Aquinnah

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I have been trying very hard not to complain about the weather, but now I’m breaking down. I just can’t take the humidity any longer: my bed feels like a sponge, the floors are sweating, the mosquitoes are terrible, and there is mildew everywhere! And last week it wasn’t sunny enough to escape to the beach. It’s only mid-July. What is it going to be like in August? There, that’s it. I’ll try and keep going about my business and not complain anymore, because who likes a whiner? But I just had to get that out. Thank you.

Tonight the wonderful Kate Taylor will be performing at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown. If there are still tickets available you can get them from ticketsmv.com.

Today at 5 pm Nancy Caldwell will speak at the Old Town Hall on “A Program for Peace Education for Children in Rwanda.” This is part of the Aquinnah Library Summer Series. Next week Thomas Dresser will speak on his new book, “Women of Martha’s Vineyard.” The speaker series is free, and refreshments will be served. On Thursday, July 25, Amelia Bedelia will be visiting the library at 3:30 pm; what a treat for the kids!

At the Aquinnah Cultural Center this week:

On Friday, July 19, there will be house tours of the Edwin Vanderhoop Homestead and a presentation, Oral Histories 2, “Land and Life in Old Gay Head.” On Saturday, there will be a demonstration of traditional deerskin clothing and regalia making with hand-painted decoration presented by Anita Peters Little of the Mashpee Wampanoag. The ACC is open from 11 am to 4 pm.

The proceeds of the Flatbread Co. Benefit Tuesdays on July 23 will go to The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living. Dine in or take out, for every pizza sold throughout the day and evening Flatbread will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Center. There will also be a silent auction with many great items. Bring your family and your house guests for pizza and salads served indoors or out.

Next Wednesday the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival will be showing the racy comedy, “Afternoon Delight” at 8 pm at the Chilmark Community Center and on Thursday at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown, also at 8 pm. On Wednesday, Cinema Circus will be at 5 pm with dinner at 7 pm.

Beatrice Vanderhoop Gentry received a wonderful send-off from her friends and family last week. Beatrice passed away on Sunday, July 7, a month shy of her 103rd birthday. She was the last remaining Vanderhoop of her generation and she witnessed so much change in her lifetime. She was a lifetime student and teacher and although she was born and raised here and retired here, she lived in many places in between. The ceremonial fire was kept burning for her and there was a wake and a service to celebrate her life. She will be greatly missed not only as a great-aunt or a friend but as a symbol of the past and history of one of the great families of Aquinnah.

Aquinnah has a new citizen. Lyle Ignacio Vanderhoop was born on June 30 to Todd, Amera, and big brother Ivan. Welcome Lyle!

Happy Birthday to Juli Vanderhoop and Wendy Weldon who both celebrate on Friday. One has to wonder who is going to make Juli’s cake as she is the neighborhood baker. Happy birthday also to Jed Smith who celebrates this week.