Jo-Ann Tilghman>

508-627-7669

(Tilghmanjb@aol.com)

In the past several days I have come across two mothers introducing their young children to Chappaquiddick. Crossing from the Francis Preserve to Caleb’s Pond was a mother mallard followed by her four young ducklings. While she neglected to have them look both ways before venturing across the road, the traffic (me) did slow to watch the procession. The other evening, shortly before sunset I saw a doe with a very young fawn cross the tar road onto the Brine property at the entrance to North Neck Road. These residents of Chappy are taking their young to explore the special places that Chappy has to offer without the confines of having to stay on the roads or cleared paths or concern for ticks and poison ivy.

A third life for the original Chappy schoolhouse: last Wednesday and Thursday were moving days for the old Chappaquiddick schoolhouse, the former home of the Heywood family. On Wednesday the school was moved from its foundation and allowed to rest overnight near the cemetery. Thursday began the final move across the Knight and Phinney propertys, in front of the old Jeffers Outlook restaurant, then across the bridge on Jeffers Lane, before passing onto the Cole property. From there the schoolhouse made its way down the tar road to its new home on the Marshall (North) Farm. While the original date and builder of the schoolhouse are unknown, the schoolhouse was moved to the Heywood property from the Old Indian Trail area in the early 1950s. The Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust will now be the caretaker of the schoolhouse with plans for part of the building being restored to a schoolhouse museum and part being used for a farm stand for items grown on North Farm.

A reminder that the final CIA meeting presided over by Terry Forde is tomorrow morning, Saturday, July 4 with coffee served at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday’s meeting will also include a presentation by Joanne Taylor on industrialization of public properties.

The Chappaquiddick Community Center, under the direction of Margaret Knight and her assistant Molly Sullivan, has begun a full schedule of summer activities. Tennis and sailing lessons started earlier this week. There are still openings for tennis and sailing lessons, including adult sailing lessons. Adult sailing lessons are done in a vintage cat boat Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Art classes with Elise Adibi begin July 6. The first week of class will begin with drawing forms in nature, such as shells, pinecones and flowers. Please call Elise to register at 508-627-4807. On July 7, Nancy Cole from the Martha’s Vineyard Museum will present an all ages program entitled Martha’s Vineyard During the Revolutionary War. The cost is $5 per person or $10 per family and includes a craft project for the younger attendees.

July 8 is a very busy day at the CCC with a pilates class beginning at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Chappaquiddick Book Club meeting at 10:45 to discuss The Girls From Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow. That afternoon is the opening of the craft and farmers’ market on the porch from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and the first ice cream social of the season will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. that evening. The Symes-Jones family will be performing at the social beginning at 8 p.m. They are known for their foot-stomping presentation of traditional fiddle and bluegrass music. The July 9 yoga class is at 9:30 a.m. and July 10 will kick off the beginning of the summer foreign film series. The first film will be the Academy award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. Contact the center 508-627-8222 if you would like more information or would like to register for any of the CCC programs.

Kristen Olsson will be conducting a two-day song-writing workshop Wednesday, July 8 and Friday, July 10 at the CCC for children 10 to 14 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Basic theory and chord progressions will be studied with keyboard and acoustic guitar provided. The fee is $25 for the two-day workshop. Contact Kristen at 508-654-5411 if you have questions.

Chappy pong, the community center’s summer table tennis program, begins Saturday, July 11 and will continue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through July and August. Two tables along with paddles and balls are provided on the porch. Experienced players will be on hand to provide guidance to new players young and old or to play competitive games. The second annual Chappy Pong tournament will be at the CCC on Saturday, July 25. Top tourney winners will again be awarded one of Morning Glory’s famous fruit pies. The Center is also interested in acquiring the donation of a third table, used but in good condition, for summer play. Please contact Bob O’Rourke 508-627-790 or 301-509-7298 with any Chappy Pong questions.

The Trustees of Reservations have announced a full slate of programs available on Chappy this July and August. (Not So Creepy) Creatures of the Night family hike will be Monday and Tuesday evenings at sunset each week. Wednesday and Thursday evenings the Trustees will offer a two-and-a-half-hour evening kayak tour that will begin one hour before sunset. Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. snorkel discovery will be offered for children four to eight years old and the six-hour triple tour, a lighthouse, snorkel, and glass bottom kayak tour will be select Fridays during July and August. This tour is the adventure of a lifetime and is limited to two adults and up to two children. Please contact the Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge 508-627-3599 for fees, registration, or additional information on any of their programs.

Welcome back greetings to Dorothy Knight, who is staying at Blueberry Cottage for her two week vacation. Dorothy wrote this column for several years prior to moving to Sterling, and has always enjoyed time spent with her family and friends here on Chappaquiddick. In addition, George and Lucille Gostenhofer have arrived from Laguna Woods, Calif. to spend the summer at their Quammox Road home. Visiting them in the next few weeks will be their daughter Laura, daughter Karen and husband Alton Stone, son Eric, and daughters Krista and Linda. George and Lucille were unable to spend last summer on Chappy so it is wonderful to have them back here.

July 7 marks the 36th wedding anniversary of Jim and Margaret Mullen of Cromwell, Ct. Jim has been on Chappy since early May while Margaret (a newly retired school teacher) arrived earlier this week and plans to stay through mid September. They will no doubt be joined over the summer by their children Sydney Mullen of Edgartown and Whitney and Rob Westhelle of Portsmouth, N.H. Congratulations!

Belated birthday wishes to Elenore Hoar who recently celebrated her 91st birthday with daughter Anne Floyd and granddaughter Lesley on a family outing to Tom’s Neck Farm and the Dike Bridge. Happy birthday, Elenore.