Well, it was a great weekend until the Pats lost. Now the Denver Broncos are going to the Super Bowl where they will surely get decimated by the Carolina Panthers. Not that we wouldn’t have had a tough time as well against the seemingly unstoppable Panthers, but still, it would have been sweet to go to the Super Bowl two years in a row. Since Sunday night was so depressing I will try and focus on the rest of the blizzard weekend, which was quite lovely both in scenery and in company.
On Friday, the Chilmark School PTO hosted a fundraiser for the Red Stocking Fund at the Chilmark Community Center. An Italian sit-down dinner was served while kids ran around and played. It was a very fun Friday night out and there were many families from Aquinnah there. It was also really nice to not have to cook dinner. Selectwoman Juli Vanderhoop came; both of her kids are doing well; Ella is in her third year at the School of Visual Art and Emerson is now applying to colleges! Many people spoke of their sadness over the passing of birder Vernon Laux. There was also some distress because Rosa Parker is leaving the Aquinnah Library after five years of wonderful service to our community. Mostly though people enjoyed a night out, good food, and community. There was a sense of savoring the moment throughout the whole evening as we all knew a storm was coming the next day that made the night feel a little special. And the kids loved the ice cream and hot fudge for dessert and the chance to tear around outside in the dark.
At the Library this week: Today, Thursday January 28, at 4:30 the library will hold a screening of the Oscar nominated film, “The Martian.” This Saturday you can stop in from 11 am to 3 pm and make a caterpillar. Stop in and say goodbye and thank you to Rosa if you get a chance. I, for one will really miss her!
This Sunday at 3:30 pm there will be a memorial service for Marianne Goldberg at the Chilmark Community Center. People are encouraged to bring their stories of Marianne and a dish to share after the ceremony.
There was of course a blizzard this past weekend that brought what looked to be about 18 inches of snow and some very high winds. It also brought some good fun for the kids of the Island. There was sledding, snowman building and I’m guessing a little more screen time for some. My son went sledding during the blizzard on Saturday and was invited to a neighbors for hot chocolate afterwards. While visiting our neighbors (the Newmans) we were introduced to a new (to us) board game called Mexican Train that is very fun. After dinner there was a movie with dad. Then more fun in the snow the next day. Life for the kids in our town seemed pretty idyllic this weekend. I know they will find many things to complain about it, but really they don’t know how good they have it.
Nice work to Buddy Vanderhoop and Hollis Smith who helped rescue a loon that had gotten injured in the storm. Lastly, I would like to wish happy birthday to seasonal Aquinnah resident Adam Gebb, who celebrates on Tuesday.