JO-ANN TILGHMAN

508-627-7669

(tilghmanjb@aol.com)

Discussions about the development of a community center on Chappaquiddick began back in 1986 and the first Chappy Community Center auction to raise funds for the construction of the center was held at the Chappy Beach Club in 1991. Since that time there have been several auctions and the tradition continues with this year’s auction on August 8. The Chappy Community Center is again fortunate to have Trip Barnes as our auctioneer. Tickets are $25 per person and includes refreshments provided during the silent auction from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.

Among the items available at the August 8 auction this year are a 15’ Novurania inflatable boat with a 75 horse power Honda motor (appraised at over $6,000), a 48” Kitchen Aid outdoor gas grill ($5,000), private tours of special places (Green Pastures, Pimpneymouse Farm, and Tom’s Neck Farm), unique items such as the wooden car chocks from the On Time ferry, a felted tote bag, a hand-knit sweater, and a Cape Pogue Light needlepoint eyeglass case, a full-day fishing charter, honey from Chappy bees, manure for the garden, a collection of peacock feathers, two tickets to the opening night of the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival including the Mansion House reception, and several gift baskets. In short, there is something for everyone, even a selection of art by Chappy artists including Sharon Daly, Pat Knoll, Joan Kumpitch, Cindy Packard, Gail Rodney, and Joan Newland. If you would like to preview the art it will be hung at the community center July 20 through 25.

It’s impossible to think about the community center and the folks that were instrumental in getting the project under way without thinking of Joe Cressy, who has been missing from Chappy a good portion of the summer thus far. Joe and his wife, Mary, have been at their home in East Falmouth where Joe has been dealing with some health issues. Eric Fernandez, the former community center sailing instructor and Joe and Mary’s grandson, has been staying in their Chappy home getting Joe’s boat ready for his return. We hope to see Joe and Mary soon.

Saturday morning, July 18 from 7 to 9 a.m. is the CIA hazardous waste drop-off at the community center. If you have hazardous waste, take it to the CCC and former CIA president Terry Forde will take it to the transfer station in Edgartown. Also tomorrow is the annual Chappy Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the community center You can follow the smell of food grilling behind the center and treat yourself and your family to lunch under the tent. The fair is a great chance to get acquainted or reacquainted with your Chappy neighbors. Be sure to take a look at the book table, craft vendors, and baked goods but the highlight of the fair may well be the dog show scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

The Chappy summer film series at the community center continues with Kolya this evening. Kolya is a heartwarming and funny Golden Globe winner from the Czech Republic. Next Friday, July 24, Walk on Water will be featured. With a soundtrack by Bruce Springsteen this German-Israeli film is thought provoking. All films begin at 7:30 p.m. and popcorn is served.

At the July meeting of the Chappy book club it was decided that The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Shaffer and Barrows would be the selection for the Wednesday, August 12 meeting of the group. This book is a New York Times bestseller and focuses on the Nazi occupation of the Island of Guernsey during World War II. The discussion will begin at 10:45 a.m. at the community center and all are welcome.

The Chappaquiddick Community Center will be sponsoring the second annual all-island Chappy Pong table tennis tournament Saturday, July 25, with starting time at 11:00 a.m. A round robin format will provide players matches with multiple partners, and entrants of all ages and experience levels are invited to compete. The up-Island table tennis club Quinnapong is providing tournament quality Donic tables and nets for the event, which will award Morning Glory pies to the top four finishers. Rain or shine. Preregister with Bob O’Rourke at 508-627-7902, or 301-509-7298. Walk-ins the day of the tourney will be accepted. Viewers welcome.

Ongoing events at the community center include Pilates on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m., yoga Thursday mornings at 8:30 a.m., and an ice cream social Wednesday, July 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The craft and farmers’ market continues Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and currently a photographic art show by the Brine family is on display. The exhibit includes interesting faces and places as well as recognizable Chappy scenes. Entries for the community center calendar contest must be submitted by noon, Friday, July 24.

After more than 20 years at sea as a whaling captain, Capt. Thomas Mellen settled in Edgartown as a grocery store owner. This summer his home at the corner of Main street and Pease’s Point Way is being used as a decorators’ showcase to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Tickets for the showcase are $25. Among the docent’s guiding visitors in the home are Chappy’s own Sunny Wilson and Laura Jemison. For more information you can call 508-939-4114 or visit marthasvineyardshowcase.com. If you enjoy exploring older homes, you can support the Federated Church and join their house tour on Tuesday, August 11 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Three beautiful homes on Cooke street are included on the tour as well as the Mellen home. Tickets are $35 and may be obtained at the show house on Main street.

A reminder that you can still register for the Chappy round robin tennis tournament by signing up on the sheet at the Chappy ferry or at the community center. The tournament has continued in different forms for over 50 years and everyone over 18 is welcome to participate. Tournament play will be on Saturday, July 25 with the finals on Sunday, July 26 at the Plum court on North Neck Road.

While the weather this week has been considerably cooler than many folks remember it is reminiscent of the days and nights in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Additionally, everything seems to be a little late this summer. The deer-resistant orange butterfly weed, generally in full flower by this time, is just beginning to bloom and the blueberries have been taking their time to ripen. But according to the gulls at Wasque the blueberries are finally getting ready for picking. Every time I have walked the trails at Wasque in the past week there have been flocks of gulls in the fields picking and pecking at the ripest of the berries. As these particular berries also seem to be in the midst of some very healthy poison ivy patches, I don’t think anyone is going to mind if the birds help themselves.