JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

What a week. Chilmark was excited by the primaries as indicated by the large number of voters who turned out. All the excitement and rhetoric seemed to bring on a thaw and the weather was decidedly not frosty! Then again, maybe the skies were weeping for our beloved Patriots who will be back next year.

We are happy to learn that Bill Gamson is out and about again. He broke his kneecap slipping on the ice in Boston in early December and has been immobilized since then. Best wishes from us all.

The library will show the movie The Lonely Dorymen again tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. in the library meeting room. The turnout for the first showing of this 16-millimeter film from the 1960s was well attended.

A February flea market is scheduled for the community center on the 19th. If you wish to set up and sell your attic treasures or winter crafts, please call Coco Adams at 508-645-3414. Chris and Christina Soulagnet will be catering the lunch.

The library has received a book called Talking Hands by Margalit Fox. Those who are interested in the history and origins of sign language will find some details about how Chilmark’s deaf citizens added to the language called American Sign Language. Simon and Schuster are the publishers.

I found a town report for Chilmark for the year 1890 and some of the numbers will shock and amuse you. Horatio W. Tilton, Francis Mayhew and Dana L. Hancock were our selectmen and B.T. Hillman was the Treasurer. On Feb. 15, 1890, the town had a balance in the treasury of $175.76. There were three schools in town: Western, Southeast and Northeast. It cost $300 to run all three schools in 1889. The town real and personal estate valuation was $211,044!

Soup suppers continue through the Lenten season at the Chilmark Community Church on Tuesdays. All are welcome to a supper between 5 and 6 at the fellowship hall at the church.

Cribbage night continues at the Cornerway in Chilmark center from 7 to 10 p.m. on Thursday evenings.