Get ready for all the thinking and meeting and voting this week by attending the third annual “Aquinnah Variety Show” on Saturday, May 9, at Town Hall. This extravaganza, the brainchild of Kate Taylor and Laura Jordan-Decker, features your neighbors of all ages doing things you had no idea they could do. There will be singers. There will be dancers and comedy and magic. There will be poets and basketball players and actors. There is even an original mini-musical production. Folks have been practicing and rehearsing for weeks, with Laura and Kate and their co-producer, Barbara Wallen, providing guidance. There is no fee for this one, but I urge you to contribute what you can, as they do pay for various necessary things like technical help. Doors open at 5 pm, and the hall fills up quickly, so bring your family, come on down, and get in line. I guarantee a terrific evening.
Then on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 pm at Town Hall, Aquinnah will hold its town meeting. It’s an important gathering, and I urge all registered voters to finish their dinner that night, take care of bathroom needs, and get yourselves there. At the town meeting, in addition to many budget items covering everything from town staffing and infrastructure, there is a lot to consider. The playground is on the docket, as well as funding for summer programming by the parks and recreation committee. The town will vote to establish a bylaw that designates Aquinnah as a Fourth Amendment Workplace Community, that will support efforts to inform and educate town staff, and workplaces and agencies, about search and seizure rights and responsibilities of employees and patrons. There is a warrant article authorizing the select board to dispose of certain town-owned property located at Aquinnah Circle North. There are tax issues, articles regarding ambulance service, Lighthouse needs, Dukes County needs, housing, food waste recycling (as opposed to food waste landfill), timeshare issues, support for the Aquinnah Cultural Center and the M.V. Shellfish Group programming, and more. In all, there are 31 warrant articles. You can read the full warrant by going online at aquinnah-ma.gov, or by picking up a copy at Town Hall. Read it in advance if you can, and come prepared for some lively discussion and terrific civic education.
The town election follows on Thursday, May 14, with in-person voting at Town Hall running from noon until 8 pm. There are no contested positions on the ballot, but rumor has it that there are several folks vying for position as write-in candidates. Open positions include one member of the select board, one library trustee, and one member of the board of health. There are openings for two members of the planning board. The positions of town clerk and the constable are on the ballot. There are also three questions on which you can vote yay or nay: These are for funding of the Up-Island and M.V. Regional High School budgets, exemption from provisions of Proposition 2½ to allow for repairing the Town Hall parking lot, and an additional exemption for repairs to the Firehouse and town office building.
Up on the Cliffs, work on the access ramp and bus shelter continues. It is finally looking like we’re on the homestretch there, and that we can be proud of our new and welcoming entrance to that special place.
This week, we celebrate the birthdays of two extraordinary women. On May 6, it’s Alex Taylor’s birthday, and on May 11, we celebrate Robin Robinson. Both these ladies give a great deal to our community, and stand as shining examples for us all. Wish them well if you see them.