JUNE D. MANNING
508-645-2574
Aquinnah is getting more springlike each day. The dogwood and magnolias are in bloom, the daffodils and forsythia are still very vibrant. The street sweeper went through town on Tuesday morning, and upon awakening on Wednesday morning, there were newly painted bright yellow lines down the middle of the roadways. Faith Vanderhoop will be opening Faith’s Seafood Shack today with a limited menu for the spring. The HatMarChar and Stoney Creek shops are open for the season, and Anne Vanderhoop Madison anticipates the Aquinnah Shop will be open by May 1.
The 20th annual Earth Day beach cleanup will be celebrated on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. Penny Uhlendorf reminds us that volunteers will meet at Lobsterville and Philbin Beach for the cleanup. Bret Stearns noted that the beach under the Cliffs will be cleaned with the assistance of Gary Coates and Andrew Jacobs, who will meet volunteers at the Land Bank entrance and will have the Polaris and a trailer to carry the many treasures back to the road site.
The Farm Institute invites you to the second annual Sheepapalooza on Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — a day filled with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Tickets are $10 per family or $5 per individual. I finally met the new director, Jonathan Previant, over the weekend at Chilmark Community Center with his lovely wife, Sundy Smith, who is a former classmate at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in attendance with her cousin/classmate Chris Murphy and his wife, Barbara — also a classmate.
We all had an enjoyable evening at the community center for the second Beetlebung Festival of the Arts and Edibles, with music by Lydia Fischer, Jason Nichols and the band You Won’t. A most delicious dinner by Chris Fischer, coffee by Todd Christy of Chilmark Coffee Company, and the art of Susan Johnson — definitely an enjoyable evening for one and all in attendance and anticipation for the next festival.
The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living hosts the Martha’s Vineyard Campground and the architecture of the Camp Meeting Association, which will be featured at the cultural luncheon on Saturday, April 21 from noon to 2 p.m. at The Grill on Main in Edgartown. Chef Anthony Saccoccia and his staff will prepare a seasonal asparagus soup with a Cottage City entrée salad of grilled shrimp and grilled vegetables over baby greens with raspberry vinaigrette. For dessert, warm mixed berry chutney over vanilla ice cream. A vegetarianentrée will also be available. Tickets are $25 and may be reserved by calling director Leslie Clapp at 508-939-9440. Perhaps you will win one of the limited number of door prizes.
Nicole Galland will be at the West Tisbury Library on Tuesday, April 24 at 5 p.m. to read from her latest novel, I, Lago. Refreshments will be served. Nicole has been busy directing Shakespeare for the Masses in which Molly Purves has played the part of Portia.
Middletown Nursery in North Tisbury offers a discount for elders on Mondays and Polly Hill cardholders receive a discount every day. Stop by and see Lisa Lane for all of your gardening needs and your floral desires. Middletown will host a Family Fun Day on Sunday, April 22 where you will learn lessons in how to grow. Vegetable and flower seeds will be available for 20 per cent off for Family Day. Light refreshments will be served.
Chilmark Chocolates will be opening on Thursday, April 26, just in time to replenish your private stock.
The Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group will host an extravaganza on Saturday, April 28 from 7 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. Snacks and beverages will be served. Tickets are $20 per person. Johnny Hoy will entertain while fresh oysters and clams on the half shell are served. If you would like to help for the night or to donate an item for the silent auction, please call Amandine at 774-563-0953.
Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Charlotte Litt, who passed away this week in Brookline. The Litt family have been longtime summer residents of Harpoon Hollow and enjoyed their home on weekends throughout the off-season. She is survived by her husband Mortimer and their sons Timothe, Eric, and Marc and their families.
Congratulations to Ella Mahoney, daughter of Julianne Vanderhoop and Michael Mahoney, on her recent acceptance of a scholarship to attend Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio. Ella won a Gold Key in the Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards for her photograph Teddy and I. Her portfolio is filled with works in acrylics as well as pencil drawings and other mediums. She will spend three weeks in Columbus during July.
Mike and Carol Mayrand have returned home after a wonderful trip to the West Coast and visits with their children.
Arlen Roth is now on kickstarter.com, gaining support for his new album, Slide Guitar Summit, featuring many of the greatest guitarists around. He is looking forward to spending the summer at his home in Aquiinnah.
Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Gary Zwicky, who passed away at home in Oak Park, Ill. on April 8. Gary and his wife, Elaine “Susie,” were longtime neighbors along Lighthouse Road. His specialty was as an organist, although he played many instruments over the years. He would on occasion be the guest organist at Community Baptist Church of Gay Head and enjoyed being the musical director of the Vineyard Haven Band. Gary was also the president of the Martha’s Vineyard Parkinson’s Group. Gary and Susie were very sad to leave their Aquinnah home in 2009 when she required medical care and they returned to Illinois to be closer to their children, Frederick and Jeanette, and their grandchildren, whom they were very proud of.
From the Vineyard Gazette archives of April 25, 1947, “A daughter, Elinor, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Carol I. Francis at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Saturday. The mother and baby are getting along well.”
Belated Happy Birthday wishes to Lynne Whiting, who celebrated her special day on April 18.
A very special birthday wish to our Up-Island Council on Aging Director, Joyce Bowker, as she celebrates her special day on April 21. My former editor Lauren Martin will be celebrating at her new home in Sydney, Australia on Saturday. James Mahoney will party on April 21. Clovis Hugo Smith will be one year old on April 22 and shares the day with Timothy Laursen. Rachel Millman Vanderhoop will party on April 23 and shares the day with Tom Rabbitt and Denys Wortman. One of my most favorite cardiac rehab companions, Ray Ellis, will celebrate his special day on April 24. As I head off-Island next week, I must stop by the SSA office to wish Human Resources Director Philip Parent a very happy birthday on April 26 — one who reads my column each week. A very happy birthday to one of our treasured volunteers at Aquinnah Public Library, Jean Lince, who will observe a major milestone on April 27.
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