Food has always been more than just sustenance for Chilmarkers; it is an easy way to show our love, our appreciation and our community spirit. Whether it is a tray of lasagna brought to a new mother, a shared potluck in the Community Center or the smell of fresh baked goods brought to any gathering “just because,” these recipes represent the hands and hearts of our community.
A helpful reminder is shouted out by Ann Noyes, that the Chilmark Church is putting together a sequel to the cookbook community members compiled some 30-plus years ago as a celebration of our history. Within these pages, you will find the secret ingredients to the dishes that disappear first at beach picnics and the family staples that have been passed down through generations. Some of these recipes were scribbled on the backs of envelopes or kept only in memory until now.
As you cook these meals in your own kitchen, I hope you feel the spirit of sharing and put pen to paper and jot down your family favorites. The cookbook will be a resource for everyone so Alpha-gal friendly recipes are requested. If you have a favorite tried-and-true chicken, fish or vegetarian dish, please mark it as Alpha-gal friendly/dairy free on your submission. Please email Marie Wise atlmariewise1955@gmail.com or pass it along to Revered Janet Stoddard.
Hillary and John Keene traveled to Boston last week to wrap their daughter Thea with a little extra love as she pomp and circumstanced through Northeastern University’s various ceremonies and engagements wrapping up with commencement at Fenway Park.
In an era of instant global cellular communication, it is easy to assume that amateur radio has become a relic of the past. Reviving a ham radio club necessitates a shift toward modern applications — specifically digital modes, portable operations and emergency preparedness — rather than the nostalgia-driven practices of the past. Checking out which antenna has the best reach- to Europe and beyond- for a quick radio shout-out is a highlight for any enthusiast. So, are you a ham operator? Reach out to Marshall Carroll or Forrest Filler to share your thoughts and knowledge. There are a few kids getting into it, too.
There was a rhythmic music to the work that the modern ear rarely gets to hear. For much of last week, the sharp clack-clack of wooden mallets met the occasional hum of power drills and hiss of a hydraulic lift. While a few modern tools were brought in for efficiency, the heart of the project remained human — a barn raising at Bliss Pond Farm. Alongside Julie Flanders, the wonderful recipient of this structure, I watched as a massive timber skeleton was exhaled into existence by the collective breath of a community. Seeing manual tradition and modern help work in perfect, synchronized harmony left me in awe. Marshall, Tom Ruimerman, Margaret Maida and few others popped in over the course of the week to take it all in. Patrick Echlin is the boots on the ground guy overseeing the project and he, too, had a deep respect for the process. Ephraim Reihl, his wife Rebecca and many of the family members who form Reihl Construction of New Holland, Pa. traveled to town raised this structure that will be appreciated for generations.
To reach 60 years is to carry a library of stories, and on May 6, we celebrate Tim Carroll, the man who has spent six decades writing his. Watching him reach this milestone is a reminder that age is not about the passage of time, but the accumulation of strength, resilience, knowledge and the occasionally snarky anecdote. He has navigated life serving as a constant anchor for those around him. It wasn’t until I did a quick internet search that I found out he is in good company sharing the day with Sigmund Freud, Rudolph Valentino, Orson Welles, Willie Mays, George Clooney, along with Chilmark’s Lisa Burkin and Marie Larsen.
This article appears in May 8, 2026.