Town Column : Chilmark
By Jacqueline Sexton
Published: December 31, 2008
Lights were shining in many of the summer houses on Christmas Eve. The traffic on and around Main Street in Vineyard Haven was 100 percent gridlock and the line of people waiting to pick up their oysters at the Net Result stretched all the way to the rainy parking lot, so a lot of those who came for the holidays sidestepped the storms and the airports and made it to Martha's Vineyard. It was like August all over again. Welcome to you all.
Owen Maloney came from Boston to spend Christmas with his parents, John and Kristin, and his brother, Keiran.
Life at the library moves along as usual despite holiday disruptions. Next Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 6 pm Jean-Marc Dupon of Le Grenier will give the second in his series designed to teach us how to master the art of making French sauces, with tasting and recipes. Everyone is welcome. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, admission is free.
Principal Diane Gandy always ends her monthly newsletter with individual thanks to people who have contributed their time and energy to goings-on at the school. In her December issue she thanks parent volunteers, en masse, as well as individuals who have enriched life at the school one way or another. Commander Bo Hornbuckle is one. He visited the school to thank students and staff for their donations to the military in Afghanistan. He also shared an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat), which everyone agreed did not much resemble mother's home cooking. Others thanked were Mary and Perry Ambulos who frequently take part in school doings, and Kate Conde of The Trustees of Reservations for sharing her knowledge of Island geology with students. And Coach Capra thanked everyone for being flexible abut the re-arranged schedule for the Turkey Trot, including Sue Larsen for her Quebec line dancing and Barbara Bernstein for the "four corners," as well as Diana Bardwell, Lisa Smiley, and Ben Williams. Not forgetting long-time favorite, storyteller Lillian Kellman, who gave her version of "Stone Soup."
This is the time of year when it's customary to look back and review our accomplishments and to make vows to do better next year. Perhaps we shouldn't dwell on the past right now, but rather look ahead with hope for renewal and the resurrection of American ideals like integrity and trust. Many of us are optimistic. As one friend in Chicago said, "People seem to be making eye contact and smiling more." Let it continue.
That's enough preaching. Happy New Year to all. Peace.
