Reforesting and Conserving the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

At 6:00 PM on Tuesday, November 12th, the Vineyard Haven Library welcomes Claudia Macedo for a presentation about the vital work she does to repopulate the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and to raise awareness about the importance of ecosystems and forest restoration. This event will be held on the main floor of the library, with refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library.

Claudia Macedo is a doctor of physical therapy in the rehabilitation and wellness department of Martha's Vineyard Hospital, who dedicates six months of the year to forest restoration in Brazil. Her work in Brazil has been recognized by BBC Earth in a 2021 story on forest restoration. 

Macedo’s interest in conservation and reforestation projects focussed on the Brazilian Atlantic Forest began over two decades ago. In 2003, she started her first private project for the conservation of 2000 acres of the Atlantic forest in Serra da Bocaina, SP, which led to the planting of 3000 native tree saplings to reforest degraded areas. In 2013, she began collaborating with other local initiatives related to reforestation of riparian forest in the Serra da Bocaina region, including the reintroduction of more than 13,000 trees in the Atlantic Forest biome. In 2017, she partnered with the international nonprofit, One Tree Planted, to establish community driven reforestation projects in Brazil. In 2018, she began a project to identify and map Atlantic Forest mother trees in order to collect native seeds and propagate saplings for future reforestation. 

In 2020, Macedo initiated the project “Donate a Forest,” to encourage local participation in reforestation efforts through the distribution of native seeds and tree saplings to children in the region. In 2022, she started the Collaborative Family Farming pilot project to facilitate the creation of vegetable gardens among dwellings occupied by low-income families, and in community spaces with a high concentration of families at risk of hunger. In 2023, she founded and became the Vice President of Instituto Biosfera (IBIOS), and as IBIOS representative, joined the Conselho Consultivo (Advisement group) of the Bananal Ecological Station and COMDEMA (Atlantic Forest Municipal Adviser) for the municipality of Bananal, SP. 

For more information about this event, please call the library at (508) 696-4211 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

 

Attend the Library Renovation Information Session, 6pm October 16th

The Library Board of Trustees invites you to attend an information session at the library at 6pm on Wednesday, October 16th, to meet the design team and learn more about  plans for a comprehensive renovation of the library building. The project will break ground in FY2025, pending completion of the capital campaign and appropriation of funding for building repairs at a fall/winter Special Town Meeting. 

To learn more, visit the Building Committe project webpage, or click here to watch a four minute video about the project. To support this project by making a donation, visit the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, Inc. Capital Campaign website.

The Combat Zone: Murder, Race and Boston’s Struggle for Justice with author Jan Brogan

At 6:00 PM on Thursday, November 7th, the Vineyard Haven Library will host an author talk with Jan Brogan, whose latest book, The Combat Zone: Murder, Race and Boston’s Struggle for Justice, was shortlisted for both an Agatha award and an Anthony for the best non-fiction of 2021. This event will be held on the upper level of the library with refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library. 

The Combat Zone explores the circumstances and aftermath of the 1976 murder of Harvard football player Andrew Puopolo in Boston’s infamous “Combat Zone.” With nearly opposite verdicts, the impact of the two trials that followed reverberated across both the city of Boston and the criminal justice system. The book also explores survivor grief, the offers the Puopolo family received to have the three Black defendants “whacked” in prison by the mob, and the fine line between justice and revenge.

Jan Brogan has been a journalist for over thirty years, during which time she worked as a correspondent for the Boston Globe and a staff writer for both the Worcester Telegram and the Providence Journal, where she won the Gerald Loeb award for distinguished business writing. She is also the award-winning author of four mysteries, Final Copy, A Confidential Source, Yesterday’s Fatal and Teaser. Steven Soderbergh and Philip Fleishman of Transactional Pictures have purchased the rights to A Confidential Source for development. Brogan continues to work as a novelist and a journalist. She teaches journalism at the Boston University Summer Journalism Academy, and memoir writing at an annual retreat in Provence. She lives with her husband in Dedham and Edgartown, Massachusetts.

