JANE N. SLATER

508-645-3378

(slaterjn@comcast.net)

Chilmark welcomes February with more of the same wintry weather it endured throughout January. More snow and ice blew in with no good news from the groundhog. Oh, well, six more weeks will lead us to some relief. Many Chilmarkers have already made their escapes to warmer locations or are planning February getaways.

The centers of activity in town are the town hall, library and school. Annual reports from committees and commissions are due at town hall this week as things move on in preparation of the annual town report.

The library programs are scheduled for February. Chowder and a movie matinee will be at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The movie title this week will be Laura. The Friday night movie presented in cooperation of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival will be Erin Brockovich. That movie will begin at 7 p.m. tonight, Feb. 6, at the library.

Chilmark School students are displaying their artwork at the library in the meeting room and the pictures will be there through the month of February during regular library hours. The school’s annual February vacation will begin on Feb. 23.

The Chilmark Democrats will hold their annual winter caucus at the Chilmark Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m.

Conrad and Jane Neumann of Durham and Chilmark are in town this week enjoying visits with family and friends.

We send condolences to the family and friends of Terry Hydeman of West Tisbury who died last week. She is well remembered in Chilmark where she worked at the Menemsha Store in the summers, married and raised her sons. Many of us have happy memories of her among us in those days. We will remember her fondly.

We send condolences to the family and friends of Bob Carlson who died last week. He was a part of the Menemsha fishing and boating scene for many years and will be missed by his friends here.

Well, I spent a lot of hours last weekend watching the Super Bowl and I didn’t find one single Chilmark connection . . . if I missed it, please let me know. I need February to recover from all that sports mania!

Phyllis Conway wants us to know that the Chilmark Church now has a Web site with information and history. Chilmarkchurch.org will get you there.

The Vineyard Gazette of Feb. 2, 1951 carried this item: Mrs. Marshall Carroll of Menemsha was the guest of honor at a birthday party given by her mother, Mrs. Robert N. Flanders. Thus, I think it is time to send birthday wishes in 2009 to Bette Carroll — cheers from us all!