Date Change for Literary Walking Tour

The Literary Walking Tour of Vineyard Haven and West Chop with Wayne Nichols has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 3rd 4:30-6 pm. There will be no tour on Sunday August 27th.

Take a stroll and hear stories some great American writers who lived in Vineyard Haven: William Styron, Lillian Hellman, John Hersey, Art Buchwald with sprinkling of neighbor Mike Wallace. This tour features the former homes (from a distance along Main Street) and favorite haunts and stories of these amazing accomplished writers, their friendships and Vineyard stories. Tour ends at the 1790’s historic graveyard on West Chop where 4 of the 5 writers are buried! Led by Native Islander and Amateur Historian Wayne Nichols. No registration or sign up required.

Tolstoy's War & Peace with Phil Weinstein

Philip Weinstein, the Alexander Griswold Cummins Professor of Literature at Swarthmore College, will present a six-part seminar on Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, hosted on Zoom by Lifelong Learning Swarthmore. Professor Weinstein and Lifelong Learning Swarthmore have generously arranged for Martha's Vineyard Library patrons to participate in this program at no charge.

The class will take place every two weeks on Mondays from 7:00-8:30 pm, September 18th, October 2nd, October 23rd, November 6th, November 20th, and December 4th. For more information and to register through the library, visit https://bit.ly/3qLOqz0.

A limited number of copies of the book will be available for pickup at the library, or can be requested through CLAMS: https://library.clamsnet.org/Record/205597

Following Tolstoy, Professor Weinstein will present an additional seminar with Vineyard Haven Library, "Known and Unknown Worlds: Fictions of the 21st Century." Texts for this course will include works by Jonathan Franzen, W.G. Sebald, Edward P Jones, Jennifer Egan, Ann Patchett, and Colum McCann. Classes will start in January 2024, with additional details to be announced.

Philip M. Weinstein is Alexander Griswold Cummins Professor of English Emeritus at Swarthmore College. His numerous publications include Faulkner’s Subject: A Cosmos No One Owns (1992), What Else But Love? The Ordeal of Race in Faulkner and Morrison (1996), and Becoming Faulkner (2009). His newest book is a collection of essays entitled Soul-Error (2022). Professor Weinstein has been offering literary seminars in cooperation with the Vineyard Haven Public Library since 2012, and is the Honorary Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign for Vineyard Haven Library's expansion and renovation project.

Register for the 26th 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 26th 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 24th 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

Children's Programs this Week

Summer Reading ends September 8th! Be sure to come in and collect your prizes!
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

This week, join us at 3pm Monday through Friday for Movies and Crafts, and for our regular storytime schedule at 10:30am on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday!

All programs subject to change, please visit our online calendar for the most up-to-date information.

The Long Game: Longevity Series with Jim Lobley

The Longevity Series with Jim Lobley is a six month lecture series where we will explore the concept of deep health, a holistic approach to well-being that encompasses the five pillars of longevity: movement, nutrition, cognition, connection, and sleep. We'll delve into the science of aging and look at strategies for building a practice that optimizes our chances of living healthier for longer. All classes will be virtual with the option to view on the screen at the Chilmark Library. Wednesdays at 4 pm, monthly September through February.

Longevity: A Start-Up Guide (Sept 6th) Explore the concept of deep health, a holistic approach to well-being that encompasses the five pillars of longevity: movement, nutrition, cognition, connection, and sleep. We'll delve into the science of aging and look at strategies for building a practice that optimizes our chances of living healthier for longer.

Mobility: Freeing the Body for Movement (Oct 4th) In this session, we will delve into the crucial topic of mobility and how our habitual sitting and standing postures can impact our freedom of movement. Discover the underlying reasons behind these limitations on a physical and soft tissue level, and gain insight into how to counteracting these restrictive patterns. Whether it's preventing injuries or simply alleviating physical discomfort, we will explore practical techniques to enhance our ability to move freely.

Stress, Sleep, and Recovery (Nov 1st) We know that sleep is essential for so many aspects of our long-term health, and yet it seems the least tractable of the longevity practices. In this session, we’ll unravel the intricate relationship between stress, sleep, and recovery, and how they impact our well-being. We’ll talk about how stress can disrupt your sleep patterns and hinder your body's ability to recover effectively, and discuss practical strategies to manage stress levels, improve sleep quality, and optimize the recovery process.

How to Train Your Balance (Dec 6th)  Balance training is great for anyone! It’s particularly important for athletes and anyone over 50. Dynamic balance training goes much further than just being able to stand on one foot. It trains the whole balance system including your core and nervous system, making your body more stable, responsive and resilient. I’ll explain the basics of balance training and show you how to design your own balance practice.

Eating for Longevity (Jan 3rd) In this session we explore the vital connection between metabolic health and longevity. Discover the recommendations of leading scientists and nutritionists on eating for longevity, with a special focus on the renowned Mediterranean diet. We'll dive into practical examples of what a longevity-focused meal looks like, discuss supplements that boost our "longevity genes," and explore the potential benefits of intermittent fasting.

Smart Body – Healthy Brain: Movement for brain health (Feb 7th)  Moving is one of the best things we can do for our brains. This lecture focuses on 4 important areas of cognition – executive function, attention, memory, and processing speed – and how each of these can be strengthened through specific types of movement. I’ll explain the science, show you how to maximize the brain health benefits of your current workout, and discuss other practices that have been shown to contribute to cognitive longevity.

