We had a cold snap at the start of this week, and people dug out their winter jackets and shivered at the thought of what’s coming: winter. I have been hearing from dedicated ocean swimmers who keep going in for “one last dip” again and again. Did this cold snap finally end the streak? Is the water now officially too cold? It has warmed up again today, and the leaves are continuing their colorful journey toward the ground. Cranberries were gathered from the bogs last week, and it was a harvest to be grateful for (much better than last year’s, by the looks of it). Halloween is next week, and we continue our march toward the long, cold season, but there will be much fun to be had before then.
At the library this week: Come in on Saturday to decorate pumpkins from 11 am to 3 pm. Next Saturday (Halloween, y’all), there will be a costume party at the library from noon to 2 pm. The next book group meeting will be on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 5 pm with special guest Nicole Galland. Her latest book, “Stepdog,” will be the subject.
This coming Tuesday, Oct. 27, and the fourth Tuesday of every month, our new town nurse, Marion Santos, M.S.N., R.N., will be at the Town Hall from 3 to 4 pm for a free blood pressure clinic and to answer general health questions. You may also schedule a home visit. So come over to the town hall and say hello.
Halloween is next weekend, and the tribe is hosting a party on Friday, Oct. 30, from 6 to 9 pm. Of course, this is a costume party, and there will be food as well. It has not yet been decided when trick-or-treating is going to happen either — after the party, or on Halloween night itself. But that should be worked out soon.
There is a plan afoot in town to create better Philbin Beach access that would make it possible to get on the beach without schlepping over the large dune. A committee has of course formed and surveyed the options, and come up with a plan whereby a boardwalk could be built from a corner of the parking lot (near the porta-potty) to the end of the sandy path approaching the beach. The startup costs for this plan are $5,000, and include hiring an engineer to develop a plan and permits. If you would like to make a contribution to help fund these startup costs, thereby expediting the process of easier beach access, you can send a check to the Aquinnah Gay Head Community Association, P.O. Box 494, Chilmark, MA 02535.
This Friday, the Minnesingers will have their annual silent and live auction at Atria at 7 pm. The beloved director of the Minnesingers, Jan Wightman, lives in Aquinnah, and she works hard for this talented group all year round. Come on down to Atria and spend some of your hard-earned summer cash on a good cause.
If you receive an envelope in the mail from the Martha’s Vineyard Healthy Aging Task Force and it contains a survey, and you are 65 years or older, DON’T throw it away! Fill it out and return it to the task force. The population of people 65 and up is expected to double in the next 15 years, and the task force is trying to get a sense of what services will be needed here.
Happy birthday to Jenna Petersiel, who celebrates today, and to my husband, Curtis Langer, who celebrates on Saturday.
