Tisbury: Memories of chicken tombstones

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The northeaster certainly blew things around and kept the boats in port. Some of the passengers were not planning on a blustery day on Island but did what they could to keep warm and dry. The snow flurries were not welcomed by anyone. Considering the powerful winds, we were lucky the damage was not more severe.

If you missed the Planning Board’s second workshop, you have one more chance. That will be at 10 am tomorrow at the American Legion Hall.

Featherstone starts new classes today. Washington Ledesma offers five weeks of Intro to Ceramics from 4 to 6 pm. This series costs $139 for the five classes plus an additional $10 materials fee. See ACE MV.

Featherstone’s Opening Reception for Personal Altars II is Sunday from 4 to 6 pm in the Virginia Weston Besse Gallery. The show will be open daily 12 noon to  4 pm through November 19 with colorful pieces ranging from multimedia installations, found art wall hangings, quilted collages to acrylic paintings on canvas and ink jet print photographs.

Tomorrow evening from 5 to 7 pm is the opening reception at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum for the exhibit celebrating 200 years of Nancy Luce. This look back at her life and writings is free for museum members, $7 for non-members. Children under 6 are always free. The exhibit features original poetry books and artwork, letters, and objects from her home. It also includes the Chicken Lady’s tombstones for her chickens and art inspired by Nancy and her legacy. The display will remain through the end of January.

Nancy Luce is one of the Island’s well-known historical figures, but she is also one of the most misunderstood. Characterized by hardship, sickness, and isolation, she eked out a meager existence by selling eggs, small books of poems she wrote about her beloved flock of chickens, and photographs of herself to curious passersby. Her story is full of loneliness, but it contains compassion, love, and even moments of fierce joy. She was a tourist attraction in her lifetime and continues to fascinate people today. When my husband recalls his visits to the museum as a child, the best memories are of the chicken tombstones.

This Sunday at the Vineyard Haven Library enjoy Adult Crafts: Image Transfer at 1 pm. Jennifer will demonstrate a variety of image transfer techniques, then you will have time to complete a project. This is a great way to make personalized homemade holiday presents or cards. Bring your own images to transfer, as well as any surface to transfer images onto, including cloth, wood, glass, paper, and stone. Free for adults and ages 12 and up.

Later this month is a special addition to the Adult Crafts series on Tuesday, November 18: Make It Mighty Ugly night. More on this adventure next week.

This week the Vineyard Playhouse offers Monday night at the movies with Jamie Alley on the Patricia Neal Stage upstairs. All That Heaven Allows is a heartbreaking portrait of the reaction of small town America when an older widow and a young gardener become romantically involved, featuring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson. All this and Rock Hudson for $5 at 7:30.

Next Tuesday at 7:30 pm is the Poetry Café at the Vineyard Playhouse downstairs in the Meryerhoff Lobby. The evening is hosted by MV Poet Laureate Arnie Reisman, joined by Clark Myers, Donald Nitchie, and Fan Ogilvie. $10 includes one dessert and beverage.

The new Tisbury writers group will not meet at the Tisbury Senior Center in November. Ellie Bates and Jill Jupen will read their selected poems at the Poetry Readings at the center a week from today, November 13, at 1:30 pm. All are welcome.

Belated birthday greetings go out to Amanda Parker who celebrated last Monday. Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out today to Sam Myers. Tomorrow wish the best to Buffy Hanschka and Hugh Knipmeyer.

Heard on Main Street: Fly your flag to honor the veterans next Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day.