The 10K Gay Head Run For The Light took place on Sunday, Oct. 1. It was a cool, gray morning with a slight breeze — perfect for running. More than 180 runners signed up for a great run to honor Len Butler, and to help keep the Gay Head Lighthouse safe. Casey O’Connor, who oversaw the affair along with a hard-working crew of volunteers, kindly let me look through the list of runners who had signed on, so I could pick out all those who were Aquinnah folk. Heading the list was Martha Vanderhoop (without whom the run just wouldn’t happen), followed by Liz Anderson, Belinda Booker, Sam Hart, Joseph (“Joe-Joe”) Lee (with his fiancée Shanel Martinez), Ben Martin, Jan Niessen, Walter Ricciardi, Jessica Seeman, and Alex Sherman. Also spotted were Tom Hecht and Nancy Kass, who hastened to assure me that they were “only” summer people, albeit summer people who had been coming here for a lifetime of summers — which, to me, means that they can call Aquinnah at least one of their true homes.
And that brings me to a museum opening that I think could help us all. Opening on Oct. 6 and running through the first week of January, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven presents “Home,” an exhibit through art and artifact that looks at the nature of what home is, and who gets to call the Vineyard home. I am particularly interested in seeing Destiny Ariana’s collage series, “Not Your Vacation Home,” that blends tourist iconography with images of ancestral and present-day tribal members. The exhibit seeks to inspire conversations, bridge perspectives, and evoke empathy. These conversations and bridges, this empathy, are worthy of our time and thought. We are often so quick to take offense, to note our differences, to resent, just as we are so quick to forget that if you aren’t Wampanoag, you are comparatively new here. So go to the museum and take a look. Then sit and think about it all. I thank the museum for asking us to do so.
For those of us who get to live here and who tend gardens, you should know about the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club. The club provides helpful and fun workshops about plants and gardens, and raises money for good causes. Over the past 99 years, they have proudly had members from all six towns. However, as they prepare to celebrate their 100th anniversary next year, there isn’t a single member from Aquinnah. The Chilmark/Aquinnah vice president, Irene Ziebarth, invites you to fill this vacancy (and grow your gardening chops) by visiting the MVGC website and becoming a member. They can’t be an Island-wide garden club without you! To find out more, contact membership@marthasvineyardgardenclub.org.
More playground news to report: The Aquinnah parks and recreation committee is looking for housing for the professional crew that is coming on-Island to build the playground. Six bedrooms with kitchen and bathroom facilities are needed from Oct. 18 through Nov. 7. Housing doesn’t have to all be in the same place, but it would be great if it could be. It would be good to avoid asking them to relocate mid-project, but they will consider this if necessary. Resources are limited, but if you need help covering the costs of having these guests, the committee will do it. And no matter what, they will make sure that your property is well cleaned after they leave. The committee is also planning volunteer days for people to come help with the playground build on Sunday, Oct. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 5. There is a morning and an afternoon shift each day. They’re looking for 20 volunteers for each shift. Interested volunteers (helpers must be age 10 and over) can sign up, and information about housing availability can be sent to aquinnahplayground@gmail.com.
And now, I hate to break the news to you, but for some of us, the end-of-year holidays are looming. I’m talking to those creative and handy types who make gifts either for sale or to give. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, folks. Gabbi Camillieri just sent out the news that the Aquinnah Artisans Holiday Fair is scheduled for Dec. 2 and 3. Aquinnah artisans interested in reserving a table can contact aquinnahartisans@gmail.com to sign up. Space is somewhat limited, so if you want to be there to sell, now is the time to commit.
On the birthday front, we missed Grace Vanderhoop on Oct. 1, but send good wishes belatedly. Happy birthdays to Golden Vanderhoop and Ocean Dias, who are to be celebrated on the same day, Oct. 9. And happy birthday to NADINE Slate, 2 years old on Oct. 10! (She is able to recognize the spelling of her name, hence the capitals.) Nadine has been living in Aquinnah since day 3 of her life, and it is her doting grandma, Nancy Slate, who let us know about the birthday (thank you, Nancy).
I won’t be writing a column for the next two weeks while I’m off with family in California, so I’m going to miss printing a happy anniversary on Oct. 16 to Alex and Shawn Taylor-McPhail. I’m going to miss printing a huge happy birthday to Caleb Daniel Nicholson Jr. on Oct. 15, and particularly to my beloved granddaughter, the great Tillie Taylor, on Oct. 17. Ditto to the magic-handed Curtis Langer on the 22nd, and to that golden-throated Isaac Taylor on Oct. 25.
I’ll be back for the Oct. 26 issue. Stay safe and happy, and keep your news coming even while I’m gone, to aquinnahcolumn@gmail.com. I don’t want to miss hearing about a thing.
If you have any Aquinnah Town Column suggestions, email Kathie Olson, aquinnahcolumn@gmail.com.
