Things are changing up at the Cliffs. There are two new proprietors taking over vacant spaces. Juli Vanderhoop has taken over Faith’s Seafood Shack, and hopes to be open by Friday. She will have healthy prepared foods, and will serve breakfast and lunch. Items from her Orange Peel Bakery will be available too. Orange Peel Bakery is doing pizza day from noon to 2 pm on Saturday through May. Paul and Theresa Manning have taken over the Dreamcatcher space, and are opening Cliffhangers on Memorial Day weekend. They will be open 8 am to sunset daily, serving coffee, bagels, and egg sandwiches in the morning and homemade chowder, crab cakes, fish tacos, paninis, and Theresa’s famous sesame noodles for lunch and dinner. There will also be soft-serve ice cream, and they will carry newspapers. This delights me to no end: Now I can go up to the Cliffs again to get the Sunday Times, and I don’t have to drive to Chilmark. I think both Juli and the Manning family will be a welcome addition at the Cliffs, and I wish them much success in the coming season.
Take note that Middle Road is being repaved from Beetlebung Corner to Carey Rise. Middle Road will be closed now through Saturday, May 21, and on Monday, May 23, from 8 am to 6 pm, weather permitting. Plan accordingly.
At the library this week: Today Story Time is at 3:30 pm and the After School Club is at 4 pm. This Saturday, May 21, Story Time is at 10:30 am, and from 11 am to 3 pm you can make a friendly paper owl using colorful triangles. The next book-group meeting will be on Tuesday, May 24, at 5:30 pm to discuss “Fates and Furies” by Lauren Groff.
In honor of Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 21, the Oak Bluffs Library will host an afternoon event to recognize veterans and celebrate their service to our country. This is an opportunity for the community to acknowledge the value of our veterans. This year, the library has invited three local authors to discuss their book, “Martha’s Vineyard in World War II.” Tom Dresser, Herb Foster, and Jay Schofield will talk about the role the Vineyard played during the war, including construction of the airport, practice bombing runs off South Beach, and the use of ferryboats in the D-Day invasion. The Armed Forces Day event runs from 1 to 3 pm at the Oak Bluffs library. It is open to the public, and refreshments will be served. Veterans are encouraged to enjoy the camaraderie.
The town meeting was held last week, and we got all our business done. It was a little tense at moments. I think next time we should stop and take a 10-minute meditation break, perhaps right before we discuss the budget. Luckily, on Saturday the Taylor family threw their nearly annual party, Kegs & Cakes, and everyone got to blow off a little steam. I always think of this party as the start of our season. It was a fine day for it; most of Aquinnah seemed to be there, and many others from down-Island too.
Congratulations to our new selectman, Gary Haley. Gary was elected last Wednesday. Good luck, Gary, I know you will do a fine job. Thank you to Spencer Booker, who has served our town well for many years. Enjoy your time off now, Spencer. Happy birthday to Mimi Trimmer, who celebrates on Friday. Here’s to another year of seeing you working hard running all over the roads of Aquinnah while I just sit in my car and drive.