For more information, please call the library at (508) 696-4211 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

Praise for The Combat Zone:

“The careful, meticulous research, the compassionate yet balanced tone, and the compelling narrative thrust make this book read almost like a legal or crime thriller. Brogan does a superb job of untangling this complex case.” –Stephanie Schorow, author of Inside the Combat Zone, The Stripped Down Story of Boston’s Most Notorious Neighborhood.

“Brogan’s work brings us into heart-wrenching, jaw-dropping contact with the reality of the crime and its times. It’s the best form of narrative nonfiction, in that it covers race, class, busing, criminal justice reform and courtroom drama, but never strays far from the emotional reality of the case for both victims and defendants.” –Craig Sandler, Statehouse News

“Brogan’s background as a journalist shows in her careful reporting and historical context…The grim history of racism in Boston, the crime and corruption of the Combat Zone, and the legal permutations of the case take up the bulk of the book. But its heart lies in a character who wasn’t even in the Combat Zone that fateful night – the victim’s brother, Danny Puopolo.” –Andy Smith: Special to the Providence Journal, USA TODAY NETWORK.

“A great strength of Brogan’s book is the broad context that she provides—one of overlapping divisions of race, class, and geography—to make sense of how the legal proceedings unfolded…Brogan writes with empathy for all involved in the events she so capably explores surrounding Puopolo’s death. In doing so, she considers matters of trauma and justice as well as the rights of victims and those of the accused.” –Joseph Nevins, Dig Boston

“In her new book The Combat Zone, author Jan Brogan handles the knotty details of this saga — including its unexpectedly far-reaching consequences — with the expertise and acuity of a veteran journalist and author of four mystery novels. Her first nonfiction book is more than simply a captivating exposition of the legal proceedings and adjacent matters. It is an incisive, vivid, jarring, and meticulous account of — as the subtitle says — “murder, race, and Boston’s struggle for justice,” –Blake Maddux, The Arts Fuse

Local, Off-Season Dancing and Music with MV Ballroom

Starting monthly in October, the MV Ballroom Dancers invite you to enjoy an evening of off-season dancing and music, performed by your local favorites! Organized and sponsored by the MV Ballroom group, in collaboration with Pathways Arts, Vineyard Haven Library, and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha's Vineyard.

All events will be from 7pm to 8:30pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Society Stevens Chapel, 238 Main Street, one block from the library. Come to dance, or just to listen!

Friday, October 11th: Pathways Silent Disco (Oldies!)

Sunday, October 20th: Jessie & Rick from Blue Yonder Band

Sunday, November 17th: Becky & Rich from The Convertibles

More dates to be announced!

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Art in the Stacks exhibit featuring local artist Harriet Bernstein

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library are pleased to present an exhibit of abstract, acrylic paintings by Harriet Bernstein on display in the lower level of the library during regular library hours from October 3rd through October 31st.

Bernstein began painting during the quiet days of the pandemic. Before that, she was a long admirer of art, especially that of Agnes Martin, whose large, meditative canvases in subdued pastels “stole [her] heart with their soft, feminine expression like the ocean itself.” However, when she sat down to paint her own homages to Agnes Martin, “these wild colorful works came out instead.”  

Bernstein encourages visitors to approach abstract art with an open mind—to feel the energy and emotion conveyed by color, texture, and movement on the canvas. According to Bernstein, “the aim of abstract art is to convey an essence as opposed to a representation. An abstract painting can evoke feelings, emotions, sensations. It can be peaceful or energetic, angry or happy. It can resonate with something inside you that you mostly don’t notice. It can be soothing or sensual, inspiring. But at its best, it can lead you to the ‘art’ inside of you.” Come and see for yourself! 

Art in the Stacks is an initiative of the Friends of the Library to provide artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art throughout the year. Artists interested in showing their work through “Art in the Stacks” may contact the Vineyard Haven Public Library at 508-696-4211 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

 

Book Sale Benefit for Library, at 15 Church Street

The Friends of Vineyard Haven Public Library will hold a pop up book sale on Saturday October 12th at 15 Church Street in Vineyard Haven, to benefit the Library Capital Campaign!

