The Chilmark Library Book Club meets Tuesday, Dec. 16, at noon. This month’s book is “Foster,” by Claire Keegan. She is a master at writing short captivating and resonant novels. In this one, she gives the experiences of being seen without judgement, and dropping into a life where one is slowed down, not rushed, and weaving the complexity of shame and secrets with the power of choosing when and what to reveal to whom.
May we foster our friendships, and notice “my perfect opportunity to say nothing.”
The town of Chilmark has coordinated four rounds of testing well water for forever chemicals. We were part of the first group coordinated, and after three weeks received results showing that there is no PFAS in our water. It is shocking to realize how prevalent PFAS is in products like our raincoats, dental floss, shampoo, and sunscreen. But it is not in Insect Shield, permethrin, and DEET.
I believe more than 1,000 pounds of trash was collected by the small but mighty group of Beach BeFrienders that came out to Chilmark for the Nov. 30 Cleanup of Lucy Vincent, Squibnocket, and Menemsha beaches.
Congratulations to the team launching an initiative to combat ticks on the island — Tick Free M.V. The Executive director is Virginia Barbatti, who is also the development director at Island Grown Initiative; advisor is Patrick Roden-Reynold, who is a biologist for the M.V. Tick program, and co-chairs are Jeff Levy and Megan Chernin.
Hunting season continues, and SBS offers orange jackets for dogs as well as humans.
There is a garland-making workshop on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 2 to 4 pm, at the Chilmark library.
Chabad on the Vineyard and the Edgartown Board of Trade invite us to a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 4 pm.
On the third night of Hanukkah, Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 pm, Rabbi Tzvi Alperowitz is offering a standalone class, “Jewish Wisdom for Finding the Purpose that Connects All Parts of Life,” at his home. If you’d like to join, send an email to rabbi@vineyardchabad.org.
Our Slow Stitching Circle continues at Pathways, Thursday afternoons, 2 to 4 pm. It is a place where you can come as you are. Engage in conversation or just sit. Some of us knit, some stitch; I spent the time sorting, and appreciated support while throwing out pieces of material and spools of thread that were no longer usable, saved by ancestors.
Sue Guiney will read from her new novel, “Where We Find Ourselves,” at Pathways on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. You can come for supper at the Chilmark Church at 6 pm beforehand.
Dancing at Pathways on Dec. 13, starts with a free “Country Line Dance” class with Jill Gross from 7 to 8 pm. DJ 1love will take over and spin tropical house music into the evening.
