Chilmark joins the rest of the world in celebrating the life and work of Pete Seeger. His talent and dedication to folk music and the human condition stirred many musicians of a generation ago and brought forth great talents. Chilmark was the home for many of the emerging artists of that era and some of the musicians and the songs we know and love today were first heard in Chilmark. Pete taught us that music and mission could be one, and his drive to unite people in a force for peace and justice made its mark on the generation. Let’s hope we can honor Pete and pay tribute to his spirit by continuing to ask where the flowers went. We send condolences to his family, friends and fans. This year marks the 40th year of continuous publication of the Banjo Newsletter. Hub Nitchie and his wife, Nancy Huntington Nitchie, former Chilmark residents, began the publication of the newsletter and it is still being put together and published by their sons, Spencer of Annapolis and Donald of West Tisbury. You may find this interesting newsletter at Banjonews.com.

The Chilmark planning board held a public hearing on Jan. 27 to outline proposed revisions to the bylaws in preparation for the suggested changes to be made at Squibnocket Beach. The hearing was just to discuss the bylaw changes, not the proposed work. The hearing was not concluded and will re-convene on Feb. 10 at 4:30 p.m. at the town hall. The bylaw changes will be voted on at the annual town meeting in April. The plans for the work suggested for Squibnocket Beach and surrounds can be found at town hall or on the town website. It is hoped that the voters will acquaint themselves with the plan and be prepared to make a decision at the town meeting. Many people in town have worked hard on the details with the aim of making things better for Chilmark.

We are happy to report that Elmore (Bud) Mayhew will be released from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and be at his home on State Road by the weekend. We are all eager to see him out and about soon.

Josh Aronie’s food truck has been well received by the lunch crowd in town. It is positioned in the Chilmark Store parking lot. I wonder what today will be like because, as I write on Wednesday morning, the snow is coming down and it seems that five inches has fallen already — might make getting the truck in place difficult. The food choices are said to be varied and tasty.

More about food, Slow Food MV will be hosting a brunch with local farmers on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. We are asked to bring $12 and our own plate.

Don’t forget the Chilmark School PTO annual party will be at the community center on Feb. 8 with food, dancing, auctions and more.

Alex Karalekas and Warren Doty invite us all to an evening of potluck supper and music at the community center from 5 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 1. They say that there will be 20 Island musicians attending, so it promises to be a lyrical break in our winter scene.

The boy scouts of the Island will hold their annual pinewood derby at the community center on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m.

The Chilmark School students’ annual winter concert will be on Feb. 19 at the community center. I will have details next week.

Chilmark’s Democratic Caucus will meet on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. at town hall to discuss the upcoming elections. All interested folks are welcome to attend.

The subject of interest at a social event I attended this week was the snowy owl . . . have you seen one, how many have you seen? I am sorry to say I was unable to respond positively, but others were bragging of three or more sightings. They will be hard to spot this week if the snow lasts, but it does seem that there are more than a few of them on the Island this winter. There used to be some white geese in the up-Island fields other winters, but I haven’t spotted them this year.

Carol Brown Goldberg sends word that her son, Andy Chase, will begin a spring tour with his band Camera2. Andy is known to many in Chilmark where his family vacations annually at their Peaked Hill home. The tour will take him across the U.S. and into Canada.

Town hall is happy to tell us that a supreme court decision this week has cleared the way for four affordable housing lots to be created on South Road. Thanks to all who worked this out for the town. There will be more details released soon.

Well, in rereading this I can assure you that anything worth attending is clearly happening at the community center this winter. The heavy snow of Wednesday morning has begun to slow down and the plows have been busy all morning. The roads are passable and sanded, but getting the car out is our own job!