Thank you to the M.V. Agricultural Society for a wonderful fair. Congratulations to all who entered, volunteered, and worked the fair. It was tremendous.
Congratulations to Bill O’Callaghan on winning a blue ribbon and a people’s choice award for his whimsical driftwood adorned with his remarkable clay sculptures table. (He and his wife, Heather Goff, offer their work at their Island Folk Pottery studio, 16 Marions Way, Chilmark. Heather offers new cups with saucers. While you are there, be sure to visit the Fairy Sculpture Trail.)
Alexander Hart’s original Lego sculpture’s fabulous moving vehicles and many characters won second place.
North Tabor Farm won the Lesley Gray Award for biggest tomato. The farm also welcomed a litter of piglets. And Irene Wong introduced us to sweet and savory tomato jam. It is available at their farmstand.
Native Earth Teaching Farm, at 95 North Road, continues to invite visitors Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 10 am to 6 pm. Time on Randy BenDavid and Rebecca Gilbert’s farm is priceless. Like her book, she is a fount of weedy and life wisdom. Her vat of indigo dye is available on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5 pm. And three days a week, you can find regular and family-friendly Slow Flow Yoga with baby pygmy goats. $30 per person includes registration fees. Regular classes are for ages 13 and up; Family-friendly class is for all ages! Sliding scale. Visit the website, nativeearthteachingfarmmv.org, or call the farm directly, 508-645-3304.
Also on the farm, at the Milokan Cultural Center and Drum Museum, on Thursdays, August 20 and 27, Rick Bausman (email rick@drumrol.org) is offering Origins, a drum circle with roots. Origins will combine the educational experience of a class with the energy and expressivity of a drum circle jam, using some of the instruments used in Africa and the Diaspora (conga, Koné, djun-djun, djembe, ogán, clave, shakeré …). After becoming familiar with some of the fundamental rhythmic structures, students will be ready to jam. All ages are welcome. Bring what you’ve got; Rick would like to meet you. (Coming: the Thursday Chilmark Drum Jam by the Fire!) $15 individual, $50 family of four or more.
Valerie Sonenthal’s healing yoga classes continue at her Peaked Hill Studio Kaiut Yoga at Peaked Hill Studio. Her classes are designed to help you work through chronic pain, injuries, aches, and stiffness. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 to 9:30 am, 11 Peaked Hill Pasture, Chilmark. Register at peakedhillstudio.com/purchase-class-pass.
Sig Van Raan submitted this Chilmark Softball report: “This week’s double-header featured a between-games awards ceremony given to the three new rookies (‘future star’ award); MVP – Defense went to Eijah Feiner for his stalwart defense in left field. Elijah made an eloquent speech acknowledging his participation in the softball games as the highlight of his summer. The offensive MVP award went to Junior Farrell, for his prodigious home runs (referred to as ‘gone with the wind HRs’). Junior also made an eloquent and personal speech. The Howie Hustle Award went to ageless Hans Solmssen, who continued to pitch and hit well until a sports injury put him on the DL a few weeks ago.
“Again, high-spirited games with great defense and key hitting and an enthusiastic crowd of spectators, kids, and dogs. Midsummer couldn’t be better.”
