A last word on our town election: I admire anyone with the courage to run for public office. That said, I believe that the extraordinary love of community on display during the Aquinnah Variety Show could better be sustained if candidates for town positions signed up on time, to avoid being write-ins and in time to have a candidate forum. What happened instead is that voters were left in the dark, grabbing only at the names they knew and happened to hear about. We could not know the intentions or viewpoints of write-ins, leaving decisions made based on neighborly loyalties and not on substantive issues. We missed an opportunity to know one another better.
The Aquinnah library invites you to come to Aquinnah Town Hall on May 21 at 3 pm for an extraordinary performance. Local musician David Mintz will be performing the Great American Songbook, highlighting the elegance and beauty of early- to mid–20th century popular songs and jazz standards. The performance is free, funded in part by the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council. Come and breathe in the music of Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and more, along with timeless bossa nova by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and others.
On Tuesday, May 26, from 4 to 6 pm, go to the Aquinnah library for its Container Garden kickoff event. Help to plant seedlings at the new library container garden, play lawn games, and enjoy refreshments. This program, a collaboration with Lydia Fischer and the Garden Farm, is free, and all ages are welcome.
On Wednesday, May 27, at 9 am, come for the official ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for our new bus shelter at the Circle. It’s lovely, and this is an opportunity to say thank-you to those who made it happen. Shelter designer and engineer Tim Laursen will be there to answer questions, as will Jay Macleod, Aquinnah representative to the VTA board, and mover behind the project. So drop by and appreciate.
Also on Wednesday, May 27, at noon, seniors are invited to Town Hall for the monthly luncheon hosted by the Up-Island Council on Aging. RSVP to 508-693-2896.
Gay Head’s favorite Hammond B3 player, Maxwell Butler, is keeping the Southern rock vibe alive and crankin’. He’s touring the country with the Duane Betts Band. Duane is the son of Dickey Betts, lead guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band. Max is the son of Len and Mallory Butler, and aren’t we proud. Don’t know of a close-by concert date yet, but I’ll let you know.
If the world seems like a bit too much for you these days, the weekly Community Gives Us Courage walking meditations have resumed. They take place every Saturday at 7:30 am at the Circle. If you have questions, contact Mitzi Pratt.
Take a wander down Lighthouse Road from the Circle (follow the signs). You will find a stand selling beautiful fresh eggs presented in gorgeous blue cartons, presented by the Decker family. Go a bit farther, and from Thursday through Monday, from 11 to 5, you can find the studio of the Aquinnah Seaweed artist.
Birthday shout-outs go to Stacey Slate on May 24; Janis Vogel, Lily Melyawati, and Putu Crowell on May 25; and to Marcia Shufrin on May 26.