That better have been the last bit of snow this season. This weekend is Easter and there is a lot going on and we need good weather for most of it. The big event in Aquinnah is the egg hunt at the Duck Inn on Sunday. It starts at 1 pm sharp. Children can come and find some of the 800 eggs that Elise LeBovit and friends hide around the property. There are also trinkets hidden, and games to be played. While most of the action happens outside, there is a table inside that is laden with many cakes, brownies and some savory dishes that people bring. Many of the adults gather around this table while little ones dart in and out grabbing a piece of cake or sneaking one more brownie while their parents aren’t looking. It is always a wonderful time and even though spring officially started last weekend I always think of this event as the real beginning of spring. The theme of this year’s celebration is love.
The Chilmark School PTO is holding its “Kiss Winter Goodbye” fundraiser on Saturday night. Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish will be playing so come out and dance. There will be a silent auction and a live auction with Rafi Gonzalez as the auctioneer. Dessert will be served. Tickets are $20, at the door. All the money raised will go to the Chilmark School outing program. The event starts at 7 pm and goes until 11 pm.
Tonight at the library at 5:30 pm, the Book Group will meet to discuss “The Orchardist” by Amanda Coplin. The library is having a spring egg hunt on Saturday along with a craft. There will be another dinner and a movie for kids this Tuesday. It will most likely be the last one of the season.
The Community Baptist Church of Gay Head’s Easter schedule is as follows: March 25 at 7 pm is the Good Friday Service. Easter Sunday Service is on March 27 at 7 am. Please contact the church office at 508-693-1539 if you would like more information on Holy Week and Easter Services.
Joan LeLacheur is having an open studio this Saturday March 26 from 10 am to 5 pm at 42 Old South Road in Aquinnah. She will be selling her Wampum mosaic earrings, traditional bracelets, and necklaces. Call Joanie at 508-645-9954 or email her at joanlela57@gmail.com for more information.
There will be a piano jam at Pathways, Friday, March 25 starting at 7 pm with many talented musicians. Save the date: On Saturday April 2 Pathways will host their annual Wearable Art/Constructed Costume Ball. The theme is “illumination.” There will be a DJ and a black light so everyone is encouraged to wear white and dance.
Pam Glavin is leaving Carl Widdis’ tree up at his graveside through April. You can come and make a promise to do a good deed for someone or you can come and just visit with Carl for a bit.
The film festival was last weekend and it was a blast. There were many wonderful movies but one of the most popular was “The Wolfpack” about a family of boys who were raised in a New York City apartment and not allowed to go outside for the most part. The boys also watched many, many movies. The boys, who are now grown, were present at the festival and talked about their experiences with the audience after the three screenings of their film. Other hits of the festival were, “Sonita, Bear Island” and of course “Vineyard Shorts.” If you missed the festival or any of the movies some will have theatrical releases later, and once they are on DVD, if you are a member of the MV Film Festival you can borrow them from their office in Chilmark.
It was a wonderful weekend and I saw so many Aquinnah folks — including Jamie Vanderhoop, who had a girls’ weekend with some off-Island friends while her husband, Woody, held down the fort at home. Jim and Kathy Newman came to a film on Sunday, freshly returned from their trip to Tanzania. They were a little jet-lagged but still happy to not have missed the festival. Wendy Swolinzky and Lisa Vanderhoop volunteered together and caught some movies together as well.
Lots of locals came out for the Thursday night free screening of “Heroin: Cape Cod USA.” Theresa Manning and Jamie Vanderhoop were there with the Youth Task Force, which was one of the sponsors of the evening. They helped to organize the panel after the film, which greatly contributed to the conversation about opioid addiction in this area.
Happy birthday to June Manning who also writes a column about Aquinnah and who knows everything about all of us. June celebrates on Saturday so be sure to wish her a happy birthday if you see her. Happy birthday also to Jeffie Butler who celebrates on Sunday and Heidi Vanderhoop who celebrates on Wednesday.