Why does this happen to me every winter? Regardless of the weather, winter on the Island seems interminable, and then without a warning, it’s May. Of course, nothing is done, and I am not the least bit ready for summer. I have not signed my child up for camp, or secured a sitter for the evenings when my husband and I will be at work. I have not gotten the seeds I bought planted, nor have I done any “spring cleaning.” I guess the last one will just have to wait until September.
Stores are open at the Cliffs, and the weather has been so lovely it’s a good time to go check it out. Hatmarcha Gifts is now open every day. The clothing store On the Cliffs will be open by May 1. I don’t have an official date yet, but the Aquinnah Shop is usually open by Mother’s Day. Cliffhangers and the Orange Peel Bakery Café will be open Memorial Day weekend. Juli is doing pizza this Saturday at the Orange Peel Bakery, from noon to 2 pm. In May it will move to Wednesday nights.
Chilmark Chocolates reopens on May 4. Pathways is finished for the season, and Chilmark Tavern will open on May 18. According to the sign on the Chilmark Store porch, they will reopen on May 17. The Outermost Inn will open on May 19. They are welcoming back Chef Chris Gianfreda for another season. Call 508-645-3511 for a reservation.
At the library, this week Story Time is on Thursday at 3:30 pm and Saturday at 10:30 am. On Saturday, April 29, from 11 am to 3 pm is Kids Craft. You can come in and make a windsock. On Tuesday, the Afterschool Club is at 4 pm.
The Yard will be hosting a dance event at the PAC at MVRHS this Saturday at 7 pm. The group, Dance the Yard will be performing original works. They are very talented people; it’s sure to be a great show.
The Aquinnah town meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 9, at 7:30 pm. Come on, everyone, and do your civic duty. We need as many people as can make it so we can get a quorum and get our business done.
The Island Food Pantry, at the Old Stone Church in Vineyard Haven, will continue to provide groceries for those in need every Wednesday, 3 to 6 pm, throughout the summer. That means that we should all keep donating to the purple boxes located in libraries, grocery stores, and places of worship. These donations are crucial to hungry families on the Island.
Happy birthday to Ella Mahoney, who celebrates on Monday, May 1. Soon after that she will be graduating from the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Congratulations, Ella! Jim Wallen celebrates on May 2. Happy birthday, Jim! Rachel McDonald and her son Mike visited Aquinnah briefly at the end of the vacation week. It was a short visit, but they packed a lot in: a couple of dinner parties and a walk on the beach for Rachel and a sleepover and a trip to the Arcade for Mike. They will be back before you know it at the end of June.