JANE N. SLATER
508-645-3378
Chilmark is cooling down and beginning to look like a New England town in winter mode. Trees are mostly brown now, winds come and go but we really notice when it is calm for a spell. Plans seem to be about food and shopping and family gatherings. In my house, the search for some up-town clothing is on as we go to join the off-Island families for Thanksgiving this weekend. I have noticed one benefit to becoming an elder, and that is not having to cook those holiday dinners! I love other people’s cooking, don’t you? Cheers to you all, I hope your Thanksgiving Day was a good one.
We send condolences to the many friends and family of Lew King, a friend, neighbor, selectman and Chilmarker for many years who died this month. He had a long and successful career in many areas both on and off Island. His success with Blueberry Hill Inn is legendary and people still remember the inn fondly. He was respected for the years he served Chilmark as a selectman with wisdom and insight. We are happy he had many years with us, and we will miss him.
Featherstone Center for the Arts, down-Island, sends word that their Artists’ Sale will continue through Dec. 19 for your holiday shopping. There are 62 artists selling their works and some of them are from Chilmark. Sale hours are noon to 4 p.m. daily at the gallery.
Please mark your calendars for Nov. 30, Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m., for the Chilmark Community Church’s Spaghetti Supper at the church. They will be commemorating the 100th year of the moving of the church from Middle Road to the Menemsha Crossroad. The Methodist Church stood for 100 years at the corner of Middle Road and Meeting House Road in the field in front of the Tea Lane farm. It was dedicated in 1810. Then, one hundred years ago, it was moved to its present location. There were other town buildings at that location in those days but as the center of town shifted to the area around E. Eliot Mayhew’s general store the town buildings were either moved or rebuilt around Beetlebung Corner. The building now in use was dedicated in 1810 at the Middle Road location. It was moved in 1910 to its present location and only then appeared in the town report for that year as a tax-exempt property. The Menemsha Crossroad land was valued at $1,305 in 1910. The building was moved by a committee of three: Ernest Flanders, Albert Reed and Frank Tilton. The steeple and belfry were added to the building in 1931 to make room for a bell that was a gift to Chilmark from the Oak Bluffs Baptist Church. Come help the church folk celebrate a big milestone in Chilmark’s history!
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum is planning several community forums in December. They will be at the Chilmark Library on Dec. 14 to hear what projects you would like your museum to work on. The forum is open to all and will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 14. If you have ideas and cannot attend, please call the Chilmark Historical Commission at town hall and share your thoughts.
The Chilmark town budget is under construction for another year. If you are on a committee or commission with a budget please note that the budget hearings begin Jan. 5 and go through Feb. 23. Also, if you are the person who does it, annual reports will be due from each committee and commission very soon. Heads up!
Next week we will get serious about the upcoming holiday excitements and shopping possibilities for those who must.
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