Aquinnah

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That was a very intense Fourth of July week. Everything seemed like it was cooking on high; from the traffic to the heat to the crowds. The Island felt like it was pushed to the limit. It’s times like that I’m so glad I live up Island. It’s such a great escape; I always feel like there is more space to move and air to breathe up here.

If you’re still a little stressed from all the holiday activity, there is a blood pressure clinic today at the Town Hall from 2 to 3 pm. Free and open to all residents of Aquinnah.

Also today but in the old Town Hall, author Nicole Galland will speak about her new book, “I, Iago” at 5 pm, sponsored by the Aquinnah Public Library. Refreshments will be served. June Manning will speak next week about “Wampanoag Tribal Contributions to Daily Vineyard Life,”

On Tuesday, July 17, Jeanne Delguidice and friends will present the amazing Calypso puppets in a new show, “Limbo Dance Party,” with music on the deck of the library. Refreshments will be served.

Come by the library and sign up for kids’ summer reading, find new fabulous stories, and earn cool rewards and a tee-shirt.

At the Aquinnah Cultural Center this week you can stop in on Friday from 11 am to 4 pm and get a tour of the homestead and see the latest exhibits. On Saturday, July 14, from 11 am to 4 pm, join Marlene Lopez, Mashpee Wampanoag, as she demonstrates traditional fingerweaving and displays her beautiful sashes and belts. Free with admission.

And next Wednesday, July 18, you can see Hawk Henries and his daughter, Sierra, from the Nipmuck Nation, each present their own unique native art. Hawk is a renowned flute maker and player, and will spend the day at the ACC with the many different flutes he performs with. Sierra is a birchbark artist, burning designs into the bark, which is then photographed to be made into magnets and note cards. CDs, cards, and magnets will be available for purchase.

Mr. Henries will give a Native American flute concert at the Aquinnah Town Hall on Thursday, July 19, at 6 pm.

The Martha’s Vineyard Summer Film Series continues on Wednesday, July 18, with Cinema Circus at 5 pm (have you seen the elephant yet?) and the documentary, “Chasing Ice” at 8 pm. Get your tickets early at tmvff.org.

The Fourth of July parade in Aquinnah was so wonderful. The parade consisted of a fire truck, police cars, antique cars, kids in toy cars and people decked out in red, white, and blue waving flags.

There were of course some crazy hats and costumes. Lisa Vanderhoop, who I think loves every holiday and never misses a chance to put on a crazy wig and oversize sunglasses, did not disappoint. The wig for this holiday was black and pink, and Lisa wore matching pink cat-eye sunglasses. She had a blue feather boa around her neck and a red cape like thing off her shoulders. While Lisa is an extreme example of wild parade wear, she was not alone in wackiness. This is Aquinnah, after all.

The parade travelled down Old South Road and culminated with a treasure hunt on Philbin Beach, complete with an official treasure map. The treasure? Candy! What else? Kristin Mannion and HP Goldfield organized the treasure hunt. HP said they had been doing it for ten years and when the parade first started it was just a handful of kids clanging on pots and pans and now practically the whole town turns out for it. It was a great way to celebrate the Fourth.

At the start of the day I had plans to go to the parade in Edgartown, but after seeing our parade I decided to cancel and just stay up Island and go to the beach. I’m so glad I did: I had everything I needed right here.