Aquinnah was enjoyed by many over the weekend with temperatures in the high 60s without a trace of rain. Iris blossoms are standing at attention.

Please remember to register to vote this week.

Beach rules and regulations have significantly changed this year in Aquinnah and in Chilmark. Please review the information on the respective town websites. There have been reports of whales in Menemsha Bight recently, very close to the beach yet difficult to determine whether they were humpback or minke whales.

News of the week has been very sad as we viewed the death of George Floyd before our eyes on television. The events over the past week have shattered our nation from coast to coast. May the protestors walk in peace rather than rioting.

Tribal members received PPE supplies from FEMA during the Covid-19 pandemic, shipped over to us from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. This past week FEMA provided fresh produce for tribal members. We are grateful for the generosity of FEMA and the Mashpee Tribe.

Comedian Seth Meyers will be the host of the 42nd annual Art Buchwald Possible Dreams Auction for the benefit of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services on July 26. Co-chairs of the auction this year will be Reuben Cronig and Martha McNally. It will also be your chance to bid on Martha’s Vineyard license plate #1. This year the auction will be a virtual event.

Congratulations to so many students who will be graduating this year without pomp and circumstance due to Covid-19. Everett Healy of Mermaid Farm will graduate from Eagle Hill School in Hardwick with honors. His great grandmother was the late Lydia Drew, our home economics teacher at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in the 1960s. Everett will attend Clark University after taking a gap year. In the meantime, he is spending his fourth summer working at Larsen’s Fish Market. He has volunteered many hours assisting elders with their technology challenges at the Howes House (the former homestead of his great, great grandfather Joseph Howes). Childhood friends and former schoolmates of Everettt will graduate as well including Violet Southwick from Tabor Academy, granddaughter of Lynne Irons. Jasper Zeender graduates from Tabor Academy as well. Their other classmates include Ryley Cameron and Gregory Clark of Aquinnah and Dash Christy of Chilmark. They have all succeeded in sports and scholastics over the years. Best of luck to all of them and may peace guide their paths.

Congratulations to Ruby Suman who will graduate from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School as one of the top 20 in her class.

Across the channel at USCG Station Menemsha, Jason Breau and Joel Behr serve their last days at the station. On Monday morning they were each presented an Achievement Medal by Senior Chief Justin Longval. BM2 Montgomery Buffington was promoted to BM2. Chief Longval presented a Letter of Commendation to USCG Auxiliarists Joseph Berini and Wayne Iacono for their hours of volunteering as watchstanders on nearly a daily basis.

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Ernest Barrett who passed away on May 26. He always had a good word to say while conveying the news of the day, with a great smile and a joyful laugh. Having known Ernie for decades, it was a pleasure always meeting him while he worked for the Vineyard Transit Authority in his retirement.

Condolences to the family and friends of Ken Rolston as well as the family and friends of Neil Welch Jr.

Happy 43rd anniversary wishes to Marvin and Janie Bankoff-Popkin on June 5.

Happy 13th anniversary to Michael and Melissa Vanderhoop Abram on June 9.

Belated Happy first birthday to Svend Axl Laursen who celebrated on May 19.

Happy Birthday this week to Sam Taylor on June 2. June 5 is a day of celebration for Joan Silva Pretty, George Baird and Emmett Cole Taylor, who will be 11 years old. Griffin Hughes, Tom Fantasia and Dr. Michael A. Drew will share the day on June 6. Charles Hoye, master ceramicist at Out House Pottery on State Road, will celebrate on June 8, sharing the day with Sarah Saltonstall. June 9 is a day of celebration for Kenneth Rose, Ernestine Rose Kinnecom, Michel J. Fox, Meaghan Jeffers and Allen Carney, who will observe a milestone.