Last Monday the UMass medical student Rural Scholars met with a dozen older folks at the community center to discuss services for the aging on Chappy. The students asked many questions about the challenges of living on an island off of another island, particularly one that is mostly dirt roads and served by a sometimes very busy ferry. The discussion was lively and enlightening.

The students will present their findings and proposed solutions at a public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. at the West Tisbury Library. If you can’t attend, MVTV will record the presentation for later viewing.

The Edgartown Council on Aging will also hold a focus group to discuss minivan service to Chappy for older folks. It will also be held on Thursday, Nov. 3 but at the Chappaquiddick Community Center at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited.

Good news. I just received an email from Chappy’s own Mary Spencer regarding her efforts to get that minivan service to Chappy started. Details still have to be ironed out.

The basic plan is for a Vineyard Transit Authority minivan to gather up folks at their doorstep early on Tuesday mornings and get them up to the big ferry in time to meet the medivan for a ride to off-Island medical appointments. The minivan will meet the returning medivan and take everyone home. Next week, I hope to be able to give all of the details and instructions for participation in the service.