The secret to such beautiful and abundant rhododendrons this spring is obviously all of the night-time rain we have experienced in Aquinnah and beyond. The beach plum bushes are in bloom and the rosa rugosa appear beautiful and are very fragrant.

Thank you to Thomas Murphy Esq., our veterans’ grave officer in Aquinnah for placing American flags at the graves of our departed comrades for Memorial Day. Always a special sight to share remembrances of our veterans.

At the Aquinnah Public Library there will be a Father’s Day barbeque on June 15 from noon to 2 p.m.

Max and Cheryl Batzer would like to thank their family and friends for their donations to the Mountains and Martha’s exchange program that was very successful.

Congratulations and all the best to Dr. Kyle William Killebrew, grandson of Gaby and John O. Vanderhoop (Major USAF Ret.), who received his PhD in psychology from the University of Nevada at Reno on May 16. Kyle is the son of Eric Scott Killebrew and the late Christina Vanderhoop Killebrew. Kyle was hooded at graduation ceremonies by his mentor professor, Gideon Caplovitz.

Family and friends attended the ceremony while staying in picturesque Truckee, Calif. The following day (on Kyle’s birthday) a festive party was held in Truckee. Everything, including transportation, accommodations and partying were provided by Kyle’s gracious adoptive mother, Nia Buzunis Killebrew. On June 6, Kyle left for Minneapolis where he has accepted a research position at the University of Minnesota as he works on a post-doctorate.

Get well wishes to Maysel Vanderhoop White who is recovering from her emergency surgery at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

All the best to USCG Chief Robert Parent, his wife Valerie, and their children Robert, Eli, Isaac and Veda Lynn as they transfer to his new assignment in Rockland, ME. Chief Parent had previously served at USCG Station Menemsha and has enjoyed being back at Menemsha for the past three years of his twenty-one year career. They will be greatly missed.

All the best to BM2 Leanna M. McKenna as she departs for her new assignment in Gloucester. It has been a pleasure knowing Leanna over her past three and a half years at USCG Station Menemsha.

Happy Father’s Day.

Happy belated 12th anniversary to Michael and Melissa Abram on June 9.

Happy 10th anniversary to Doug Plummer and Cathleen Sheehan on June 20.

Celebrating birthdays this week are Kenneth Rose, Ernestine Rose Kinnecom, Michael J. Fox, Allen Carney, Meaghan Jeffers, Barry Milavsky and Ted Cammann. Happy Flag Day birthdays to Elmer Vanderhoop, Mike Mayrand and Madeline Fisher. Kristina Leslie parties on June 15, as will Sylvia Capelli. A very special happy 13th birthday to my much loved grandson Noah James Manning on June 16. June 16 is also a day of celebration for Amy Lilavois who will observe a milestone, as will Pam Bunker and Ron Rappaport. Tabitha Rose parties on June 17, sharing the day with Nancy Leport, Irena Gerhard and Greg Borchow. Scott Mullin will party on June 19. Dr. Tom Green will celebrate on June 20, sharing the day with Faith Smalley.

Send Aquinnah news to junemanning152@gmail.com.