Chilmark is bracing for another winter storm as I write midweek. The media have convinced me that another storm of great proportions is heading for us and that we must brace ourselves for its severity. I am not making light of things but I am remembering the days before there were all these people watching out for us. A winter storm in Chilmark’s earlier days just came — without much fanfare — and the warnings were in the sky. My grandfather would come inside and tell my mother that he was going to the cellar to bring up some eggs (from the slime they were winter-stored in) and some carrots (from the sand they were buried in) because he didn’t like the looks of the sky in some direction or other. That was our weather storm warning.

Sometimes his friend Walter Manning, a Gay Head fisherman, would stop by and corroborate the prediction with details of what the waters off Menemsha were indicating. There was no mention of a polar vortex, just a remark that it looked like snow in the sky and maybe a good blow coming. Without electricity or plumbing, we didn’t have too much to worry about. We just took the clothes in off the line, made sure the hens had extra food and water in the henhouse and filled extra lamps with kerosene. Kerosene was also our heating and cooking fuel so extra bottles were filled and brought in from where it was stored outdoors. Of course, we feared that we would not be able to get to the outhouse if the snow drifted against the back door so we were sent to bed with pots (that had small amounts of water in the bottom). There were many mornings when there was ice in those emergency pots! We seldom needed a car so no plowing was ever done. After a major snow, we would eagerly watch and listen for the plow to come up State Road. It was an adventure to suit up and go out and watch it go by. I don’t remember any serious times, just long days inside and more shoveling than I have ever done since — a path to the outhouse, the hen house and the mailbox!

Chief Norton of the Chilmark volunteer fire department took delivery of a 3,000 gallon tanker on Jan. 11. The tanker has been named Poogie for a beloved firefighter and former captain, David Kurth, who was known by that nickname. Chief Norton and 15 firefighters attended a training session and the new truck will be on display at the North Road Fire station at 10 a.m. on Sundays.

Judy Jardin has resigned from her job with the town of Aqunnah, rented her Chilmark home and is moving to Lewes, Del. She is looking forward to being closer to her daughters and her growing grandchildren. She intends to return, but will enjoy sharing her life with the young families for a while. Cheers from us all, Judy.

The West Tisbury School’s fourth grade class has a theatre project called Shakespeare Strikes Back and they will be performing for the public at the Chilmark Community Center on Friday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 25 at 4:30 p.m. They will welcome items for the food pantry.

Chilmark’s planning board is holding a public meeting to introduce proposed zoning by-law amendments on Monday, Jan. 27 at 4:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at town hall. These items will be in the warrant at town meeting in April so now is the time to hear what is proposed.

The Friends of the Chilmark Library continue their Hepburn/Astaire film festival with a showing of the Notorious Landlady at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, Jan. 24 in the meeting room at the library. Admission, popcorn and juice — all at no charge.

Kristin Maloney will entertain children at the Chilmark library tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 25th at 10:30 a.m. She will sing songs and read stories about the children’s book character, Biscuit, who will be present. There is no admission and all are welcome.