Chilmark

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—MV Times

We were privileged to join the celebration of Connie Williams on her 90th birthday. In my last column, I mentioned some of Connie’s professional accomplishments, but it is her remarkable spirit, one that is powerfully caring, kind, wise, and discerning, I speak of now. She is brilliant, sees everything for what it is, and has faith. 

Connie is a living example of someone who puts her heart and mind into everything she does, including rally for others. Her birthday was a gathering of people from all phases of her life whose hearts and minds rally for their friends as equally as they devote themselves to their endeavors. There is great power in standing next to one another and lifting our voices without a spec of one-upmanship. 

I love late July when blueberries start to ripen and thoughts turn to fair entries. The fair book is available on the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society’s website. May it inspire you to get off the sidelines.

To encourage clever hall entries, I created an award: The Linda Fischer Laugh Out Loud Award. Linda loved her family, amazing friends, garden, and anything that made her laugh: “Given in her memory and awarded to a Hall entry that inspires a laugh – Adult: $50. Junior: $50.”

“Children’s Dance Class” with Claire Page, July 27, 3 to 4 pm, at the Chilmark library. Claire Page, a children’s dance instructor, will guide the group through different motor skills and coordination activities, as well as games to connect with other kids in the class. Claire has instructed classes at several other Martha’s Vineyard locations, including the Yard, Slough Farm, and the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. Her classes are engaging, inclusive, and imaginative, with a goal of making dance more accessible to all! This class is open to children of all ages. Contact the library if you’d like more information.

Thank you to Sig Van Raan, co-commissioner of Chilmark Sunday Morning Softball, for submitting this report: “We suddenly are at the midsummer junction of Chilmark Softball. A beautiful Sunday morning and a full complement of veteran players, younger players, and newcomers enjoyed two well-played games. The early game was almost a replica of last week’s thriller. The tying runs in a close game were in scoring position in the last inning, as a great fielding play ended the rally. The second game hosted some new players, and it was noted that there were a number of father-son, father-daughter, and even mother-son combos playing in the games. In fact, I counted a total of 12 such combinations that show up, although not all of them were present this week.

“It’s quite heartening, as the younger kids not only represent the future of the game, but also, for each family, as part of their summer ritual, great memories are created. It’s a game with no time, and some of these kids of summer really are kids.”

If you have any Chilmark Town Column suggestions, email Claire Ganz, cganz@live.com.