JUNE D. MANNING
508-645-2574
Martha’s Vineyard Neighborhood Convention convened at the Tribal Building on Veterans Day. Tobias Vanderhoop presented an overview of the Wampanoag history and culture, followed by a question and answer period. Rev. Robert Hensley, president of the convention, offered a prayer before lunch for the 63 attendees.
The Neighborhood Convention is the oldest interdenominational group on the Vineyard. The first meeting was Nov. 13, 1894 as a “neighborly meeting” to promote better relationships among all the congregations. Rev. Denniston led the first meeting. Each month, other than July and August, the group meets with a guest speaker, hosted by one of the many churches on the Vineyard. Their program is open to the public and all are invited to attend; simply bring your bag lunch, as dessert and beverages are provided by the host church.
The monthly offering is taken and then distributed between 15 charities across the Vineyard that assist one and all. If you are unable to attend one of the programs, you may still make a donation to the Martha’s Vineyard Neighborhood Convention through your individual house of worship.
The next meeting of the convention will be held on Dec. 2 at 10:45 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, Trinity Park, in Oak Bluffs. Pastor Richard Rego will offer worship. Janis Wightman, Aquinnah resident and regional high school music director, will present the Minnesingers’ annual performance for the convention.
Did you pick up the wrong bag by mistake on Tuesday? Gladys Widdiss had carefully packed a candlestick with clay for one of her customers. She carefully placed the bag on the table as the contents were quite delicate, and by the end of the day the bag was nowhere to be found. If you mistakenly have the wrong green and blue bag, please return it to Gladys or call her at 508-645-3710.
The Aquinnah Public Library will be closed for the remainder of the month, after which it will reopen across the street in the old town hall. Books, periodicals, videos and DVDs are still being organized and packed appropriately for transport across the road in a golf cart. Larger items, book racks, and furniture will be packed and removed by Trip Barnes and his moving company.
In the meantime, one would hardly recognize the town hall. The old office on the west side is completely redone by Jed Smith, George Szilassy and Edwin Vanderhoop for a new emergency management services office. The trim and doors in the hall itself are now a peach color with light cream walls, the ceiling has been insulated and updated to improve the acoustics, the roof has been shingled, hand rails are inviting by the front door, the kitchen is near completion, and the main floor will be sanded and resurfaced within the next two weeks. Partial funding of the improvements came from Community Preservation Act funds and part from the general borrowing fund, all well-deserved for the 80-year-old building that has provided a meeting place for our community for all these years.
Get well wishes to Alexander Galbraith, son of Mrs. Marjorie Vanderhoop Galbraith, as he continues his medical treatment.
Dan Sauer, his wife Nonie Madison, and their sons, two-year-old Waylon and six-week-old Amos, returned home on Sunday after spending the weekend in Providence with friends. They enjoyed relaxing all weekend following their busy summer schedules.
Get well wishes to Leroy Smalley who is resting comfortably at his home in Saunderstown, R.I. His son, Jay, Millicent, and their children will travel to visit with him over the weekend.
Captain Brian F. Vanderhoop and his wife, Elaine Diotima Vogel Vanderhoop, recently returned from a two-week tour of Italy and Germany. They traveled by train to some of the most exciting cities and through the countryside, spending a week with Elaine’s family in Germany.
Dukes County veterans agent Jo Ann Kinnecom Murphy recently sent packages to seven of our Vineyard men serving overseas. Please let her know if one of your Vineyard family members is now serving. She is presently gathering items to be sent in time for the holidays. Most of the service men and women share their packages from home by placing items on a community table. Some of the items really enjoyed include chewing gum, playing cards, soft covered books, Girl Scout cookies, AT& T calling cards (with CONUS rates), puzzle books, toiletries, snacks, hard candies, socks, knitted hats, blow pops, magnets or postcards from the Vineyard (to remind them of home), and greeting cards. Chocolate may be sent during December. Any items you would like to donate for the next shipment of packages, please drop off at Jo Ann’s office at the Dukes County Office Building (the first building on the right at the airport) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Thank you to Cynthia Meisner for her archival information on Leonard Vanderhoop Sr., a veteran of World War I, including the fact that all four of his sons served in the armed forces, as noted in the Chronicle of the Nov. 7 issue of the Vineyard Gazette.
Our community has always been very patriotic and we are always reminded of our men who served 90 years ago when Gay Head sent the highest proportionate share for the population of any other city or town in New England. Seventeen per cent of our population served, and 21 of the 23 that served from Gay Head were members of the Wampanoag Tribe. It certainly gave many of us reason to pause and reflect on Veterans Day, which was originally known as Armistice Day and the significance of Nov. 11, 1918 at 11 a.m.
The Aquinnah scalloping season will begin on Monday, Nov. 17. According to several sources, this season should see an abundant harvest and perhaps be even better than the previous season.
Happy birthday wishes this week to Lewis Colby who will be celebrating today. Choreographer Clare Ives will celebrate on Saturday, as will Brigelle Gibson. Benjamin Booker will be 11 years old on Nov. 17. Tiffany Vanderhoop will party on the 18th. Rick Vanderhoop parties on the 20th and shares the day with Maxwell Butler. Conrad Noble and Junior Vinson will celebrate on Nov. 21.
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