Aquinnah

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Halloween was very exciting in Aquinnah. There was of course the party filled with adorable small children in costumes and some adults in costumes as well (kudos to the Vanderhoop ladies for their gang of cat burglars). Emily Vanderhoop, Nonie Madison, and Faith Vanderhoop made sure the eat the donut on the string game was played (an old Aquinnah tradition) and once all the kids had run around enough they headed out into the night to go trick or treating. Since there is not the abundance of trick or treaters in Aquinnah that there are in, say, Vineyard Haven, a kid can get a pretty good haul here as many people give out multiple candies to each kid.

Here’s where Halloween got a little whacky: while reaching for something to give to a trick or treater Anne Vanderhoop fell and broke her hip. She has since been sent to Boston for surgery which went well and she should be home soon. Get well soon, Anne! Thank you to Noni Smith, Nonie Madison, Curtis Langer and the number one fan of Halloween, Lisa Vanderhoop, for setting up the party and thanks to Roxanne and Lisa for helping to break it down. And thank you to all the people who opened their doors to our kids.

There are so many things happening at the Aquinnah Public Library this month and next month in preparation for the winter holidays. For kids there is a craft time every Saturday from 12 noon to 3 pm. This Saturday the craft theme will be apples complete with apple treats being served. On November 16 there will be a cupcake decoration craft time (with gluten-free cupcakes) and on November 23 there will be some Chanukah fun! For adults, November is digital download month at the library every Saturday you can stop in for some coffee and treats and learn about how to download movies, books, and music to your device of choice. I know it sounds like a long way off, but on December 7 there will be a holiday greens making class.

This Saturday, from 9 to 11 am at the First Baptist Church Parish House on William Street in Vineyard Haven there will be a breakfast. All are welcome to attend. The First Baptist is the sister church of the Gay Head Baptist Church. Price of the breakfast is $8. Or family of four for $25.

Martha Coakley, candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor, will be a guest at the Saturday, November 9, meeting of the Democratic Council of Martha’s Vineyard. The meeting will be at Howes House in West Tisbury, from 9 – 10:30 am. This will be a forum for voters to hear Ms. Coakley’s responses to questions from the audience. All are welcome to attend. For more information, email info@mvdems.org.

Happy Birthday to Liz Witham who celebrated on Tuesday, Happy belated also to Carla Cuch whose birthday is Halloween. Happy Birthday to Martha Vanderhoop whose birthday is Monday. And congratulations to Mimi Trimmer who ran the NYC marathon on Sunday! I’m so impressed with that: I don’t think I could run more than a couple of miles and only then if I really had to.

This past Saturday was Penny Huff’s memorial. When I learned that she had passed last week I was surprised as the last time I saw her (a month ago?) or indeed any time I saw her, when I asked her how she was she always said, “I’m great!” and it was the truth, she was. Everyone that I spoke with at the memorial mentioned her kindness and good spirits. There were the phone calls to friends’ kids on their birthdays, her curiosity about what you were doing and her making a point of always saying hello to you if she saw you out and about. Some people are born themselves; that is, their true spirit is present from the start. Many people lose that spirit and seem to be a whole different person at the end of their lives. Not Penny. Her spirit was fixed in her and it shone out of her until the end. Thank you, Penny, for showing us how it’s done. We will miss you. Much love to your family.