Town Column : Chilmark
By Jacqueline Sexton
Published: September 4, 2008
Summer is on its way out, school is about to resume, but the season lingers and the music goes on.
The Friends of the Library are sponsoring two ocean-going seafarers' discussions next week. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, Marc Songini will discuss his book "The Lost Fleet: A Yankee Whaler's Struggle with the Confederate Navy and Arctic Disaster." The book relates tales of 19th century adventure on the high seas from the Indian Ocean to the coast of Alaska. Included is the story of Chilmarker George Fred Tilton's amazing trek on foot and by dogsled from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Portland, Oregon, seeking help for his trapped crew. Mr. Songini is a Boston-area journalist turned author who has written for the Boston Review of Books, the Boston Herald, and The Boston Globe. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome, as usual.
The next day, Thursday, Sept. 11 from 5 to 6 pm, Vineyard Haven resident and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tony Horwitz will lead his audience on a journey recounted in his latest book, "A Voyage Long and Strange - Rediscovering the New World." The book, a blend of history, myth, and misadventure, follows in the footsteps of the many Europeans in search of gold, grapes, converts, and even a cure for syphilis, who preceded the Pilgrims to America. Mr. Horwitz is a former reporter and foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal who won the Pulitzer for national reporting and went on to become a New Yorker staff writer before becoming a full-time author.
Back on terra firma, the church's adult reading group will meet every Sunday at 9:45 am at the church, and is usually facilitated by the Rev. Vicky Hanjian. The current book is Garry Wills's "What Jesus Meant." Newcomers from all over are welcome.
Anna Marie D'Addarie has emailed us that she will start a new knitting instruction series on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 1 to 5 pm at the Island Alpaca Farm. The opening session will feature an easy-to-knit hat, using alpaca yarn. For more information or directions, call Anna Marie at 508-274-9696, or visit islandalpaca.com.
