Thank you immensely to Chief Robert Reimer, Robert Decker, Amanda Haverkamp, Thomas Lavigne and Robert Verdone of the United States Coast Guard Station Menemsha for their thoughtfulness in surprising me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers at Menemsha Texaco this past week. I am sure that Katie and Marshall Carroll had a lot to do in the planning of the delivery that certainly brightened my day.

For the past eight weeks I have struggled with a yet-to-be-confirmed diagnosis, after three years of treatments. The preliminary predictions have not been for the faint of heart. There are many days of doubt as well as contemplation of the complications and outcome that ostensibly take over the moments needed for reflection. Over the past month there have been many encouraging words of wisdom and the friendship of many such as Chief Reimer and his amazing crew have made life a great deal brighter for me along the way. All I need is a lot of prayers to get through this recent set back. The encouragement and friendship of many has been an enormous inspiration that carried me through these days of wonder. Thank you.

Aquinnah Public Library is open and the floors appear to look new after being refinished over the past 10 days, great work MV Floors. Saturday will be a fun day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with many unique projects with the multitude of pumpkins. They will be carved, baked, painted, sparkled and more. Barbara and Rosa will have a full day of excitement for all to participate in while Lisa is still on vacation.

Saturday is Electronic Disposal Day for the benefit of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MVCS campus across from the MVRHS on Edgartown Road. Recycle your metals, computers, appliances, televisions, laptops, printers, fax machines, microwaves, monitors, photocopiers, scanners and more. The fees range from $2 to $30 with a 10 per cent discount for carloads.

All Aquinnah Elders are graciously invited to the Halloween luncheon at the tribal building on Oct. 31 at 12:30 p.m. Join the tribal Elders in the special luncheon prepared by Little Rock Farm that will include chowder, fish, salads and more. For reservations, please call Kristina at 508-645-9265, extension 132.

The Aquinnah Halloween party will be held at the tribal building this year for the young ones. A night of amazing adventure, and no tricks but lots of treats. The party starts on Halloween eve at 5:30 p.m. and will end at 8:30 p.m.

Community Baptist Church of Gay Head will be hosting a flea market on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lots of great treasures available for your shopping pleasure — antiques, books, clothing, collectibles, furniture, jewelry and toys. Food will be available for purchase, all to benefit the new roof for Community Baptist Church. To register for a table space, please call yours truly at the above number.

It has been noted that there will not be a scalloping season this winter in Aquinnah. Many of the scallops remaining from last year have not survived. Perhaps there really is a need for more oysters to remove the toxins from the water or for the dredging to officially happen. Stay tuned.

Congratulations to Faith Vanderhoop and Ross Adams in the birth of their son Golden Sunshine Adams on Oct. 8 at home in Farmington, Me.

Michael Hebert returned recently from a visit with his son Noah Casner, his wife Jessica Bass and their three-month-old son Cole (Jack) Casner in Lexington, Tenn.

Betty Joslow enjoyed a long weekend visit from her daughter Wendy.

Samuel Vanderhoop Lee and his band mate, Alex Caplow of Magic Man, will be performing on Saturday at the Paradise Rock Club at 7 p.m. This will be the beginning of their six-week U.S. and Canada “Ones To Watch” tour. The next stop will be Manhattan, and the tour ends on Nov. 25 in Vancouver, Canada.

Kayla Manning and five-month-old Kylee Rose returned from a 10-day visit with family and friends in Franklin, Ky.

Theresa Manning returned recently from a weekend getaway with her sisters Debbie Hart of Oak Island, N.C., and Liz Long of Nottingham, Pa. They celebrated a major milestone birthday for Deb, the eldest of the Kistner children, while enjoying the weekend together in Charlotte, N.C.

Christopher Maynard and his wife Mary are at his Maynard family home for the week, enjoying the solitude. Their son Luke worked at Felix Neck over the past summer and enjoyed himself immensely before heading back to his studies at Trinity College. Marilyn Maynard has returned to her home in Larchmont, N.Y., for the winter.

Louise Petersiel has returned to her home in Swampscott, after spending the summer in Aquinnah and working at the Chilmark Store and Chilmark Tavern. Her daughter Jenna and their bouncy canine Marley will remain for a few more days to close the tavern and the house. Congratulations to Michael and Lisa Silvia on the birth of their son Christian Michael Silvia on Oct. 8 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Christian was welcomed home by his three-year-old sister Payton Virginia Silvia as well as by his grandparents Kenneth Silvia, Ronald and Roxanne Klein, and by David and Nancy Jendrick. Condolences to the family and friends of Christine (Vanderhoop) Scott who passed away on Oct. 7 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was born in Gay Head, the daughter of the late Chief Harrison Vanderhoop and Celina (Manning), on Nov. 4, 1919. Christine graduated from the Tisbury High School in 1938. She served as a member of the WAVES from 1944 to 1946 in Arlington, Va., and was later employed in Washington, D.C., as a member of the staff at the Bureau of Personnel. She is survived by her children Kim Sue and Michael Robert. Christine is also survived by her sisters Phyllis Vanderhoop and Celina “Jessie” (Vanderhoop) Jourdain both of Ruckersville, Va., as well as many nieces and nephews across the Vineyard. Services were held in Ohio.

Happy 34th anniversary to Vern and Berta Welch on Oct. 25.

Happy birthday wishes Friday to Jenna Petersiel and to Pearl Vercruysse. Christopher Belain parties Saturday. Curtis Langer celebrates on Oct. 24. Isaac Taylor parties on Oct. 25. Amy Rogers Smith, Katie Tamoshunas Carroll, Patty Rossi and Paul Henry Mayhew all share the day on Oct. 27. Waylon Sauer will be eight years old on Oct. 28. Capt. William D. Vanderhoop Jr., aka Captain Buddy, will celebrate on Oct. 29. Kathy Newman will observe a major milestone on Oct. 29. Arlen Roth celebrates on Oct. 30. Miles Hirt will be seven years old on Oct. 31 and shares the day with Carla Cuch and Cooper Davis.

Send your Aquinnah news to: junemanning152@gmail.com.