JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

slaterjn@comcast.net

Chilmark survived nature’s most recent outburst last weekend. Falling trees accounted for power outages in Menemsha that lasted into Sunday morning. However, the Comcast service was the hardest to live without. That was out until early Monday morning, causing many of us to miss the Patriots game. In retrospect, we were saved the agony somewhat.

The strong winds of the northeaster took down a number of trees in town and lots of limbs. We lost a bit of roof from our shop building. Our son, Caleb, came on Wednesday and repaired it for us. He reported that they still have more than three inches of snow in Northbridge and still no power at his office in Westboro. Again, we can be happy to be on our Island.

The open house on Saturday at the new Middle Line Road homesites was a success and the completed project was open for inspection and admiration by town residents. The project is the result of the hard work and clear vision of many people and the support of the town through many complications. Congratulations to all!

And, of course, nothing got in the way of the annual Chilmark real estate taxes that found their way to our mailboxes last week.

Halloween survived the storm and many ghosts and goblins were out on Monday evening, following a successful party at the Community Center that was hosted by the Chilmark Volunteer Firefighters and thanks to the organizational skills of Katie Carroll and friends.

This time of year the usual opening comment when we meet each other around town is, “Have you turned your heat on yet?” The cold mornings last week prompted many of us to give in and flip the switch. I also noticed that the propane company in Vineyard Haven has re-lit its burning propane advertisement display for us all to see. As a user and conserver of propane, the sight of that display enrages me. Does anyone else get the same reaction?

Professor Philip Weinstein, an Aquinnah resident and professor of English at Swarthmore College, will continue his four-lecture series on western colonialism as depicted in several novels. The third lecture will be on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Vineyard Haven Public Library. The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe will be discussed. This program is sponsored by the Aquinnah Public Library. The final lecture will be on Dec. 15 at the Oak Bluffs Public Library at 4 p.m. The novel considered will be The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta. These books are available at all the Island libraries.

Bob and Bonnie George are back at their Quansoo home. They recently traveled to Takoma Park, Md. to welcome their fifth grandchild, Nina Gabrielle George, daughter of Stefanie and Andrew George. Cheers from us all!

Sarah Jean Flanders is attending college in Charleston, S.C., and is currently in training to run a half-marathon. It is called the Miles for Melanoma marathon and Sarah will be running in honor and remembrance of her mother, Joy. She is also the daughter of Steve, of Chilmark. We know you will want to support her, so here is the site where you can make donations and learn more about her effort: firstgiving.com/funraiser/sarahflanders/teamm4m2011. You can e-mail her at siflanders@g.cofc.edu.

The Chilmark library reports that the annual December book sale for the benefit of the Friends of the Library will be on Dec. 14 this year and extend to the weekend. The annual holiday party and open house will be on that date also, during regular library hours.

People, news was scarce this week. Please remember to call or e-mail me with Chilmark news. This is the time of year we get to catch up on each other and we all enjoy that.