Excellent Links and Documents on Ticks

Dear Chappy Neighbors:

As you are well aware, tick borne illnesses continue to be a concern on Chappy. The CIA's Environmental Committee continues to address this problem in a variety of ways, including disseminating current articles, websites and links that you might find useful. Below are links to two such recent pieces. We hope you find them useful and informative.

And remember: Please wear protective clothing, use insect repellent and check carefully for ticks when you come home after a walk in the woods. Here's to a safe summer!

Sincerely, 
The Board of Directors
The Chappaquiddick Island Association 

Lyme Wellness Initiative

Stages and Symptoms of Lyme Disease

5th Annual Chappy Point to Point Race: Sunday June 25, 2023 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Registration is now open for the Fifth Annual Chappy Point to Point, https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Edgartown/ChappyPoint2Point, which will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 8:30 am.  This year the race will be: AN OPEN AIR RACE TO BENEFIT AN OPEN AIR MARKET.

This year’s net proceeds from the Chappy Point to Point will be used to launch the Edgartown Village Market, an open-air farmers/artisan market making the island’s goods and produce more accessible to downtown Edgartown and Chappy residents during the Vineyard’s busiest months. The market will be held on Tuesdays, 9am-2pm, starting on June 27, at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House Garden, lower lawn.

The Edgartown Village Market is a joint venture among the Vineyard Preservation Trust, Chappy Point to Point, Edgartown Board of Trade, and Grace and Zach Pinerio, who are members of the retail and artisan communities, respectively. Five seemingly distinct entities all with a shared goal to enhance Edgartown’s downtown by creating a market that is unique to Edgartown.

Individual/family sponsorships are a minimum of $100 and include 2 race registrations. Given our goal of providing funding for the market for the next 2=3 years, we are hoping to find at least 5 individual/families to contribute $2500 each, 10 individuals/families to contribute $1000 each and at least 20 to contribute $500 each.  Contributions (less any registration fees) can be made by clicking Donate on the website or sending a check to:

Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation P.O. Box 243 West Tisbury, MA  02575 (Please add Chappy Point to Point in the memo line.)  Donations can also be made directly to MVCF at https://endowmv.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1112

If you’re interested in volunteering  the day of the race (including shuttling runners from Chappy Point to the Fishermen’s parking lot at Wasque), please email Lynn Martinka at lmartinka@hotmail.com. 

Chappy Update

Here are a few things to be aware of:

  • On Sunday (6/26) parking on the gravel lot at the ferry will be closed in the morning for the Chappy Point to Point road race so parking at the point will be very limited until the afternoon.

  • The Town will be paving the Memorial Wharf parking lot on Monday (6/27) and Tuesday (6/28) as the final steps towards the project's completion. Concurrently, an asphalt enhancement will be installed at the Edgartown side of the Chappy Ferry ramp on Tuesday afternoon as part of "Phase 1" of raising the ramp six inches and mitigating traffic flow through salt water tidal surges. The Chappy Ferry will be limited to focused pedestrian traffic from 12-2pm on Tuesday in order to allow the asphalt to settle. The Town has made the appropriate arrangement in the event of a public safety emergency or exigent circumstances on both sides of Chappy and Dock St. Information will be sent out via the Town's text network on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday as well as various Facebook pages this weekend.

  • From the Associated Press : The Tisbury Animal Control posted an "avian influenza warning" on social media Monday, telling residents that hundreds of dead cormorants have washed up all over the island and it's "extremely dangerous" for a small island. The office warned residents not to touch the birds. It asked them to keep their dogs on leashes on beaches, be careful going into the water since many are floating in seaweed, and notify animal control if they find any dead birds. This type of avian flu is considered a low risk to people, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

  • Fire Department & Highway Department Notice of Public Hearing to be held on June 28, 2022 at 4:00PM regarding the development of a town-owned lot for the purpose of highway department material storage, the installation of a Fire Department underground water storage tank, and related infrastructure (dry hydrant connections, well and electrical service). The property is located at 116 Litchfield Rd. The public hearing will be remote. https://www.edgartown-ma.us/home/showpublisheddocument/17551/637898480439570000

4th Annual Chappy Point to Point Road Race: Sunday June 26, 2022

This is a reminder that the Fourth Annual Chappy Point to Point, a 5 mile race from the waters at Wasque Point to the ferry at Chappy Point, will be held this Sunday, June 26, at 8:30 am.  This year the net proceeds of the race will go to fund the conversion of the Chappy Community Center to solar power.  Although registrations have hit the cap of 300, it’s not too late to contribute: go to https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/MA/Edgartown/ChappyPoint2Point or Google “Chappy Point to Point.”