Popular fiction, biographies, cookbooks, children’s books, and more. Sales are cash or check only. Please use street parking and do not park in the 15 Church Street parking lot.

Book donations will not be accepted during the sale, or at the library. If you have donations for future book sales contact the library to schedule dropoff.

October Library Events

Apologies for the technical difficulties with our event calendar this week. For information or to register for library events, follow links below or email vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

IN PERSON AT THE LIBRARY, NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Science & Nature Book Club

3 pm Wednesday, October 2nd
The Science and Nature Book Club will meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:00 PM to discuss nonfiction books about science and nature. This month we are reading The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate--Discoveries From a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben. 

Book Talk: Dust is the Only Secret 

6 pm Tuesday, October 8th
Interplay of poetry & science, Fan Ogilvie, Ursula Goodenough, Janet Holladay.

Book Sale Benefit at 15 Church Street (Not at Library) 

10 am - 2 pm Saturday, October 12th

Friends of the Library Book Sale to benefit the capital campaign!

Movie Night: Thelma
6 pm Tuesday, October 15th
2024 comedy hit rated PG13. Popcorn and lemonade served. 1h 37m

Library Renovation Info Session
6 pm Wednesday, October 16th
Update on the renovation & addition project planned for 2025.

Vineyard Haven Public Library Book Group

2 pm Thursday, October 17th
Come enjoy a lively discussion in a casual "hybrid" format--both in person at the Library and via Zoom. This month we are reading and discussing North Woods by Daniel Mason.

Hiking New England 
6 pm Tuesday, October 22nd
Join Jeff Romano for a presentation on hiking opportunities across New England.

Hike the Camino de Santiago 
6 pm Tuesday, October 29th
Join Polly Simpkins for a presentation about this ancient pilgrimage.

Drop-In Mah Jong 

Weekly, 2 to 4 pm Saturdays
No instruction provided, so best for experienced players. Please bring your Mah Jong card. No registration required.

Chair Yoga with Kat 
Weekly, 11:15 am Mondays
Yoga With Kat's continuing weekly sessions of Chair Yoga, one of the most gentle forms of yoga. No  registration necessary. 

VIRTUAL EVENTS 

Register with links below or email vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org

Resume & Cover Letter Best Practices REGISTER
2:00 pm Monday October 7th

Elections Perspectives in a College Classroom with Prof Rachael V. Cobb REGISTER
2:00 pm Monday October 7th

MV Poetry Reading Group

To register, email vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org
10 am Monday, October 7th
The Martha's Vineyard Poetry Reading Group meets the first Monday of each month at 10 AM via Zoom. No qualifications, except a love of poetry. 

Ways to Have a Green Holiday Season with Sarah Robertson-Barnes REGISTER
7:00 pm Monday October 7th

Reading Toni Morrison with Professor Phil Weinstein  

To register, email vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org

Wednesdays at 7pm, Oct 9th, Oct 23rd, Nov 6th, Nov 20th, Dec 4th & Dec 18th.
6-part Zoom seminar in partnership with Swarthmore Lifelong Learning.

Tick Ecology & Tickborne Diseases, Part II 

To register, email vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org
3:30 pm Wednesday, October 9th 
With Biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds and Epidemiologist Lea Hamner on Zoom

Art History Series: Faith Ringgold--Artist, Author, Educator, Organizer REGISTER

10:30 am Thursday October 10th

African Art Series (Virtual) Monthly, 2nd Sunday REGISTER
2:30 pm Sunday October 13th African Art in the medieval world

Art History Series: Women Impressionist Painters REGISTER

10:30 am Thursday October 17th

Environmental & Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet REGISTER
7:00 pm Monday October 21st

The Origins and Evolution of Project 2025 with Professor Brian Conley REGISTER
7:00 pm Wednesday October 23rd

Great Travels Writing Workshop with Caroline Joy Adams 

To register, email vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org

3:00pm October 25th on Zoom
Ignite your creative energies and get started writing

Haunted Lighthouses of New England with Author Jeremy D'Entremont REGISTER
7:00 pm Monday October 28th

CHILDREN AND TEENS, NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

 
Storytime with Weezie 10:30 am Mondays
Held outdoors in the library courtyard in nice weather, or in the program room in case of rain. Best for ages 3-5 but all are welcome!

