JUNE MANNING

508-645-2574

(lthslnks@gis.net)

Welcome to President Obama and the First Family as they spend their vacation on the Vineyard. If they perhaps find their way to Aquinnah, they will realize it is the ancestral homelands of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) — the first federally acknowledged tribe in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The First Family has already declined an invitation to visit with members of the tribe but the invitation is always open and one day they may request a private history lesson and tour.

As you enter Aquinnah, you will notice our historic herring run which has operated every spring for centuries to serve our community. Menemsha Pond will be very evident as you drive into town, a large and beautiful body of water. The pond has been a major source of revenue for our families over the generations with a scallop harvest during the winter, oyster farming over the past decade, and the vital waters we depend upon for shellfishing.

Our Community Baptist Church of Gay Head is the oldest Native American Baptist Church in continuous ministry in the United States, having been formed in 1693. Our carefully kept church records assisted our tribe in gaining federal acknowledgement.

Our little red one-room schoolhouse is the oldest municipal building still in use in Aquinnah. Built circa 1859, it served as our educational institute for 107 years with grades one through six in attendance with one teacher. Today it serves as our town library. Our old town hall has served us well as our community center for the past 80 years, having been built during the depression by community members. We have attended our town meetings there, performed our school plays there, held square dances, learned French and ballet, and attended many celebrations.

Toward the Cliffs, you will notice the prominent Gay Head Lighthouse on the right, initially built in 1799 to warn ships of the treacherous area at the foot of the Cliffs. President John Adams authorized funds for the lighthouse at that time. On weekend nights during the summer there are sunset tours with an amazing view from the top of the lighthouse.

The clay Cliffs are part of our tribal lands and were designated a Natural Landmark in July 1966. Erosion changes the face of the Cliffs on a regular basis.

Our Tribe has maintained nearly 500 acres of tribal lands, mostly utilized as communal lands, being held in common for centuries.

We have several beautiful beaches in Aquinnah visited by thousands each summer. The surf fishing in Aquinnah is spectacular. Although mostly descendants of the Aquinnah Wampanoag reside here year-round, there is still a blend of non-Indian residents within the community. We are delighted to have generations of summer residents who arrive for their summer sojourns each year — many attorneys, producers, authors, artists, arbitrators, physicians, actors, financiers, academia and those from many other walks of life.

My primary message to the First Family would be to relax and enjoy yourselves. We have a serene atmosphere across the Vineyard to simply enjoy as you sit back and relax.

For President Obama — health care is of the utmost importance and one day I will write and inform you of a national decision I had recommended a few years ago that is in effect today. My grandson Noah has been a supporter of yours over the past year. P.S. I just happen to vacation on the Vineyard year-round. Welcome.

Rev. David Cockcroft has arrived for his annual Aquinnah visit and is once again staying at the Steinberg home.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Vance Harrison who died on August 16 after a long illness. Vance and his wife Ellen had recently returned to their Sarasota home after spending most of the month of July at their Aquinnah home where he enjoyed spending time shellfishing on Menemsha Pond. Vance is survived by his wife Ellen and their children Vance Jr., Matthew, Scott, and Annette. A memorial service will be held on Saturday in Florida.

Jamie Hubert and her friend Ruby Bell are at the Hubert compound on Lighthouse Road for the week. Jim Hubert and his wife Jody were at their family home during July. Their mother Herme Hubert will not be able to travel to the Vineyard this year and therefore remains in Mount Vernon.

Get well wishes to Joan Kistner who is progressing well and is expected to return to her home in Poughkeepsie over the weekend after several months of hospitalization and rehabilitation. She has one more surgery to go but is so much better.

Teresa Lane returned to her home in Hanover, N.H. this past week after spending a month with her daughter Judy and family.

Joan Leibovich and her husband Ted Sutton are entertaining her daughter Lori Leibovich and her husband Larry Kanter, editor of Inc., and their children Carlos Kanter, who is “5 and 1/4” and looks forward to starting kindergarten in Brooklyn in September, and Carla Kanter, age 2, who is learning to swim. Carlos has progressed this past week at Hannah Malkin’s pool by not only swimming from one side to the other but can now swim underwater as well and is quite excited. Mark Leibovich of Manhattan also had visited with his family during July.

Joan LeLacheur and Heather Hall will have a wampum and felt trunk show at the Yard on Middle Road in Chilmark on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, the 23rd at noon. Phoebe Sheldon, a guest ceramic artist, will join Joan and Heather with her work during the show.

Isabelle Lumb, daughter of Jessica Shafer, has recently returned to East Pasture following a recent European tour with friends. She visited Malaga, Spain; Munich, Germany; and Vienna, Austria. Of course, Ibby felt she enjoyed Spain the most. On Sunday, Ibby and her mom Jessica flew around the Vineyard in a biplane to celebrate the day.

It was good to see Eleanor Fischer Neubert in Chilmark on Monday — a rare occurrence before the start of the annual Agricultural Fair. There will be $20 wrist bands for those who wish to have their rides prepaid and not have to wait in line all the time. Have fun — and remember all roads lead to the Fair.

Aquinnah selectman Jim Newman and his wife Kathy have returned to their Aquinnah home after spending a few weeks traveling in July.

Lauren Walters, his wife Karen Cadenhead, and their sons Ed and Peter are at their Aquinnah home for the season. Ed recently graduated from Oxford University with a Masters Degree in public policy. He will soon be moving to Washington, D.C. to begin his new career and anticipates finding one in health care policy. Peter, a student at Trinity College (Ed’s alma mater) has recently completed sailing aboard the tall ship Niagara.

Luc Woodard, son of Rob and Gage, and brother of Caroline, is working at Faith’s Seafood for the summer. The Woodard family moved to Aquinnah from Boulder, Colorado this past year taking up residence on Locust Lane. Luc had attended Falmouth Academy and will transfer as a freshman at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in September. Caroline will be a student at the West Tisbury School.

Arnold Carr gave a wonderful, very well-attended presentation on Vineyard shipwrecks Monday evening at the Aquinnah town hall. He was assisted by Carlos Kanter who helped with the slide presentation.

The Aquinnah community programs committee has completed their summer program for the season. A thank-you to Hannah Malkin for once again providing the use of her swimming pool to teach the young children safe swimming. Each Wednesday afternoon the young swimmers and their instructors were in attendance at the pool and enjoyed themselves immensely. Also, a thank-you to Charles Shipway for his sailing instruction to the Aquinnah youth.

Happy anniversary wishes to Barry and Grace Reeves as they celebrate on August 25.

Happy 49th anniversary wishes to Gary and Elaine Zwicky as they observe their special day on August 28.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Isabelle Lumb who became a teenager on August 16. Teresa Temple will party on August 22 and shares the day with Giles Welch, Cera Garvin, and Philip Moreis Jr. Tricia Mulligan will party on August 23 as will Noli Taylor, Ginny Hall, Herb Allen, and Leonard C. Vanderhoop. Victoria Moreis will party on August 24, sharing the day with Linda Jeffers and Moshup Galbraith.

A very special happy birthday wish to Garth W. Edwards as he observes his 94th birthday on August 25.

Barry Reeves will party on August 25. Katherine Fleming will celebrate her special day on August 26. Marilyn Maciel will observe her special day on August 26. Chef extraordinaire Daphne Lewis will party on August 26.