During the end of race festivities, after the medal ceremony, a raffle drawing will take place with the following prizes:

In addition, each winner will receive a voucher for a dozen chocolate chip cookies from the Chappy Chip Company.

 Raffle tickets are $10 each or 7 for $50 and will be sold at bib pick up in front of Soft as a Grape on Dock Street on 6/25 (4-5 pm) and at Chappy Point on 6/26 (7-8 am).  You don’t have to be present to win.  In addition, you can purchase tickets now by sending an email to rschifter@tpg.com.  Pls include number of tickets, which prizes you hope to win, and your phone number.  Payment can be made via Venmo @Rick-Schifter.

3rd Annual Chappy Point to Point Run: Sunday, August 29th


The Third Annual Chappy Point to Point, a five mile road race from the waters of Wasque Point to the ferry at Chappy Point, will be held on Sunday, August 29, at 8:30 am.  Although the race is now sold out with 250 runners, it’s not too late to contribute. 

 The beneficiary of this year’s race is the Cultural, Historical, and Educational Program of the Chappaquiddick Tribe of the Wampanoag Nation.  The net proceeds from the race will be used to construct a traditional Wampanoag dwelling known as a “wetu” at Wasque.  Individual/family sponsorships are a minimum of $100.  To achieve our fundraising goals, we are hoping to find at least 10 individuals/families to contribute $1000 each and at least 20 to contribute $500 each.  Contributions can be made by clicking https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/MA/Edgartown/ChappyPoint2Point or sending a check to:  Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation P.O. Box 243 West Tisbury, MA  02575 (Please add Chappy Point to Point in the memo line.)

 Even if you’re not a runner, please join us at Chappy Point after the race where a raffle will be held.  Raffle prizes include:

a.  Acrylic Mixed Media Abstract on canvas, made with watercolor paper, thread, twigs, fabric, a feather, (deerskin, African cloth, wool), and copper painted by Penny Gamble-Williams, Spiritual Leader of the Chappaquiddick Tribe of the Wampanoag Nation

b.   2022 half day fishing trip with Kismet Outfitters

c.   wooden bowl from the Chappaquiddick Wood Company

d.  2022 flower share from Slip Away Farms

e.  custom Sea Bag tote with a Chappy Wrap blanket from Sandpiper Realty

f.  $100 gift certificate from Town Bar and Grill

Raffle tickets will be sold at the bib pick-up at Memorial Wharf on Saturday, August 28, 4-5 pm and Sunday morning at Chappy Point.

 Official Chappy Point to Point sweatshirts are available at Soft As A Grape on Dock Street in Edgartown

June COVID Update

COVID-19 Update

With the summer season almost upon us, the Chappaquiddick Island Association’s Environmental Committee is providing this brief summary of COVID-19 rates, restrictions, testing and vaccinations on Martha’s Vineyard. The information is as of May 25; because the situation is fluid, check these and other information sources regularly. 

• The good news is that Duke’s County has the highest vaccination rates in the commonwealth (63 percent fully vaccinated, 81 percent “first dosed”). The somewhat bad news is that it also has the highest COVID-19 positive rate (8.4 percent), with Edgartown having the highest positivity rate on the island. 

• Despite those numbers, the very good news for all of us is that the governor has announced that all industries will be permitted to fully open on May 29.  This means that - with the exception of public and private transportation systems, hospitals and other facilities housing vulnerable populations - all  masking, gathering and social distancing limits will be lifted (note however that private establishments may set their own masking rules).

