Monday’s holiday is usually the turning point for season closures, but this is the year of nothing usual. Perfect weather meant Lucy Vincent Beach parking was filled, more Menemsha visitors, and on Sunday Creekville Antiques, Copperworks, and Beetlebung Boutique all stayed open past 5 pm while lines of people waited for takeout at both fish markets.
Farm tours, cheese tasting, bakery/farm stand and one-week-old calves can be found at Grey Barn and Farm. North Tabor Farm has pork shoulders in, plus produce and eggs. Mermaid Farm is stocked up with a small pantry of goods and a freezer full of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, as well as all their cheese, milk, meats, and more.
Native Earth Teaching Farm Goat School is forming groups, six children only, barter system preferred. Stop by the farm, or call 508-645-3304 to sign up and find out more.
Chilmark Tavern is open for takeout through December. The Chilmark General Store continues to be open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Larsen’s Fish Market’s last day will be Thursday, Oct. 22. Menemsha Fish Market is open year-round.
Kara Taylor needs a 300-square-feet, year-round art studio with a sink and heat. Contact Kara at 508-332-8171 if you have a lead.
It’s Adopt a Dog Month, so you may want to check the new arrival of puppies coming to the Island thanks to Sandy Paws; whether you can foster, adopt, volunteer, or donate, see sandypawsmv.com.
The Chilmark library is also celebrating canines on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 6 pm, when you can share photos and stories about your dog on a Zoom library program. The adventures and photos will be collected and put into a book. Email tthorpe@clamsnet.org to sign up and get the Zoom invitation. Pick up your Take and Make Craft every Thursday in October from 11 am to 4 pm. For library info, see chilmarklibrary.org, and sign up for the weekly newsletter on the Programs page. For the month of October, play I Spy and check outside the Children’s Room windows for “not so spooky” seasonal creatures.
Pathways Arts continues open readings with virtual Tuesday Writing and Poetry Series. Contact them for Zoom link info at pathwaysartsmv@gmail.com, or 508-645-9098. If you want to share your visual project, a music project, an informative video, or readings of poetry and prose, get in touch.
The Yard’s Jesse Keller Jason is offering adult virtual dance classes Mondays 2 to 3 pm and Wednesdays 10:3 to 11:30 am through the West Tisbury library. To receive the Zoom invitation, email the West Tisbury library at wt_mail@clamsnet.org. Mollie Doyle continues to offer virtual yoga classes; see mollieyoga.com. or try a biomechanical healing Kaiut Yoga class: See peakedhillstudio.com.
Walk Island Folk Pottery’s magical quarter-mile sculpture trail, created by artists Bill O’Callaghan and Heather Goff, open daily 10 am to 5 pm free of charge; pottery shop is open Wednesday to Saturday, from 11 am to 5 pm, or by appointment. See islandfolkpottery.com.
The Chilmark Church Sunday 9 am services continue on Zoom and outdoors. The meeting numbers are on the website, chilmarkchurch.org.
If you are interested in serving as either the Chilmark Democratic Town Committee chair or treasurer, or know someone who may be interested in these positions, please contact Margaret at m.emerson.mv@gmail.com or 941-441-5072. The next Chilmark Democratic Town Committee meets via Zoom on Friday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 5 pm to vote for new members and officers. This meeting is open to all registered Democrats living in Chilmark. Zoom meeting ID: 884 5584 2491, and Passcode: 568695.
Schedule a free COVID-19 test at 877-336-9855. If you need any help, Chilmark Neighbors offers volunteer assistance. You can find them and anything COVID- or town-related at chilmarkma.gov.
Early in-person voting in Chilmark begins on Saturday, Oct. 17, and runs daily until Friday, Oct. 30. To learn more about early voting in person or by mail, and applying for an absentee ballot, see chilmarkma.gov/town-clerk. The deadline to submit a vote by mail (use your street address on your ballot, or it will be rejected) or absentee application for the state election is Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5 pm. Either drop in the secure box next to the main door of Chilmark Town Hall, 401 Middle Road, email to townclerk@chilmarkma.gov, fax to 508-645-2110, or mail to Chilmark Town Clerk, P.O. Box 119, Chilmark, MA 02535. You can check your voter registration at sec.state.ma.us. The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 3 state election is Saturday, Oct. 24; go to sec.state.ma.us, or in person at Chilmark Town Hall, 401 Middle Road, from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm on Oct. 24.
If you’re on Facebook, check It’s a Chilmark Thing for up-to-date information about our town and Island.
Have a good week.
If you have any Chilmark Town Column suggestions, email Valerie Sonnenthal, vsonnenthal@gmail.com.
