Now that fall is here and some of our schedules are not so full, we can start thinking about fall and winter projects. I, myself, have not yet gotten much beyond the thinking stage, and am admittedly still in the catch-up-on-sleep-I-didn’t-get-this-summer stage.
However, for you more productive types, tonight is the Registration for Adult and Community Education (ACE MV) Fall Program classes at Flatbread Pizza at the airport. The evening includes a raffle, fortune telling, music, and great pizza to benefit ACE MV programming. You can also register now online for fall classes, which start on October 11. There are other registration opportunities: the Living Local Harvest Festival (September 30 and October 1) or at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School from 4:30 to 6 pm October 4 and 5. Check out details and descriptions online at www.acemv.org or call ACE MV (508-693-1033 ext. 240).
Aquinnah will hold two Special Town Meetings on Tuesday, September 27, at the Old Town Hall. The first starts at 7 pm and is a continuation of a meeting we held back in July when we failed to get a quorum. The second meeting is to vote on another warrant and starts at 7:30. Both warrants have important articles dealing with the Tri-Town ambulance budget, back pay for town hall employees and police officers, funding for an Island-wide housing needs assessment, hiring of a tax title specialist, and addressing the Town’s needs for proper storage of archived documents
The Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council’s grant-writing workshop will be on Friday, September 30, at the Howes House at 6 pm. This is a wonderful organization that grants money to local nonprofits, artists, and schools. The workshop will cover who is eligible for these grants and how to complete the grant form. All grant applications are due October 15. If you cannot make the meeting, you can go to www.massculturalcouncil.org for guidelines and details.
The Chilmark Tavern will be closing this weekend. Stop in for a “last supper” until May of 2012. Call 508-645-9400 for reservations.
One of my favorite events of the fall is happening next weekend: the free annual Living Local Harvest Festival. Living Local opens Friday evening, September 30, with a storytelling event: “Hunting, Fishing, Farming & Gathering: Island Stories with Vineyard Elders” from 6 to 8 pm at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury. Storyteller and Author Susan Klein moderates discussions with Elisha Smith, Paul Jackson, and Aquinnah resident and selectwoman Beverly Wright about Island traditions and how people used to and continue to “Live Local” off the land and sea.The festival continues on Saturday, October 1, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury. There will be interactive demos all day, and fresh local food from Morning Glory Farm, The Farm Institute, Tisbury Market, Little Rock Farm, and the Grand Tasting Table. There will be activities and games for kids all day long. On Saturday evening there will be the Harvest Community Potluck dinner and live local music by Beetlebung Steel Band with a Contra Dance with a Caribbean twist from 6 to 10 pm at the Ag Hall. As a special treat, Beetlebung Farm’s Chris Fischer will be roasting a pig from Grey Barn Farm. The event is free with a potluck dish for six made from local produce to share, and remember to bring your own cups and place settings.
The next monthly blood pressure clinic will be held on October 13. The clinic is held in the Aquinnah Town Hall and is free and open to all.
Saskia Vanderhoop’s Sassafras has just announced their fall schedule. Visit www.sassafrasmvy.org for all the details or call Saskia at 508-645-2008 or 774-563-0628. Sassafras will also be hosting an open house at the Living Local Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 11 am.
Electronics Disposal Day is Saturday, October 1, from 9 am to 2 pm at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services on the Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road across from the high school. Round up all your old toasters, hair dryers, refrigerators, tape recorders, etc. — all to benefit Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.
Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard will have Handmade from the Heart again this Christmas season, and they would like to invite all local artisans and bakers to contribute to this holiday fundraiser for Hospice. Any unique handmade items, including jewelry, needlepoint, knitted items, paintings, photographs, are welcome. The items will be sold at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown on December 10 from 10 am to 4 pm. Anyone interested in donating can call Terre Young at the Hospice office 508-693-0189.
Cathy Thompson reported that the first installment of Phil Weinstein’s reading course held last Thursday was a huge success.
Happy Birthday to Ona Ignacio last Friday.
While out on a fishing cruise on Menemsha Pond celebrating Cully Vanderhoop’s birthday, everyone aboard the Femme Fatale encountered a pirate ship. Or rather, a small craft with a large pirate’s flag and three pirates, Mendel Rabinovitch, Mike Bogart, and Molly Ernst-Alper. Just in time for “International Talk like a Pirate Day” which was this past Monday. Aargh!
