Chilmark: Friendship Day

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Looking for finds at the Fischer family yard sale. I’ve always been fond of rust. —Valerie Sonnenthal

It was wonderful to pull into our library parking lot on Friday of the long weekend to a completely full lot, park with the spillover at the CCC, and join in the celebration of the first Friendship Day between Chilmark, England, and our Chilmark. I got there seven minutes late, and missed our selectmen Warren Doty and Bill Rossi during the exchange of our declaration and their “Greetings.” I was surprised to learn that it was on my birthday, Sept. 18, that our town in its 324th year decided to make Oct. 5 Friendship Day, thanks to the efforts of library director Ebba Hierta.

One of the people I met at the library was newcomer Kim Tharp, who moved here with her husband Charles, fulfilling her dream to live on Martha’s Vineyard. She told me her husband works from home, their children are grown, she was happy to find there was a school here, she applied, got the job, and here they are. Glad to catch up with Linda Thompson, and learn that the last three weeks of Mark’s life included a lot of singing, going over Mark’s playlist, and picking the songs for his funeral. Linda said, “On the day he died, I sang ‘Last Summer I Went Swimming,’” by Loudon Wainwright, a former boyfriend of hers. Read more about the events at bit.ly/MVTFriendshipDay.

Thanks to glorious weekend weather, the Lucy Vincent Beach parking lot was half-full by midafternoon on Friday, and nearly full the rest of the weekend. Menemsha had a steady stream of shoppers, beachgoers, and fishermen. Saturday saw a good turnout for Candy Schweder’s pottery sale, and all the sales in Menemsha. Much appreciation to Kara Dougherty and the ladies at Pandora’s Box for making everyone’s Wednesday a better day.

The yard sale at the Fischer home across from the CCC brought together many members of the family, who’d just taken stock of every item in their family home. Prices were more than fair, and I took home a perfect frying pan for making my breakfast and an elegant hand-wrought iron standing lamp which moved next to a cozy reading chair (a find from Craig’s List in WoHo*), but first I have to find a lampshade. All I can tell ya is I’d head over to the Dumptique this week and check out what the Fischer family donates. They have many useful, loved, and waiting-to-be-used-again items.

Fun running into familiar down-Islanders headed up-Island, like Betsy Burmeister, and Dana and Debra Gaines headed to the beach after their last meal at the Galley. Nice to see Roberta Morgan had her flag flying and doors open as well. Chilmark Store owner Joel Glickman got to enjoy a few days of summer; I saw him picking up takeout at the Galley. It looked like everyone who made it to Sunday’s Popcorn Festival at Native Earth Teaching Farm had fun.

You can still get breakfast at the Beach Plum Inn daily from 8 to 10:30 am through Oct. 20, or at the Menemsha Deli, open until November, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm Mondays to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, and closed on Sundays. Larsen’s Fish Market is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm through Sunday, Oct. 21, Menemsha Fish Market is open daily from 9 am to sundown; and don’t forget you can always get gas and more at the Menemsha Texaco station all year round. Be sure to stop by the Fo’c’sle Locker and next door at the Copperworks of Martha’s Vineyard, open year-round.

If you’re up-Island and want food delivered, Mikado will meet you at Alley’s for a $10 delivery charge.

Nancy Aronie’s final Chilmark Writing Workshop will be Monday, Oct. 15, to Wednesday, Oct. 17. Contact Nancy for more details at chilmarkwritingworkshop.com/contact or call 508-274-4286. Also read on to learn about her mini-memoir workshop, coming up at the library.

Constance Messmer is offering Reiki Second Degree on Saturday, Oct. 13, and Sunday, Oct. 14, from 9 am to 5 pm. Learn more at constance@constancemessmer.com or 508-645-2211.

Early voting for the Nov. 6 state election will be available at the Chilmark Town Hall at 401 Middle Road on weekdays between Oct. 22 and Nov. 2, from 8 am to noon. The last day to register to change party enrollment is Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 8 pm.

Pizza nights at Chilmark Church continue Tuesday nights from 6 to 7 pm until close to Thanksgiving. Enjoy a social gathering of all ages for free food and fellowship.

Stop by Chilmark artist Heather Sommers’ “Re-Frames” exhibit next time you’re at the West Tisbury library; the show is up for the month of October, and be sure to check out their wonderful programs.

Family Portrait Sessions with photographer Maria Thibodeau are available at Beetlebung Farm on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 1 to 5 pm to benefit the Chilmark Preschool enrichment programs. Cost of $100 includes a 15-minute photo session plus high-resolution digital files of all photos. RSVP at bit.ly/PreschoolPhoto.

Sunday, Oct. 14, is the Martha’s Vineyard CROP Hunger Walk; six or three miles, register or donate at crophungerwalk.org.

On Wednesday, Oct. 10, come hear naturalist Liz Dengenis, the education assistant at Felix Neck who leads the osprey and horseshoe crab citizen science program, speak at the Chilmark library about the various citizen science projects at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and ways you can get involved in our Island’s wildlife conservation efforts. The first Saturday movie matinee at 1 pm is Oct. 13. On Wednesday, Oct. 17, join Chilmark Writing Workshop founder Nancy Aronie for “Jumpstart Your Memoir: Short Talk and Even Shorter Workshop” at 4:30 pm. This month’s Blood Pressure Clinic is Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 11:30 am to 1pm. The Coffee Klatsch Knitting (bring your own supplies and projects) and Chess Meet-Up happens 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 hangout up-island. Stories with Rizwan continue Tuesday and Saturday at 10:30 am. Learn more at chilmarklibrary.org or 508-645-3360.

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; at 94 North Rd.

Have a great week.

Check out a song Heather Goff wrote for the Derby in 1990, recorded by Charlie Esposito, at http://bit.ly/DerbySong.