Aquinnah: There is much to be grateful for in our little town

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Happy Thanksgiving, one and all. There is much to be grateful for in our little town. I especially appreciate all the families with young children that are making Aquinnah their home. I know there was a time not that long ago when there weren’t a lot of school-age kids here, and now the next generation of Aquinnah folk seems robust with babies — high schoolers and many ages in between. I hope that everyone enjoys the day spent with family and/or friends, and that the dysfunction is kept to a minimum.

The Gay Head Gallery is open 11 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, or you can call Megan for an appointment at 508-645-2776.

If you are looking to get some wampum jewelry for Christmas, you will have three chances this weekend. Both Joan LeLacheur and Kate Taylor are having sales this Friday. Joanie is hosting an open studio at her home studio this Friday, Nov. 27, from 2 to 5 pm. She will be selling her wampum jewelry and mosaic tiles at 42 Old South Road in Aquinnah. You can call Joanie at 508-645-9954 for more information. Kate Taylor is having a wampum bead and shell articles sale at Claudia Jewelry in Edgartown on Friday from 11 am to 4 pm. Lastly, the Up-Island wampum show is still up at the Chilmark library, and there will be a wampum bead and jewelry sale on Saturday, Nov. 28, from 3 to 5 pm.

The Aquinnah library will be closed this Thursday for Thanksgiving. They will be open on Saturday and regular hours next week. Their After School Club meets on Tuesdays from 4 to 5 pm. Kids can use this time to do homework, read, or work on a project. The librarians are always available to assist with homework questions. The next Book Club book is “Water for Elephants,” by Sara Gruen. The Book Club will meet on Thursday, Dec. 17, from 5 to 6 pm.

If after Thanksgiving you feel run down, and that perhaps you overdid it, come to the Yoga Barn on Saturday, Nov. 28, for a restorative yoga workshop from 3 to 5:30 pm, taught by Cathy Garfinkle. The cost for the class is $35 (20 percent of proceeds will be donated to Island Food Pantry).

If you live on this Island and are 65 or older, I hope you filled out the survey sent out by the Healthy Aging Task Force. On Monday, Dec. 7, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, there will be a meeting to update the Island community about the survey. A representative from the Heller School of Brandeis University will present preliminary survey data during the morning session. The afternoon will focus on possible strategies to address initial survey findings, and how best to move forward with promoting healthy-aging initiatives on the island. A paid lunch will be offered for $12 to $15. Seating is limited to 100 participants.

On Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 6:30 to 7:30, the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School will host its first annual Family Fun Reading Night. This event is for all Island families with kids preschool age through fourth grade. There will be a book swap, refreshments will be served, and a Portuguese translator will be present. If you have questions or would like to RSVP, contact Deb Dunn at ddunn@mvpcs.org, or call 508-693-9900.

Paula and David Eisenberg are putting a solar roof on their house. It’s the first on the Island to use Dow solar shingles, not panels, and it should generate about 25 percent of their electricity. Pearl Vercruysse, who is spending this school year with a family in Brittany, is having a wonderful time, according to her mother, Lane. Though her parents miss her, they know that she is being well taken care of, and that this year is something she will remember for the rest of her life. Good for them for giving their daughter the freedom to explore the world.