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