The Chappy Stitchers had a pleasant inaugural meeting last Friday at the CCC. I have fact-checked all of the gossip exchanged and found no errors or exaggerations. The group will be getting together Fridays from 10 to noon. Everyone is invited, ladies as well as gentlemen. Bring a needlecraft project.

The next Chappy potluck dinner will be hosted by Margaret and Jim Mullen on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Chappy Stitchers will meet for the first time this Friday at the Chappy Community Center from 10 to noon. All are invited. Bring your needlecraft of choice.

This is a case of good news/bad news. The good news is that we are getting the repairs to the Chappy slip done before things fall apart. The bad news is that the next phase of the repair work will cause quite an inconvenience to ferry travelers.

One day last week the Steamship Authority cancelled most of the trips between the Islands and the mainland due to high winds. There was a rumor going around that the Chappy ferry would be closing down. I can understand why folks would find that plausible. If the wind was so strong that the big ferries were having trouble then why wouldn’t the little ferries also have trouble?

On New Year’s Day the Chappy ferry operates on the normal winter schedule. If you believe that you are up to staying out after midnight talk to Captain Bob on your way to the party.

Folks have been asking about the Chappy ferry service for Christmas Day. The operating schedule for that day is steeped in tradition.

My Chappy column partner Brad and his family have headed west nearly halfway around the world to spend the winter in the warmer climes of the Philippine Sea. Arlene has island roots of her own. They will be away for about four months so Brad is entrusting me with the honor of keeping our readership enthralled until his return.

For a little over a month the ferryboat On Time III has been hauled out of the water in Vineyard Haven for maintenance and Coast Guard inspection. If the weather cooperates, she will be relaunched by the end of this week and she will make the voyage back to Edgartown over the weekend and return to service on Monday.

Chappaquiddick island is still firmly attached to Martha’s Vineyard. The Trustees Of Reservations staff has determined that Norton Point is sufficiently stable to accommodate vehicle traffic. I have spoken to a few folks who “went by the beach.”

As I write this, it is possible to drive a vehicle between Chappaquiddick island and Martha’s Vineyard island via dry land. By the time that you read this, that may not be true. Mother Nature seems indecisive about that stretch of beach.