Town Column : Chilmark
By Katie Carroll
Published: February 4, 2010
I am sad that I did not know Dan Aronie personally. I knew only of him through the personal accounts shared by family and friends regarding the battle he fought against MS only a few short miles from my home. I sat quietly this evening and watched Dan's story, "A Certain Kind of Beauty," on the very same computer screen I sit in front of as I write this column. I feel a little like an intruder, but I also feel truly privileged to be touched by someone so inspiring. I hope we all can live our lives to the fullest and every once in a while I will think of Dan and how he shined in his film and quietly thank him. Dan died at home this past weekend.
That very same morning, a house fire took the life of a West Tisbury neighbor, Dan Prowten. Firefighters from Chilmark, Aquinnah, Edgartown, and Tisbury responded as mutual aid to West Tisbury. Condolences go out to the families of both men.
Gwen Mayhew, currently stationed with the U.S. Navy providing medical services in Haiti, has a blog. If you are interested in keeping up with Gwen's please go to www.cedarcrest.edu and click on the link "After the Earthquake: A Cedar Crest Nursing Alumna Blogs from Haiti" located under the "what's happening" category.
The Chilmark Library would like to let people know that the movies from the programs for the Chilmark Tri-Centennial in 1994 have been transferred from VHS to DVD. Take your pick of titles: Menemsha Harbor Day, Houses along South Road, Houses Over South, Houses on North Road and Middle Road, Conversations with Fisherman, Birthday Party and Fireworks, History of Library, Handicrafts and Hobbies, History of the Elizabeth Islands and more. Thanks to the hard work of people like Harriet Otteson, Bette Carroll, Ted Meinelt, Jane Slater, and Coco Adams, to name a few, who put these programs together so we have a wonderful chronicle of our history.
"Whale Rider" will be the film to hit the screen at the Chilmark Library at 7 tomorrow night for family Friday night movies. Filmed in New Zealand, Maori traditions are challenged by a young girl with a calling. It stars Keisha Castle-Hughes. As always, admission is free as is popcorn and juice provided by the Friends of the Chilmark Public Library. Call the library at 508-645-3360 with any questions.
Next Wednesday's Chowder and a Movie feature film, also free and also sponsored by the Friends, is the 1950 classic Harvey starring James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, a mild-mannered, pleasant man, who just happens to have an invisible friend resembling a six-foot-tall rabbit. It will be shown at 12 noon on February 10.
After hearing from so many families that there was interest in a healthy school snack option, the Chilmark School PTO has teamed up with Julie Vanderhoop, a former Chilmark School mom and renowned baker at the Orange Peel Bakery in Aquinnah, to provide baked goods to the school for the month of February. This trial period will help figure out if the program is a feasible one for the school and students. This week's menu will include Challah twists on Monday, pumpkin muffins on Tuesday, seeded five-grain buns on Wednesday, threshing buns on Thursday (my personal favorite), and rounding out the week are carrot muffins on Friday.
Don't forget the Chilmark Church soup suppers are still the Tuesday night hot spot. Arrive at 5:30 for a light meal, good conversation, and a few rounds of Bananagrams or music or a slide show. You never know who might appear to share some story or adventure. The summer flea market may be a topic of conversation. Pat Jenkinson will graciously allow the church to use his North Road property again for the summer of 2010. The church is not only looking for vendors but is desperately looking for someone to step up and be the big publicity person. Please contact Judy Mayhew at 508-645-3328 if you have any desire to help out. Soup suppers will continue through Tuesday, Feb. 23.
Kim Cottrill is organizing a weekly craft night at the church, taking place on Wednesday nights. The first was held last night and I apologize for failing to mention it last week. All are welcome to attend. Please contact Kim with any questions 508-645-9545.
Slow Food M.V. hosts a local dinner and film "Fresh" at 6 pm on Friday night at the Chilmark Community Center with chefs Robert Lionette and Chilmarker Jan Burhman of Kitchen Porch. The fee is $25, or $20 for Slow Food members. Please email Cathy Walthers at cathywalthers43@msn.com for further information.
A tooth seems to have been lost at the Oliver home on Lady Slipper Lane. I am hoping the tooth fairy found the way there with that dazzling moon lighting the way.
Happy seventh birthday to Noah Glasgow who will celebrate this weekend with a Monsters vs. Aliens party. Happy birthday to Kathy Bega, Johnny Graham, Cody Gray, Andrew Fischer, and all those I may be accidentally overlooking.
