JUNE D. MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks2004@yahoo.com)

Springtime in Aquinnah is nearly in full bloom. The flowering cherry trees are a burst of pretty pink blossoms in Anne Vanderhoop’s yard, as well as in the yard of Aiko Hydeman. Forrest Alley has his lawn greener than ever, and freshly mowed. The beach plum bushes are flowering, and the catbirds have arrived searching for raisins. Michael Hebert has the Whispering Wind off of the winter boat storage unit. The Fall River Ham Operators Club had their annual trip to Aquinnah Circle, which has been freshly cut by Jay Smalley. Aquinnah is blossoming!

Aquinnah residents are invited to the Aquinnah Public Library on May 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. for a reception to honor the work of out-going trustee Martha Vanderhoop and to welcome newly elected trustee Heidi Vanderhoop. Please bring a dish of finger foods to share. The tea on May 11 was a success.

The Outermost Inn opened on Thursday for dinner and guests. Captain Hugh Taylor and his wife Jeanne returned on May 1 from their winter in the Caribbean and await a busy summer season.

The Menemsha Galley opened yesterday and we look forward to taking the bike ferry over for lunch.

The Dreamcatcher will open today at the Cliffs, with Gordon Perry and Dona Mazza looking forward to another busy summer.

Our neighbor Jenna Petersiel has arrived for the season and will open the Chilmark Tavern on Tuesday, May 21. We are looking forward to many delightful dinners at the Tavern again this summer. It’s always a favorite spot for Jenna’s Aquinnah friends and neighbors.

Jemima James and Good Night Louise will perform on Wednesday, May 22, at 7 p.m. at the Grange in West Tisbury. Jemima is currently recording a new CD, which we will look forward to in the next month or two. Admission is free. See you there.

The Beach Plum Inn opened recently with Chris Fischer as the new chef. Charlotte Cook and I enjoyed a delicious dinner there over the weekend. We were delighted as we were surrounded by many friends and especially members of the Vineyard Gazette family who dined nearby including Steve Durkee and his wife Liz celebrating their 15th anniversary, Bill Eville and his wife Rev. Cathlin Baker celebrating Bill’s birthday, Chef Chris Fischer and yours truly all enjoyed the fare. A wonderful evening for many from across the Vineyard.

Lenny and Mallory Butler and their children, Maxwell of Boston and Nina of Aspen, entertained seven of their cousins and spouses for a four-day weekend family reunion. Cousins included Michael and Betty Purzycki of Wilmington, Del., as well as Joe and Sharon Purzycki of Wilmington. Chris and Leo Cunniff of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Mary Ellen Konyha of New Orleans. Mallory’s brother Dr. David Mosser and his wife Dr. Tricia Darrah of University Park, Md., were there. The guests all stayed at the Harbor View Inn in Edgartown, dining out each night except for Saturday when they had a big swordfish and tuna feast on the deck of the Butler home on Locust Lane. Maxwell and Nina were home for the weekend to re-meet their relatives after a hiatus of 15 years and to celebrate Mother’s Day. Needless to say, a grand time was had by all and the reunions will definitely be more frequent!

Charlotte Cook and her puppy Chloe have arrived from their winter home in Sacramento and are awaiting the arrival of her husband Craig Rakela.

Condolences to the family and friends of Doris Hamel who died at her Lighthouse Road home on May 1 following a brief illness. She was lovingly cared for by her son Charlie Thomas for the past 21 years. Doris is survived by her son Charles Thomas of Aquinnah and Ernest Thomas of West Tisbury, and her grandchildren David and Sheri. She was predeceased by her spouses George Thomas and John Hamel, and by her son George Thomas Jr. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Robert MacDiamid and his wife Beverly Wright have arrived from their winter home in Charleston, W.V. Beverly will stay at their Aquinnah home through autumn while Mac travels back and forth as frequently as possible.

Congratulations to Ella Madison Mahoney who has been accepted at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan after submitting a portfolio with 25 pieces of her best artwork. Ella is the daughter of Julianne Vanderhoop of Aquinnah and Michael Mahoney of Sagamore Beach.

Congratulations and all the best to Melissa Nichols Mahoney, daughter of Kevan and Marcy Nichols of Tisbury, as she heads out to Omaha, Neb., this week to receive her doctorate in occupational therapy. Melissa is a 1989 graduate of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and is an occupational therapist with the Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools.

Condolences to Craig Rakela and his family in the loss of his father George Rakela who died on April 29.

Arlen Roth and his daughter Lexie Roth were at their Aquinnah home over the weekend. They will return in a month, in time for the Aquinnah Power Cruise and to stay for the summer.

Get well wishes to Herb Slater who is presently recuperating at his home after spending a few days at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

Captain William D. Vanderhoop Jr., aka Captain Buddy, and his wife Lisa Bibko-Vanderhoop and all the Menemsha fishing charter captains and crew of the American Heroes Saltwater Challenge celebrated each autumn have been invited to Washington, D.C., by Sarah Guinan Nixon, her husband Robert Nixon and their children. For the past four years, they have opened their businesses of the Beach Plum Inn, Menemsha Inn, and the Home Port Restaurant to honor and host wounded veterans and their assistants, providing a week of saltwater fishing, friendship and fun. The National Geographic film of the American Heroes Saltwater Challenge will premiere at the U.S. capitol on May 21. It will air on May 27 at 10 p.m. on the National Geographic channel. Menemsha captains who participate in the challenge — Jennifer Clarke, Scott McDowell, Jonathan Boyd, Charles Finnerty, Lev Wlodyka and Thomas Langman — have been invited to the premiere as well.

Carl Widdiss and Pam Glavin returned recently after having a wonderful long weekend touring Maine.

Happy 18th anniversary wishes to Robert MacDiarmid and Beverly Wright as they celebrate on May 20.

Troy and Marcia Vanderhoop will celebrate their 13th anniversary on May 20.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Mark Wheaton, Malcolm Smith, Grace Reeves, Genie O’Donnell and Faith Corbo as they celebrate on May 18.

Happy 80th birthday wishes to Joan Kistner as she celebrates on May 19.

Captain Robert Kinnecom will celebrate his special day on May 20 and shares the day with Meredith Trimmer. Elsie Fantasia will party on May 21 and shares the day with Jean Entine. Bridget Tobin will celebrate her special day on May 22 and shares the day with Jailynn Hill, Maureen Dolby Stanus, and Matthew Hayden, who will observe a major milestone, Mia Rae Jeffers will be 10 years old on May 23.