Association Hall and the History of Vineyard Haven with Bow Van Riper

The Vineyard Haven Library is pleased to welcome local historian Bow Van Riper on Tuesday, May 27th at 6:00 PM for a presentation on Association Hall and the History of Vineyard Haven. This event will be held at the Katharine Cornell Theatre located at 51 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven (above the Tisbury Town Hall). Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Van Riper’s presentation will focus on the history of Vineyard Haven—from back-of-beyond outpost to gateway to the Island, from schooner port to summer-resort community and center for the arts—through the lens of the many uses to which the 1845 building that houses the Katharine Cornell Theatre has been put. 

“Association Hall and the History of Vineyard Haven” is part of a three-part series related to the Katharine Cornell Theatre to be presented by Bow Van Riper in 2025. Future talks include “History on Plaster: The Stan Murphy Murals” and “Katharine Cornell and the Vineyard” (dates to be announced).  

A historian for 40 years (so far) A. Bowdoin "Bow" Van Riper received his BA from Brown University and his MA and PhD from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. He taught at the college level for more than 20 years and is the author, editor, or co-editor of 22 books and over 100 articles. He has been Research Librarian at the Martha's Vineyard Museum since 2014.

A third-generation washashore, Bow first came to the Island in 1963, at the age of 3 months, and moved here permanently in December 2011. He lives on the shores of Vineyard Haven Harbor in a 19th century house where, as far as he can tell, nothing of historical significance ever happened.

For more information, please contact the library at (508) 696-4211 or vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org, or consult the library website: https://www.vhlibrary.org.

 

Author Talk: “Into the Amazon” with Mass Book Award-honoree Larry Rohter

Join the Vineyard Haven Public Library at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, May 20th for a book talk with Mass Book Award-honoree Larry Rohter! Rohter will discuss his thrilling new biography, Into the Amazon, which celebrates the great indigenous Brazilian explorer, scientist, statesman, and conservationist, Cândido Rondon. Into the Amazon: The Life of Cândido Rondon, Trailblazing Explorer, Scientist, Statesman, and Conservationist is at once a traditional adventure yarn, an introduction to modern Brazilian history, and a meditation on race and exploration. 

This event will be held at the Katharine Cornell Theatre at 51 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven (above the Tisbury Town Hall). The program is sponsored by the Mass Book Awards Speakers Bureau and is presented in collaboration with the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Free and open to the public. No registration required.  

Between 1890 and 1930, Cândido Rondon navigated scores of previously unmapped rivers, traversed untrodden mountain ranges, and hacked his way through inhospitable jungles. In 1913-14, he led Theodore Roosevelt and his son Kermit on their celebrated “River of Doubt” journey. Upon leaving the Brazilian Army in 1930, Rondon devoted the remainder of his life to writing about the region’s flora and fauna, advocating for his fellow Indigenous people who inhabited the rainforest, and lobbying for the creation of a system of national parks. Rondon’s many achievements earned him three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize, yet he has never received his due. Originally published in Brazil, Into the Amazon is the first comprehensive biography of the greatest tropical explorer in history.

Larry Rohter was the Rio de Janeiro bureau chief for the New York Times from 1998 to 2008 and held the same role at Newsweek from 1977 to 1982. He is the author of two previous books about Brazil, one in Portuguese and one in English: Deu no New York Times and Brazil on the Rise: The Story of a Country Transformed. He divides his time between the United States and Brazil.

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

Diagnosis of Neurocognitive Disorders with Dr. Nicole Absar

The Vineyard Haven Library is pleased to welcome back Dr. Nicole Absar on Tuesday, May 13th at 6:00 PM for a presentation on the various diseases that can present with memory and cognitive dysfunction. This event will be held at the Katharine Cornell Theatre located at 51 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven (above the Tisbury Town Hall). Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Cognitive deficits are often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease without first trying to diagnose other types of dementia. A precise diagnosis is important, as a specific treatment can be tailored to the condition if the diagnosis is made early in the course of the disease. Dr. Absar’s presentation will address all the possible diseases that present with memory and cognitive dysfunction.

