Last week we picked our first fat bouquets of yellow daffodils. The deer don’t eat them, and they grow well in the sandy soil. Many of the now large patches were started more than 80 years ago by my great-grandmother, using unsold bulbs from her brother’s off-Island nursery business.
Spring cleanup inside and out has begun. Peas are planted, seedlings are started. Before the grass grows and the birds start to nest, picking up fallen branches, clipping bittersweet and various brambles, reclaiming path edges so two can walk abreast — my consistent year-round wandering with the dogs naturally keeps them open. It horrifies me that some use a leaf blower on trails instead of raking.
Opening up linen cupboards, washing loads of sheets, and hanging them on the line when the sun is hot and the air is sweet presses them better than any iron, and scents them better than any detergent or dryer sheet.
Old books that no one wants are compostable. I’m using them to make flower beds. Separating out leftover paint, wintered-over fuel, and other toxic waste — the next disposal day will be Saturday, May 20, from 9 am to noon, at the main transfer station off the Edgartown–West Tisbury Road. We are relieved to learn that you can dispose of lithium batteries at the Chilmark town dump, off Tabor House Road, every Sunday, 1 to 4 pm, and Wednesday, 8 am to 4 pm.
The League of Women Voters of Martha’s Vineyard’s candidate forum for Chilmark will be Monday, April 3, at 6:30 pm in the Chilmark library. The public is invited to attend and listen to local candidates as they present their positions, and to ask questions. There are contested races this year, and there should be some lively discussions. The League is a nonpartisan political organization that promotes active and informed citizen participation in government, in voting, and in influencing public policy through education and advocacy.
Menemsha summer job opportunity: Chilmark Harbor Department, assistant wharfinger. An assistant wharfinger’s primary responsibility will be traffic control within Menemsha Village, secondarily, assisting in waterside operations of Menemsha Harbor. An assistant wharfinger assigned to traffic control patrols on foot in an assigned area. They enforce parking regulations; issue warnings or parking tickets for illegal parking, direct vehicular and pedestrian traffic at a specific intersection or other specified location. This position is the public face of the town’s parking program, and shall assist visitors with good communication skills. Assistant wharfingers will work in conjunction with other members of the Harbor Department assigned to waterside operations within Menemsha Harbor, and the waterways within the town of Chilmark. Anyone interested in working in Menemsha for the summer, please contact the Chilmark harbormaster at 774-275-0560, or email jobs@chilmarkma.gov.
Tuesday, April 4, at 6 pm: “Pointillism Art Seascape Inspired by George Seurat.” Virtual. An adventure in pointillism via Zoom! Join to create a Seurat-inspired seascape led by Barbara Freiberg. The class includes drawing and coloring instruction. Drawings can be done with a regular pencil. Suggested supply list: pencil, eraser, ruler or straightedge, one piece of 8- by 8-inch white sketch paper or drawing paper, a package of 50 Crayola Super Tip Markers or similar brand. Email tthorpe@clamsnet.org to sign up and get the Zoom invite. Sponsored by the Vineyard Haven and Chilmark libraries.
Thursdays, April 6, 13, and 27, at 10:30 am: “Memoir Workshop with Moira Silva.” In this course, a blend of exercises, readings, and discussions will connect writers with their writing and themselves. Participants will form a supportive community while sharing in-process work. We will honor whatever is created, be it essays, songs, letters, or entirely new genres. After five weeks, writers will leave lighter in spirit and richer in purpose. No writing experience required.
Moira Convey Silva is a writing instructor, writing consultant, yoga teacher, community activist, and awardwinning writer who, for more than 10 years, has freelanced for national and local periodicals. Focusing on features and essays, especially ones that relate to sustainability, Silva’s writing most notably appears in the Boston Globe, Women’s Running and Taproot. She, arguably, always has the loudest laugh in the room. Email tthorpe@clamsnet.org to sign up and get the Zoom invite. Free. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library. Call 508-645-3360 for more information.
The Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group is having its annual Daffodil Time fundraiser on Saturday, April 1 — no fooling! Daffodil bunches will be sold at Reliable Market, Stop & Shop in Edgartown, Cronig’s on State Road, and Cronig’s Up-Island. The hours are 8 am to noon (or until the flowers run out). Your purchase allows this group to continue their financial support of Island cancer patients for many of the costs associated with their treatment (transportation, hotel stays, copays, parking, gas). For more info, contact Annemarie Donahue at 508-627-7958. The group offers a support meeting every Wednesday at 5 pm via Zoom.
If you have any Chilmark Town Column suggestions, email Claire Ganz, cganz@live.com.
