Heard on Main Street: May the New Year bring you joy and good fortune.
I hope you enjoyed the holidays with family and friends. Do you make a new resolution every year? And how does that work for you? Sometimes my good intentions may be slightly changed by the time I put them into effect, but I have most always found some benefits.
I have to admit I don’t watch much news, especially over the holidays. On Christmas Day, my friend Iba sent me this note with her greeting: “Did you see the story of the family in Georgia who found a live Eastern screech owl in their decorated Christmas tree? It seems that the poor beast was harvested along with the tree by the farm where the family bought it. It must have been terrified, especially if transported on top of a moving car. The family finally got it to leave with the help and advice of a wildlife organization. But did the owl find its way home to a familiar environment?”
At 2 pm on Sunday, Jan. 5, learn from someone who has been in Hong Kong with the people there who are struggling for freedom, face to face with riot police. “Teargas, Turmoil, and Tyranny in Hong Kong” will be presented by a Cape Cod native at the Vineyard Haven library.
Are you familiar with the deaf sign language? On Sunday afternoon, Jan. 12, at 1 pm at the Vineyard Haven library, Donna Jancsy will lead a workshop on basic greetings in sign language. This is a beginner-level class. All are welcome. The second half of this hourlong session will be devoted to learning to sign “It’s a Wonderful World.”
Last October, the Vineyard Sustainable Energy Committee (VSEC) and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s Climate Crisis Task Force made a commitment to propose that all six towns on Martha’s Vineyard will be 100 percent renewable by 2040. The goals of this warrant article are hopeful and nonbinding. Robert Hanneman, chairman of VSEC, says, “These are goals. You have to have goals if you want to get somewhere.” He will tell you what “100 percent renewable M.V.” means for us on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 7 pm at the V.H. library.This is one of the six “Climate Solutions for the Vineyard” series.
This is highly recommended, especially if your New Year’s resolution is to calm the soul and clear the mind: It’s all very casual, no special clothes or yoga mats needed. You don’t even have to take your shoes off. Derek Notman will continue his well-attended Tai Chi classes at the Vineyard Haven library, starting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at noon. He teaches his own particular distillation of physical and self-care derived from 30 years of healing, meditation, and martial arts. The sessions continue through Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the program room. Beginners are very welcome. Classes are Tuesdays, Jan. 14, 21, 28, and Feb. 4 and 11, always at noon. For more, see dereknotman.com/about or email Anne at amcdonough@clamsnet.org.
The Windemere recreation therapy director will speak at Neighborhood Convention at 11 am on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Grace Episcopal Church. Betsy Burmeister will tell you about “Innovative Activities for Elders.” Bring a sandwich; all are welcome.
See “The Last Pig,” a meditation on what it means to be an animal with the power to kill. The film is immersive, with sparse inner reflections, following a pig farmer through his final season of slaughtering pigs. Made after someone read “Happy Pigs Make Happy Meat?” written by the pig farmer, the film was conceived as a meditation on life, death, and personal ethics. That’s 7 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Vineyard Haven library.
Big bunches of birthday balloon wishes go out today to John Chapman and Joan McDonough. Happy birthday to Romeo Bonelli on Saturday. Sunday belongs to Roberta Kirn. Wish the best on Monday to Taylor Higgins, and on Tuesday to Judy Belushi Pisano. Greetings to Allyson Wajda and Ned Orleans on Wednesday.
Heard on Main Street: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
