This has been another blustery week with torrential rain on Sunday, significant winds and ferries cancelled. I was stranded off-Island for the first time in years. Many Halloween activities across the Island have been rescheduled to Saturday for Trick or Treating.

The Aquinnah Climate and Energy Committee, co-chaired by Bill Lake and Noli Taylor, has done outstanding work necessary to move our community closer to Green Community designation, energy reduction, emergency planning and preparedness. A progress report has already been presented to the town. We can all look forward to the new era being put forth.

The Aquinnah Vulnerability and Preparedness 2019 – Community Resilience Building Workshop will be held on Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the town hall. Coffee, pastries and lunch will be served. RSVP to town clerk Gabriella Camilleri at 508-645-2304.

Theresa Manning, Kayla and Kylee Darcy, and yours truly traveled to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. over the weekend as guests of Bill and Joan Kistner. On Saturday we attended the surprise 30th birthday party for Stephanie Kistner, daughter of Michael and Margaret Kistner and the late Barbara Stone Kistner. The event was held at the Old Adriance Farm in Staatsburg, N.Y. It was a lovely pastoral setting with livestock mingling amid the party-goers. Four generations of the Kistner family and many friends were in attendance, hosted by Stephanie’s sister Allison Kistner Pitcairn and her husband Marc. The celebration was catered by Bill & Bob’s BBQ in Poughkeepsie (her Uncle William Kistner, Jr. and Cousin Bob Kistner) and by Quitsa Cuisine (her Aunt Theresa) of Aquinnah. A grand time was had by all, including the dozens of young children who bounced the afternoon away in the bounce houses.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Ronald Low who passed away on Oct. 26 at his home in Cresskill, N.J. Ron was a long-time seasonal resident of Old South Road who enjoyed his summers in Aquinnah surrounded by great friends. He especially enjoyed his fishing adventures. He decorated his red truck, displaying his patriotism with flags and participating in the annual Aquinnah Fourth of July parade. Dr. Low spent a 45-year career at Hackensack University Medical Center, in a private practice and as chair of the department of Otolaryngology. He never hesitated to offer his advice when asked while on vacation.

Ron is survived by his wife Cynthia, their daughters Rachel Low and Elizabeth Low Honig and her husband Jonathan Honig, his grandchildren Jett, Skylar, and Morgan, his brother Paul Low and his wife Renee. Shiva and services were held earlier this week in Cresskill.

Tom and Christine Murphy, along with Rob and Sue Schiller, Steve Kaufman and others traveled to Cresskill over the weekend to attend the services for Dr. Low. Ron was this year’s Old South Road Fourth of July parade marshal and will be missed by his many friends and neighbors who loved him, including the Mannion-Goldfields, Donahue-Patton’s, the Keller-Kaufman’s, the Niessen’s, the Norkus’s, the Corbo’s and the Murphy’s. He will be missed by the Manning family as well. A sad day for Old South Road and Aquinnah.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Emily Jardin Scott who passed away on Oct. 26 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She is survived by her son Francis Scott IV and grandchildren Matthew, Samuel and Naomi. Services will be held on Nov. 1 at St. Augustine’s Church.

Happy birthday wishes to Greyson Bowker on Nov. 1; Sharon Diamond Araujo on Nov. 2; Janice Cook Sylvia on Nov 3; Melissa Vanderhoop Abram on Nov. 4; Aaron Metell Nov. 5 and his brother Jeremy Provost on Nov. 8.