It often happens that I don’t hear about great happenings until long after they’ve taken place. I’m grateful to Sylvia Jackson for just now sending me news about her mother Blanche Jackson’s half-birthday celebration, even if it did happen a month ago. The family connection to Aquinnah runs deep. Blanche and her husband Billy (a prominent muralist and co-author of the book “On This Island”) bought their Aquinnah home in the late 1950s as a place to bring their four children to spend summers by the sea. Billy died in 2006, but the family continued to come. I
In 2011, Blanche became ill, and so she and her daughter moved here full-time. Ms. Blanche is now halfway through the year before her 100th birthday, which will take place on Jan. 8, but in order to make it easier for her brother, her children, and the extended family to attend, they gathered at the P.A. Club on August 24 to celebrate. A fabulous collage prepared by Sylvia for that day honored “Ms. Blanche. Fierce, Fabulous, and Loved,” every word of it true.
Laura Jordan Decker has announced a singing and performing class for children. It will be held at the Town Hall every Thursday from 3:45 to 5 pm. It’s a supportive and creative environment, with the young performers choosing their own song to develop for a stage performance over the course of an eight-week session. There is a sliding-scale fee, and Laura accepts payment plans. For more information, contact Laura at laurajordandecker@gmail.com.
Meg Athearn came by with information about the USATF-certified 10k race to benefit our iconic Gay Head Lighthouse. This year the race through beautiful Aquinnah will be held on Sunday, Oct. 5, starting at 10:30 am. Registration is $40, with all runners eligible for raffle prizes at the end, and the fastest runners earning a pottery mug by Aquinnah potter (and my husband) Charley Hoye. To register, and for more information, go to runsignup.com and look for Gay Head Run for the Light 10K-Aquinnah. The race is limited to 200 runners, so don’t hesitate to register. It’s beautiful, it’s fun, and it’s for our lighthouse.
As the headlines continue to wring our hearts, there are many people working hard to make things better, and to help us get through. I was part of a small group of wonderful Aquinnah women who came together to write postcards to voters in Virginia (where almost every major political position is up for grabs) simply to remind them how, where and when to vote, and then to go do so. We worked hard, and all felt a relief because at least we had done something. Some people are doing political organizing. Others are helping to feed those who need food, or are working on repairing the soil, or healing the ocean. Many are trying to shelter immigrants. Other groups on the Island are doing spiritual work. Here in Aquinnah, every Saturday morning at 7, there is a silent meditative walk around the circle to help create a sense of community and remind us all that we need to be loving. Every Thursday in September, there is a silent walking vigil across the Lagoon Pond Bridge from 5 to 6 pm, led by faith and community leaders, and sponsored by Indivisible Martha’s Vineyard. I figure if everybody does whatever they can to stand for peace and justice and genuine discussion, we just might succeed in getting through to the other side. Don’t give up, folks.
To lift your heart, you are invited to a free community sing at the Tisbury Amphitheater on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 5 pm. This is with the indomitable Roberta Kirn, who is guaranteed to get you to sing out and fill up with joy.
Birthday greetings to Nadia Aiguier on Sept. 18, Jay Bodnar on Sept. 21, and Haoa Vanderhoop on Sept. 22.