Drop-in Lego Build Club, 3 to 5 pm Wednesdays
Make creations with Legos, Magnatiles, or Dinosaur bones.
No lego program October 9th

Crafts with Jennifer, 3:30 to 5 pm Thursdays
Thursday, October 3: Glitter Bug Taxidermy
Thursday, October 10: Haunted Ginger Bread Houses
Thursday, October 17: Glow Lanterns
Thursday, October 24: Decorate a Tote
Thursday, October 31: Spooky Movie and Craft

Drop-In Toddler Tumble Time, 10:30 am to noon Saturdays
Toddler playgroup using our big soft blocks and tunnels.

Magic Show & Lesson 
Saturday October 26th Time TBA
Daniel Milstein will perform a sleight of hand magic show and then teach kids 8+ some tricks! Daniel is a specialist in sleight of hand with experience teaching, practicing, and writing about magic. 

Halloween at the Library
5-8 pm Thursday, October 31st
The Library will be open special evening hours for Halloween! Take a break from trick-or-treating and enjoy cider and candy provided by the Friends of the Library. (Computers and other services may not be available after 5 pm.)

Reading Toni Morrison with Phil Weinstein on Zoom

 

Toni Morrison: a name to reckon with for the past half-century, a writer who held the spotlight ever since her debut novel, The Bluest Eye, appeared in 1970. Morrison went on to write ten more novels, arguably becoming — with the publication of Beloved (1987) and winning the Nobel Prize in 1992 — the most significant American novelist of her time. It feels appropriate, in 2024, to reassess her body of work and probe the components of its power.

Philip Weinstein, the Alexander Griswold Cummins Professor of English Emeritus at Swarthmore College, will present  a six-part seminar on Toni Morrison, reading The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, and Beloved. Classes will be twice monthly on Wednesday evenings at 7pm, October 9th through December 18th. This online workshop will be hosted on Zoom by Lifelong Learning Swarthmore. Professor Weinstein and Lifelong Learning Swarthmore have generously arranged for Martha's Vineyard Library patrons to participate at no charge.

To register for the series call the library or email vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org. Zoom login will be sent to registered library participants prior to the first session on October 9th. 

“Reading Toni Morrison” classes will be held at 7pm on the following Wednesdays: 

October 9th: The Bluest Eye

October 23rd: Sula

November 6th: Song of Solomon Part I

November 20th: Song of Solomon Part II

December 4th: Beloved Part I 

December 18th: Beloved Part II

Note: This course will cover the same material as the seminar hosted by the library in 2020. The library will be planning for a new seminar with Professor Weinstein later this winter on a topic to be announced.

View Recording of Part I of our Tick Series, and Register for Part II

 

On Wednesday, October 9th at 3:30pm epidemiologist Lea Hamner and Biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds return for the second presentation in this two-part series. In Part One, Patrick focused on basics of tick ecology and behavior, including the most important tactics to prevent tick bites. In Part Two, Lea will discuss tickborne diseases found on Martha’s Vineyard and the new kid on the block: Alpha Gal Syndrome or red meat allergy. Question and answer period to follow talk.

