MARGARET KNIGHT
508-627-8894
Three ewes have recently moved in with Debbie Sankey at Shepherd’s Hill Farm, across the road from the Chappy Store. Well, they have their own barn, a renovated horse run-in, but they are the beginnings of her farm family. Two sisters came from Mermaid Farm in Chilmark and are Icelandic crossed with Friesian, and one — Daisy, a Icelandic/Navaho cross — originally came from the Farm Institute.
Debbie’s vision is to have a few animals (she plans to add chickens) that can live out their lives at her place. Besides the wool factor, Debbie wants the sheep for her two young granddaughters, Sarah and Olivia Parent, and other children, so that they can experience what it’s like to take care of animals. She says sheep are quiet, gentle creatures, and young children come eye to eye with them because of their size. Daisy is particularly people-friendly, as was her mother. Other Chappy kids who have been visiting the sheep are Maddie and Isabelle Floyd, and Madeline and Jack Chronister. Amber Bettencourt will take on the job as summer shepherd.
Lily Morris will hold another card-making workshop next Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the community center. The card workshop in December was a lot of fun, and this one promises to be, too. Lily will bring her extensive collection of rubber stamps for printing, and materials for carving stamps. She’ll also bring her collage materials. She will give guidance, as needed, so people can make Valentine’s Day cards or whatever kind of cards they want. The cost is $10, all materials included.
People interested in doing yoga in an informal class at the community center can call me at 508-627-8894. We’re going to try an early morning time, maybe 7:30, but haven’t set a day yet.
The next potluck at the community center will be on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. Shelley Wilbur and Jack McElhinney, and their daughter Gabby, will be hosting the evening. All are welcome.
I had my first ride on the newly renovated On Time II, while Peter did some minor work on the III. The new deck looks spiffy, and with the new propellers, Captain Fligor says it’s easier to slow down as the ferry enters the slip. The new propellers are smaller and have five blades. The final bits of work continue on the II in the slip at Edgartown Marine.
The Chappaquiddick Open Space Committee contributed $250,000 toward the purchase by the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank of 22 acres from Laura and Dick Chasin off Quammox Road. The committee, consisting of members Nancy Hugger (chair), Edo Potter, Don Crocker, Dick Knight, Karen Langford, Norma Kontje and Bonnie Weiss, raises money to preserve special Chappy land for public use.
The new Quammox Preserve includes native sand plain, salt marsh and beach front. It brings the total of land bank Chappy holdings to 506 acres.
Probably everyone living on the Island knows someone who has had Lyme disease, or has had it themselves. The Martha’s Vineyard Lyme Disease Association is a nonprofit founded by Dyan Redick to increase awareness efforts and education, and to support research into tick-borne illnesses, of which there are many. You can read about them, and see other information about prevention and research on the Web site marthasvineyardlyme.org.
State funding cuts have affected the Barnstable County cooperative extension’s ability to provide education on the Island, which they have done in the past. Dyan’s organization plans to take on some of that role. The only service the extension will fund this year is to send a health nurse here in the spring to train people to provide information to the Island communities.
One effect of the funding cut is that Dave Simpson now needs funds to continue his study using deer feeding stations to apply tick repellant. Chappy is an ideal location for these stations, some of which he already has placed here. Inquiries and contributions are welcome at mvlyme@vineyard.net.
If you’ve suddenly found that it’s a new year, and you don’t yet have a 2009 calendar to find your way through it, the community center’s fund-raising calendar is still available. It has great pictures of Chappaquiddick vistas in all seasons. You can go to the Web site, chappycommunitycenter.org to download an order form, or call me at 508-627-8894. All proceeds go toward supporting the community center, which is run solely on donations.
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