“Are my raffle tickets better spent on a gift card to the fish market or a box of fishing gear?” “Was Tim Walz the right choice for the Democratic ticket?” “Did a selectboard member just spirit away the last tray of brownies?”
Such were the questions on the minds of Chilmarkers at the town fire department’s annual Backyard Bash Thursday, a barbecue fundraiser that raises money for sick and injured firefighters, high school scholarships and more.
“It’s about community. Always community. Isn’t that what it’s always about?” said Taurus Biskis, tuning his guitar alongside his wife, Ellen, part of the group Missis Biskis, which provided the evening’s musical entertainment.
Tents run by the fire department offered silent auction, a dozen raffles and piles of hoodies, T-shirts and cookies.
Christy Mayhew, a member of the Chilmark Fire Department, said that last summer over 500 of the department’s signature sweatshirts were sold, and at least as many T-shirts, at the Backyard Bash and at Menemsha harbor.
“We cleaned up,” Ms. Mayhew said proudly.
Fire chief Jeremy Bradshaw was busy for most of the night with his youngest constituents — the Bash’s many pint-sized Chilmarkers were engaged in carnival games, including a water balloon toss, which only occasionally devolved into water balloon fight, he joked.
His favorite part of the bash is “the kids, seeing the kids smiling,” he said.
Young Buddy Evans said that the prize he won was, naturally, the highlight of his evening. His friend Theo Bronstein was lucky enough to secure a toy fire truck at the water balloon toss, handed to him by Chief Bradshaw himself.
On the menu for the evening? Barbecue from The Swimming Pig, a new favorite at the Farmer’s Market and a replacement (a reprieve, some whispered) from fire department burgers and dogs.
Tyler Potter, the chef behind Swimming Pig, set the menu: St. Louis smoked ribs, smoked chicken or a frankfurter, each served with a heap of house made coleslaw and local pickles.
“It’s just great to be involved in a community event,” Mr. Potter said.
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