Each time I quietly walked the metamorphosed Lucy Vincent Beach over the past couple of weeks, the quote “without change there would be no butterflies” would pop into my head. I know the strength of the powerful sea crashing along the south shore is not anything like the quiet change a caterpillar goes through but, with eyes wide open, there is beauty to be found in both. Open your eyes and try to find it.

The special town meeting on Monday, Jan. 22 was well attended. The room felt a little different with no center aisle between the sea of chairs, but only a side aisle. My usual sitting spot didn’t exist in the back right corner so I boldly went where I’d never been before and chose a seat alongside my dear friend Ann Wallace on the mid-left.

The one-article meeting flowed quickly and smoothly with moderator Janet Weidner at the helm. It was so moved that the town would lease 4,500 square feet of land to the Chilmark Preschool for construction of a two-classroom school house. As a member of the original task force and first preschool committee that turned into the founding board of directors, I’m excited to see what we envisioned 20 years ago expanding beyond our dreams with the support and encouragement of our townspeople.

When the preschool opened in 2005, the late Susan Parker, a longtime school committee member, said, “The challenge is to find a cost-effective way to keep these small rural schools operating. The preschool is a marvelous way to do that. And I think it’s working.”

Yes, Susan, I do believe it’s working. Big thanks to the current strong and mighty preschool board comprised of founding member Alicia Knight along with Rebekah Thomson, Anne Mayhew, Virginia Barbatti, Robyn Dori, Ellen Rossi and Debbi Zetterberg.

It’s budget season in the town of Chilmark. The select board and finance committee meet multiple times and it’s the prime function of the finance committee is to review departmental budgets and submit a balanced budget to town meeting. They are charged with estimating how much funding will be needed for the proper maintenance of the departments under their jurisdiction.

It’s an arduous and challenging task so be sure to give Susan Murphy, Don Leopold, Deb Hancock, Bruce Golden, Vicki Divoll and Marshall Carroll a nod of appreciation for rising to the task. A special thanks goes to Linda Coutinho for filling the seat Eric Glasgow left empty after he stepped off the committee. Linda eased right back into the role as a former FinCom member.

The countdown is on for Super Bowl Sunday. No, the Patriots won’t be one of the two teams in the showdown but the Detroit Lions have caught the eyes of many New Englanders. They are the one team in the NFC that has never played in a Super Bowl but, at the time of my writing, has a chance to make it there. Folks find it exciting when the underdog has a chance to be in it to win it.

Celebrating her 21st birthday this week is Chilmark “kid” Isabella Flanders-Thorpe. I’ve had the pleasure of watching her grow over the years as our families intertwine. She went from a very matter of fact toddling child with golden locks nearly as long as she was to one of the best elementary-aged conversationalists I’ve come across to a horseback-riding tween to an accomplished dressage rider, college kid and young adult. Happy milestone birthday, Bella. I am so happy to have you in my life.

West Tisbury neighbor Joe Keenan had the unfortunate experience of hitting a patch of black ice on his bicycle, taking quite the spill and, unfortunately, a broken leg was the result. If this sounds a bit familiar it’s Joe’s experience to have been broken like this before.

This accomplished musician, carpenter, baker, writer and more will be laid up for a bit so dear friends Ka’io and John Cruz have set up a GoFundMe to support with medical and life expenses throughout the healing process. You can send a little assistance his way at gofundme.com/f/joe-keenan-kokua-malama-fund or if you know him well enough to give him a shout, then please do.