JUNE D. MANNING
508-645-2574
Thank you to Kerry Alley for his wonderful presentation at the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living cultural luncheon on March 12. Kerry gave a very impressive overview of the Portuguese community on Martha’s Vineyard — why they came here, how they survived, their language and education, their accomplishments in the Vineyard community and their many contributions. Many of us left the luncheon on Saturday knowing so much more about the Portuguese.
To learn more about the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living there will be a discussion at the Vineyard Haven Library on Tuesday March 22 at 3 p.m. Members of the board, including president Diane Jetmund and the director of the Social Day Program Leslie Clapp, will present the mission, the programs offered, upcoming events, fundraising and volunteer opportunities. Thank you to Betty Burton for coordinating the efforts for the presentation, which is funded by the late Stephen C. Luce Jr. and by the late Ruth Redding.
On March 24, it will be the color “Yellow” at the Aquinnah Public Library. Children ages three to seven are encouraged to wear something yellow for the afternoon while they work on a yellow craft project and read stories with the color yellow in them. The program is from 4 to 5 p.m. Snacks will be served. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All the best to Aquinnah spelling champions as they participate in an Island-wide spelling bee at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in the Performing Arts Center at 9:30 this morning. Coltrane Leport will represent the Chilmark School and Pearl Vercruysse will represent the West Tisbury School. Good luck to Coltrane and Pearl.
Natalie Francis returned home on Tuesday after spending several days on the Cape with her sons Anthony and Louis. After nearly 15 years as the Aquinnah Library assistant, Natalie will be retiring from that position at the end of the month. A grand celebration will be held in her honor, the particulars of which will be announced next week.
William and Joan Kistner returned to their home in Poughkeepsie, NY on Wednesday morning after spending the past few days with our grandson Noah James Manning. They enjoyed an early St. Patrick’s Day dinner with family and friends on Tuesday evening. Have you ever seen green seltzer or green water or green marshmallow peeps. It was a joyous evening at the home of Paul and Theresa Manning.
Taza Vercruysse has arrived home for his spring break. Taza, son of James Vercruysse and Layne Bazzy, is a sophomore at Wooster College in Ohio.
Dawn Widdiss returned to her home in Natick on Monday afternoon after spending the weekend with her mom, Gladys Widdiss. She also visited with her brothers, Donald and Carl, as well as other various and sundry friends and relations.
On March 8, tribal members and Aquinnah residents enjoyed a performance by the ECHO (Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations) troupe. Performers included Stephen Blanchett (Yupik) representing the Alaskan Native Heritage Center in Anchorage and traveling from Alaska with Steve was Anthony Bryant (Inupiaq Eskimo) and a descendant of the Vineyard Bodfish family. Casey Bigpond (Choctaw) represented the Mississippi Band of Choctaws. Ani Lokomaikai Lipscomb (Hawaii) represented the Bishop Museum in Hawaii. Annawon Weeden (Mashpee Wampanoag) represented the Wampanoag Nation. They were accompanied by Daniel Elias, Peabody Essex Museum ECHO Project Director, and by Edward Bourgeios as their stage manager. The performers are spiritually linked with their song, dance and stories. One could easily learn their wisdom and values through their performances.
The ECHO Program has been in place for the past 11 years. This was the eighth year they have performed on the Vineyard. They are funded by the Alaskan Native Heritage Center, the Bishop Museum, the Mississippi Band of Choctaws and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). The primary funding is through the United States Department of Education. Like so many programs across America, this program will probably not receive further funding, which would be a travesty as it has brought so many cultural groups together over the years that perhaps would never have known each other or had the opportunity to learn about each other. They performed in Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi and Massachusetts this year, which concluded with their final performance at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.
The Peabody Essex Museum has also funded quite a few Aquinnah tribal youth in their attending youth leadership conferences in Anchorage, Alaska. Let us all hope that funding will continue for this educational and inspirational program.
Happy 23rd anniversary wishes to Albert and Linda Fischer as they celebrate their special day on March 20.
Happy birthday wishes this week to James Heine who will be 100 years old on March 19. He will be honored with a celebration with family and friends in White Plains, N.Y.
As you pull into Menemsha Texaco on March 19, please wish Marshall Carroll a happy birthday. March 20 will be a day of celebration for Kristie Mayhew, Joseph Corbo and Rita Meyer. Annette Anthony, Joseph Andrews, Ashley Bruce and Ellen Reynolds will all party on March 22. Daniel Sauer will celebrate on March 23 as will Paul Galbraith, Renee VanBrakle Metell, Nanauwe Ama Vanderhoop and Dwight Kaeka. Laurie Jeanne Bradway, Rya Baird, Aretha Witham Brown, Karen VanBrakle, Anna Monteiro and twins Joe and TM Araujo all share the day on March 24. Gary Foster, James Benoit, Emma Mayhew, Sue Mitchell and Eloise Moreis all share the day on March 25.
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