To register to attend the live ZOOM event on October 9th, email us at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org

The first program in the series on September 25th was recorded, and can now be viewed online at: https://vimeo.com/1012911702

Some of the links mentioned during the first presentation are as follows:  

• EPA repellent search: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you
• Tick Identification Services: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/tickspotters/
• InsectShield Permethrin treating services: https://www.insectshield.com/
• Tick Pathogen Testing Services: https://www.tickreport.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwu-63BhC9ARIsAMMTLXTuhEFfJoHRaT6cUmZUvRo04Nqs_ZvIEAG14Zff1IebS4fYwMzFK_EaAkDREALw_wcB

Patrick Roden-Reynolds is Public Health Biologist for the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative and Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program. His work focuses on education and surveillance of vector-borne diseases and their vector populations.  Lea Hamner is an Epidemiologist for the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative. She focuses on infectious diseases of public health significance and promotes data-informed decision-making to support healthier communities.

Hike the Camino de Santiago with Polly Simpkins

At 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 29th, the Vineyard Haven Library is pleased to host “Hike the Camino de Santiago,” a presentation by Polly Simpkins. The talk will be held on the main floor of the library with refreshments provided by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library. 

Also known as the Way of St. James, the Camino de Santiago is a network of ancient pilgrim routes that stretches across Europe, coming together at the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Like tributaries of a river system, the network of trails passes through parts of France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland and Italy.

The history of the Camino de Santiago goes back to the discovery of the tomb of the evangelical apostle of the Iberian Peninsula in the year 814. Since this discovery, the Camino has become a pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of people every year. Some make the journey for spiritual reasons, others as a test of endurance.

In September 2023, Polly set out from Martha's Vineyard to hike 500 miles through the Pyrenees along the Camino Frances (French Camino). Beginning in St. Jean Pierre de Port in southern France and ending in Santiago, Spain, her trip lasted 42 days. Through a combination of photos and discussion, Polly will immerse us in the sights, sounds and spiritual aspects of the Camino that make so many people dream of taking this journey. 

Polly Simpkins is an interspiritual minister, a ceremonialist, and the founder of Petal Sky, which provides spiritual care for all stages of life, including death. She is also a fourth-generation Islander, a story gatherer, and a DJ at MVY Radio. 

For more information, please send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org or call the library at (508) 696-4211.

 

Hiking New England with Jeff Romano

At 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 22nd, the Vineyard Haven Library welcomes Jeff Romano for a slideshow presentation highlighting hiking opportunities throughout New England. This event will be held on the main floor of the library with refreshments provided by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library. 

The program will cover destinations in all six states with a focus on itineraries featured in his latest guidebook, 100 Classic Hikes New England (June 2023). Jeff will share advice, provide insights, and answer questions on how and where to plan your next hiking adventure. The presentation will also include information on New England wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife, as well as related history and conservation success stories.

Jeff Romano is a lifelong New England resident who has been hiking for five decades. He is the author of four other guidebooks published by Mountaineers Book: Hike the Park Acadia (2021), Day Hiking New England (2015), 100 Classic Hikes New England, first edition (2010), and Best Loop Hikes: New Hampshire's White Mountains to the Maine Coast (2006). Jeff has also written numerous outdoor articles for the Boston Globe and other publications. His books will be available for purchase after the presentation. 

When not hiking, Jeff directs public policy activities for Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a land trust that conserves and stewards Maine's coastal lands and islands. He lives in Hallowell, Maine with his wife, and shares his passion for the outdoors with his family, including his two adult children.

For more information, please call the library at (508) 696-4211 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

Book Donation Drive at 15 Church Street Saturday September 28th

 

This Saturday September 28th from 11am to 2pm, at 15 Church Street in Vineyard Haven! Bring your like-new books to the Friends of the Library book drive! 

Guidelines: books should be less than 5 years old in good to excellent condition only, including popular fiction and recent nonfiction for all ages. We are not able to accept reference books, academic titles, textbooks, bibles, book sets such as encyclopedias, or any items with odors or visible damage.

Please Note: Book donations can be made at other times by appointment, contact the library for information. Please note donations will NOT be accepted at the library, only at 15 Church Street.

Coming soon: Book sales to benefit the library will be held in October, dates to be announced!
 

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library grew out of the Library League which began in 1878. The Friends encourage public understanding of the Library's vital role in the community, support activities for both adults and children, and provide various volunteer services. For more information or to join, visit: https://vhlibrary.org/friendsjoin.shtml

In-Person 5k Results -- Enter Virtual 5k Through September 30th!

