JANE N. SLATER
508-645-3378
Chilmark is holding on tight as we whip around the corner into August. Before I bring you up to date on all the social activities available to you in the coming week, I am taking time out for some old-fashioned chat. I hope you read two essays that I enjoyed in last Friday’s Gazette. Chris Fischer wrote about his memories of food and growing up, and Joel Harrison of his nostalgia for the Chilmark summers of his youth. Both were a pleasure to read and were reassuring to us who fear that so much of that Chilmark is fading from the collective memory. Good reads, thanks to the two writers.
I have one of those only-in-Chilmark stories to tell you. Arthur and Judy Obermeyer of Newton and Tabor Hills shared this with us. They attended the Chamber Music concert last week at the Community Center. When the evening performance was over, they headed for their Middle Road home. Along the way, they became aware that they were being followed by a pickup truck and an SUV. They turned in their long, dark driveway and so did the two behind them. They entered their own yard and the two came right along behind them. They slipped into their mainland mode and, alarmed, agreed to lock their doors and head away from their home . . . however, the two following cars were blocking their intended exit. At that point the driver of the pickup truck jumped out and hastily explained that he was the violinist from the evening’s concert and the other driver was the cellist and they had followed the wrong car expecting to be led to Sam Feldman’s house for their refreshments. The Obermyers obliged with the correct directions and the evening’s events concluded.
Last Saturday the Menemsha Water Co. suffered a breakdown of whatever it takes to keep the water flowing to all of its customers. Basin Road suffered the shutdown at food places and at the public restrooms. A lot of quick thinking folks — read: Marshall and Katie among others — made the necessary phone calls and kept things going on a very busy business day. By the end of the day, things were almost normal and we are all grateful to those who pitched in and helped.
Chilmark summer resident Judith Hannan wrote a book called Motherhood Exaggerated that tells the story of her daughter’s fight with and recovery from cancer. This book inspired the creation of the organization called Soaringwords. Soaringwords provides hope to children by offering them pillows and blankets with messages of hope. We are all invited to the Chilmark Community Center on August 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to decorate with words and pictures these pillows and blankets. No money is asked, just your time and creative talents to offer hope to sick children. The finished pieces will be distributed to local hospitals and to Ronald McDonald Houses. No one has to be an artist to send some cheer to the children and it is hoped lots of us will show up and lend a kind word. How hard can it be? Good luck to Soaringwords.
This coming Sunday, the Reverend David Christiansen will preach at the Chilmark Community Church at 9 a.m. He will tell of his missionary service in Ghana. The guest vocal soloists the same morning will be Ester Richmond, Jami Belushi and Jim Belushi, who will sing John the Revelator.
Stephen and Cathy Seward and their children, Jake and Ben, of Placerville, Colo. are in town for their annual vacation with family and friends.
Tom and Barbara Rivers are happy to have their daughter, Diane Rivers and her son, James Anderson, of Sarasota visiting them this week. They are also joyfully entertaining Tom and Lani Haynes and their children, Brennan and Elena, of Atlanta. Tom has visited the Rivers in Chilmark every summer for 26 years and they all look forward to many more.
The Chilmark Library will present a program at the Community Center on August 7 at 11 a.m. when Lilly, a storybook character, will make an appearance and Kristin Maloney will read the story Lilly, by Kevin Henkes. All children are welcome at no charge.
Graveside services for John W. Mayhew with full military honors will take place at the West Tisbury Cemetery on July 28 at 4 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury at 5 p.m., followed by a potluck supper and an old fashioned musicale. Please e-mail drdeb@vineyard.net with any questions.
Alexandra Styron will talk about her memoir, Reading My Father, on August 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Chilmark Library. The book chronicles the life of William Styron. The program is open to all at no charge and sponsored by the Chilmark Friends of the Library.
The Chilmark Library program on Thursday, August 2, at 5 p.m. will be Perry Mehrling talking about Banking Failures and Economic Policy. He is an economics professor at Barnard College/Columbia University and an author.
Jennifer Egan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, will be speaking at the community center at 7:30 p.m. on August 2 as part of the Author Lecture series at the center. The event is sponsored by the Chilmark Community Center and the Bunch of Grapes bookstore.
The Chilmark Firefighter’s annual Back Yard Bash is on August 1 beginning at 5 p.m. at the community center. It is a great family event of food, fun and music. Be there or be square.
Finally, one more reminder to keep August 6 free for the special town meeting that will take place at the community center at 8 p.m. The rebuilding of the Menemsha docks is the main topic to be discussed and all voters are urged to attend.
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