There is much happening in our little town right now. It is the height of the season and there are so many things to attend and people to see. The good news is that you don’t have to go far. I mean you can if you want, but remember: The First Family is here and there will be a lot of traffic. I think I’m just going to hang up-Island as much as possible until the Ag Fair.
The Aquinnah Cultural Center will be open its regular hours this week: Wednesday to Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. You can come in for a tour of the homestead and to see their current exhibits. This Saturday night will be their Traditional Feast and Fundraiser at 5 pm. The dinner features traditional Wampanoag food prepared by a Wampanoag caterer. Professor Siobhan Senier from the University of New Hampshire, editor of “Downland Voices,” an anthology of native writings from 10 tribes in New England, will be the speaker at the event. She will talk about the experience of working with all the tribal editors, the next phase of the project, and the importance of collecting and preserving these writings. The dinner is $100 for adults, $40 for children, and goes to support all programming of the Aquinnah Cultural Center. For more information on their programs and exhibits, call the ACC at 508- 645-7900 or email at aquinnahcc@gmail.com.
The summer programming continues at the Aquinnah Public Library. This Thursday story time is at 3 pm. John Merson will speak at 5 pm as part of the Summer Speaker Series. His talk is titled, “People-to-People Diplomacy: The U.S. and Vietnam.” John was a foot soldier in the Vietnam war, and this will be a very interesting talk. The series is held at the Old Town Hall and refreshments will be served. On Saturday, story time is at 10:30 am and craft time is from 11 am to 3 pm. Tuesday, August 16, at 5 pm will be the final Music on the Deck program. Next Thursday, Linda Coombs and Giles Welch will speak on “The History and Art of Wampum.” The next book group meeting will be on Tuesday, August 30, at 5:30 pm; the group will discuss Jeanette Walls’ “The Silver Star.”
Joan LeLacheur is having an open studio show and sale on Saturday, August 13, from 10 am to 5 pm at 42 Old South Rd. in Aquinnah. Come see wampum jewelry and mosaic tiles, or put something together for yourself from all the bits and shapes on her workbench.
The Sargent Gallery (formerly the Gay Head Gallery) has a great exhibit up right now: Loving Light, Line and the Land. The exhibit features woodcuts by Ruth Kirchmeier and plein air landscapes by Elizabeth Lockhart Taft and Judith B. Howells. There will be a new exhibit opening this Sunday, August 14, from 5 to 7 pm. It will be photographs by Barbara Norfleet and Karen Philippi. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.
Aquinnah is rife with art right now. The “Keepers of the Light — The Gay Head Lighthouse Documentary and Historical Multi-Media Exhibit” opened this past Saturday with a special opening event last Sunday night. There was music by Kate Taylor and selected scenes from the documentary were shown. The exhibit is at 9 Aquinnah Circle (the house right before the Lighthouse) and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm through Labor Day. After Labor Day it will be open weekends through Columbus Day.
The MV Partnership for Health is recruiting new class leaders from each town to become trained to conduct seminars on “Powerful Tools for Caregivers.” This program has been designed to support family caregivers of adults with a chronic condition in a way that enhances the caregiver’s well-being as they care for others. This free training will be provided on Monday, Sept. 12, and Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Tisbury Senior Center. Training materials, lunch, and snacks will be provided. For more information, email ksamways@ihimv.org, or call 508-627-5797, ext. 114.
If you are looking for a unique outfit for an upcoming event, you should go to the Chicken Alley Peep Show this Friday, August 12, from 5 to 8 pm at the thrift shop on 38 Lagoon Pond Rd. in Vineyard Haven. This one-night event will feature beautiful designer and vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories. The thrift shop staff has been saving special pieces from donations and now it’s your chance to buy them. The Peep Show benefits Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. Their fabulous art show is this Sunday at the store from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Once again as they do every year, people gathered at the Lighthouse on Hiroshima Day, this past Saturday. They meet at 6 am and meditate on peace and remember all the lives lost that day. Cora and Peter Weiss were there, holding a sign that read, “Have you made Peace today?” Thank you to everyone who attended for the very necessary reminder.
