JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Chilmark survived the big wind and the continual rains of the past week to be treated to a beautiful spring day on Wednesday. Hopefully this will continue, but it is March, a fickle month. The winds of March serve as Mother Nature’s pruning tool and sure enough many branches and in some places whole trees were broken off and scattered. There was a power outage on Saturday night in some parts of town, lasting about three hours in some homes, including mine. Whatever happened to the complete silence that followed a power outage? Now so many things in the house start to peep and beep that even if the power is off in the middle of the night, we are alert and awake ... until we figure out what battery-operated something is sounding off.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 20, will be a night of music at the Chilmark Community Center. Warren and Nan Doty invite us all to gather for an evening of music making and singing. All of us are encouraged to come and bring any instruments we might play and join in the music. There will also be singing. They are calling the gathering a folk circle, and the fun will be in everyone participating regardless of their level of skill. Bring a dessert for sharing. The music starts at 7:30 p.m.

We send condolences to the family and friends of Fred Littleton, who died last week and was buried on Saturday at Abel’s Hill cemetery. He was a well-known member of the Chilmark community for many years. He served as the harbor master for several of those years and was a familiar landmark at Menemsha in his red swordfish cap and white beard. Many knew of his continued interest in the Ernestina. Fred was also an accomplished boat builder. His many friends here will miss him.

We are happy to report that Elmore (Bud) Mayhew is home after a hospital stay of several days. He is much recovered and we all hope to see him out and about soon.

We send best wishes to Scott McDowell, who had the bad news last week that the boatyard where is boat is wintering suffered a fire. We hope his boat was spared any serious damage.

Helen Parker has been researching and reporting the effects of sound from wind turbines on humans and animals. She has been sending around her findings on the subject, and if you would like to read about it, please contact her at windscoop.mvy@gmail.com. I think you might find it interesting.

Wednesday, March 24, is the last of the noontime Chowder and a Movie programs at the library. The movie will be The Little Foxes, starring Bette Davis, made in 1941.

Wendy Weldon will exhibit some of her recent paintings at the Chilmark Public Library from March 21 to April 29.

Congratulations to John Maloney, a Chilmark poet, who was happy to hear his poem Good read on the radio last Friday by Garrison Keillor on his Writer’s Almanac program.

Sue Larsen is still walking. She had walked 403.8 miles as of March 14, with two months to go before the Avon Walk for Cancer on May 15 and 16 in Boston. She even walked on Sunday last, a very windy and wet day. She enjoyed the sounds of the rough surf on the South Road and the running brooks on the North Road, although the strong wind made it a hard walk. Sue reminds us it was early detection that makes her a survivor, and she wants us all to keep our schedules of tests.

About 35 people came out Wednesday night to brainstorm ideas as to the future of the Tea Lane Farm, owned now by the town and the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank. The Silva family ran the farm for the past 80 years or so. Most folks hoped to see the land continue to be farmed, and there many suggestions as to how this could happen. Next a committee will consider the suggestions and make recommendations to the selectmen. If you have any ideas, please contact town hall as they will welcome your input.

We send condolences to the Tom Ruimermin family of Menemsha. Tom’s step dad, Paul Trudelle, died suddenly last week and the family attended services at his residence in Connecticut. He was a happy man who enjoyed entertaining the family with stories. They will miss his cheerful presence.

Ethel Whitman has been spending the winter months in Little Compton, R.I., with her daughter, Jane. She sends word to her Chilmark friends that she will be back at her home on D.H.’s Hill soon after Easter.