Thanks to a cooperative effort by the Edgartown Council on Aging, Vineyard Transit Authority, the Chappy Ferry and the perseverance of Mary Spencer, a minivan will now be available on Tuesdays to get aging Chappaquiddickers to the Boston Medivan.

Eligible individuals will be picked up at home on Chappy, driven to the Steamship Authority in time to catch the VTA Medivan to Boston hospitals and then taken back home when the Medivan returns. Individuals must meet the age and/or disability requirements set out in the VTA Medivan procedures and have a Medivan reservation in place.

To request a Chappy pickup by the minivan, complete the VTA Medivan service form and call 508-693-9440 ext. 1 to make your reservation for the Medivan. Once you have that, call the Edgartown Council on Aging at 508-627-4368 to request a home pickup on Chappy. 

Just like the off-island Medivan, the deadline for making a reservation for the Chappy minivan is 1 p.m. on the day before the requested trip, so be sure to call on a Monday. Make reservations well in advance, as these are first come, first served. If you have specific limitations or need a helper to come along, discuss that with the council on aging when you call for your reservation.

The Chappy minivan will pick you up at your doorstep at 5:15 a.m., catch the Chappy Ferry at 6 a.m. and get you to the VTA Medivan at the Steamship Authority at 6:30 a.m. The only cost of the minivan service is a Chappy Ferry passenger ticket when the minivan returns to Chappy. There will be no cost to you for the van itself, nor for the early ferry trip. You pay the usual VTA fee for the off-Island Medivan.

Cancellations for both the Medivan and Chappy minivan must be made by the Friday before your scheduled Tuesday trip. Don’t forget to notify the council on aging if you cancel your VTA Medivan trip.

The Chappy Community Center has launched a Holiday Silent Auction of a number of fun and unique items to raise money for the center. The auction will run through Dec. 18. See the community center’s website for further information and to bid. If you would like to add your own contribution to the auction list, send an email to chappyccenter@gmail.com.

The next potluck supper will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Yoga with Jay continues on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Knitting, Crafting and Chatting will pause for the remainder of November. It will start up again on Sunday, Dec. 4. The Chappaquiddick Community Center 2023 calendars are nearly ready. Keep an eye on the website. If you have any suggestions for some fun winter activities such as a book club, game night, etc., send an email to the address above.

The Chappy Ferry steering committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. It will take place over Zoom. Check the town website for the link a couple of days prior to the meeting.