Margaret Knight>
508-627-8894
After dark, as we drive through town to the ferry, we can see the houses lit up for the season, decorated with greens. Along Main street and North Water, the highway department has finished putting up the Christmas trees. Then, as we head down Daggett street toward the ferry slip, we can see the Edgartown lighthouse and in the distance, the Cape Pogue light. From the ferry, the Boch’s house across the harbor lights up the night, just about anytime of year. But the Island itself is dark except for one or two houses along the shore, up the harbor and out toward North Neck.
After the relatively well-lit ferry parking lot, we head up the road and no street lights guide our way. I’d guess most Chappy people are happy with the dark nights here — it’s part of what we love about the island. If the moon is up late or is only a sliver, the constellations show themselves above the tree tops and out over the ocean.
A ways up the main road, and down a side dirt road, Dick and Judy Dimond’s house appears unexpectedly out of the darkness — an unusually bright sight on Chappaquiddick. Strings of colored lights festoon the fences and house, Santa stands in the yard along with penguins, reindeer, and other Christmas favorites. This is not the first year they’ve so thoroughly decorated their place, and it always seems to me like a gift they give to us who happen to drive by.
At the Holiday Tea last Sunday, the community center was decked out in festive greens and wreaths with big red bows. The silver tea sets glittered on the table next to an assortment of delicious sandwiches and baked goodies, all made by island folk. The room was pleasantly full of tea drinkers and talkers. Varian Cassat, former Chappy column writer and lover of Chappaquiddick, made her way to the tea. Varian’s home now overlooks the Vineyard Haven harbor, which she likes but not as well as Chappaquiddick.
Tomorrow, Saturday the 13th, Lily Morris will offer an open-studio workshop at the community center in card-making from 1:30 to 4:30. She’ll set up her diverse collection of rubber stamps, and offer assistance in the fun art of decorating cards using stamps and collage. People can also carve their own stamps. The class is $15 for adults, including cards and all materials, and $10 for kids (appropriate for about ages 8 and up). You can call Lily at 508-627-8894 with any questions.
Next Saturday, Dec. 20 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Lily will hold a candle decorating open-studio. She’ll provide the materials, including candles and the thin colored beeswax you can cut and press onto the candles in whatever patterns and shapes you can think of. The smell of the beeswax makes it especially nice to work with. Costs are the same as the card-making workshop.
I arrived late to the community center potluck last week, which was hosted by Dot and John Dropick, just in time to hear an impromptu concert given by two new Chappy residents. Atzic Marquez played us some beautiful, soulful violin pieces, and then his wife, Lisa, who has an amazing voice, joined him for a song. They moved to Chappy recently from Aquinnah. Atzic is a violin teacher, so if anyone is looking for lessons, his number is 740-243-1539. Hopefully we’ll hear more from them – maybe at the Christmas Eve dinner.
The next community center potluck will be on Wednesday, Dec. 17, starting at 6 p.m. Claire Thacher and Roger Becker will be the hosts. All are welcome.
If anyone is interested in yoga on Mondays at 5 p.m. at the community center, please call me at 508-627-8894. We’ll do it in the library, which is heated, and it’ll be an informal class. Free, with donations for the heat.
This weekend is Christmas in Edgartown with lots of activities, sales of handmade goods, store sales, and holiday decorations everywhere. One of my favorite fund raisers is Plum Hill’s annual Elves’ Faire. The Plum Hill Pre-school is a nonprofit organization that is a part of the Island Waldorf Community. Melissa Kagan is on the board, and her and Rob’s daughters Ilana and Sasha both attend the school. The Faire is held on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Federated Church’s parish hall on South Summer street. There will be various craft projects, such as making gingerbread houses and candle decorating for children and parents, a puppet show, yummy food, and a silent auction with a wide variety of unique donated items and services.
Hospice holds its annual Handmade from the Heart Sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House. Profits will help cover costs for this free service to Island patients and their families.
CIA president Terry Forde has been forwarding to all the CIA members the e-mails that he’s been receiving from people who have something to say about the proposed bike/shared-use path on Chappy. The range of opinions expressed by various people shows how differently people can see something despite their similar feelings of affection for our little island.
Hatsy Potter wrote me that a snowy owl, or maybe two, has arrived at Norton Point. Evidently Bob Gilkes heard a very loud repetitive call a week or more ago – an otherworldly sound – and then saw a huge white owl fly over his yard headed in the direction of Norton Point. Paul Schultz saw it at Norton Point, and possibly a second one near Wasque. The Lindenbergs, who drive the beach to their house at Cape Pogue, saw one near the jetties at Thanksgiving.
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