NANCY GARDELLA

508-693-3308

(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)

Mosquitoes and fleas the size of horses, stores are running out of boric acid! Even with the new meds for pets to control fleas and ticks, I guess this very moist summer has flummoxed the plan. I hope you’re coping, and Fido, too.

Leda, Carolyn, Iole and I had a lovely dinner at Nicky’s Café last Tuesday night. This is where we gather annually to celebrate our birthdays. Iole and I were commenting it’s hard to believe it’s Carolyn’s birthday today and Leda’s in September because the two never look any older. Three of us went with the scallop special — divine! — and three of us went for dessert. I’ll let you guess.

Margery and Paul Howes had their daughter and son in law, Julia and Javier Gomez-Blanco, visit for a long weekend. Accompanying their parents were four-and-three-quarter-year-old Aidan and Olivia, fourteen months. This was only Olivia’s second Island visit, she was baptized here last year, but it was her first visit to the beach! Olivia is an avid water sprite; Aidan kept busy digging numerous holes. The family had a short stay because they were headed to Spain for the month of August.

Dot Eldefry arrived at the Howes’s yesterday for her annual sojourn. Dot is an avid needlepointer. No doubt she and Marge will make the rounds checking out handmade treasures.

I strongly suggest to the ladies to join me at the Chicken Alley Art Show this Sunday, the annual Martha’s Vineyard Thrift Shop event. It is not only a classy fundraiser but a terrific way to start your holiday shopping and get some real treasures. I’ll see you there.

Join me at the Vineyard Haven Library Evening Lecture series on Tuesday, August 19 for noted artist and author Ted Hewett, who will be speaking about cartooning and discussing his new book, Extreme Birding. All lectures are free and begin at 7 p.m.

The youngsters can enjoy a puppet show on Tuesday at the library, Bella and Arakataka’s Little Band, at 10 a.m. for infants to 2 year olds and at 11 a.m. for three to fives. Wii games for ages eight to eleven will be available on Monday, August 18 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Our staff always goes out of its way to serve all age groups!

I know the Fair is coming up and you will be happy to hear that Herb Ward has donated his award-winning quilt to raise money for the Federated Church choir trip in 2009. You may purchase raffle tickets at the fair or call Herb, 508-693-7683, to stake your claim.

Anniversary bouquets go out to Bob and Elaine Klein on August 16.

The birthday bandwagon pulls along Laura Hudson, Carolyn Walters, Jarred Garde, Brooke Aubin and Leigh Smith today. Tomorrow is shared by Kendra Frakes and Kathy Stuart. August 17 is a party for Michael Zenick, Renata Kinaki, Paige Stuart and Emilie Marx.

August 18 belongs to Adam Paul Iacovella, Cheryl Schrader, Melissa Dolby, Michael Donovan, Paige Stuart and Emilie Marx.

August 19 honors Jeff Pratt, Bill Clinton and Amanda Louise Bernard. August 20 is claimed by Laurie Halt and Rick McElhinney. And on August 21 James Johnson takes the cake.

Many happy returns.