Interview with Alpha Gal Expert Dr. Scott Commins

At 6:00 PM on Monday, October 28th, the Vineyard Haven Library will host a virtual presentation on Alpha Gal Syndrome (AGS) with Dr. Scott Commins, one of the top AGS specialists in the country. This program is being organized in collaboration with the MV Tick Program and the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative.

Dr. Commins’ presentation will focus on the basic science and translational work that went into describing the alpha-gal mammalian meat allergy. He will present research related to defining both the cause and the mechanism of alpha-gal IgE response, the role of tick bites in AGS, and the epidemiology of AGS in the US and globally. A question and answer period will follow the talk. 

Scott Commins is the Dr. William J. Yount Distinguished Professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is currently Section Chief for Allergy and Immunology in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Commins maintains an active clinical practice and research program with a focus on food allergy, including the alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) and eosinophilic esophagitis. 

This program is a follow-up to the two-part series on Tick Ecology and Tickborne Diseases with biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds and epidemiologist Lea Hamner, experts from the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative hosted by the Vineyard Haven Library in September and October, 2024. Recordings of those presentations are available on the library Vimeo channel here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11413322

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 for the presentation at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkcOmtrjgpGtOnzuCBrsJUZ3PlqCxkqtC7

The program will be recorded and available on the library Vimeo channel within 48 hours of the event. For more information, please contact the library at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org or (508) 696-4211.

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.