Morning dog walkers have happily returned to Lucy Vincent Beach, and all of us have appreciated and delighted in the new Squibby all summer long. It’s especially nice to know friends can finally enjoy a day at the beach after a hectic working summer, and that the weather has cooperated in everyone’s favor. In case you missed it, Chilmark turns 324 on Sept. 14, and I only turned 61 a few days later. I don’t know anyone who wasn’t shaken by the natural gas disaster in Massachusetts; clearly we can be thankful we don’t have underground gas lines, though we all have family and friends who do.
Though we may be an Island, things like this and Florence feel too close to home. Did you know reverse 911 reaches only a small number of homes here in Chilmark? According to a post on our town hall’s bulletin board, the director of emergency management suggests signing up for a free app, CodeRED Mobile Alert, available at the Apple App Store and Google Play, to get advanced, real-time, location-specific alerts to notify subscribers of critical communications.
The memorial service for Chilmark Town Hall architect Ben Moore will take place on Monday, Sept. 22, at 4 pm at the Ag Hall. All are welcome.
Derby season continues through Sunday, Oct. 13, and I hope everyone participating is enjoying themselves and bringing home a good catch.
Menemsha Deli plans to be open until November. Their hours are 7:30 am to 3:30 pm Mondays to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, and closed on Sundays. The Chilmark Store is open daily, 7 am to 3 pm, and Saturdays till 5 pm; the Galley is open 11 am to 3 pm daily and Saturdays till 8 pm; Menemsha Market is open 8 am to 5 pm “or so.” Larsen’s Fish Market is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, and Menemsha Fish Market is open daily from 9 am to sundown. The Beach Plum Inn serves breakfast daily from 8 to 10:30 am through Oct. 20. The Chilmark Tavern is open Thursdays to Mondays and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, dinner from 5:30 pm. The Home Port is open Thursdays to Mondays, Backdoor from noon to 8 pm, and dining from 5 to 9 pm through Friday, Oct. 5. Chilmark Chocolates is open through Sunday, Sept. 30, 11:30 am to 4:30 pm.
The Chilmark Flea runs Saturdays through Sept. 29 from 10 am to 2 pm, though it did not run on Tivoli Day.
Kara Taylor’s Art Gallery is open Thursday to Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm through Columbus Day. Then she’ll be heading back to Cape Town, South Africa, for her solo exhibition, “Everything I Felt and Heard,” at Eclectica Contemporary gallery.
Native Earth Teaching Farm hosts Lunch at the Farm on Wednesdays at noon. Bring your lunch, then take a stroll around the farm. Preschoolers encouraged but not required. On Saturday, Sept. 22, get your indigo on anytime between noon and 5 pm at the Indigo Afternoon, where you will be able to harvest the fresh indigo plant, dye some stuff, and have fun at the farm. Bring items to dye (natural fibers work best), or get something there. Admission is on a $10 to $20 sliding scale at 94 North Rd.
The Chilmark Library Wednesdays at 5 pm continues Sept. 19 when Max Skjöldebrand speaks about his latest book, “A Tale of Two Theaters.” In April, May, and June 2015, Skjöldebrand photographed the restoration of the Capawock and Strand Theaters. On Sept. 26, local author Herb Foster will speak about his latest book, “Ghetto to Ghetto: Yiddish & Jive in Everyday Life”; the two lingos’ presence in advertisements, conversations, newspapers, radio, TV, movies, books, magazines, license plates, etc., and the resulting cultural transmitters while being unknown as either Yiddish or jive. Sonoma-based artist Martha Oakes is exhibiting her new Island-inspired series of paintings from Sept. 18 through Oct. 5. Join her on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm for an opening reception. Head to Leslie Prosterman’s second Poetry Workshop on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 2 to 4 pm; open to everyone, those who have never written or read a word of poetry, and those who are experienced writers and readers. The Coffee Klatsch Knitting (bring your own supplies and projects) and Chess Meet-Ups happen Thursdays from noon to 3 pm. Come enjoy free coffee; just be sure to bring your own mug for a cozy, laid-back, and communal hang-out up-island. Stories with Rizwan continue Tuesday and Saturday at 10:30 am. Learn more at chilmarklibrary.org or 508-645-3360.
The Yard is seeking an energetic and positive individual to teach across Martha’s Vineyard with the Yard’s all-ages dance-making and creativity initiative, Making It. Share this with anyone you know, and direct them to dancetheyard.org/making-it-new-hire. And for anyone who remembers former Yard intern Sofia Strempek, I have learned from her parents, whom I met at my Kaiut Yoga training, that she will be getting married next June.
Also be sure to check out all the new fall programs at the West Tisbury library.
Have a great week.
