I’m writing this on Sunday evening. A hard rain that sounds and feels like sleet has been falling since late afternoon. It’s felt like snow all day, gray and cold, a foretaste of winter.
A group of library patrons and invited guests braved the weather to attend a party and information session given at the home of Linda and Glenn Hearn. Following an hour of conversation and delicious hors d’oeuvres, Library Trustee Dan Waters and Foundation member Hunter Moorman spoke to the group about the library’s plans for an addition to our building. Between neighbors’ parties and the library’s monthly forums, I hope everyone in town will feel well-informed about our goals.
The following story is pretty impressive. Three West Tisbury School sixth-graders and their teachers were invited to speak and present a demonstration at the National Middle School Association Conference in Baltimore, Md. Students Willa Vigneault, Livy Pate, and Sydney Johnson, and teachers Valerie Becker and Sue Miller were flown to the conference by Promethean, makers of interactive whiteboard. Willa, Sydney, and Livy taught a roomful of educators how to use a variety of programs for “Creating Expert Learners.” You may watch them on NMSA-creatingexpertlearners.wikispaces.com.
In other school news, West Tisbury School students can invite their parents to lunch next Wednesday, November 17. There will be a Fall Bash on Thursday afternoon, November 18, 2:40-4:30 — $5 for guests.
The West Tisbury Library is looking for volunteers. There will be a volunteer orientation at the library next Thursday, November 18, at 9 am. Please call 508-693-3366 or stop by the library to sign up.
The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club will hold their monthly meeting at the Wakeman Center next Tuesday, November 16, at 1 pm. The program, “Holiday Creations,” will present ideas and techniques for creating floral arrangements and decorations for Thanksgiving. Free for members; $5 for guests.
Thanksgiving feels imminent, meaning Chanukah and Christmas are just around the corner. I have already received emails about the Annual Holiday Fair and Cafe at Trinity Church in Oak Bluffs this Saturday, November 13, 9-2. There will be a Jewish Book Fair at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center Wednesday afternoon, November 17, 2-5:30. The West Tisbury Church is organizing groups of volunteers to make evergreen wreaths and decorations for their Christmas Faire on December 4. So much going on, and this is just the beginning.
Take a breather and attend the Community Poetry Reading at the library on Sunday afternoon, November 14, 5 pm. Bring a favorite poem to read or one of your own. Or just enjoy listening with a group of neighbors who share your interest in poetry. Refreshments served, as always.
Dr. Enid Haller is holding two Lyme-related events at the Howes House this week. Monday, November 15, there will be a meeting of the Lyme Support Group. The Lyme Disease Political Outreach Program will meet on Wednesday, November 17. Both groups will meet at 6:30 pm.
I was pleasantly surprised to be reading an article in Saturday’s New York Times and see a familiar name. Mary Beth Norton, our local historian, friend, and Cornell University professor was quoted in “Tea Party Rooted In Religious Fervor For Constitution,” page A17. “People have certainly seen the texts of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence as the equivalent of a secular religion, with the idea then that you can’t challenge these texts.” See the November 6, 2010 Times for the whole article by Samuel G. Freedman.
I was sorry to read that George Bramhall died last week. I have enjoyed his paintings of Vineyard life, of sailing and sea. Condolences to his family and friends.
Blue Cullen, Kurt Freund, Nancy Rogers, and Eric Bates all went to Washington, D.C., last weekend to attend Jon Stewart’s and Stephen Colbert’s rally. Whether fear or sanity was restored you will have to ask them, but everyone was complimentary about the organization of the event and had a great time.
A couple of “Happy Birthday” wishes to George Hough and Tara Larsen. Both celebrate their birthdays on November 15.
I was thrilled to walk by the Bunch of Grapes last week and see the bright red cover of Phoebe Potts’s graphic novel, “Good Eggs,” displayed in the window. Of course, I went in to look. The story is compelling and Phoebe’s drawings are spot-on. She will be here for Thanksgiving with her parents, Robert and Marjory, and plans to speak at Bunch of Grapes the Friday night of that weekend.
A reminder that the interviews with candidates for our new police chief are scheduled for this weekend. Friday, November 12, 7 pm, at the Howes House, will be a public forum where audience participation is invited. A formal interview by the selectmen will be held in their meeting room at Town Hall Saturday morning at 9:30. Although open to the public, no comments will be taken from the audience.
Don’t forget that schools, town offices, the library, banks, and the post office are closed for Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11.