Congratulations to Cal Nanes of Vineyard Haven and Samantha Rein from Atlanta, the top male and female finishers in the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library 27th annual in-person 5k on Sunday September 22nd!

This year's 5k is a hybrid event, and "Virtual" 5k runners and walkers have until September 30th to register at https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=65915&eventId=653190

Registration for the virtual event is $25. All registered participants will be entered into a raffle drawing for a gift certificate from The Green Room, on October 1st. Virtual Runners who register can also come to the library to pick up a t-shirt, while supplies last. 

Race proceeds help the Friends of the library to sponsor children's programs, museum passes, and other library programs and services.

Thank you to our Race Sponsors: Cape Cod 5, Cronig's Market & Healthy Additions, The Green Room, Island Source, Martha's Vineyard Bank, Broadway Screen Printing, and Vineyard Grocer!

Full results for the in-person here:

https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=366862&did=476935

Author Talk: Dust is the Only Secret--The Interplay of Poetry, Memoir and Science

On Tuesday, October 8th at 6:00 PM, the Vineyard Haven Public Library is pleased to host an author talk with Fan Ogilvie, Ursula Goodenough, and Janet Holladay, entitled “Dust is the Only Secret--The Interplay of Poetry, Memoir and Science.” The talk is inspired by Ogilvie’s new book series, Dust is the Only Secret-Assent to Life. This event will be held on the main floor of the library with refreshments provided by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library. 

Released in April 2024, Dust is the Only Secret-Assent to Life is divided into three volumes: Book One: To Understand, Book Two: To Incorporate, and Book Three: Then to Let It Go. The three-volume series explores the meaning of life and death by interweaving Ms. Goodenough’s writing on cellular biology with a collection of poetry, paintings and memoir by Ms. Ogilvie. Janet Holladay edited and designed all three books in the series. 

Fan Ogilvie is a former Poet Laureate of West Tisbury (2009-2012) and co-founder of the Featherstone Festival of Poetry. Previous works by Ogilvie include Easinesses Found (2020) and YOU: Selected Poems and KNOT: A Life (2008). 

Ursula Goodenough is Professor of Biology Emerita at Washington University, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Microbiology Society, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a past president of the American Society for Cell Biology. She is the author of  The Sacred Depths of Nature: How Life Has Emerged and Evolved (Oxford University Press, 2023). 

Janet Holladay is a book designer at Tisbury Printer and an organizer of Martha’s Vineyard Ballroom Off-Season Dancing and Music series. 

For more information, please call the library at (508) 696-4211 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

New! Science and Nature Book Club Meets October 2nd!

The Vineyard Haven Library is excited to announce a new book group. The Science & Nature Book Club will meet at 3:00 PM on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss nonfiction books about science and nature. 

The first meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 2nd in the Vineyard Room at the Library. For this first meeting, we will read and discuss The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate--Discoveries From a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben. 

For subsequent meetings, titles will be selected by members of the book club in consultation with library staff. For more information and to be added to the email list, interested parties may contact Liz at lshick@clamsnet.org or (508) 696-4211. Everyone is welcome! 

Exploring Martha's Vineyard with TrailsMV

On Tuesday, October 1st at 6:00 PM, the Vineyard Haven Library is pleased to host a presentation by Nancy Tutko of TrailsMV entitled, “Exploring Martha's Vineyard with TrailsMV.” 

The presentation will introduce participants to the newly redesigned TrailsMV app and explain how to make the best use of its many features, including maps, property descriptions, event listings, and more. The talk will also provide an overview of the extensive and varied walking trails open to the public and featured on the app.

Nancy Tutko is the project manager for TrailsMV. She also leads local, regional, and international hikes for the Appalachian Mountain Club.

TrailsMV is a free mobile app, created by the Sheriff's Meadow Foundation in collaboration with other conservation partners on the island. Using state-of-the-art ArcGIS technology, the app serves as an interactive guide connecting users to over 220 miles of public walking trails on more than 100 protected properties across Martha’s Vineyard.

