JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Chilmark welcomes Krishana Collins as the newest member of the town’s farming community. She was the finalist chosen to occupy the town’s Tea Lane Farm. Krishana plans to continue her flower business at the farm and to restore the farmhouse. We are happy for her new opportunity and we are happy for the old farm to remain as such. The final selection was made on Friday last by the hard working committee after many hours of meetings and considerations. The town can be proud to have so many people who serve the town as dedicated volunteers. Congratulations to all and good luck to Krishana.

The rains of the past few days have caused some frustrations among the seasonal business folk who are trying to prepare businesses for the usual Mother’s Day weekend openings. But we are looking forward to the return of the good weather in time for the holiday.

The Martha’s Vineyard Democrats will meet at the Howe’s House on Saturday, May 12, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. for a planning session. Following that meeting, at 10:45 a.m., the members will meet with Senator Dan Wolf and Representative Tim Madden to celebrate the passage of the resolution supporting their efforts to change the way money is used in political races. The public is invited to attend. All the towns on the Island passed the resolution this spring.

Doctors Howard and Elizabeth Harrison are at their Menemsha home for an early spring vacation. They reside the rest of the year in Florida.

The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living will host the last of its popular Cultural Luncheons for this season at the Grill On Main on May 19, from noon until 2 p.m. The theme will be the Legacy of Farming and the guest speakers will be Melinda Rabbitt DeFeo, Jim and Deborah Athearn and Elisha Smith.

The Chilmark Library has two programs coming up this week. On May 16, Tom Dresser will give an author’s talk about his new book, Disaster off Martha’s Vineyard. It is an account of the sinking of the City of Columbus in 1884 off what was then Gay Head. There is an exhibition currently at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum with many pictures and relics of that sinking. The library’s one hour program begins at 5:30 p.m.

Town nurse Laura Murphy will speak on May 17 at 4 p.m. at the library on the topic of shingles. It is a painful condition that folks can get after they have had the childhood illness chicken pox. She will offer new information about protecting ourselves from getting this illness. The public is invited at no charge.

Congratulations to popular chef Josh Aronie and his wife Angela as they open their Vineyard Haven restaurant this week. It is the Saltwater Café in the Tisbury Marketplace.

Pandora’s Box, the clothing store in Menemsha, opened for weekends this week. Watch for the Bite and the Galley to open next weekend, and the Beetlebung Coffee House will be open, perhaps, this weekend. As you have probably already discovered, Betsy Larsen has her popular fish market open daily now.

The Friends of Family Planning of Martha’s Vineyard will offer their annual art show benefit over the Memorial Day weekend at the New Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury. The Gala Preview Party will be on Thursday, May 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.

Please remember Coco Adams’ Flea Market scheduled for May 19 at the Community Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be available. There is still time to rent a table and sell whatever you don’t need anymore.one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Please call Coco at 508-645-3414 for more details.

Ok, I can’t resist asking what the Aquinnah casino possibility will mean to Chilmark.