore a whole new world of rides and especially enjoyed the Tower of Terror, his mother says. Sounds scary to me.
Genevieve Flanders, a junior at Hamilton College, will be on this year's track and field team. She is majoring in neuroscience. Congratulations!
We wish Mary Larsen a fast recovery from a broken hip she suffered during the holidays. She is recuperating at home.
Church leaders are keeping everyone on their toes with lots of events and activities, including a men's breakfast club, which met last Saturday in Chilmark and will meet once a month, the next meeting scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2 at 8:30 am in the fellowship room at the Chilmark Church. There will be a presentation on a theme yet to be decided upon. The adult study group is thriving, as are the adult bible study classes. And a parsonage open house was held last Sunday in Chilmark; soup suppers in Chilmark began last Tuesday and will continue on Tuesdays, from 5 to 6 pm, through the winter. Everyone in the community is invited to all of the events and invited to bring a friend.
Jane Norton advises us via e-mail that she has picked up Primo's 9 am Sunday yoga classes at the community center and that she also teaches anusara-inspired yoga, so Primo's students will find similarities.
Jane is also available for private instruction, therapeutic yoga, and will resume 7 am Tuesday and Thursday classes for students from the church yoga group. Classes are $15; multiple class cards and barter are available.
The Martha's Vineyard Cancer Support Group is throwing a party this Sunday, Jan. 13, from 5 to 7 pm at the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs. "It's a party, not a fundraiser," says Anne Marie Donahue, adding that everyone is welcome to join them in "celebrating the happy history of survival and support." For more information, please call 508-693-8296 or 508-696-9849, or call Anne Marie at 508-627-7958.
The library's book group will meet next Thursday, Jan. 17, at 4 pm at the library to discuss "On Chesil Beach." Everyone is welcome.
The Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School will begin its series of international dinners this Saturday, Jan. 12, 6 pm at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown. Indian fare will be on the menu for the five-course meal; tickets are $55 per person, (BYOB). For reservations, please call the school at 508-693-9900 or Midnight Farm at 508-693-1997.
The next meeting of the Sustainable Book Club will be next Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Vineyard Haven Library at 5:30 pm and will feature Shirley Mayhew discussing her book "Seasons of a Vineyard Pond." Everyone is welcome to attend.
Coco Adams is having another flea market next Saturday, Jan. 19, from 9 am to 2 pm at the community center. Please call Coco at 508-645-3414 for information, or if you wish to set up as a vendor.
The PTA and SAC will hold a combined meeting tonight, Jan. 10, at 5:30 pm. Mary Ambulos and principal Diane Gandy will explain a three- to five-year plan for the town's Planning Board. Christina Soulanget, a planning board assistant, will help.
