JUNE D. MANNING
508-645-2574
The temperatures have remained in the sixties once again this past week with just a few clouds overhead. It is a pleasure to see the new road signs for Totem Pole Way, Rose Meadow Way and for Attaquin Way: vital necessities in an emergency situation. A few beach plums still are left for picking.
Go Red Sox!
The Aquinnah community programs committee will be sponsoring a Halloween Fright Night at the Aquinnah Town Hall at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31. There will be a scary maze through the ghosts and goblins, as well as a Trunk or Treat — please bring your goodies for sharing in a basket to the parking lot rather than having everyone walking or driving down the ways and byways in the dark. Prizes will be awarded for specific categories during the evening.
Juleanne VanBelle, R.N. will be at the Aquinnah town hall on Friday, Nov. 2 from noon to 1 p.m. for blood pressure screening and other medical concerns. Please stop by to take part in this valuable service to our residents.
George Casey and Norbert Thurm have been at their home on Attaquin Way for the past month enjoying their daily walks in the autumn weather.
The Rev. David C. Cockcroft, pastor emeritus of the Riverdale Presbyterian Church in the Bronx, shared fond memories of Alvin Lane at the celebration of his life at the Harvard Club in New York on Sept. 20. Terese Lane had asked Reverend Cockcroft to be the lead speaker as he had known the family for years. In his Tribute to the Life of Alvin Lane, some notes reflected how honored he was to be invited to join in the celebration of Alvin’s life. He noted that he and Judith Birsh had spent three delightful hours in August at the Lane home and their conversations covered a full range of topics. They had a bit of lunch and Alvin, as usual, was true to form — “You know, David, I am an atheist” — with a twinkle in his eye. Very seldom did Alvin miss making this comment.
Reverend Cockcroft said: “I think he expected to get a rise out of me – no luck!
“Alvin was not linked to any religious institutions, but, I always felt he was a spiritual person and had a deep appreciation of the good things in life. I think of four areas where this was true.”
• His respect for the environment and living things: his Aquinnah property, carefully planted with a variety of trees and shrubs, is a botanical garden in and of itself. He even fashioned a pond to add to its charm.
• His love for art: That is a spiritual and aesthetic matter. Alvin saw beyond the superficial presentation to a deeper meaning. Reverend Cockcroft said he had been in a photographic workshop for over 30 years. Ralph Weiss, the leader, always said that a good photograph prompts the viewer to see the world in a new way. He called such a photograph “a revelation” — a religious term, by the way. All good art does just that. “I still have an article Alvin gave me on collecting art 25 years ago,” Reverend Cockcroft said.
• His generous nature as he shared his funds: “As the Riverdale Presbyterian Church engaged in a 125th anniversary campaign in 1988, we received a very generous, unsolicited check from Alvin,” Reverend Cockcroft said.
When he thanked him, Alvin said, “It is important to have strong institutions in our community and I want to support them to help keep them vital.” And, that was a church he was helping!
Generosity with his friends: “He and Terrie hosted my 70th birthday celebration six years ago at their home.” The Riverdale Martha’s Vineyard “mafia” (as it were) as well as a number of Vineyarders were in attendance.” It was a great evening.
“I will treasure the visits we had had over the last decades,” Reverend Cockcroft said. “I would wish that Terrie and the entire family that their memories will be happy ones. Be with them in this time of sadness and change. I appreciated the invitation from Terrie to share in this celebration in a club which he loved.”
Henry Costabel and his wife Betty are at their home overlooking Occooch Pond. Their guests this week include Richard Green of Cornwall, N.Y., and Linda Edlinger Larsen of Margaretville, N.Y. Henry and Betty are looking forward to spending the holiday season at their Aquinnah home and a little respite following her numerous orthopedic operations over the past year.
Condolences to the family of Ruby Downie who died at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Ruby was the director of volunteers at the hospital for many years. She was always so cheerful and assisted one and all in her duties always going above and beyond.
Michael Hebert and his wife Eleanor recently returned from an autumn visit to Lancaster, Pa., and Amish country.
Condolences to Connie Lima and her family and the many friends of Tony Lima, a longtime family friend of several generations.
Condolences to the family and friends of Emily Norton Magnuson, who so generously made the most delicious desserts for students while working at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School during our years there. In later years, we were able to work on genealogy and various family trees together and she assisted me many times.
Condolences to the family and friends of John D. Morelli. John resided in Aquinnah during his first few years of teaching at the high school and was a long-time family friend. He was an excellent English teacher who always challenged his students to make them succeed.
David Rountree, his wife Mimi Brill and their daughters Grace and Isobel returned to their winter home in Marlboro, Vt., on Sunday after a brief stay. They share their Aquinnah home with his brother Craig, his wife Tara and their daughters Jill and Shelly of North Kingston, R.I. Welcome to Aquinnah and we’ll look forward to their return in the near future.
Get-well wishes to Kathryn B. Stewart, our beloved organist for Community Baptist Church and music teacher of our youth, who has been a patient at Massachusetts General Hospital over the past week.
Condolences to Richard Walker and his son Hamilton and family and the many friends of Mary M. Walker who passed away recently. She will be fondly remembered at her memorial service on Saturday. Mary was the ever-so-helpful voice on the other end at the Steamship Authority.
Welcome to Brook Zern and his wife Kristin of Manhattan who have recently moved to the Vineyard. Brook will try to recapture some of the sights and sounds of the sixties in his retirement years. He is a student of flamenco guitar while Kristin is a travel consultant.
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