Town Column : Chilmark
By Katie Carroll
Published: December 3, 2009
It's a full week later and everyone is still pushing back from the table saying "uncle." I trust everyone had a happy Thanksgiving surrounded by friends, family, and good cheer. We spent the day at my niece Oona's house with the usual family suspects and cousin David Ebner and his wife Kate and children Nolan and Wyn. David's mom was Curly's sister Claudette. They were here for the long weekend from Maryland.
Also here to feast on turkey were Roxanne, Mark, Samantha, Brianna, and Celina Sordi. They brought some extra excitement into Grammie Judie Jardin's house. They traveled from Lewes, Del., for a holiday visit.
I managed to bump into Anne and Kevin Dunk who were here with family at their family home at the corner of North Road and Flanders Lane.
Also back for a visit was Johnny Graham. He has returned from a trip to Ukraine where he visited with Kateryna, one of the lovely young women who worked at Menemsha Fish Market this past summer, and surrounded himself with some amazing food and remarkable sights.
If you haven't already, mark your calendar for the Special Town Meeting at the Chilmark Community Center on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 pm. There are nine articles to be acted upon regarding such topics as funds for the Middle Line Road rental units, funds for repairs at the police station and the Community Center, funds for the removal of dead standing trees, and more. The full warrant can be viewed on the town website or at the town hall or Menemsha Texaco.
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, there will be a flea market at the Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 am to 2:30 pm. Remember that this may be the hot spot to pick up a few holiday gifts. Come by to shop, lunch, or take a break from weekend chores and just be social. The Chilmark School PTO will have a table adorned with pictures of students past and present participating in their multifaceted school life and a DVD display of a Shenandoah adventure. Also, if you didn't have an opportunity to purchase a school cookbook created a few years ago, now is a great chance to pick one up. Call Coco Adams for more information at 508-645-3414.
The big room at the school has been transformed into a cozy and inviting atmosphere with a fireplace, floor pillows, a piano, puzzle table, coloring corner, and a bookshelf filled with glorious tales. Thanks to Dawn Braasch for her truly generous contribution of nearly a shelf full of works by Island authors and stories about the Vineyard. Dawn, owner of Bunch of Grapes, was a familiar face around the school in her former roll as preschool teacher. "Little Streak Wing's Vineyard Adventures" and "Connie - Vineyard Pie Girl," written by Don Davis, are two of my new favorites adorning the shelf. I didn't realize that our own Don Davis of Abel's Hill was an author. Perhaps we could get him to sign his wonderful works the next time he is in town.
The word is out. The library will be collecting food for the Island Food Pantry during December. Outstanding overdue fines will be forgiven for anyone who brings in a donation of non-perishable, non-expired food. Pantry volunteers have asked us to stress that healthy foods are needed and remind people to check expiration dates on cans and boxes.
Next Wednesday, Dec. 9, Julie Wormer, the New England Oceans Program Director for the Environmental Defense Fund, will be at the library discussing catch shares. It is sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Public Library and the Menemsha Fisheries Development Fund. For information, call 508-645-3360.
Not only is Scott McDowell's Copperworks going to be a fun place to shop for the holidays, but Fielder & Fielder Imports has a host of fabulous gift opportunities. Located at 440 North Road, nestled in the midst of Bliss Pond Farm/Captain Flanders House, is the shop of Chris and Evan Fielder, stocked with Turkish porcelain, rugs, towels, jewelry, scarves, antiques, artwork by local artists, and some really neat odds and ends. They even have some small children's dolls worthy of both play and collecting. They will be open over the weekend so stop in and see what's in store. (I just love when I end up making a little play on words.)
Albert Fischer mentioned spotting a dragonfly the other day. I saw one that very same day. I remembered hearing that dragonflies were good luck so out of curiosity, I looked up dragonfly symbolism. I was pleased to find that because a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest with the short time it has - which is a lesson for all of us.u
