People across the Vineyard are immensely saddened by the death of Jake Sequoia Baird on Jan. 12 in an automobile accident. He touched many lives in his 17 years. His many friends visit the site of the accident and have placed a cross by the roadside as well as flowers each day over the past week. Jake was a senior at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and his plans were to head to Colorado to reside near his uncle and to pursue studies in automobile mechanics. He was on the honor roll, as are his sisters Rya and Jayden. During the summer he worked at Vineyard Gardens. He enjoyed being a part of IMP and performing improvisation.

A sacred fire has been held at the home of his uncle Jason Baird, our tribal medical man, for those who care to share and to comfort Jake’s family. Jake was the son of George Baird of Aquinnah and Alyson Woollacott of Falmouth. He was the grandson of Alfred 3rd and Jill Chandler Woollacott of Harthaven who have been his guardians and where he has resided for the past 10 years. He was the grandson of Janice Cook Sylvia and her husband Manuel Sylvia of Aquinnah and John Baird of Oak Bluffs. He was the great-grandson of Suzanne Chandler and her companion Bruno Eisner. He is survived by his sisters Rya and Jayden, as well has his half-siblings Aneecya, Jahill, and Jamere Willis and a large extended family across the Vineyard and beyond. A gathering was held at the Ag Hall on Thursday. An Aquinnah tribal memorial will be held at a later date.

Congratulations and all the best to Christopher P. Manning, son of Paul and Theresa Manning, and the late Angelena Carroll, upon his honorable discharge from the United States Navy this week. Chris served for five years and was stationed in Lemoore, Calif. For now he will remain in California where he has already signed on to the United States Naval Reserves.

Janette Vanderhoop recently returned from Barcelona, Spain. This was her first trip back there in 10 years when she visited many museums and was alone during that trip. This time she was visiting a friend and it was much more about connecting with her and they still had lots of fun. She rang in the new year at a dream meditation event, went to the aquarium where she loved the word “nostalgia,” cut her hair, hiked the hills for five hours, was there for their version of Christmas which was on Jan. 5, a vinyasa flow yoga class, sat by the sea, met a cool street performer, went to a variety show that included acrobats. The highlight was a day excursion to Monserrat monastery where there is one of the only black-faced virgin Marys in the world. The rock formations of the mountain reminded her of our ancestors and our sacred places. At Monserrat, at 1 p.m. every day, the choir boys sing and on the hour the church bells ring, and an amazing sound is produced by the bells reversing off the rock formations. A video still did not capture the reverberations. She is back home now and it was the longest time she had been away from her daughter Oceana.

Congratulations to Levi Vanderhoop, an 11th grade student at the regional high school, who will receive the winning prize for the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank’s regional Lights, Camera, Save video project. The prize presentation will take place on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 1 p.m. at the tribal building in Aquinnah. Levi Vanderhoop produced the entry at Martha’s Vineyard Community Television, through the mentorship program in collaboration with the high school. The public is invited to attend the presentation. Levi is the son of Leigh and Christy Vanderhoop and the grandson of Madeline Moreis and Yvonne Michaelson and her husband Richard, and John Duarte.

On Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Vineyard Haven library, Nelson Sigelman will speak about his first book Martha’s Vineyard Outdoors: Fishing, Hunting, and Avoiding Divorce on a Small Island. The focus is on fishing, hunting, and waterfowling traditions that have shaped the Island’s character. Nelson will tell you all about his fishing and hunting expeditions and how he managed to stay married to his lovely wife Norma Clinton Sigelman for the past 26 years.

Celebrating birthdays this week: Hayden Higgins celebrated his 11th birthday on Jan. 10; Abdiel Gonzalez will be five years old this week; Jesse Wiener will party on Jan. 18; Ciara Seccombe, Roy Hope, Ruth Major, Anthony Vanderhoop and Carrie Anne Vanderhoop Bellis all celebrate the day on Jan. 19; Captain Gordon “Todd” Bassett parties on the 20th; Mark Owen Shea will be eight years old on the 20th. Catherine Deese celebrates on Jan. 21.

Send Aquinnah news to junemanning152@gmail.com.