Nicole Absar, MD, provides neurocognitive and Alzheimer’s disease services to the Vineyard community and neighboring regions, including Nantucket and Cape Cod. These include diagnostic evaluation and management services for neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia, Lewy body dementia, related dementia, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and other neurocognitive disorders.

With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Absar is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN), is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA), and is an active member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA). She is also a registered yoga teacher and specializes in yoga as therapy for brain disorders and uses yoga therapy as part of an integrated neuropsychiatric treatment plan.

For more information, please contact the library at (508) 696-4211 or vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org, or consult the library website: https://www.vhlibrary.org.

Author talk: Once Upon A Place with Holly Bellebuono

At 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 6th, the Vineyard Haven Library welcomes author and herbalist Holly Bellebuono for a discussion of her newest book, Once Upon A Place: Forests, Caverns, and Other Places of Transformation in Myths, Fairy Tales and Film. This event will be held at the Katharine Cornell Theatre at 51 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven (above the Tisbury Town Hall). Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Once Upon a Place explores narratives from modern film, famous fairy tales, and ancient mythology to define the five core locations that shape every story: the Cavern, the Deep, the Vessel, the Forest, and the Labyrinth. Popularized by Joseph Campbell, the hero's journey features narrative stages along which a person matures and transforms. But where heroes transform is just as important as what they do to get there. Holly Bellebuono shows you how the location of each step in the hero's journey is intimately tied to the challenges faced, setting the tone for the entire adventure.

To illustrate each location, Bellebuono shares fifteen original adaptations, such as the tales of Persephone, Gilgamesh, Cerridwen, and Alice, to explore how the "sense of place" drives the adventure and outcome. From Innana's descent into the Cavern to Snow White entering the Forest, this book offers powerful wisdom about personal growth, life's purpose, and the origins of creativity.

Holly Bellebuono has published 8 books in 3 languages, including the award-winning documentary book Women Healers of the World. She is an internationally known natural health expert, herbalist and entrepreneur, bringing 30+ years of leadership in the natural and organic products industry to her passion for supporting health and business. Drawing from her rich personal and professional background in health and wellness, Holly is dedicated to eco-friendly and women-empowering education. 

Holly is the founder of the Bellebuono School of Herbal Medicine (since 2011) and Bellebuono International LLC and has lectured at conferences in England, Costa Rica, Canada, and across the United States. She is the recipient of two small business awards plus a nonprofit executive award. Holly holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration: Environmental Policy from Appalachian State University.

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

Virtual program on Navigating Medications and Alpha-gal Syndrome

Interested patrons may register here.

At 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 1st, the Vineyard Haven Library welcomes VeganMed CEO and pharmacist Dr. Sachin A. Shah for a virtual presentation on navigating medications for those diagnosed with Alpha-gal Syndrome. This program is presented in collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Tick Program and will be held via Zoom. 

Participants will learn how to navigate medications and labeling for Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) patients, 75% of whom may suffer negative effects from animal-derived ingredients. VeganMed pharmacists will explain the vital importance of transparent labeling for all medications.

Sachin A. Shah, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, is the CEO of VeganMed, dedicated to improving transparency and patient safety. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Mass. College of Pharmacy and Health Science and is currently a professor of pharmacy at University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA). Dr. Shah has published over 100 scientific works, generating over 1 billion media impressions in outlets such as NPR and BBC News. 

Jasmine Uchi, PharmD, is the Director of Medical Affairs and Operations at VeganMed, Inc., known for her advocacy of ingredient transparency in medicine, particularly regarding Alpha-gal Syndrome. She has impacted thousands of patients diagnosed with this potentially fatal allergy. Dr. Uchi is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, and a TEDx speaker, and has published several research papers featured in various media outlets.

VeganMed is committed to improving transparency in medication labeling to ensure that everyone knows exactly what is in their medications. Our mission is to make medications safer, kinder, and more inclusive, especially for those with allergies, religious restrictions, or dietary preferences, so everyone can make informed choices with confidence.

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