March definitely roared in like a lion, with news of terrific defiance and courage overseas, inspiring even though we wish it were not necessary. Scary stuff indeed. Let’s pray that this month goes out like a lamb: sweet new hope, on legs that won’t be wobbly for long.
We stopped by the library this morning hoping to see Jack Ryan’s exhibition but installation was still in the works behind closed doors. It’ll be up by the time you read this.
While wandering around, I noticed the Library of Things for the first time. Yes, it’s been there awhile but I’m usually busy trying to get a pack of kids through that part of the library without knocking anyone over or setting the place on fire.
Anyway, there are these laminated cards that you can take up to the front desk in order to check out various items: a ukulele, a bicycle repair kit, stuff for artists and birders and gardeners, all sorts of tools, games and gadgets. What a marvelous idea.
Public health nurse Lila Fischer will be at the library from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, March 7, for a free wellness clinic and blood pressure screening. This clinic happens the first Monday of every month.
There are three candidates for the one-year term on the select board, vacant since the death of Kent Healy in October: Jessica Miller, Christopher Lyons and James Klingensmith. Cynthia Mitchell is running again, uncontested, for another three-year stint on the board; this will be her ninth term, which is a testament to how good she is at this job.
Most of the other positions are uncontested or else there is no one running at all. While it’s encouraging that everyone in town is apparently satisfied with the status quo, I do wish there were some people going for the seats on the board of assessors and the planning board. What happens if nobody runs? Town clerk Tara Whiting-Wells said that there may be some write-in candidates. The annual town meeting will be held on April 12 and the election is two days after that.
There are also three questions on the ballot this spring. Question One asks voters whether West Tisbury should push Governor Baker and the state legislature to employ any means necessary to stop Holtec Pilgrim’s plan to dump radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay. Question Two: whether to assess an additional $423,000.00 toward the next phase of the renovation and reconstruction of the Howes House. And Question Three gives voters the choice whether to apply a 2% transfer fee to real estate sales of over a million dollars, in order to fund affordable housing for people earning up to 240% of the Dukes County median income.
Our beloved 7a Foods is closed until March 14. While this break is well-deserved, I’m excited for their reopening and can’t wait to pull the paper off my first pulled pork sandwich of the spring. What is your favorite eatery in town?
The West Tisbury energy committee is hosting Zoom meetings at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 27. Come learn about the effort to make this town 100% renewable by 2040. Anyone who plans to build or renovate their home, as well as those in the building trades, may be affected by proposed changes. Whether you have questions or answers, this should be on everyone’s radar.
The Housing Bank is meeting on Wednesday, March 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The League of Women Voters and the Coalition to Create the MV Housing Bank will present a Zoom Q&A forum on the housing bank warrant article. In West Tisbury, that’s Question Three. To submit a question in advance, or to access the Zoom link, email info@leagueofwomenvotersmv.org or info@ccmvhb.org. Also, there will be live Portuguese interpretation on the Zoom forum, so if you are more comfortable in that language, you’ll also be able to learn and participate.
Local film producer Marjory Potts will be at the library at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 20 for a screening of her documentary You May Call Her Madam Secretary. The one-hour film examines Frances Perkins, who served as secretary of labor from 1933-1945. Mrs. Perkins was the first woman to hold a high public office in the United States.
Sacha Maxwell, a beautiful, quiet, and kind person whom I remember fondly from our days at the West Tisbury School and the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, needs our help. Over the last few years, Sasha put herself through school and became a physical therapist in Virginia. In January, she was in a terrible car accident on her way to work. Since then she has been through the wringer, with many surgeries, and is facing a long recovery road far from her support community on the Island. Her friends have put together an online fundraiser to help Sasha, both with medical expenses and the demands of her return to ordinary life. You can find ways to help by going to gofundme.com/f/help-sacha-recover.
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