• Here on Chappy, the CCC has announced that, in line with CDC policy, those vaccinated may gather without masks, while those who are unvaccinated must wear a mask.  Visit http://chappycommunitycenter.org/ for more information. 

• Peter Wells reports that masks will still be required on the Chappy Ferry since six-foot social distancing “cannot be assured.” Captains and deckhands will employ the “closed window, torn ticket” technique perfected last summer. 

• Testing is available again at the high school, and vaccinations can be had at both the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital (https://mvhospital.org/patients_and_visitor/covid-19-updates/) and the pharmacy at Edgartown’s Stop and Shop (https://pharmacy.stopandshop.com/ma/edgartown/245-vineyard-haven-road). 

• There is a state Department of Public Health “mobile vaccine bus” that is scheduled to visit the area again in mid-June; check the Duke’s County and Edgartown websites for more information. 

While this will certainly be a more “open” summer than last, continue to be safe and cautious. Happy summer!




Chappaquiddick Climate Work

The Environmental Committee of the Chappaquiddick Island Association has been busy addressing climate change concerns. They held a series of Zoom sessions in 2020 to address four separate climate issues for the benefit of Chappy residents, Edgartown officials, and other concerned parties. The sessions included a variety of experts discussing the important issue of climate change on Chappy. Each session is outlined below. Click on the title of each session to access an archived Zoom recording.

Session 1 - Sea Level Rise & Coastal Flooding

Session 1, held on August 15th, was focused on the science of sea-level rise and the impacts of coastal flooding from rising tides and storm surges on Chappy.  Rob Thieler, Director of USGS in Woods Hole, and Liz Durkee, Conservation Agent of Oak Bluffs, gave presentations. We became acutely aware of how vulnerable Chappy is to the effects of climate change and how critical it is that we prepare ourselves for the ever-increasing frequency and magnitude of weather-related emergencies.

Session 2 - Emergency Preparedness

Session 2, held on September 30th, addressed what Edgartown and other Island communities have in place for emergency response relating to flooding, forest fires, power outages, communication loss, and inaccessibility. Alex Schaeffer, Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director of Edgartown, and Noli Taylor, CERT coordinator for Aquinnah, gave presentations while Russ Hartenstine, Emergency Management Director of West Tisbury, moderated. Edgartown Town Administrator James Haggerty and ferry operator Peter Wells added comments. We learned what Edgartown has in place for preparedness and what is currently in the works or awaiting funding. We now understand how essential it is to create our own volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the ability to shelter in place.  The Committee is taking the lead in organizing a CERT and providing guidelines to ensure every household is properly equipped.

Session 3 - Coastal Erosion and Accessibility: How Can We Adapt?

Session 3, held on October 28th, addressed the ferry and coastal erosion issues related to climate change. Rick Murray, Deputy Director and Vice President for Research at WHOI, Cornelia Dean, science journalist and educator, and Joe Famely, Senior Environmental Scientist at the Woods Hole Group, gave presentations. Rick moderated and Jane Varkonda, Conservation Agent of Edgartown, and Peter Wells added comments. We learned how critical is it that we treat our beaches and bluffs strategically and holistically to minimize effects on the normal cycles of nature.  We learned of the vulnerability of the ferry and what is being studied through a MVP Vulnerability Assessment Project for potential long-term solutions.

Session 4 - Global Warming: How Can We Help Mitigate It?  

Session 4, held on December 3rd, was focused on the science of climate change to the land and the impacts of droughts and flooding on our ecosystems, wetlands, food supply, and aquifer.  Christopher Schwalm and Chris Neill, Senior Scientists of the Woodwell Institute, Lily Walker, owner and operator of Slip Away Farm, Jonathan Phinney, oceanographer with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and Alton Stone, Environmental Engineer with Alton Engineering, made the presentations. We learned the importance and methodologies of preparing for new wetlands resulting from sea-level rise, protecting forests and grasslands, supporting and cultivating local food sources, and monitoring and minimizing the mining of our limited fresh water supply. 

For more information on this CIA initiative, please read the Committee’s full report.

Looking for information on Edgartown? Visit the official Edgartown site here.