Thursday night at the Aquinnah Library, the book group will meet, and the author of the book will be present as well! Nicole Galland will be on hand to join in the discussion of her latest, “Stepdog.” The meeting starts at 5 pm. Story time is still happening at the library on Thursdays at 3:30 pm and Saturdays at 10:30 am. Also on Thursdays is the After School Club, from 4 to 5 pm.
The West Tisbury Selectmen’s School Task Force will hold its third meeting tonight, Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5:30 pm in the West Tisbury Town Hall. The public is urged to attend. It is the selectmen’s charge to the task force to “conduct a comprehensive review of the advantages and disadvantages of West Tisbury’s continuing participation in the Up-Island Regional School District (UIRSD).” The task force is in the process of consulting with the Island’s superintendent of schools as well as others to address “the economic/funding, transportation, and educational issues.” Many Aquinnah parents send their children directly to West Tisbury, so the recommendations and actions that come out of this task force have a direct impact on current and future generations in our town. For further information, contact Susan Silk at 508-696-1835.
It was quite a week in Aquinnah. On Wednesday the Taylor clan and many friends around the island gave a wonderful sendoff to Trudy Taylor at the Chilmark Community Center. The center was piled high with food, much of it dessert, which Trudy loved. Trudy’s daughter Kate emceed and set the perfect tone. Kate said that wherever Trudy lived she had a long list of complaints about that place, then when she left it, it became “Mecca,” the most wonderful place she ever lived. “So now,” said Kate, “we are all living in Mecca.” This being the Taylor clan, there were of course many songs. Kate, her daughter Liz Witham, and Jemima James harmonized together; Isaac Taylor did a fabulous imitation of his grandmother leaving messages on his answering machine and then sang two beautiful songs. If Bob Dylan could sing, he would sound like Isaac Taylor. Trudy’s son Livingston closed out the ceremony with a song, and then many people joined him on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” There were many stories of Trudy’s love of nature, her insatiable curiosity, and her discernment. It was clear that although Trudy was well loved, she could be difficult and did not make it easy for people. One of her friends attributed this to Trudy’s high standards, her wanting people to be their best self, and her refusal to compromise. It was clear from all the stories told that Trudy was a remarkably independent (yet family-oriented and social) and original soul who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
On Friday, the tribe threw a Halloween party with pizza, snacks, and lots of treats, my favorite being the graveyard chocolate pudding with Milano cookies as gravestones made by Amera Madison. Little zombies, princesses, and baby skunks ran around wreaking havoc and trying to get as much candy into their faces as they could. Also on Friday, the Yard did a haunted dance performance at the old Marine Hospital, which I heard was amazing. Then on Saturday there was a party at the library, along with a Halloween hunt at Sassafras. You had the option of going to the Chilmark Community Center or just heading out around town to trick-or-treat. In all it was quite a weekend of high-pitched screaming, face paint, and too much candy. When I asked my son at 8 pm on Halloween if he wanted to do more trick-or-treating (we had been out for about an hour and a half), he said, “Let’s be done.” And so we were.
Happy birthday to Liz Witham, who celebrates today! And also to Martha Vanderhoop, who is kind enough to share her birthday (Nov. 11) with me. Love to all my fellow Scorpios. Congratulations to Alex Taylor and Mimi Trimmer for running the New York Marathon this past Sunday; better you than me, ladies.