Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it. And to those who don’t, I support you in your choice. For myself, I’m looking forward to seeing family both biological and chosen, and a brisk walk to work off the dessert that I will inevitably eat too much of. Whatever you do on Thanksgiving Day, I hope you are not lonely and that you have everything you need.
Chilmark Community Church will be offering an open-table meal at 1 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Reverend Charlotte and Don Wright will be cooking. All who need a place to go that day or who may not have family nearby are welcome. Donations or a dish to share would be appreciated, but not necessary. The church is located at 9 Menemsha Crossroads in Chilmark. For further information or a ride (as there will be no VTA that day), call 508-645-3100.
There are so many ways to shop local for the holidays right now, and many of them include Aquinnah artists. This Saturday is a particularly good day to shop; I recommend starting in Aquinnah and working your way down to Vineyard Haven. You can begin at home by checking out Tiffany Vanderhoop’s new website, huckleberrywoman.com, where she sells her amazing beaded earrings. Then go to the circle for Stony Creek Gifts and On the Cliffs. Stony Creek Gifts will have 30 to 60 percent off most merchandise (and they will be open on Thursday). On the Cliffs’ merchandise is 50 percent off. Both shops will close after this weekend. After that head to Joan LeLacheur’s Open Studio and sale this Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. She will be showing her wampum and other shell bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pendants, and mosaic tiles. There will also be art cards by Susan Shea. Joanie’s studio is at 42 Old South Rd. in Aquinnah. Contact Joanie at joanlela57@gmail.com or 508-645-9954. Check out the Orange Peel Bakery’s baked goods and honey. Then drive down to Chilmark, where Chilmark Chocolates is open, and Off Season will be popping up at the Allen Farm, featuring work by Nettie Kent, Miranda Bennett, Kordal, and StudyNY. They will have cozy sweaters, luxurious velvet, jewelry, and dresses. The sale is from 1 to 4 pm on Saturday, and refreshments will be served. Then on to to Vineyard Haven, where Jannette Vanderhoop is showing her work at the Vineyard Holiday Gift Shop on Spring Street. The shop is open every day from this Friday through Dec. 24 from 10 am to 6 pm. As if that’s not enough, Aquinnah will have its own Artisans Holiday Sale on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Aquinnah Town Hall from 10 am to 4 pm.
This Week at Pathway Arts: Pathways will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. It will be open on Friday, Nov. 23, for an Open House from 11 am to 6 pm. There will be many cool things to buy for the holidays, including cards by Holly Wayman, the children’s book “Peter Pinkletink” by Eileen Sullivan, and wampum jewelry by Joan LeLacheur. On Saturday there will be an Artists’ Reception from 3:30 to 6 pm. Every Tuesday, all writers, poets, playwrights, lyricists, and friends are welcome to share their work. You can, of course, just come to listen. The readings begin at 7 pm, and all events at Pathways are free. Pathways Living Room Studios is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm, except Wednesdays and Sundays. Feel free to stop by if you are tired of toiling away on your work alone. Family Qi Gong guided by Allison Cameron Parry will begin on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 3 pm. There will be a $15 family suggested donation.
After Thanksgiving, do you usually need some self-healing, harmonizing, and time to relax? If you answered yes, come to Cat Garfinkle’s Restorative Yoga class this Saturday, Nov. 24, from 3 to 5:30 pm at the Yoga Barn. The class is $35 (20 percent of which will be donated to the Island Food Pantry), and preregistration is suggested. Email catgee@me.com or text/call 203-253-2261 to register.
ACE MV in conjunction with Fitchburg State University is offering a two-year master’s degree of education in curriculum and teaching, starting in January 2019. To begin the registration process, contact Shelby Cota at mcota@fitchburgstate.edu, graduate admissions counselor for FSU. Cota will review your transcripts, answer your academic questions, and make sure that you have the courses you need to transition into the M.Ed. program. This program will not be offered again until January 2022.
I hope you got to see Liz Witham and Ken Wentworth’s wonderful documentary “Keepers of the Light” on PBS this past week. If you haven’t seen it, you can get it from their website at keepersofthelightfilm.com. You will see many familiar faces in it. Happy birthday to Keren Tonneson, who celebrates on Thanksgiving, Nov. 22. You can stop by Pathways over the weekend to wish her a happy belated.