Our community has just lost a great woman: Angie Waldron passed away on April 13. You may know her from the library, or perhaps you lost your dog and she helped you find it in her role as animal control officer; maybe you rented her cottage one summer, or perhaps you can’t remember how you met her, but you always remembered her directness and sly sense of humor. Angie was one of the first people I met on Martha’s Vineyard in the summer of 2000. To be honest, she always scared me a little, because I always felt like if I wasn’t completely honest with her, she would be able to tell, and then she would expose me to everyone. Angie did not suffer fools or liars, that I know for sure. I also know that she had a big heart and that she loved her daughter, Nonie, Nonie’s husband, Dan, and their four children, as she loved all her family and her friends. I remember her stopping me in the parking lot of Shirley’s to show me a photo album that Nonie had made for her of Angie’s first grandchild, Waylon. Then, when Nonie and Dan decided to adopt two girls, Angie was so excited, and told me the whole story in the library while she was cataloging books. I will miss this lady so much. Sending prayers and hugs to the Madison/Sauer clan, and to her sister, Joan, and Joan’s family. There will be a graveside service in the West Tisbury Cemetery on State Road this Friday, April 26, at 1:30 pm, followed by a reception at the Ag Hall. Donations can be made in Angie’s name to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
Pathways Arts’ “Grand Finale of the Season” will be held this Friday, April 26. The doors will open at 6:30. Get ready for performances and readings by Sian Williams, Julia Kidd, Corinne de Langavant, Valerie Sonnethal, Lisa Gross, Tony Tobia, David Roderick, William Peek, and the Pickpocket Bluegrass Band. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be cake and champagne. Come one, come all. This will be it for Pathways this season; they will hold a couple of events over the summer in another location, because the Chilmark Tavern is reopening May 17.
The West Tisbury Congregational Church will hold an Earth Sunday Worship Service on April 28 at 10 am. In honor of Earth Day, the Green Team of the church has invited renowned cell biologist Ursula Goodenough to speak to the congregation. Dr. Goodenough will bring a scientific perspective to the service, revealing how science can deepen our experiences of wonder and humility, and further our ethical responsibility to not just care for creation but pursue creation justice.
The Chilmark School will host its annual May Day celebration on Wednesday, May 1, at 9 am with the traditional Maypole Dance by the fourth and fifth graders for the community to celebrate and honor the arrival of spring. Everyone is invited to attend. If you have any questions, contact Mary at 508-645-2562, ext. 101.
Good news! The Aquinnah Shop will be opening on Thursday, May 9, just in time for Mother’s Day. It will be open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm, lunch Monday, Wednesday through Friday (closed on Tuesdays) from 11 am to 5 pm, and dinner Thursday through Sunday from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. See everyone there.
The kids of Plastic Free MV have done it again. Chilmark has now become the second town in North America to ban the sale of single-use plastic water and soda bottles of 34 ounces or less. Congratulations to all the students for their hard work. They will be at our town meeting in May, as this ban will be on our agenda. Thanks to the Aquinnah library for hosting a spring egg hunt on Saturday — it looked like a good time.
Happy birthday to Chaerin Ahn, who celebrates on Monday, and to her dear friend, Ella Mahoney, who celebrates on May Day.