This program will be held in person at the library. For more information, please contact the library at (508) 696-4211 or vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

Tick Ecology and Tickborne Diseases via Zoom

At 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 25th, the Vineyard Haven Library will host a virtual presentation on “Tick Ecology and Tickborne Diseases” by Biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds and Epidemiologist Lea Hamner, experts from the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative. The first part of this virtual presentation will cover the basics of tick ecology and behavior, including the most important tactics for preventing bites, with an emphasis on a ‘Before the Bite” mantra. The second part of the presentation will discuss tickborne diseases found on Martha’s Vineyard, including the new kid on the block: Alpha Gal Syndrome or red meat allergy. Patrick Roden-Reynolds is a Public Health Biologist for the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative and Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program. His work focuses on education and surveillance of vector-borne diseases and their vector populations. Lea Hamner is an Epidemiologist for the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative. She focuses on infectious diseases of public health significance and supporting data-informed decision-making to support healthier communities. The Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket is a project funded by the Massachusetts Department of Health to fortify local public health monitoring and delivery. The initiative is led by the joint Boards of Health on Martha’s Vineyard along with Island Health Care and the Town of Nantucket. This event will be held via Zoom. Interested patrons may register on the library’s event calendar at www.vhlibrary.org to receive the Zoom link. The program will also be recorded and available on the library Vimeo channel (https://vimeo.com/user124269588) within 48 hours of the event. For more information, please contact the library at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org or (508) 696-4211.

Upcoming Information Sessions on the Library Renovation & Addition Project

The Library Board of Trustees invites the community to attend one of our upcoming information sessions on the library renovation & addition project. This will be an opportunity to meet the design team and see the latest plans for this important project planned for 2025. Two sessions will be held at 6pm Wednesday September 11th, and at 6pm on Wednesday October 16th. Both events will be in-person at the library, and refreshments will be served.

Working with the Tisbury Town Administrator and other town departments, The Library Board of Trustees are undertaking a project for critical repairs to the existing library building, and for the construction of a meeting room addition. An open, spacious, and well-ventilated space for our community is more important than ever. The expanded and redesigned interior and exterior spaces will provide the flexibility the library requires to provide future services with greater safety and comfort. The project will break ground in 2025, pending completion of the capital campaign and appropriation of funding for building repairs at a fall/winter Special Town Meeting.

To learn more, visit the Building Project webpage, To support this project by making a donation, visit the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, Inc. Capital Campaign website.

Register for the 27th Annual 5k Run/Walk to the Chop and Kids Fun Run

  Register for the 27th Annual 5k Run/Walk to The Chop!

All registered participants will be entered into a raffle drawing for gift certificates or Friends merchandise



This year, the Friends of Vineyard Haven Public Library's 27th Annual 5k Run/Walk to benefit the library will be a "hybrid" event, with both in-person and virtual "run on your own" options. Advance registration is strongly encouraged, visit runsignup.com.

[In-person] The traditional 5k event will be held at the library on Sunday, September 22nd at 10 am. A free half-mile fun run for kids will be held at 9:45 am. The 5K course for this race begins next to the library on Greenwood Avenue, turning left onto Main Street and proceeding up Main Street to the West Chop Lighthouse, then returning down Main Street to the library. Registration for the in-person 5k is $30 and includes a t-shirt.

[Virtual] For those who prefer to run the race on their own time, register today, and go virtual -- run or walk a 5k anytime, anywhere, between now and September 30th. Your donation of $25 for the "virtual" option will help the Friends continue to support library programs and services in the coming year.

Thank you to our Race Sponsors: Cape Cod 5, Cronig's Market & Healthy Additions, Donnelly + Co., The Green Room, Island Source, Martha's Vineyard Bank, Miller Sederholm Law Office, andVineyard Grocer

Art in the Stacks featuring Leaf Art by Emily Davis

 

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library are pleased to present an exhibit of Leaf Art by Emily Davis, on display in the lower level of the library during regular library hours throughout September. 

