The clock is ticking. The time is getting shorter. The moment is rapidly approaching. The Chilmark School Caribbean Night Fundraiser will take place this Saturday at the CCC from 6:30 to 11 pm.
If you don’t have your tickets yet, which are a steal at $15, don’t fret: you can purchase them at the door. Put on your dancing shoes or perhaps your flip-flops, and a tropical outfit and join in the fun all the while raising needed funds for the Chilmark School PTO and Outing Program. That lively band the Smok’n Flamingos will be back to knock your socks off while you indulge in the dessert bar and bid on fabulous auction items. A sampling of items include: fishing charters, gift certificates to local restaurants, local meats and shellfish, tennis lessons, books, paintings, and so much more. I cannot wait to see you all there.
Chilmark resident Walter Wlodyka is taking a very needed respite in sunny Costa Rica accompanied by his long-time girlfriend Annette Anthony. While in Costa Rica they will continue working on the Rosina Project, named after Annette’s mother Rose Anthony, who was an advocate for children with special needs and a huge supporter of literacy.
Their nonprofit organization will take them across the border into the troubled country of Nicaragua to deliver books and education materials to the local schools that provide very little for their students. They began their project in Nicaragua with the help of former Islander Muriel Laverty, and continue to support her cause every year.
By educating the children there is great hope for them to rise from poverty and strive for a better life. Annette quotes her mother as saying to her as a young girl, “that it is the responsibility of those with an education to assist those without.”
Annette and Walter will return in March with, I hope, success stories to share.
The Carroll clan skipped town last week and headed for the happiest place on Earth — Walt Disney World. We met up with Kelly, Kim, and Jonathan Klaren, Kenny Romero, Skipper Manter, Paul and Renee Metell, cousins, cousins, and cousins, and a college friend of mine and her family. Out of the blue, we found ourselves face to face one evening with Lee and Lyle Steere. Raised in West Tisbury, the brothers were off on an adventure that took them around the world — or rather, the World Showcase at EPCOT.
The Chilmark Public Library has come up with a solution to your Internet woes. A free six-part workshop series called Getting Connected begins Wednesday, Feb. 9, aimed at helping computer users experience more from the Internet and learn how to connect with friends, family, customers, and the world. Including search techniques, Facebook, digital photos and videos, and blogging, topics are appropriate for individuals and small business owners. The workshops will be held on Wednesday at 5:30 pm in the library meeting room from February 9 to March 16.
The library has a lot of wonderful things to offer this winter. Tomorrow night’s movie is the 2004 adventure “Hidalgo.” This free event will not only tempt you with a great movie but also pizza and drinks. Saturday, that very popular storybook bear, Corduroy, will visit with the children at 10:30. And, don’t forget, teen time is from 3 to 5 on Saturdays. Mariah and Jessica Campbell, Peter and Andrew Ruimerman, Galen Mayhew, Thorpe Karabees and Bradley Carroll all belted out the tunes, banged on drums, and strummed on the electric guitar in front of the Wii version of Rock Band.
I recently received a Nixon Alert. That’s what we call it when Sarah Nixon makes her way into our lives. This time I didn’t have the pleasure of making the connection in person, but the Keefe family (Craig, Lori, Quinn aka Cruiser, Allie and Grady) of Steamboat Springs, Colo., is getting a little loving from Sarah. She traveled west with her eldest son Bobby who, at the age of 14, is beside himself with his two-week internship at Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.
Other big news from the Boat is that six-year-old Allie Keefe was named 2010 Winter Carnival Princess. I am not exactly sure what this role entails, but I am sure it must involve some sort of crowning glory.
Yet another exciting moment was when nine-year-old Jack Nixon arrived with his father Bob and surprised his best buddy, Cruiser, by picking him up at school. Cruiser was speechless and Allie screamed. Moments like these don’t happen as often as they should, but they are priceless when they do.
Faster than a speeding bullet was eight-year-old Bella Thorpe this past weekend at the fiercely competitive Y swim meet with approximately 80 competitors traveling to the Vineyard from Marshfield. Bella swam to second place in breaststroke and third in freestyle. Nice job, Bella!
