Town Column : Aquinnah
By Molly Purves
Published: October 8, 2009
Oh dear, it's Columbus Day weekend this weekend isn't it? Soon, we up-Islanders will have to travel half an hour to buy milk and most other useful things. That always makes me a little sad, the closing of the up-Island stores; it's the start of what can be a lonely season. People are saying that this winter is going to be particularly harsh, weather wise, which can make us feel even more isolated. Thank goodness for the Orange Peel, which is open year-round, weather permitting, and the shops at the Cliffs, which are staying open until sometime in November.
What's up with Aquinnah and salsa dancing? Saskia and David Vanderhoop teach salsa dancing and Christina Montoya just started up a new session of barefoot salsa classes last week at Island Co-housing on Tuesday nights. Call 508-560-2488 for all the details. I think it's great but a little odd that Aquinnah is home to more than one salsa expert.
Our newest restaurant, Chilmark Tavern, will close for the season on October 17. They are open every evening except Tuesday until then.
Someone sent me an email telling me to be on the look out for Cub Scouts selling popcorn. I have, and I haven't seen any and I love popcorn. Will some intrepid Cub Scout please come up to Aquinnah and hook me up? Perhaps there are some cub scouts already in Aquinnah?
Check it out: our town nurse, Juleann Van Belle, has an exhibit up at the Chilmark location of Bank of Martha's Vineyard. It's always fun to see people in a different context.
Tyler Studds and Cara Yahrling will be getting married at the Duck Inn this weekend. Congratulations! I speak from experience when I say it is a great place for a wedding.
The deadline for getting your grant applications into the Martha's Vineyard Cultural Council is October 15. Get all the info you need to apply at massculturalcouncil.org.
Next Saturday, Oct. 17, there will be a bake sale at down-Island Cronig's to benefit the Martha's Vineyard Helping Homeless Animal Shelter, from 10 am to 4 pm. You can donate individually wrapped baked goods the day of the sale between 9:30 and 11 am.
I forgot to mention a couple of weeks ago that Tricia and Tony Garnier were here for about a month with their two gorgeous kids, Lucas and Martin. They really enjoyed their time here, and they are now back at home in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The change of season has been accompanied by some amazing moon phases this past week. Bright clear skies, with an enormous, glowing moon. Fabulous. It's one of the best things about living here, aside from the ocean and the people. I had lived in the city so long I forgot what they really looked like.
