Warm summer days have finally arrived after a rather chilly spring. The harbors are filling with boats, homes are full with seasonal residents with their families and friends, renters are in their rentals, and schools on the Vineyard close today. Summer has arrived!
Quite a bit of excitement Saturday when a sport fishing vessel started to smoke as it was nearing Menemsha Harbor, the emergency called in by Captains Buddy and Chip Vanderhoop. All seven passengers were safely removed from the vessel by Chilmark harbor master Dennis Jason and assistant harbor master Glenn DeBlase. The burning boat was towed to the Aquinnah side of the Menemsha jetty into the bowl of Menemsha Bight and anchored in the shallow waters at Lobsterville beach. Members of Coast Guard Station Menemsha assisted in quelling the fire. Those aboard the 29-foot Coast Guard rescue boat and later aboard the 47-foot Coast Guard motor lifeboat standing by for three hours included the crew Adam Smith, Joseph Queen, Ben Renner, and Martin Ridge. The fire was attended by Aquinnah police officer Steve Mathias and Tri-Town EMTs Luke Sudarsky, Heather McElhinney, and Adam Wilson. Due to the fiberglass, the boat burned for more than three hours and was finally put out by Aquinnah fire chief Simon Bollin and firemen Frank Perez, Danny Marshall, Kenneth Cottrill and Darren Leport. Chilmark firemen assisting included Alan Porter and Robert Coutinho. There were no injuries on land nor on the sea.
At the Aquinnah Public Library on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the children will be making fish using celery to create scales. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. it is time to sign up for the summer reading program. There will be free T-shirts for all participants.
At the Aquinnah Cultural Center this week, there are house tours through Saturday, 11 to 4 daily. On Saturday at 4 p.m. check out Visit of the Little People, the opening of the Wampanoag doll exhibit. View beautiful and intricate handmade dolls by several Wampanoag artists. You will find them at the cultural center tending to their own doll business, whether ready to dance at a powwow, sitting at home making crafts, or popping out of certain particular perches to surprise you. The exhibit opening will also feature a special guest, Leonard from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, who will perform some traditional dances. It is also Leonard’s 50th birthday, so there will be birthday cake.
The annual Howes House art show and sale will be held Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and again on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The show and sale is open to all and is the work of the Friday afternoon watercolorists who meet throughout the year.
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum invites one and all to an open house on Wednesday, June 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Marine Hospital. Tour select rooms in the historic 1895 building, learn about plans to renovate the property, and meet the new executive director, Phil Wallis, if you haven’t done so. Enjoy a pop-up exhibit on the lawn celebrating Island Stories, 50 treasured objects from the museum’s collection. Food and drink will be served, and kids’ activities and games will take place under a tent
The Old South Road Neighborhood Association will be hosting the 13th annual Fourth of July children’s parade on July 4 at 11 a.m. Events will start with face painting at the Goldfield-Mannion home at 10 a.m. and floats, cars, and bikes should start lining up at the top of the hill at 10 a.m. Please park on Moshup Trail.
The parade starts off at 11 a.m. sharp at the top of Old South Road. Donations of flags, toys, and decorations are encouraged. Please invite all neighbors and friends with children and families.
In addition to the class of 2016 students with an Aquinnah connection I reported a week ago, I must add Kaylee Tebo and Corey Vanderhoop as members of our Aquinnah community.
Get well wishes to George Baird, who recently was a patient at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. But nothing would have stopped him from missing the MVRHS graduation of his oldest child Rya Suzanne Baird who resides with her grandparents Alfred and Jill Woollacott in Harthaven.
Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Arthur BenDavid. A longtime family friend who shared many great times with members of the Oak Bluffs fire department, and many meetings while he was the Oak Bluffs harbor master.
Sincerest condolences to the family, friends and fellow fishermen in the loss of Luke Gurney on Monday morning at sea. He is survived by his wife Robyn Gurney (a West Tisbury School teacher) and by his young sons Jacob and Samuel.
Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Samuel Issokson, a family friend of many generations.
Judy Lane and her family have arrived at their family home for the season. Judy has made two journeys to Africa this past year in teaching a community in sustainability.
Barry and Judith (Barker) Lutender have arrived after spending the winter in Florida.
John, Amy, and Zach Macey have arrived for the season. They enjoyed a weekend visit from their longtime friend Ellen, a former college roommate of Amy.
Mrs. Hannah Malkin and her friends, including Nicole, have arrived for their summer stay at her home. Her nephew Eric and his wife Bobbi returned to Florida on Saturday afternoon after spending two glorious weeks at Hannah’s home. Av and Dora Morrow have arrived for their summer stay at DoraLu Manor. Dora has spent a few days at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital but is now out and about with Av. This is close to being their 70th summer in Aquinnah.
Donald Scranton and Ekaterina Tchelidze have arrived for the summer. Donald is once again working for the Aquinnah Police Department. Kate is back at her duties at Menemsha Fish Market. Kate recently graduated from college near her home in the country of Georgia. Of course, Donald attended her graduation ceremonies.
Jessica Shafer and her daughter Isabelle Lumb have arrived for the season, accompanied by Douglas Walker. Jessica will be selling her crystals at the Chilmark Flea again this summer. Isabelle has just completed her freshman year at Boston College and really enjoyed being in Boston. Douglas is a successful real estate broker in Charleston, S.C. as well as in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They look forward to a busy and successful summer.
Happy 35th anniversary wishes to Barry and Dorothy Sullivan on June 27.
Happy birthday wishes tomorrow to Carly Simon. Robert Schiller will also party on June 25. June James MacDonald (reads this column each week at age 96) will party on June 26. Judy Lana Peterson celebrates on June 26 and Edward Fantasia will observe a milestone on the 26th. Kathie Crocker Carroll will observe her special day on June 27. Anna Cotton parties on the 27th. Beth Mayhew will observe her special day on June 28, and Marilyn Maynard will celebrate on June 29.
July 1 is a day of celebration for Kenneth Ivory, Stephanie Devine, Major Sean Smith, Aquinnah firefighter Kenneth Cottrill, and Lyle Vanderhoop.
Send Aquinnah news to junemanning152@gmail.com.
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