NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

I am very pleased with the progress on the donation box for our troops overseas. But I’m not as pleased as I could be. Jill LaPiana’s Girl Scout Troop 802 decorated a box that is just in front of the counter at Cumby’s. It is two-thirds full. I want it full, and some of you who don’t have books to donate or time to shop for personal items could make a cash donation to Jill to cover the postage. The Scouts want to send it off next week so please hurry.

One of the most magical evenings on the Island is upon us once again and you are all invited. An Evening of the Arts at the high school takes place at the Performing Arts Center there and in the foyer. What a show. You will be blown away by the talent our students have. All media are represented: poetry, writing, film, ceramics, painting, performing, photography — you name it, we’ve got it. I’ll see you there next Thursday, May 22, between 6 and 10 p.m. Bring the family and the houseguests.

Our library is beginning a classic film series on Wednesday, May 21, at 1 p.m. After the showing of each film, we will have a moderated discussion group. We begin with one of my very favorites, 12 Angry Men, starring my hero, Henry Fonda. It’s amazing that Betty Burton sent me this note on the same day I was working in the library at the high school and a teacher came and checked it out for his class. This one is always timely. All are welcome.

Need I remind you that the annual League of Women Voters meeting will be held this Sunday, a potluck at the Baylies room of the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown, at 1 p.m.? Call Julie at 508-696-4880 to describe what you’re bringing so we can avoid duplicates. Store-bought food is welcome, too, a blessing in my case and that of my guests. A great film, Uncounted, will follow. New members are always sought. I’ll see you there.

The charter school rocks out once again. I’m giving you more than one week’s notice for this event so you can dig out your tie-dyes and dashikis. A fundraiser for the new school addition will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center on Sunday, May 25, and the theme is the Sixties! Hors d’oeuvres and silent auction begin at 5:30 p.m. The live auction, featuring such goodies as a week in Virgin Gorda, Celtics tickets, and four hours of Bobcat work, will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Finally, dancing to Sixties tunes goes on from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., just enough time for us Boomers to get to bed at a reasonable hour, unlike the good old days when we could party all night. Call 508-693-9900 for more information. I hope to see you there. And I have to say — do you remember this? — every time I see or use the word hors d’oeuvres, I can remember, plain as day, Maynard G. Krebs in the television show The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis pronouncing them “horses duvrays.”

Here’s a heads-up as well on the annual Friends of Family Planning of Martha’s Vineyard art show. The gala premiere is Thursday, May 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is $40. Grown-ups only. More than 100 Island artists are participating at the agricultural hall. Regular art show hours, at no admission fee, are May 23 through 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Here’s an opportunity to help a great Island service and pick up terrific art and gifts for yourselves and your friends. I wonder if they will be serving horses duvrays.

I get so excited about how artsy we are here on Storybook Island. I missed I’m Not There in the theatres, but I will be there tomorrow night at the Outerland when the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society screens Todd Haynes’s acclaimed biopic of Bob Dylan featuring the inimitable Cate Blanchett, most talented and gone-too-soon Heath Ledger, and, be still my heart, Richard Gere. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. with many vegetarian options. If you just want to see the movie, show up before 8 p.m. For more information, call 508-693-1137, extension 13. See you at the movies.

Our neighborhood is really hopping with all the new and most welcome arrivals. How did we pass the winter without Paul and Marge Howes, especially since he’s my personal bartender? And how did we ever get by without Fred and Sally Benson? Fred and Sally arrived on one of the coldest days this week, enough to remind them why they snowbird to Florida each season. Some of our amusing neighbors had the Bensons’ front porch decorated with flamingoes and palm trees. Lennie’s Loop is almost complete. Ready, set, party.

Either I’m a bad writer and no one reads me or you are all too busy to answer. I prefer to believe the latter. In the informal survey I cast out two weeks ago, I asked how you were going to spend your “economic stimulus” check, which I have put in quotes for reasons that do not need explanation. One dear reader, only one, responded. She wishes to remain anonymous but says she will donate it to our Island Food Pantry. God bless you.

Now, I am tired of missing you at all my events. I expect to finally meet you at some of the great activities mentioned above. I’m the one with the pen in my hair. Come up and introduce yourselves.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Allan and Judy Davey on May 21.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Jenna Bagnall, Martin Simoni, and Wesly Coelho Souza on May 17. May 18 sees Nonna also known as Iole Jannace Gardella turn 91. And speaking of the League of Women Voters, do you believe my mother was three years old before women in the United States had the right to vote? May 19 is shared by Zach Charter and Tony Gramkowski. May 21 is claimed by my beautiful neighbor, Rosie Bick. And on May 22 Bridget Tobin, Theresa King, Frank Elliott, Patricia Nothingale and Thomas Battistini take the cake. Many happy returns.