Some good news this week: The Native American tribes gathered at Standing Rock in North Dakota have won a victory. The Army Corps of Engineers has said that the Dakota Access Pipeline cannot follow the planned route, and it did not grant the easement for the company building the DAPL. I genuinely don’t know if there is a way to build this pipeline that does not threaten the water supply of the whole area, but I hope that there is. Right now, I just want to say thank you to all the members of different tribes who gathered there to fight for clean water and land rights. Thank you for putting your lives on the line for something that benefits all of us. Thank you also for showing us what it means to peacefully protest.
At the library this week: The first Dinner and a Movie for kids will be today, Thursday, Dec. 8, at 5 pm. The movie will be “Finding Dory,” and pizza and carrots will be served. Story time is on Thursday at 3:30 pm and Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 am. The kids’ craft will be making Collage Winter Patterns on Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm. The Afterschool Club will be held Tuesday at 4 pm.
Joan LeLacheur will hold an open studio this Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm at 42 Old South Road. You can find wampum treasures, jewelry, and tiles. Call Joanie at 508-645-9954 for more information, or if you would like to purchase something but cannot attend the open house.
This Sunday, Dec. 11, Mitzi Pratt’s book bindery will be open to the public from noon to 5 pm. The bindery is located at 5 Moshup Trail. Handbound journals will be available, Mitzi will be on hand to discuss restoration projects and she will also demonstrate the hand-bookbinding processes.
The next meeting about affordable housing and planning in Aquinnah is this Monday, Dec. 12, at 7 pm in the Old Town Hall, with a free dinner at 6:30 pm. At the meeting, the draft vision statement and goals from the previous meetings will be reviewed. Then, looking at maps of town land, specific strategies for various lots or areas will be discussed (e.g. allowing smaller lots on State Road near Town Hall to help create a town center). Anyone is welcome even if they haven’t attended a previous meeting. There are complete summaries of the previous meetings, copies of the presentations, other town statistics and data, and copies of the draft vision statement and goals, and the maps, on the MVC website. Here is the link: bit.ly/aquinnahhousing.
Pathways will be hosting a monthly Dance Event beginning this Saturday, Dec. 10, from 7 pm on. There will be dance performances by Caitlin Cook, Sandy Broyard, and Ted Bo, followed by music by DJ Di, which everyone is welcome to dance to. Come and get your groove on. Pathways Living Room Studios is open during the day to anyone who would like company while working on a project. There is Wi-Fi and computer access available. They are open daily from 11 am to 5 pm, closed Wednesday and Sunday. On Mondays, Pathways will host “Wool for Water: Spin, Knit, Pray for Standing Rock” from 1:15 to 3 pm. There is no experience necessary, and all materials will be provided. If you have your own tools, feel free to bring them; all levels are welcome. This event is suitable for all ages. Pathways is located at the Chilmark Tavern, 9 State Road in Chilmark; for more information call 508-645-9098 or go to pathwaysmv.org.
Tri-Town Ambulance is hosting a toy and food drive. They have collection boxes for toys and food, which are located at the West Tisbury Fire Station at 452 State Road. They will accept donations through Dec. 15. The Chilmark School is collecting food for the Island Food Pantry; there is a box in the lobby to place donations.
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is hosting three talks this week to help parents and grandparents. The first is this Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 to 11:30 am: “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” at the Martha’s Vineyard Family Center at 35 Greenwood Avenue in Vineyard Haven. There is no charge to attend. The Island Wide Youth Collaborative, in conjunction with MVCS Family Center, Disability Services, and the Youth Task Force, presents three free parent intensive workshops with anxiety expert Lynn Lyons. “Stepping Out of the Worry Cycle and What to Do When Anxiety Shows Up,” an interactive parent-child workshop for parents, caregivers, and children ages 8 to 17, will be held this Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 6 to 8 pm at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School library. To register, visit mvcommunityservices.com/lyons. “The Traps of Worried Parenting and What to Do Instead,” for parents and caregivers of children up to 8 years old, will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the MVRHS library. To register, call 508-687-9182.