Emily Davis is a horticulturalist, committed to an art practice that combines her many passions. Using pressed leaves, scissors, and an LED light board, Emily creates temporary works of art that she preserves through digital photography. Emily's art is characterized by her attention to detail and subject selection, including species and design. More information about leaf art can be found online at www.edleaves.com.

Art in the Stacks is an initiative of the Friends of the Library to provide artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art throughout the year. Artists interested in showing their work through “Art in the Stacks” may contact the Vineyard Haven Public Library at 508-696-4210 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

Virtual Series for Job Seekers

Monday afternoons in September on Zoom!

The Vineyard Haven Library is pleased to offer a series of virtual seminars for job seekers via the Tewksbury Library. Beginning at 2:00 PM on Monday September 9th, the four-part series will cover a new topic each week, ranging from networking and emotional intelligence to how to use Linkedin and YouMap® software. This series is sponsored by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven and Tewksbury Libraries.

Separate registration links for each seminar are listed below. Note that all programs will be recorded. Registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

Job Search Help: Using LinkedIn As A Search Engine For Job Seekers

Monday, September 9, 2pm

Learn how to search LinkedIn not only for jobs, but to find relevant job specs, events and similar profiles. Also discover how to search within companies on LinkedIn to find resources there. Led by Kenneth Lang, the co-founder of My Networking Central, a searchable database for networking events and speakers. He regularly facilitates job search and networking events where he discusses LinkedIn best practices. Kenneth also serves as a brand specialist for Lee Hecht Harrison, an outplacement service. 

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2017244319611/WN_h0peVcmuTAKdPKhWnPRs7A

Job Search Help: Emotional Intelligence For Job Seekers

Monday, September 16, 2pm

Don’t rely solely on your book smarts! Discover how emotional intelligence can give you an edge in your job search and career growth. Delve into the essence of emotional intelligence, its relevance in the job search, and practical steps to enhance your own “EQ.” Led by Edythe Richards, an executive coach and emotional intelligence practitioner and trainer. She is an HR Manager at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and founder of A Top Career. Richards is also the host of three popular podcasts: Myers-Briggs Question Corner, MBTI for Midlife Career Changers, and EQ at Work.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3017244319754/WN_A81I8crITna3U7lT-0OIdQ

Job Search Help: How To Uncover The Hidden Job Market with Networking 

Monday, September 23, 2pm

Data shows that most jobs are found through networking. So why do most job seekers spend countless unproductive hours behind their phones and laptops applying for jobs? The answer is that they fail to recognize the critical role that networking plays in a successful job search. Attend this webinar to change the way you search for jobs and land a job you love! Led by Leanne Rodd, Chief Talent Officer (lead recruiter) for FlexProfessionals. With more than twenty years’ experience in learning and development, coaching, sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship, she helps job seekers develop the skill sets they need to convey their value and pursue meaningful roles. Leanne has an MS in Training & Development from Lesley University, a BA from the University of Vermont, and is a board-certified professional and career coach (BCC).

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2517244319981/WN_JCEpctTWTtKkylZfhxGMmQ

Job Search Help: How To Achieve Career Clarity with YouMap® 

Monday, September 30, 2pm

Every person is unique, and no two YouMap® profiles are the same. YouMap® offers a foundation for you to thrive. In this presentation, explore how YouMap® can help you achieve career clarity by revealing the four key pillars that drive your priorities, beliefs, motivation, and interests. Led by career coach Shelley Piedmont, founder of Career GPS, LLC. As an HR professional for over 20 years, Piedmont has read thousands of resumes, looked at countless LinkedIn profiles, and interviewed candidates for everything from entry-level hourly positions to senior leaders. As someone who has worked "in the trenches," she knows a thing or two about how to market yourself to the hiring team.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3317244320160/WN_ORj0oIadROmH_P-ajm0VlQ

For more information, please contact the library via telephone at (508) 696-4211 or by emailing vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.