In Hawaii it is called Discoverers Day. In Puerto Rico it is Dia de la Raza, to honor the Latin American people and their culture. South Dakota was the first state, in 1982, to toss Christopher... who?... and replace him with Native American Day.

Nobody asked me, and nobody ever will, but I don’t love the words ‘indigenous peoples’ because it sounds so bureaucratically stuffy and so unlike the dignified simplicity I associate with native culture. If anyone does ask about the name for this late-to-the-table holiday, I prefer the clarity of the terms Native Americans, or First Nation, or First People. Not ‘peoples.’

I am proud that this holiday weekend is being held in Massachusetts — one of only 17 states to honor the people who have been here so many millenia, and who never did make a mess of the planet the way the rest of us are doing.

Jeff and Nancy Smith were here from Vienna, Va., for a quick week’s vacation, sharing Washington scuttlebutt (and a promise of a positive election outcome), good meals and visits with Allen and Lynne Whiting, with Pat Hughes, Claudia Lee, Soo Whiting, with us Maleys, and possibly others if they found time to make the rounds.

Happy birthday to Martha Abbot on Wednesday, Oct, 16.

Birthday wishes also to Cam Napior on Oct. 16 and his brother Leo Napior on Oct. 18. Their sister Stella celebrates Oct. 27, making it somewhat convenient for their busy parents to observe the events with one big cake and several boxes of candles.

It is Gotcha Day (the day she joined her family) for Maya O’Neill on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Happy anniversary to Tim Lawson and Dorie McCullough on Oct. 15, to Jennifer Burke and Bruce Haynes, also on the Oct. 15, and to Giorgio Utamashvili and Claudia Taylor on Oct. 16.

Two documentary films about two widely-respected up-Island artists will be shown Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center. A Painter Who Farms tells the story of 12th generation Islander Allen Whiting, and Visions of Home, the story of Heather Neill, completes the double-feature.

Lucy Grinnan, program manager of the Agricultural Hall, is looking for photographs and other memorabilia from the barn raising of the Agricultural Hall almost 30 years ago. If you have pictures or stories to include in the upcoming celebration, give Lucy a call at 508-693-4549.

Rev. Cathlin Baker blessed a dozen or so of the Island’s most beloved dogs in a special ceremony last weekend. The pooch with the most pious expression had to be Rufus, the Gordon setter belonging to Paul Doherty and David Behnke. Rufus continued to look devout while enjoying his weekly ice cream treat.

Don’t forget the town will hold a special town meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. at the school. The meeting is mostly meant to approve some financial matters, but the personnel board also wants to add a CORI check (a criminal record check) for all town employees and volunteers. I can’t imagine it would shrink the work force.

Enjoy the holiday Monday.