A reminder to those of you who check the Gazette online Thursday mornings: Elizabeth Whelan’s winter art workshops at the CCC will start on Thursday, Dec.r 13 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Bring your art supplies and join Elizabeth for a casual, free evening of drawing and painting. Though this is not an instructional class, she will gladly give input to anyone who wants it. Sketch or paint or bring your own project to work on. You will be in good company. Coffee and tea will be provided. Call Elizabeth with questions at 508-560-0083. Future workshops will be every other Thursday. There are still plenty of Chappy Community Center 2019 calendars in stock at the center. Stop in to buy one in person any time that you see Lynn’s car there or print an order form from the CCC website. They make a great holiday present. Every summer house and dorm room should have one.

After the first of the year, you will no longer be checking to see if Lynn Martinka’s car is at the CCC. She is retiring after seven years of dedication to shepherding the center through the seasonal cycles of programs and activities. Lynn has been the coordinator, program director and face of the Chappy Community Center. The board of the community center, as well as members of the Chappy community, will miss her knowledgeable, steady, calm presence and welcoming smile in the office. We thank her for many years of service to the community.

It will take two people to replace her. Sidney Morris will be the coordinator and Sonya Lecuona will be program director as of Jan. 1. I’m sure that they would welcome a drop-in at the CCC to say hello and to share any ideas members have for the community center. Sidney has been involved in many community-oriented endeavors over the years. You will remember Sonya from her days as the Chappy mail deliverer years ago.

The annual ferry captain and crew appreciation potluck supper last Wednesday was a great success. Thank you to the organizers and all those who brought such delicious food. Liz Villard presented a slide show honoring Captain Bob Gilkes. I had thought that perhaps we should have a moment of silence to contemplate Bob’s place in our lives, but Bob wasn’t much for silence himself. Instead, we got plenty of chuckles from the many shots of Bob throughout the seasons and in his many professions. I usually say that any conversation with a ferry captain can only last 60 seconds. Bob however regularly stretched it out to double that, much to the consternation of those waiting in the ferry line. Liz also put together a fabulous Twelve Days of Christmas with a Chappy ferry theme. The attending ferry captains and crew enjoyed the demonstration of appreciation for their service to the Chappy community.

The Community Center is by necessity always in fundraising mode to cover the many expenses of running the programs as well as operating the center building itself. See the CCC website for ways in which you can contribute. The board of directors has determined that the CCC should have an endowment fund in order to ensure that it will remain an active and viable part of our community for generations to come. They will be working in conjunction with the Permanent Endowment of Martha’s Vineyard to create a one-million-dollar fund. The effort is still in its preliminary stages. You can send an email the CCC at chappycc@verizon.net to express your interest and the directors will fill you in on the procedure to participate.

In place of a second potluck in December, there will be a Christmas Eve dinner on Monday, Dec. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. Call the CCC office at 508-627-8222 to sign up to bring main courses, side dishes and desserts.

I may sound like a broken record, but I don’t want anybody to be taken by surprise. On Christmas Day, the Chappy ferry will run on the hour during the day and on the normal winter schedule that night. As always, if you have an emergency that requires an ambulance, the hospital emergency room, the fire department or the police, dial 911 or 508-693-1212.

Chappaquiddick town news can be sent to peterchappyferry@gmail.com