The weather has been the best. Another overnight thunderstorm again this week. The electrical storm at the end of June demolished our home telephones. That is fine with me as I only check my messages once every six months or so. It is rather nice not having to keep track of those 100-plus messages that rarely get answered. By the end of summer perhaps we will get new telephones but not really in a hurry as most people know how to contact us.

The third Annual Aquinnah Public Safety Day will be held on Saturday, July 30 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Aquinnah Fire Station. Join in the fun with your family and enjoy food, give-aways, a bounce house, and touch a truck. All are welcome to attend.

At the Aquinnah Public Library this week: story time is at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 30. From 11 to 3 p.m. make paper popsicles, and there will be a Harry Potter party from 11 a.m. to noon. For adults there will be a painting party from 1 to 3 p.m. On Tuesday, August 2 at 3 p.m. is kids summer club and at 5 p.m. there will be music on the deck.

Aquinnah Cultural Center will present the Mashpee Nine: A Story of Cultural Justice book signing and film at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday. Welcome Paula Peters from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, who will be signing her book that accompanies the film she made on this modern piece of Mashpee Wampanoag history. The book and film describe the arrest and trial of nine Mashpee men in 1976 during a time of upheaval in Mashpee’s history.

This is the last week of the Native American doll exhibit, Visit of the Little People. A new addition to the exhibit: Maushop, his wife Squant, their pet white whale, two other fish, and a pukwudgee. They have come to prepare the wee ones for their trip over to the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Museum, the next stop on their itinerary. For more information call 508-645-7900, or email aquinnahcc@gmail.com.

Sargent Gallery on State Road will have an open house on Sunday afternoon. On Sunday, July 31, the Community Baptist Church of Gay Head and First Baptist Church in Tisbury with meet jointly in a service at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church to bid a fond farewell to beloved Rev. Ellen Tatreau and her husband Douglas as they retire and move off-Island. Please stop by to wish them well.

Tony Garnier, his wife Tricia, and their sons Lucas, already 11, and Tino, already 8, have arrived for their annual Aquinnah vacation from their home in New York. Always great to see them.

Attorneys Christopher Lyons and his wife Kim have arrived for their annual Aquinnah visit. Always nice to catch up with them as Chris and I worked together for Ken Rose at Gay Head Sightseeing many decades ago.

I also had the pleasure of catching up with another GHSS tour bus driver this week, Peter Hoggan, and his family, who arrived for a memorial service for his mom Lorraine Hoggan, a fellow Oak Bluffs personnel board member as well as a colleague at the Vineyard Gazette.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Terry Ann Andrade, who passed away in Florida recently. Her memorial service will be held in September. Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jack Carbon who passed away recently. A friend of many years, since his wife Ginny resided in Sherborn near our cousin Kenny. Jack and Ginny attended many Fourth of July gatherings at the Twadelle residence in Edgartown for many years. He will be greatly missed. Condolences to the family and friends of Vernon Jernegan who passed away on July 10 at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Sincerest condolences to the family of my dear friend Marianne Thomas, who passed away on July 12 at her home. Marianne was the author of Our Portuguese Heritage, a two volume collection and history of the 3,000 Portuguese families who have settled on Martha’s Vineyard over the past two centuries. It was quite an accomplished work. I was honored to be a part of her team to write the revisions and was offered the opportunity to research the “S” families and those who married into the Wampanoag Tribe. When complete, my revisions will be an entire volume. It is anticipated that the revisions will be finalized and published. Marianne was a wonderful hostess at her home near Katama and at her Ocean Heights home as well. She will be greatly missed.

Happy 33rd Anniversary wishes to Jim Wallen and his bride Kathleen Smith as they celebrate on July 30.

Happy birthday wishes this week to Jamie Sue Spears Vanderhoop as she celebrates on July 30 and shares the day with Polly Galbraith and Chris Laursen. July 31 is a day of celebration for Dale Ferry, Terry Pothier, and Bernadette Crossland. August 1 there will be celebrations for Barbara Magnuson Phillips, Donald Smith, Charity Randdolph, Angela Cywinski, and Dr. Ryan Shea. Susan Britt, Ron MacLaren, Aileen Mahoney, and Meadow Bassett share the day on August 2. Tom Colligan and fellow Vineyard Gazette columnist Nancy Gardella party on August 3. Tricia Bergeron and Marvin Popkin share the day on August 4. Pamela Morgan Dolby and Susan Klein party on August 5.

Please send Aquinnah town news to junemanning152@gmail.com.