Aquinnah: Cliff shops spring back to life

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There is a lot of bustle in our town right now as people prepare for summer. Berta and Carla have opened their shop at the Cliffs and their sister Adrianna will open hers at the end of the month. No word yet on the Aquinnah Shop and Faith’s Seafood Shack, but they usually open around Mother’s Day.

Happy Easter/Passover/Spring. Here is the schedule for Holy Week at the Community Baptist Church of Gay Head and their sister church, the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven. Tonight at 6 pm there is a Maundy Thursday/Passover Observance followed by a light supper at First Baptist Church Parish House, William Street, in Vineyard Haven. On Good Friday, April 18, there will be a service at noon at the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven and a 7 pm service at the Community Baptist of Gay Head in Aquinnah. Easter Sunday there will be a 6 am Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at Community Baptist of Gay Head in Aquinnah, a 9 am Easter Sunday Service at Eastville Beach, a 9:45 am breakfast at First Baptist Church Parish House in Vineyard Haven and an 11 am Easter Sunday “Alleluia” Service at First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven. Everyone is welcome to any and all of the services and events held over Holy Week. Please call the church office or Pastor Rev. Ellen T. Tatreau at 508-693-1539 if you would like more information.

There are also some non-religious ways to celebrate the season this weekend. The Aquinnah Public Library will host a Spring Fling this Saturday with an egg hunt that starts at 10 am sharp! Refreshments will be served. And of course Sunday at 1 pm is the Easter egg hunt at the Duck Inn. There will be a potluck lunch, so please bring something to share with everyone and good luck finding the golden egg.

The 22nd Annual Earth Day Beach Clean-Up sponsored by the Vineyard Conservation Society is this Saturday from 10 am to 12 noon. Come to Lobsterville, Philbin, or any of the Tribal Beaches at 10 am, when volunteers will be there with supplies. Clean up the beach and then head down to the Harbor View Hotel for food, a raffle, and appreciation.

The 33rd Chilmark Women’s Symposium will be held at the Chilmark Community Center on Saturday, April 26, from 9 am to 12 noon. The theme is “Dreams” and there will be speakers, small group discussions, and refreshments. The event is free, but donations are welcome to cover expenses. For further information, call Bonnie George at 508-645-3214.

On April 9, 2014, the Gay Head Light Campaign Received a $10,000 Grant fromthe Permanent Endowment Fund for Martha’s Vineyard. This money will fund the recently completed geotechnical survey and testing activities that will help determine the best relocation site for the historic Gay Head Light.

“We are very grateful to Permanent Endowment Fund for recognizing the value of this effort,” said Beverly Wright chair of the Save the Gay Head Lighthouse committee. “This grant award from such a well-respected local foundation continues to build the collective Island-wide support and community spirit behind saving this treasure.”

GEI Consultants conducted testing in and around the cliffs in January this year. The tests analyzed the composition of soil beneath the lighthouse, potential relocation sites and moving paths. Once the results are evaluated, a recommendation will be made on the optimal sites for relocation of the light. The decision on the final site will be announced at the Aquinnah town meeting on May 13.

Last week I noted that Juli Vanderhoop is running for selectman as Beverly Wright’s term is up. However I should have noted that Beverly is running for a second term as well. My apologies for any confusion I caused. This is going to be a tough decision as both Juli and Beverly do so much for the community and would both (I believe) be assets to the town on the Board of Selectmen. Good luck to both of them.

The town gave Margie Spitz a grand send-off last Friday at the Old Town Hall. After 29 years of service, Margie retired. She received a very sweet gift from her colleagues at the Town Hall: a beautiful rocker for her front porch so she can sit and rest and watch the world go by. Margie said that at this point she has no grand plans for the future. Congratulations, Margie.

Lastly it’s time to start thinking of summer camp options and Sassafras here in Aquinnah has a day camp throughout July with a different theme every week. There is an early bird special if you get your paperwork and deposit in by May 1. You can go to sassafrasmvy.org or call Saskia Vanderhoop at 508-645-2008 for all the details.