What an exciting weekend to be safe and dry inside while the world outside blew and blustered and even snowed a little bit. I spent Sunday doing absolutely nothing. I finished one book and started another. I knitted. Mostly I watched the weather blowing through our woods.
Fortunately the storm waited till after Halloween. The party at the library, the first really big event, proved that the new building worked just as it was designed to. Linda Hearn served cider and donut holes on the Children’s Room porch, out of the wind, and was able to accommodate everyone. Beth Kramer estimated between 250 and 300 children and grown-ups attended, all “in the most incredible costumes.” Martha Hubbell had supplies set out for building spooky houses and decorating witches to take home. Finnegan MacLeod appeared as a headless gentleman carrying his head around in a box; he went on to win a prize for the best costume at the Chilmark Community Center party. Asa Ruel, dressed as a baby squid, may have been this year’s youngest attendee in the arms of his mom, Bea Whiting. Steve Klebs took lots of pictures that will be up on the library’s website: westtisburylibrary.org.
It looked pretty spooky all over town. The Charter School’s scarecrows haunted doorways and lawns in the business district, and it was safe to assume that Ghost Island Farm would be suitably dressed for the occasion. Pumpkins and corn stalks, bittersweet wreaths and colorful garlands with bats and ghosts and witches wound through them decorated doorways and lamp-posts. All very festive.
Welcome to our newest town resident. Vivian Vladimirov was born at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on October 23. Her parents are Sylvia Ilieva and Vladimir Vladimirov and she has an older sister, Dia, at home.
Marjory Potts and her children, Oliver and Phoebe, have planned a memorial celebration for the life of Robert Potts, who died on Oct 11. The burial will be private, but everyone is invited to join the family afterward at the Grange Hall this Sunday afternoon, November 9, at 3:30 pm. Please bring finger food only, and your best stories to share. If you would like to make a donation in Robert’s memory, Marjory suggests the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, PO Box 692, Vineyard Haven 02568, or volunteering your time to Vineyard Village at Home, PO Box 1356, Vineyard Haven 02568, an organization that helped the Pottses during Robert’s illness.
Resident cartoonist Paul Karasik is wearing a new hat as Programming Director for Comic Arts Brooklyn. In a two-day program at the Wythe Hotel Williamsburg this weekend, November 8 and 9, Paul will be interviewing Charles Burns and Richard McGuire, and moderating a discussion between Roz Chast and Art Spiegelman. If you are planning to be in Brooklyn, tickets may still be available: eventbrite.com/o/comic-arts-brooklyn-7634905831.
Congratulations and Happy 25th Anniversary wishes to Vincent and Heather Maciel. I’m glad rain didn’t dampen your spirits or your party last Saturday.
And belated Happy Birthday wishes to Reed Cabot, who turned five on October 24.
The West Tisbury School 5th grade will hold a cake walk at the Chilmark Community Center on Sunday, November 16, 2–4 pm, a fundraiser for their Shenandoah trip. Bring a cake and get a free walk. There will also be a bake sale, a 50/50 raffle, and a chance to win a sunset sail for two on the Shenandoah.
Jan Paul’s Heath Hen returns to normal fall hours and some special events. The Heath Hen will be open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday 10 am to 3 pm, closed Tuesday and Sunday. Drop-in knitting convenes Monday evenings, 5–6:30 pm. The hand-quilting group will meet Wednesday mornings, 8:30–10 am.
A reminder that the Monday Night Knitters meet at 7 pm at the Howes House and the Martha’s Vineyard Modern Quilt Guild meets at the library on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Beth Kramer would like anyone who has been holding paintings owned by the library during construction to please let her know and return them to the library. The Art Committee is beginning an inventory of the collection.
The library is reinstating the Food For Fines program to benefit the Island Food Pantry. Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate in lieu of a fine on your overdue movie or book.
Island Grown Harvest Storytime for preschoolers will celebrate sweet potatoes next Thursday, November 13. Guest reader Nicole Cabot will tell you all you need to know beginning at 10:30 am in the Children’s Room.
The first meeting of the library’s new Lego Club will be next Saturday, November 15, at 2:30 pm. If you have new or gently-used Legos to donate, please drop them off in the Children’s Room before then.
Nelson has decided that hunting in the comfort of his home is preferable to braving whatever weather there is outside; he has begun bringing his mice in with him through the cat flap. Mike and the dogs and I hear him leaping around downstairs at night. One morning we found him staring at the refrigerator, more accurately under the refrigerator. Another time we found him trying to get behind a heavy basket of kindling. Mostly we hear him thumping around in the dark. There have been no dead mice, or parts of dead mice, and no smell, so I can only assume he takes them outside again once he’s done with them. Small blessings. I guess I should be grateful.