Fall is really kicking in now. I have seen many trees along the roads of Aquinnah starting to turn. We still have some beautiful beach days ahead of us, but the nights are much cooler. Everyone seems like they are settling in to their school routine. Clyde Smith started kindergarten this year and he loves it. With over 20 kids, it’s the largest kindergarten class the Chilmark School has seen in quite a while and contains half of the school’s total students.
It’s about to happen: Chilmark Store will be closing for the season this Saturday. I love the downtime of fall, but I hate driving all the way down-Island for a not-so-quick trip to the grocery store. Maybe I’ll have them make me a bunch of pizzas and freeze them, and then I’ll just live on pizza all winter.
On Saturday, the M.V. Public Charter School will hold a rock auction at Nectar’s. They are auctioning off some great stuff, the silent auction begins at 6:30 pm, live auction at 8 pm and then there will be an 80s dance party. $25 gets you in and includes pizza and salad bar and of course the dance party. Proceeds benefit the Charter School.
There are some very fun events coming up at the library. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 4 pm there will be a story time and craft hour for kids. There will be singing and story-reading and then craft-making using cranberries. The program is about an hour, and you can sign up at the library. On Saturday, Oct. 9, world-famous storyteller Lillian Kellman will be telling stories from around the world starting at 11 am.
Cranberry Day is coming soon — Tuesday Oct. 12, when you can meet across from West Basin around 11 am and pick cranberries to your heart’s content. There will be a potluck at Tribal Administrative Office at 6 pm.
These next two events are happening down-Island, but they caught my eye so I’ll give them a mention: the Community Solar Greenhouse is holding a Fall Festival this Sunday from noon to 3 pm at 114 New York Avenue in Oak Bluffs, where there will be games, trifles and treasures, live music, and soup. Featherstone is holding the seventh annual Art of Chocolate Festival (guess what got my attention) next weekend starting with a preview party on Friday, Oct. 8 at 7 pm and then running Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm.
Condolences go out to the Welch family whose 15-year-old dog, Starbright, died last week. Berta, Vern, Giles, and Sophia are very sad to have lost such a close member of their family.
Many people came out on Sunday night to hear singer/songwriter Ollie Childs at the Chilmark Tavern, which was packed with family and many friends. It was also closing night at the Yard on Sunday: thank you to Wendy and company for a great season. Chilmark Tavern’s last day will be Monday, Oct. 11, but at least everything at the Cliffs will be open into November, thank goodness.
