Town Column : Aquinnah
By Molly Purves
Published: September 24, 2009
September is the new June on the Island. I'm seeing a lot of out-of-state license plates up-Island and it seems like September has replaced June as the hot month to get married. Beach Plum Inn has been doing brisk wedding business, the Duck Inn has some upcoming nuptials and the Outermost Inn, which does not usually do weddings, hosted a small one this past weekend. As you drive up-Island, you will pass many a driveway with balloons or a hand-lettered sign saying "Wedding," or "Kathy & Dave," with an arrow pointing down a long dirt road. Watch out for some interesting parking jobs. Certainly this September the weather is leaps and bounds better than this past June. Yes, the nights have been clear and cold but there have been some hot days, people are still going to the beach, and there was good surfing again this past Friday.
But don't let the nice weather fool you; it is this time of year in Aquinnah when things will start to close for the season. The Outermost Inn is open for dinner Thursday though Sunday, and will close on October 11. The Aquinnah Shop is open daily 8 am to 3 pm, and will close October 12. No word yet on when the rest of the shops up at the Cliffs will be closing, but probably around the same time. The Chilmark Store is still open until 8 pm, but will close on October 19. The Beach Plum Inn is open seven days a week and doing breakfast every day; they will close around October 17.
Jim and Kathy Newman hosted a living room presentation by Vineyard Energy Project (VEP) for their visionary Vineyard power initiative - a cooperative energy project to create renewable power resources for the Island. VEP has been holding living room talks around the Island to present their proposal and to get feedback from the community. This is the only presentation that has been scheduled for Aquinnah, but if you were unable to attend or would like more information, call VEP at 508-693-3002.
I can't say enough good things about the Visiting Nursing Association, which will host a golf tournament at Vineyard Golf Club on Monday. Tee off is at 8:30 am, and the price is $200, which includes lunch. Proceeds benefit home health care on Martha's Vineyard.
The Living Local Harvest Festival is about a week away. Opening night will be October 2 at 7 pm and then all day Saturday starting at 9 am. The Environmental Educational program of the Wampanoag Tribe will be there. For more info, go to livinglocalharvestfest.org.
There will be a free concert at the Chilmark Community Center on October 3 at 5:30 pm. It is a multi-media concert titled "Drops in the Stream" and includes music, poetry, and dance.
Enjoy the fine weather, watch out for misbehaving wedding guests, and take advantage of a few more weeks of food and beverages being available in Aquinnah.
