Town Column : Chilmark
By Katie Carroll
Published: September 17, 2009
Jack Nixon is by far one of the coolest eight-year-old boys I know. Jack's family and ours have been friends for 15 years. I remember meeting Jack when he was only a couple of months old. I have seen him swim, ride a bike, and feed the fish that he cares for in a tank in his room. I have seen him grow into the delightful young man that makes me proud.
Just a few short weeks ago, after finishing another evening's worth of family reading from Dave Kinney's "The Big One," Jack caught a glimpse of a newspaper photo essay showing the challenges facing wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. According to his parents, Bob and Sarah, Jack looked at the juxtaposition and simply said, "I wish some of them could fish the Derby." The next day the Beach Plum Inn's Assistant Manager, Doriana Klumick, volunteered to see if there was any interest in the local community to perhaps make this eight-year-old's idea a reality. Sure enough, the enthusiasm to support our troops has proven contagious.
The Beach Plum Inn, in partnership with the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, is proud to present the Beach Plum American Heroes Saltwater Challenge to provide recovering war veterans the chance to come to our Island and fish the Derby. With the help of captains Scott McDowell, Buddy Vanderhoop, Jennifer Clarke, Tom Langman, and Craig Keefe, The Galley, Larsen's Fish Market and a whole host of other organizers and volunteers, this event will take place from Sept. 21 to 24 with the Beach Plum Inn serving as "home base."
For further information, or if you are looking for a great way to give back to the community, please contact Bob and Sarah Nixon at 508-645-9454, or Doriana Klumick at 508-645-2521. Joe El-Deiry and Chuck Hodgkinson both serve on the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Board of Directors and may also be contacted for further information.
Nicole Barlett, Community Health Nurse VNA, and Chilmark Board of Health Administrator Marina Lent present The Flu and You: What to Expect from the Upcoming Cold and Flu Season at the Chilmark Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 1:30 pm. Nicole and Marina will show a power point presentation about the flu and the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers. People can find out everything they ever wanted to know about the flu. Informational flyers will be available. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Public Library. Please call 508-645-3360 with questions.
Also at the library, author John Hough Jr. will talk about his acclaimed new book: "Seen the Glory," about two brothers from Martha's Vineyard during the Civil War, at the Chilmark Library on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 5:30 pm.
Island artists Claire Chalfoun and Lyn Hinds are having a show of their paintings at the Chilmark Library. The show started Saturday, Sept. 12, and runs through the morning of Oct. 1. Both are landscape painters who interpret what they see, mostly Island vistas, in different ways. Both try to express their feelings about Martha's Vineyard gathered from walking trails, kayaking ponds, and the simple things that daily life has to offer. Claire leans toward impressionism while Lyn tends toward abstraction.
Well wishes go out to Andy Goldman, who had a slip and fall on his boat last week. Thanks go out to Margaret Maida for her quick action in summoning EMT Roger Cook. Roger and patrolman Jeff Day came to the aid of Andy who was transported to Martha's Vineyard Hospital for evaluation. Andy suffered a few broken ribs and is resting at home. According to Susan, we are fortunate to live in a community that really cares about its residents.
Lobster roll dinners are on the back burner at the church until next summer. We have returned to off-season mode and are ready for community pizza night. Once again, the Chilmark Church is the place to be on Tuesdays at 6 pm. If you plan to attend, please contact Julie Flanders at 508-645-3723. Pizza will be served, games will be played, and rumor has it, Brian, Kari, and Bryce Cioffi may bring their cider press. There is nothing like fresh pressed apple juice. Does anyone have a good donut recipe? Email it to me if you think of it Squidrow@Vineyard.net. Donations are greatly appreciated to offset the cost of dinner.
Dashing Dylan Glenn and enterprising Erik Gordon have departed for the season. The duo always lends themselves to interesting conversation, hilarious stories, and all-around eye raising behavior. The best account reported in was that of rescuing the feral cat from in the wall of their Squibnocket home. It's always something.
