Tisbury: The singing of freedom songs

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Whether you support Community Services or like to take advantage of a real bargain, you should shop at the Thrift Shop. From books to bureaus, there is something for everyone. My husband finds computer cables, whatever they are. You could be pleasantly surprised.

Tomorrow, Friday, the Shabbat service at 5:30 pm at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center will pay homage to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his friend Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. For the 17th year, the Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the NAACP and the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center co-cosponsor this tribute to the Rev. King and Rabbi Heschel. Rabbi Caryn Broitman will lead the service.

The singing of freedom songs from the civil rights movement and from Jewish tradition will take place, with discussion concerning present civil rights. After singing and sharing experiences, those attending will be asked to take responsibility to improve, if even in a small way, intergroup relations concerning rights for all on our island, our state, or our nation. Members of the Island community are encouraged to attend and participate. An Oneg Shabbat of light refreshments will follow the tribute. For more information: 508-627-7456.

ACE MV walk-in registration is from 5 pm to 6:30 pm Thursday evening at the MV Regional High School front lobby. Check out new course offerings for winter 2015. Choose from 36 classes, including Social Justice for graduate credit, Investing, Rug Hooking, Guitar, Wampanoag Culture, languages and more. Email info@acemv.org.

On Saturday from 10 am to noon, you can learn to use free library ebooks and downloadable audiobooks at the Vineyard Haven library. Call 508-696-4210 for an appointment. Then from 2 pm to 4 pm, stock up on your reading material at the mini book sale.

On Tuesday at 7 pm at the Vineyard Haven library, Demaris Wehr speaks about “Forgiveness: In the Teeth of Genocide.” This will focus on the life of Vahidin Omanovic, a young, inspiring Muslim priest. Vahidin was 15 when genocide hit his Bosnian village.

On Sunday January 25 at our library, you can spend Sunday with Friends — the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library, that is. At 2 pm, enjoy Travel Talk with Anita Hotchkiss. Travel the world without leaving Martha’s Vineyard as Anita shares photographs from her recent trip to Mongolia. The talk is free, and refreshments will be served.

Monday night at the movies with Jamie Alley this week features Nightmare Alley with Tyrone Power. An amoral carny works his way up to high society using a mind-reading mentalist scam. He takes a spectacular fall and lands back at the carnival as a sideshow. This is a dark and distressing film noir, dripping with atmosphere. $5 at the Vineyard Playhouse at 7:30 pm.

Also on Tuesday at 7:30, see Cake at the MV Film Center, starring Jennifer Aniston. This is the story of a woman addicted to painkillers who begins to see visions of a woman from her chronic pain support group who commits suicide.

And also at the Film Center: Art at the Feldman Family Artspace. Artists who want to exhibit work should submit a letter, résumé, and examples of the work you’d like to show on paper, slides, or online by March 1 to pbrissette705@gmail.com; more at mvfilmsociety.com.

We can hope that this cold winter weather will kill off some germs. Friends from across the country have told the unhappy stories of colds and flu, from Canada to Colorado, even in sunny Florida. Thanks to the Internet, I don’t have to share my cold or maybe my version of the flu. Whatever I had might have been worse had I not had a flu shot.

My husband was sent home from his long hospital stay with several pages of notes. One page stated that he had been suffering from Community Pneumonia. This is described as coming from friends and family. We can only wish our own community had been less sharing.

It is no fun being sick, so I wish you all well. My advice is to drink lots of liquids, wash your hands more than often, and try not to cough or sneeze on anyone else. Remember, Scotch or wine qualifies as liquid. Then keep warm and stay well.

Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out to Chuck Downing on Saturday. Also I want remind you that Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street in Boston on Jan. 17 of 1706. Sunday belongs to Steve Soriano. Wish the best on Monday to Patti Linn; you may find her cooking up some of her delicious chocolate. Good wishes for many happy returns go out to Mev Good on Tuesday. Happy, happy birthday to Cathy Deese and Anne Downing on Wednesday.

Heard on Main Street: Celebrate Benjamin Franklin’s birthday on Saturday: Go fly a kite.