Time for a little slow-down around these parts, what with the holiday weekend passed. Soon the steamship fares will go down and folks will begin filtering in and out for holiday and winter destinations. Amazing how quickly it all changes. Well, you could have fooled me with this weather we’ve been having. Eighty degrees in October? I’ll take it.
The MVRHS Class of 1971 held their 40th high school reunion October 1 at Farm Neck, followed by a barbecue the next day at the home of Randy and Jill Walpole. In addition to the Walpoles, Edgartonians past and present in attendance included Paula and Brian Devaney, Christine Prada Eissentat, Gary Leighton (visiting from Pennsylvania), Nancy Lane (nee Chelmsford), Jim and Deb Carter, Cindy Bonnell, Nancy Leighton Henry, Ted and Liz Herrmann, Jim Klingensmith, April Nunes Mongillo, and Doug Benefit. A good time was had by all.
The fifth annual Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival kicks off Friday, Oct. 14 and continues with events throughout the weekend. During this fall harvest celebration, enjoy wines from around the world and foods prepared by chefs from Martha’s Vineyard and New England. Indulge in locally grown produce from sea and Island farms and enjoy world-class entertainment. Events include a grand tasting, seminars, and instructional cooking classes, demonstrations, and meals. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Boys and Girls Club. For a full schedule of events and ticket information, visit mvfoodandwine.com or call contact Elizabeth Lopes at Cronus Events, 508-280-0080.
The fall events at Felix Neck always spark something in me. Maybe it’s nostalgia for our sixth grade trip to Camp Sharon, which has been replaced by Camp Altom Jones. So I have to share the upcoming event, Nighttime at Felix Neck, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 22, from 6 to 8 pm. The event boasts an evening of Felix Neck fun in which you’ll unlock the mysteries of what goes bump in the night. Take a guided night walk and look for some common nighttime neighbors. After the walk, head to the Old Stone Amphitheatre for hot chocolate, s’mores, and storytelling around the campfire. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Calling all civically responsible residents, mark your calendars for the Special Town Meeting, which will be held Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7 pm at the Old Whaling Church. The meeting will address various issues, from accounting software and streetlights to changes to zoning bylaws. The full warrant is available on the Town’s web site: edgartown-ma.us. So let’s get a quorum and get ‘er done.
The Edgartown Library will offer a class on ASL for the beginner on Saturdays from October 15 through November 19 at 2 pm. The instructor will be Elyce Bonnell of the library staff, who studied American Sign Language at the University of Southern Maine. Materials will be provided. Registration is required, either via the Library’s website, edgartownlibrary.org, or right at the library front desk.
Church World Service, an international charity group, announces the 21st annual Community Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) walk, which will take place on Sunday, Oct. 16, beginning at 2 pm at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church in Vineyard Haven and progressing to Trinity United Methodist Church on the campground in Oak Bluffs, and back again. The organization has been sponsoring walks in response to worldwide hunger for many years, helping to feed the hungry, save lives, build community, clarify vision, and deepen compassion for those in need. People may participate in all or some of the walk and those who choose not to walk may participate by sponsoring someone. Walkers are asked to report at 1:40 pm for registration. Support comes from the Island Clergy Association, representing about a dozen houses of worship; the Island Food Pantry, which will receive 25 percent of the funds raised; the Island Committee on Hunger; and local students. A few very generous Islanders have promised to donate 10 to 20 cents for every dollar raised, so $10 would become $12. In the past 20 years, $317,107 has been raised; this year’s goal is $20,000 or more. Forms and information are available from Alden Besse (508-693-3930), Philip Dietterich, or Mary-Jean Miner.
Happy birthday to Dan Deslauriers, who celebrates Thursday, Oct. 13. Hope those blues are biting.