Jim Lobley is a certified personal trainer and longevity coach in private practice in Northampton, and the founder/director of The Long Game, an online learning and training platform for longevity. He is also a Certified Brain Health Trainer through the Functional Aging Institute, and has an MA in Dance/Movement Therapy from NYU.

Sponsored by the Chilmark and Vineyard Haven Public Libraries. Please contact the library for Zoom link.

Upcoming Programs for Adults

To register for online events or for more information, contact our Program Coordinator Anne McDonough at [email protected]. 

[In-person] 11:15 am Monday August 28th
Chair Yoga with Kat 
Yoga With Kat's continuing sessions of Chair Yoga, one of the most gentle forms of yoga. This class is perfect for students recovering from injury or illness, and anyone who wants to experience the many benefits of yoga without having to get up and down from the floor. No sign up or registration necessary. Program takes place on the lower level of the library. 

[Online] 6 pm Tuesday August 29th
Vineyard Haven Library Spice Club
A new take on a cookbook group, Spice Club meets virtually one Tuesday a month. Registration comes with a sample pack of the spice of the month and a little history about it. You prepare a recipe and then come and discuss your opinions, experiences, and love (or like less!). This month: Dried Lemon Juice. REGISTER 

[In-person] 10:05 am to noon, Wednesday August 30th
Drop-in Mah Jong 
Mah Jong continues this summer! Please come in for a pick-up mah jong game or two. There won't be any 'official' instruction but this is an opportunity to use what you've learned in our recent beginners series. Experienced players encouraged to attend. No RSVP necessary. Please bring your mah jong card and if you have an extra set of tiles, bring them as well. 

[In-person, Outdoors] 3 pm Wednesday August 30th
Wednesday Walk the Chop
Walk and Talk Book Club has become ''Walk the Chop'. We will meet every Wednesday at the Library and walk/run or any combination the West Chop loop. Course is not hilly and is just over 3 miles. No sign up necessary. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] with any questions. Sponsored by Vineyard Haven Library and BeWell-MV.

[Online] 9 am Thursday August 31st
Conversation en Francais
Join our weekly French conversation group. All levels are welcome. For more language learning support try Mango Languages, an online language-learning system available to library cardholders.

[In-person, meet at Owen Park Bandstand ]  4:30-6 pm Rescheduled for Sunday, September 3rd
Literary Walking Tour of Vineyard Haven and West Chop with Wayne Nichols
Take a stroll and hear stories some great American writers who lived in Vineyard Haven: William Styron, Lillian Hellman, John Hersey, Art Buchwald with sprinkling of neighbor Mike Wallace. This tour features the former homes (from a distance along Main Street) and favorite haunts and stories of these amazing accomplished writers, their friendships and Vineyard stories. Tour ends at the 1790’s historic graveyard on West Chop where 4 of the 5 writers are buried! Led by Native Islander and Amateur Historian Wayne Nichols. No registration or sign up required. 

[Online] 4 to 5 pm Wednesday September 6th
The Longevity Series with Jim Lobley
The Longevity Series with Jim Lobley is a six month lecture series where we will explore the concept of deep health, a holistic approach to well-being that encompasses the five pillars of longevity: movement, nutrition, cognition, connection, and sleep. We'll delve into the science of aging and look at strategies for building a practice that optimizes our chances of living healthier for longer. All classes will be virtual with the option to view on the screen at the Chilmark Library. 

[In-person] 6 pm Tuesday September 12th
Retire with Possibilities
Eric Weigel, author of Reimagining Retirement : 9 Keys Keys to True Wealth, will present ideas and plans to guide us into our best retirement! Eric J. Weigel is the founder of Retire With Possibilities, an advisory and retirement coaching firm dedicated to helping people consciously design their own journey into retirement. Eric is a Certified Professional Retirement Coach and University of Chicago MBA with more than 3 decades of experience helping institutions and individuals better align their investments to the outcomes they want.

[In-person and online]  2 pm Thursday September 14th
Vineyard Haven Public Library Book Group
Come enjoy a lively discussion in a casual "hybrid" format--both in person in the Vineyard Room at the Library and on Zoom. This month's selection is "I Have Some Questions for You," by Rebecca Makkai, who recently spoke on the island as part of the Martha's Vineyard Book Festival. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk of the Vineyard Haven Public Library. Please email [email protected] with questions and for a zoom link will be sent by email.

New Challenge Grant for the Building Fund

The Vineyard Haven Public Library Building Fund, Inc. (VHPLBFI) is pleased to announce a $150,000 challenge grant for the library capital campaign. The campaign will fund construction of an addition to the library building to house an accessible multi-purpose community meeting room.

To date, the VHPLBFI has raised more than $1.4 million towards the $2 million capital campaign goal. Now a generous island family has offered a matching grant to help reach the fundraising goal by the end of the year. For every $3,000 donated to the campaign now, $1,000 in matching funds will be donated, up to $150,000 in matching funds for $450,000 in new gifts.

Visit www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org to learn more!

Click Here to view the Vineyard Haven Public Library This Week News - August 27, 2023